Norwegian proposal for common North Sea ‘passport’
A proposal to combine the North Sea “offshore passport” personnel systems of the UK and Norwegian sectors of the North West Europe Continental Shelf has been tabled.
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Opinion: We must grasp renewables opportunity
Much of this issue is given over to subsea oil & gas and the crisis that it faces. As the big subsea contractors watch their backlogs shrink and doubtless cringe at the thought of taking delivery of the next seagoing “Swiss Army Knife” ordered during the boom and as firms further down the food chain wonder if they’ll still be in business three . . . six months from now, necessity becomes the mother of invention.
First Minister to unveil £12m fund to help North Sea workers
Workers who face losing their jobs in the oil and gas sector will be helped to move into other employment in the energy industry and manufacturing through a new £12million fund announced by Scotland’s First Minister.
Ewing calls for unity to aid North Sea revival
Scotland's energy minister has called for unity in the battle to put the oil and gas sector on the road to a bright future - and insisted now is not a time for political point-scoring. Fergus Ewing said everyone with an interest in the North Sea industry should pull out all the stops to help it through a crisis caused by the cocktail of rising costs, the collapse in oil prices and a tax regime in need of an overhaul.
OGIC assists development of ground breaking pipeline insulation product
An Aberdeen-based organisation has had a hand in a project aimed at modifying AeroZero, an aerogel product used to insulate subsea pipelines. With the support of the Oil and Gas Innovation Centre (OGIC), the initial product designer, Blueshift, worked with a team from Strathclyde University on advancing the thin, sheet version of AeroZero. US-based Blueshift was delighted with the outcome and is continuing to work with the university on the next phase of development.
International SOS forms crisis team to support workers in Zika zones
A travel security firm has formed a new crisis management team to support oil and gas employees working in areas affected by the Zika virus. International SOS (ISOS) said the “sinister and damaging” disease has spread rapidly across South and Central America since appearing in Brazil in May 2015. Brazil, which has a large oil and gas industry, was the 20th most visited country among ISOS’s client base between October 2014 and September 2015, with 139,000 individual trips made.
Sir Ian Wood: Economic change from City Deal will take time
Offshore industry doyen Sir Ian Wood said last night that the north-east should “be hopeful but patient” in waiting for changes following the city deal signing yesterday. Sir Ian, who founded private sector economic development organisation Opportunity North East (ONE) in December, warned changes would not happen overnight but that this was “the beginning”. ONE has an initial funding commitment of £25million from The Wood Family Trust.
OPEC states say no meeting planned as Russia floats talks
OPEC delegates said they have no meeting planned with Russia after the country’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak indicated he was willing to meet with the group next month to coordinate oil-output policy. Four OPEC representatives said they hadn’t heard of any plan for talks. One Gulf member said de facto leader Saudi Arabia had no proposal to trim production by 5 percent, after Interfax reported the country had suggested such a cut at previous OPEC meetings, citing Novak. The minister said Russia would be willing to discuss output with OPEC, according to the news service.
International SOS on 3 main pitfalls of business travel
A travel security services provider has told Aberdeen firms not to become fixated on the threat of terrorist attacks when deciding whether to send employees abroad. International SOS, which provides medical advice and referrals for offshore workers and business people travelling to remote locations, said that while the risk of attack has become more prevalent in developed countries, it will never be the biggest danger. Even if you are in a country with a high level of risk, the main hazards will always be petty theft, road traffic accidents and muggings, said Peter Cooper, the company’s regional security manager for the UK and Ireland.
Oil extends gain from three-week high as Russia flags OPEC talks
Oil extended gains from the highest close in three weeks as Russia’s energy minister said that OPEC and other producers may meet to discuss output. Delegates from the group said no meeting has been planned.
Scottish Secretary insists UK Government is here to help
The £250million Aberdeen City Region Deal underlines the UK Government's determination to help the North Sea oil and gas industry through its crisis. At least that was the message from Scottish Secretary David Mundell during a visit to subsea services firm Bibby Offshore in Westhill yesterday.
Oil industry downturn makes for a quieter times at Lerwick harbour
A “severe contraction” in offshore oil and gas activity lowered traffic and cargo handling levels at Lerwick harbour in 2015, bosses at the Shetland port have said. But Lerwick Port Authority (LPA) said the outcome was to be expected, given that the harbour had been “exceptionally busy” in 2013 and 2014. It also said a return to form for cruise ship arrivals and the completion of improvements to its facilities will partially offset the effects of the energy sector downturn in 2016.
David Cameron: Aberdeen could be in line for more cash
Prime Minster David Cameron last night revealed more money could be on its way to Aberdeen after it was revealed the City Deal could be worth £1.2billlion to the area.
Statoil evacuates staff from North Sea platform ahead of hurricane-force winds
Norwegian operator Statoil is reported to have evacuated most of its personnel from its Snorre B platform.
BG shareholders back Shell merger
BG Group shareholders have voted by 99.53% in favour of the merger between the company and oil giant Shell.
Total North Sea find could hold up to 100million barrels of oil
Total E&P UK has confirmed a new North Sea exploration bid.
Petrobras cuts managers to save $440 million a year in oil rout
Brazil’s state-controlled oil company is reducing management positions and streamlining operations to save $440 million a year as it navigates the worst oil market in a generation and a sprawling corruption investigation.
David Cameron unveils £250million deal to help save oil and gas industry
David Cameron will sweep into the north-east today to announce further measures to support the beleaguered oil and gas industry and encourage exploration.
OGA extends IOG’s North Skipper licence as firm battles oil price
The Oil and Gas Authority has extended Independent Oil and Gas’ Skipper licence until the end of the year.
Exclusive: Dana Petroleum to kick-start Western Isles drilling campaign
As sub-$30 oil and thousands of job losses dominate headlines, Eiko van Dalen and his team at Dana Petroleum are silently toiling away on a project that will double the company’s daily output.
SSE to cut gas prices by 5.3%
Energy giant SSE is to cut its standard gas prices by 5.3% in the latest move by a Big Six supplier to reduce tariffs.
Shell needs to repay investors who backed its biggest ever wager
Royal Dutch Shell Plc is under pressure to reward the faith of the more than 80 percent of shareholders who shrugged off the risks from slumping oil prices to back its record acquisition of BG Group Plc.
Amber Rudd to chair new ministerial group aimed at helping those who lose their job in sector
Energy Secretary Amber Rudd will chair a new ministerial group on oil and gas.
Scottish hydro-power wipeout predicted
Scotland’s hydro power faces an agonising march into near-oblivion by the end of the decade, an industry boss warned yesterday. Mark Mathieson, chief executive of Green Highland Renewables (GHR) said the UK Government had failed to take account of evidence and missed out on broader benefits of hydro energy in its review of feed-in tariffs.
Coalition forces destroy six IS rigs
Coalition military forces say they have destroyed six IS (Islamic State) rigs near Raqqah as efforts to against the terrorist group continue.