News

Leading supply chain voice to join OGUK board

Oil and Gas UK has appointed a new member to its board to further bolster the industry body’s ongoing efforts to maximise economic recovery from the North Sea and reaffirm strong competitive conditions. Sian Lloyd Rees, UK country manager and SVP of customer management at Aker Solutions, has been appointed to represent the services sector as the [...]

By Dionne Abolghassem Dec 13, 2018

Trust, technology and transformation key to re-energising oil & gas collaboration

The oil and gas industry’s drive to increase collaboration between suppliers and operators in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) has continued to maintain a consistent performance. This is according to an annual survey published today by Oil & Gas UK and Deloitte which includes the Collaboration Index, measuring the effectiveness of companies as [...]

By Dionne Abolghassem Dec 12, 2018

Industry takes stock of collaboration efforts to drive Vision 2035

Around 80 people attended a key industry event on Friday, December 7 where collaborative success stories between operators and the supply chain were showcased as part of a shared ambition to add a generation of productive life to the UK Continental Shelf. Oil & Gas UK’s Efficiency Task Force (ETF) hosted the joint event with Shell U.K Limited [...]

By Lucy Gordon Dec 11, 2018

Blog: The implications of evolving transportation and mobility on the oil and gas industry

Justine Bornstein, Senior Manager, Insights, Deloitte provides her perspectives on the implications of evolving transportation and mobility on the oil and gas industry. The way we consume energy is changing. As this transition gathers pace, it will affect more and more industries and aspects of everyday life. One of the sectors likely to undergo [...]

By Lucy Buglass Dec 7, 2018

Environmental performance of industry captured in key report

A new report which provides an update on the environmental landscape of the UK offshore oil and gas industry to the end of 2017 has been published by Oil & Gas UK today (6 December). The 2018 Environment Report, which analyses and interprets data gathered and monitored by the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED), [...]

By Dionne Abolghassem Dec 6, 2018

First oil on Garten shows agility of competitive UKCS

The leading representative body for the UK’s offshore oil and gas industry has hailed news that Apache Corporation has reached first oil in just eight months from its Garten field as remarkable. Commenting, Oil & Gas UK Upstream Policy Director Mike Tholen said: “To have delivered a project from discovery to first oil in just eight months [...]

By Dionne Abolghassem Dec 5, 2018

Latest industry collaboration efforts to be unveiled at key event

  The results of a survey studying collaboration across the UK’s oil and gas industry in efforts to unlock efficiencies will be published this month – crucial to extending the life of the basin and achieving Vision 2035. Jointly led by Oil & Gas UK and Deloitte, the Supply Chain Collaboration Survey explores the motives and effectiveness [...]

By Dionne Abolghassem Dec 5, 2018

Report unveils industry’s key role in future energy mix

  The UK oil and gas industry’s rich history of innovation will be critical to efforts to build a lower carbon economy, a new report will reveal today. The Energy Transition Outlook report, published by leading industry body Oil & Gas UK, will consider the issues and opportunities for the offshore oil and gas sector from the changing [...]

By Lucy Buglass Dec 4, 2018

Key report signals positive industry mood but highlights need for continued investment

Oil & Gas UK has said it is encouraged by the latest Oil and Gas Survey issued by Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce today, which reveals industry recruitment is on the rise as 33 per cent of firms look to increase their UK workforce by 10 per cent or more in 2019. The leading representative body for the sector highlighted the need for [...]

By Dionne Abolghassem Nov 28, 2018

Industry stands ready to support carbon capture

The leading representative body for the UK’s offshore oil and gas industry has championed its skills and capabilities in response to a highly anticipated report from the UK Government outlining its plans to support carbon capture usage and storage. Energy Minister Claire Perry today published an action plan to deliver the UK’s first carbon capture [...]

