Protestors arrested on oil rig in the Russian Arctic

Two protestors from Greenpeace International have been arrested after scaling Gazprom’s Prirazlomnaya oil platform (pictured) in Russian waters of the Arctic circle . The protestors launched on inflatable boats from the Greenpeace International icebreaker Arctic Sunrise. The environmental group has accused the Russian Coast Guard of using disproportionate force, claiming they fired 11 warning shots across […]

Rig evacuated after Gulf of Mexico fire

A fire broke out at an offshore oil and gas rig in the Gulf of Mexico late yesterday hours after 44 workers were safely evacuated. Yesterday a well blowout at the Hercules 265 rig (pictured) saw gas freely flowing from the well which is 55 miles off the coast of Louisiana in 154 feet of […]

Statoil call to tender for new efficient rigs

Exploration giants Statoil have called to tender a new type of drilling rig, which they claim will improve efficiency of extraction by 20%. The new category J rigs will operate at water depths from 70 to 150 metres and drill wells down to 10,000 meters. It is a tailor-made rig for operations in harsh environment […]

Industry and Government rebuff oil and gas safety fears

The North Sea industry has reacted defensively to comments made by Adam Ma’anit in the Guardian newspaper suggesting that a more serious disaster is only a matter of time following Shell’s recent spill. Adam Ma’anit wrote in The Guardian on Wednesday that the UK Oil and Gas Industry was a “ticking timebomb” and that ageing […]

Statoil spends big on new rigs

Statoil has awarded the contract for construction of two new drilling rigs for use on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) to Songa Offshore. The deal is worth around US $2.47 billion. The project concept and design has taken one year and the implementation period is expected to take three years, including detail engineering, construction and […]

Statoil unveils new rig design

Oil and gas giant Statoil is looking to “rejuvenate the rig fleet” with a new design specifically for the Norwegian continental shelf. Statoil wants the new type of rig to make drilling and completion of production wells less expensive, more effective and safer, and in turn boost oil recovery. With discoveries on the Norwegian continental […]