A SCOTTISH company that has become a world leader in aerial inspection and survey using drones has launched an office in the American oil capital of Houston, Texas.
Cyberhawk Innovations, based at Livingston in West Lothian, made the announcement at the Offshore Technology Conference, which is under way in Houston.
It said the new office had come about as a result of increasing demand from existing oil and gas customers who recognised the time and cost savings that came with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Cyberhawk has already undertaken oil and gas inspection work in the US and Canada, and has several projects lined up with oil and gas super-majors in the US over the coming months.
Over the last nine months it has also made significant progress in other US sectors after it launched its Asset Management Partnership (AMP) programme. This is aimed at powerline, wind and rail industries and combines Cyberhawk’s asset management software, iHawk, with local skills.
Multiple projects have already been completed with selected partners in the USA and the Houston office will further bolster these efforts by focusing predominantly on the onshore and offshore oil and gas sector.
Craig Roberts, Cyberhawk’s CEO, said: “The feedback we have received over the last 12 months has confirmed our understanding that although there are many UAV operators in the US, few have either the depth or the range of experience and expertise offered by Cyberhawk’s proven oil and gas inspection solutions.
“We have, for example, completed significantly more than 200 live flare inspections on and offshore in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and North America. Clients who have worked with us know that they can trust our highly trained teams to safely capture data and deliver powerful inspection reports.
“Our qualified inspection engineers are also able to have peer-to-peer conversations with the clients’ inspection professionals before leaving the site, a service which our clients advise us is invaluable.
"Over the coming months, we expect to see significant uptake with operators who are looking for more efficient and cost-effective inspection solutions, particularly during this challenging period for the oil and gas industry.”
The company’s operations director, Chris Fleming, has spent the last three months in the US and will relocate to Houston permanently as general manager for America. Staff numbers will be increased in the region in the coming months through a combination of recruitment and mobilisation of UK-based personnel.
The Houston base adds to Cyberhawk’s existing international offices in the Middle East and SE Asia.
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