By Dionne Abolghassem Nov 28, 2018

Growing expertise and cost leadership help deliver stabilisation in decommissioning market

Oil & Gas UK’s 2018 Decommissioning Insight Report, which provides a fresh insight of the market over the next ten years (2018–27), reveals that decommissioning expenditure is expected to run at about £1.5 billion per annum over the next decade, 20 per cent lower than forecast in 2017. The report shows: The UK is expected to spend £15.3 [...]

By Natalie Coupar Nov 27, 2018

Azinor Catalyst well success promising proof of industry approach

Oil & Gas UK has praised news that Azinor Catalyst has struck oil at Agar-Plantain as promising proof of industry’s competitive approach to exploration activity. The discovery, located in the Viking Graben area in the Northern North Sea, contains 15-50 million barrels of recoverable resources. Six exploration wells have been spudded so far [...]

By Natalie Coupar Nov 15, 2018

Brexit withdrawal paper

Commenting, Oil & Gas UK Chief Executive Deirdre Michie said: “We welcome the further detail provided to industry through the draft withdrawal agreement. This is an extensive legal document which we will now analyse and review in full with our membership. “Our focus remains on securing the best outcome for the UK’s offshore oil and gas [...]

By Dionne Abolghassem Nov 15, 2018

Blog post: Climate change litigation – a new class of action

Ahead of Oil & Gas UK's business breakfast "Energy Transition: Upholding our Licence to Operate" on Tuesday 13th November, Mark Clarke and Tallat Hussain from event sponsor White & Case LLP provide an overview of current considerations in climate change litigation. The transition to a lower global carbon economy has been entrenched in [...]

By Lucy Buglass Nov 9, 2018

Ninth offshore decommissioning conference to tackle cost and collaboration challenges

The ninth Offshore Decommissioning Conference run jointly by Oil & Gas UK and Decom North Sea, takes place from 26 - 28 November at the Fairmont Hotel, St Andrews, with around 450 industry professionals expected to attend. Over the past decade, decommissioning of the North Sea's oil & gas assets and infrastructure has steadily risen within [...]

By Lucy Gordon Nov 5, 2018

Book fuels industry to inspire next generation of female talent

Kay Heidenreich of Oil & Gas UK officially launches her book at an event in Aberdeen on Friday, November 2 Over 120 people from across the UK’s oil and gas industry gathered in Aberdeen today to mark the launch of a new book which aims to inspire the next generation of female talent. Author and Oil & Gas UK operations optimisation manager, [...]

By Dionne Abolghassem Nov 2, 2018

Inspiring industry leaders and pioneering projects recognised at annual awards

The finalists and winners of the Oil & Gas UK Awards 2018 celebrate   An inspirational graduate whose safety initiatives have led the way for critical emergency response plans offshore, and an industry-leading project which championed collaboration were among those who secured accolades last night (Thursday, November 2) at the Oil & [...]

By Dionne Abolghassem Nov 2, 2018

Innovation takes centre stage as supply chain eyes future growth 

  New developments, exciting opportunities and increasing optimism dominated Oil & Gas UK’s Share Fair today where major buyer companies highlighted the wave of UK North Sea opportunities to companies keen to understand the growing market for their expertise, products and services.   More than 550 people from industry attended to [...]

By Lucy Gordon Oct 31, 2018

New book set to ignite girls’ energy ambitions

An inspirational new book which shines a light on leading women in the UK’s offshore oil and gas industry will be published this week. Titled “The Oil Industry’s Best Kept Secret: A book full of inspiration and advice”, the project, penned by Oil & Gas UK Operations Optimisation manager Katy Heidenreich, aims to encourage more girls to [...]

By Natalie Coupar Oct 31, 2018

New interactive dashboard to unlock industry efficiencies and “optimise” businesses

  A new interactive online tool which aims to help oil and gas firms “streamline and optimise” for the future will be launched at Oil & Gas UK’s revamped Share Fair this week. The industry’s Efficiency Task Force (ETF) is gearing up to exhibit at this year’s event on Wednesday, October 31 – and will unveil a new online [...]

