The Middle East offers significant opportunities for innovation-driven companies like ICR Group, making it central to our growth strategy due to rising demand for our products and services.
We have completed numerous high-value projects in the region, including the UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait, strengthening our presence through formal partnerships and upcoming collaboration agreements.
The ADIPEC Exhibition has been instrumental in accelerating our market development, providing a platform to highlight our solutions and engage with potential clients.
Our technology- driven products, such as the composite repair technology Technowrap, the INSONO non-destructive testing (NDT) technique, and the Quickflange weldless connectors, have proven effective in the region, supporting clients’ infrastructure integrity and net-zero goals.
- In Kuwait, Technowrap 2K repaired a live 30” crude oil pipeline without downtime, surpassing a previous ineffective clamp-based method.
- In Oman, Technowrap 2K restored a 36” pipeline header system suffering from internal erosion and corrosion, ensuring leak-sealing and strength restoration. A significant defect in a 48” crude oil pipeline was repaired using Technowrap 2K, executed by trained air divers within 10 days, resulting in substantial cost savings and minimal production disruption.
- In Qatar, Technowrap 2K was trialled as a corrosion protection system on subsea pipelines, demonstrating time and cost savings and an extended service life.
- In Oman, Quickflange technology provided weldless connections for several tie-in points, with over 20 connectors installed ahead of schedule, yielding cost savings, and eliminating hot work.
These successful solutions have led to long-term agreements with operators in the Middle East. Continued collaboration with our partner network will further build our reputation and support ongoing growth in the region.
ICR Group has announced a strategic partnership with Wellube, a Unique Group company, to expand the reach of its bespoke technology solutions in the Middle East and India.
This collaboration aims to introduce ICR’s advanced products – including the Technowrap composite repair system, Quickflange weldless connections, and INSONO non-intrusive inspection technology to new markets. Wellube becomes the latest partner as ICR seeks to strengthen its global presence.
Wellube has been providing cutting-edge bespoke services to the oil and gas, renewables, power, petrochemical and infrastructure industries for over 20 years. Renowned for its engineering solutions the team brings a wealth of market presence and industry knowledge to the partnership.
Jim Beveridge, Chief Executive at ICR Group, said, “Welcoming Wellube into the ICR partner network is a significant milestone in our mission to deliver cutting-edge integrity solutions worldwide. Wellube’s strong presence in the Middle Eastern and Indian markets is ideal for the introduction our advanced technologies into new sectors and to new customers.”
Garry Kidd, Managing Director at Wellube, said: “This collaboration unites our long-standing market presence and deep understanding of the industrial landscape with ICR’s innovative solutions. We are committed to delivering unparalleled services, and the use of Technowrap, Quickflange, and INSONO will enhance our provision of turnkey solutions for our clients from start to finish.”
The partnership highlights both companies’ commitment to enhancing asset maintenance solutions. By combining Wellube’s client base with ICR’s innovative and bespoke product range, the collaboration promises to deliver a comprehensive suite of services.
ICR’s dedication to innovation is demonstrated though one of the core products, Technowrap – an engineered composite repair system. It’s a versatile long-term alternative to steel replacement that offers practical, cost-effective rehabilitation and minimal disruption to operations. Technowrap has been utilised extensively by major operators in the Middle East for applications ranging from pipework and pipelines to structures as well as significant subsea composite repair projects. The defined life repair technology for damaged pipework can be engineered to last up to 20 years providing both immediate and long-term benefits.
Further to this, INSONO, a non-intrusive composite inspection technique complements the Technowrap range. It has been developed to validate the condition and integrity of composite repairs providing operators with assurance in the application and long-term performance. The technology can detect anomalies in the bond line and interlaminar dis-bonds within composite repair material and, thereby, support and underpin asset written schemes of examination.
Quickflange, a high-performance weldless flange-to-pipe connector, is another core offering that addresses scenarios where traditional welding solutions are impractical due hot work constraints or time limitations. The innovation enhances operational safety and efficiency. Over the past 20 years, Quickflange has built up a global track record of providing rapid and safe installations generating cost efficiencies and an 80% time saving over traditional welding methods. ICR had a global network of more than 25 partners.
ICR Group has recorded its highest turnover since the business was launched in 2011 – with the Middle East playing a key role in the firm’s success.
ICR, a technology-focused provider of specialist maintenance, inspection and integrity solutions across multiple sectors, has seen increased demand across its core energy sector operations, following the roll-out of an internationalisation strategy and diversification into other sectors.
The UK firm’s turnover for its 2022-23 year-end was £41.7m, a 20% increase on its previous financial year. Headcount has increased globally by 15%, from 204 to 235, since May 2022, and the company expects to create around 50 jobs across its operations during the next phase of its strategy.
Jim Beveridge, Chief Executive Officer at ICR, said: “Our presence in the Middle East has been particularly noteworthy, with recent high-value projects completed in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. We have also solidified our presence in the region by appointing a new partner in Abu Dhabi.
“Our ongoing international expansion not only bolsters our long-term sustainability but also plays a vital role in creating meaningful and enduring employment opportunities, rightly positioning us as a contributor to the energy transition.
“The Middle East is a dynamic market, brimming with potential for innovative companies such as ICR. At ADIPEC, we are eager to foster deeper relationships with our partners and engage with organisations striving to achieve their net-zero objectives. With COP28 on the horizon, our industry must remain steadfast in its commitment to facilitating a just transition toward a lower-carbon future.”
ICR’s established technological solutions continue to play a significant part in its growth. Technowrap provides life-long repairs that can be applied to internal, external and through-wall defects on complex geometries, while INSONO is an innovative NDT (non-destructive testing) technique for the inspection of engineered composite repairs. The Technowrap repair system reduces emissions by 66% compared to the traditional replacement methods.
Quickflange offers cold work solutions with weldless, high-performance flange-to-pipe connections. It provides a permanent repair option for improving pipeline integrity and flow assurance, eliminating the need for welding or hot work. ICR’s drone division, Sky-Futures, has also secured further international work.
NAMA Development Enterprises is ICR Group’s sponsor in Abu Dhabi, while its new execution partner in Abu Dhabi is APS.
ICR Group and NAMA Development Enterprises will be exhibiting at Stand 6210 at ADIPEC.
