North Sea efficiency target in sight if industry sticks to the plan, experts say
The UK offshore oil and gas sector will reach its 80% production efficiency target for 2018 if it “just sticks to the plan”, industry experts said yesterday.
Oil and Gas Authority
Topside issues under the spotlight at Aberdeen event
Striking the right balance between efficiency, integrity and investment is key to maximising economic recovery in the UK North Sea, an Aberdeen conference heard yesterday.
Exclusive Video: BP hails Quad 204 start-up as oil major returns to North Sea growth
Oil major BP is celebrating the start of production from Quad 204, one of the largest field redevelopments in North Sea history.
‘Boom and bust’ habits warning as crude rises
North Sea oil and gas companies must avoid reverting to bad old habits now that Brent crude is back above $50 a barrel, the industry regulator has warned.
Treasure trove of new UKCS exploration data released
A treasure trove of new datasets created by a joint-industry project has been released to improve understanding of under-explored parts of the North Sea and Irish Sea.
Independent Oil and Gas given more time to commit on Harvey well
Independent Oil and Gas (IOG) has been given more time to commit to an exploration well on its Harvey licence in the Southern North Sea.
30th licensing round will be “most significant” in decades, says OGA
The upcoming 30th offshore licensing round for the North Sea could be the "most significant" in decades, the Oil and Gas Authority claims.
29th licensing round attracts 17 companies to new frontier areas; See who and where
A total of 17 oil and gas operators have been awarded licences in the 29th 'frontier' offshore Licensing Round.
North Sea projects typically late and over budget, OGA reviews
A study of nearly sixty major North Sea oil and gas projects has shown that they are typically late and significantly over budget.
SNS 2017: OGUK chief says 2016 was bad for industry, but good for pub-quiz masters
Pub quiz regulars should file 2016 away in the back of their minds, as the year just passed will be a popular answer in future, a North Sea industry chief has said.
SNS 2017: Fracking can benefit local economies, OGA chief says
The Oil and Gas Authority’s chief executive has said fracking can be done safely and benefit local economies.
Shell, BP asset sales not start of North Sea exodus, OGA chief says
BP and Shell’s recent North Sea asset sales do not mark the beginning of an exodus from the basin by the oil majors, the head of the Oil and Gas Authority said yesterday.
SNS 2017: Industry calls for decommissioning tax relief reforms ahead of Budget
Industry chiefs have reiterated their calls for reforms of the decommissioning tax relief system ahead of next week’s Budget.
Lazy or fantastic about technology? ITF delegates hear contrasting views
The oil and gas industry can be “lazy” about adopting new technologies or “fantastic” at it, according to two of the speakers in a panel debate at the ITF event at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre yesterday.
OGA claims UK is a third of the way to hitting Sir Ian Wood’s North Sea oil and gas goal
The head of the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) said yesterday that the regulator was already a third of the way to achieving one of the goals entrepreneur Sir Ian Wood had set out.
Exclusive: Revolutionary North Sea scheme will emulate football free transfers in bid to save jobs
The North Sea oil and gas industry is looking to a football-style loan transfer scheme to resolve skills shortages after it emerges from a long and brutal downturn.
Shell applying to increase production from Shearwater, three new wells planned
Shell today confirmed that it will apply to increase production from the North Sea Shearwater field.
OGA looks for operators to work on well abandonment pilot
The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has asked operators to volunteer for a pilot programme aimed at reducing well plug and abandonment (P&A) costs.
Two significant North Sea milestones in one day
Two major new milestones for the beleaguered UK North Sea oil and gas industry have highlighted resilience in the face of a downturn.
Oil company injects ‘Frankenstein Bug’ into Earth’s core
If the ill-informed hysteria surrounding the safety of fracking is anything to go by, I can imagine the headline above being used to describe a highly promising microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) technique.
Opinion: Expectations for the Oil and Gas Authority in 2017
As 2017 progresses, the Oil & Gas Authority (OGA) will have a lot on its plate as it clarifies expectations, identifies priorities and grows more confident in applying its powers.
OGA to host well cost ‘hackathon’ next month
The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) will host a “hackathon” event aimed at bringing down well construction costs in Aberdeen next month.
UKCS oil industry ‘unlikely’ to hit production efficiency target for 2016, OGA says
The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) said yesterday that the 2016 target for production efficiency on the UK continental shelf (UKCS) was “unlikely” to be met.
OGA says UKCS production efficiency rose last year
Production efficiency increased to 71% on the UK continental shelf last year, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) said yesterday.
Industry ‘responds strongly’ to 29th licensing round, OGA says
The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) said a number of new entrants were among the 24 companies who applied for licences in the 29th round, which closed last week.