Ian McCabe, technology project team leader with ITF, spoke to Energy Voice following his presentation at Subsea Expo 2015. Now in its final day, the exhibition has been attended by thousands of delegates from around the globe.
Europe’s largest annual subsea conference and exhibition, which showcases the expertise and technology of a UK industry generating about £9billion in revenue annually, opened yesterday. More than 6,000 people registered to attend the event, organised by trade body Subsea UK, which takes place at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre till Friday.
Since 2013 when it launched, independent project services consultancy Cambla, has exceeded its turnover target by more than 45%. The company has been nominated in the new enterprise category at the Subsea Expo 2015 awards in Aberdeen. Owner and project services manager, Alexander MacLeod, spoke to Energy Voice about their recent nomination and the launch of their Schedule Animation Tool (S.A.T).
Forum Energy Technologies has launched its latest generation subsea robotic system at Subsea Expo. The company, which is the world’s largest manufacturer of underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), has created the XLX- C ROV. It is more compact than the highly successful XLX model, but with similar capabilities.
Industry safety group Step Change in Safety has announced CHC Helicopters West North Sea regional director, Mark Abbey, will take to the helm of its Helicopter Safety Steering Group (HSSG) as its new co-chair. Mr Abbey will join Dave Dickson, vice president of safety and operational risk for BP North Sea, the group’s operator co-chair. He sat down with Energy Voice in an exclusive interview where he spoke about the successes already made and the challenges still faced to ensure confidence in helicopter safety.
This footage demonstrates how the Pieter Schelte vessel, which is thought to be the largest ship ever built, will lift and remove the Brent Delta topside from the North Sea. Earlier this week, it was revealed oil giant Shell would take launch a consultation on one of the most significant and complext decommissioning projects on the Brent Delta. It is one of four rigs which on the field 115 miles north-east of Shetland, which has been producing since 1976.
The head of the new Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) confirmed three new appointments to the fledgling body yesterday and suggested experts from other industries may be brought in to bring fresh thinking into the sector. Chief executive Andy Samuels announced that half of the six director posts had now been filled at the regulator set up following Sir Ian Wood's review of the UK oil and gas industry last year. The former BG Group boss stressed the importance of striking a balance in the make-up of the Aberdeen-based OGA, which is due to be fully up and running by April.
In just three years, industry entrepreneur Steven Gray has built a subsea company to rival most. Rovop, which posted £3.2million in turnover in 2012, now employs 130 staff, operates in nearly every international energy base and is on track to record £25million in turnover for this financial year.
The Shadow Chancellor has called for changes to the UK Government's tax regime for the oil and gas industry.
The First Minister spoke to Energy Voice on her first to Aberdeen since becoming leader of the SNP party. To help the industry, the Scottish Government is setting up an energy jobs taskforce. Nicola Sturgeon said that the “recent drop in the price of a barrel of crude oil” as well as the UK Government’s “mismanagement” of the tax regime for oil and gas could “pose a threat to a number of jobs”.
Former First Minister Alex Salmond has called for an agenda to be set out by Westminster in order to save jobs in the oil industry. Speaking to Energy Voice as his first exclusive column is published in its sister publication, The Press and Journal, the SNP politician called for action as oil prices head below the $50 mark. He said:"If you listen to Westminster politicians the debate is all about what prices are going to be and what revenues are going to be because they've never been concerned about anything else, but how much revenues they'll get from Scotland's resources.
This dramatic footage captured by an offshore worker in the North Sea shows waves crashing against the Borgholm Dolphin rig. Winds as high as 113mph hit Scotland earlier this week as a storms crossed the Atlantic.
A North Sea oil summit called by Aberdeen City Council will be held within the "next few weeks". Council leader Jenny Laing, who announced the move in December last year, said politicians would meet with representatives from the industry to discuss North Sea investment.
The Press and Journal’s Jeremy Cresswell gives a sneak peek of what to expect in January’s edition of Energy. Some of the highlights include an interview with Oil and Gas UK’s Malcolm Webb and Opito’s group chief executive, David Doig. Watch the short clip of what to expect below.
Robin Watson’s career boils down to two things - adventure and family. Growing up on the west coast of Scotland, his appetite for adventure was shaped by the wide expanse of the neighbouring sea. He quickly joined the merchant navy before later transiting into the oil and gas sector. In the midst of his career climb he met and married his wife. And according to Wood Group’s new chief operating officer, his business success is a credit to his firm family foundation. For him, one could not exist without the other. Energy Voice sat down with the newly promoted executive for its latest instalment of The Journey. He discusses how he manages risk, making tough industry firsts, the challenges the service sector currently faces and what it was like to take up the reins at one of the biggest service companies in the global sector. Watch the full interview below or browse our highlight clips based on topic.
Leading oil industry expert Sir Ian Wood said the current downturn could present an opportunity for the industry to "get leaner". The North-east entrepreneur said he could see the cost of a barrel of oil returning to between $90 or $100 - but said he wouldn't want it to go any higher - describing it as a "good balance".
Scientists from the University of Aberdeen have captured new species of fish on camera in the Mariana Trench - the deepest place on earth. The video shows the ultra-deep-sea 'supergiant amphipod' and was recorded using the UK's deepest diving vehicle the Hadal-Lander. An international team of marine biologists, geologists , microbiologists and geneticists have only just returned from the detailed study aboard the Schmidst Ocean Institute's Research Vessel Falkor.
This footage shows how onshore and offshore personnel will be able to train and exercise for oil spills. The North Cape Maritime Training Centre in Honningsvåg in Norway now contains the world’s only oil spill simulator where onshore and offshore personnel isolated or together, can train in the tools and stages of oil spill combating operations. It has been created by Aptomar together with Transas in close cooperation with the North Cape Maritime Training Centre in Honningsvag.
ABIS Projects has won a number of contracts worth around £1million. The oil and gas services consultancy said it has secured frame agreement and call-off contracts with companies including Talisman Sinopec and North Sea newcomer, MOL Group. Francis Kiernan, who acquired an interest in ABIS Project earlier this year, spoke to Energy Voice about the contract wins. With more than 30 years in the oil and gas industry, Mr Kiernan forecast opportunities for the UK in the Norwegian sector.
Staff working over the Christmas period all know how tough it can be. These oil workers in Azerbaijan decided to make light of celebrating the holiday away from home by creating a tongue-in-cheek clip. Watch the video below.
This video shows a perfect flare shot set off to ignite gas streaming out on a North Sea rig.
Oil & Gas UK chief executive Malcolm Webb sat down with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander in an exclusive interview for Energy Voice. The minister sets out the plans by the government including the introduction of new tax breaks to trigger a fresh wave of North Sea exploration.
Incredible footage has emerged of a lightning strike offshore. The short video, which was captured last month, shows a massive electric discharge hitting the water from above. Watch the amazing clip below.
A drone has been used to capture a bird's eye view of a platform in the Mediterranean Sea. The remotely operated vehicle moves from land to air and across bright blue waters to capture the platform for the sky above.
The crew of the West Phoenix rig have created a Christmas video to cheer themselves up whilst working during the holidays.