A view from the front line: Safety services provider RMI on how the North Sea overcame Covid
With the UK having seemingly emerged from Covid-19 - or still emerging depending on whom you ask - it affords the oil and gas industry time to take stock.
Coronavirus
BP boss says UK needs to ‘go a lot quicker’ to deliver energy transition on time
BP’s UK head of country has challenged industry and government to slash the time it takes to deliver low carbon projects.
Kosmos turns on the cash flow spigots and looks to LNG
Kosmos Energy is generating free cash flow at unprecedented volumes, allowing it to pay down debt, and has been talking up LNG.
Gas market shortfall widening, Shell warns
The LNG gap will widen by mid-decade leaving Europe in a particularly tight spot, Shell has warned in its annual outlook.
‘Critical line of defence’: North Sea oil workers urged to get vaccinated amid UK Omicron spike
North Sea oil and gas workers have been urged to get vaccinated against Covid as cases of the omicron variant surge in the UK.
BP to retest all crew on Clair Ridge after Covid-19 outbreak
A handful of workers have been flown off a North Sea platform after Covid-19 cases were picked up on board.
Workers flown off Forties Delta platform after Covid outbreak
A handful of people have been flown off a North Sea platform after cases of Covid-19 were found on board.
Talks to let double-jabbed oil workers bypass Covid isolation
Discussions are ongoing that could avoid swathes of North Sea oil workers having to return home in the event of a Covid-19 breakout.
Tories seek solution for oil and gas workers ‘trapped’ in hotel quarantine
The Scottish Conservatives have called for a solution to help oil and gas workers returning from ‘red list’ countries and forced to quarantine.
Milestone for North Sea as offshore worker numbers return to pre-pandemic levels
The number of people working in the offshore oil and gas sector has returned to levels not seen since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Quarantine hotels to remain in place for Scottish oil workers
Quarantine hotels for oil and gas workers are to remain in place, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon saying “public safety is paramount”.
Subsea 7 confirms 10 crew members with covid on North Sea vessel
Subsea 7 has confirmed 10 crew members on a North Sea supply vessel have tested positive for Covid-19.
Almost 70 workers removed from North Sea accommodation vessel after Covid outbreak
Dozens of North Sea workers have been flown home after an outbreak of Covid-19 on an accommodation vessel.
‘Too risky’ to ease quarantine rules for oil workers, says Scottish Government
The Scottish Government has decided not to let up quarantine rules for oil and gas workers returning from overseas, deciding that doing so would be “too risky”.
Boss gets all-clear before test taken
A company director has voiced concerns after he was given a rapid all-clear Covid result –before he had even taken a test.
Laid-off Halliburton worker’s firm helps people back to work
After losing his job last year due to the pandemic, an Aberdeen engineer is using his recent success to offer those in a similar situation employment.
Number of Covid cases linked to Safe Zephyrus outbreak doubles
Further Covid-19 cases have been recorded on a North Sea accommodation vessel following outbreak earlier this week.
Covid-19 cases confirmed aboard North Sea accommodation vessel
Shell has said it is taking “all appropriate precautions” after a handful of Covid-19 cases were detected aboard an accommodation vessel stationed on one of its North Sea fields.
Mourning pushes back EACOP signing
A deal involving Uganda, Tanzania and Total has been pushed back, following the death of Tanzanian President John Magufuli.
Holyrood under pressure to release stranded seafarers
Pressure is increasing on the Scottish Government to perform a U-turn and release seafarers stranded in a quarantine hotel.
‘The loophole is ridiculous’: Mix-up leaves north seafarers missing vital family time stranded in quarantine hotel in Edinburgh
Seafarers told they were heading home to spend quality time with family have instead been left stranded “like prisoners” in a quarantine hotel after arriving in Scotland hours before exemption rules were updated.
Scottish Government urged to set date for travel quarantine review for non-exempt oil workers
The Scottish Government is being urged to set a date for reviewing current restrictions for Scots returning from oil jobs overseas.
OGUK report underlines need for ‘vital support’, says 30,000 job losses remains ‘reasonable estimate’
Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) has warned that the UK’s energy transition is at risk of stalling unless the industry receives “vital support” from government.
Golden rules for virus protection offshore
In the last year, the Covid-19 pandemic has increased the risks of working in what was already one of the most hostile environments on Earth. But, with the first anniversary of the outbreak not long in our collective rear-view mirrors, offshore workers in the North Sea are facing a twin threat: emerging new variants of the virus and increasing Covid-fatigue and complacency.
Protests ignite in Senegal
Protests continued in Senegal on March 8 as a leading opposition politician faced charges of sexual assault.