Operations News


The North Sea gets steamy

Dec 01, 2015

Using steam to help increase oil recovery, particularly from heavy oil, is a well tried and tested technology, but not quite so offshore. Elaine Maslin looks at a bid to change that. Images from The Steam Oil Production Co…

Aker inks BP frame agreement

Nov 26, 2015

Aker Solutions won a framework agreement to provide maintenance and modifications services at BP-operated oil and gas fields offshore Norway. The contract has a fixed period of five years valued at as much as NOK 3.2 billion. It also…

Tablet-based software for Ex inspections and maintenance

Nov 01, 2015

René Larsen, of Inspection and maintenance software specialists SafeEx, discusses how Ex inspection software was deployed on a gas compression jackup rig destined for the Cantarell field offshore Mexico. Data collection…

Choice of pumps

Oct 01, 2015

Jerry Lee investigates the use of hydraulic submersible pumps as an alternative to the common ESP for artificial lift operations. An ultra-high reliability hydraulic submersible pump. Photos from ClydeUnion Pumps - an SPX brand…

Carbon sense

Sep 01, 2015

Flow visualization in horizontal wells is being improved thanks to carbon composite rods. Elaine Maslin takes a look. The yellow wireline mast suspends the top sheave and the pressure control equipment…

Systematic evaluation of platform life

Sep 01, 2015

Getting to grips with the condition of older assets can be a difficult task. Stefano Copello outlines RINA’s approach to revitalization. The re-used jacket of the Nenè platform, owned by Eni Congo…

Maersk Oil signs up Amec Foster Wheeler

Aug 27, 2015

Amec Foster Wheeler has been awarded a three-year integrated services contract (ISC) by Maersk Oil covering its North Sea assets. The value of the contract has not been announced. The integrated services will start in September 2015 and will run for three years…

Fit for HPHT

Jun 01, 2015

Exova Group’s Stuart Bond shows how the company is working to develop testing technologies to ensure SURF components are fit for HPHT and H2S service. Exova’s Dudley, UK, autoclave facility. Images…

UTEC NCS Survey completes West African project

May 27, 2015

UTEC NCS Survey, an Acteon company, has recently completed three months of AUV operations for a number of Saipem projects located in West Africa.  UTEC NCS performed pre-lay and as-laid surveys using their Gavia autonomous underwater…

Global subsea BOP market set to grow

May 14, 2015

Research and Markets issued a new report on the global subsea BOP market, and the analyst firm says that it expects the market to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% over the period 2014-2019. BOP is a high pressure mechanical safety valve system at the top of a well head…

Making light work of sand removal

May 01, 2015

Desanding to stop wellbore tubing clogging-up is nothing new, but FourPhase has developed their own technology to keep the flow going. Neil Meldrum explains. A DualFlow system overview. Images from FourPhase…

Offshore heavy oil economics

May 01, 2015

Jeannie Stell looks at offshore heavy oil development economics with an eye on the current low-price environment. ExxonMobil expects its 52-well Hebron development project offshore Newfoundland to bring in first oil in 2017…

DNV GL issues closed-bus DP guideline

Apr 29, 2015

Advanced dynamic positioning (DP) vessels can now meet critical safety regulations while gaining operational flexibility, efficiency and cost savings through new design and monitoring methods. More operators are asking their drilling…

Drop in spending means shrinking backlogs

Apr 29, 2015

Oilfield services companies are putting a brave face on the continuing market downturn, despite some reporting shrinking order books.  Subsea 7 and Fugro reported shrinking order books in their 1Q results this morning.  Subsea 7’s…

Golder Associates appoints new CEO

Apr 28, 2015

Golder Associates has appointed Dr. Hisham Mahmoud as its president and CEO. He will be based in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Mahmoud’s career spans some 27 years, the majority of which has been in diversified global engineering and construction companies…

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