Pipeline engineering specialist, STATS Group, has invested $2 million (£1.3 million) in new facilities in Houston to expand its services in the US and South American oil and gas markets.

The UK-based group, which designs, manufactures and installs pipeline isolation and intervention tools, has opened a 25,000 sq ft office and workshop facility in Brittmoore and expects to add to its US headcount over the next year.

Stephen Rawlinson, previously general manager in Canada, has been promoted to vice president for the Americas, while Scott McNae has been elevated from his previous role as global projects manager to general manager for USA operations, the company informed.

STATS believe there are project opportunities in the US onshore and offshore pipeline sector, with Houston also providing a springboard to mobilise for projects in South America.

Stephen Rawlinson said: “We recently won contracts worth more than $15 million to provide intervention (hot tapping) and isolation services to one of North America’s largest energy infrastructure companies and we believe we can replicate that success in the US.

“To be able to make the best out of emerging opportunities we need local facilities in the Gulf of Mexico and feet on the ground. This investment in Houston will provide us with a framework to get in to the tendering rounds, quickly start mobilisation when projects are confirmed and build on our track record of successful project execution in North America.

“The market potential is massive and our patented suite of intervention and isolation tools are unlike other options available in the market place, which gives us the confidence to make this investment and take a long-term approach to US growth.”

The Houston expansion follows a similar investment in Canada where the company doubled its workshop and testing facilities in Edmonton and added a project support office in Calgary.