In the second part of our gallery series, we take a look at some of the defining moments in the months leading up to the Scottish independence referendum.
In May WGPSN said it would be cutting contractor rates by 10%.
This move was the starting point for further cuts later in the year, and following the company’s announcement, Amec confirmed it was also reviewing its rates too.
At OTC in Houston a potential takeover of Expro by GE had delegates talking.
The industry was left shocked at the end of May when Geoff Holmes, chief executive of Talisman Sinopec, made a shock departure from the company.
Around 150 oil workers faced being tested for drugs on the Piper Bravo rig sparking a major investigation after it was suspected to be an illegal substance. It was later discovered to have been crushed up medication.
In June the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of diver Russell Robinson, 33, opened. He had been carrying out a routine diving operation at the Balmoral platform when he died on October 30, 2011.
Job cuts were announced in July by oil major Chevron. The company said it would be axing 225 jobs in Aberdeen as it reviewed its business in Europe’s energy capital.
Chancellor George Osborne revealed at the end of July that tax breaks, which would be a “game changer” would be given to the oil and gas industry.
An oil worker who was being carried from a Norwegian platform fell to his death after falling 2,000 feet from the helicopter which was bringing him back to land.
Spanish company Repsol initiated talks with Talisman Energy back in August. and although later in the year it would pay off for the company, the talks held in August failed to produce success.
There was further bad news in August from another oil major, this time Shell, who said it would be cutting 250 jobs. The move was made after the global player carried out a review of its UK onshore operating model.
The same month an investigation was launched after a helicopter landed on the wrong rig. The Bond-operated S-92 helicopter with one passenger on board had been set for the Buzzard platform – about 60 miles north of Aberdeen. But instead it made an unscheduled landing on the Nexen-operated Ensco 120 jack-up rig – about nine nautical miles away.
In the weeks leading up to September 18 Energy Voice Editor Rita Brown broke an exclusive with Sir Ian Wood as he sat down with her to give his views on the independence debate. The video interview was watched around the world as workers in the sector looked to the industry heavyweight for his views on the referendum.
The Press and Journal’s Energy Editor Jeremy Cresswell led the response to Sir Ian Wood’s interview giving his opinion to Energy Voice.
At the end of August, workers on Marathon’s Brae platform considered taking strike action, after bosses cut their satellite television and daily newspaper subscriptions.
What do you think were the industry’s defining moments of 2014? Send us your views on Twitter @energyvoicenews or email info@energyvoice.com
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