Services
Commodities
Bicontinental Group, through its various subsidiaries and partnership arrangements, trades, transports and refines (through third parties) crude oil and petroleum products worldwide. With more than 30 years’ experience, our trading company has relationships with several major oil-producing nations.
Singapore and Switzerland remain our major trading hubs in Asia and Europe respectively. Over 60% of our products are now traded out of Singapore, largely due to demand in the Far East.
Our traders have established a network of contacts with national oil companies as well as the refineries that process our crude oil. Products traded by Bicontinental Group include crude oil, refined products and derivatives, chemicals and now metals. Whether moving products from Africa or the Middle East to Rotterdam or Singapore, our traders have the experience and the relationships to deliver safely and efficiently.
Over the years the group has maintained excellent relationships with its bankers, establishing the liquidity and lines of credit needed for large transactions.
| Product | Number of tanks | Total capacity (m³) |
|---|---|---|
| Crude oil | 4 | 80,000 |
| Fuel oil | 2 | 20,000 |
| Gasoline | 8 | 40,000 |
| Diesel | 6 | 30,000 |
Engineering, Construction & Fabrication
East and South Africa
Bicontinental group’s EPC is handled out of our affiliate’s shipyard in Durban South Africa. (Southern Africa Shipyards (SAS))
As the East African market emerges, we are well positioned in one of the largest shipyards in Africa to provide construction and fabrication services to support the growing oil/gas industry in East Africa.
West And Central Africa
In West Africa we provide services through our subsidiaries and affiliates Bicontinental Nigeria Ltd and Brown Rocks Ltd. We have a water front construction and fabrication yard in Calabar and Onne. We also have a water front yard in Lagos to support the deep offshore operations of our clients.
Oil & Gas Services
Oil & Gas (Including EPC) remains the core business of the group and constitutes a major part of the group’s business. Through our subsidiaries, affiliates and partnerships, Bicontinental is involved in the following:
Crude Oil Storage Tank Construction
Marine
Bicontinental sold its interest in UB Marine and established a joint venture with Deep Ocean of Norway. The joint venture owns and operates three marine vessels providing marine and subsea support services to the oil industry, including pipe laying, infrastructure installation, decommissioning and salvage, as well as ROV services.
Subsea
The primary aim for selling off our marine division was because the assets were meant for shallow and swamp. The industry is moving towards deep offshore; we are now focused on subsea and deep offshore marine services.
In a collaborative efforts with our partners in Norway, Scotland and Italy, we provide subsea related services including subsea intervention and installations, inspection, repairs and maintenance as well as project management.
Maritime Security
As a result of our oil trading activity, Bicontinental Group has a partnership with one of the world’s largest maritime security companies. Through this partnership we provide:
- Merchant vessel security
- Oil and gas security
- Ports and terminals
Consulting Services
- Inspection and maintenance of oil and gas facilities
- Health, safety and environmental audit
- Geotechnical studies and audits
- Erosion studies, water and soil studies, and erosion control
- Manpower, both skilled and unskilled
Drilling
Our drilling activities have been limited to Venezuela because of the long-standing contract with PDVSA through our affiliate, which ended few years ago. The land and swamp rigs are now up for sale. Our plan is to move the Rigs to West Africa.
Our yard in South Africa is available to support deep offshore rig operations.
Exploration and Production
Our 49%-owned affiliate Petroleum Development International (PDI) is the group’s exploration and production arm. PDI explores for and produces oil and gas with a focus on the emerging markets of Asia, Africa and Latin America, concentrating on low-cost operations, growth in core areas and the smooth transfer of new venture projects into operations.
PDI owns and operates several oil fields in South East Asia, including the Ramok, Senabang and Sukatani fields, and holds interests in seven fields and one exploratory block. It also holds interests in fields in Argentina, Angola, Egypt, Gabon, Oman, Nigeria and Venezuela.
Aviation Services
Bicontinental has an interest in Quest Aviation, based in South Africa. Quest Aviation provides private charter and sells and leases helicopters and aircraft.
Bicontinental has also entered into an agreement with Starlite of South Africa to provide helicopter services to support growing deep offshore operations in West Africa. Starlite provides Helicopter services to the oil companies and relief agencies. They currently provide services to oil companies and agencies in Africa and Asia.
Bicontinental’s facility in Nigeria is available for Starlite for operations. From this facility, Starlite/Quest will support offshore oil/gas operations in West Africa.
Power
The group’s focus on the emerging markets makes it impossible to neglect the very important power industry. Progasen is our 50% owned power services affiliate. Services provided in the power sector include the following:
- Project Management
- Some funding for power related projects
- Engineering Procurement and Construction
- Maintenance of structures.
Bicontinental has also partnered with Karpower to provide immediate power generation to governments in Africa and Latin America.