North Sea News


Aker BP deal completed

Sep 30, 2016

Norwegian firm Det norske and BP's Norwegian business are set to cease to be from today, after a deal which will see the two firms combines is scheduled to complete. The two companies are to become Aker BP under the move. Aker BP will…

Premier drops Bagpuss heavy oil field

Sep 30, 2016

UK independent Premier Oil is resigning as operator on the UK North Sea Bagpuss joint venture effective at the end of this year.  Premier will also sell its 40.1% interest to newly formed firm, Aberdeen-based Reach Halibut, subject to approval by the joint venture partners…

Skipper well turns up heavy oil

Sep 30, 2016

Initial results from the Skipper appraisal well in the UK North Sea have shown oil 'significantly' heavier than expected, but in sands with higher permeability than thought. Operator and 100% owner Independent Oil and Gas says it will now review its development strategy for the field…

MDL delivers 110-tonne tensioner

Sep 29, 2016

Scottish back deck machinery firm Maritime Developments (MDL) has introduced a new 110-tonne, four-track pipelay tensioner to its MDL Offshore Service business. MDL says it's the only system of its capacity readily available to take on projects worldwide…

Wood Group beefs up data analytics space

Sep 29, 2016

Wood Group has established a new data analytics centre of excellence at its office in Galway, Ireland. The centre, which is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation through IDA Ireland, broadens Wood Group’s capabilities in advanced data analytics to support the oil & gas…

Drilling starts on Culzean

Sep 29, 2016

Denmark's Maersk Oil has started drilling on the first production well for the Culzean high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) development in the UK North Sea. Drilling started at 6pm on 28 September using Danish drilling firm Maersk Oil's Maersk Highlander jackup…

Deep Sea Mooring inks Ivar Aasen work

Sep 28, 2016

Global Maritime Deep Sea Mooring signed a contract with Norwegian operator Det norske oljeselskap to support Prosafe’s semisubmersible Safe Zephyrus accommodation rig in the Ivar Aasen North Sea field. The contract also includes support to…

Looking toward the bright side

Sep 27, 2016

Quest Offshore, recently acquired by Wood Mackenzie in August, outlines the highlights of the global deepwater drilling market, region by region. Melissa Sustaita sets out the details. Top…

Petrofac completes Tullow decom

Sep 27, 2016

Petrofac’s differentiated approach to decommissioning, in support of Tullow Oil’s well plugging and abandonment campaign in the Southern North Sea (SNS), has delivered significant results and saved US$2.5 million compared to traditional approaches…

DONG terminates Maersk Resolve contract

Sep 26, 2016

Following the finalization of the Maersk Resolve jackup for DONG Energy's planned work scope at the Hejre field in the Danish sector of the North Sea, Maersk Drilling received a letter of early termination. The original contract was scheduled to end in January 2017…

Bureau Veritas appoints new CEO

Sep 26, 2016

Bureau Veritas appointed Paul Shrieve as chief executive officer (CEO) of North Sea offshore operations, marine and offshore. Shrieve. Image from Bureau Veritas. Shrieve is based at the company’s Aberdeen office…

Teekay inks Glen Lyon job

Sep 23, 2016

Teekay Offshore has been awarded new three-year shuttle tanker contracts of affreightment (CoA), plus extension options, with BP plc, Royal Dutch Shell and OMV Group, to transport the oil produced from the new Glen Lyon FPSO, which is part…

Weather delays Transocean Winner move training

Sep 23, 2016

A containment boom deployment training exercise ahead of moving a rig which had grounded on the Scottish coast has been postponed for at least two days due to windy weather, according to the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).  The…

Wood Group, union resolves dispute

Sep 22, 2016

Union members have voted to end a strike in the North Sea, after Wood Group allowed members to reduce cuts to wages. Image from iStock. Members of Scotland’s biggest offshore union…

Petrofac inks Statoil training contract

Sep 22, 2016

Petrofac Training Services has been awarded a contract for training and emergency response services with Statoil to support its UKCS operations. In the new five-year training partnership, Petrofac Training Services is appointed as Statoil’s…

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