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October 14, 2019

Industry conference expands frontiers to drive new direction in decommissioning mindset

“Expanding Frontiers” is the theme for the tenth Offshore Decommissioning Conference, co-hosted by OGUK and Decom North Sea on November 25-27. The event will explore how by achieving step changes in its current mindset, the sector can make the most of potential business opportunities in the UK and global decommissioning markets. With Forth and [...]

By Oct 14, 2019

October 11, 2019

OGUK comments on Spirit Energy’s £140 million investment in Chestnut Field

Following the new that Spirit Energy and partner Dana Petroleum have announced plans to drill a new well at Chestnut, around 125miles north-east of Aberdeen, which could keep it producing as far into the future as 2023, OGUK’s supply chain director, Matt Abraham, said “This continued commitment is a strong vote of confidence in the UKCS basin [...]

By Oct 11, 2019

October 9, 2019

New HSE Conference sets sights on solving future industry challenges

Solving future challenges and driving improvements in health, safety and environmental practice across the UK oil and gas industry will be discussed at a major one-day conference to take place in Aberdeen next month. As a first for OGUK, this combined HSE Conference will explore how industry is taking health, safety and environment forward into [...]

By Oct 9, 2019

October 4, 2019

Shell’s Pierce field FID

Responding to the announcement of the Final Investment Decision for the Pierce field gas project, Mike Tholen, Upstream Policy Director OGUK said: “This is good news and will help to meet more of the UK’s energy needs from domestic production. That Shell and Ithaca Energy have agreed the Final Investment Decision on Pierce underlines that the [...]

By Oct 4, 2019

September 11, 2019

Finalists announced for OGUK annual awards following record number of entries

The shortlist for this year’s prestigious OGUK Awards, sponsored by Shell U.K. Limited, is revealed today. The annual awards ceremony is a highly regarded event within the UK oil and gas industry calendar which celebrates the brightest and best talent from across the North Sea sector. 30 individuals and businesses, selected from a record number [...]

By Sep 11, 2019

September 5, 2019

Wood president announced as chair of new industry diversity and inclusion task group

  Craig Shanaghey, President, Operations Services, Europe & Africa at Wood, has been announced as the chair of a new task group set up to champion diversity and inclusion in the oil and gas industry. The Diversity and Inclusion Task Group set up by OGUK will bring industry together to drive action towards recruiting and retaining diverse [...]

By Sep 5, 2019

September 4, 2019

Oil and gas industry publish blueprint for net zero

The UK’s offshore oil and gas industry has outlined its contribution to the UK and Scottish Government net-zero ambitions as part of an ambitious blueprint showing what the sector could look like in future. Roadmap to 2035: A Blueprint for net-zero sets out five key themes requiring industry, government and regulator action to ensure the sector [...]

By Sep 4, 2019

August 29, 2019

Offshore Safety Award Winners Announced

Safety champions of the North Sea have been recognised at the 2019 Offshore Safety Awards in Aberdeen today. The annual awards ceremony, jointly organised by OGUK and Step Change in Safety and sponsored by TOTAL, celebrates the outstanding individuals and companies going above and beyond to improve safety across offshore operations on the UK Continental [...]

By Aug 29, 2019

August 29, 2019

Timely insight on Brexit and other topical issues at industry legal conference

Brexit, the growing prominence of private equity investors in the North Sea and decommissioning under scrutiny are among key themes at OGUK’s 2019 legal conference taking place on September 12 at Ardoe House Hotel, Aberdeen. Offering in-house and private practice lawyers of all levels a deeper awareness of industry’s key issues, the full day [...]

By Aug 29, 2019

August 27, 2019

Workforce stabilisation sets foundation for industry’s bright future

Total employment supported by the UK offshore oil and gas sector is now back in line with industry’s long-term trend, according to new research published today by the leading representative body for the industry.   OGUK’s 2019 Workforce Report, which provides insight into the employment landscape across the UK oil and gas sector, anticipates [...]

