Oilmin Field Services at 30: Work Seif, Home Seif

For 30 Years, Oilmin Field Services has been part of remote field projects throughout Papua New Guinea. Oilmin has been a key stakeholder and partner in the evolving Oil & Gas Industry since 1992 and continues this legacy throughout Papua New Guinea today.

Founded by the late George Leahy and partners, Leahy took full ownership of the Company several years later and launched OM Holdings. George was the son of Dan Leahy, famously known for his exploration expeditions with his brother Mick into the Highlands, later documented by Australian writers and filmmakers Bob Connolly and Robyn Anderson in the documentary, First Contact.

Oilmin has grown and expanded in many ways since its inception and continues to diversify its business model.

OILMIN - Earlier Years

In the earlier years of operations, Oilmin was directly involved and responsible for the Community Affairs Management within a project. This was possible with a selective number of key Field Managers who had experience with these requirements. They possessed a sound understanding of Papua New Guinea and its people.

The Core Business of Oilmin Field Services during the earlier years was Seismic Support Services. Clients at the time consisted of Chevron, Oil Search, ESSO PNG, Geco Prakla, and Union Texas, to name a few. Seismic Projects ranged from a vast number of services and Oilmin continuously delivered these services to its clients. Examples of these services included but not limited to –

• Community Affair Management
• Line Preparation
• Labour Hire & Management
• Logistics & Procurement
• Remote Bush Camp Construction (Fly Camps)

Known for the ability to deliver projects in the most remote areas of the Country, Oilmin became a respected entity that specialised in lightweight, rapid deployment camps. These camps were portable by air and did not depend on machinery to mobilise and construct. They were fabricated from Oilmin’s Head Office, located in Mt Hagen.

Over time, Oilmin Field Services diversified into a variety of industries and services that could be offered to clients for their project requirements. The diversification offered project solutions to clients in terms of Aviation, Shipping, and Timber Supply.

Oilmin continued to diversify over the years and entered projects that were new to the company but expanded the core business and brought in many more employment opportunities for Papua New Guineans to be part of an experienced remote field team.

It entered the Rig Pad Construction sector, and Oilmin managed to mobilise a fleet of heavy equipment into the remotest sites to clear and build rig sites for clients. The work involved with the rig pad projects is quite amazing and unique. The crews would disassemble heavy equipment into 4 to 6 different pieces and fly them under helicopters through the remote jungles before having to reassemble the machines ready for the civil works to commence.

Oilmin has built and delivered over 20 rig pads throughout PNG. The terrain for each location is quite different and the project team adapted to the conditions and requirements for executing these jobs. The locations have been stretched through the provinces including Hela, Western, and Gulf Provinces.

In 2015, the Company and the Oilmin Family were saddened with the news that it had lost its leader -- George Leahy passed away in his beloved town, Mt Hagen. His leadership in the company would be missed for the years to come. He left the company in the hands of his children, who had already been involved in the company and had been working on the remote Oilmin sites throughout the Country. Late George’s vision would live on through the next generation of Leahy’s to lead Oilmin forward.