Well-Safe’s new director to play key role in expansion

Aberdeen-based Well-Safe Solutions has appointed a new director for strategy and business development, expected to secure more work for the firm’s decommissioning rigs and play a crucial role in further business expansion.

Well-Safe Solutions confirmed on Wednesday that Chris Hay was selected for the newly-created role, Director of Strategy and Business Development. The appointment is a part of the continued development of the company’s decommissioning offering in the mature fields of the North Sea.

Graeme Murray, Legal and Commercial Director at Well-Safe, explained: “Attracting Chris into this newly-created role is a strong endorsement of our operating model so far, and will no doubt add further value to our commercial strategy. Chris will play a key role in the continued expansion of the business, as we look to secure further work for our specialist decommissioning rigs the Well-Safe Guardian and Well-Safe Protector in 2022 and beyond.”

Hay holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Robert Gordon University and an MSc in Project Management from the University of Aberdeen. He is also a Member of the Association for Project Management (APM) with over 16 years of energy industry experience.

Hay commented on his new role, by stating: “Well-Safe Solutions occupies a unique position in the exciting decommissioning market, as it owns and operates two world-class, dedicated plug and abandonment (P&A) rigs with highly experienced crews.”

Prior to this role, the majority of Hay’s career was built in the integrated well abandonment and offshore drilling sectors. He was responsible for managing the UK commercial activities at a leading global drilling contractor. Hay also held several senior leadership roles across the North Sea, West Africa and Europe for Tier 1 international service companies.

“Through organic growth, Well-Safe Solutions continues to secure new contracts through its innovative P&A Club operating model. I’m thrilled to be joining the organisation at a time of considerable progress, and I look forward to further developing a robust business development strategy with the team,” added Hay.

This appointment comes during a period of sustained expansion for Well-Safe Solutions. The company added 77 employees so far during 2021. Earlier this year, Well-Safe secured two major contract wins for the Well-Safe Guardian, which is set to decommission dozens of wells in the UKCS in 2022.

The first multi-million-pound contract was awarded by Repsol Sinopec Resources for the decommissioning of 14 subsea wells in Hannay and Buchan fields off the UK. The second decommissioning contract for this rig is with CNR International for the decommissioning of up to 14 wells on the Banff and Kyle fields.

Optimised specifically for well decommissioning operations in the UK, the Well-Safe Guardian is an Earl & Wright 700 series mid-water semi-submersible unit.