Aquaterra has opened an office in Cambridge, UK to develop the analysis service currently offered by the business to global oil and gas companies.

Norwich-based Aquaterra Energy has been offering a Riser Analysis service since the company’s inception in 2005. The department provides a range of analyses to assess the structural performance, suitability and to optimise client’s subsea equipment, taking into account environmental loadings to ensure successful drilling and subsequent production operations. The Riser Analysis department has experienced 100% growth year on year which has led to the team doubling in size in the past seven months. Aquaterra has decided to establish a dedicated Riser Analysis office in Cambridge to enable the company to further expand the team and develop long term success in this service.

The choice of location is not an obvious one for an offshore service company but was driven by developing links with Cambridge University and with Europe’s largest collection of high-technology companies in the Cambridge area. Cambridge University was ranked as the top university in the world for 2011/2012 and is ranked in the top three in the world for engineering disciplines. The new office in Cambridge will allow the company to explore research and development opportunities. With options to develop technology partnerships in Cambridge, there is great potential to build on the current Riser Analysis services Aquaterra offers. Aquaterra is also keen to recruit and develop engineering graduates and by developing a link with Cambridge University hope to attract some of the best graduates entering the industry.

The Cambridge office is based at St John’s Innovation Centre, which is located at the heart of the Greater Cambridge technology cluster. Senior Analyst Dr Andrew Lennon, a graduate of Cambridge University, will lead the team, joined by Analyst Kieran O’Leary, with team expansion on the horizon. The rest of the Riser Analysis team will continue to be based at the company’s head office in Norwich, UK.

Aquaterra Riser Analysis Team Leader, Nick Stringer, said “The Riser Analysis department has experienced excellent growth over the last 12 months, and to further expand we have added the Cambridge team to our resources. Having this office in addition will significantly increase our capabilities to service our clients’ needs, to attract the highest class of graduates, and to increase the rate of our technical development. The location also offers many exciting opportunities to develop partnerships with the University and other likeminded high class technical companies in the area.”

Dr Lennon has already taken the opportunity to introduce Aquaterra Energy to Cambridge University, presenting a research seminar at Cambridge University Engineering Department on the 2nd December. The presentation entitled ‘Structural Analysis for Sub-sea Engineering’ provided an overview of the importance of analysis to subsea operations and how this is conducted by Aquaterra Energy.