Technip is known to be one of the world leaders in providing engineering services in the oil and gas sphere. Could you please tell us about the history of the company?

Technip is today a reference company in engineering, technologies, construction and project management for the oil and gas industry, and more globally, for the Energy industry. It has been a long way of continuous growth and expansion since Technip’s creation in 1958 by the French Institute of Petroleum (IFP).
Firstly as an engineering company specialized in the Onshore business, Technip developed it’s know-how in the offshore industry during the 70’s. At the same time, IFP created Coflexip, a firm specialized in the design, manufacture and supply of flexible subsea flowlines, which would later become a central part of Technip’s business. Both Technip and Coflexip developed thanks to the successive integration of complementary, high performance companies that brought an additional know-how, new talents as well as periods of organic growth. Both sides were able to develope real skills and technological breakthroughs in their respective business.
Technip marked an important advance for the gas industry when it built the world's first natural gas liquefaction plant in Arzew, Algeria in 1964 as well as with the first construction of a petrochemical complex (Liao Yang) built in China by a foreign firm in 1970. Similarly, Technip has been recognized as a leader on the refining market with the development of proprietary technology and the construction of large grassroots refineries such as Leuna (Germany) and Midor (Egypt).
On the Offshore business, Technip designed, manufactured and installed a complete range of oil and gas production and processing platforms in every corner of the world, offering innovative solutions based on proprietary concepts and standard technologies for each water depth (TPG500, semi-submersible, FPSO, Spar…). One of our significant achievements in this sector has been the Shah Deniz TPG 500 platform in Azerbaijan, a drilling and gas production platform installed in 2006 with a weight of 34 000 tons in operation.
Coflexip succeeded in developing a leading position on the subsea flowline market thanks to its ability to continuously improve its technologies and assets, providing solutions to new challenges: deeper water depths, higher pressure or temperatures, more corrosive fluids as well as tie-backs to increasingly distant platforms.
In 2001 Technip merged with Coflexip and the new unified group became a world leader in engineering, technologies and services for the oil and gas industry. In 2011, Technip acquired Global Industries and substantially expanded its addressable market in subsea. The main capabilities of Global Industries such as offshore heavy lift know-how and assets, along with Technip’s unique vertically integrated range of products and services enables Technip to  offer substantial value in the execution of complex projects from deep-to-inshore water regions.
Today, Technip is able to offer the best solutions and most innovative technologies to meet the world’s energy challenges from the deepest Subsea oil & gas developments to the largest and most complex Offshore and Onshore infrastructures. Although oil and gas business remain the main driver of our activities, the Group is developing its capabilities in renewable energy (especially in the offshore wind market) as well as with nuclear services (especially providing project management services). The Group represents about 30,000 people in 48 different countries, with state-of-the-art industrial assets in all continents and operates a specialized vessel fleet for pipeline installation and subsea construction.
In 2011, Technip’s revenue was approximately 6.8 billion € with a backlog of about 10.4 billion €.

How would you characterize the market situation on your market of services? Is competition in the segment of the market high?

The competition within the oil, gas and petrochemical support service industry is always high. This reminds us that we need to continuously strive to evolve in order to adapt to the changing needs of our clients. The medium and long-term factors that are driving Technip's markets remain solid and are based on the anticipation of an increase in future global oil and gas demand, a need for oil and gas companies to offset the natural depletion of their reserves, the decrease in production, an on-going shift towards harsh environments (e.g., Arctic and deepwater developments) and increasing requirement for complex and innovative technologies and projects (e.g., Floating LNG solutions).
In order to maintain our position as the contractor of choice for existing and new clients, we continuously invest in training resources and developing new and innovative technologies that will enhance the economical and efficient access, recovery and processing of hydrocarbon reserves in extreme and difficult to reach locations. This has also been the purpose behind Technip’s strategic acquisition of businesses that are intended to strengthen our long term position. Concerning this point, 2011 was a year of significant achievement for Technip as showed by our recent acquisitions. In September 2011, Technip launched the acquisition of Global Industries, the largest operation since the fusion with Coflexip in 2001. This has brought complementary assets and know-how, and has strengthened our leadership in subsea and offshore heavy lift capabilities. The acquisition of Subocean, a subsea cable-installation company working in the Marine Renewables sector, has created the foundation of our Offshore Wind Business unit, a new area of activity for Technip with great project perspectives. In September 2011, Technip launched the acquisition of Global Industries, the largest operation since the fusion with Coflexip in 2001. This has brought complementary assets and know-how, and has strengthened our leadership in subsea and offshore heavy lift capabilities. We have also recently acquired Cybernetix, a world leader in robotics of complex systems in hostile environments, in order to increase our technological footprint and intensify our presence in asset integrity monitoring. As well as AETech, an expert in asset integrity management.
Another main driver of our strategy is to be a local partner for our clients, which are today both IOC and NOC on an equilibrated basis. This mean it is essential for us to be close to them by a local presence, establishing strong local offices wherever possible, allowing us to react more effectively and sensitively to local issues, customs and regulations. For example, 80% of employees in any local office are local people. We invest in the places where we do business, and by being local we really aim to be close to our clients to bring them better responses to their needs.

Could you please tell us about the geography and the activities of Technip in the Caspian basin?

