TAX breaks for professionals and more encouragement of young people into engineering could help to plug a looming shortage of skilled personnel in the decommissioning sector, according to an industry body.
A HERCULES aircraft and two ships capable of dealing with a potential major oil spill have been put on standby as Shell continues its battle to plug a North Sea leak.
OIL and gas explorer Melrose Resources has reduced its full-year production estimate for a second time this year after setbacks in Egypt.
CENTRICA Energy spudded an exploration well on the Butch prospect in the Norwegian North Sea yesterday using the Maersk Guardian drilling rig.
UK ENERGY service group Hunting said yesterday it was to buy a US-based machining company for more than £50million just days after announcing a £475million acquisition.
GLOBAL offshore drilling giant Transocean has made a £879million bid for Aker Drilling, of Norway, in a move that would boost its ultra-deepwater fleet and its foothold offshore the Nordic country.
FALKLANDS oil and gas explorer Rockhopper Exploration said yesterday its Sea Lion discovery was larger than thought after analysis on new seismic data, further boosting hopes for the region.
SHARES in oil field engineering service group Aker Solutions fell more than 5% in Oslo yesterday after second-quarter earnings were dented by operational issues.
ENQUEST said yesterday it would not be taking its foot off the ball after posting a 35% rise in production and doubling its revenue.
ABERDEEN-based oil and gas engineering service firm Plexus Holdings has entered an agreement with Senergy to provide wellhead engineering to Dana Petroleum.
WESTHILL-based Subsea 7 reported a "strong" second quarter yesterday and said its integration with former rival Acergy was on track.
Investment of more than £250million in the UK North Sea helped to boost production, Abu Dhabi's national energy company said yesterdayas it announced a 150% jump in profits.
OIL and gas group Serica Energy said yesterday it was talking to other potential buyers of its Kambuna gas field in Indonesia after delays on an agreed deal.
OIL and gas skills and training body Opito is on the hunt for people from the industry to help to recruit the next generation of energy workers.
AT the start of this year the predictions were that the North Sea was entering a new era of investment.
TWO young apprentices have become the first trainees at Wireline Engineering to complete the firm's modern apprenticeship programme.
ENERGY service group Hunting said yesterday it would buy a US well specialist for £475million and that more acquisitions were on the cards.
TALISMAN Energy could start production drilling on its Godwin oil field in the second quarter of next year.
A NEW industrial instrumentation engineering programme is launching at Robert Gordon University's School of Engineering this month.
CANADIAN Natural Resources (CNR) has reiterated its reduced activities in the North Sea as a result of the UK Government's oil and gas tax grab.
US OIL and gas explorer and producer Apache posted record second-quarter revenue yesterday as a result of high oil prices and record production, the firm said.
Drilling contractor KCA Deutag said yesterday it was considering buying new offshore vessels after taking a step forward in its plans to grow in south-east Asia.
TRANSOCEAN posted a 78% slump in second-quarter profits yesterday as rising rig usage struggled against increased costs.
OIL and gas explorer and producer Endeavour International said it had made substantive progress on its North Sea development projects in addition to growing its position in unconventional gas in the US.
Scottish oil explorer Cairn Energy said yesterday it was still optimistic of finding oil off Greenland despite its first well this year - part of a £369million campaign - having to be abandoned.
