NORTH-East based Tracerco has opened its 12th office, increasing its customer base in the emerging oil and gas market in South-East Asia.

Tracerco, which is part of the Johnson Matthey group, has opened an office in Perth, Australia, to take advantage of opportunities in the Southern Pacific region.

The company employs 110 people, including 90 at its headquarters in Billingham, and has branch offices in Scotland, the US, Canada, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

Bram Beinart, regional business manager for Tracerco Perth, said: "It is a pleasure to represent a world-class business such as Tracerco and to be able to demonstrate the value of our products and services to the West Australian oil industry."

Tracerco also recently opened an office in Bergen, Norway, to deal with oil and gas companies there.

General manager Magne Husebo said: "Opening a base in Norway will help us form closer links with our Norwegian customers."

Tracerco provides services, technology and instruments for the oil, gas and petrochemical industries.

The new team celebrating the opening of the Perth office was joined by British Consul to Australia Stuart Gregson.

Parent company Johnson Matthey Catalysts has research and manufacturing sites worldwide, including Teesside, and develops technology to speed up processes used to manufacture fuels, medicines, food, clothes and packaging.