Sonatrach signs Zarubezhneft, TPAO deals
Sonatrach has signed early-stage agreements with Russia’s Zarubezhneft and Turkey’s TPAO.
Insights
Subsea UK to help identify opportunities as industry adapts to virtual working
Subsea UK has invested in its market intelligence product, SubseaIntel, so that its members can access all the latest global opportunities when the economy starts to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
Loganair flying key oil support vessel workers between Europe and Aberdeen
Loganair has made a first foray into Eastern Europe to support travel for key workers from Latvia and Poland in the North Sea emergency response industry.
Planning for the upturn is crucial for oil firms, PwC says
A professional services giant will warn the oil industry that sweeping redundancies could ruin companies’ chances of cashing in when market conditions start to recover.
North Sea can show ‘resilience’ amid 25-year low for oil demand, says academic
An Aberdeen energy expert has said the North Sea has an opportunity to demonstrate its “resilience” as global oil demand reaches a 25-year low.
UK Government extends eligibility date for coronavirus furlough scheme to help ‘200,000’ workers
The UK Government has extended the cut-off date for workers to be eligible for its coronavirus jobs retention scheme, expected to benefit 200,000 people.
North Sea protective gear providers shift focus to supply essential PPE to NHS staff
A number of companies more commonly known for supplying personal protective equipment (PPE) to the North Sea oil and gas sector have shifted their focus to provide much needed face masks, visors and respirators for key UK NHS staff fighting the Covid-19 outbreak.
Response, resiliency and recovery
Short-term pain, long-term gain.
Is carbon intensity a misleading metric?
It has been encouraging to witness many oil and gas majors sign up to the energy transition and net zero. Repsol, BP, Total, Shell and Equinor have all outlined their strategies.
Virtual virus health checks more critical than ever
The oil and gas industry has been battered by a perfect hurricane of the three Cs: coronavirus, climate concern and a collapse in crude prices. But a fourth big C, a perennial threat to the health of the sector, lurks in the background and could cause even greater damage than usual in today’s fraught operating environment.
Oil demand to fall to a ‘staggering’ 25-year low in April, says IEA
Global oil demand will plunge to its lowest level in 25-years this month, in what the International Energy Agency described as a “staggering” wipeout of nearly a decade’s growth.
BP under fire for sending coronavirus-tested workers offshore without results
Oil giant BP has come under fire for flying workers offshore while the results of their coronavirus tests were still outstanding.
Energy transition can be ‘crucial pathway out of the downturn’ says OGA chief
New investment in the energy transition can be a “crucial pathway” out of the latest downturn for North Sea firms, according to the head of the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA).
‘Uncharted waters’ for North Sea, but downturn could be ‘catalyst for change’
A senior audit and assurance partner at Deloitte said the downturn could be a “catalyst” for change, but oil firms are first taking steps to survive the “uncharted waters”.
Borr Drilling urged to reconsider redundancy plans for 230 North Sea workers
An offshore drilling firm has been urged to reconsider its plans to make 230 North Sea employees redundant.
Covid-19: How can something so small be so big?
It is amazing how fast things have changed. It is only a few months ago that I made my new year resolutions for 2020. Beaming with optimism and positive energy, I set out ambitious targets to ensure 2020 would be a year to remember.
Fears for 200 jobs as KCA workers face redundancy
Around 200 oil workers are to be laid off – and staff are furious they are not being furloughed.
Violence escalates in Libya despite coronavirus pleas
Crises are proliferating in Libya, with the conflict continuing to rage despite high-level assurances of ceasefires in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Lamprell to close UAE facilities
Lamprell is in the process of shutting two of its three facilities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in order to reduce overheads.
Weakened supply chain may be stretched to breaking point
We are truly in the eye of a perfect storm. The double whammy of coronavirus and the oil price collapse, just when the oil and gas industry was starting to recover, is going to be incredibly challenging to weather.
BP to open Dyce-based coronavirus testing facility
Oil and gas giant BP is set to open a new Dyce-based Covid-19 testing facility to halt the spread of the virus to its North Sea assets.
Updated: Trade union disgust as Archer plans 130 North Sea job losses
A trade union has claimed drilling contractor Archer intends to make 130 North Sea workers redundant.
UK fossil fuel subsidies exist – by the back door
Several months ago I joined many others in petitioning the UK Government to “convert fossil fuel subsidies into subsidies for renewable energy”.
Rise of the cleantech pioneers
It’s now 13 years since Al Gore won the best documentary Oscar for An Inconvenient Truth in which he warned of the stark perils of global warming. It’s also 13 years since John Doerr, the legendary billionaire venture capitalist, gave his famous Ted Talk in which he teared up as he warned about climate change and championed clean energy investment.
Green energy scheme needs a shake-up
Government consultations are 10-a-penny but a current one on amendments to the Contracts for Difference scheme, which subsidises renewable energy developments, is a potential game-changer in key respects.