Providing custom engineering services and products, SWCOL is the Colombian –based representative of C&C Technologies, a US Offshore company that offers geosurvey and mapping technology. After garnering experience from a host of clients, SWCOL is ready for the new wave of offshore exploration as a result of the 2012 bidding round.
Colombia needs to gain a deeper understanding of offshore industry developments in order to get onto the right path. Its own development should tie in with the country’s existing offshore experience, but should also incorporate international offshore expertise from USA, Mexico and Norway, among others. The Norwegians are doing something very interesting on an international level, in that they are sharing their knowledge gained through operations in the North Sea. What we see is that they are interested in doing business with us, However, at the moment we lack the proper knowledge of the offshore business and what operating in that area entails.
A GOOD EXAMPLE: The fact that de country is at a disadvantage I term of offshore experience also means there is a lot of work available for the companies in Colombia, and the main objective should be to encourage professionalism in every possible field in the offshore sector. Basically, what we want to do eventually is to use the business model in pace in countries such as Norway, the USA and Mexico, where there are clear processes based on technology, strategy and self-awareness, However, we need also to be aware that the lack of knowledge of the offshore business in Colombia is so vast, that we do not even have academic programs at our universities to that end. Nor do we have the right technology. Offshore, the country is lacking in terms of marine physics, geophysics and hydrological knowledge: This need to be addressed.
WHAT WE NEED: Right now, we are in a situation where many small companies are trying to get their hands on everything. These companies offer a vast range of services, from seismic surveys to technical services and water analyses. In Colombia, companies offer at least five different services as they feel that offering just one will make them redundant. However, all those services do not fall in the same category; these companies believe that by acquiring a small second-hand ship that can offer five types of services they can fulfil their promises. What they do not realize is that they will be exhausted in no time. In such a case, not only will the project fail, but also the entire industry could be affected by the results of these amateurish operations, International explorations and productions companies are coming to the country, thinking that domestic firms already know to carry out offshore operations and Colombian service operators keep saying that yes, indeed they do know what it takes.
What we need is specialized knowledge, ships with all the required licenses, people with the right technical training and, in the long run, international knowledge and expertise to perform the task properly. With our lack of knowledge and qualified technicians we are making a huge mistake in thinking we can undertake offshore operations at this stage of the country’s development.
HOMEWORK TO DO: The first thing we have to realize is that we are in exploration mode right now, meaning that we need to start from the beginning with a seismic map in order to identity the areas with real potential. Secondly, we need to bear in mind all the risk involved with exploration and exploitation of resources from the marine subsoil, such as having to preserve shipwrecks with potential archaeological value. Some other risk accompanying this activity might be coming across pockets of gas. Therefore, surveys must be thorough so that we carefully identify the type of soil, sand or rock in the seabed before we commence drilling.
To that end, we have to bring to Colombia Experience and services from around the world. Secondly in terms of expertise, we need to familiarize ourselves with Deepwater exploration at deeps of as much of 4000 meters, in addition to gaining a better understanding of geology, doing geological services and geophysics. The country also needs to acquire experience with maritime construction and all types of sustainable energy facilities, pipelines and fiber optics. These need for construction can be considered the biggest business opportunity in the country’s Oil & Gas Industry
However, we need to be very careful in our operations. After the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, this sector is under increased public scrutiny. A lot of deliberation must go into every step in the process, from construction to where to place the buoys and hoe to anchor them. A mistake or a failed project might spell the end of the entire offshore sector in Colombia.
