DRAKKEN: Top Tier Project Management for World’s Energy Sector

“We have the capacity, capabilities and experience to successfully execute any project from concept to commissioning,” Drakken offers of its versatile service approach, with experience in both turnkey and package based options to deliver the most effective and viable solutions on a global scale.

To date, through its partnerships, the company has notched up in excess of 600,000 barrel of oil equivalent (BOE) of production commissioned, more than 100,000 man days of safe work and created over 125,000 engineering deliverables. A world-wide reach and continual focus on business excellence in all facets sees Drakken positioned to offer peerless project management solutions including HSE plans, document control, procurement expediting and logistics support.

“Our veteran team of industry professionals have the experience and expertise to execute projects of any scope and setting,” the company explains. “From deserts to deepwater, we pride ourselves on our ability to manage every aspect of a project to create comprehensive solutions that minimise costs and maximise support and functionality.”

SEAMLESS, PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Drakken specialises in delivering integrated electrical, automation and instrumentation services to the oil and gas, utilities and other industries – CEO Ben Watts elaborates for Energy Focus on the company’s main functions. “Drakken is a ‘system integrator’, specialising in electrical instrumentation and controls for complex industrial and utility projects,” he says, “with 12 years of experience in the world’s most challenging regions. We are obsessed with finding a better way for the world to execute projects,” he openly admits.

“Drakken has diversified into marquee utility projects in the Middle East, in conjunction with our principal market of energy production. Typically, we work in partnership with engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors that focus on the process and mechanical scope. These firms typically require integration support for electrical and instrumentation (E&I) and the balance of plant.

“On projects that leverage our full potential, we work alongside Tier 1 clients, and assume this position for them, to optimise the design which we then we take from concept to commissioning. Drakken has the personnel for engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and maintenance,” he details.

“From design and construction to installation and commissioning, to technical support and maintenance services, we provide a management team that understands the needs of the client and those of the project. By providing a single point of contact and taking ownership of the project from start to finish, we can ensure a seamless and professional experience.”

There is a wealth of experience contained within the Drakken engineering team, Watts adds, ensuring the deliverables are created upon specific project requirements, ranging from basic cost-effective design to complex detailed design. Drakken’s agile approach to project management and design ensures that today’s supply chain challenges are addressed and incorporated into the design as necessary to meet project requirements and schedule. 

“Our three primary areas are in electrical, instrumentation and control, and telecommunication systems,” he says, and within each are reams of services and operations rendered on the engineering side.

“At Drakken, we understand that project and construction management is an integral part of every job,” he delineates, and under this umbrella Drakken again caters for everything within those same three primary systems, while adding a suite of services and deliverables on top. The company also takes care of fabrication and procurement across this scope of supply, while Watts highlights a proven testing and commissioning system for further comment.

“This is composed of experienced technicians, supervisors, managers and specialists equipped with proprietary software for the effective development of commissioning systems, testing equipment and tracking the completion of activities,” he details.

“Drakken then steps in to provide operations, maintenance and call off support for its clients. Our teams execute daily operation and maintenance of electrical, instrumentation and automation systems for energy production facilities, industrial manufacturing and processing facilities and commercial buildings. We employ highly-trained electrical, instrumentation and automation personnel to provide a full-service offering, while our field personnel integrated with our engineering and project teams to deliver solutions quickly and effectively for each client and facility, in any location.

“Our integrated business model, along with our electrical, controls and instrumentation expertise and international experience, has helped us achieve an excellent track record of success,” he states, and this, along with such an exhaustive service offering, has been central to allowing Drakken to put itself in the enviable position of being first in line when these experienced clients under the Tier 1 bracket have opportunities arise.

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY LEADER

“Because our clients trust us as a project partner we have a competitive advantage in terms of winning new work due to our existing relationships,” Watts relays. “What we are now most keen to explore is expanding our partnership market; we have made collaboration a part of our DNA, using efficient systems, hiring and developing the best people in an integrated global footprint and challenging the status quo, and as part of this we are always looking to keep developing and expanding.”

There is a revival in in the industry post-COVID which has seen upward commodity pricing pressure, driving an increase in project capital in the Middle East, and Africa.   We are picking up more conventional work as well as organically winning new clients. The relationships that we have forged with OEMs, including Emerson MAS and others, have catapulted us into some new spaces.

“As we do this, we are expanding our technical reach with regards to current technology leaders and control systems platforms and looking carefully at different applications brought to the market with the energy transition.” Watts also touches on last year’s announcement of Drakken’s landmark partnership with CarbonAi, in a new technology venture focused on the integration, automation and acceleration of greenhouse gas emission management and emission reduction projects.

“Its principal interest is in developing carbon offset projects from a full scope perspective,” Watts says, adding that CarbonAi’s proprietary software platform lies at the forefront of technology to facilitate and accelerate transparent emissions reduction projects. “We find the right clients and then assist the project in moving forward from a carbon finance perspective, ultimately creating revenue on the monetisation of the offsets.

“We see ourselves becoming a multi-disciplinary EPC company,” Watts blueprints of Drakken’s next phase, “as a trusted supplier to CarbonAi we will find access to project work for installations that revolve mostly around flare reduction. Finding ways to aggressively reduce emissions is plainly one of the world’s biggest challenges, and comes with huge opportunities for those able to seize the initiative.

“CarbonAi aims to shift the paradigm and create faster, more integrated and more effective solutions using the latest technology alongside carbon finance.

“As we continue to establish ourselves in that space, we will grow further and pick up multidisciplinary projects through our partnership network. Our expertise in global project management and large-scale projects executed across four continents uniquely positions us to create the data-led future for environmentally sound business.