Commentary, 11/12 2015
Dec 4, 2015

Turning Point

We’ve reached the end of a perplexing and frustrating year. Looking back over the last twelve months, we’ve seen a growing austerity in the industry as persistently low oil prices have stifled investments and developments.

From the Editor, 11/12 2015
Dec 4, 2015

A Positive New Year

Looking back at 2015, it’s easy to focus on low, unstable oil prices. But it’s definitely more useful to look back at how the industry has risen to the challenges these prices have created.

Norway Fortunes – Drilling and “Recycling”
Dec 4, 2015
Some 25,000 of an estimated 350,000 offshore workforce have been laid off in Norway this year, according to employment office stats. Another 40,000 are notified of potential joblessness. Over half of these notices stem from an oversupply in historically cyclical shipping and newly cyclical rig markets. Against this, the five exploration wells drilled in November cap a 57-well 2015 campaign offshore Norway that saw more wells drilled than ever were seen in the UK-sector’s most prolific years. Look hard, and you’ll see, as well, that engineers – the “costs culprits”, to some – have engineered a bridge to better times.

A Look into the Crystal Ball – North Sea Oil and Gas Operations in 2016
Dec 4, 2015
The past year has been hard on the oil industry, and it’s safe to say that operators will not look back on 2015 fondly. Declining oil prices have become a vivid reality around the world and headlines about job losses have become commonplace as companies look increasingly to cost-cutting measures.

Unlocking Opportunity from Austerity
Dec 4, 2015
The prolonged slump in global oil prices is significantly impacting exploration operations and investment in the North Sea. While the challenges faced by oil and gas producers are well lauded, Adrian Henry, Offshore Manager for GAC UK, highlights some of the steps that can be taken to generate efficiencies, support business continuity and protect profitability.

Audio Visual – A Crucial Part of Control Infrastructure
Dec 4, 2015
AV has evolved from a specialty area to a business-critical application, as presentation and collaboration technology has increasingly become part of how we communicate. This trend demands reliable, sustainable, and repeatable AV solutions. Crestron control systems have been used in an extensive number of installations during the years that we at Video Film Int AS have been providing Crestron to the Norwegian market through a network of dealers.

Improving Plant Up Time in the North Sea and Around the World
Dec 4, 2015
Amrik Thomas, Contract Manager at SPX FLOW’s Aberdeen Service Centre, discusses ways in which maintenance work, whether planned or emergency, can be carried out faster and more effectively and, together with consultancy and training services, can provide opportunities to improve plant and machinery leading to reduced down time and longer service life.