By Dionne Abolghassem Oct 30, 2018

Chevron receives Captain EOR approval

Chevron North Sea Limited (CNSL) has received approval from the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) for its field development plan (FDP) to progress the Captain Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) project in the Central North Sea. Through the application of polymer injection technology, the Captain EOR project is expected to increase production and help maximise [...]

By Andrew Dykes Dec 13, 2018

Petrofac opens Aberdeen “Innovation Zone”

Petrofac has created a technology Innovation Zone in its Bridge View offices in Aberdeen. The “immersive workspace” was opened by Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, Paul Wheelhouse MSP, on 11 December. The area has been created to allow clients, suppliers, and technology specialists to collaborate with new technologies, and is [...]

By Andrew Dykes Dec 12, 2018

Azinor Catalyst receives LOI for three exploration wells

Azinor Catalyst has received a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the acquisition of non-operated interests in three exploration wells planned for 2019. The three independent prospects – Boaz, Goose and Hinson – are estimated to contain combined gross unrisked prospective resources of 495 million barrels of oil equivalent. The company says preparations [...]

By Andrew Dykes Dec 10, 2018

Premier Oil completes Babbage Area sale

Following the receipt of necessary approvals, Premier Oil has announced the completion of sale of its interests in the Babbage Area to Verus Petroleum. Premier received £30.3 million ($38.7 million), after adjustments, for Babbage cash flows collected by Premier since the effective date of 1 January 2018. In addition, Verus will take on exploration [...]

By Andrew Dykes Dec 7, 2018

Sparrows signs five-year servicing deal with Pemex

Sparrows Group has signed a five-year blanket order with Pemex Procurement International, acting on behalf of Pemex Exploracion y Produccion (PEP), to service 41 cranes across assets in four of the national oil company’s developments. As the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), the first cranes were delivered by Sparrows in the early 1990s to [...]

By Andrew Dykes Dec 6, 2018

Apache achieves first oil at Garten development

Apache Corporation has initiated production from its Garten development on Block 9/18a Area-W in the UK North Sea. The discovery well, located 6 km south of the Beryl Alpha Platform, was placed on production in late November, less than eight months after being drilled in March 2018. The well is currently producing at a rate of 13,700 barrels of oil [...]

By Andrew Dykes Dec 5, 2018

EnQuest completes Magnus acquisition

London and Stockholm-listed EnQuest has completed its acquisition of the remaining 75% interest in the Magnus oil field and an additional 9% interest in the Sullom Voe oil terminal and supply facility from BP. The deal also includes additional interests in associated infrastructure, as set out in its initial 7 September announcement. As outlined [...]

By Andrew Dykes Dec 4, 2018

INEOS, Spirit complete Clipper South project

INEOS Oil & Gas UK has completed a project to re-route production from its Clipper South field via the Shell-operated Clipper field into the Bacton processing terminal. Working with joint venture partner Spirit Energy, the $80 million investment in a new pipeline and subsea equipment will extend the life of the Clipper South field, following [...]

By Andrew Dykes Nov 30, 2018

READ Cased Hole expands in US with key acquisition

Aberdeen-headquartered READ Cased Hole Ltd has acquired US-based well integrity specialist, Proactive Diagnostic Services (PDS). PDS was founded in 1995 to offer memory well-logging services to the Alaska region. Today the business has grown to service customers throughout the Lower 48 and Gulf of Mexico, providing surface readout and memory diagnostic [...]

By Andrew Dykes Nov 30, 2018

New appointment bolsters Xodus decommissioning expertise

Energy consultancy Xodus Group has strengthened its decommissioning team with the appointment of Gareth Jones as Decom Lead. Jones’ role will include advising and supporting operators in relation to environmental and societal impacts associated with decommissioning. The appointment follows a successful year for Xodus’ decommissioning division, [...]

