North Sea News


Forty and still ‘a beaut’

Sep 01, 2015

For OE, 2015 is a milestone year – it’s our 40th anniversary. We share that milestone with one of the world’s most iconic oil fields – the UK North Sea Forties field. Elaine Maslin charts the field’s history and finds out what the future holds…

Focusing on efficiency

Sep 01, 2015

High oil prices in a mature basin led to a tight market and cost escalation. With low oil prices, the industry is working hard to rein in spending. Elaine Maslin spoke to Oil & Gas UK CEO Deirdre Michie on some of the initiatives underway…

Factory drilling

Sep 01, 2015

Drilling on Statoil’s Mariner will be a mega project – but Statoil is looking to lighten the load in ways that could only be done on such a large project. Elaine Maslin found out more. The Mariner field concept artists’ illustration…

Going for greenfield

Sep 01, 2015

A greenfield platform was a more effective option over brownfield modifications on Shell’s Leman Alpha complex in the North Sea. Elaine Maslin explains how Dutch expertise made it a reality. The Leman AC platform engineering drawing rendering…

Multi-tasking

Sep 01, 2015

Collaboration on- and offshore the Netherlands has resulted in a new concept in platform operations and maintenance. Elaine Maslin reports. Wagenborg’s Kroonborg. Photo from Wagenborg. Across the North Sea…

An array of uses

Sep 01, 2015

There is more to 4D technology than just exploring for oil and gas. It can also be used to monitor the storage of carbon dioxide and methane in offshore reservoirs in the North Sea. Heather Saucier finds out more. Statoil…

A new era

Sep 01, 2015

The sharp decline in oil prices over the past year has magnified the challenges that companies on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) have been grappling with for many years; increasing costs, falling exploration and aging infrastructure, coupled with commercial and legal complexity…

Unlocking potential

Sep 01, 2015

A team of subsurface and facilities engineers have been working together to create a viable, small footprint solution for a string of sour fields in the UK’s Outer Moray Firth. Mike Cooper explains. Cooper…

HPHT Culzean gets green light

Aug 31, 2015

UK authorities have given the green light to one of the largest new field discoveries in the UK North Sea – Maersk Oil’s £3 billion (US$ 4.5 billion) Culzean development.  The project has been welcomed as a “clear signal the North Sea…

Statoil gets approval for Sigrun East

Aug 28, 2015

Statoil has received consent from the Petroleum Safety Authority of Norway to drill exploration well 15/3-10 in a prospect named Sigrun East with the potential of a sidetrack well.  The area where the well is to be drilled is around…

IOG to spud Skipper appraisal well

Aug 28, 2015

North Sea-focused Independent Oil and Gas (IOG) is aiming to drill an appraisal well on the Skipper discovery later this year with contractor led funding. Image from IOG. The…

BW Offshore revenues rise but expects prolonged downturn

Aug 28, 2015

Floating production vessel operator BW Offshore has posted a 3% rise in operating revenues but says, which outsourced floating solutions remain an attractive option, the low oil price environment will see a reduction in orders that is expected to be prolonged…

MOL selects five supply chain partners

Aug 27, 2015

Five companies have been named as new North Sea player MOL Energy's collaborative partners, as part of an alternative approach to supply chain management championed by the firm's UK managing director. MOL says that after putting into…

Maersk Oil signs up Amec Foster Wheeler

Aug 27, 2015

Amec Foster Wheeler has been awarded a three-year integrated services contract (ISC) by Maersk Oil covering its North Sea assets. The value of the contract has not been announced. The integrated services will start in September 2015 and will run for three years…

Total to sell UK pipelines, terminal in US$905 million deal

Aug 27, 2015

Total has agreed to sell all of its interests in the FUKA and SIRGE gas pipelines and the St. Fergus Gas Terminal in a US$905 million (£585 million) deal. Subject to regulatory approvals, the assets will be bought by North Sea Midstream Partners…

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