Offshore oil and gas firm Claxton Engineering Services is aiming for further growth after developing a new drilling tool which could save clients millions of pounds.

The Great Yarmouth-based company has spent nearly six months designing and building the hydraulic riser handling tool (RHT), used to lift risers – the pipes which connect oil and gas wells to rigs – into place.

The tool is aimed at saving time compared to standard RHTs, as well as offering safety and operational benefits, eliminating the need for scaffolding.

In its first use for a Norwegian client, the tool saved 4.5 hours per installation, resulting in a saving of �1.8m across the whole project.

Claxton will now be offering the tool for use to all clients as part of its strategy to offer continued improve-ments in efficiency and safety.

The company, which employs about 100 people, already claims to offer the largest stock of risers in Europe and more system options than competitors.

Claxton technical director Dannie Claxton said: 'Our riser supply history extends over 20 years, including mobilisations of hundreds of wells.

'Project enhancements based on our experience, like this one, are something we strive to achieve for all our clients.

'The new tool improves our already strong riser inventory, which comprises more than 1,500 metres of riser joints, a suite of tensioning equipment, subsea connectors and some 4,000 ancillary tooling items.

'Along with this new tool we supplied three 5,000 pounds-per-square-inch (PSI) full riser systems in 2010.

'No other vendor in our region can provide the breadth and depth of the systems we offer.'

Claxton is part of Norwich-based offshore services group Acteon, one of the largest and fastest growing companies in East Anglia, with turnover of �287.9m in 2009 and about 1,800 staff.

The company has worked in the North Sea oil and gas sector for more than 25 years, with a growing presence in the Middle and Far East, providing a wide range of engineering services.

Last month the company also reported the successful completion of its first North American contract, supplying riser systems to gas firm EnCana Corporation in the Deep Panuke field off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada.