Blake – Drakken https://paperboat.agency Mon, 30 Mar 2026 07:12:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://paperboat.agency/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/cropped-DrakkenIcon_Squircle2-32x32.webp Blake – Drakken https://paperboat.agency 32 32 Driving Smarter Power in a Complex Energy World https://paperboat.agency/2026/03/29/driving-smarter-power-in-a-complex-energy-world/ Sun, 29 Mar 2026 10:40:33 +0000 https://paperboat.agency/?p=1584

Drakken help clients to be more efficient, more productive, and more competitive. It’s instrumentation automation, control system, and power distribution offerings are innovatively designed to ensure reliability. CEO Ben Watts and COO Marcel Bruyere tell Energy Focus that Drakken is now perfectly placed to grow.

The rapid and tumultuous transformation of the global energy system is reshaping demands placed on electrical infrastructure, automation, and power distribution. As power networks grow more complex and digitally integrated, operators are increasingly looking for partners capable of delivering bespoke engineering solutions rather than isolated components. In this environment, specialist systems integrators are playing a critical role in ensuring projects move from concept to operation efficiently, utilizing the most up to date technologies.

Operating at the crossroads of instrumentation, controls, and electrical systems, Drakken has built a reputation as a trusted partner to engineering, procurement and construction firms working across complex energy and industrial environments.

Adapted from our feature article

From its base in Dubai, the company has spent more than a decade supporting projects across multiple continents, developing a collaborative model that places it directly inside the operational teams of its clients.

“Our core business is turnkey electrical, instrumentation and automation systems integration. We do a lot of work with small and medium sized EPC companies, and those companies are typically lean teams that look to solutions providers like us. They outsource complex problems for us to resolve, and our best clients see us as collaborators as opposed to a vendor in their supply chain. We have always been very relationship-based and our primary objective is establishing a reputation as a trustworthy and reliable partner for our clients,” explains CEO Ben Watts.

Rather than approaching projects as a traditional contractor, Drakken positions itself as a technical extension of the client organisation, embedding expertise into the delivery process and helping project teams make the best engineering and commercial decisions.

“With our clients, we act as part of their team and the interface is genuinely removed. We focus on what is going to work best for the project as a whole, from a safety, reliability, cost and schedule perspective. This collaborative approach focuses on the overall project’s success, which benefits all stakeholders and builds trust that Drakken is not just trying to execute a contract, but building long lasting partnerships,” adds COO Marcel Bruyere.

Fast track engineering services at the Demir Dagh facility for Oryx Petroleum saw Drakken deliver oil & gas facilities via our bespoke fast track engineering services.  

That philosophy has shaped the company’s approach to project delivery for more than a decade. Engineers, automation specialists and power distribution experts work alongside project teams to refine system architecture, optimise procurement decisions and accelerate delivery timelines.

“We are a part of their team and not just an independent third-party contractor. We can provide options to optimise cost and delivery by working closely together as a partner,” says Watts.

This collaborative mindset comes at a time when automation is becoming central to the evolution of the global energy system. Industry analysts tracking the process automation and instrumentation market estimate that demand will grow strongly throughout the decade as industries pursue digitalisation, efficiency improvements and more resilient energy infrastructure. Governments are also exploring how advanced data and artificial intelligence tools can support the management of complex energy networks, enabling more efficient renewable generation.

For companies operating across large-scale energy and industrial projects, these trends are increasing the importance of system-level thinking. Electrical design, automation architecture and instrumentation must operate seamlessly together, and this is where integrators such as Drakken have built a competitive advantage.

“We look at where the client will place power distribution, how they run system architecture for controls, and how that equates to price per meter for copper. We optimise the scope of work for the project, and that can be in terms of price or quality or delivery – we have many different options through our supply chain which has been established over the last 15 years executing projects globally. We know that we provide a lot of added value in that space and it forms a large part of our USP,” Watts continues.

Drakken delivered an advanced E-House for Nigerian FPSO, incorporating electrical, instrumentation and advanced automation.

Collaborative Growth

That philosophy has shaped the company’s approach to project delivery for more than a decade. Engineers, automation specialists and power distribution experts work alongside project teams to refine system architecture, optimise procurement decisions and accelerate delivery timelines.

“We are a part of their team and not just an independent third-party contractor. We can provide options to optimise cost and delivery by working closely together as a partner,” says Watts.

This collaborative mindset comes at a time when automation is becoming central to the evolution of the global energy system. Industry analysts tracking the process automation and instrumentation market estimate that demand will grow strongly throughout the decade as industries pursue digitalisation, efficiency improvements and more resilient energy infrastructure. Governments are also exploring how advanced data and artificial intelligence tools can support the management of complex energy networks, enabling more efficient renewable generation.

