OGV Energy Newsbytes

Port Skills and Safety (PSS) and Scottish tech firm COMET, in collaboration, are pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative designed to further improve safety performance and data intelligence that drives better safety and standards across the port industry. This initiative combines COMET’s software and port industry services with PSS’s deep industry expertise and membership to provide practical solutions tailored to the unique challenges faced by port operators and their supply chains today.PSS members will benefit from free access to COMET’s Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis platform, a solution designed to bring both rigor and proportionality to managing everything from minor slips and trips to more significant incidents and non-conformances. These incentivised offerings, which also include HSE Culture Assessments and Behavioural Training Programmes, are...Read the full article >here<

French oil major, TotalEnergies, has proceeded with plans to shut down its FPSO, Gryphon, in the North Sea.Decommissioning of the Gryphon, the first purpose-built FPSO installed on its North Sea site in 1993, had been planned by TotalEnergies since 2023. However, those in opposition to the move, notably Nobel Upstream which owns two oil fields tied back to the FPSO, have blamed the North Sea windfall tax, officially the Energy Profits Levy, first introduced by the UK Government in May 2022.From 25%, the windfall tax has climbed steadily and now...Read the full article >here<

By Dr Ollie Folayan MBE, Co-Chair of AFBE-UK ScotlandEngineering thrives on innovation, yet its workforce continues to fall short in reflecting the diversity of society.Ethnic minorities continue to be underrepresented in the UK engineering workforce, comprising just 12.4% in 2023, compared to 16% across all other occupations. This disparity exists even though 31% of undergraduate entrants to engineering and technology degrees were from minority ethnic backgrounds, a higher proportion than the 28% average across all subjects. Similarly, apprenticeship data shows that 14% of starts in engineering and technology-related apprenticeships in 2023/24 were by individuals from a UK minority ethnic background. These statistics highlight ongoing challenges in translating higher education and apprenticeship participation into representation within the engineering workforce. (*EngineeringUK Report).This imbalance not only represents a missed opportunity for fairness but also for innovation and excellence. By failing to capitalise on the full breadth of talent, the sector risks falling behind in addressing complex challenges.Read the full article >here<

Drilling at Mopane-2A reveals significant hydrocarbon presence in Namibia’s PEL 83. The PEL 83 Joint Venture partners have revealed an additional oil and gas condensate discovery in the Mopane field in Namibia’s Orange Basin.The Mopane field is estimated to hold more than ten billion barrels of oil.Also known as Well #4, the Mopane-2A well was spud [drilling operations commenced there] on 2 December 2024 and has encountered hydrocarbons in two separate reservoirs.The well is part of Petroleum Exploration License 83 (PEL 83) which covers blocks 2813A and 2814B and is operated by a subsidiary of...Read the full article >here<

Energy Industries Council, the world-leading energy trade association, named three experienced professionals to the Company’s Board of Directors. With strong, complementary backgrounds across Project Logistics, Digital Transformation and Global Talent Management, EIC is further reinforced by these appointments in its commitment to driving not only innovation but, also the energy supply chain’s ability to export diversify and grow.Commenting on the latest appointments, Stuart Broadley, CEO of the EIC, said, “We are delighted to welcome Jasmina, Ahmed, and James to the EIC Board of Directors. Their diverse backgrounds and profound knowledge of the energy sector will be instrumental in shaping the future of the EIC and...Read the full article >here<

Ahead of a trading update on 21 January, in which the Company will provide guidance for 2025, Serica Energy plc today announces production figures for 2024.Production into the Triton FPSO resumed on 27 December with a phased restart of the producing and new wells ongoing. Importantly, following extensive root cause analysis and remedial work, the export gas compressor was restarted successfully and gas exports commenced on 29 December.Read the full article >here<