By Andrew Dykes Nov 29, 2018

Scottish Government awards £2.5 million to decommissioning

Speaking at the Decom North Sea Conference in St Andrews, Scotland’s Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse reveals that the Scottish Government’s Decommissioning Challenge Fund (DCF) will award a further £2.5 million to decommissioning projects. The DCF, launched by the Scottish government in February 2017, supports infrastructure improvements and [...]

By Halima Hassan Nov 28, 2018

BP begins Clair Ridge project west of Shetland

The second-phase development of the Clair field, the Clair Ridge project, located 75 km (47 mi) west of Shetland has commenced. The Clair Ridge field, discovered in 1977, designed for 40 years of production, contains an estimated 7 Bbbl. BP commissioned two new, bridge-linked platforms and oil and gas export pipelines for the project at a total cost [...]

By Halima Hassan Nov 28, 2018

Bilfinger Salamis UK awarded North Sea decommissioning contract from Seaway Heavy Lifting.

A new North Sea decommissioning deal will see Bilfinger Salamis UK provide topside removal preparatory services on Spirit Energy’s ST1, Audrey A and Audrey B platforms. The contract will create up to 30 new offshore and onshore jobs at Bilfinger. Seaway Heavy Lifting, a Subsea 7 company, have awarded this contract which will look to “ensure safe [...]

By Halima Hassan Nov 27, 2018

Brasse East exploration well commences

Faroe Petroleum has announced the commencement of the Faroe-operated Brasse East exploration well 31/7-3 S in the Northern North Sea. Discovered by Faroe in 2016 and appraised in 2017, the Brasse East well is being drilled immediately east of the Brasse field, which in turn is located to the south of the Brage field and to the south east of the Oseberg [...]

By Halima Hassan Nov 23, 2018

Montrose Port Authority secures £5.4m funding package

Montrose Port Authority has received £5.4 million in funding from the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to assist ongoing redevelopment work. The project aims to increase port capacity and the potential size of berthing vessels from 12,000 to 18,000 deadweight tonnage. The works also received £1.5m of supporting investment from the Scottish Government [...]

By Andrew Dykes Nov 22, 2018

EXPRO celebrates women in STEM

There are more women working in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) roles than ever before, however, still far fewer than their male counterparts. In celebration of STEM day on November 8 2018, EXPRO released short films to highlight the importance of encouraging women into these roles and benefits of pursuing such a career. EXPRO's [...]

By Maria Claudia Beiriz Nov 20, 2018

ROVOP appoints former Proserv boss David Lamont

ROVOP, the independent provider of underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), has appointed David Lamont as a non-executive director. David Lamont has over 35 years of industry experience in the oil and gas sector, most recently as the CEO of global energy services company Proserv. Lamont’s appointment is in line with ROVOP’s business and [...]

By Halima Hassan Nov 20, 2018

Bender UK enhances subsea cable monitoring capabilities

Bender UK has unveiled its ISOMETER isoHR685W subsea line insulation monitor (LIM). Designed primarily for subsea umbilical monitoring and ROV applications, the system monitors, reports and provides early warning of subsea cable insulation degradation and failure, enabling preventative maintenance and reducing unplanned shutdowns. A measuring range [...]

By Andrew Dykes Nov 19, 2018

TGS and Axxis Geo Solutions to collaborate on ocean bottom node projects in the North Sea

TGS and Axxis Geo Solutions (AGS) have agreed to work together to develop opportunities to co-invest in multi-client ocean bottom node projects; TGS will have a right to process all new node data acquired under this collaboration. TGS will join the 1,560-sq km (602-sq mi) Utsira node multi-client project which is currently being acquired by AGS in [...]

By Halima Hassan Nov 15, 2018

University of Aberdeen and Equinor team up to offer new scholarship

University of Aberdeen and Equinor will offer a new scholarship worth £25,000 for students admitted to the MSc in Integrated Petroleum Geoscience programme. Regarded as one of the top vocational training pathways in the world, the one-year programme offers students input and support from industry early on, ensuring that graduates are highly sought [...]

By Halima Hassan Nov 15, 2018