North Sea News


Kawasaki tests AUV docking in Scottish waters

Nov 23, 2017

Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries has completed a verification test on an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) which can dock autonomously to re-charge subsea in UK waters. With a focus on the growing demand for pipeline maintenance in the offshore oil and gas fields…

Tax changes to boost North Sea M&A

Nov 23, 2017

New tax measures aimed at making it more attractive for North Sea oil and gas assets to change hands have been welcomed by industry.  In his Budget statement made in the UK Parliament yesterday (22 November), the Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond…

Decom North Sea CEO to join OGTC

Nov 23, 2017

Decommisioning trade body Decom North Sea CEO Roger Esson is to join the Oil & Gas Technology Centre (OGTC) as its Decommissioning Solution Centre Manager.  Esson has more than 20 years of oil and gas industry leadership experience in the UK and internationally…

Port of Blyth takes on decommissioning, wins environmental license

Nov 22, 2017

The Port of Blyth in northeast England is set to make a strategic move into decommissoning following being awarded a decommissioning license from the UK Environment Agency.  During 2018, the port will ready a site at its Battleship Wharf terminal for decommissioning operations…

Nearly 100 applications in 30th UKCS licensing round

Nov 22, 2017

Nearly 100 applications covering 239 blocks were made by 68 companies in the 30th offshore licensing round on the UK Continental Shelf, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has revealed.  Applications came from companies ranging from multinationals to new country entrants…

Lyon prospect could create new West of Shetland gas hub

Nov 21, 2017

Chemicals and oil products group Ineos' subsidiary Ineos UK SNS has agreed to acquire a majority stake in two West of Shetland exploration licenses from Siccar Point Energy. The area, called the Northern Gas Fields, contains the estimated 1-3 Tcf recoverable Lyon prospect…

BP sells Bruce, Rhum, Keith stakes

Nov 21, 2017

UK oil major BP is set to sell its operated interests in the Bruce, Keith and Rhum fields, including three bridge-linked platforms and subsea infrastructure in the North Sea to UK independent Serica Energy. Subject to completion of the deal…

Wood starts SAGE operating role

Nov 20, 2017

Engineering house Wood has started its multi-million dollar, 'evergreen' contract to act as operating partner of the Scottish Area Gas Evacuation (SAGE) system and Beryl pipeline, on behalf of Ancala Midstream Acquisitions. Wood will manage the day-to-day operation of the SAGE system…

Western Isles FPSO on stream

Nov 20, 2017

Dana Petroleum's long delayed Western Isles development has produced first oil, it's been reported.  The UK North Sea development has been brough on stream using a new-build Sevan-design cylindical floating production unit (FPSO) built at COSCO's yard in China…

Taqa inks inaugural contract for P&A specialist Well-Safe

Nov 17, 2017

Well-Safe Solutions has signed its first contract after launching in July this year. The Aberdeen-based specialist well abandonment company has secured a three-year framework agreement with TAQA Bratani for the provision of intervention management services for all their North Sea assets…

Aker BP set for drilling in Norwegian North Sea

Nov 17, 2017

Aker BP has been given approval to drill exploration well 24/9-12 S on production license 340 in the Norwegian North Sea. The well, due to spud this month, will be drilled in about 120m water depth using the Transocean Arctic semisubmersible drilling rig of the Marosso 56 type…

OMV to drill Hades & Iris

Nov 17, 2017

OMV Norge is expected to start drilling on the Hades & Iris prospect in production licence 644 in the Norwegian Sea early next month (December) following approval from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate for well 6506/11-10.  Drilling…

Halo completes Tullow NL acquisition

Nov 13, 2017

Hague and London Oil (Halo) gas completed the acquisition of Tullow 101 Netherlands, seeing it take over a portfolio of offshore exploration and production licenses in the Dutch North Sea.  Halo says it is now a producer of more than 2500 boe/d…

Ex-Shell boss joins Belltree

Nov 10, 2017

Former chair and chief executive of Shell UK Sir Bob Reid is to take up a new role as non-executive director of Belltree, a specialist oil and gas consultancy based in Edinburgh. Sir Bob will advise and support Belltree with its continued growth into international markets…

Tributes paid to David Pridden, who has died aged 66

Nov 10, 2017

Industry stalwart David Pridden (66) passed away last weekend following a battle with cancer. Pridden became the inaugural CEO of industry trade group Subsea UK in 2004, several months after the organization was formed by Government and industry…

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