Apache North Sea managing director Jim House said the US-owned firm was “in it for the long run” in Scottish waters after a move to new headquarters on the outskirts of Aberdeen.
He told the Press and Journal last night Apache was still chasing new targets in the area – through organic and sustainable growth – to support its drilling activities.
Apache’s commitment to its UK North Sea business is highlighted in a 15-year lease, with two five-year extension options, for its new offices at the Prime Four business park at Kings-wells.
The company has moved all 460 of its north-east employees to the new building, Caledonia House, from three separate Granite City locations.
Apache’s workforce in Europe’s energy capital previously worked out of offices in Dyce – Alba Gate and an annexe – and Grampian House, off Union Row, which the firm inherited from Mobil.
The relocation got under way on Thursday and everybody was unpacked and ready to start work at the new site yesterday.
Mr House said the move went remarkably smoothly, apart from a few “minor IT challenges”, adding: “It had been a long-term strategy of ours to get everyone under one roof.”
Apache, whose parent is based in Texas, will soon be joined by Nexen and Transocean in the first phase of Prime Four.
Last August, developer Drum Property Group started work on a new building for Premier Oil as part of a second phase.
Other tenants at the £125million-plus business park will include De Vere Village Urban Resort and a recently-launched joint-venture, OneSubsea, between energy service giants Cameron and Schlumberger.
Mr House said Apache’s “long-awaited” office move was the latest in a series of developments built on the success of the Forties field, in which the firm has a majority stake. Recent investment in Forties, including on a new satellite platform, Forties Alpha, is expected to extend the life of the North Sea’s first big oil find by 20 years.
Apache was substantially boosted by the 2011/12 acquisition of the assets of Mobil North Sea, including the Beryl field, from ExxonMobil.
The £1.1billion takeover gave Apache new exploration and development opportunities, including operated interests in the Beryl, Nevis, Nevis South, Skene, and Buckland fields and non-operated stakes in Maclure, Scott and Telford.