The offshore workplace does not often make for thoughts of blue skies, idyllic sunsets or striking charcoal and grey blended waves. Those outside the oil and gas sector are perhaps more to prone to imagining industry life as dreary or bleak.
DOF Subsea S&P UK has secured a contract extension with Heerma Marine Contractors. The contract will cover global provision of survey and positioning services on board Heerma Marine Contractor's vessels, including the Hermod, Balder, Thialf, Aegir, support vessels and anchor handlers.
Mathios Rigas isn’t afraid of a stacked deck. He doesn’t flinch when the odds are so glaringly against him even the dealer thinks he should cut his losses and run. Mathios Rigas isn’t afraid of a stacked deck, because he once took that bet and lived to tell the tale.
The Scottish Government’s oil revenue forecast for the first three years of independence is now out by £15.5 billion, according to the Scottish Secretary. Alistair Carmichael said the latest UK Government analysis showed that 100 days after the referendum, an independent Scotland would have been facing the shortfall following a drop in oil prices. He said “serious questions” now needed to be asked about how the SNP administration “got this so badly wrong”.
Robin Watson’s career boils down to two things - adventure and family. Growing up on the west coast of Scotland, his appetite for adventure was shaped by the wide expanse of the neighbouring sea. He quickly joined the merchant navy before later transiting into the oil and gas sector. In the midst of his career climb he met and married his wife. And according to Wood Group’s new chief operating officer, his business success is a credit to his firm family foundation. For him, one could not exist without the other. Energy Voice sat down with the newly promoted executive for its latest instalment of The Journey. He discusses how he manages risk, making tough industry firsts, the challenges the service sector currently faces and what it was like to take up the reins at one of the biggest service companies in the global sector. Watch the full interview below or browse our highlight clips based on topic.
Robert Gordon University (RGU) student Alexandra Pate, 20, has won the competition to design a trophy for this year’s Offshore Achievement Awards (OCA). The design brief was to capture the awards’ key themes of “innovation, creativity and out-of-the box thinking”. Miss Pate’s winning entry has already led to a prototype, which will be developed into a final version – made of steel and granite – for winners of the OCAs at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on Thursday, March 12.
Amid the growing need for skilled workers in the engineering industry, Shell has confirmed its investment in a programme aimed to inspire the next generation. Tomorrow's Engineers, run by Engineering UK, aims to tackle the skills crisis by encouraging and inspiring more students to study, and pursue, a career in science, technology, engineering or maths.
Oil giant Shell has invested £1million in a programme aimed at helping address the UK’s critical shortage of scientists and engineers. The Perkins Review of Engineering Skills, published last year, called for urgent action from employers to address this shortage. Shell’s three-year funding, which has been invested in the Tomorrow’s Engineer’s Programme, will enable the programme to expand into more than 500 new schools across the UK.
Speeding down the runway at 160mph, Divya Reddy was leaving everything she ever knew – her family, her home, the only country she had ever lived in. At an age when most young women are off fulfilling gap years or just starting to consider which career path they should embark upon, Divya was on her way to one of the most remote parts of the world to work long hours in unforgiving conditions. For the India native, the assignment wasn’t forced. Instead the young Shell engineer graduate volunteered for the post in Siberia, hoping it would give her the kind of industry exposure she could only dream of. It was a move that would later see her scoop the Young Asian Woman of Achievement award and become one of Shell’s youngest ever subsurface field leads.
A series of bomb attacks which targeted markets near Baghdad have killed at least 15 people, Iraqi officials said as security forces recaptured parts of a strategic Sunni oil town north of the capital from Islamic State militants. Iraq is embroiled in its worst crisis since the 2011 withdrawal of US troops in the wake of a blitz this year by the Sunni militant Islamic State group, which has seized a third of the country’s territory. After heavy fighting overnight, Iraqi security forces backed by Shiite volunteers managed to push into the strategic oil town of Beiji today, taking control of some of the town’s southern districts, according to officials.
Oil and gas students have one final chance to enter into an industry wide competition and meet Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing and more than 150 senior representative from across the industry. In the run up to skills week Opito has been engaging with people across the industry by giving them the chance to submit a photo with the caption #Iamoilandgas when posting a photo on Facebook or Twitter.
A Super Puma helicopter has made an emergency landing on a North Sea platform.
Ministers have rejected the Transport Committee’s call for a full, independent, public inquiry into the safety of helicopters used in the offshore industry. Louise Ellman MP, chair of the committee explains their disappointment. Just over a year ago four passengers died when a helicopter crashed off the coast of Sumburgh, Shetland – the fifth such accident since 2009 involving the transfer of oil and gas industry personnel to or from offshore installations in the North Sea.
Mick Cash, general secretary of offshore union RMT, said the refusal to hold an inquiry sends out a “negative signal” to offshore workers.
The commercial helicopter sector continues to throw open its doors to new recruits and apprentices to the oil and gas industry. Energy Graduate takes a look at one company which is helping lead the way.
From an early career aspiration to be a pilot, to studying engineering, then on to a high-flying career in the spotlight, Carol Vorderman shares with Yvie Burnett an insight into her career path
The energy industries and in particular oil and gas have presented a rich employment market for graduates in recent years, reflecting the vibrancy of the industry in the UKCS and the war for talent.
The UK Government has rejected calls from MPs for a public inquiry into helicopter safety in the North Sea oil and gas industry.
A new body has been launched to try to ensure that no more North Sea workers are killed in helicopter crashes.
A helicopter pilot called for emergency crews to Aberdeen International Airport this morning after coming into difficulty.
Young oil and gas workers have been invited to an industry first event which will focus on ‘soft skills’ which could help them succeed. Skills including networking, communication and presentation skills will be discussed by members of three of the oil and gas industry’s professional societies.
Fire crews were called to Aberdeen Airport this morning as a helicopter made an emergency landing.
The next generation of scientists and engineers could be encouraged and nurtured at a new centre in Aberdeen. Technology company 3M has opened a Customer Engagement Centre (CEC) in Altens which has been created to help develop innovative ideas across the oil and gas sector.
Travel offshore will be business as usual, according to Step Change and Safety's Les Linklater.
Ground-breaking research to measure offshore workers' body size and shape with 3D scanners and which was started in 2012 is nearing completion.