North Sea News


Transocean picks up 22-well Statoil gig

Dec 21, 2017

Statoil awarded Transocean a 22-well contract in the Norwegian North Sea for the harsh environment semisubmersible Transocean Spitsbergen with an estimated duration of 33 months; plus two one-well options. The estimated firm backlog associated…

Statoil moves on $2.27 billion Snorre Expansion Project

Dec 21, 2017

Norway's Statoil is planning to start production from a US$2.27 (NOK19 billion) expansion project on its Snorre field in the Norwegian North Sea by 2021, tapping an additional 200 MMbo from the field and extending its life out to at least 2040…

North Sea's first FPSO heads to Brazil

Dec 20, 2017

Teekay's Petrojarl I floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel has sailed away from Aibel's shipyard in Norway. The TenTech 685-design vessel, which was the North Sea's first FPSO when it was delivered in 1986 by NKK in Japan…

Repsol files revised Yme field plan

Dec 20, 2017

A revised plan for development and operation (PDO) for the Yme field in the Norwegian North Sea has been submitted to Norway's Ministry of Petroleum and Energy by operator Repsol. Repsol says it's going to invest about US$960 million (NOK8 billion) in the Yme New Development project…

Hurricane contracts Crondall for Lancaster support

Dec 19, 2017

UK fractured basement explorer Hurricane Energy has contracted floating production and subsea engineering firm Crondall Energy to provide engineering support during the early production system (EPS) project on the Lancaster field, West of Shetland…

Kvaerner lands Valhall Flank West wellhead platform

Dec 18, 2017

Norwegian engineering and fabrication firm Kvaerner has been awarded a US$120 million (NOK1 billion) contract for delivery of the topside and steel jacket substructure for Valhall Flank West by operator Aker BP.  Kvaerner's scope includes procurement…

Alternative inspection techniques could be worth US$310 million

Dec 18, 2017

Using non-intrusive inspection (NII) survey technologies could be worth US$310 million (£242 million) a year to UK North Sea operators through increased production and lower maintenance costs, according to a survey by the Oil & Gas Technology Centre (OGTC) and ABB…

Wintershall's Maria online, ahead of schedule

Dec 18, 2017

Germany's Wintershall has started production from the Maria subsea tieback offshore Norway a year ahead of schedule and 20% under budget.  The Maria field development cost about US$1.43 billion (NOK12 billion), $358.9 million below the original budget…

Installing a wireless hart

Dec 15, 2017

When design-to-first-oil takes 10 years, keeping up with communication technology can be a challenge. Elaine Maslin details what BP has done for its latest North Sea projects (originally published in OE's December 2017 issue). With new technologies appearing all the time…

IOG given more time to submit complete Blythe FDP

Dec 15, 2017

North Sea minnow Independent Oil and Gas (IOG) has been given extra time to develop its Blythe discovery, in the southern North Sea. The firm has been given an extension on License P1736, by 12 months to 31 December 2018, dependent on…

Aker BP submits three PDOs

Dec 15, 2017

Norwegian operator Aker BP has submitted three plans for development and operations to the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy for projects on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.  Aker BP is planning to develop Valhall Flank West…

Ashtead deploys sub-millimetre accuracy subsea laser scanner on Chevron field

Dec 14, 2017

UK-based subsea equipment firm Ashtead Technology deployed a new advanced subsea laser scanning technology on a project for Subsea 7 in the UK North Sea. Working on Chevron’s Captain field, Ashtead performed a well inspection using Newton…

JIP seeks alternative well foundation technology

Dec 14, 2017

A joint industry project (JIP) led by the UK's Industry Technology Facilitator (ITF) has been launched to investigate alternative well foundation technology for subsea wells.  The aim of the JIP is to examine the versatility and robustness…

Aker Solutions to modify module for Yme redevelopment

Dec 13, 2017

Maersk Drilling has picked Aker Solutions for modification work on a production module on the Maersk Inspirer jackup rig so that it can be used on Repsol's Yme field offshore Norway.  Repsol is looking to redevlop the field, after removing an existing platform facility…

Shut-in Forties pipeline costing $26m/day production losses

Dec 13, 2017

North Sea production shut-in due to a 'hairline' crack in a pipeline is costing operators US$26.68 million a day in lost production, according to industry body Oil & Gas UK.  The crack was found last week in an onshore section of the 235mi-long Forties Pipeline System (FPS)…

Current News

Equinor Renews Subsea Inspection Deal with Subsea 7

Saipem Gets DNV Certification for Offshore Asset Lifecycle Management

Archer to Remain North Sea Drilling and Maintenance Duty for Aker BP

Tekmar Secures Over $9M Offshore Wind Cable Protection Deal

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