|
PETROLEUM DIRECTORY: Solid reputation carries Udelhoven Oilfield System Services for three decades Company provides North Slope inspections, functional checkouts and project management Susan Braund Petroleum Directory Contributing Writer
At Udelhoven Oilfield System Services Inc., the phrase R & R doesn’t mean kick back and take it easy. Quite the contrary — at this long-time Alaska firm, it means reputation and reliability.
A privately owned Alaska business for 33 years, Udelhoven Oilfield System Services has provided construction and maintenance support for oilfield development in all of Alaska’s oil fields.
Servicing the oil, gas and power industries, Udelhoven provides quality assurance, electrical and instrumentation support, startup, pre-commissioning and commissioning activities for new construction and shutdowns, turnarounds and revamps.
On the North Slope and in Cook Inlet, the versatile company currently specializes in three areas: third party inspections, functional checkout and project management. But it also offers a variety of services in engineering, construction and maintenance. Inspection and functional checkout “As a result of many successful projects both large and small,” says Udelhoven’s President Jim Gilbert, “many clients have come to rely on our inspection and commission services to maintain quality in either existing facilities, new facilities or maintenance projects.”
Drawing from a pool of carefully selected personnel, Udelhoven provides functional verification of new or existing equipment and systems and inspection and commissioning for electrical, instrumentation, controls, piping, mechanical and welding through all phases of a project from pre-construction through training and start up. Functional checkout includes module construction and control system field testing to verify compliance with codes and regulations and to ensure system operability. Instrumentation and control Udelhoven provides the client with a single source for instrumentation and controls from conceptual planning through installation and operations.
“We install and troubleshoot programmable logic controllers and distributive control systems and make them run smoothly,” says Gilbert. “We have skilled personnel to install, calibrate and maintain instruments, controllers and valves for process control, fire and safety systems, HVAC and electrical applications.” Expanding and changing focus During the last decade, Udelhoven’s involvement on the North Slope has moved away from construction and toward quality assurance, maintenance and project management services. The company’s work was originally 100 percent oil-related, but since the oil price reductions of the 1980s, work has expanded outside of the industry.
Most of the non oil work involves electrical and mechanical subcontracting, including military projects and both rural and urban schools.
“A lot of our work is not oil and gas related. Our experience has resulted in a broad array of projects ranging in scope from piping modifications and lighting installation to complete facility construction including electrical, mechanical, structural and instrumentation. Although we can serve as a general contractor, we’re happy with being a specialty contractor, doing what we do best. We don’t need to be in control of the job. There are at least a half dozen excellent generals in town.”
“As industrial construction activities generated a large resource pool of personnel and expertise, the Udelhoven company diversified into commercial construction, acting as both a subcontractor and general,” the company says. “Projects have ranged from plumbing systems to electrical service and multi-million dollar school projects, all with the goal of remaining committed to a quality product for our clients. We offer full industrial and commercial contracting services supported by computerized job cost tracking and CPM scheduling that keeps us responsive to our clients needs.”
“In addition to being low bidder, we frequently go with Udelhoven because they are knowledgeable, objective and they get things done on time,” says Watterson Construction Co. President Bill Watterson. “In our estimation they have the best plumbing field general superintendent in Alaska. They’re really good. They catch a lot of things ahead of time that could become problems.”
Safety sense “It is our belief that safety and operational efficiency are inseparable,” says Gilbert. “Our existing comprehensive safety program has resulted in a record we are proud of and continually demonstrates to our employees our commitment to their health and well being.”Support services Frequently Udelhoven crews are asked to stay on for short or long term instrumentation and maintenance support.
“On the industrial and mechanical side of the company, inspections are ongoing and often our commission and startup inspections roll over to technicians,” says Gilbert. “Clients frequently keep us around to manage maintenance.”
Rounding out the construction, instrumentation controls and automation fields, according to the company website, the Udelhoven companies complete the range of industrial and commercial services with maintenance service to support new or existing facilities.
“Many clients have utilized this service during periods where facility manpower is reduced or shifting of personnel to other projects,” explains Gilbert. “Short and long term contracts are available, as are specialized function personnel such as fire alarm and suppression, HVAC and automation systems.” Expanding globally In addition to Alaska projects, Udelhoven companies work in a variety of locations, serving a wide range of industry, from petrochemical to power generation. Alaska offices are located in Nikiski, Prudhoe Bay and Anchorage. Two other centers are in Houston, Texas, and Maturin, Venezuela, are working together to develop new projects in the Caribbean and South America.The reputation factor “Our reputation for honesty and integrity brings us business,” says Gilbert. “Company revenues have grown 15-20 percent every year for the last five years. We don’t even have to bid a lot of our work. They come to us, especially on the oil side. But, construction contractors also seek us out as subcontractors, too. They want a proven track record.”
Company founder and CEO Jim Udelhoven has his own version of the real estate mantra — location, location, location. To him, it’s reputation, reputation, reputation. “Work can be taken from us in many ways, but our reputation is ours to lose,” he says. “Our reputation is the key that will open doors to new business in the future.”
Editor’s note: Susan Braund owns Firestar Media Services in Anchorage, Alaska.
|
