Poyry launches scholarship programme for Scotland
One of the most ambitious scholarship schemes ever put together in Scotland for the oil&gas sector is poised for launch by global engineering and consultancy group Poyry.
Orders, a cancellation and setting new world records
Swire Pacific Offshore has signed a shipbuilding contract with Singapore Technologies Marine (ST Marine) to design and construct a new seismic acquisition vessel.
Banks wrecking projects not on
There is now clear evidence that banks are destroying opportunities - both oil-related and offshore wind - so undermining jobs and the ability of companies to survive the downturn. Given the IHS/CERA report of just a few days ago that warned of serious consequences if there is not a rapid recovery of investment in boosting oil&gas output, short-sighted decision-making by the banking fraternity is plain stupid.
Banks wrecking projects not on
There is now clear evidence that banks are destroying opportunities - both oil-related and offshore wind - so undermining jobs and the ability of companies to survive the downturn. Given the IHS/CERA report of just a few days ago that warned of serious consequences if there is not a rapid recovery of investment in boosting oil&gas output, short-sighted decision-making by the banking fraternity is plain stupid.
Urgent call for companies to sign up to Master’s help
The Energy Talent Development (ETD) programme sponsored by Scottish Enterprise and driven by ITF, SPE and the Energy Institute is looking for new industrial-related projects for Master's courses in the current academic year.
GoM crude replaces WTI as oil-price marker
Crude oil is actually a variable commodity. Most of us working in the industry never see it, simply pumping different types of petrol or gasoline into our cars.
Do what I say, not what I do
Read this: "And it is only by investing in environmental technology that we can end the dictatorship of oil, and it is only by tackling climate change that we create the millions of new green jobs we need".
UK drags feet yet dares to lecture
More than 40% of electricity generated in the world comes from coal-fired power stations. That is doubtless a matter for regret, but it is a statistic that is not going to change greatly for decades to come.
City partners take non-invasive route
The global population of floating production units is growing rapidly, with Brazil, US Gulf of Mexico and West Africa out in front in terms of their application.
Four IOCs apparently selected to bid major Iraqi oilfield
Iraq's oil ministry is reportedly in advanced talks with three to four IOCs - apparently Chevron, StatoilHydro, Total and one other - about a development contract for the 6.5billion-barrel Nahr Bin Umar field.
NOCs v IOCs – battle lines drawn
National oil companies are increasingly in the headlines. That's hardly surprising as they control more than 80% of known global oil&gas resources, yet much of the Western oil&gas supply chain is ignorant both of their scale and power.
Shell’s South Uist gas hunt delayed
Shell has delayed plans to drill on the South Uist (blocks 213/25a and 214/21a) prospect north-west of Shetland. Drilling was to start in May, but the summer is now more likely due to slippage of drilling rig Leiv Eiriksson's schedule.
Nurturing talent absolute must
For many years, OPITO was known only for its role in regulating training delivery to industry standards. In fact, we were often referred to as the "standards police".
Companies face heightened risk of fraud in current global credit crisis
The global credit crisis is changing day to day, forcing many individuals and businesses to make non-routine decisions in times of uncertainty. Against this volatile backdrop, companies operating in the oil&gas sector face an increased risk of employee fraud and risk of corrupt practices.
Walking the talk
"INITIATIVE rich but action poor" - that's how our industry has been described. There has certainly been no shortage of ideas about how we can improve our methods of working to take cost out of the supply chain; but sometimes the pace of the uptake of initiatives leaves more than a little to be desired.
Buy British – well, sort of
The core task of the Offshore Supplies Office (OSO) was to raise the domestic content of UK North Sea expenditure to at least 70%. As Britain struggled to get to grips with its offshore oil&gas prize in the early years, it was deemed vital that the orders for platforms, pipelines and equipment were not lost overseas.
Russian bear is in trouble
I am currently working and living in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I had no gas in my apartment for four days when Gazprom/Russian Federation stopped supplies to Ukraine.
MacGregor never planned it this way: Global group’s growth just took off
Two family stores, two energy services groups, a family recruitment enterprise, a football-club chairmanship and a passion for golf mark Roy MacGregor out as something of an action man.
Angola set to become a young engineering paragon
HOUSTON-HEADQUARTERED Paragon Engineering is, through a joint venture with Prodoil of Angola, spearheading a drive to raise the standard of young local engineers in the West African state.
Meldrum team pipped at the post
Scotland came a creditable second to Iceland in the final of an international student petroleum exploration competition, the roots of which lie in the Faroe Islands.
Creating clean fuels from your bio-garbage
FRUIT and veg may be good for you but, in 10 years' time, we could be replacing fossil fuels and helping to save our planet by using the inedible bits we throw away to run our cars, boats and planes.
Baby, it’s cold outside
After the recent spate of cold weather, we are all now looking forward to spring and the promise of some sunshine and warmth. But what about those who have to work outside in the cold and in the middle of the North Sea?
Drilling performance index launched by Aberdeen JV
AN ABERDEEN-BASED partnership has launched a new global index developed to quantify the difficulty of drilling wells. Its successful action should lead to large savings on well costs.
New well starts down by half
To date, 2009 has seen just seven wells spudded on the UK Continental Shelf, half the number recorded for the first two months of 2008.
Cuts versus being prepared a high-wire act
THE upstream oil&gas supply chain is walking a tightrope between making cutbacks driven by the latest slump in oil prices and being ready for the next upturn in the fortunes of Big Oil, according to Schlumberger's CEO, Andrew Gould.