Website flooded with tributes to oil worker
Oil workers have flooded a website with tributes to a "gentle" north-east man who was kidnapped by armed militants in Nigeria.
North and north-east dominate awards
NORTH-EAST and Highlands and Islands firms and projects have dominated this year's Green Energy Awards, which are organised by the green energy trade body Scottish Renewables, with winners announced last night in Edinburgh.
North Sea operators agree deal with US giant Schlumberger
TWO UK North Sea oil and gas operators have linked up with US energy service giant Schlumberger to secure a well-stimulation and fracturing vessel to help them with new projects.
Double North Sea vessel deal for Trinity
GLOBAL onshore and offshore catering and hotel service company Trinity International has secured two major new deals with long-standing clients Stena Drilling and Bluewater in the North Sea.
Oil and gas rivals agree asset exchange in UK waters
BP and fellow British oil and gas operator BG Group have agreed a major swap of UK North Sea assets, with both companies saying the deal enhances their efficiency in core areas.
Offshore platform tastes healthyliving success
A North Sea installation has been named as one of the healthiest places to eat in Scotland.
Highland hotel hailed for green credentials
A Highland hotel and an international oil service company were among the winners at the 2008 Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (Vibes) Awards, in Edinburgh last night.
Renewable energy policy ‘in shreds’
THE government faced an accusation last night that Scotland's renewable energy policy was "in shreds".
TAQA spends £420m in North Sea deal
Abu Dhabi national energy company TAQA said yesterday that wholly owned subsidiary TAQA Bratani had completed its £420million acquisition of interests in seven oil fields from Shell UK and Esso Exploration and Production (UK).
Boss focusing on next stage
Company bosses are well used to being centre stage when it comes to business, but one prominent north-east entrepreneur is also in the spotlight as a pantomime dame this month.
IMechE wants £40m more for marine renewables
THE Institution for Mechanical Engineering (IMechE) wants a £40million fund set up to help enable the secure anchoring of marine renewables in Scottish waters.
Oil&gas companies face changed landscape as recession hits
In the latest Ernst & Young Scottish ITEM Club economic forecast, it is predicted that Scotland is entering its first services sector-led recession, with its weakest performance since the early-1980s.
Total ownership proving a boon
IN THE introduction, we said Electro-Flow Controls ranked among those companies that quietly go about their business and are self-financed. It turns out that, so far, this firm has kept away from takeovers too.
Electro-Flow Controls 21 years old and in the best fettle ever
The offshore supply chain is peppered with lots of small companies that, at first glance, seem unremarkable. They quietly get on with their job and rarely, if ever, make the headlines. Moreover, they are invariably privately owned.
Mature drilling market is core
THE bulk of Electro-Flow's business comes from the mature drilling rigs market rather than new-builds. But Wheeler and Littlechild say the new-builds side is showing signs of taking off. A good example is the choke control systems contract for the Transocean Clear Leader II. Another is the design and build of BOP control systems for the Q4000 deepwater intervention/drilling semi-submersible built for Helix of Houston. As for retro-fits, while the American drilling companies are hugely important, so too is having Brazilian oil company Petrobras on board as an enthusiastic user/specifier of Electro-Flow systems.
Stand out from the crowd
THE North Sea is a mature oil&gas basin and the supply chain serving it is equally mature. The marketplace, with one or two key exceptions such as drilling operators, is also very competitive.
How about a solid dose of hindsight conversion?
HOW many times do we wish we could convert hindsight into foresight? My hindsight is generally 20:20, and I am sure yours is, too. However, I can't help thinking that, in the current climate, we could do with a solid dose of hindsight conversion.
Young engineers score with energy sector at Peterhead showcase
It was all systems go for the network of Young Engineering and Science Clubs (YECS) in the north-east on November 25.
Biodiesel from fish waste – could this be one for Scotland?
SCIENTISTS in Finland and Vietnam are working on the idea of manufacturing biodiesel from fish waste, funded by the EU to the tune of 5million euros.
Harnessing bugs to boost the barrels has its limitations, say researchers
The results of a study that aims to identify the realistic potential for microbially enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) have just been published and point to rather mixed results - some good, but others poor.
Christmas fare not always what it seems
Christmas is a time for family and friends to get together and enjoy festive meals. It is also an opportunity for those offshore to briefly break their routine and celebrate. However, it's also a time when food poisoning can readily show its ugly face.
North Sea E&P count highest since 1997
WITH little over a month to go before 2008 wraps, 68 exploration & appraisal wells have been started to date and, discounting sidetracks, the spuds already exceed 2007's tally by one well - the highest count since 1997.
Aberdeen firm to drill Cameroon wells for Bramlin
ABERDEEN company Drillers.com, which is behind an online resource for oilfield personnel, has just been awarded a West Africa contract with Rodeo Development, an exploration and production junior.
Petrobras denies hold-ups to rig-building programme
PETROBRAS insists it is on schedule with its programme to recruit 40 deepwater mobile drilling units despite being late with publishing its five-year plan from 2009.
North Sea theme at RGU dinner
MORE than 100 guests attended the annual Robert Gordon University entrepreneurship dinner in Aberdeen's Marcliffe Hotel.