This section contains an overview of AOTP-its location, facilities and structure as well as a look at its advantages. The document can be read as a whole, but clicking on the boxes at the top will take you to specific areas of interest within it. If you see any thumbnail images within the document, clicking on them will bring up a larger view.











Fundamental to the future of the oil and gas industry is the development of innovative new technology.

Research and development into new technologies and enhancing existing capabilities will undoubtedly extend field life, open up new frontiers and increase the number of marginal and satellite fields that can be developed cost-effectively.



In turn, technological advancement in subsea applications, drilling and downhole technology, deepwater, HP/HT, environmental, safety and IT innovations are key areas which will allow the industry to break new ground in safe and effective field developments.

In 1987, the Aberdeen Offshore Technology Park (AOTP) was established in Aberdeen, Scotland to cater for a nucleus of technology development. Today many of the industry's key technological requirements can be met through a range of open access research facilities on the Park.

As the oil industry strives to reduce costs, the pooling of technology development funding is critical to maximising innovation - a trend being actively encouraged by the AOTP project team by facilitating the location of key Joint Industry Projects (JIPs) on the Park.

By 1992 the 22 acre first phase of the AOTP was complete and fully let. The Park has now been extended by a further 50 acres and companies can locate their technology development facilities, project teams and JIPs here, and enjoy a range of benefits which will all help to reduce the cost of technology development.

A range of building options are available and this document encapsulates the reasons why any company moving on to the AOTP will gain real competitive advantage.




The Aberdeen Offshore Technology Park is unique in the oil and gas industry worldwide - it is the only single site facility which can cater for most of the industry's R&D requirements. It provides a base for companies to carry out R&D activities in Aberdeen - the hub of North Sea operations. Aberdeen is well placed for access to other European Community (EC) markets and as an efficient base for African, FSU and Middle Eastern operations. Adjacent to Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, the site of Offshore Europe, the AOTP offers exceptional access to all the support services required for technology development.

Aberdeen enjoys an excellent internal and international transport network with comprehensive road, rail, air and sea connections.

Scotland is proud to have an unrivalled historical pedigree in the field of academic research with its universities offering a quality research service to the oil and gas industry:a resource which the AOTP project team is actively utilising through the formation of strategic alliances with many of the key academic forces in technology development and research worldwide.

While the focus of oil related R&D activities is centred upon the AOTP, there are a host of research facilities in Aberdeen and throughout Scotland - for example, the National Hyperbaric Centre, Scottish Subsea Technology Group, RGIT Survival Centre and the National Engineering Laboratory.

Aberdeen has a wide range of major oil industry support organisations located in the city. These include the Department of Trade and Industry, the International Association of Drilling Contractors, the Offshore Contractors Association, the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association and many other professional bodies which meet regularly to foster debates on a wide range of relevant technical subjects.

Over 30 oil companies are based in Aberdeen and over 3,000 service and supply companies are based in Scotland. Together they employ over 54,000 oil and gas personnel. Aberdeen is home to one of the most skilled and highly trained oil and gas workforces in the world and which offer a sound resource base when considering research and development needs.





Any company locating its technology development and research activities onto the Aberdeen Offshore Technology Park will experience real and tangible benefits.





Many factors combine to ensure that companies locating on the AOTP will benefit from highly competitive R&D costs.






The range and diversity of grants, loans and incentives that are available from a range of public and private sector bodies for companies carrying out eligible R&D projects in Aberdeen is very significant. Companies located on the Park qualify for assistance from the EC's THERMIE programme - established to stimulate the development of new energy technologies. Historically companies have been able to fund 35 - 40% of project finance requirements via THERMIE contributions.

Other funding sources with the potential to reduce R&D costs include the Oil and Gas Projects and Supplies Office, the Scottish Office, Scottish Enterprise, Grampian Enterprise and the local authority

Costs may also be reduced by the synergy afforded in locating alongside other companies working for success in R&D, such as the Petroleum Science and Technology Institute, the Marine Technology Directorate and National Engineering Laboratory.

By locating onto the Park in the centre of North Sea operations in Aberdeen, there is a real possibility of joint venturing with like-minded and technology driven organisations who are experienced in both innovative technology and the administrative/financial activities needed for success in research and development projects.



The AOTP houses a range of open and closed access facilities run by independent scientific research organisations, private research companies, and service, supply and oil companies.





Open access research facilities are open to any company or individuals while the closed access facilities are privately owned and operated. Companies operating the latter are still able to use any of the Parks open access facilities.

These combine to form a cluster of R&D activity which contributes to technology development via a pooling of resources and a reduction in cost.

Examples of the facilities located on the Park include:

The Innovation Centre
- 21 units totalling approximately 10,000 sq.ft of purpose built office and laboratory accommodation for project teams or smaller service and supply companies involved in R&D. The Innovation Centre offers very flexible accommodation in terms of space and lease term arrangements.

Offshore House
- a purpose built office complex comprising 4 units of approximately 2,200 sq.ft., each designed to house project teams. The building has been designed to cater for short term expansion during the life of any particular project.

Downhole Technology Centre (DTC)
- an open access downhole technology development, test and demonstration facility on a 7 acre site. The DTC has the UK's largest land rig which was used to drill the Centre's three onshore wells - a high pressure well, a large diameter cased hole and the world's first open access horizontal test well.

Elf Enterprise Caledonia
- a 6.2 acre proprietary R&D facility for one of Europe's most highly respected oil and gas companies.

Petroleum Science and Technology Institutes (PSTI)
- all of the contract research facilities for the UK national petroleum institute are based on the Park

AEA Technology
- the only API standard testing facility of its type outside the USA, AEA Technology operates a series of advanced test pits for the calibration of nuclear logging tools.

CALtec Flow Loop
- a 10 loop used for R&D into the effective operation of pigging and technologies andotherhydrodynamic activities.