North Sea News


PA Resources drops Dutch blocks

Nov 10, 2014

Tulip Oil will pick up partner PA Resources’ 30% equity in blocks Q7/Q10a off The Netherlands. Under the agreement, Tulip Oil will pay a consideration of almost US$1.6 million upon completion of the transaction; further payment is contingent on certain asset milestones being met…

BP introduces new EOR technology

Nov 10, 2014

BP has added to its portfolio of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies with a robotic coreflooding system. 'It will give us ten times increase in capacity to test out new EOR techniques on core samples,' Bob Dudley, BP group chief executive…

Xcite selects AGR software for Bentley

Nov 10, 2014

Xcite Energy selected AGR's well construction planning software P1 to support the planning and development of the Bentley field, one of the largest in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf. The use of the software and the associated procedures…

Licensing round not all roses

Nov 09, 2014

Underlying structural issues with the North Sea exploration sector will need to be ironed out before the true impact of the latest licensing round and other recent UK licensing rounds is known, says oil and gas advisory firm Hannon Westwood…

BHI international rig count for October 2014

Nov 08, 2014

Baker Hughes Inc. issued the October 2014 international rotary drilling rig count today, showing a total of 1308 rigs operating worldwide in October 2014, outside of the US & Canada. International activity in October was down 15 rigs from the 1323 rigs drilling in September 2014…

EnQuest wins Oil & Gas UK award

Nov 07, 2014

Oil & Gas UK recognized EnQuest on its success in extending the life of one of the North Sea’s older assets and awarded the company the business innovation title in the large enterprise category. EnQuest wins oil & Gas UK award for Business Innovation…

Oil & Gas UK says the time to act on fiscal reform is now

Nov 06, 2014

Following evidence submitted to the Treasury for its recent consultation on the North Sea tax regime, Oil & Gas UK has this week made a further representation, repeating calls for urgent reform in light of escalating industry costs and the falling oil price…

Atkins installs Solan subsea storage tank

Nov 06, 2014

Atkins installed the subsea oil storage tank on the 40 million barrel Solan field west of Shetland, in the UK. Solan tank arrives on site. From Atkins. Fabricated at Dry Docks World Dubai…

Biggest UKCS round in 5 decades

Nov 06, 2014

The UK Government has announced that 134 licenses, covering 252 blocks, are being offered in the 28th offshore licensing round.   Statoil, Total, Nexen, and EnQuest have the largest haul of operated licenses offered. A large number of smaller…

BG MD named new OGA CEO

Nov 06, 2014

Andy Samuel, currently Managing Director of BG Group’s Exploration and Production in Europe, has been appointed as the inaugural CEO of the newly formed independent UK regulator, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA).  The UK government is…

BP eyeing major new Clair facilities

Nov 06, 2014

BP is assessing a further phase development on its west of Shetland Clair field, which could see another new, large central processing facility built in the field.  The move will seek widely spread areas of the estimated 7-8 billion barrel oil originally in place Clair field…

Statoil suspends two rigs on NCS

Nov 06, 2014

Statoil has decided to suspend two new rigs due to overcapacity in the rig portfolio. The semisubmersibles Transocean Spitsbergen and Songa Trym will be suspended through 2014, a period which might be extended. The Transocean Spitsbergen…

Exova opens new Aberdeen facility

Nov 06, 2014

Testing, calibration and advisory services provider Exova Group has opened a new, purpose-built facility in Aberdeen in response to increasing demand for mission-critical testing in the oil and gas sector. Officially launched by Malcolm Webb…

Odfjell gets hands on Deepsea Aberdeen

Nov 06, 2014

Odfjell Drilling has taken delivery of Deepsea Aberdeen semisubmersible drilling rig from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in Korea.  Deepsea Aberdeen, pictured, is a sixth generation ultra deepwater and harsh environment semisubmersible of enhanced GVA 7500 design…

RWE Dea moves on Atlas

Nov 05, 2014

RWE Dea Norge has started drilling the Atlas exploration well in production license 420 after approval from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD).   Atlas, also known as well 35/9-12 S, is located in the North Sea approximately 45km off Norway…

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