OAA 2014 Recognises Innovative and Successful Companies

Offshore Achievement Awards recognised some of the offshore industry’s most innovative and successful companies and individuals, with Decom North Sea chief executive Brian Nixon picking up the Significant Achievement Accolade.

Hydrasun received the award for Great Large Company, whilst Coretrax was named Great Small Company. Steve Walton, highly-regarded across the industry as a driving force for improving safety, received a posthumous Significant Achievement award for the contribution he made during his career. His widow Anne Marie collected the award.

More than 500 industry professionals came together at the 28th OAA awards ceremony at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Aberdeen Section organised and hosted the awards for the third consecutive year, with the support of main sponsor TAQA.

Talent, technology, safety and success were key themes. The two new categories for this year – Environmentalist and Inspiring Leader – were awarded to TWMA and Steven Nicol of Halliburton respectively.

Ian Phillips, director of Pale Blue Dot Energy Limited and a director of SPE Aberdeen, chaired the OAA organising committee: “Judges were impressed with this year’s nominations, which were of an exceptionally high calibre and demonstrated expertise, innovation and great promise. We introduced two new categories to recognise the importance of environmental performance and strong leadership which proved popular. With record numbers of entries, all of the finalists should be extremely proud of themselves.’’

Anthony Onukwu, chairman of SPE Aberdeen, said: “Since re-launching the OAAs three years ago, the awards have gone from strength to strength, attracting record breaking audiences and increasing entries each year. SPE Aberdeen is proud to support innovation and recognise success across the UK energy industry.” 

Brian Nixon, chief executive of Decom North Sea, said: “I am absolutely thrilled and most grateful to receive this prestigious industry award. It couldn’t come at a more appropriate time, as I will shortly be ‘decommissioning’ myself and heading into partial retirement. I believe the award recognises not just my efforts, but also those of the quite exceptional team that I have at Decom North Sea, and in particular Sarah Hillyear. So I was delighted to accept the award on behalf of the whole DNS team.”

Bob Drummon, chief executive of Hydrasun, winner of the Great Large Company category, said: “We are very honoured to have been chosen for such a prestigious award, especially in recognition of the world class calibre of the other nominations. Winning it is a fantastic achievement and clear recognition of everyone at Hydrasun’s hard work and dedication, and of the strong growth, development and overall performance of the company in recent years.”