Listen to the young – they should be heeded
OFFSHORE Northern Seas has long had a strong conference programme - strategic, bold and, on occasion, controversial.
Oil & Gas
New report highlights supply-chain gaps
A new report confirms that there should be very strong future growth for renewables in the UK, but it highlights an overall gap between what is achievable under existing circumstances and the Renewables Advisory Board central estimate scenario target of 7.6GW (Gigawatts).
Kiwis playing pivotal role in 70% island nations initiative
THE US and New Zealand have laid the foundation of an international partnership designed to promote the use of natural renewable energy resources on island nations.
Time to change gas pricing system
Inflation in the UK has reached its highest level for many years. The latest estimates show the annual rate of growth in the consumer price index (CPI) reaching 3.8% and in the retail price index (RPI) 4.6%. The Government's official target is just 2%.
Second time around on UKCS clearly paying off for Lundin
Last month, the UK unit of Lundin Petroleum, partnered by Challenger Minerals and Revus Energy, successfully drilled the UKCS block 21/8 Torphins prospect. The 21/8-4 well penetrated a high-quality Paleocene reservoir sandstones and a sidetrack encountered encouraging signs of hydrocarbons.
Healthy staff vital to success
In today's litigious society, companies are under increasing pressure to ensure they do all they can to avoid employees developing health problems caused by their work.
Purchaser numbers up to 82
TWO new purchasers have joined FPAL, the driving force behind supplier selection in the North Sea.
Keeping projects pipeline flowing
A CRUCIAL task for Curran and his team is ensuring a pipeline of North Sea drillable prospects, exploration successes, acquisitions and projects as they are currently responsible for about 25% of Lundin's current 180million boe global reserves base.
The rich ironies of ageing
Last month, I suggested that some facts and statistics might help to tune the mind to the seriousness of the retirement problem faced industry - and not just Big Oil.
Thistle field blossoming again
BACK in the mid-1990s, Canadian group Talisman blazed its way into the North Sea via an asset deal with BP. However, one of the four so-called MAST assets, Thistle, was rejected.
£100million ploughed into integrity
ONE of the big challenges faced by Lundin with both Heather and Thistle is platform integrity. A lot of cash has been spent in this direction in a bid to ensure they remain both safe and efficient long-term.
Lundin gearing up to work at Peik
ANOTHER current highlight in the Lundin portfolio for Curran is Peik, a mid-1980s gas-condensate discovery that has lain on various shelves since.
Want a career in nuclear industry?
STARTING salary up to £25,000, plus "superb benefits" - so says British Energy in its latest advertising designed to attract attention from the latest crop of university graduates.
Read launches graduate scheme
Read Well Services has announced a new scheme to fast-track graduates into careers within the company's Petroleum Technology Group (PTG) and has already taken on the first cohort of six.
Aquaterra boss challenges UAE to offer engineering degrees
THE University of East Anglia is considering the idea of launching engineering degree programmes following an attack by George Morrison, MD of Aquaterra Energy.
Solar power and batteries drive innovative medical machine
A SOLAR-POWERED ECG (electrocardiograph) machine has been developed for third-world and trouble-areas use. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology student Felix Adamczyk says it will be affordable, robust and energy-efficient.
Healthier diet could help slash energy consumption
AN AMERICAN study suggests that a healthier diet and a return to traditional farming could help reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.
Busting the conundrum
FOR many years, the hunt has been on to find ways of releasing hydrogen cheaply and in large quantities through electrolysis so that the gas can be used as a fuel. The latest to claim it is at the threshold of a clean, renewable method of production is a team of US scientists at Pennsylvania State University.
Portable hydrogen power system
A GROUP of American scientists at Missouri University of Science and Technology is developing a portable, hydrogen-generating power system to power everything from laptops to communications gear for soldiers in the battlefield.
Forum promoting collaboration
A global initiative to promote shared knowledge of flexible pipe in the subsea sector is being hailed a success.
Brazil’s Petrobras gobbles up yet more drilling capacity
BRAZIL'S Petrobras has booked 22 years' worth of work with Transocean that will soak up four of the US group's rigs and bring in revenues estimated at some $3billion. And it has won a further $1billion of work in the US Gulf of Mexico. Rigs to go on long-term hire to Petrobras are the Sedco 707, Sedco 710, Deepwater Navigator and Transocean Driller.
Billions poured into new-builds
The deepwater rig construction boom seems unstoppable, with another crop of orders placed over the past few weeks in Singapore and with Norwegian names once again to the fore as clients, notably Sevan Marine, which has ordered another pair of Sevan 650 drilling units from COSCO of Singapore.
Holiday period hits mid-year starts
During the holiday season in 2007, there was no let-up in drilling activity. But what a difference a year makes as, this July, only three wells were spudded - all appraisals. That's substantially below the count in 2007.
High-flying Chris keeps quay date
IF TRAVEL really broadens the mind, the president of the Scomi Group's oilfield services division, Chris Pianca, should be on Mastermind every week.
Dinner is Red Hot for consultants
ABERDEEN Art Gallery was the setting for the 20th anniversary party of oil&gas consultant Genesis, whose worldwide empire includes main bases in London, Paris, Perth, Western Australia, and Aberdeen.