Talisman reports 69% surge in income in ‘year of change’
Talisman Energy, the Canadian oil and gas operator which has significant interests in the UK North Sea and Norway, said yesterday that 2008 was a year of change for the company.
Oil & Gas
Prospect announces plans to double workforce
PROSPECT, an Aberdeen-based subsidiary of subsea service firm Hallin Marine, said yesterday it was poised to grow its workforce from 50 to about 100 employees within two years.
Senergy on course for further growth
Senergy, the diversified energy industry service provider, said yesterday it was aiming to build on growth to date which had resulted in annual turnover rising to £70million.
MPs step up pressure for North Sea incentives
PLANS are being made to step up pressure on the government to act to maintain offshore development despite the recession, following a meeting in Westminster last night.
Wood seeking bolt-on buys to boost group in ‘challenging year’
International energy service company Wood Group revealed yesterday that pre-tax profits for last year surged by 48% to £274.3million.
Hope for failed oil firm’s unsecured creditors
UNSECURED creditors of Tuscan Energy (Cragganmore) are likely to get at least some of their money back, joint administrators for the firm have revealed.
Valiant buying out Dana’s stakes in North Sea prospects
Valiant Petroleum is to take full control of two northern North Sea finds.
AMEC boss takes over key role at OCA
A LEADING figure in the global energy business has been appointed as the new chairman of the Offshore Contractors' Association.
Oil industry pledges to protect workers
SAFETY and training will not be compromised, however severely the recession hits the North Sea oil and gas sector.
Yearly sales growth of 10% in Scots energy supply chain
AN ANNUAL survey of Scotland's oil and gas supply chain has revealed 10% growth in yearly sales to a record £14.2billion - but also highlighted uncertain times for the sector ahead.
Expro chief unfazed by news of investment value writedown
The chief executive of international oilfield service group Expro said yesterday it continued to perform extremely well, despite one of its owners writing down the value of its investment in the company.
Aberdeen oil explorer adds experience to boardroom
ABERDEEN oil firm Faroe Petroleum said yesterday that Tim Read had been appointed to its board as a non-executive director.
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.
Ty’s welcome to oil and gas clients
A COMPANY which has provided coaching and training to the oil and gas industry for a decade threw a drinks and buffet party for clients at Aberdeen's Marcliffe Hotel.