For companies operating across large-scale energy and industrial projects, these trends are increasing the importance of system-level thinking. Electrical design, automation architecture and instrumentation must operate seamlessly together, and this is where integrators such as Drakken have built a competitive advantage.

“We look at where the client will place power distribution, how they run system architecture for controls, and how that equates to price per meter for copper. We optimise the scope of work for the project, and that can be in terms of price or quality or delivery – we have many different options through our supply chain which has been established over the last 15 years executing projects globally. We know that we provide a lot of added value in that space and it forms a large part of our USP,” Watts continues.

In partnership with Brent Subsea Services, Drakken now delivers more comprehensive integration & maintenance capability.

Agile, ambitious

While the broader market continues to evolve, Drakken’s leadership believes the company is entering a new phase of development. A management buyout completed in 2025 has brought decision making closer to the operational heart of the organisation, giving the leadership team greater flexibility to pursue opportunities and respond quickly to client needs.

“The approach that we take with our clients is that we are agile. We want to innovate and be flexible, and we want to be objective-driven. We want to make recommendations for optimization, and we want to make sure that the client appreciates the work we do. We want to contribute to their overall success,” says Bruyere.

The company is also exploring new markets closer to its regional base, particularly within the United Arab Emirates.

“We have been in Dubai for 14 years and we have been working everywhere from Iraq to Nigeria to southeast Asia and across North America and Europe. However, there is a whole world of business happening close to us in Abu Dhabi. Last year, we started moving towards that and we are keen to get established there,” Bruyere continues.

At the same time, internal investment is being directed toward new technologies that could further strengthen Drakken’s position in the automation space. The company has begun exploring how advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence techniques could be integrated into control systems to enhance operational performance.

Behind these initiatives is a leadership team now fully embedded within the organisation’s daily operations.

“In most opportunities, when it comes to schedule, we can beat the market because we have better options, we make faster decisions, we are fully knowledgeable about exactly what needs to happen.”

As global demand for reliable power infrastructure continues to expand, particularly in digital industries such as data centres, the need for flexible engineering partners is only increasing. For Drakken, the strategy remains firmly centred on delivering value through close collaboration, technical depth, and the ability to solve complex project challenges.

“Our goal is to become the best systems integrator in the region by demonstrating the value that we can add for clients,” Watts concludes.

]]>
Drakken and CarbonAi: Accelerating Global Greenhouse Gas Reduction via Integrated Automation https://paperboat.agency/2026/02/27/drakken-and-carbonai-accelerating-global-greenhouse-gas-reduction-via-integrated-automation/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:15:29 +0000 https://paperboat.agency/?p=556 For heavy industries and energy producers, the transition to lower emissions is often stalled by a common bottleneck: the inability to accurately track, manage, and verify data in real-time. Drakken is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with CarbonAi to eliminate these hurdles through the integration and automation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission management.

Solving the “Data Gap” in Emission Reduction

The core of this venture is the integration of CarbonAi’s proprietary software platform with Drakken’s automation expertise. While many companies have the will to reduce their footprint, the regulatory and technical barriers can be prohibitive.

  • Platform Integration: The system connects directly with existing industrial data sources to bypass the corporate and regulatory barriers that typically inhibit emission tracking.
  • Carbon Finance Ready: By leveraging the power of high-fidelity data, the partnership facilitates faster execution of emission reduction projects through carbon finance and offsets.
  • Operational Clarity: We aim to shift the paradigm by moving away from manual tracking toward a faster, more effective, data-led future.

Powered by Lukla: 10-Second Global Document Access

A critical component of this partnership is the deployment of Drakken’s cloud-based content management system, Lukla. In global energy projects, the speed of information is often the difference between staying on schedule or facing costly delays.

  • Folderless Architecture: Lukla is an entirely cloud-based, folderless system.
  • Sub-10-Second Retrieval: The system provides stakeholders with access to any critical document, anywhere in the world, in under 10 seconds.

Global Execution at Scale

Drakken’s uniquely qualified position stems from a history of executing large-scale engineering, integration, and automation projects across four continents. By combining our global project management expertise with CarbonAi’s software, we are providing a turnkey solution for the energy sector’s most pressing environmental obligations.

“The platform has the ability to integrate with existing data sources to tackle corporate and regulatory barriers that prevent, delay or inhibit emission tracking, mitigation and removal.”

Ryan Arsenault, Founder and CEO of CarbonAi.

