A COMPANY behind offshore protection systems is eyeing fresh growth after securing a Norwegian oil deal.

Mech-Tool Engineering is working with Statoil on the Johan Sverdrup project.

Bosses say Johan Sverdrup is one of the largest in the Norwegian continental shelf, with production, scheduled for the end of 2019, anticipated to yield up to 650,000 barrels per day during peak operations.

According to its five-year framework agreement, Mech-Tool, which is based in Darlington, will work alongside Aibel and Samsung Heavy Industries to supply fire and blast walls, louvres and windows, as well as wind walls and heatshields for platforms to protect workers.

Anthony Jones, business development director, said the arrangement was further reflection of the company’s industry repute, having previously secured the most valuable deal in its history – a £37m contract to design and make units for a Kazakhstan oil field development.

He said: “Johan Sverdrup has been an extreme breakthrough for Norway’s oil industry and we are delighted to have been appointed as a supplier on the framework.

“Securing a contract of this nature is true testament to our engineering capabilities.”

Late last year, The Northern Echo revealed Mech-Tool, which supports its Darlington head office and a manufacturing base in the town with a site in Middlesbrough, had created 20 jobs after securing its Kazakh contract.

That deal includes scope to design, engineer, make and fit-out a field operation office module and 20 enclosures for instruments on the Tengiz oil field.

Referring to such order book highlights, which has also seen the business deliver fire and blast walls for Total’s Martin Linge project, based off the coast of Norway, Mr Jones said Mech-Tool was primed to continue its growth.

He added: “Our fire and blast products offer the complete solution, which is why we are seen as the supplier of choice across the industry.”

Last month, the Echo reported how Mech-Tool had launched HVAC Solutions, a new division focused on heating, ventilation and air conditioning, which officials said will create a handful of jobs.

It previously opened a base in Busan, South Korea, in a bid to attract new work from Asian shipyards, and helped Hartlepool-based Heerema Fabrication Group build an offshore substation platform for the Galloper Wind Farm, off the Suffolk coast.