Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) says that Aker BP is approved to use the Transocean Arctic to drill two production wells on the Alvheim field in the North Sea. The two wells are designated 24/6-A-6 and 24/6-A-7 and are to be drilled in Boa…
Most floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels are known for making money (or costing a lot of it), but the government of Ghana has decided to turn one into money, literally. EPCI contractor MODEC announced that the Kwame Nkrumah MV21 FPSO…
Mats Andersen, Stephen Forrester, and Andrew Creegan, of NOV, discuss how to overcome potentially damaging stick-slip issues and improve drilling performance rates. Figure 1 – The SoftSpeed II…
Deepwater is ready for a comeback. Operators at this year’s Offshore Technology Conference sang the praises of a new below US$50/bbl world. Audrey Leon reports. Image of Mad Dog in 2013. Image from BP…
It took Norwegian fairy tale character Trestakk a few times to win her prince. Likewise, her oilfield namesake had to be put back on the shelf a few times before it could make the development grade. Elaine Maslin reports. Trestakk subsurface layout…
The true potential of AUV capabilities have not been fully realized, according to a technical session at this year’s Offshore Technology Conference. Karen Boman reports. An Oceaneering AUV. Photos from Oceaneering…
The eNovus. Photo from Oceaneering. Permanently stationed underwater vehicles are almost a reality – in Norway, at least. Elaine Maslin reports. Statoil is working with Oceaneering…
Facilities transport records have been broken and broken again by Dutch marine contractor Boskalis’ Dockwise business. Elaine Maslin reports. Statoil’s Aasta Hansteen spar being loaded onto the Dockwise Vanguard in South Korea…
Lundin believes the future is in the north. Elaine Maslin reports on the firm’s plans for the Alta Gohta development. An artist’s impression: Alta Gohta. Image from Lundin. Norway’s far north…
Elaine Maslin dives deeper into the all-electric subsea equation. The K5F-3 subsea all-electric Xmas tree from OneSubsea.Photo from TEP NL (Total E&P Netherlands). All-electric subsea installations have been on the agenda for years…
With some of the biggest recent gas discoveries on its doorstep, the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean could be prime to grow into a gas export hub – if the countries in the region can cooperate. EIC’s Andrew Scutter sets the scene. Installation…
Ocean floor mapping is being completely re-thought, with the help of drones, swarms of underwater vehicles and unmanned surface vehicles. Elaine Maslin reports. Team Tao’s BEM concept. Images from SMD…
Karen Boman discovers how Glasgow’s shipbuilding industry eventually led McDermott International’s CEO David Dickson toward a career in subsea. David Dickson Growing up, McDermott…
The awe inspired during the early days of the North Sea industry was back and in full force for the world’s heaviest offshore lift. Elaine Maslin reports. Pioneering Spirit, closing in on Brent Delta…
Materials development is pushing the boundaries of how things are currently done in oil and gas. Elaine Maslin looks at some of the research underway, including ‘smart’ materials that could potentially heal themselves, and additive manufacturing…