North Sea News


HW reports on 2014 drilling activity, results in Norway and UK

Jan 13, 2015

In a year during which the oil price remained stable at circa US$100 per barrel until the last quarter when a significant collapse in commodity price began, activity levels in both the UK and Norwegian sectors have continued to show a distinct divergence…

Statoil’s Valemon on stream

Jan 13, 2015

Statoil shows the process of getting its US$2.9 billion Valemon field on stream.  The high-pressure, high-temperature, gas and condensate development, located in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, started production on 3 January…

North Sea producers not covering costs

Jan 13, 2015

UK North Sea industry body Oil & Gas UK has said called on the UK Government to abolish a 30% charge on oil and gas producers as oil fell to its lowest prices in nearly six years.  The body says oil and gas producers in the basin are unable to cover their costs at US$50 a barrel…

Sound Oil drops Antrim bid

Jan 13, 2015

Italy-focused exploration firm Sound Oil has withdrawn its Intended Offer for North Sea exploration minnow Antrim Energy due to the deterioration in oil prices and reduction in global appetite for deep water exploration, the company said this morning (13 January 2015)…

Schnitger chief calls for early engineering analysis

Jan 13, 2015

Schnitger President Monica Schnitger urged oil and gas companies to explore and exploit the latest technologies to have successful projects at the 2014 Bentley Systems Year in Infrastructure conference. Meg Chesshyre has more.   “I’m…

Q3 Greater Stella start-up planned

Jan 12, 2015

Ithaca Energy is looking to more than double its production in late 2015 when its North Sea Greater Stella Area development is due to come on stream. The firm averaged 12,300 boe/d in 2014, according to a 2015 outlook published this morning…

NPD processes Statoil Gullfaks plan

Jan 09, 2015

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) is processing Statoil’s plan for development and operation (PDO) for the Rutil discovery in the Gullfaks Rimfaksdalen area in the North Sea. Image of Gullfaks…

Octabuoy project discontinued

Jan 09, 2015

Singapore-based COSCO (Nantong) Shipyard Co. is to scrap the Octabuoy project after failling to find a buyer for the unit.  COSCO (Nantong) Shipyard was contracted to build the Octabuoy unit for ATP Oil & Gas' Cheviot field in the UK North Sea…

Calls for tax reform to go further

Jan 09, 2015

The fall in oil prices to their lowest in five years could mean current proposals for new North Sea tax allowances do not go far enough, oil and gas industry body Oil & Gas UK has said.  The comments followed a new report from the Scottish…

North Sea revival plan is unfit for purpose

Jan 09, 2015

Predicting oil price movements is as risky as exploring for oil itself. The average price for crude fell 10.3% from the start of 2014 to the date of the Scottish independence referendum on September 18. It fluctuated over this period – but few…

EFC wins contracts with Ensco

Jan 09, 2015

Controls, instrumentation, monitoring and handling systems firm EFC Group has been awarded contracts with major oil and gas drilling contractor companies to the value of £3.65 million. The company has already completed two BOP control system contracts with Ensco worth more £1…

Det norske picks Alphstrut for Ivar Aasen

Jan 09, 2015

Offshore aluminium support system provider Alphastrut has been awarded a six figure contract with Det norske to provide raised access flooring on the Ivar Aasen Northern North Sea development. The Alphastrut system will cover a total…

Lundin gets green for Gemini

Jan 08, 2015

Lundin Norway received consent from the Petroleum Safety Authority of Norway (PSA) for exploration drilling at the Gemini prospect in the Central North Sea. The Island Innovator. From Island Drilling…

ADIL picks up Centrica risk management contract

Jan 08, 2015

Independent energy consultancy ADIL has been awarded a contract to deliver a new web-based system to Centrica Energy that will allow the operator to manage operational risk and improve transparency across its North Sea assets. The deal…

Trapoil gives up licenses

Jan 08, 2015

UK independent explorer Trapoil has been forced to give up a string of licenses in the North Sea after failling to find farm-in partners to help fund work. The firm, which last year cuts its staff and saw its founders leave, 'to maintain value…

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