Pipeline Specialist Target Americas for Growth

Pipeline engineering specialist, STATS Group, has invested $2 million in new facilities in Houston to expand its services in the U.S. and South American oil and gas markets.

The UK-based group, which designs, manufactures and installs a range of hi-tech pipeline isolation and intervention tools, has opened a 25,000 sq ft office and workshop facility in Brittmoore and expects to add to its U.S. headcount over the next year.

Stephen Rawlinson, previously general manager in Canada, has been promoted to vice president for the Americas, while Scott McNae has been elevated from his previous role as global projects manager to general manager for U.S. operations.

STATS believe there are project opportunities in the U.S. onshore and offshore pipeline sector, with Houston also providing a springboard to mobilise for projects in South America. The company’s Process Plant Solutions division will also target the refineries, chemical plants and oil and gas platform sector, offering rentals, sales and servicing options.

Stephen Rawlinson said: “We recently won contracts worth more than $15 million to provide intervention (hot tapping) and isolation services to one of North America’s largest energy infrastructure companies and we believe we can replicate that success in the U.S.

“To be able to make the best out of emerging opportunities we need local facilities in the Gulf of Mexico and feet on the ground. This investment in Houston will provide us with a framework to get in to the tendering rounds, quickly start mobilisation when projects are confirmed and build on our track record of successful project execution in North America.


The Houston expansion follows a similar investment in Canada where the company doubled its workshop and testing facilities in Edmonton and added a project support office in Calgary.