First new generation production-tree ordered
SHELL has firmed up on its order for a new type of low-profile subsea production tree developed by GE Oil & Gas's drilling and production division in Aberdeen.
2010 All-Energy to be best ever
ABERDEEN'S 2010 All-Energy show promises to be the most timely and relevant yet to the renewables and oil&gas communities.
Angola block 15 tally up to five
ITALY'S Eni has become the latest to make oil discoveries offshore ultra-deepwater Angola.
Buoyant flotel market predicted
A STRONG operational performance and a rig utilisation rate of 8% helped Norwegian company Prosafe to an operating profit of $218.6million for the year 2009.
Industry bodies team up
Two of the UK's leading oil&gas industry bodies have joined forces to develop a new training programme aimed at expanding the nation's subsea skills and expertise.
FMC wins Petrobras subsea tree frame agreement
FMC Technologies has successfully negotiated a four-year subsea tree frame agreement with Petrobras that is expected to deliver as much as $400million in revenues if all the subsea equipment included in the agreement is ordered.
Expro investing millions in Ghana
Expro Group is investing in a new multimillion-dollar facility at Takoradi, Ghana, to capitalise on opportunities in this West African state's emerging offshore industry.
Energy sector bosses must get their act together on skills, warns EI
The Energy Institute is warning that the UK's energy industry is suffering from a deep skills crisis, one that has been seeded by decades of neglect.
Industry Technology Facilitator – beacon of R&D hope?
A couple of weeks ago, Neil Poxon, CEO of the Industry Technology Facilitator, arranged for me to receive a copy of a University of Aberdeen report regarding the effectiveness and future possibilities for the organisation.
Murray prepares for Petrotechnics’ big leap
PETROTECHNICS says it is the only provider of a fully Integrated Safe System of Work (ISSOW) solution for the oil&gas industry.
Losing the climate-change battle really doesn’t matter any more
The recent furore over the hacking of e-mails at the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit and the "revelation" that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change got its forecasts on the rate of Himalayan glacier melt wrong are both rather "unfortunate" events
Shale gas advances and falling prices
This is a very interesting period for the gas industry both in the UK and overseas. The gas sector's share of total energy consumption has generally increased over the last decade, at the expense of oil and coal.
Chickens finally come home to roost
Ofgem's Project Discovery reveals the folly of the electricity free-for-all. Last month began with the conversion of Ofgem, the energy regulator, to the idea that major market reforms are required if Britain is going to keep the lights on over the coming decade.
Sticky start for Centrica on Norway project
Centrica has started drilling of the block 6506/9-2 S Fogelberg well in the Norwegian sector using the rig, West Alpha.
CUT slices its way to success with Frigg
SPECIALIST cutting provider Cutting Underwater Technologies (CUT) has successfully completed a series of tasks as part of the Frigg field decommissioning project.
Having weathered the storm, what is the outlook for North Sea?
In many ways, today's operating environment is very different from that which was being experienced when Oil & Gas UK last published its activity forecasts 12 months ago.
Between a rock and a hard place
British Geological Survey is engaged in a fight over its plans to shut its rock core facility in Edinburgh and shift the collection to a location in England.
GSF Explorer exceeds league table expectations
Aberdeen-based drilling performance improvement specialist Exceed has played the anchor role in raising performance levels aboard a super-drillship in the Transocean fleet.
The essence of Fugro Eng-Sim
Pilot training - generalised training covering all aspects of remote subsea intervention operations from launch to recovery.
Fugro system mirrors reality
ONE of the greatest challenges that traditionally faces the subsea contractor is unequivocally convincing the client that he has the solution to the challenge.
20% US wind by 2024 feasible, says two-and-a-half-year technical study
A MAJOR study shows that 20% wind is possible in the US by the early-2020s, subject to major upgrade works that parallel those needed in the UK. The US Department of Energy and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has completed its massive Eastern Wind Integration and Transmission Study (EWITS).
LIDAR opens door to higher output
RISO DTU, in Denmark, has completed the world's first successful test on a wind turbine with a laser-based anemometer built into the spinner in order to increase electricity generation.
Canny Fairfield leadership sets UK independent fair for future
EIGHTEEN months have swept by since Fairfield Energy took over operatorship of the North Sea Dunlin field from Shell, since when a great deal has been done to rejuvenate the asset. And Fairfield has aggressively grown its portfolio, taking advantage of the fact that Dunlin is, in effect, paying the bills.
Contract indemnity clauses – keep a watchful eye on the case law
Safety is a top priority for the oil&gas industry and, thankfully, accidents are rare. When they do happen, the sector has a particular way of deciding who should bear the costs.
Best safety practice deserves industry-wide recognition
In just a few days, on February 8, nominations close for the first ever UK Oil & Gas Industry Safety Awards.