North Sea firms see shares jump on oil price rally
North Sea operators including Shell, BP, EnQuest and Premier Oil have all seen their shares jump in light of the oil price rally.
Covid-19
Sparrows accused of refusing to pay quarantining workers, firm rebuts claims
Workers and unions have accused an Aberdeen-headquartered energy services firm of refusing to pay staff that have been forced to quarantine due to Covid-19 concerns.
Non-OPEC oil supply unlikely to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels in short term, predict analysts
Analysts have warned that non-OPEC oil and gas supply is unlikely to renege on its 2020 losses in the short-term.
Vattenfall comfortably in the black despite ‘extreme and unusual’ year
Vattenfall stayed comfortably in the black last year despite “an extreme and unusual” 12 months for “several reasons other than the pandemic”.
Shell sinks to losses of £19.8bn in 2020 as Covid bites
Shell recorded pre-tax losses of £19.8 billion during an “extraordinary” 2020 marked by the Covid-19 pandemic and lower commodities prices.
UK Government funding to support Scotland’s entrepreneurs could create ‘hundreds of green jobs’
The UK Government has freed up £11 million to help Scotland’s energy entrepreneurs turn their ideas into clean, green technologies.
Can you require employees to have the Covid vaccination?
The rapid roll out of Covid-19 vaccinations offers some light at the end of the tunnel after a year of restrictions, economic hardship and illness, and has been welcomed by most of the population. However, some remain concerned about the speed at which the vaccines have been developed. Surveys have reported that perhaps a third of UK citizens would be reluctant to receive the vaccine for various reasons including the potential unknown, long-term side-effects.
Exxon, Chevron discussed possible merger in 2020, report says
Exxon Mobil and Chevron discussed a possible merger last year as the coronavirus pandemic pummeled the industry and put extreme financial pressure on the two largest U.S. oil giants, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.
Ørsted more than doubles pre-tax profits in 2020
Ørsted enjoyed “great strategic progress” last year as it managed to strengthen its financial footing in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Petrofac postpones full-year results due to Covid restrictions
UK-headquartered energy service firm Petrofac has pushed back the publication of its full-year 2020 results to mid-April.
Aker Solutions tendering for £6.5bn of new work, 2020 ebitda down by a third
Ebitda at Norwegian energy service firm Aker Solutions dropped by 33% to £128 million in 2020, a year of “unprecedented challenges”.
Worley job cuts reach 11,400 since start of pandemic
Engineering giant Worley has confirmed its job cuts total since the start of the Covid pandemic has reached 11,400.
Crew hospitalised after Covid outbreak on Aberdeen ship
Several crew members on an Aberdeen registered vessel were left needing hospital treatment after a Covid-19 outbreak on board.
Workers removed from BP North Sea platform after two ‘unrelated’ Covid cases on board
More than a dozen workers have been removed from a North Sea installation after two separate cases of Covid-19 were detected on board.
Updated: Total’s Gryphon becomes latest North Sea facility to suffer Covid outbreak
French giant Total has become the latest oil company to suffer a serious outbreak of Covid-19 on one of its UK North Sea facilities.
OGUK makes vaccine push after spike in offshore Covid evacuations
Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) is calling for North Sea workers to be able to receive a Covid vaccine “as a priority” after a spike in virus-related evacuations in recent weeks.
Covid outbreak at Score Group leads to 33 employees self-isolating
A Covid outbreak at Score Group has led to 33 employees self-isolating.
Bad behaviours of previous downturn back to the fore in 2020: report
Poor commercial behaviours that blighted the North Sea oil industry during the 2014-16 downturn were increasingly on display in 2020, a new report shows.
Beijing will keep harassing oil and gas activities in South China Sea
Beijing is expected to keep harassing oil and gas operations in disputed areas of the South China Sea this year, particularly offshore Malaysia.
Covid on Premier Oil Balmoral platform puts fourteen workers into quarantine
More than a dozen workers are in quarantine after a crew member on the Premier Oil Balmoral platform tested positive for Covid-19.
Subsea Expo 2021 called off as Covid disruption continues
Organisers of Subsea Expo said today they had made the “difficult but sensible” decision to call off this year’s event due to the worsening of the Covid-19 pandemic.
ITF tackles crew change blight with cross-sector declaration
More than 300 corporations and NGOs have signed a pledge to tackle the crew change crisis and improve health protocols.
Scottish Government urged to back Aberdeen in budget as oil job cuts plague region
Calls have been made for the Scottish Government not to “ignore” the concerns that face Aberdeen and the Highlands during Thursday’s budget announcement, after an oil and gas downturn and thousands of job losses have plagued the region.
Aberdeen charity issues call for donations of offshore thermals
A north-east charity is asking for donations of surplus offshore thermal wear to help its staff and service users keep warm in the depths of winter.
Covid outbreak brings production shut down on Ithaca North Sea platform
Production on one of Ithaca Energy's North Sea platforms has been shut down due to a Covid-19 outbreak on board.