Statoil has chosen Prime Four Business Park in Kingswells, Aberdeen as the location for its new operations centre and head office for development and production activities on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS).

Prime Four Business Park is currently under development, approximately five miles (seven kilometres) west of Aberdeen city center.

Statoil and developer Drum Property Group have agreed heads of terms for a new 60,000 square foot facility, built to Statoil’s specifications.

The parties are currently in the process of finalising terms and determining the building design. A final lease agreement is expected shortly. Subject to planning consents, construction is planned to begin late 2014, with completion and move-in early in 2016.

“This solution will give us modern and functional facilities for safe and efficient operations of the Mariner field,” says Gunnar Breivik, vice president for Statoil’s Western Europe business unit and head of the company’s Aberdeen office.

The process of selecting a long term property solution for Statoil in Aberdeen was initiated in 2012, and a total of 28 different options were identified.

“We are encouraged by the interest and attention we have received from the city, and we feel very welcome as a new entrant to Aberdeen’s thriving oil industry,” Breivik says.

Initially Statoil will use 45,000 square feet of the new building, with an option to request the remaining 15,000 square feet within one year of taking entry. Statoil also has the exclusive right to an additional 30,000 square feet on an adjacent site.

Statoil first established a presence in Aberdeen in 2012 in connection with the final investment decision for the more than USD 7 billion Mariner oil field development. The Mariner field is due to come on stream in 2017 with a production period of at least 30 years. Statoil is also operator for the Bressay project, currently in a concept evaluation phase, and is increasing its exploration activities on the UKCS.

“We are in the middle of a significant recruitment effort for our Aberdeen operations centre as well as for offshore positions on the Mariner field. We are confident that the new office at Prime Four Business Park in Kingswells will be an attractive workplace for current and future employees, providing us with valuable flexibility for long term growth and expansion in Aberdeen. We are looking forward to working together with Drum to realise this project and growing our presence here,” says Breivik.

Statoil’s office will be part of the second phase of the Prime Four Business Park development. Construction of the first phase was concluded earlier this year.

“As a world class company Statoil were clearly a very attractive prospect for the park,” comments Drum Managing Director Graeme Bone.

“Having considered a number of sites in the City and Shire for their new operation, we are delighted that they have settled on Prime Four and their arrival further cements the park’s growing reputation as a world-class working environment for the energy industry,” Bone said.

CBRE is acting as Statoil’s commercial property agent.

Press Release, April 11, 2014; Image: Statoil