By Aug 27, 2019

August 21, 2019

New industry tool to improve recovery from existing North Sea fields

A new tool aimed at providing operators and licensees with a framework to re-evaluate methods to improve recovery from existing North Sea oil and gas assets is launched today (Aug 21) on the OGUK website. Developed through industry collaboration, the tool provides a detailed process for identifying opportunities to learn from industry-leading practice. An [...]

By Aug 21, 2019

August 15, 2019

Mariner start up represents significant achievement for Equinor

Commenting on news that Equinor has today started up production from its Mariner field, OGUK Upstream Policy Director Mike Tholen said “First oil from Mariner represents a significant achievement for Equinor and its pioneering development of the field, helping the company to become a major player in the UK sector of the North Sea with a long-lasting, [...]

By Aug 15, 2019

August 7, 2019

Green & Black’s co-founder to share career learnings with offshore oil and gas industry

Jo Fairley, co-founder of Green and Black's The co-founder of chocolatier Green & Black’s will address a packed oil and gas industry audience as part of a sell-out event being hosted by OGUK, OGTC and AXIS to spotlight diversity and inclusion across the sector. The event, to be held at Offshore Europe on Thursday September 5, will see the [...]

By Aug 7, 2019

August 7, 2019

Resolute industry to set future path at major conference

OGUK, the leading representative body for the UK’s offshore oil and gas industry has confirmed that it will publish a key roadmap of all the current and future activity being undertaken by industry to deliver a sustainable future in a net zero context, at a major conference taking place in Aberdeen next month. Over 35,000 delegates from across [...]

By Aug 7, 2019

July 24, 2019

Industry delivers stable environmental performance alongside increased production

Louise O’Hara Murray, OGUK’s environment manager   The UK offshore oil and gas industry has delivered stable environmental performance whilst the sector has increased production levels, according to a flagship report published today (Wednesday, July 24) by OGUK. The 2019 Environment Report, which analyses and interprets data gathered [...]

By Jul 24, 2019

July 18, 2019

Safety Awards finalists unveiled

A ship’s crew with an impeccable safety record spanning 20 years and a woman whose dedication to her role as an offshore Safety Representative have each earned a spot as a finalist for this year’s Offshore Safety Awards. 18 entries have reached the shortlist across six categories covering Maritime Safety, Safety Representative of the Year, Innovation [...]

By Jul 18, 2019

July 17, 2019

Champions of industry sought as award nominations open

The search is on for industry’s brightest stars as nominations open for the 2019 OGUK Awards, sponsored by Shell U.K Limited. The annual awards ceremony, to be held at the new P&J Live venue in Dyce, Aberdeen, celebrates the outstanding achievements of businesses and individuals across the North Sea sector. New to this year’s roster of [...]

By Jul 17, 2019

July 16, 2019

OGUK responds to the launch of the fourth round of Decommissioning Challenge Fund

The announcement by the Scottish Government that £4 million of support will be made available through the Decommissioning Challenge Fund has been welcomed by OGUK. The fund provides support for projects that enhance the decommissioning market and supply chain across Scotland. Commenting, Mike Tholen, Upstream Policy Director OGUK, said: “The [...]

By Jul 16, 2019

July 15, 2019

OGUK welcomes duo to board as industry addresses energy transition challenge

OGUK has appointed two new members to its board to further bolster the sector’s ongoing efforts to maintain the competitiveness of oil and gas production from the UKCS – whilst also playing a significant role in enabling the UK’s net zero carbon emissions ambition. Bob Drummond, CEO of Hydrasun Group, has been appointed to the organisation’s [...]

By Jul 15, 2019

June 26, 2019

Industry regulator to unveil findings of decommissioning cost report at OGUK Business Breakfast

Nils Cohrs, Head of Decommissioning at industry regulator The Oil & Gas Authority (OGA) will discuss the findings of the 2019 UKCS Decommissioning Cost Estimate Report at the OGUK London Business Breakfast, taking place on July 2 at White & Case LLP, Old Broad Street. The annual report, first published in 2017 tracks the progress towards [...]

By Jun 26, 2019

August 15, 2019

Equinor starts up Mariner field

Equinor and its partners have announced first oil from the Mariner field in the UK North Sea. The field is expected to produce more than 300 million barrels of oil over the next 30 years. Mariner, Equinor’s first operated field on the UKCS, is reported to have up to 3 billion barrels of oil in place. It is expected to produce annual average plateau [...]

