WASHINGTON is sending an icebreaker into the Arctic to collect scientific data about the continental shelf and oceanic basins of its ice-bound seas. The US Coastguard cutter, Healy, has already embarked on the first of two cruises ordered by the US Extended Continental Shelf Task Force.
ENSCO International has placed yet another contract for an Ensco 8500 class ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling unit - the seventh in the series. The $560million order has been placed on spec with Keppel FELS in Singapore, with delivery expected during H2 2012.
Norway has committed to pouring more than £30million (NOK 300million) into a scientific research and development programme with the aim of generating more cost-effective technology for carbon capture.
Sand is part and parcel of hydrocarbons production. At best, it is a costly nuisance, but unchecked it is potentially dangerous and must be rigorously managed. But how, as this aspect of production management has traditionally been less of a priority than some others?
I travelled to Utsira on a brilliant April day - not a cloud in the sky, a glassy sea. The catamaran lolloped along, reeling off the miles. It took no time to reach this lump of near-barren North Sea rock, which is home to some 230 souls.
OFFSHORE Northern Seas has long had a strong conference programme - strategic, bold and, on occasion, controversial.
A new report confirms that there should be very strong future growth for renewables in the UK, but it highlights an overall gap between what is achievable under existing circumstances and the Renewables Advisory Board central estimate scenario target of 7.6GW (Gigawatts).
THE US and New Zealand have laid the foundation of an international partnership designed to promote the use of natural renewable energy resources on island nations.
Inflation in the UK has reached its highest level for many years. The latest estimates show the annual rate of growth in the consumer price index (CPI) reaching 3.8% and in the retail price index (RPI) 4.6%. The Government's official target is just 2%.
Last month, the UK unit of Lundin Petroleum, partnered by Challenger Minerals and Revus Energy, successfully drilled the UKCS block 21/8 Torphins prospect. The 21/8-4 well penetrated a high-quality Paleocene reservoir sandstones and a sidetrack encountered encouraging signs of hydrocarbons.
In today's litigious society, companies are under increasing pressure to ensure they do all they can to avoid employees developing health problems caused by their work.
TWO new purchasers have joined FPAL, the driving force behind supplier selection in the North Sea.
A CRUCIAL task for Curran and his team is ensuring a pipeline of North Sea drillable prospects, exploration successes, acquisitions and projects as they are currently responsible for about 25% of Lundin's current 180million boe global reserves base.
Last month, I suggested that some facts and statistics might help to tune the mind to the seriousness of the retirement problem faced industry - and not just Big Oil.
BACK in the mid-1990s, Canadian group Talisman blazed its way into the North Sea via an asset deal with BP. However, one of the four so-called MAST assets, Thistle, was rejected.
ONE of the big challenges faced by Lundin with both Heather and Thistle is platform integrity. A lot of cash has been spent in this direction in a bid to ensure they remain both safe and efficient long-term.
ANOTHER current highlight in the Lundin portfolio for Curran is Peik, a mid-1980s gas-condensate discovery that has lain on various shelves since.
STARTING salary up to £25,000, plus "superb benefits" - so says British Energy in its latest advertising designed to attract attention from the latest crop of university graduates.
Read Well Services has announced a new scheme to fast-track graduates into careers within the company's Petroleum Technology Group (PTG) and has already taken on the first cohort of six.
THE University of East Anglia is considering the idea of launching engineering degree programmes following an attack by George Morrison, MD of Aquaterra Energy.
A SOLAR-POWERED ECG (electrocardiograph) machine has been developed for third-world and trouble-areas use. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology student Felix Adamczyk says it will be affordable, robust and energy-efficient.
AN AMERICAN study suggests that a healthier diet and a return to traditional farming could help reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.
BRAZIL'S Petrobras has booked 22 years' worth of work with Transocean that will soak up four of the US group's rigs and bring in revenues estimated at some $3billion. And it has won a further $1billion of work in the US Gulf of Mexico. Rigs to go on long-term hire to Petrobras are the Sedco 707, Sedco 710, Deepwater Navigator and Transocean Driller.
The deepwater rig construction boom seems unstoppable, with another crop of orders placed over the past few weeks in Singapore and with Norwegian names once again to the fore as clients, notably Sevan Marine, which has ordered another pair of Sevan 650 drilling units from COSCO of Singapore.
During the holiday season in 2007, there was no let-up in drilling activity. But what a difference a year makes as, this July, only three wells were spudded - all appraisals. That's substantially below the count in 2007.
