Specialist Services Group Celebrating 38 Years

This year, Specialist Services Group is celebrating 38 years of operations as a global supplier of oilfield equipment, modular buildings and packaging solutions for people and equipment in the oil and gas, utility, petrochemical, power, renewables, and defence industries.

Throughout almost four decades, we have developed and refined an international capability in design, engineering, manufacture, installation, and support across our broad range of products and services. At the same time, we have also expanded geographically, with the aim of supporting our clients worldwide through our facilities in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and North America.

A Brief Overview of Our Milestones

Founded in 1982 as ASCO Specialist Services, in 1985, Specialist Services became a sole proprietorship company owned by Philip Bond. During the first decade of its operations, the company provided quality products and solutions for some of the key players in the Oil & Gas industry, such as TOTAL ABK, Bundoq, Saudi Aramco, and Larsen and Toubro, among others.

Our Facilities

During the first 20 years, our facilities expanded first in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, followed by 15 years of global expansion first into South East Asia and Australia markets with Specialist Services Holdings Pte Ltd established in Singapore in 2010, and in Europe through the acquisition of Labtech Services Limited in Aberdeen, UK, in 2011. This was followed by the setup of a new company in India, Specialist Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd., and two Joint Venture Companies with RedGuard from the USA, including RedGuard Specialist Services based in UAE (2016) and Specialist Services RedGuard based in the USA (2017).

Our Product Range

Known in the industry as a provider of reliable and internationally compliant products, we started with Buildings, fire rated products and EPC projects. Over the last two decades, we then expanded our solutions range by adding Modular Hire, Drilling, Testing, Production and Process Packages (DTPP), as well as turn-key Facilities Management Solutions.

Throughout the years, we have been continuously innovating our products and services, to provide the best solutions for our clients. Within our DTPP solutions, we lead the market designing and delivering onshore and offshore modular well test packages, we have produced the world’s first scalable and flexible modular early production facilities, and also developed and delivered a stand-alone process heater with Sil 2 burner management system for Zone II hazardous area installation. Within our Buildings product range, we provide fully modular living quarters and stressed skin living quarters, and recently we also introduced and delivered modular shooting ranges, modular blast-rated multi-level plant control buildings, and stand-alone self-sufficient blast-rated and gas over-pressured refuge buildings. Within our Modular Hire division, we have also developed the world’s largest ABS compliant offshore accommodation fleet.

Our quality assurance processes and certification verify that our products and services meet the highest quality standards. Our latest certification includes Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 450001:2018.

Our Largest Projects

Throughout the years, within our Buildings division, we have worked on various large projects, such as 58 Man Living Quarters for ConocoPhillips, Bongkot Phase 4A Living Quarters Platform for PTTEP in Thailand, a 50 man Living Quarters Extension for Chevron in Thailand, Local Equipment Room and Local Control Room Buildings for Zakum Development Company (ZADCO) in UAE, a Control Building for Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) in Kuwait, Substation Modules for National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC) and ADMA-OPCO in UAE, and the latest large project—70 Man 4-Level Living Quarter for Mubadala Petroleum in Malaysia, among others.

Some of Our Latest Achievements

In 2013, DNV GL awarded us the renewal of the DNV Manufacturing Survey Arrangement (or MSA), confirming once again Specialist Services’ high quality and reliable products manufacture, while in 2014, the Public Health and Safety Department of Dubai Municipality awarded Specialist Services as a role model organisation in the manufacturing sector for the management of occupational health and safety during the year 2012-2013. The same year, we launched the G4 Global, the first globally compliant office module, and received the Type Approval (TA) Certificate from ABS for 20ft A60 4 Men Portable Accommodation Modules. A year later, we launched FLEX 33 Accommodation Modules, compliant with the stringent ABS code.

In 2016, Zakher Marine International awarded us a rental contract for a 77-module, 150 man TLQ complex to accommodate ZADCO personnel offshore Abu Dhabi—one of the largest TLQ projects in the world. The same year, we also celebrated 6 million man-hours without Lost Time Injuries. Since 2017, we have been also achieving very high Customer Loyalty Score results, above 70%, and since 2019 over 80%, which reflect a high level of customer satisfaction with our solutions. This year, Abdul K. Molla, Welder at Specialist Services, won the first prize at SteelFab 2020 in UAE, proving the high level of professionalism of our employees.

This is just a short snapshot of some of our achievements, proving our quality and professionalism in all aspects of our business. While we are proud of what we have accomplished over almost four decades, we still have ambitious plans for the future.

CoverSix Modular Firing Range

CoverSix Shooting Training Range interior

Specialist Services have successfully completed a 2-lane x 15m CoverSix Modular Firing Range project

CoverSix Shooting-Training RangeSpecialist Services were awarded a contract to design, manufacture, install and commission a 2-lane x 15m CoverSix Modular Firing Range.

Project: CoverSix Modular Firing Range
Client: Confidential
End User: Confidential
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Project Completion: November 2019

Project Requirements

Specialist Services were awarded the project for the design and manufacture of a modular firing range with the following specifications:

  • 2 firing positions (lanes)
  • 15m firing distanceCoverSix Shelters
  • 100% ballistic containment with a Zero Surface Danger Zone
  • 100% fresh air ventilation system
  • Overhead retrievable targetry
  • Bullet Trap
  • Integration of judgemental / use-of-force simulation for laser and live fire training
  • Integration of visual and audio effects systems to create an immersive training environment

Solution

Specialist Services proposed a CoverSix Modular Firing Range (MFR), fully compliant with the specifications and requirements provided from the Client. The MFR consists of two (2) CSC certified modules, joined to create a 100% ballistically-contained indoor firing range, capable of supporting both static and tactical training exercises.

