Green-speak and carbon-speak
The European Union's latest targets for the UK to achieve are a 20% improvement in energy efficiency - 10% of vehicles powered by biofuel and 15% of energy derived from renewable sources.
Oil & Gas
Taking account of clean-tech world
A recent discussion with one of my partners, Paul Sheridan, who deals with environmental law, gave me some food for thought which I wanted to share with you.
New Academy – time to get involved
Launched in December to a very receptive audience, the Oil & Gas Academy has the ambitious task of delivering a skilled workforce for the UK oil & gas industry now and in the future.
Caledus technology set for Sakhalin
Well construction technology company Caledus has secured a milestone contract to provide bespoke equipment for some of the most complex extended-reach wells in the world.
Just a temporary respite from slide
UKCS oil & gas production has been falling dramatically; however, the impact of that has largely been hidden by the beneficial effects of healthy commodity prices - at least to the industry and Government, if not consumers.
Exxon sets extended reach record
ExxonMobil has claimed a new world record for extended-reach drilling with its Z-12 well drilled on Sakhalin 1 in the Russian Far East.
Lundin to assess SW Heather partner options
LUNDIN has started the process of assessing potential farm-in partners for its SW Heather discovery in the UK Northern North Sea.
Check for fraud, warns IMCA
THE International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has issued a warning about false diving qualifications and the threat this poses to safety. It says there is a growing number of cases where divers have used, or attempted to use, falsified qualifications to gain employment or as a prerequisite for further training.
$50billion needed to turn Iraq’s oil industry around
Fifty billion dollars will be needed to get Iraq's oil industry back on its feet - $40billion for developing already discovered, but undeveloped, oilfields, and $10billion for exploration.
Rockhopper says new Falklands drilling campaign justified
UK independent Rockhopper says it has identified five oil and gas plays with a recoverable reserves potential of billions of barrels offshore the Falkland Islands and that there is a "substantial increase" in drillable targets.
Fugro-Rovtech gathering momentum
FUGRO-ROVTECH, created as a result of the growth in the subsea sector and the strength in inspection services, is gathering momentum in its second year of operations.
Petrofac Brownfield hits hiring trail
A large number of new UK and international jobs will be created this year as Petrofac's mature oil&gas assets (brownfield) business accelerates and internationalises.
Scomi goes for growth with big investment under way
SCOMI Oiltools is planning to invest in the order of $20million on upgrading its Europe headquarters in Aberdeen over the next two years, with at least 50 new jobs likely as a result.
Saudi thoughts on oil prices
I GAVE up forecasting oil prices a few years ago. From the economic perspective, the equilibrium price - with demand and supply in balance - was then about $15 per barrel. It fell to about $10, which caused serious problems for many producers, not least in the North Sea, but has never been near that level since.
Energy sector headhunters band together to launch alumni adventure
A FORMER Norman Broadbent director, Jon Glesinger, has launched a radically different people business dedicated to harnessing the expertise of people who have retired from the oil&gas patch.
Petro-Canada looks to have Tobago gas triumph
PETRO-CANADA has apparently made a significant natural gas discovery in offshore Tobago deepwater block 22.
Lucky strike for Brazil in deepwater Santos Basin
PETROBRAS has revealed that it has made a significant gas and condensate field discovery in the pre-salt layer in block BM-S-24 of the ultra-deepwater Santos Basin.
Aker Arctic to design multipurpose icebreaker for Estonia
THE Estonian Maritime Administration has awarded a contract to Aker Arctic Technology of Helsinki, Finland, for designing a new multipurpose icebreaker that will be capable of functioning as an offshore support vessel out of season.
Subsea UK’s man of passion standing down
"I SAID I'd come for two, but it's been three-and-a-half years. I've done my time," says Pridden, who intends to stay at the helm until a suitable successor is found.
Defence contractor lining up big-gun technologies for offshore campaign
BAE Systems is marshalling its forces to break into upstream oil&gas, with an armoury of technologies and systems that could have a major beneficial impact offshore.
Freya and Solan are set for drilling
INDEPENDENTS Chrysaor and Faroe Petroleum are each planning critical appraisal wells this summer that could, if successful, lead to two new UK Atlantic Frontier developments - Solan and Freya.
Cruel sea takes its toll
Waves pound a trawler at St Kilda, in the Western Isles, yesterday. Her crew are safe thanks to the heroic efforts of coastguard helicopter rescuers. Page 13
Fears for OAPs as Scottish Power raises prices by 15%
Scottish Power today imposed inflation-busting price increases on its customers - the fourth major energy supplier to do so in four weeks.
Ex-colleagues of Dolly scientist want him stripped of honour
Former colleagues of the scientist credited with creating Dolly the Sheep have urged the Queen to strip him of his knighthood over claims he played a minor role in the cloning breakthrough.
Winchman braves crashing waves to pluck 14 fishermen to safety
A heroic helicopter winchman was forced to cling to a stricken trawler as waves crashed over him during the rescue of 14 crew in gale-force winds yesterday.