Six months on from Mumbai
As the memory of the Mumbai attacks fades - it was almost six months ago, after all - have security concerns lessened? Has there been a longer-reaching impact on business travel, and should there have been?
MBAs given chance to get their hands dirty
GRADUATE students on the University of Oklahoma's new MBA Energy programme may aspire to designer suits and trading energy-futures contracts, but first they have to get their hands dirty - on the drill floor - while on the course. It is an initiative that UK universities such as Aberdeen, Robert Gordon, Strathclyde and Heriot-Watt will find hard to emulate because of the nature of the North Sea industry. But perhaps it is something to consider, bearing in mind the Weatherford test, training and accreditation facility in Aberdeen.
Seeking hydrogen ‘holy grail’
Finding an effective way of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, driven by sunlight, is one of the most important challenges facing science today.
Remarkable new material shows great promise
AN ASTONISHING hi-tech material capable of soaking up huge quantities of hydrogen has been developed by US researchers.
Dealing with traumatic stress
It goes without saying that health and safety is of paramount importance in any industry, not least the oil&gas industry.
Texas points way as students cut varsity’s carbon footprint
A competition at the University of Texas in Austin is focusing on making campus buildings more energy-efficient. Given that this is the Offshore Technology Conference - Houston edition of Energy, we decided to take a look at it.
Getting to grips with modern mud
Despite many advances in drilling technology, the method routinely used to monitor the weight and viscosity of drilling fluid has remained unchanged since the 1950s.
Come back Britoil – all is forgiven
We are told by Deloitte that the number of exploration wells being drilled in the UK North Sea collapsed 78% in Q1 this year compared with the same period in 2008. On top of this, Oil & Gas UK thinks that the total amount of UK North Sea drilling could fall by nearly 70% this year.
Offshore outperforms onshore oil&gas
THIS is a difficult time for the oil&gas industry. Demand is falling because of the recessions in many countries, oil prices are currently about one-third of last year's near $150 per barrel peak and capital investment has fallen dramatically.
So what happened, Alistair Darling
Perhaps I was hoping for too much. Leaving aside the poorly researched piece that was prattled in a Sunday newspaper just days before the UK's 2009 Budget and unjustifiably raised hopes, I had higher expectations of Chancellor Alistair Darling than the measures announced and largely trailed beforehand.
Beware of Beijing – you can’t say you haven’t been warned
The global economic crisis has developed with such rapidity and intensity that some of its likely consequences have virtually escaped comment.
EMGS wins GoM work
NORWEGIAN company Electromagnetic Geoservices has secured a multi-client data-licensing contract with a major international exploration and production operator for Clearplay 3D electromagnetic (EM) data from the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The deal is worth about $5.8million.
Murray joins Simmons as non-exec adviser
SIMMONS & Company International Limited has appointed Ken Murray as a non-executive adviser.
Norwegian yard wins $110million contract
STX Norway Offshore has been contracted to construct three North Caspian capability icebreaker tugs for JSC Circle Marine Invest.
Afghans bidding to rejoin oil race
AFGHANISTAN has launched its first oil&gas bidding round after many years of exile from the petroleum community.
Global safety alerts initiative launched by Aberdeen firm
A web-based safety alert index system has been created by an Aberdeen company in a bid to improve safety in the upstream oil&gas industry through learning from past mistakes.
Biofuels risk huge strain on US water
AT A time when water supplies are scarce in many areas of the US, scientists in Minnesota are reporting that production of bio-ethanol may consume up to three times more water than previously thought.
Newfoundland’s $5.7billion Hebron project goes out to consultation
Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board has put the proposed $5.7billion Hebron heavy oilfield development on the Grand Banks out to public consultation.
Petrofac secures Kittiwake work through to 2010
PETROFAC has been awarded a £10million contract extension by Venture Production covering the UK North Sea Kittiwake field until the end of March, 2010.
Gas hydrates – unlocking vast promise or unleashing huge threat?
In the future, natural gas derived from frozen methane-based hydrates extracted from the ocean floor and beneath the Arctic permafrost may fuel cars, heat homes and power industry, according to the American Chemical Society.
Meanwhile, uneasy neighbours rattle sabres over Arctic claims
JUST days before standing down as US president, George "Dubya" Bush issued a directive claiming a vast area of the Arctic on behalf of the United States.
Nautronix and Cameron on winning streak at Houston
Aberdeen-based Nautronix and Cameron's Drilling Systems division in Houston have been awarded an OTC Spotlight on New Technology Award for the NASMUX (Nautronix Acoustic Subsea Multiplex) system.
South Atlantic battle between UK and Argentina looking inevitable
A battle for control of a huge slice of Antarctic waters is about to get under way, with the UK and Argentina laying claim to substantially the same piece of territory.
Caledus gets together with Petronas spin-out
CALEDUS is teaming up with its Malaysia agent to forge a joint-venture company in a bid to better capitalise on South-east Asia market opportunities.
Brazilian pre-salt play a stunner
Petrobras is totally reshaping Brazil's offshore petroleum industry with a string of spectacular pre-salt (sub-salt) oil discoveries which have, in less than two years, catapulted South America's leading producer up the international hydrocarbon reserves league table.