Aberdeen’s oil industry has pioneered global offshore harsh environment exploration, but it will need to “innovate its socks off” to maximize the North Sea’s remaining potential and remain competitive globally, a special SPE event in the Scottish city heard last night…
Lundin's CEO has slated Shell and FPSO operator Bluewater for delays on the Brynhild project startup. Brynhild, which sits in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, will be a four-well subsea tieback to Bluewater’s Haewene Brim, which produces the Shell-operated Pierce field…
Oil & Gas UK's Q2 2014 Business Sentiment Index has revealed that industry optimism has fallen for the fifth consecutive quarter, but remains positive, just, at two points above zero on the -50 to +50 index. The industry body described…
Marathon Oil is due to spud an exploration well on the Key Largo prospect, on Walker Ridge Block 578, Gulf of Mexico, in Q3. It will be the first well drilled with a new-build deepwater drillship. Marathon Oil is operator and holds a 60% working interest in the prospect…
GDF Suez E&P UK has renewed its Integrated Services Contract (ISC) with Petrofac. The contract covers operations, maintenance and engineering services support to GDF SUEZ E&P UK throughout its operations in the UKCS, including Cygnus, the…
National Grid Carbon Limited (NGC) has awarded the multi-million pound front end engineering and design (FEED) contract for its carbon capture and storage pipeline to oil and gas engineering firm Genesis (a Technip subsidiary). Genesis…
Aibel has been awarded a framework agreement by Marathon Oil Norge for the supply of front end engineering design (FEED) and study assignments. The first assignment has already been specified - a study to clarify upgrade solutions on the floating production…
Serica Energy has completed a farm out on UK East Irish Sea Blocks 113/26b and 113/27c (License P.1482) with Centrica, through its subsidiary Hydrocarbon Resources Limited (HRL). Under the agreement, HRL has acquired an operated 45% interest in the license…
BW Offshore has agreed a US$800 million, 10-year credit facility for the Catcher floating production, storage and offloading project. The facility is a combined construction and long term financing facility. The credit facility was substantially…
The HelWin Beta platform, on its way out to sea. Photos from HFG. The North Sea is set to continue to provide work for fabricators for 10-20 more years, says Heerema Fabrication Group’s CEO…
The Dutch have long dominated the heavy lifting market, especially offshore, and the country’s domination looks set to continue. Earlier this year, Allseas announced plans to build a new vessel that will top by 50% the capacity of its already enormous Pieter Schelte…
A think-tank focused on boosting Scotland’s economy has called for the new oil and gas regulator and industry taxation decision-makers to be based in Aberdeen, not London or Edinburgh. Ahead of a referendum on Scottish independence,…
Anthony Onukwu, SPE Aberdeen chairman. SPE Aberdeen chairman Anthony Onukwu reflects on society’s impact on the North Sea oil and gas industry as the Aberdeen section celebrates its 40th anniversary…
Norway’s Electromagnetic Geoservices (EMGS) received an agreement worth US$4.3 million for multi-client data offshore the Faroe Island. The agreement includes both late sales of the existing multi-client dataset, the Brugdan-Rosebank…
Ingrid Sølvberg, director for the Norwegian and Barents seas, Norwegian Petroleum Directorate. Photo from UTC. Challenges to produce new areas, like the Barents, and extend the life of more mature regions…