With just two weeks left in his term, United States President Joe Biden has signed a ban on offshore oil and gas drilling in federal waters—a move that will require an act of Congress to reverse.Supporters hailed the ban as a capstone on Biden’s environmental legacy. Biden has “conserved more lands and waters than any other U.S. president in history,” the White House said in a news release. Critics, however, slammed the “11th-hour” action as detrimental to consumers.But the areas barred from leasing were not of immediate interest to the oil industry and do not include active developments, Mark James, an associate...Read the full article >here< 

Australian independent Santos has been fined just A$10,000 (US$6254) over a 2022 condensate spill at its Varanus Island Marine Terminal, located off the northwest coast of Western Australia (WA), which is claimed to have killed marine mammals.The Adelaide-headquartered company on Monday plead guilty in the Karratha Magistrates Court to a charge of “failing to operate its licensed pipeline in a proper and workmanlike manner [and] failing to prevent the escape of petroleum”.Santos was fined A$10,000 and ordered to pay a further A$9700 in court costs, confirmed the Western Australian Department of...Read the full article >here<

Aker BP awards ASCO contract for base services, warehousing, personnel consulting and transportASCO has been awarded a five-year contract until 2030 for base and logistics services for Aker BP in Tananger, Sandnessjøen, and Farsund in Norway. The agreement also includes continued services in warehouse management, load carriers, waste services, and personnel leasing for logistics and helicopter coordination.The potential total value of the agreement is £70 million (NOK one billion) over the contract period.Øyvind Salte, Commercial Director at ASCO Norge AS commented, “Aker BP’s continued choice of ASCO for their base and...Read the full article >here<

Salus Technical launches Copilots: an AI service designed to enhance safety standards via higher quality, more efficient and consistent risk assessmentsWith many assets in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) now well beyond their original design life, a well-documented skill shortage, and squeeze on investments, there is a recognised need to address safety challenges across the energy sector.In response to this, Aberdeen-headquartered process-safety firm, Salus Technical, has developed Salus Copilots – a software programme service using the latest...

Ineos Energy has acquired the Gulf of Mexico business held by the US subsidiary of Chinese company CNOOC International Limited.The deal increases Ineos’ production globally to over 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. These assets in the Gulf of Mexico are the third major investment by the company in the USA, in the past three years, following the 1.4 mtpa LNG deal completed with...Read the full article >here<

Australian engineering and professional services company Worley will provide reimbursable engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services to U.S. energy major ExxonMobil for the enabling works, infrastructure and interconnects scope of the latter’s planned low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia facility in Baytown, Texas.As disclosed, the contract is subject to the final investment decision (FID), as well as supportive government policy and necessary regulatory permits.Chris Ashton, CEO of Worley, stated: “We are delighted to continue our strategic, global relationship with ExxonMobil in its execution of upcoming...Read the full article >here<

W&T Offshore, an independent driller operating in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, has asked a federal judge to block insurance companies’ demands for $250 million in additional collateral for taking apart old oil infrastructure.The offshore drilling industry faces mounting pressure to provide bonds for decommissioning oil and gas infrastructure in federal waters. The Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in June enforced a final...Read the full article >here<

From its vast offshore oil and gas resources to its growing commitment to renewable energy, Australia is unquestionably one of the world’s most exciting and dynamic energy markets. It is already a sectoral heavyweight, ranking among the world’s biggest exporters of energy, including coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG), with net exports equating to over two-thirds of domestic production.Given its criticality to the economy, it is only natural that Australia is seeking to maximise its wealth of offshore oil and gas reserves and, as such, it is home to some of the most extensive subsea developments and longest tiebacks in the...Read the full article >here<

Green Volt set to unlock £2.5 billion of private investment and create up to 2,800 jobs16 December 2024: The pioneering floating offshore windfarm Green Volt, based off the Northeast coast of Scotland, has awarded front-end engineering and design (FEED) Phase 1 contracts to two sets of leading engineering companies:Aker Solutions and ABBAibel and Hitachi EnergyGreen Volt, which will be located 80 miles off the Scottish coast, was successful in winning a UK Government Contract for Difference (CfD) in September this year and is the first major commercial floating wind development in Europe. The CfD puts it on track to become the world’s largest floating offshore windfarm with a...Read the full article >here<

