North Sea News


Statoil's Veslefrikk gets lifetime extension

Sep 12, 2017

Statoil and its partners have approved the lifetime extension for the Veslefrikk field in the North Sea until 2025, according to Industri Energi. Veslefrikk platform. Image from Statoil. In late summer…

Total extends Safe Caledonia deal

Sep 12, 2017

Total E&P has extended the charter of the Safe Caledonia semisubmersible accommodation vessel at the Elgin-Franklin Facility in the UK sector of the North Sea. The 30-day option extends on site operations through until late October 2017…

BiSN completes Valhall P&A

Sep 11, 2017

Metal-to-metal downhole sealing solutions provider BiSN has successfully completed its first project, plugging and abandonment (P&A) work for Aker BP's Valhall field.  Using modified thermite heaters, BiSN’s technology reduces the heating…

Statoil's Verbier disappoints

Sep 11, 2017

Statoil's Verbier exploration probe in the Moray Firth has disappointed, with the well intersecting a water bearing reservoir at target depth.   Partner Jersey Oil & Gas, with 18% interest in well 20/05b-13, on license P.2170 license in blocks 20/05b and 21/1d…

Statoil to use Songa Equinox at Troll

Sep 08, 2017

Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has given Statoil consent to use the Songa Equinox mobile drilling facility to drill well 31/2-S-24 AY1H on the Troll field. Songa Equinox. Image from Songa Offshore…

Repsol to plug Varg wells with Rowan Stavanger

Sep 08, 2017

Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has granted Repsol Norge consent to use the Rowan Stavanger jackup for permanent plugging of wells on the Varg field. Rowan Stavanger.  Image from Rowan…

OE17: Biggest challenge is attracting next generation

Sep 07, 2017

The one biggest challenge facing the industry – apart from trying to make it profitable – is attracting new young talent, says the former CEO of North Sea independent Premier Oil.  Nigel Wilson, who left Premier Oil in 2015, and is now…

OE17: Job losses slow - to 13,000

Sep 07, 2017

Job losses in the industry have slowed to about 13,000 in 2017, compared to almost 60,000 in 2016, according to a new report by Oil & Gas UK.  The Economic Report 2017, which was released at an SPE Offshore Europe business breakfast on Wednesday…

OE17: £12 million invested, says OGTC

Sep 07, 2017

In just seven months since launching, The Oil & Gas Technology Centre (OGTC) has inked £12 million in investment in 21 projects, gained 40 members and is now set to open its Innovation hub, aimed at new breakthrough solutions, the centre revealed during SPE Offshore Europe on Tuesday…

OE17: We need change, not just new toys

Sep 07, 2017

Embracing the fourth industrial revolution through digital technologies will help the oil and gas industry reduce operating costs, but could be money misspent on “shiny new toys” if not combined with other changes, delegates at Tuesday’s SPE Offshore Europe business breakfast were told…

OE17: Aker inks Buzzard Phase 2 FEED

Sep 07, 2017

Aker Solutions secured a front-end engineering and design contract from Nexen Petroleum UK for a second phase development of the UK’s highest producing oil field.  The study on the Buzzard field development includes the design of the subsea manifolds and pipelines…

OE17: We have big data - let's use it

Sep 07, 2017

Upstream has fallen behind its “poor cousin” downstream in terms of performance, according to Simon Flowers, Chairman, Energy and Chief Analyst, Wood Mackenzie.  “Over the last six years (2010-2016), upstream has had shocking performance…

OE17: Embrace digital, learn from others

Sep 07, 2017

The fact that the design of offshore oil and gas platforms has remained largely unchanged for the past 40 years indicates the oil and gas industry’s slow progress in adopting not only new technology, but new design and business models.  Industry…

OE17: Will North Sea production rises last?

Sep 07, 2017

While oil and gas markets remain uncertain and quite volatile, the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) has managed to reverse a 14-year production decline. However, if new projects are not approved past 2018, all the hard work could be undone, warned Adam Davey…

OE17: Focus on the Arctic

Sep 07, 2017

One of the most anticipated exploration wells in Europe this year was the multi-billion barrel potential Arctic Korpfjell prospect in the Barents Sea. While the probe, completed late September, didn't prove commercial volumes, the region…

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