North Sea
Rowan Wins North Sea Contract
Rowan Companies won a term drilling contract for use of the Rowan Gorilla VII in the North Sea commencing in August 2005. The contract provides for a one-year term with a minimum work commitment of nine months, and includes an option for a second year. Rowan estimates that contract revenues, based on a one-year term, will be approximately $65 million. As previously reported, Gorilla VII is currently carrying out decommissioning activities on the Ardmore Field in the North Sea which the Company expects to conclude during July.
Tidewater Sells North Sea Boats
Tidewater Inc. will sell its North Sea safety-standby boats to BUE Marine Limited of Edinburgh, Scotland. The $40 million all-cash deal is expected to close by late June. The 28 safety-standby boats were obtained by Tidewater as part of earlier acquisitions. This type of rescue vessel is required for oil and gas entities operating in the North Sea.
WesternGeco Awarded Contract
ExxonMobil Exploration has awarded WesternGeco a multiproject Q-Marine contract to cover three ExxonMobil assets in West Africa, the Gulf of Mexico, and the North Sea. Q is the WesternGeco proprietary suite of advanced seismic technologies for enhanced reservoir location, description, and management. The surveys will be conducted by the Geco Topaz and the Western Neptune, two of the four WesternGeco Q-Technology vessels
North Sea Unions Call for Better Lifeboats
Lifeboats on oil and gas installations in the North Sea are not fit for purpose, union leaders claimed yesterday in Aberdeen, according to a report on www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk. The Offshore Industry Liaison Committee (OILC) reportedly called for a new and safer way of evacuating offshore workers by boat and gave a damning verdict on the two methods currently in use.
Sharp Rise Seen in North Sea Decommissioning
Decom North Sea (DNS), the organization which represents the North Sea’s oil and gas decommissioning industry, has welcomed changes in the budget which will boost the sector, leading to new jobs and investment in new equipment. With annual decommissioning expenditure in the North Sea forecast to top £1billion within a few years and a total of about £35billion due to be spent over the next 20 to 30 years, DNS had called for the budget to provide long-term certainty
BP Selects Offshore Automation Contractor of Choice
BP Exploration selects Emerson Process Management as automation contractor of choice for North Sea oil & gas operations Emerson will be BP’s preferred supplier of integrated control and safety systems for five offshore fields in the U.K. continental shelf, including the new Clair Ridge platforms and the Quad 204 floating production, storage and offloading vessel. Emerson’s selection as contractor of choice builds on an earlier agreement in which the company was named a Main
North Sea Output Reduced 70,000 bpd
Royal Dutch/Shell is said to have cut its North Sea oil output by 70,000 bpd after lightning cut power to a natural gas plant.
ABB Wins $50m North Sea Power Contract
Voltimum Founder Member Company ABB has won a contract from BP Plc in Norway to supply equipment for an underwater power link that will increase reliable and safe electricity supply and, it is claimed, help reduce greenhouse gas emissions: ABB will supply the converter stations at each end of the 292km cable which will bring DC power from Lista in southern Norway to the Valhall oil field in the North Sea where it will be converted to AC
Rowan Extends North Sea Contract for Gorilla VII
Rowan Companies, Inc. has entered into a one-year extension of its drilling contract for the Rowan Gorilla VII in the North Sea. Gorilla VII is currently working offshore Denmark under a one-year term contract that contained an option for a second year. By the exercise of the option, the rig's commitment is now extended to August 2007. The extension will generate additional drilling revenues of approximately $93 million.
Craig Group Launch Largest Ever PSV
Launch of an S-class Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) at Balenciaga Shipyard in Northern Spain for the Craig Group. The Craig Group has committed £50-million to the construction of the vessel, Grampian Sovereign, and its sister ship, Grampian Sceptre. Managed by The Craig Group division North Star Shipping, the two IMT-982 designed vessels will also create 50 new jobs for the Aberdeen based company. Going on long term charter in 2013 in the North Sea
Transocean's Latest Rig Fleet Update
New contracts, significant changes to existing contracts, and changes in estimated planned out-of-service time of 15 or more days since April 18, 2013 are included. Highlights are as follows: Deepwater Millennium - Awarded a two-year contract for work offshore Australia at a dayrate of
Harkand Set to Acquire Veolia Marine Services
Harkand, the international subsea inspection, repair, maintenance and light construction group, announced an agreement to acquire the main assets and business of Veolia Marine Services (VMS). The acquisition will add 150 onshore and offshore staff
Ian C. Strachan Elected Transocean Chairman
The Board of Directors of the company elected Ian C. Strachan to serve as Chairman of the Board effective May 18, 2013. Mr. Strachan replaces J. Michael Talbert who was not re-elected at the company's annual general meeting held on May 17, 2013.
