North Sea News


Cairn plans 9 2014 wells

Jan 21, 2014

Cairn Energy has outlined a nine-well exploration program for 2014, with a strong focus on the Atlantic margin. Four of the five Atlantic margin wells will be operated by Cairn, including the JM-I exploration well, in the Juby Maritime III block…

Kleven wins IMR order

Jan 21, 2014

Kleven has signed a contract with Olympic Shipping for a new build MT 6021 design IMR vessel (pictured). The contract value is around US$64.7 million, and the vessel will be delivered from Kleven Verft in March 2015. The Marin Teknikk…

Well situation on Snorre A

Jan 20, 2014

Statoil is working to secure a well drilled from its Snorre A platform in the North Sea, after drilling fluid was lost during operations on Saturday night.Drilling fluid is used to maintain pressure in a well during drilling. Statoil…

Nord Stream PIG run sets records

Jan 16, 2014

The longest pig run was performed along the Nord Stream pipeline between Germany and Russia last year. Elaine Maslin found out more. At 1224km (759mi.) long, the Nord Stream’s twin offshore pipeline gas transportation sys- tem from Russia to Germany…

Gaining new access to old wells

Jan 15, 2014

In an age of increasingly hard-to-tap resources and high demand, operators are continually searching for reliable, cost-effective ways to extend production and improve recovery in mature or damaged wells. A cased hole whipstock system that…

Wintershall mulls Skarfjell options

Jan 15, 2014

Wintershall is to begin evaluating development options for the Skarfjell discovery, after a second appraisal well on the field exceeded expectations. Options could includea tie back to the Gjøa platform, or another facility, or as a standalone development…

Shell invests in Anasuria

Jan 15, 2014

Oil major Shell is planning to breath new life into its oldest North Sea floating production unit after acquiring new 4D seismic data last year.  According to a partner on one of the fields produced by the Anasuria floating production…

IKM wins GDF support contract

Jan 13, 2014

GDF Suez E&P Norge AS awarded the subsea operation support services contract to IKM Ocean Design. The contract involves operational management, administration and execution support of Inspection, Maintenance and Repair (IMR) for the Gjøa sealines system…

Chevron makes Alder decision

Jan 13, 2014

Chevron North Sea Ltd. will proceed with its high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) Alder field development in the North Sea after receiving regulatory approval. Discovered in 1975, Chevron says new technology has helped to unlock the central North Sea field…

Giant jackup order for Drydocks

Jan 13, 2014

Drydocks World (DDW) has signed an agreement with Drill One Capital to build what it is describing as the largest jackup ever built. The Dubai Expo 2020 NS jackup rig will be the first Gusto MSC CJ 80 design rig to be built. It has been designed to be operated in harsh environments…

North Sea slowdown predicted

Jan 13, 2014

Wood Mackenzie’s annual UK upstream oil and gas review concluded that 2013 was a mixed year for the industry.Capital investment continued to increase, however, this was set against the backdrop of project delays, production underperformance and poor exploration success…

Chevron inks Blackford Dolphin

Jan 08, 2014

Dolphin Drilling has won a US$255 million contract with Chevron North Sea for us of the semisubmersible Blackford Dolphin for a minimum 18-months in the UK North Sea, starting Q2 2015.  The announcement follows three major contract wins for the same high specification drilling rig this year…

Harkand orders DSVs

Jan 08, 2014

Subsea inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) group Harkand has ordered a new build dive support vessel and agreed an option for a second. The order has been placed with Norway's Vard Holdings Limited (VARD), with delivery of the first vessel scheduled for Q2 2016…

AMEC wins North Sea EPC work

Jan 07, 2014

Nexen Petroleum UK Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC, awarded AMEC a six-year contract to provide engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for Nexen's North Sea offshore assets. The work will cover operational modifications and brownfield projects…

First gas from Juliet

Jan 07, 2014

First gas has been produced form the southern North Sea Juliet field, says operator GDF SUEZ. Juliet is a subsea development on the western flank of the southern gas basin, 39km east of the Lincolnshire coastline in the UK. First gas is from the West Well…

Current News

Valaris' Drilling Rig Contracts Backlog Grows to $4 Billion

Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project Has Not Been Delayed

Oceaneering Signs On for Terradepth's Ocean Data Service

US Oil and Gas Production Rebounds

Subscribe for OE Digital E‑News