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CHC Helicopter Awarded $500 million contract
November 22, 2010 By Carey Fredericks
Nov. 22, 2010, Richmond, B.C. - CHC Helicopter has been awarded a $300 million contract for five years with up to four years of extension options, with a potential total contract value of $500 million, to provide helicopter services for Woodside Energy’s Australian operations, possibly the largest helicopter service contract ever written in Australia.
Managing Director for CHC Helicopter’s Australian operations, Rick Burt, was proud to be working with Woodside. “Woodside continues to play a lead role in developing the North West shelf oil and gas region into one of the premier investment and production areas globally, and we are extremely proud to be chosen to assist Woodside’s continued development,” Mr Burt said.
CHC Helicopter recently announced that it would be moving its Australian headquarters to Perth to be closer to customers involved in Australia’s major off-shore oil and gas province. “We play a significant role in the off-shore oil and gas industry globally and our goal is to increase our presence in one of the industry’s fastest growing regions,” Mr Burt said.
The Woodside Energy contract will commence in June 2011, operating four EC225 aircraft and two AW139 aircraft based out of Karratha in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The Eurocopter EC225 seats 19 passengers and is the newest model in the Puma family, while the Agusta Westland AW139 seats 12-15 passengers. Over the contract term it is expected two of the aircraft will be moved to various other bases along the Northwest Shelf of Australia as required.
CHC will be making a total capital investment of approximately $150 million to provide the requisite aircraft, spare part inventory and base infrastructure. The estimated contact value is $300 million over five years and up to four years of extension options with a total potential contract value of around $500 million.
CHC anticipates some 150 new jobs will be created with this contract, mostly in Western Australia with most at their Karratha base in the State’s North West. Several growth opportunities exist for additional aircraft and bases over the term of the contract.