Three MacGregor Offshore Cranes Specified for New DSV
A new dive support vessel (DSV), optimized for operations in the North Sea, will feature three MacGregor offshore cranes, enabling efficient load-handling in the subsea environment. MacGregor, part of Cargotec, secured a new contract for one 120-ton active heave-compensated (AHC) MacGregor
Cygnus Begins Jacket Fabrication
The ceremonial first cut of steel for the construction of the jackets on the Cygnus gas field project was celebrated today by operator GDF SUEZ E&P U.K. and partners Centrica Energy and Bayerngas at Burntisland Fabrication’s (BiFab) Methil yard in Fife, Scotland.
Tideland Warning Systems for Golden Eagle Platforms
Tideland Signal supplied a package of Syncrolan LED light stations and fog signals for the Golden Eagle Area development in the U.K. sector of the North Sea, about 43 miles (69 kilometers) from Aberdeen. Tideland's warning systems will protect both Golden Eagle's wellhead platform and the
Ezra Subsea Wins Valuable EPCI Norwegian Sea Contract
Ezra Holdings' subsea division EMAS AMC, wins US$ 75 million Statoil subsea engineering, procurement & offshore construction (EPCI) contract. The contract is for subsea work on Statoil's Smørbukk South Extension project in the Norwegian Sea
BOURBON Reports Continued Growth in Q1 2013
"In a favorable context for the oil & gas and related services industry, BOURBON is continuing to grow," says CEO. First quarter 2013 highlights Continued growth especially in the Shallow water offshore segment (+31
Norway's Vard Wins OSV Contract
Vard contracted by Island Offshore for the construction of an advanced offshore support vessel (OSV) of Rolls-Royce design. The value of the contract amounts to approximately NOK 400 million and delivery is scheduled from Vard Brevik in Norway in Q3-2014.
Onboard DC Grid Wins ABB an OTC New Technology Award
ABB’s onboard DC grid was one of 15 technologies selected for an award at the current OTC expo in Houston Texas. The grid concept was selected for an award by a panel of representatives from the OTC Board and program committee. To qualify
Ulstein Delivers Fourth PSV in PX121 Series
Ulstein Verft delivered Blue Thunder, the fourth of six medium-sized platform supply vessels of the PX121 design from Ulsteinto Blue Ship Invest, on Monday, May 13, 2013. Owned by Blue Ship Invest, a wholly-owned company in Ulstein Group, the platform supply vessel (PSV) is commercially and
Tidewater to Acquire Troms Offshore Supply
US Firm, Tidewater, agrees with HitecVision to purchase Norway's Troms offshore, including 5 large PSV's. Tidewater say that the acquisition of Troms Offshore, headquartered in Tromsø, Norway, will expand their global footprint into the Norwegian sector of the North Sea and supplement
"Most Powerful" Rescue Vessel Commissioned
Aberdeen-based standby vessel operator Atlantic Offshore Rescue said it has commissioned what will be the U.K.’s most powerful emergency response and rescue vessel (ERRV). The Ocean Troll – which recently completed a long term charter with Statoil – has undergone a £2
GSI Completes Two Major Oil and Gas Contracts
Gulfstream Services Inc. (GSI), provider of equipment to the international oil and gas industry, has successfully completed two six figure decommissioning contracts with oil and gas service companies, Helix Well Ops U.K. and Dof Subsea. The Helix contract was part of the BP North West Hutton
Scrabster to Partner with Hugh Simpson
NorSea Group, a supplier of base services and integrated logistics systems to the Norwegian oil and gas industry, has followed last month’s announcement that it is to develop a supply base at Scrabster Harbor, by signing its first strategic working partnership with local logistics firm Hugh