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 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 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…
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 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…
BP awarded Emerson Process Management a US$40 million contract to be the main automation contractor for the Shah Deniz Stage 2 development project in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea. Upon the terms of the agreement, Emerson will…
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…
Calgary-based Talisman Energy has said it may suffer writedowns on its UK North Sea assets in Q4 due to battling production efficiency and cost issues on its assets in the basin. In its third-quarter report, Talisman said its UK North…
Statoil aims to shed a further 15% on the capital cost for the Johan Castberg development, offshore Norway, before it can move forward, its project manager said. The up to 600MMboe Barents Sea Johan Castberg project has been delayed twice…
Obsolescence is not a new issue for the offshore energy industry, however, it remains an insidious creeping plague, which hides in the wake of new and changing technologies to take everyone by surprise around 10 years into the system life cycle…
Simon Frost explains the role of engineered composite repairs in late life asset management. A tubular brace, having suffered wall loss through external corrosion, was reinstated to its original…
UK-based Centek Group opened it its new US$13 million factory and expects to increase its UK production capacity. The expanded works in Newton Abbot, Devon, occupies 75,000sq ft, which with the US factory that opened in 2012 gives a total of 147…
Eni Norge has awarded Aibel a contract for the hook-up and commissioning of its Goliat field. The contract includes preparations prior to towing the FPSO offshore, miscellaneous offshore hook-up activities, and assistance during final commissioning and start-up of the Goliat field…
With a slightly different approach, hydrodynamic modeling can be used for overpressure prediction in on and offshore environments. Marcell Lux, Ahmed Amran, and Marianna Vincze explain. Fig. 1…
The naming ceremony for four DSME semisubmersibles was held in H quay on 24 October. The rigs, hull numbers 3031, 3032, 3034, and 3035, were ordered by Norway’s Songa Offshore Company to be operated by Statoil. Around 290 guests attended the naming ceremony…