CoverSix Shooting Range Ballistic ContainmentBallistic Containment

To ensure ballistic containment of the CoverSix MFR, we utilized proven and successfully tested techniques, material, and equipment, which provide 360° ballistic containment with a zero surface and vertical danger zone (SDZ/VDZ). This was achieved through lining the interior walls, floor and ceiling with 12mm thick SSAB Hardox AR500 steel plates. We combined these with BSW Regupol E43 shredded rubber tiles, which were offset from the steel plate to prevent ricochet or backsplash towards the origin of fire, even in the event of a negligent discharge.

CoverSix Shooting Range Bullet TrapBullet Trap

The Client opted for a Granulated Rubber Bullet Trap, which is located directly behind the 15m target position, to capture the majority of rounds fired downrange. The bullet trap consists of a mild steel frame supporting a sheet steel platform, with a thick layer of rubber granules placed on top of the platform. The rubber granules provide a 60cm thick layer on the platform, which is positioned at an angle of 37 degrees. Due to the layer of rubber granulate, when rounds are fired into it, the friction between the granules and the rounds decelerates the rounds, bringing them to a complete stop.

CoverSix Shooting Range TargetryTargetry

Each of the MRF’s firing positions includes an overhead retrievable target. To enhance training value, the targets move 15 meters downrange, can be programmed to stop on time or in a preloaded scenario, and stop or move with intervals of 1m. To help create an immersive training environment, the targets also have back and front lighting, strobe and distraction lighting.

Air Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation

A key component of the MRF is the Air-Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation (ACMV) system. The MFR was delivered with a pre-packaged and fabricated ACMV system, designed to ensure a minimum airspeed of 0.38m/s at 1.5m above finish floor level, and a laminar airflow along the length of the range with no eddies or backflow of ventilation air allowed. To comply with environmental regulations and best practices, the ACMV system was fitted with a three (3) stage filter system for the exhaust air. The system consists of MERV 6 – 2″ pleated pre-filters, MERV 14 stiff pocket bag filters, and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) 99.97% at 0.3- micron filters, ensuring that all contaminants and toxins generated during firing are not discharged into the atmosphere.

Conclusion

CoverSix Shooting Training Range interior

CoverSix Shooting Training Range exterior

CoverSix Shooting Range Interior lighting

 

 

 

 

 

The CoverSix MFR was delivered and successfully installed on the Client’s site in October 2019. Commissioning was undertaken in conjunction with the Client and the MFR was declared fully operational in early November 2019.

CoverSix Dedicated Website for Defence and Security Solutions

RedGuard has been successfully providing products to the US military and defence clients for several years now under the CoverSix brand, and together with Specialist Services, we have taken this product range globally through our Joint Venture Company—RedGuard Specialist Services. With a wide variety of modular buildings for protection and security, CoverSix has now a dedicated website, providing detailed information about these hardened structures.

The product line features modular buildings equipped with customised threat mitigation, such as ballistic resistance, blast resistance, and resistance to forced entry. CoverSix also includes modular training range facilities, custom-outfitted ISO containers for use as mobile office locations and portable storage units. Scalable in size, CoverSix has a solution to keep personnel and assets safe and secure, no matter where duty calls.

At Specialist Services, we understand that mission-specific requirements are complex and can vary depending on your mission requirements. Therefore, together with RedGuard, we decided to provide those in the defence and security industry with a website focused entirely on their requirements.

With our strategic alliance with RedGuard, we are able to immediately address the requirements for specialised and hardened modular buildings serving the needs of defence, federal, and security customers worldwide.

Specialist Services Group Event 2018

We are glad to share with you a snapshot from the Specialist Services Group Event 2018, which took place in Dubai on 15th March 2018.

The event started with a Group Conference at the Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel in Dubai, with presentations from the Management Team related to the Group Vision 2020, our projects and services, our two joint venture companies (RedGuard Specialist Services based in Dubai and Specialist Services RedGuard based in Houston), and our business transformation activities.

After the conference, we all enjoyed a dinner cruise on board Bateau Dubai, where we signed our commitment to the Vision 2020 and participated in a team competition. The event concluded with the distribution of Long Service Awards to our employees achieving 10, 15 and 20 years of service at Specialist Services. Congratulations again to all awardees!

 

In below video you can take a look at a snapshot from the event.

Technical Article about blast protection published in Hydrocarbon Engineering

Blast Protection

Despite the challenging economic situation since 2008, with a further downturn in the oil & gas industry in 2013, we have seen a continuous progress in the blast-resistance industry. Even though blast-resistant modular buildings design and engineering advances, there are still gaps related to certification, regulation and blast testing guidelines.

In this technical article, Natasa Kobal, Marketing and Communications Manager, speaks to Hydrocarbon Engineering exploring the best industry practices and options available to protect people and assets from blast in oil, gas and petrochemical plants. Read the full article at: https://d1tp9je03a4iqr.cloudfront.net/flip/hydrocarbon-engineering/2018/March/d13f4fJ.html#26
Even though in some cases facilities are well run and undergo regular checks and improvements, a major blast could occur without warning for various reasons. It is, therefore, important to take all the necessary precautions in order to minimise risks and ensure blast protection.

 

There are still no official regulations covering the requirements related to blast-resistant buildings. As such, it is important to select effective providers of blast-resistant buildings, which have introduced their own high standards to ensure personnel and assets safety in case of a blast. Engineered to our industry-leading safety specifications, each RedGuard Specialist Services blast-resistant module adheres to the requirements of API RP 753 and API RP 752 and applies a proven, successfully blast tested design.