Pictures: Bristow brings three ‘corona copters’ into service for North Sea rigs
Bristow Helicopters has used modified three former search and rescue (SAR) helicopters to bring North Sea workers suspected to have coronavirus to shore.
Insights
Finding the Aquaterra Energy sweet spot
Construction and installation of subsea structures can be challenging in countries with limited local capacity, and Aquaterra Energy aims to fill a niche with its conductor supported platform (CSP).
North Sea ‘chaos’ as more suspected Covid-19 cases spring up
A trade union official has said the North Sea is firmly in the grip of coronavirus “fear” and lamented a perceived lack of leadership.
Multiple suspected coronavirus cases on Brae Alpha
RockRose said today that "a number" of workers on the Brae Alpha platform in the UK North Sea are in "self-isolation" amid concerns they have contracted Covid-19.
Worker quarantined on Shell’s Brent Charlie while BP flies a suspected coronavirus case to shore
A worker who has shown symptoms of the coronavirus has been placed into quarantine on Shell’s Brent Charlie platform in the North Sea.
Apache ‘reducing activities’ on North Sea assets to prevent coronavirus spread
Apache is the latest in a growing list operators to confirm it is taking measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the North Sea.
RMT calls for action as oil price plummet puts ‘tens of thousands’ of North Sea jobs at risk
A union has warned that “tens of thousands” of offshore jobs could be at risk as North Sea firms buckle under the pressure of the ongoing oil price “crisis”.
Energy Exports Conference postponed
An annual energy conference has been postponed until October due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Temporary leave for 3,500 Halliburton employees in US amid falling oil prices
Oilfield service giant Halliburton plans to "furlough" about 3,500 employees of its Houston headquarters for the next two months amid grim market conditions that include four year-low oil prices and the coronavirus outbreak.
Crude rebounds after dropping to 18-year low
Oil rebounded after plunging to the lowest level in 18 years as investors weigh efforts by policy makers across the globe to strengthen economies against the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ineos vows to carry on with Forties pipeline shutdown plans
Ineos has vowed to carry on with its planned shutdown of the Forties Pipeline System in June.
‘Anger’ as offshore vessel crews face an extra month at sea over coronavirus
Crews of oil and gas emergency standby ships are facing an extra month out in the North Sea in response to the coronavirus pandemic, sparking “anger” from parts of the workforce.
Laggards will be pleased with IR35 reprieve, but better prepared firms miffed
The deferral of a “deeply unpopular” reform with huge implications for North Sea industry is a welcome surprise for many businesses and contractors, tax experts said yesterday.
It’s taken a pandemic…but government finally folded to IR35 pressure
As one of the most controversial pieces of legislation affecting the flexible workforce, IR35 is never far from the headlines and there have been campaigns and protests to try and halt the reforms. That has now been successful as Contractors celebrated their success last night.
Rout on oil price puts supply chain firms at risk of collapse, OGUK warns
A dramatic crude price rout has left the UK oil industry on thin ice, with the supply chain expected to go through more “pain”, a trade body warned today.
Flights resumed to Total’s Culzean field after suspected coronavirus patient taken to shore
Flights have been resumed to one of the UK’s largest gas fields after a worker suspected to have coronavirus was taken to shore.
New ‘corona copter’ service to remove virus cases from North Sea rigs
A group of North Sea operators have struck a deal with a helicopter operator to bring confirmed and suspected Covid-19 sufferers back to shore.
School closures announced in Scotland and Wales
Schools in Scotland and Wales will close in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, amid speculation that similar measures could be announced in England.
Coronavirus drives Liberia licence round online
The Liberian government is seeking interest from local companies on participating in the offshore licence round, which is due to open on April 10, while moving the launch event online in order to restrict coronavirus transmission.
BW Energy delays Dussafu work on turmoil
Work at the Dussafu Marin licence in Gabon has slowed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Not quite business as usual, but we’ll survive the crisis, Jersey says
North Sea minnow Jersey Oil and Gas said today that it is well placed to ride out the coronavirus and low crude price storm.
DNO slashes budget to cope with virus spread
DNO has slashed its budget to shore up its balance sheet in the face of “unprecedented market convulsions” and plunging oil prices triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Big Oil’s big crisis: Saving sacred dividends from collapse
To understand the crisis engulfing the world’s largest oil companies, just look at their dividend yields.
Updated: Oil slumps to 18-year low as Saudi Arabia ramps up price war
Oil futures plunged as much as 26% to the lowest levels since 2002 after Saudi Arabia vowed to keep producing at a record high “over the coming months,” doubling down in its price war with Russia.
UK Government postpones changes to IR35 tax rules
The UK Government has postponed the introduction of a much criticised tax reform that would have had major implications for North Sea contractors.