North Sea News


Aker BP to use Transocean Arctic at Alvheim

Jun 01, 2017

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…

Managing stick-slip

Jun 01, 2017

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…

North Sea awe

Jun 01, 2017

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…

A monster facility

Jun 01, 2017

Johan Sverdrup is the largest ongoing project in the North Sea. Elaine Maslin looks at Statoil’s progress, cost reduction and technology use on the development. How it will look: Johan Svedrup…

DW: Majors remain optimistic in North Sea exploration

May 30, 2017

Six of the offshore exploration wells that are set to drill in the UK in 2017 have an average pre-drill prospect volume of over 100 MMboe. Douglas-Westwood, through its Westwood Insight, asks if this signal a renaissance for UK exploration…

Allseas bags Valhall removal work

May 30, 2017

Image of Olav Henriksen (SVP Projects, Aker BP, left) and Pieter Heerema (Projects, Allseas) at the signing ceremony in Stavanger 29 May 2017. Image from Aker BP. Allseas, via Excalibur Marine Contractors…

IOG sets Blythe, Vulcan FDP plans

May 26, 2017

Independent Oil and Gas (IOG) says it has a busy 12 months ahead, as the company prepares to submit the Blythe and Vulcan final development plans (FDP) in the Southern North Sea, with hopes of hitting first gas by 2019. Image from IOG…

Faroe spuds Brasse appraisal

May 25, 2017

Faroe Petroleum started drilling the Brasse appraisal well 31/7-2S in the Norwegian North Sea. Map of Brasse, from Faroe. The main objectives of the appraisal well are to reduce…

Petrobras CEO joins SPE Offshore Europe lineup

May 25, 2017

Pedro Parente (right), CEO of Petrobras, and Robin Watson, CEO of Wood Group, are to speak at the opening plenary session at SPE Offshore Europe 2017, which is being held in Aberdeen from 5-8 September 2017. They will join Ben van Beurden…

Kraken set for June first oil

May 25, 2017

EnQuest's US$2.6 billion Kraken heavy oil field development is on track for first oil before the end of June, according to the North Sea independent.  The Kraken development, about 125km east of the Shetland Islands, off Scotland, will…

Statoil gets Gina Krog start-up approval for June

May 24, 2017

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted Statoil consent to start-up production from the Gina Krog field in the North Sea, which the Norwegian giant has set to start-up in late June 2017. Gina…

Ineos acquires DONG's E&P business

May 24, 2017

DONG Energy has today agreed to sell its E&P business, including a stake in the Rosebank field, west of Shetland, to petro-chemical business Ineos for US$1.05 million, plus $250 million in contingent payments. Ineos, which recently acquired the Forties pipeline system from BP…

Statoil to drill Vigdis with Bideford Dolphin

May 22, 2017

Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has approved for Statoil to use the Bideford Dolphin mobile drilling facility for production drilling at Vigdis in the Norwegian North Sea. Statoil is to plug the B-1 AH production well on the Vigdis field…

BP's Glen Lyon comes onstream

May 22, 2017

BP has launched a 'return to growth' for its North Sea business after marking first oil from the Quad 204 project, west of Shetland on the UK Continental Shelf.   Quad 204 is redevelopment of the 1 billion barrel plus Schiehallion and Loyal fields…

Sterling to wind up after UK business sale

May 17, 2017

UK-based, Calgary-listed Sterling Resources has completed a deal to sell its UK business to Amsterdam-based Oranje‐Nassau Energie for US$113.8, including settling a debt, and now plans to wind up the business.  Sterling Resources'…

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