> Name, job title and length of time working for Pipetech
My name is Gavin Booth, and I am the Business Development Manager at Pipetech. I joined the company in September 2017.
> What was your background prior to joining Pipetech and what made you want to pursue a career in business development?
My background has always been in the energy sector. I began my career working in the rental division of a German lifting equipment manufacturer, renting and overhauling Blowout Preventer (BOP) handling systems, monorail systems and air hoists globally. I then moved to a specialist winch rental and manufacturing company, focusing on providing large winch packages, cable spoolers and vessel mooring systems.
From there I moved into the subsea sector specialising in the supply of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), divers, decommissioning and subsea support equipment. I have generally always had client-facing roles, so business development has been a natural progression for me, and I took up my first business development position back in 2014 while working with a specialist subsea engineering company.
> Can you tell us what a typical day looks like for you and outline what your key responsibilities are?
Typically, my time is spent generating detailed commercial proposals for both the UK and Norwegian business units. This involves negotiating contract terms and conditions and working with our technical teams in the UK and Norway to propose suitable solutions for our client’s challenges. Everything we do at Pipetech is project-driven, and we work very closely with our clients during the lead-up to project mobilising. No two work scopes are the same. Each has its own specific set of challenges which we need to overcome.
A typical week will involve presenting to potential new customers, whether in the UK, Norway or further afield, attending relevant industry events and working with the team to provide accurate financial forecasting. Over the last few years, a big focus in my role has been supporting the development of our new Downhole Scale Remediation (DSR) technology. This included generating business cases for funding support and identifying engineering partners.
> What separates Pipetech from existing businesses in the market?
Pipetech owns and operates a number of patented technologies, offering topside, subsea and wellbore remediation services. We specialise in the removal of foreign body materials such as hard scales, waxes, and corrosion from the internals of various processing systems, predominately for oil and gas infrastructure. I think what sets Pipetech apart from competitors is our people!
We have a team of very loyal, long-serving professionals who have spent the last 24 years building an extensive track record and specialist knowledge in tackling scale build-up and blockages, which are persistent challenges for the energy industry. While having the right technology is important, it’s the expertise and skill of our teams in the UK and Norway that ensure these technologies are operated effectively and efficiently, allowing us to successfully execute even the most complex scopes with precision.
> Can you share an example of a successful partnership that significantly benefited Pipetech?
Partnerships are at the core of everything we do at Pipetech. We have built strong relationships with trusted partners whom we regularly work with. For example, last year, we secured a large project with a European refinery operator facing water supply challenges on-site. By partnering with a specialist water recirculation contractor in Stavanger, we became self-sufficient in water consumption for our Aqua Milling technology – one of the major reasons we were awarded the contract.
Additionally, we partnered with integrity inspection providers, allowing us to offer asset inspection services alongside our Aqua Milling remediation, delivering even greater value to our clients.
> What opportunities do you foresee for Pipetech’s growth in the energy sector over the next few years?
I think Pipetech will see growth in a few key areas. Firstly, our Norwegian business in Stavanger will be extremely busy this year with major shutdown projects, and we anticipate sustained activity in the region, especially as the Norwegian government is actively supporting oil and gas operations. In the UK, we have seen steady growth in onshore projects, particularly at large refining and processing plants.
Offshore, our core business remains consistent as the demand for asset remediation continues due to ageing infrastructure. Globally, our new DSR technology presents significant growth opportunities. The Middle East, in particular, will be a key market for Pipetech, and we’re already working with the region’s largest operator on a development project for our DSR technology.
> What has been your top highlight during your seven years at Pipetech?
The highlight of my seven years at Pipetech has been witnessing the development of our DSR technology – from a simple concept on paper to a fully developed physical prototype that has undergone successful testing. It has been a brilliant journey which has been both challenging and rewarding. Securing funding through the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) was a critical first step, followed by obtaining the necessary patents and IP rights for the technology. Now, as we move into the next phase of testing and ultimately toward commercialisation, I’m excited for what’s ahead.