Global offshore rig utilisation to average 95% this year, says Westwood
Activity in the North Sea is a “bit questionable” though given the current windfall tax, which has prompted some operators to send rigs elsewhere.
Rigs & Vessels
Transocean unveils UK deals as part of $488m awards
Transocean (NYSE: RIG) has unveiled a pair of UK North Sea contract wins as part of a clutch of global awards worth $488m.
North Sea faces rig market risk as vessels leave for better prospects
Rigs are leaving the North Sea for better prospects elsewhere, leaving a risk to availability as oil and gas projects are expected to ramp up in 2024.
Perenco locks in rig for Ravenspurn campaign in Southern North Sea
Perenco has secured an offshore rig ahead of a drilling campaign in the Southern North Sea.
Drilling firm Dolphin eyes ‘$10bn of UK North Sea project sanctions in 2023’
Aberdeen-headquartered Dolphin Drilling (OL: DDRIL) has given a bullish outlook to its shareholders, highlighting that it expects UK North Sea project sanctions to exceed $10bn in 2023.
Greatwhite mega-rig resurfaces at Kishorn Port after four years
One of the world’s largest deepwater rigs, the Ocean Greatwhite, has returned to Kishorn Port on Scotland’s west coast after a high-profile visit nearly four years ago.
Island Drilling lands $30m UK contract with Dana Petroleum
Island Drilling has been awarded a UK contract with Dana Petroleum worth around $30 million.
Renewables growth drives interest for next generation of North Star cadets
Vessel operator North Star says it has seen a sharp rise in applications for its cadet programme, as more young people look to careers in the offshore renewables sector.
Prosafe lands extension for Safe Boreas
Accommodation vessel operator Prosafe has been awarded a contract extension for its Safe Boreas unit in the North Sea.
Petrogas retains Maersk for five more wells off Netherlands
Maersk Drilling (CPH: DRLCO) has secured a new contract for its Maersk Resolute jack-up with the Dutch unit of Petrogas, which will see additional wells added to its scope.
Dolphin Drilling to bring Borgland rig to UK to support North Sea push, plans for IPO in autumn
“Offshore drilling is coming back, big time,” Bjornar Iversen, chief executive of Dolphin Drilling, excitedly told a room of senior company figures, and myself, during a visit to the Borgland Dolphin rig in Norway last month.
More assets ‘on the cards’ for flourishing Well-Safe Solutions
As it stands, the focus for the North Sea is ‘new’. New fields. New projects. New production. New energy sources.
Valaris secures £51m North Sea contract extension with Shell
Shell has handed drilling contractor Valaris $60 million (£51.8m) to continue using one of its jack-ups in the North Sea.
Scottish maritime firm raises £2.2m to scale up oil analysis device
Scottish technology company RAB-Microfluidics intends to scale up manufacturing of its disruptive new oil analysis device after receiving £2.2million in new equity funding.
New report gives blow by blow of how Valaris drillship broke free from moorings off Ayrshire in 2021
The findings of an investigation into how a drillship broke free from its moorings in Ayrshire last year have been published.
Hummingbird FPSO granted new mythic title ahead of journey to Avalon
Ping Petroleum has renamed the Hummingbird floating production storage and offload (FPSO) vessel “Excalibur” ahead of its planned redeployment at the Avalon field.
Teekay expects to wind down FPSO segment by year-end
Teekay is on course to bring its floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) segment to a close by the end of 2022.
Safety fears flagged ahead of imminent strike on Foinaven FPSO
There are concerns for the safety of crew aboard the Foinaven floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) ship ahead of planned strikes this week.
Shell secures Stena Don for P&A and development work
Stena Drilling has signed a new contract with Shell which will see its semi-submersible Stena Don rig deployed in the UK North Sea for both well decommissioning and development work.
Images: Hummingbird Spirit enters Cromarty Firth on wave of uncertainty
The Hummingbird Spirit has been captured entering the Cromarty Firth on what could be one of its last ever journeys.
Noble and Maersk sell North Sea rigs in $375m deal, paving way for merger
Noble Corporation (NYSE: NBL) and Maersk Drilling (CPH: DRLCO) have signed a $375m deal to sell-off several North Sea rigs to Shelf Drilling, in a move which could address competition concerns.
Hummingbird Spirit FPSO setting off for Cromarty Firth and uncertain future
The Hummingbird Spirit FPSO will head off from the North Sea today to the Cromarty Firth - ahead of an uncertain future for the vessel which could see it scrapped.
Production vessel arrives at Shell Pierce field for North Sea gas project
The vessel which will produce Pierce, a new North Sea gas redevelopment project for Shell (LON: SHEL) , has arrived at the field in the UK.
Well-Safe officially welcomes WilPhoenix rig into fleet
Well-Safe Solutions has today taken delivery of the WilPhoenix oil rig into its fleet.
Repair works on Hibiscus Anasuria FPSO due to finish in coming weeks
Work to repair constrained production issues at the Hibiscus Petroleum Anasuria FPSO are nearing completion.