UK supply chain companies looking to develop future opportunities in the offshore wind sector can apply from today (Monday, 16 December 2024) to secure a place on Launch Academy – the award-winning technology acceleration programme from the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult.Launch Academy is an industry-recognised mentoring and business support programme designed to help early-stage companies with innovative, near-to-market products and services to progress in the offshore wind supply chain. Wraparound support comprises targeted technology development, business growth and...Read the full article >here<

Shell Offshore, a subsidiary of the UK-headquartered energy giant Shell, has greenlighted another multi-well development project to enrich oil production from an asset lying in a water depth of about 2,450 meters (approximately 8,000 feet) in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (GoM), said to represent the world’s deepest floating oil platform.With a final investment decision (FID) for the Phase 3 Silvertip project, Shell will embark on a two-well campaign to deliver two wells designed to boost production at its operated Perdido spar within Alaminos Canyon around...Read the full article >here<

Pantheon Resources plc, the oil and gas company developing the Kodiak and Ahpun oilfields in close proximity to pipeline and transportation infrastructure on Alaska’s North Slope, has announced the Megrez-1 well as a discovery in the eastern topsets in the Ahpun field. The well has reached Target Depth (TD) and the Company has run 5.5 in. production casing in anticipation of long-term testing commencing early 2025.Read the full article >here<

Argentina is on the brink of solidifying its position as one of South America’s top crude oil producers thanks to the burgeoning shale-drilling activities across its vast Vaca Muerta region. This rise is set against the backdrop of increasing operational support from the newly elected government under President Javier Milei, who has embraced business-friendly policies aimed at energizing the sector. It’s not just political rhetoric; the tangible impacts of these policies are evident as drilling activity accelerates.The Vaca Muerta basin, located primarily within the Neuquén Province, is one of the largest shale oil and gas reserves not only in Argentina but also globally. Recent statistics indicate this region currently accounts for about 60 percent of the country’s crude production. If current trends continue, Argentina is poised to...Read the full article >here<

Shell plc, a British multinational oil and gas company headquartered in London, has announced that its units in Nigeria awarded remarkable $1.98 billion worth of contracts to Nigeria’s companies in 2023. This figure represents a 3% increase compared with 2022, marking a steady commitment by the British oil giant to foster local business development and strengthen its operations in the nation of West Africa.The key entities behind these significant contract awards were the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd. (“SPDC”), Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Co. Ltd. (“SNEPCo”) and Shell Nigeria Gas. The contracts cover...Read the full article >here<

Global Underwater Hub calls on government to deliver an industrial strategy to boost investor confidenceThe UK’s underwater industry has grown from £8bn to £9.2bn in the last 12 months and now supports over 51,000 jobs.New research from Global Underwater Hub (GUH) reveals that the industry has both the capacity and capability to accelerate the global energy transition but...Read the full article >here<

ADNOC Gas PLC, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), has contracted Worley Engineering Pty. Ltd., a division of Worley Ltd., to provide front-end engineering and design (FEED) services for its Bab Gas Cap (BGC) project in Abu Dhabi.The agreement, announced on December 4, aims to enhance ADNOC Gas’ natural gas processing capabilities as part of its strategic...Read the full article >here<

A $100 million world class Oil and Gas Services Terminal (OGST) at the Takoradi Port in the Western Region was on Friday inaugurated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.The OGST is a logistics platform within the port featuring offshore supply vessel (OSV), berthing facilities and serviced waterfront land to support offshore oil and gas exploration and...Read the full article here

The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has today (25 November) published its highest-ever fine of £350,000 on Repsol North Sea Limited (RNS) for behaviour that led to a shut-in at the Flyndre field and hampered economic recovery of petroleum.The Fulmar facility in the Central North Sea, operated by RNS, ceased production in 2018, but continued to be used for the transportation of oil and gas by the Flyndre, Auk and Clyde fields. Auk and...Read the full article here