Partnership Capabilities & Strategic Impact

Feature Strategic Value to C-Suite
Automation Integration Reduced manual overhead and human error in reporting.
Regulatory Compliance Seamless management of GHG mitigation and removal obligations.
Lukla CMS Global document accessibility in under 10 seconds.
Global Footprint Proven project execution across 4 continents.
Data-Led Business Enhanced asset value through verifiable carbon finance/offsets.
]]>
Digital Arteries: Drakken Secures the “Internet of Water” for NEOM https://paperboat.agency/2026/02/27/digital-arteries-drakken-secures-the-internet-of-water-for-neom/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:54:52 +0000 https://paperboat.agency/?p=553 NEOM is not just a construction site; it is the most ambitious greenfield urban development on the planet. As the Main Automation Contractor (MAC), Drakken is responsible for the “Internet of Water”, an intelligent automation framework that manages the distribution of 50,600 m³/day of desalinated water across 140km of some of the most challenging coastal and mountainous terrain in Saudi Arabia.

Engineering Resilience in Extreme Environments

For an infrastructure project of this scale, “downtime” isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s a systemic risk. Our solution was engineered to withstand the Middle Eastern climate while ensuring 24/7 availability.

  • Thermal Endurance: Our control systems are designed to operate from -40°C to 70°C right from startup, essential for the fluctuating mountain and desert temperatures.
  • High-Availability Architecture: We deployed PACSystems RX3i redundant control systems across more than 20 pumping stations. If one controller fails, the secondary takes over instantly with zero disruption to the water supply.
  • Leak Detection Every 10 Meters: Using the Movicon.NExT platform, our engineers can analyze the entire pipeline for leaks or evaporation every 10 meters, protecting a precious resource in an arid region.

The Strategic Value: ROI and Sustainability

From a financial perspective, the integration of Emerson’s PACEdge and MQTT protocols transforms raw data into a strategic asset. By historizing five years of data, we enable failure prediction, allowing NEOM to transition from reactive repairs to proactive maintenance.

“Through an advanced Internet of Water infrastructure, we are ensuring minimum water loss and putting NEOM at the forefront of water technology and sustainability.”

Ritesh Contractor, Business Development Manager at Drakken.

Security by Design

In an era of increasing industrial cyber-threats, “security” cannot be an afterthought. The NEOM automation solution carries the Achilles 2 certification, providing a robust defence against denial-of-service (DoS) and man-in-the-middle attacks, as well as preventing unauthorised firmware changes.

Technical Specs & Performance Metrics

FeatureOperational Impact
Pipeline Length140km (65km Coast / 75km Mountain)
Daily Volume50,600 m³ of desalinated water
Edge IntelligenceReal-time data filtering on Linux engines via MQTT
CybersecurityAchilles 2 Certified
Financial BenefitProactive failure prediction and faster ROI
]]>
Precision at Sea: Delivering tactical intelligence to the EMEM FPSO https://paperboat.agency/2026/02/27/precision-at-sea-delivering-tactical-intelligence-to-the-emem-fpso/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:27:24 +0000 https://paperboat.agency/?p=527 In the offshore energy sector, an E-House is more than just a modular enclosure; it is the central nervous system of the entire vessel. For the EMEM FPSO, currently positioned as a cornerstone of Nigerian offshore production, Drakken has officially delivered a fit-for-purpose power and automation hub designed to survive the harshest environments while maintaining peak operational efficiency.

Engineering the Complexity Out

At 300 tonnes, this mid-sized module houses a high-density configuration of over 100 individual pieces of equipment. From a finance perspective, the “cost-effective” nature of this build wasn’t achieved by cutting corners, but by aggressive 3D modeling and Human Factors Engineering.

  • Risk Mitigation via 3D Design: We identified and resolved potential clashes between HVAC ducting, piping, and structural elements during the digital twin phase, long before a single weld was made.
  • The 20km Challenge: Our team managed the integration of over 20km of power and control cabling within a segregated cable void, ensuring that maintenance is simplified and electrical interference is eliminated.
  • Integrated Intelligence: The module seamlessly fuses MV/LV transformers and switchgear with a sophisticated Emerson DeltaV integrated control and safety system.

Strategic Integration: From Topsides to Subsea

The role of this platform isn’t just to “exist” on the vessel; it’s to command it. Once fully commissioned, the E-House will provide the power and control logic for both topsides production and critical marine systems.

A key differentiator for this project is our “flawless interface” approach. We are integrating the electrical and automation systems on the well-head platform via state-of-the-art umbilical systems, ensuring the Emerson DeltaV environment remains a single, unified source of truth for the operators.

A Milestone, Not a Finish Line

For the C-suite, “on schedule” is the most important metric. Following final construction works in Dubai, the vessel was delivered on track for First Oil in 2025.

“This project highlights our unwavering commitment to field development over the past five years,” says Richard Walker, Drakken Project Manager. “Reaching this milestone showcases the tenacity of our team. But the real work continues as we move into the commissioning phase with the same professional enthusiasm.”

]]>