By Aug 15, 2019

August 15, 2019

Well-Safe awards refurbishment contracts for Well-Safe Guardian

Well-Safe Solutions has announced the award of two contracts to continue the transformation of the Well-Safe Guardian into a bespoke plug and abandonment unit. Global Energy Group and Rigfit7seas have been appointed to deliver the ambitious refurbishment of the semi-submersible drilling rig, the decommissioning company’s first asset. Global Energy [...]

By Aug 15, 2019

August 14, 2019

OGIC to support drilling technology innovation at University of Aberdeen

The Oil & Gas Innovation Centre (OGIC) is supporting projects at the University of Aberdeen’s Centre for Applied Dynamics Research (CADR), enabling the team to develop new technologies for use in offshore drilling operations. So far, OGIC has provided a total of £640,000 of co-funding for the seven projects which will see the CADR team partner [...]

By Aug 14, 2019

August 13, 2019

OPEX wins CNOOC digital services contract

OPEX Group has secured a new multi-million-pound contract with CNOOC Petroleum Europe, for the provision of digital services across the company’s UKCS assets. The three-year contract, with extension options, will see OPEX’s X-PAS predictive analysis service rolled out on the Buzzard, Golden Eagle and Scott platforms, supporting operations across [...]

By Aug 13, 2019

August 13, 2019

Peterson expands partnership with Chrysaor

Energy logistics provider Peterson has been awarded a new contract with Chrysaor to extend its current integrated logistics services agreement. The 18-month contract extension, with options for three further one-year extensions, will see Peterson support Chrysaor across all its North Sea assets. The scope includes warehousing, transport and marine [...]

By Aug 13, 2019

August 12, 2019

COOEC and Expro form riserless well intervention alliance

China-based offshore and subsea solutions company, COOEC Offshore, has formed an alliance with oilfield services company Expro. The exclusive agreement allows both companies to expand their respective capabilities and resources. Under the alliance, COOEC Offshore and Expro will test and deliver a Riserless Well Intervention (RWI) system to market [...]

By Aug 12, 2019

August 8, 2019

Helix announces contract for new Q7000 vessel

Helix Energy Solutions Group has entered into a contract for its new-build semi-submersible well intervention vessel, the Q7000. The vessel will be performing subsea workover and integrated well intervention services with a major client offshore Nigeria, as part of an estimated minimum 80-day campaign. Helix continues to mobilise the vessel from [...]

By Aug 8, 2019

August 8, 2019

IOG spuds Harvey appraisal well

Independent Oil and Gas (IOG) has reported that the Maersk Resilient rig spudded the Harvey appraisal well on 6 August 2019. Completion of the well is expected to take approximately two months in the success case. The primary objective of the well, located in southern North Sea, is to confirm gas volumes estimated at 85/129/199 BCF prospective resources [...]

By Aug 8, 2019

August 5, 2019

Shell begins seismic over Pensacola prospect

Shell U.K. has commenced a 3D seismic survey over the Pensacola prospect on Licence P2252 in the southern North Sea, according to an update from licence partner Cluff Natural Resources. The survey is being conducted by Shearwater GeoServices using the Polar Empress and field operations are expected to take approximately two weeks to complete. The [...]

By Aug 5, 2019

August 1, 2019

Stork awarded contract for Centrica’s UK assets

Fluor business Stork has been awarded a contract extension by Centrica Storage to continue providing fabric maintenance and associated services for the company’s UK onshore and offshore oil and gas assets. Fluor booked the undisclosed contract value in the second quarter of 2019. The contract extension took effect in June 2019 and sees Stork secure [...]

By Aug 1, 2019

August 1, 2019

Spirit, HALO spud Andromeda North well

Hague and London Oil (HALO), the southern North Sea-focused oil and gas company, has announced the spudding of the Andromeda North well on licence Block 42/12. HALO has a 45% working interest in the block, alongside Spirit Energy (55%). The Andromeda North well is targeting resources of 40 billion cubic feet and is planned to be drilled to a total [...]