Asia’s renewables grow rapidly, led by offshore wind and solar, but coal dominance, policy gaps, and grid challenges hinder the region’s energy transition progress.London, 19 Nov. 2024 — Asia’s renewable energy sector expanding but policy inconsistencies, grid limitations, and reliance on fossil fuels mean that continent still has a long way to go in its journey to neutralise it economies, according to a new report by the Energy Industries Council (EIC), the world leading energy trade association. The EIC Asia OPEX Report, released today, provides...Read the full article here

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – November 20, 2024 — AIQ, the Abu Dhabi-based AI champion developing innovative solutions for the energy sector, and Kent, a leading global engineering and digital solutions provider, have signed a Strategic Collaboration Agreement to explore advanced artificial intelligence (AI) applications in engineering optimization and digital transformation.Announced at ADIPEC 2024, this interaction seeks to harness AIQ’s state-of-the-art technology alongside Kent’s digital engineering and...Read the full article here

Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, announced that the Ministry’s strategy of accelerating production and addressing challenges has yielded positive results. He highlighted that preliminary figures indicate an increase in production by 200 million cubic feet per day (mmcf/d) of natural gas and 39,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) of oil between July and October 2024.This statement was made during his address at a meeting organized by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Cairo, chaired by Eng. Tarek Tawfik. The event was attended by key figures from the...Read the full article here 

This marks the first discovery in this area in 2024, aside from a previously drilled appraisal well.Equinor has announced the discovery of oil and gas near the Fram field in the North Sea, estimated at 13–28 million barrels of oil equivalent.The exploration well, with a sidetrack, was drilled approximately 10km north of the...Read the full article here

Ms Verheijen noted that in deepwater gas, Nigeria has moved from a total absence of a fiscal framework to having one for the first time in history.The presidency says Nigeria’s deepwater oil projects now deliver competitive returns, and the country has moved from the bottom quartile of 13 indexed countries to the top three.Olu Verheijen, the special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on energy, disclosed this in a keynote address at an executive session of the...Read the full article here

TAQA, an international company headquartered in Dharan, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, offers leading well solutions for the energy industry, has introduced its next-generation inflow control system, enabling operators to optimize reservoir performance while sustainably managing fluid production.The M4 Inflow Control System dictates the flow of the undesired fluid (water and gas) and avoids any binary (open/close) effect that can result in instability - or worse - stop production. The M4 Inflow Control System excels in controlling water in ultra-light and light applications and enhances gas production control, providing stability and flexibility in diverse reservoir conditions.The M4 Inflow Control System technology incorporates an advanced pilot control system that...Read the full article here

CRC Evans, a leading provider of welding, technology and coating services, has successfully completed its work scope to deliver a range of welding services to support First E&P’s Alpha Project located offshore Nigeria.A greenfield development, Project Alpha entails development of the Anyala and Madu fields which lie 45km off the Niger Delta, with production being tied back to a floating production, storage and offloading facility (FPSO).Westfield Energy Resources contracted CRC Evans to provide full welding services to its pipelay barge, the S-lay vessel DLB Kenenna. In all, the company successfully completed more than 3,800 welds on two 20.8km and one 5.5 km pipelines. The work was...Read the full article here

Perenco Colombia successfully completed drilling of three new development wells on the Paravare and Chaparrito fields at Casanare, onshore Colombia. As a result of detailed seismic data analysis by the geoscience team, Perenco identified new channels in which a large quantity of oil has been discovered.The objective of the campaign was to increase production, and a third well, PRV-03, was successfully drilled on the Paravare field and continues to be optimized. Following the installation of an electro submersible centrifugal pump, PRV-03 is currently producing 500 bopd.  On the Chaparrito field, the success of the CHP-03 well drilled in 2023 on the edge of a channel at a depth of 1,500 meters led to a new drilling campaign. The volume of the discovered channel made it possible to...Read the full article here

