Quarantine exemption ‘very welcome’ says owner of North Sea support vessels
A North Sea support vessel firm has welcomed a government move to exempt oil workers from quarantine rules.
oil and gas
‘Doubt and questioning’ over quarantine exemption for oil workers, says union boss
There remains “doubt and questioning” around the UK Government’s quarantine exemption for offshore workers and the potential spread of Covid-19, according to a union boss.
The Aberdeen Clinic ramps up to 500 offshore worker tests per day
An Aberdeen firm has ramped up to testing more than 500 offshore workers per day for Covid-19.
Government green-lights Taqa’s Eider decom plans
The UK Government has approved Taqa’s plans to decommission the topsides of the 32-year-old Eider platform in the North Sea.
Oil rises on view that demand may rebound beyond pre-virus level
Oil rose as the head of the International Energy Agency forecast demand will likely grow past its level before the global pandemic.
Renewable energy powers 40% of UK as it outstrips oil and gas for first time, analysis shows
Renewables generated more than 40% of Britain's power in the first three months of the year - overtaking fossil fuels for the first time, analysis shows.
Call to resurrect Scottish Government oil jobs taskforce as thousands face redundancy
A call has been made to resurrect a Scottish Government programme to protect oil and gas jobs as thousands of workers face redundancy.
Former Clair Ridge and Aasta Hansteen worker building mental health platform for oil industry
An oil worker who helped oversee construction of BP’s Clair Ridge and Equinor’s giant Aasta Hansteen installation is now building up a new mental health platform for the industry.
BP put workers ‘in harm’s way’ during ETAP fire
BP put workers "in harm’s way" during a fire on the ETAP installation, being left without water pumps to extinguish it, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned.
Aberdeen rig inspection firm launches offshore audit to help prevent spread of Covid-19
Rig inspection firm Aberdeen Drilling Consultants (ADC) has launched a resilience audit to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 on North Sea installations.
‘Unprecedented’ oil downturn demand to bring boost for Presserv
An “unprecedented” number of enquiries amid the latest oil downturn is expected to see an Aberdeen-based business nearly double its headcount and boost turnover.
Report: US hydraulic fracturing demand expected to bounce back
Demand for hydraulic fracturing services in shale plays across the United States is expected to reach rock bottom in May and stay low in the summer before a recovery begins in the fall, the Norwegian global energy research firm Rystad Energy reported.
Kishorn Port aims to prove decommissioning credentials with stricken Minch cargo ship
A redeveloped Highland port is aiming to use a stricken cargo ship to showcase its credentials for oil and gas decommissioning.
Elevator wins ‘major’ contract to support Scotland’s net zero ambitions
Elevator, the Aberdeen-based business support organisation, said yesterday it had won a “major” contract to help Scotland achieve its net zero carbon ambitions.
Stena Drilling loses ‘mass layoffs’ case but plans challenge at Norway’s Supreme Court
Aberdeen-headquartered Stena Drilling has lost a legal case over "mass layoffs" on a North Sea rig but vowed to take its fight further to Norway's Supreme Court.
North Star Shipping plans 100 job cuts due to oil downturn
Aberdeen-based oil and gas support vessel operator North Star Shipping has told crews it plans to make around 100 people redundant.
Turbulence ahead as UK’s offshore helicopter sector experiences ‘mensis horribilis’
The UK’s crippled offshore helicopter sector faces more financial restructuring, “opportunistic M&A” and possibly even government intervention, according to new analysis.
Hydrogen takes pole position in oil sector decarbonisation drive
Hydrogen production has claimed pole position in the oil and gas sector’s decarbonisation drive, a survey shows.
Redundant Halliburton worker sets up Aberdeenshire hand sanitiser business
An Aberdeen oil worker who was recently made redundant from Halliburton due to Covid-19 has now set up his own hand sanitiser business to help tackle the virus.
Unused oil rigs sink Awilco Drilling to losses of £7.5million
A pair of oil rigs lying idle in Invergordon sank Awilco Drilling to losses of £7.5million in the first quarter of 2020.
Offshore workers ‘dumped’ as Atlas Professionals flouts furlough while UK scheme is extended
Offshore workers have said they’ve been “dumped” by a major recruitment firm after it decided not to offer the UK furlough scheme due to holiday pay concerns.
Oil edges higher on signs of recovery as Saudis pledge deeper cuts
Oil edged higher as signs of a recovery in demand continued to surface following the easing of virus-led lockdowns in some regions, while Saudi Arabia pledged to cut production further.
Research highlights ‘huge concern’ over oil firms’ ability to pay decommissioning bills
New analysis has outlined “huge concerns” for UK taxpayers around whether oil and gas firms will be able to meet their hefty decommissioning costs, with some rising above their company market values.
Producers may need to kill their old, loss-making FPSO’s in this downturn – Rystad
The swift oil price crash caused by the Covid-19 pandemic will reduce the combined free cash flow of FPSO fields, which have produced above three quarters of their original resources at just $2.20 per barrel this year. This is a jaw-dropping decline from 2019’s $11.10 per barrel, a Rystad Energy impact analysis reveals.
Can oil recover from coronavirus? An industry debate is underway
When the pandemic is all over will society go back to driving cars and hopping on planes with nary a worry as it did just two short months ago?