By Aug 1, 2019

July 31, 2019

Centrica to sell interests in Spirit Energy by end of 2020

Centrica is completing a transformation towards being an international energy services and solutions provider by exiting oil and gas production. The firm, which is the UK’s largest supplier of domestic gas, has a 69% stake in Spirit Energy which they intend to sell off by the end of 2020. The decision is part of its plans to move to a lower-carbon [...]

By Jul 31, 2019

July 24, 2019

IOG acquires Thames Reception Facilities

Independent Oil and Gas has signed a sales and purchase agreement (SPA) with Perenco UK, Tullow Oil and Spirit Energy for the acquisition of the Thames Reception Facilities (TRF) at the Bacton Gas Terminal. The TRF comprises an area of land within Perenco’s portion of the Bacton Gas Terminal, where IOG’s fully owned Thames Pipeline connects to [...]

By Jul 24, 2019

July 24, 2019

Subsea 7 wins Hornsea Two contract

Subsea 7 has secured a contract from Ørsted subsidiary Optimus Wind, for the installation of the inner array grid cable system at the Hornsea Two offshore wind farm. The contract will be delivered by the company’s renewables and heavy lifting unit Seaway 7. The Hornsea Two project is located approximately 90km off the Yorkshire coast and has a [...]

By Jul 24, 2019

July 23, 2019

TechnipFMC awarded Seagull contract by Neptune

Neptune Energy, alongside joint venture partners BP and JAPEX, announced that TechnipFMC has been awarded an engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) target cost contract for the Seagull development in the UK North Sea. Under the scope of the contract, TechnipFMC will construct and install the wellheads, subsea trees, an umbilical, [...]

By Jul 23, 2019

July 16, 2019

ST-1 structures ready for decommissioning in Shetland

The Dales Voe decommissioning facility in Shetland has welcomed portions of Spirit Energy’s ST-1 installation, taking the site one step closer towards becoming a Centre of Excellence for the recycling of North Sea offshore structures. With a recycling target of 97%, strategic partners Veolia and Peterson will now work to recover approximately 2,500 [...]

By Jul 16, 2019

July 15, 2019

Hurricane spuds Lincoln Crestal well

UK-based Hurricane Energy announced that the 205/26b-B well (known as Lincoln Crestal) was spudded on 12 July 2019 using the Transocean Leader rig. Lincoln Crestal is the second in a three-well programme on Hurricane’s Lincoln and Warwick assets, comprising the Greater Warwick Area. The company says that a further update will be made following [...]

By Jul 15, 2019

July 12, 2019

Sodexo Energy & Resources secures £6.5m in new contracts

Sodexo Energy & Resources has been awarded three new facilities management contracts, worth a combined £6.5 million a year, for Total E&P UK, Doosan Babcock and another major energy group. Total E&P UK has appointed Sodexo to provide a range of services to over 1,200 employees at three sites in Aberdeen and the Shetland Islands as part [...]

By Jul 12, 2019

July 11, 2019

Subsea 7 wins Equinor installation contract

Subsea 7 has been awarded a contract by Equinor for installation and diving operations on the Europipe II, Heimdal and Statfjord (EHS) fields in the Danish and Norwegian sectors of the North Sea. The contract comprises engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) of pipeline end manifolds (PLEM), bypass and tie-in spools for the [...]

By Jul 11, 2019

July 10, 2019

Total divests east North Sea assets to Petrogas

Total has signed an agreement to divest several UK non-core assets to Petrogas NEO UK, the exploration and production arm of the Oman-based conglomerate MB Holding. Petrogas has also partnered with Norway-based private equity investor HitecVision. Formerly owned by Maersk Oil, the assets are located in the eastern North Sea and include the Dumbarton, [...]

By Jul 10, 2019

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Industry Overview

An Industry in Transition This film on the ‘An Industry in Transition’ theme was screened at OGUK’s 2019 conference and outlines how the industry is focusing on improving  its competitiveness and playing its part in...

Wireline

  Welcome to our Summer 2019 issue of Wireline, the magazine for the UK offshore oil and gas industry. Our publication showcases the activities of our members and provides you with the latest news, views,...

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