Vysus Group, the global leader of technical and regulatory advisory services for the energy sector and other complex industries, has announced that it is expanding its world-leading power and energy systems expertise with the creation of a dedicated team in Barcelona, Spain to serve the European and UK market.The consultancy, which is headquartered in Aberdeen, UK, has been instrumental in the development of the renewable energy sector in Australia and has seen a significant increase demand for its services in Australia, throughout Europe, and in Asia.In response, it is creating more than 10 new roles over the next...Read the full article here

Following a commercially competitive tender where ADC was able to demonstrate its added value through utilising cutting-edge technological approaches to operational assurance and over 38 years of expert experience, ADC was awarded the 2 years contract, with 1 year option. This significant collaboration will see ADC Energy playing a pivotal role in the selection and acceptance of up to three offshore drilling rigs for TotalEnergies’ ambitious GranMorgu development project offshore Suriname.  ADC will service the contract with support from both its headquarters in Aberdeen and from its US business unit, ADC Rig Inspection Americas Corp. in Houston.Part of ADC’s bid outlined a commitment to providing continuity from the previous contract held between 2020 and 2022 where ADC Energy assisted TotalEnergies with the selection, reactivation and...Read the full article here

Japan Petroleum Exploration (Japex) is exploring the sale of its 15% stake in the Seagull oil and gas field in the UK North Sea amid uncertainties over government tax policies, reported by Reuters.The company is calling for bids for its share in the BP-operated field.In an emailed statement, a Japex spokesperson said: “We are exploring all possible measures to enhance the...Read the full article here

Multi award-winning torque specialist EnerQuip has announced significant expansion in a key market, thanks to the purchase of larger premises in Houston.The Aberdeenshire-headquartered company, which is on track to achieve revenues of more than £20 million this year, has moved from sub-let, shared accommodation to a purchased building in the Humble area, located in North East Houston and strategically closer to several regional customers.  The 6,000sq ft base comprises 1,500sq ft of office space and...Rea

The UK's energy secretary, Ed Miliband, has denied avoiding the UK’s oil and gas sector for more than 100 days since Labour came to power.Speaking on a visit to Aberdeen, the minister said he was "delighted" to be in the city for the first time since his government was elected in July.He said the government's decision to base a new state-owned company, GB Energy, in the...Read the full article here

Baker Hughes and Repsol have partnered to develop next-generation AI capabilities through the Leucipa automated field production solution.This strategic collaboration aims to deploy AI-powered automation workflows across Repsol’s global assets, enhancing operational capabilities and efficiency while reducing emissions.The partnership will focus on leveraging its combined expertise to optimise production and improve efficiency through the Leucipa solution.This technology will be designed to enable proactive management of...Read the full article here

The North Sea Transition Authority and The Crown Estate have today published a new Statement of Intent to confirm joint aspirations in ensuring a more sustainable and closely co-ordinated management of the seabed. The aim is to build on close collaboration to date and now proactively share data between the two organisations, where possible. This will enable marine development and support a co-ordinated approach to the leasing and licensing of carbon storage, helping to make the UK a world-leading destination for CCUS project investment and the supply chain. This proactive and collaborative approach will support UK CCUS developments and...Read the full article here

Senegal hopes a move into offshore oil will transform its struggling economy but questions remain about who will actually see the economic benefits.Oil drilling can provide vital income for poor countries but it can also lead to social unrest and environmental damage when mismanaged – on top of the climate impact of burning the resulting fuel. In Senegal, the government’s plans have elicited mixed feelings in a population already struggling with climate change, degradation of traditional fishing grounds, and outbreaks of political violence.Australian oil company Woodside announced in June that it had extracted the...

The Scottish government has been urged to ditch its “reckless” policy of being against oil and gas production in its upcoming energy strategy amid fears a crucial North Sea pipeline network is facing possible closure a decade earlier than planned.In parliament, North East MSP Liam Kerr warned that the Scottish Government’s hostility towards the industry could sound the early death knell for the Forties Pipeline System following the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery.It comes as Ineos chief executive Andrew Gardner warned the Forties Pipeline System, which connects 80 offshore gas and...

