Greenpeace claims to find North Sea methane leak that’s been active for 30 years
Environmental activists claim to have found a methane leak in the North Sea that was caused a “blow-out” during drilling operations 30 years ago.
North Sea
Impairment drives Maersk Drilling deep into the red
Maersk Drilling fell to a pre-tax loss of £1.18 billion in the first half of 2020 due to a hefty impairment linked to the Covid-19 outbreak and oil price drop.
Drilling firm Archer posts first-half profit despite Covid hit
Drilling services firm Archer made pre-tax profits of £2.3 million in the first half of 2020 despite being hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and low oil price.
Cnooc’s Buzzard platform could feed into carbon capture project
Chinese oil firm Cnooc’s Buzzard platform in the UK North Sea may have a role to play in a flagship carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, developers have said.
Whalsay records big impairment on Bentley field amid Covid-hit sales process
Whalsay Energy booked an impairment charge of £52.7 million ($69m) on its Bentley field based on offers it received as part of a Covid-hit sale and farm-out process.
Sleipnir offshore crane breaks own record for single jacket lift
Dutch firm Hereema Marine Contractors (HMC) has broken its own record a single jacket lift.
NHV accuses Babcock of ‘race to the bottom’ over Total contract win
The chief executive of NHV has accused rival helicopter operator Babcock of engaging in a “race to the bottom” after a pair of North Sea contracts with Total changed hands.
Picture: Tolmount platform loaded onto barge ahead of voyage to UK
Premier Oil has reached another milestone in its Tolmount gas project in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic, a photograph shared online shows.
Oil workers must heed IR35 rules when setting up own businesses
The oil and gas downturn of approximately five years ago where the price of a barrel of oil dropped to less than $30 led to thousands of employees in the sector being made redundant. Those who wished to remain in the sector had to be patient before ultimately securing further employment.
Diamond Offshore warned over spread of ‘asbestos debris’ on North Sea rig
Diamond Offshore has received a warning from the safety regulator after “asbestos debris” was spread on a North Sea rig.
Shell delivers new seismic data on Deltic-partnered Pensacola
Shell has delivered new seismic data on the Pensacola prospect in the North Sea, with partner Deltic Energy claiming it is “highly analogous” to a discovery which struck oil last year.
Rise in category B cases offshore attributed to Aberdeen Covid-19 outbreak
An offshore safety boss has blamed a local outbreak in Aberdeen for a rise in the number of North Sea workers that have come into contact with people showing symptoms of Covid-19.
North Sea ‘cannot afford bad practices’ in supply chain, warns Petrofac boss
A UK boss of Petrofac has warned the North Sea supply chain “cannot afford for bad practices to creep in during this moment of crisis".
Awilco Drilling sinks to £10.6m losses amid disputes with rig builder and HMRC
Awilco Drilling has sunk to losses of £10.6million in the first half of 2020 amid separate disputes with rig builder Keppel Fels and HMRC.
Petrofac expects ‘bounce back’ for UK work in 2021
Petrofac is expecting areas of its business to “bounce back” in 2021, according to a UK boss, as it handles the effects of Covid-19.
Deltic Energy makes ‘material increase’ in gas estimates at Shell licence
Deltic Energy has announced a “material increase” in estimates of gas at a North Sea licence which Shell farmed into last year.
Investigation after 55-tonne gas leak at Apache Beryl platform
Safety concerns have been raised after figures revealed a 55-tonne gas leak at the Apache Beryl Alpha platform in the North Sea.
Installations placed on ‘alert’ after Greenpeace ship spotted in North Sea
Workers on a number of installations in the northern North Sea have been told to stay alert after a Greenpeace ship was spotted in the area.
Aberdeen Harbour hands out £4.3m contracts for expansion project
Aberdeen Harbour has awards £4.3million worth of contracts for the South Harbour construction project.
Updated: Weatherford laid off 130 Aberdeen workers in first half
Oilfield service firm Weatherford has said it made 130 employees redundant in Aberdeen in the first half of 2020 in an effort to get a grip on its costs.
Investment decision delayed on west of Shetland gas project, Ineos says
Total has put off making a final investment decision (FID) on its Glendronach gas discovery until next year, project partner Ineos has said.
Curlew – a decom object lesson
I’m baffled by the Curlew decommissioning saga that will now see the life-expired FPSO be dismantled in Norway rather than via the original arrangement whereby it was to be prepped in Dundee prior to being towed to Turkey for chopping up.
FlyLogix soaring ahead
The executive chairman of unmanned aerial vehicle firm FlyLogix said it is “very fortunate” to have enjoyed success in recent months despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
Garrick Group snaps up north-east drilling repair company MRDS
North-east drilling repair company MRDS has been acquired by an Aberdeen based investment firm for an undisclosed amount.
Ineos North Sea bosses optimistic despite profits plunge
Bosses at Ineos’ North Sea oil and gas business have vowed to keep “pursuing growth opportunities” despite a 95% profits plunge in 2019.