Safety audit reveals non-conformities on Gullfaks A
Statoil has been given until November 30 to respond to non-conformities and improvements identified by Norwegian authorities following an inspection audit of the Gullfaks A platform.
North Sea
Amec Foster Wheeler sets out decom credentials
Amec Foster Wheeler is ‘uniquely placed’ for decommissioning work in the North Sea oil and gas industry thanks to its experience in the nuclear sector, an international conference heard today.
Awilco profits jump but rigs face lay-up in 2016
Awilco Drilling has seen profits increase in the third quarter of 2015, but warned rig layup was likely to increase next year.
Iona Energy facing insolvency after restructuring deal falls through
North Sea oil company Iona Energy is facing insolvency after a proposed restructuring deal fell through.
Industry bodies aim to deliver streamlined decommissioning approach
UK offshore oil and gas industry trade bodies Oil & Gas UK and Decom North Sea have pledge to deliver more joined-up working to deliver a more effective decommissioning agenda for the North Sea.
KCA Deutag confirms 69 jobs at risk on EnQuest platforms
KCA Deutag has confirmed that 69 jobs are at risk on its EnQuest operations.
North Sea decommissioning expenditure to hit £17bn over next decade
The UK oil and gas industry’s decommissioning sector is growing at a steady pace, with total expenditure expected to hit £16.9billion over the next decade, a new study shows. Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) raised the forecast from £14.6billion a year ago, citing an influx of 47 new projects into its 2015 Decommissioning Insight survey. A total of 79 platforms are now expected to be removed across the UK continental shelf by 2024, according to the poll, which was launched at the Offshore Decommissioning Conference in St Andrews.
North Sea must accept and adapt to $50 oil says industry leader
Many working in the North Sea have still to recognise the full impact of $50 oil and the crisis affecting the sector, according to one senior industry figure.
Antrim remains focused on Irish prospect
Antrim Energy has received $9.7million in costs owed by joint venture partners following the completion of the Fyne and Erne abandonment programme in the North Sea.
North Sea-focussed Iona gets more time
Iona Energy, the North Sea-focused oil & gas company, has had amendments to proposed restructuring plan approved at a meeting by bondholders today.
Lundin gets permit for new well in Barents Sea
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate has granted Lundin Norway AS a drilling permit for well 7130/4-1 in the Barents Sea.
Norwegian production figures up in October
Norway's hydrocarbon producers processed 85,000 per day more during October than the previous month, according the latest statistics from the coutry's petroleum directorate.
Premier Oil eyes North Sea bargains
Premier Oil is eyeing North Sea bargains as the firm promised first oil from its Solan field in time for Christmas.
New report aims to support new decommissioning technology
Industry bodies Oil & Gas UK and Decom North Sea have published a report to provide businesses with guidance on good practice in identifying, qualifying and adopting new technologies used in the decommissioning of offshore assets.
Oil and Gas UK publishes decommissioning advice
Industry body Oil and Gas UK has published documents to help operators and contractors plan and execute decommissioning activities.
Unite recommends new offer from offshore caterers
Offshore catering workers are mulling a fresh offer from their bosses as well as unions’ advice that they accept it to settle a pay dispute which had threatened to boil over into a strike. The Unite union said yesterday it welcomed revised terms from Catering Offshore Trade Association (Cota) employers, and put plans for industrial action on hold. Cota chairman Peter Bruce said: “At our meeting with representatives of Unite and RMT last week, we discussed a solution which we are hopeful will lead to the resolution of this dispute.
Record year for groundbreaking Aberdeen wellhead technology firm
Plexus Holdings’ boss Ben van Bilderbeek said today a record-breaking trading performance by the firm was all the more impressive against a background of woes in the oil and gas industry.
Ineos extends its interests in North Sea gas fields
Ineos has extended its interests in the North Sea after snapping up a further 25% stake in the Clipper South Gas Field from Fairfield Energy.
Petrofac to consult staff over possible job losses on BP assets
Oil and gas services company Petrofac may be forced to reduce its headcount to move in line with a change in shift pattern with client BP.
Shell upstream boss says UK sector still in “dark ages” on collaboration
The boss of Shell's UK upstream business said the oil and gas industry was still in the "dark ages" when it came to collaboration. Paul Goodfellow said companies working in the North Sea need to learn from other industries on how to work together. The Shell boss looked to examples both in Scotland and the US of how collaboration could be driven across the sector.
Serica acquires BG and SSE share in North Sea Columbus extension
Serica Energy has reached an agreement with BG International and SSE to transfer equity in the Columbus field in the North Sea.
Opito training app gains traction with North Sea workforce
A mobile app designed to give oil workers access to training and certification records has been download by half the North Sea offshore workforce since its launch last year, according to training body Opito.
Norway plans new study on unmanned wellhead platforms
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate wants unmanned wellhead platforms to be considered more often as an alternative to subsea tie-back in connection with development decisions.
NSRI “hackathons” aim to unlock 1.5billion barrels of oil from UK North Sea
NSRI (National Subsea Research Initiative) is leading computer industry-style hackathons that it hopes will lead to ideas that can help unlock up to 1.5 billion barrels of oil from the North Sea.
Total to sell 15% stake in Gina Krog field
Total has signed an agreement to sell a 15% interest in the Gina Krog field in Norway to Tellus Petroleum in a NOK1.4billion deal. The French company’s president of exploration and production said the move was as a result of a “full comparative review” of its global asset portfolio. The transaction still has to be approved by the Norwegian authorities.