North Sea News


North Sea: Challenges ahead

Feb 02, 2015

There can be little doubt – either for us as energy professionals in the sector, or anyone who has picked up a paper over the last few months – that the UK oil and gas industry is facing a serious challenge. Mike Tholen…

North Sea confidence plummets

Feb 02, 2015

Oil and gas industry sentiment in the UK plunged dramatically in Q4 2014, according to the results of a survey published today. Oil & Gas UK’s Business Sentiment Survey says optimism in the oil and gas industry fell 16 points to -23 points on a -50/+50 scale…

Talisman UK CEO joins private equity firm

Feb 02, 2015

Private equity group Epi-V has taken on Talisman Sinopec Energy UK CEO Geoff Holmes to lead its FourPhase portfolio company CEO as it looks to grow its global portfolio. it has also taken on Expro director Tony Kitchener, as Chairman…

OGA appoints senior staff

Feb 02, 2015

Andy Samuel, Chief Executive of the UK's new offshore industry regulatory body, the Oil and Gas Authority, has made his first senior appointments to the nascent body.  Samuel has appointed the first three of six directors to his leadership team: Simon Toole…

Wintershall approved to use Vega facilities

Jan 30, 2015

Wintershall Norge received consent from the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) to use the facilities on the Vega field in the North Sea. Wintershall took over operatorship of Vega from Norway’s Statoil in September 2014. According to the PSA…

EMGS gets Barents Sea 3D EM work

Jan 30, 2015

Electromagnetic Geoservices (EMGS) entered into a US$2.5 million data licensing agreement with an oil company for the provision of 3D EM data related to the 23rd licensing round in the Barents Sea. EMGS's multi-client data library in Norway now covers 44…

Shell curtails $15bn spending

Jan 29, 2015

Super major Shell is curtailing its spending by more than US$15 billion over the next three years and has futher options to reduce spending, the supermajor announced this morning, citing the dramatic, nearly 60% drop in oil prices over the past six months…

Tata marks 1m-tonnes of North Sea pipelines

Jan 28, 2015

Europe’s second largest steel producer Tata Steel has marked the supply of one million tonnes of pipeline for oil and gas projects in the North Sea. Henrik Adam, chief commercial officer of Tata Steel in Europe, says the firm has completed…

Ramboll chosen for Culzean jackets

Jan 28, 2015

Danish engineering house Ramboll Oil & Gas is to perform detailed design work for the two jackets for Maersk Oil's ultra-high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) UK North Sea Culzean field.  The jackets are for a central processing facility…

Oil price uncertainty looms over industry

Jan 27, 2015

US$75-80 barrel oil price will be the new norm, industry commentators predicted Tuesday morning. But how long it will take to get there is the greatest uncertainty. Elaine Maslin reports. Uncertainty around how long oil prices will remain around US$50/bbl and…

Statoil using Spitsbergen for wildcat

Jan 23, 2015

Statoil is bringing the Transocean Spitsbergen semisubmersible back to the waters to drill a wildcat well in the Snedrid Nord prospect, after gaining consent from the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA). Transocean Spitsbergen…

EnQuest ups production

Jan 23, 2015

North Sea oil independent EnQuest is expecting its 2015 production to be at least 10% above previous expectations, and announced a 40% cut in capital spending, easing concerns the firm could breach debt covenants.  EnQuest said 2014 production was up 17% compared to 2013…

SPX opens Aberdeen facility

Jan 23, 2015

Flow technology specialist SPX has opened a new Aberdeen Service Centre to provide local specialised pump repair services to independent oil companies and service providers in the North Sea oil and gas sector. Located in the ABZ Business Park…

UK tax talks fast-tracked

Jan 22, 2015

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has reinforced the government’s support for the North Sea oil and gas industry at a meeting with industry representatives, hosted jointly with Treasury ministers Danny Alexander and Priti Patel. Chief Secretary…

Faroe lines up Norwegian drilling

Jan 22, 2015

Faroe Exploration is planning four exploration wells offshore Norway in 2015 - Shango, Pil, Blister and Kvalross. Shango, operated by Total (Faroe 20%), is in the Norwegian North Sea on the northern part of the prolific Utsira High. The…

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