Obadare Secures World-leading Certification

One of Australia’s leading oil field and infrastructure services providers has received international certification for its multi-million dollar Toowoomba-based manufacturing facility.

Obadare – a strategic partner within the FKG Group’s energy services division – is one of only five national companies to be issued with the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) combined ISO9001 (International Quality), API Q1 (API Quality) and API 7-1 (threaded connection products) certifications.

Obadare’s managing director Matt Warner said it was a significant milestone for the company, whose clients included Easternwell, Saxon, Schlumberger, Santos, Ensign International, Baker Hughes and Wild Desert.

“API certification is at the forefront of procurement requirements for many international companies involved with the construction, operation and maintenance of billions of dollars’ worth of oil and gas infrastructure in Australia, particularly within the Surat, Bowen and Cooper basins,” said Mr Warner.

“We (FKG Group and Obadare) have made a significant investment over the past 12 months, upgrading our state-of-the-art workshop, systems and processes to ensure all aspects of our quality management are in place.

“The API certification secures a long-term position for us within the energy services sector and gives our customers a far greater sense of risk mitigation with all aspects of delivering quality products and services,” said Mr Warner.

More than $7.5 million has been spent in the past 18 months at the company’s 5000m2 workshop, situated on a nine-acre site next to the FKG Group headquarters in Toowoomba.

FKG Group’s Systems Manager Mr Scott Carter said API certifications gave Obadare an international benchmark to help increase its scope of works particularly within the government sectors.

“We have had extensive experience working in infrastructure related activities and now we can expand and provide further services within the oil and gas markets

“Our capabilities also extend to infield services and we can offer oil and gas fabrication, maintenance inspection and re-manufacture and repair works,” he said.

API certifies more 10,000 organisations in over 60 product and service categories globally, but only five companies in Australia hold the three certifications that have recently been awarded to Obadare.

Mr Carter said Obadare was also in the process of securing additional 4F product certification relating to manufacturing well servicing structures such as drill rigs, comprising of derricks, masts, crown blocks and related substructures.

“We expect certification early next year which, once received, will make Obadare the first ever manufacturer in the Australian market to be awarded the 4F certification.

“With more than 95% of Australian-based oil rigs made by overseas companies based in China, Canada, USA and Singapore, this next level of certification will allow us to build, refurbish and re-certify rigs – something no Australian company has been authorised to undertake,” said Mr Carter.

“These certifications enable Obadare to demonstrate we are able to produce materials to the highest international standards and liaise directly with oil and gas operators to offer scopes of work which were previously inaccessible,” Mr Carter said.