GMS inks big Saudi offshore project

DHAHRAN – Gulf Marine Services Saudi Arabia (GMSSA), a leading provider of floating or self-elevating offshore platforms for oil companies, said it has won a three-year contract to support rig-less well intervention for a major offshore project in Saudi Arabia.

GMSSA is a joint venture between Saudi-based Shoaibi Group and the Gulf Marine Services, the region’s largest elevating support vessel operator based in the UAE.

Under the contract, GMSSA will provide a modern self-propelled jack up service barge from a fleet of 7 sister units, all capable of supporting well intervention, construction and maintenance activities offshore.
The barge can operate in water depths up to 45 meters and can accommodate 150 personnel offshore.

Khalid Al Shoaibi, chairman of GMSSA, said the company had been working on a number of short term projects in the Kingdomin recent years. "This new contract establishes a strong base for further growth and expansion in the offshore industry by GMSSA in the Kingdom," he added.

Duncan Anderson, CEO of GMS, said "this contract marks a significant milestone in the GMSSA joint venture, as well as a major indicator of Shoaibi Group’s ability to recognize market requirements in Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas industry. We hope to continue to work closely and expand our foothold in the Gulf."

GMS is a major supplier of modern fleet of self-propelled barges to the oil and gas market. Specifically, it will cover services such as well intervention and work over operations; well completion and well testing operations; offshore cranage and heavy lifting services; diving operations; topside construction and maintenance activities; and temporary offshore accommodation, including hotel services.

Headquartered in Al-Khobar, Shoaibi Group has been in operation for over 30 years, and encompasses a wide spectrum of global partnerships, agency representations, and joint ventures. – SG