North Sea drilling activity eased during Q3, 2013, following an encouraging Q2, according to a report into offshore activity from Deloitte's petroleum services group (PSG). The report found that the number of new wells drilled on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) fell by around one third…
A consortium of companies, including Royal Dutch Shell plc, Petrobras, Total, CNPC and CNOOC, won today a 35-year production sharing contract to develop the giant Libra pre-salt oil discovery located in the Santos Basin, offshore Brazil. The Brazilian regulator…
Technip has won a contract from Qatar Petroleum for the engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning of a bridge linked living quarters platform and a utility platform. The project location is within Qatar Petroleum offshore facilities…
As part of SPE Offshore Europe 2013 ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants and Caterpillar Marine & Petroleum Division (CAT) joined forces for an interactive breakfast seminar, hosted by Offshore Engineer’s Paul Hutton. Maintenance and engineering…
The strength and the level of activity in the oil and gas industry was clear at this year’s record-beating 40th anniversary SPE Offshore Europe. The event attracted more than 63,000 people—a number significantly higher than the anticipated 50…
Forces transforming the global energy industry are presenting both opportunities and challenges for Russia, according to senior government and industry figures at the World Energy Congress in Korea. Alexander Novak, Minister of Energy…
The first decommissioning relief deeds have been presented by new Economic Secretary to the Treasury Nicky Morgan to senior representatives from the oil and gas industry. The deeds will provide greater certainty over the tax relief companies…
CNOOC Ltd started production at two of its offshore fields, the Wenchang 19-1 North and Weizhou 12-8 West. The Wenchang 19-1 North oil field is located in the western Pearl River Mouth Basin with an average water depth of about 120-130m…
The international hunt for resources in the arctic is unlikely to lead to confrontation, but it is possible, the SPE Arctic and Extreme Environments conference heard in Moscow today. Former British diplomat in Russia, Sir Anthony Brenton…
After two years of planning, BP is about to launch a major renewal program on its North Sea Magnus and ETAP facilities. BP explained the program—and its long term aims—to Elaine Maslin. Operators in the North Sea are tackling a thorny…
Over the past week, the government shutdown has steadily crept into more sectors of the oil and gas industry. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) shuttered today, sending a message to subscribers at 1 pm ET that it would furlough…
Developing economies continue to be a core feature of global exploration efforts. Dr Peter Davis looks at managing political, societal and ethical risks in such regions. As Dick Cheney once observed, “the good Lord didn’t see fit to put…
Ghohta discovery Lundin Petroleum made an oil discovery on the Ghohta prospect in exploration licence PL492 in the Barents Sea. The well, 7120/1-3, 35km northwest of Snøhvit field, found a 75m oil column in Permian carbonates. Statoil…
Wood Mackenzie has predicted upstream investment in East Africa will reach US$7 billion by 2018. Martin Kelly, head of Sub Sahara Africa upstream research for Wood Mackenzie, told delegates at the East Africa Oil and Gas Conference today…
A busy 2013 seismic acquisition season is continuing in the Barents Sea, with CGG announcing the completion of its second Broadseis campaign and Dolphin Geophysical launching a new survey. The increase in seismic acquisition activity in the area…