Britain’s natural gas output is declining faster than expected and leading to greater reliance on imports, according to an industry group seeking government relief to spur investment.Production fell about 13 percent this year through August on an annual basis, and a similar rate is possible for all of 2024, said Ross Dornan, market intelligence manager at Offshore Energies UK. That compares with a 10 percent decline forecast earlier this year for the UK’s aging North Sea basin.“We should be a little bit worried about...Read the full article here

Oil and gas companies face the threat of being named and shamed in the UK for failing to meet decommissioning deadlines for empty wells, Britain’s North Sea regulator has warned.The North Sea Transition Authority has opened a consultation over plans to impose more transparency on an industry that has fallen behind targets for “plugging and abandonment” as reserves run dry.“Not only do missed deadlines knacker the credibility of...Read the full article here

The  election of the Labour government has brought renewed momentum to the UK’s efforts to meet its ambitious net zero targets.The government’s commitment to increasing investment in the renewal energy infrastructure was evident in early September in the latest (sixth) renewables auction (“the Contracts of Difference Scheme”), which saw £1.5 billion committed to 131 new green energy projects (on and offshore wind, solar and floating offshore wind and tidal energy), a 50% boost from the previous budget and designed to power the equivalent of 11 million British homes.Great British Energy, a publicly owned energy company recently set up by the UK government will work in partnership with The Crown Estate, to leverage private investment expected to be in the region of...Read the full article here

Last month, a rededication ceremony and remembrance service marking the 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster was held in the newly restored memorial garden in Aberdeen's Hazlehead Park.Relatives of the victims, survivors, senior figures from the oil and gas industry, politicians and representatives from the Pound for Piper Memorial Trust gathered around the now iconic memorial sculpture.Depicting three offshore workers, it stands as a poignant and permanent reminder that the lessons learned from the tragedy - fundamental lessons that continue to inform and underpin safety best practice on the...Read the full article here

French energy giant TotalEnergies has announced plans to increase its oil and gas production until 2030, as it seeks to reassure investors about its fundamentals.CEO Patrick Pouyanne has a raft of ambitious projects aimed at propelling growth through the decade, not least a $10 billion offshore investment in Suriname that received a green light Tuesday.The company on Wednesday attempted to buoy investors at its annual strategy and...Read the full article here

With recent geopolitical events highlighting the vulnerabilities of global energy supply chains, Africa is attracting increasing attention as a reliable and promising source of oil and gas.As the world seeks to diversify its energy portfolios and ensure security of supply, investors are recognising the immense potential of Africa's underexplored hydrocarbon reserves. This comes as other regions face ongoing challenges, leading to a renewed focus on stable, promising alternatives.Africa, long an overlooked energy region, has been attracting interest from global energy investors recently, thanks to its underdeveloped oil and gas resources, business-friendly governments and...Read the full article here

Italy’s energy giant Eni has fused its upstream assets in the UK, excluding East Irish Sea ones and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) activities, with Delek’s Ithaca Energy, a North Sea oil and gas operator and producer. The combination enables the duo to expand their footprint on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), setting up the UK’s second-largest oil and gas independent operator with the potential to eclipse Harbour Energy as the top producer on the UKCS.Eni confirmed an official agreement for the business combination with Ithaca almost a month after the pair entered into an exclusivity agreement regarding the potential upstream merger. The two players were expected to combine the Italian oil major’s UK upstream business with the existing Ithaca business, enabling the enlarged entity to contain stakes in six of the...Read the full article here

The North Sea’s oil and gas future hangs in the balance and requires a new fiscal regimeNew Wood Mackenzie analysis defines the critical challenges to developing a more predictable tax policy that works for industry and governmentLONDON, 03 October 2024 – After a history of ad hoc changes, the UK government must implement a more predictable tax regime that provides greater long-term stability to the North Sea oil and gas sector, as soon as possible, according to new analysis by Wood Mackenzie.The UK government has acknowledged that oil and gas production in the North Sea will be required for “decades to come”. But recent and proposed modifications to...Read the full article here