Argentina v the UK re the Falklands
A new round of exploration in the Falklands basin is well under way. The first drilling projects commenced in 1998 and new drilling began again in 2010.
Cairn and Tullow in spotlight
AUGUST saw first-half results from both Cairn Energy and Tullow Oil. As usual, the numbers proved to be largely a sideshow, with the market more interested in drilling results.
Squaring up to the North Sea decommissioning challenge
Oil & Gas UK is working to ensure that decommissioning of the UK's oil&gas infrastructure is carried out in the safest, most efficient and cost-effective manner, with key issues to be debated at a two-day conference next month.
Irish Frontier in no way blarney
Tony O'Reilly is the CEO of Providence Resources, an Irish independent that has in its portfolio perhaps some of the most promising assets offshore Ireland, including Burren, Dunquin and Spanish Point.
Uganda’s oil – a blessing or a curse?
Recent oil finds in the Lake Albert region could soon turn Uganda into a mid-sized oil-producing country. Estimates suggest it may be the largest onshore oilfields complex discovered in sub-Saharan Africa for the past two decades.
Trio of Aberdeen post-graduate programmes accredited
THREE University of Aberdeen postgraduate engineering degree programmes have been granted accreditation by leading professional institutions.
Marathon man climbing career ladder with single-minded determination
Colin Campbell is a gas generation maintenance team leader at Marathon Oil. He has done very well for himself, but why did he choose a career in the North Sea offshore industry?
Mars and moon work inspiration for self-cleaning solar panels
DO YOUR parents find dusting the house a chore, or dread washing the windows? Imagine keeping dust and grime off objects spread out over an area of 25-50 football fields.
Battery-powered cars under scrutiny
BATTERY-POWERED electric cars are often promoted as the ideal solution to the challenges of future mobility since they produce no exhaust gases in operation.
Battery-like device aims to exploit living cells
A NEW battery-like device has been developed which opens the possibility that people could one day "recharge" mobile phones, laptops and other portable electronics in an unlikely way - with a fix from a sugary fizzy drink or even a shot of vegetable oil.
Coping with the downer of post-summer holiday blues
Children in Scotland have now returned to school, and the holidays have come and gone. Together, these events mark the end of summer - and autumn and winter loom ahead.
There’s now a bit of a buzz about the place
EXPLORATION and appraisal drilling on the UKCS continues to show a marked recovery, with nine spuds reported during August alone - the Central North Sea currently leading the way.
SeaGen sets record for tidal generation
SEAGEN, a tidal device developed by Marine Current Turbines, has passed a significant milestone by generating its two-millionth unit of electricity to the energy grid in Northern Ireland. Said to be the world's first and only commercial-scale tidal-stream energy turbine, the 1.2MW device is located in Strangford Lough.
Ultra-efficient solar in pipeline
EINDHOVEN University of Technology (TU/) researchers are keen to develop solar cells with an efficiency of more than 65% by utilising nanotechnologies.
Decom juggernaut gathering momentum
DECOMMISSIONING has been on the North Sea agenda for at least two decades, with a modest number of platforms removed to date, but with many more to go. But, momentum is now building to the point that the CEO of recently-formed Decommissioning UK says there will be a spate of fields abandoned in the middle of the current decade.
ABB opens Indian turbines factory
SWISS-SWEDISH engineering giant ABB has inaugurated a global wind-power generator factory at Vadodara in India.
Zidane-1 find for Rwe-Dea
RWE Dea Norge has encountered hydrocarbons with its Zidane-1 exploration well in the Norwegian Sea (licence PL435, block 6507/7), north-west of the Heidrun field.
In wake of Macondo Pemex hesitates
MEXICAN state operator Pemex has called a temporary halt to its ultra-deepwater Gulf of Mexico wildcat exploration well, Maximino-1.
Mozambique oil strike for Anadarko
ANADARKO has apparently made an oil discovery offshore Mozambique with an exploration well drilled into the Ironclad Prospect, which is located on the same block as the recent Windjammer gas discovery. It was in February that the US independent made a gas discovery with its Windjammer probe. Early estimates place reserves in the 4-10trillion cu ft range.
China to make mini reactors
A MINI nuclear reactor developed in the US by Hyperion Power Generation is to be jointly manufactured, marketed and sold through a joint venture being forged with Alternate Energy Holdings.
Total gets moving on Clov work
FRENCH energy major Total has the green light to press ahead with its Clov project on block 17 offshore Angola, with main contracts awarded and partner approvals secured. Clov is the fourth block 17 development hub Girassol, Dalia and Pazflor. It will be similarly developed using subsea infrastructure tied back to a floating production and storage unit (FPSO).
Bugs could hold key to conversion
AS THE Deepwater Horizon blowout has shown, naturally occurring bugs have dealt with much of the oil spill with almost ruthless efficiency - arguably far better than the clean-up effort by humans.
£200million Norwegian contract for Bristow
STATOIL has awarded Bristow Norway a 10-year contract worth some £200million for three helicopters to fly from Flesland heliport, in Bergen, from 2012.
‘Intelligent dummy’ plugs gap in market
INNOVATIVE technology designed to simplify the commissioning of oil and gas wells has been launched in Aberdeen after well-completion technology developer PTC responded to a plea from the industry.
Sonomatic breaks new ground with ROV-deployed subsea inspection system
Ultrasonic inspection specialist Sonomatic has introduced a new subsea inspection tool which, the company says, can be deployed entirely by ROV.