Norwegian Archer, a global company focused on providing gas and drilling services, as well as handling the clients from oil and gas sector, is opening an engineering office in Gdansk. It will employ 150 engineers who will take part in the development of all the tycoon’s global projects.
Archer has been active in the oil and gas market for more than 40 years. The company currently employs more than 4,500 people in 40 countries around the world. Archer currently secures the engineering side of wells at 35 offshore locations in the North Sea and Atlantic and more than 65 onshore wells in South America. Major clients remain companies such as Equinor, Aker BP and Repsol.
Archer’s services cover the entire well completion process – from surface imaging, new well construction to well servicing and, finally, post production quenching and protection.
Ambitious plans
The Gdansk office will support operations in Europe, North and South America and the Pacific, as well as developing projects in the Middle East and West Africa. The choice of location is not accidental and the company has high hopes for the Polish office:
– We are pleased to present our new office – says Piotr Hinczewski, Managing Director and Member of the Board, Archer Poland. – The new premises provide a better working environment for our employees and offer a modern and professional environment to serve our clients. We also expect to attract new talent to the company as we continue to grow and expand our business – adds Piotr Hinczewski.
Archer’s Gdansk branch is located in the Alchemia complex in Oliwa. Ultimately, 150 engineers will work in the Gdansk office, specialising in various disciplines: piping design, structural design, calculations, E&I, processing, safety and many others. The distribution of vacancies is planned over a three-year period. It will be the company’s largest engineering office.
– We are constantly experiencing a demand for talented engineers. With our new headquarters in Gdansk, we are now equipped to ensure further growth and thus meet the needs of an expanding market – adds Martin Nilsen, Manager Business Development Engineering Global.
Significantly, Archer is also already entering the renewable energy market. The company recently purchased a 50% stake in Island Drilling Company with a strategy to develop its geothermal drilling business. In turn, the ambition of the Gdansk office for the next few years will be to expand its services and also serve the offshore wind sector.
Development of the offshore sector
Archer is another company from the offshore sector, that has recently decided to open a branch in Gdansk. In September, a similar decision was made by Siemens Gamesa, which specializes in providing solutions for wind turbines. Both companies are supported in the relocation process and in terms of employer branding by Invest in Pomerania, a local government initiative coordinated by the Pomerania Development Agency that provides a wide range of services for FDI.
– We firmly believe that the offshore industry, be it wind or oil & gas, alongside the automotive and electronics sectors, will soon be the most growth-oriented direction for Pomeranian industry. The presence of corporations such as Archer represents a development opportunity for the entire region. We know that we have a highly competent workforce, which is currently a key competitive advantage in terms of location choice by foreign investors. Turning to the sea is one of the basic assumptions of our activities for the next few years – declares Mikolaj Trunin, Deputy Director, Invest in Pomerania.
Pomeranian Voivodeship Marshal Mieczysław Struk is of a similar opinion, seeing offshore engineering projects as a completely new development path for the region:
– For the Pomeranian Voivodeship Self-Government, the development of the offshore sector is an absolute priority. We see in this new industry an opportunity to give a fresh impetus to the whole economy. Naturally, due to the wind projects currently underway, most people talk about offshore wind, but it should be noted that we have extensive experience and qualifications also in the direction of oil and gas – comments Marshal.
The Pomeranian Voivodeship is becoming an increasingly attractive location for offshore investors. It is also an additional opportunity for many local companies with experience in providing products and services for this forward-looking sector.