An Aberdeenshire deepwater firm has announced increased staff numbers and an expansion of its facilities due to a seven-figure investment in the business.

Dyce-based Interventek confirmed today it has ploughed £750,000 into a new technology development and test centre and added six new workers to its roster.

The subsea oil and gas engineering firm now employs a total of 17 people in the north-east.

Interventek also announced increased business in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caspian Sea.

In October, the firm revealed it had secured an order in excess of £1 million for its revolution in-riser shear and safety valve from Louisiana-based Professional Rental Tools LLC (PRT Offshore).

Interventek’s new workshop has been expanded to create a technology development and test centre with a 5,000 square foot space.

The technology centre includes an overhead crane and the latest pressure and temperature test equipment.

Gavin Cowie, managing director at Interventek, said: “With the global market for our subsea technology worth in the region of half a billion pounds and the need for safer and more cost effective well intervention rising, this is a prime time for our business to be positioned to work with all types of partners from global IOCs to dynamic independents and forward-thinking service providers.

“Our new team members, with their incredibly strong design and engineering skillset, are a valuable asset to the company.

“They will help to ensure we are fully prepared for the future as we look to roll-out our portfolio of shear-seal valve designs as well as pursue our ambition for the delivery of complete subsea intervention safety systems.

“These include a landing string system, an open water riserless intervention system and well abandonment tree saver system.”