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…
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…
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…
Weatherford discusses how a collaborative approach helped in the planning and execution of a North Sea drilling with liner operation. Fig. 1: Pore, frac, overburden and mud-pressures in the well…
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…
Statoil received consent to use the Songa Dee mobile drilling facility to permanently plug exploration well 34/10-52 A/B, according to the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway. Well 34/10-52 A/B is located at the Statoil-operated Gullfaks Sør…
A consultation period over the environmental impact assessment for the giant Johan Sverdrup development and its power supply proposal has started, Statoil announced today (November 3). Johan Sverdrup is one of the biggest discoveries…
CAN Group, has been awarded a £4 million contract to provide asset integrity services in the North Sea as the firm also announces international growth. The Aberdeen-headquartered company has secured work with Fairfield Energy aboard the Dunlin platform…
China's CNOOC has announced first oil on the US$3.3 billion UK North Sea Golden Eagle Area Development (GEAD). The development, comprising separate production and wellhead platforms and two subsea production systems, is producing about 18…