MCS Sets its Sights on Enhanced Global Subsea Integrity

04 June 2009

Leading subsea engineering company MCS, a Wood Group company, has announced plans to strengthen its global expertise in the critical subsea integrity management market.

Chris Saunders, group services leader for integrity management has relocated from Aberdeen to Perth, Australia, to grow the developing business stream in the rapidly expanding Australian market.

An industry specialist with more than 12 years experience in this field, Saunders has played an integral role in steering the company's success in integrity management since joining MCS in 2005.

Ian MacLeod has taken over as the integrity management team leader in Aberdeen. A mechanical engineer, Ian has eight years riser experience in offshore projects with MCS and recently completed a two year secondment with BP's subsea operations team.

“With global oil and gas production increasingly coming from subsea wells, the demand for and the complexity of riser systems is growing and this is an exciting time for MCS to be pushing its capabilities in subsea integrity management,” said Saunders.

“We have a proven track record with many of the majors both in the North Sea and internationally and are in a unique position to ensure the quality of systems, engineers and technologies needed for this challenging area of offshore development. The move to Perth has allowed me to focus on further enhancing our expertise in the key Australian market to develop and grow our global capability.”

MCS has been involved in over 90% of the UK North Sea's FPSO projects involving flexible pipe. With over ten years experience in developing and implementing integrity management strategies for flexible and rigid pipe subsea systems in the North Sea and internationally, the company has also been involved in writing the industry guidelines on flexible pipe integrity management and leading a joint industry project specifically focused on the subject. This extensive experience has positioned them as leading experts in integrity management strategies for subsea systems.

Operations director Enda O'Sullivan, who leads the Perth office, said: “We have had an exceptionally buoyant three years since MCS Perth was launched in terms of establishing and expanding a solid client base. As part of our ongoing growth strategy it was vital that we increased our capabilities in this key oil and gas region.

“Having someone of Chris' experience come on board to lead our development in the ongoing integrity management of subsea systems provides MCS with the platform for continued growth in the future.”

With more than 200 employees and offices in Galway, Aberdeen, Houston, Rio, Perth, Paris and Kuala Lumpur, MCS is a subsidiary of international energy services company John Wood Group PLC (“Wood Group”). It provides engineering solutions including riser design experience, proprietary software and subsea integrity management across a wide variety of projects worldwide.