North Sea News


Funding for oil innovation announced

Mar 04, 2015

Delegates at the Technology Showcase in Aberdeen today (4 March) heard about millions of pounds of funding that is available for new innovations through two funds. Innovate UK’s funding competition for cleaner, more efficient conventional fuels…

Cuts will get worse before market improves

Mar 03, 2015

Industry cost-cutting and job cuts will get worse before it gets better, industry leaders told a business seminar in Aberdeen on 3 March. But, despite the gloom, they also said that the industry also needed to send out a more positive message…

Subsea 7 lands Shell UKCS contract extensions

Mar 02, 2015

Subsea 7 has been awarded a two-year extension to two Underwater Services Contracts (USCs) by Shell Upstream International Europe, worth approximately US$240 million.  Under these life of field contract extensions for diving support vessel…

Constructing Mariner

Mar 01, 2015

The Mariner heavy oil discovery on the East Shetland Platform in UK block 9/11 will be one of the largest offshore developments on the UK Continental Shelf in more than a decade. Meg Chesshyre checks on its progress. Chris…

Going with the flow

Mar 01, 2015

Flow measurement isn’t always foremost in industry debates, but the role it plays – and getting it right – is key. Elaine Maslin found out more. NEL’s flow measurement facility.  Image from NEL…

Shell exec to head Oil & Gas UK

Feb 27, 2015

The board of Oil & Gas UK has appointed Deirdre Michie as the organization’s new Chief Executive. Deirdre Michie will take up her position from 1 May 2015, replacing the current Chief Executive Malcolm Webb who formally retires on 31 May 2015…

Statoil to drill Gina Krog well

Feb 26, 2015

The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway granted Statoil consent to drill well 15/6-13 Gina Krog East 3 in the central North Sea. Drilling operations with the Songa Trym semisubmersible are expected to begin in April 2015 for approximately 50 days…

Total E&P gets two well approval

Feb 26, 2015

Total E&P Norge received approval from the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway to drill two wells in production license 627 in the central North Sea. Blocks 25/6-5 S and 25/6-5 A Skirne Øst will be drilled with the Leiv Eiriksson semisubmersible to investigate the find's potential…

Statoil selects Asco for Mariner services

Feb 26, 2015

Statoil has chosen UK-based oilfield support services firm Asco for its supply base and warehousing services on the UK North Sea Mariner field. The contract comes under two five-year contracts, with extension options, due to start in Q1 2016…

Wave energy body secures £14.3m funding

Feb 26, 2015

Scotland’s first wave energy technology development body Wave Energy Scotland will receive a total of £14.3 million over the next 13 months, Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing announced. The Scottish Government is supporting Wave Energy Scotland with a budget of £1…

UKCS stewardship under the spotlight

Feb 26, 2015

The UK’s new offshore oil and gas regulator is to require the top 20 North Sea operators by volume to present stewardship plans by April, as part of a string of actions to turnaround the industry published yesterday (25 February).  Stewardship…

Greater Stella Area delayed again

Feb 25, 2015

First production from the Greater Stella Area development in the UK North Sea has hit a further set back as delays continue on the project's floating production facility. Operator Ithaca Energy said the rate of progress of modifications…

McDermott-Petrofac ink SURF alliance

Feb 25, 2015

Oil and gas services provider Petrofac has agreed to form a strategic marketing alliance with McDermott International in the deepwater, subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF) sector. Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the two will form a five-year alliance…

Valemon hook-up complete

Feb 24, 2015

Statoil and Wood Group Mustang Norway (WGMN) completed the hook-up of the Valemon platform in the North Sea. Valemon. From Statoil.   WGMN teamed with the Korean engineering, procurement…

Aibel snatches Johan Sverdrup contract

Feb 24, 2015

Statoil and its Johan Sverdrup partners awarded Aibel a US$1 billion contract for the engineering, procurement and construction for the deck of the drilling platform on the Johan Sverdrup field.  Johan Sverdrup field…

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