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Aberdeen energy company signs landmark Chinese joint venture agreement

Following participation in a trade mission to China run by Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, an Aberdeen company has signed a major technology deal in Quingdao with SINOPEC, one of China 's largest companies and its biggest oil producer.

Tischuk International, which recently moved into new offices in Carden Place in Aberdeen , has agreed with SINOPEC to jointly develop a Chinese language version of Tischuk's Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) technology.

Risk-based inspection technology helps operators of industrial facilities to operate their plants more safely and profitably. Tischuk International developed its original spreadsheet-based RBI applications for petrochemical plants in 1988 and went on to introduce inspection program developments for North Sea oil and gas production facilities in 1990.

Tischuk has since developed risk-based technology suitable for a wide range of industries including steel manufacture, food processing, power generation, mining, ship equipment and building systems management.

The ground-breaking agreement will transform Tischuk's business and could double the company's work force.

"Tischuk International is a relatively small company but it is focused on RBI, and has an open and flexible policy," commented Mu Shanjun, Deputy Director of the SINOPEC Safety Engineering Institute.

"The reason we chose Tischuk International as a partner was because of its belief in a localised approach to RBI."

SINOPEC is one of the world's largest oil companies with more than 300 installations including 78 refineries and petrochemicals plants and numerous oil and gas fields. According to Tischuk, this joint venture agreement may also open up other opportunities in China as other Chinese national energy companies are targeted for potential uptake of the new Chinese language product.

RBI tools allow oil producers and operators of major process plants to work out how best to maintain the equipment at the plant so that it is fit to perform its intended function. They work out the risk and create suitable inspection and maintenance plans, based on the level of risk associated with each plant item.

As well as its participation on the oil and gas-focused trade mission to China , which was supported by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), Tischuk has also used a number of export support services provided by UKTI through Business Gateway International North East Scotland, of which Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce is a member.

Visit Tischuk International at www.tischuk.com