Oil & Gas
Aker Solutions to supply subsea trees for Brazil’s Tupi field
NORWAY'S Aker Solutions has won the contract to supply Petrobras with the first set of subsea trees, including control systems and related equipment, for the pioneering deepwater pre-salt Tupi field development in the Espirito Santo Basin, offshore Brazil. The contract covers nine vertical subsea trees rated for 2,500m (8,200ft) water depth; subsea control systems; two complete tool sets, plus related accessories and spare parts.
Norway’s energy industry saves jobs
NORWEGIAN trade body OLF predicts a "positive" outlook for the oil&gas industry - at least on its side of the North Sea divide.
Maritime wind safety standard
DNV, along with five industry partners, is developing a specific safety standard that will include structural and functional design; fire and explosion protection; access, transfer and escape, and emergency power.
In for a Schilling, in for a pound
FMC Technologies, of Houston, is acquiring a massive chunk of Schilling Robotics in a deal worth $116million (£80million at current exchange rates), with a view to taking over the whole of the target company by 2014.
Scottish renewables sector at dangerous tipping point
After reaching a record high of $147 in July, the price of North Sea Brent Blend plummeted to sub-$40 a few weeks ago, causing many industry players to reassess their cost structures and planned capital investments.
Oil sands beckon despite slump
THE current oil-price slump is currently causing difficulties, but the market for equipment and services in the oil sands of Canada is large and set to grow even bigger once the cost of a barrel of crude gets back over $65.
Enhancer drops Texas deck
A DANGEROUS incident involving the jack-up rig, Enhancer, in the closing weeks of 2008 has finally made the light of day.
Vetco Gray’s Angola retrofit
A SUBSEA equipment upgrade by VetcoGray is expected to increase production from the Lobito Tomboco oilfield, offshore Angola, by 7,000-10,000 barrels per day.
NOF Energy celebrates success
NOF Energy celebrated the cream of the north/north-east of England's oil, gas and wider energy sectors at its annual awards event pre-Christmas. The categories and winners of the 2008 awards were:
Costs continuing to rocket
Costs in the oil&gas industry continue to rocket, though IHS CERA says there are signs of moderation. The organisation's upstream index is up 9.2% over the past six months - 3.2% higher than for the prior six months.
OE 2009 – freshness and relevance
The chairman of the 2009 Offshore Europe conference is promising an exciting programme with heavy emphasis on strategic issues, especially climate change and Big Oil, globalisation of the talent pool, operating models and breakthrough technologies.
Selwa bounces back with boutique consultancy
A new company, R&A Investments, has quietly emerged on to the North Sea stage. Its founder, Richard Selwa, previously established the multifaceted oilfield SME, Vienco, and prior to that, was with engineering consultancy IGL.
A properly resourced energy department needed, please
Throughout the twists and turns of 2008 - and, let's face it, there have been many - the UK oil&gas industry has continually sought to secure a constructive partnership with the Government department responsible for energy.
Best of times and worst of times
2008 began as a year of tremendous promise. Commodity prices were on a steep upward trajectory and showed no signs of slowing down, global economies were growing and there was an unbridled sense of optimism and that it really was different this time.
Baxter quietly passionate about carbon
As the push to control carbon emissions intensifies so the number of oil&gas people engaging in the battle grows. One such person is Tom Baxter, unit director of Genesis Oil & Gas Consultants in Aberdeen.
Petro-Canada latest to launch scholarships
Five students from the University of Aberdeen have been awarded the first round of engineering scholarships from Petro-Canada, which has put up a purse of £140,000 over four years to fund 20 scholars.
2009 – the year time will stand still
For the energy sector, 2009 could, for many reasons, be a watershed year. The economic downturn - the recession or depression - will be in full swing and will be accompanied by a further fall in energy demand.
Fasten seatbelts for a roller-coaster of a year
Welcome to 2009 - a guaranteed roller-coaster of a year, of that one can be sure. It will be a case of fasten seatbelts and prepare for a rattling. I regularly harp on about Opec and the criticality of its decisions to the non-Opec community, of which the North Sea is clearly a member. Well, in recent weeks, Opec decided to make two major output cuts.
Pirates – not just of the Caribbean
The hijack of the Saudi-registered supertanker, Sirius Star and the taking captive of its crew, including a Scot, brought the issue of piracy to the fore, highlighting to those for whom such an issue is not an everyday concern that the scourge of piracy is not just a historical threat, but a very real one, alive and thriving today.
Time to call time on ‘light touch regulation’
The cathartic financial events of recent months have exposed a great many naked emperors - not a pleasant sight, particularly in Edinburgh, where some had been entrusted with running Scotland's major banks.
Technology marches on : ITF reports ‘exceptional’ year
2008 was an exceptional year for the Industry Technology Facilitator in terms of the numbers of projects launched, levels of funding secured and technology implementations. This has been achieved despite a backdrop of gloomy economic forecasts, oil-price crash and banks reluctant to lend to businesses.
Hydrocarbon mapping in non-invasive way
TWO initiatives that could help produce maps of hydrocarbon location, and thus enable more accurate targeting of reservoirs, were launched at the end of June, having been submitted to a call for proposals issued in 2007.
Firm hand on helm at subsea firm
The Europe and Canada head of one of the world's top subsea contractors believes the offshore industry will successfully weather the credit-crunch storm as oil fundamentals are in its favour, even though global demand for this critical commodity is plummeting.
EMGS launches world’s first purpose-built EM survey vessel
NORWEGIAN company Electromagnetic Geoservices (EMGS) reports the successful launch of the world's first purpose-built EM survey vessel in order to enhance hydrocarbon exploration across the world.