The UK Government has announced that 134 licenses, covering 252 blocks, are being offered in the 28th offshore licensing round. Statoil, Total, Nexen, and EnQuest have the largest haul of operated licenses offered. A large number of smaller…
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…
Texas-based Excelerate Energy has been selected by UK-based exploration firm Ophir Energy to lead a consortium to build Africa’s first newbuild, open seas FLNG project. Excelerate will lead a consortium of technology providers charged…
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…
Technip has secured a five-year framework agreement with PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd (PCSB) for engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) or supply-only of flexible pipes for PCSB’s projects in Malaysia. The Deep Orient…
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…
Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) will develop a US$6 billion gas liquefaction facility on the Pacific coast to enhance its export opportunities to Asia. The company said that it is aiming for a 2020 start date. The goal is to take advantage…
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…
The National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee (NOSAC), sponsored by the US Coast Guard, will meet on 18-19 November in Houston. Topics on the agenda include diving safety; OSV purpose and offshore workers; and training of personnel…
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…
Vaalco Energy, Inc. temporarily shut-in Well 2-H in the Ebouri field, offshore Gabon. The shut-in was to determine the cause of pressure communication between the tubing and casing annuli. Ebouri is a redevelopment project located within the Etame Marin permit…
Singapore’s Keppel is in a deal with Malaysia’s Petronas to buy up to 1 million-tonne of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year, over a period of 10 years. The deal is between Keppel Infrastructure Holdings through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary…
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…