Genel kicks off Sidi Moussa drilling
Genel Energy, the operator of the Sidi Moussa block, offshore Morocco, has commenced drilling on the licence, shareholder San Leon has reported.
Wenaas joins Arctic safety initiative
Wenaas has become the latest company to join a safety initiative aimed at enhancing work wear for people operating in some of the world’s coldest exploration environments.
Russia’s bank vows support in wake of fresh sanctions
Russia’s central bank has promised to support financial institutions hit by US sanctions as stocks took a tumble in Moscow on Wednesday.
Tullow bets on Africa as figures slip
Irish explorer Tullow Oil reported a drop in revenues and profits for the first half of the year following exploration write-offs – but the company remains confident African exploration will pay off.
Casa Tiberi delivers first gas for Sound Oil
Mediterranean-focused explorer Sound Oil has delivered first gas from the onshore Casa Tiberi field, in the Marche Region of Italy.
BP warns of Russia sanctions impact
Oil giant BP has warned that further international sanctions on Russia could have a “material adverse impact” on the company.
Video: Topside installed on Statoil’s Valemon field
The Valemon field’s topsides were lifted into place on its steel jacket, Statoil today confirmed.
Fracking rules condemned as ‘sham’
Rules to protect national parks from fracking are a “sham”, campaigners have claimed. Ministers said the controversial process of fracking in national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs) and the Broads should be refused other than in “exceptional circumstances and in the public interest”.
Energy sector will be back in the firing line
The banking and energy sectors will be back in the firing line next week when major players including Centrica and Barclays report half-year results.
Opinion: First nail in the coffin for the hydro industry
The feed in tariff accreditation team at OFGEM must have been working all hours of the day and night to process the mountain of applications they got through in June. During the month, 13.25MW of hydro applications were processed, more than doubling the average for the year to date of 5.23MW. This will have a crippling effect on the hydro industry as the bumper month has triggered the threshold for accelerated reduction of the feed in tariff, the main source of support for developing green electricity from the UK’s rivers.
PSIL makes senior appointment as it eyes Middle East expansion
Oil and gas pump specialist PSIL has made a senior appointment as it targets Middle East expansion.
EU backs UK green energy subsidies
A new system of subsidies for renewable energy in the UK has been given the green light by the European Commission.
Lloyd’s Register director set to chair ITF board
Oil and gas body Industry Technology Facilitator (ITF) has appointed the group director for Lloyd’s Register (LR) Energy as its new chairman.
Children “not at cancer risk” living near nuclear sites
Children currently living near Sellafield or Dounreay nuclear plants are not at an increased risk of developing cancer compared to peers in other parts of Britain, researchers have said.
UK gas exploration bid rejected
An application by a shale company to explore for oil and gas in a picturesque part of West Sussex has been turned down.
Opinion – Taking business south of the border
Tom Faichnie, partner and energy group member at Scottish independent accountancy firm Campbell Dallas LLP, discusses the opportunities for export of skills and technologies to Mexico as the country opens its doors further to international oil and gas operators and service companies.
North Sea seals attracted to wind farms, research finds
Seals are taking advantage of offshore windfarms to forage for food, satellite tracking has shown.
UK tops dirty coal plant ranking
The UK has ranked joint first for the most polluting coal-fired power stations in Europe, a report has revealed.
Physician group opposes draft fracking proposal
Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility, a organisation of Maryland doctors, is seeking disclosure of chemical formulas used in the hydraulic fracturing process used for natural-gas drilling in the state, the Cumberland Times-News reported.
Landowners exercise their rights to block fracking site
A group of landowners has announced a new “legal blockade” to prevent shale gas and oil exploration under their property.
Statoil restarts Njord A after year long shut-down
Norwegian oil giant Statoil has resumed oil and gas production on its Njord A platform, following a shut-down in the summer last year.
CHC pilot believed to be among Flight MH17 victims
Helicopter rescue pilot and father-of-two Cameron Dalziel was believed to be among the nine Britons killed on the Flight MH17 disaster, according to reports.
100 die as Syria gas field is seized
About 100 soldiers, guards and employees have been killed as jihadis seized a gas field in central Syria, activists say.
Former Petrobras boss charged with fraud
The former chief international officer of Brazil’s state oil giant Petrobras has been charged with fraud over alleged contract overbidding.
Australia scraps hated carbon tax
Australia’s government has repealed a controversial carbon tax on the nation’s worst greenhouse gas polluters, ending years of contention over a measure that became political poison for those who imposed it. The senate voted 39 to 32 to axe the 24.15-Australian dollar (£13.30) tax per metric tonne of carbon dioxide that was introduced by the centre-left Labor government in July 2012.