Technip has either been directly or indirectly involved in the Caspian region since the mid 1970’s
With an established presence in Baku, Ashgabat, Aktau, St Petersburg and Moscow we have maintained an almost continuous active presence in the region having successfully completed more than 60 high calibre projects. We have provided works and services that have encompassed the full extent of our business segments (Subsea, Offshore and Onshore) in all of the Caspian littoral states.
Technip and partners have a long history of providing offshore engineering and construction solutions to overcome the physical, environmental and resource limitations that can be encountered in accessing and operating in the land locked and remote location of the Caspian Sea. This includes the establishment of new construction facilities in Neka-Iran, Baku-Azerbaijan and Kianly-Turkmenistan. In all instances the major engineering and construction activities were undertaken with an emphasis on maximising the local content/involvement and providing benefit to the local economy.
Technip's long standing involvement in the Caspian region began in 1978 when Technip constructed the Dada Gorgud, the first semi-submersible drill platform to operate in the Caspian. The rig was built in our construction yard in Pori, Finland; and shipped in modular sections to Astrakhan for full assembly and integration. In the interim period Technip have continued to develop innovative solutions to overcome the constraints posed by the remote and land-locked Caspian Sea.
Subsequent offshore projects undertaken by Technip include the PLB Israfil Guseynov, jack-up drill rigs Astra and Iran Khazar, the upgrade of the Parker Drilling Rig 257 (aka Sunkar) and the EPCI contract for the Shah Deniz TPG 500. In 2011 we completed an EPCIC contract for Petronas Carigali and their Block 1 Development in the Turkmenistan sector of the Caspian Sea
The Shah Deniz Alpha platform at 34,000 tonnes is by far the largest completed self-installing production platform to be installed in the Caspian Sea. From the discovery of gas in 1999 through to the delivery of first gas in September 2006, Technip played a leading role in what is arguably a record for achieving one of the quickest offshore field development projects ever undertaken anywhere in the world. The in-country construction of the Shah Deniz platform resulted in excess of 23M man-hours being expended by a workforce that peaked at 3,500 in 2005. 
The Petronas Block 1 development posed a series of challenges to Technip and our construction partner, Malaysia Marine & Heavy Engineering (MMHE); in as much there were no existing construction facilities, a shortage of skilled and technical resources and a lack of supporting infrastructures. Nevertheless, the Technip/MMHE project teams managed to overcome all challenges that came their way to deliver three fixed operational platforms, an onshore gas terminal with condensate export facilities, as well as seven offshore pipelines. The first treated gas out at the onshore gas terminal was achieved on 28 June 2011 and the milestones of the project include the first ever Gravity Base Structure (GBS) to be installed in the Caspian Sea.
Most recently Technip have undertaken a number of onshore, offshore and subsea feasibility, concept and planning studies for major internationally recognised clients with confirmed oil and gas interests in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and the nearby state of Uzbekistan.
The subjects of our Onshore studies cover new or existing l facilities in all Caspian states. Most recently 15 Onshore projects in gas processing, oil refining and petrochemical fields have been completed or are under execution. These projects include the conceptual /feasibility study for an Oil/Gas & Petrochemical Complex (OGPC) for SOCAR in Azerbaijan, the FEED contract for the Shtokman Onshore Phase 1 LNG Project, a feasibility study for the Shymkent Refinery Modernization in Kazakhstan and a FEED contract for the Petronas Carigali Turkmenistan Gas Separation Project

Our offshore studies included assessment of potential solutions for artificial islands and fixed and floating alternatives that can also be adapted to overcome extreme ice loadings and accumulations. We have also undertaken studies to identify workable solutions that would enable the transit and installation of offshore facilities in the ultra-shallow water areas of the Caspian.
Technip has also been active in Subsea business within the region. They were extensively involved in conducting a development study for an international oil company and related specifically to the transport of hydrocarbons between Caspian states. Most recently Technip undertook a highly technical and complex study for an international consortium to review the management of flow assurance issues on long multiphase pipelines in very harsh operating conditions such as the shallow and ice-fast waters of the north Caspian Sea. This study allowed us to promote our Electrically Traced Heat – Pipe-in-Pipe (ETH-PiP) patented technologies
These initiatives are intended to give full consideration to the environmental and ecological needs of the Caspian which is a significant conservation area that must be respected and safeguarded. High environmental and ecological standards are enforced and all solutions must ensure they are environmentally and ecologically beneficial with minimal or zero impact.

4. Is there a strategy for the development of your company in Azerbaijan for the next five years?

In Azerbaijan and the region, in line with our overall strategy, we remain committed to further development and enhancement of our core business segments that serve the oil, gas and petrochemical industries. It is our belief that Technip’s technological expertise and practical solutions represent a genuine competitive advantage that delivers real added value to our clients
The prospect of new and significant reserves of oil and in particular gas in the region has made the Caspian the focus of worldwide attention as a relatively secure and trusted source of hydrocarbons to compliment the growing needs of the markets in developed and emerging countries. The potential for major new onshore, subsea and offshore developments in the Caspian region over the near to medium term is therefore an encouragement and we are confident that opportunities will eventually present themselves in the deep and ultra-shallow waters of the Caspian Sea and as consequence new onshore processing and transport developments will follow.
The Technip core business segments are structured to operate individually or collectively and can provide a comprehensive suite of services with a seamless interface that with the exception of drilling and geotechnical services can cover almost all a field developer’s requirements. Technip’s aim is to ensure they are adequately equipped and fully prepared to seize opportunities when they present themselves. In doing so, Technip have invested significantly in research and developing novel technological solutions and revamped engineering and construction methods that would maximise the local content and work activities at the yards and reduce the amount of offshore hook-up activities and dependency on offshore heavy lift and marine support . They are also intended to provide a simplified and cost effective decommissioning/abandonment, reclamation and reinstatement of a site back to original condition (i.e. Completely and simply reversible to installation).