Description 



Lists of major support companies have been presented in several 

 studies (Table 13). Most of these companies lease existing commercial 

 space in frontier area harbors. They cluster together at the same 

 harbors as support bases. Petroleum companies coordinate storage and 

 shipment of supplies to offshore facilities. If a major new shore 

 support base is constructed, many general support firms could lease 

 space within the base. This locational relationship offers the most 

 cost-effective operation. In developed harbors, where the service base 

 uses existing facilities, general shore support companies will rent 

 space near the base. 



Table 13. Major OCS Support Companies and Average Employment Figures 

 (Source: Reference 28) 



Company 



Average Employment 



Mud Supplier (drilling mud) 



Wireline Company (for drilling) 



Gas Lift Company 



Logging and Perforating Company (testing) 



Welding Shop 



Rental Tool Company 



Fishing Tool Company 



Wellhead Equipment Company 



Machine Shop 



Trucking Firm 



Cementing Company (cement for drilling) 



Supply Store 



Downhole Equipment Company 



Other (includes onshore catering support) 



Total Employment 



260 



Each company is characterized by small labor requirements, using 

 small to medium-sized equipment and being physically indistinguishable 

 from other marine support activities on the waterfront. General shore 

 support companies can be placed in one of three groups. The first 

 group has a shorefront headquarters, but works primarily offshore. 

 Companies in this group, such as a diving service, use their onshore 

 base for equipment repair and administration. 



143 



