Odfjell Technology (UK) Ltd has confirmed that a major North Sea operator has signed a Letter of Intent to exercise the remaining two-year option under its existing contract for comprehensive drilling services on a North Sea platform.
The operator has also extended the agreement by adding a further two-year option.
The contract covers a broad range of services, including the management of operations, maintenance and repairs for both the platform’s main rig drilling facility and an intervention completion unit.
Odfjell Technology has been supporting the asset through this contract since 2019, making it one of the company’s largest integrated operations. Following the exercised option, the firm contract period will now run until November 2028, with an additional two-year extension option available beyond that period.
Commenting on the contract extension, Kurt Meinert Fjell, EVP Operations at Odfjell Technology, said: “We are very pleased to continue this contract and build on the excellent work delivered over the past seven years. We look forward to continuing to deliver safe, efficient, and high-performing operations together with our client.”
As offshore energy infrastructure expands into increasingly demanding environments, safeguarding the integrity of underwater assets has become a priority for the energy sector.
Rising to this challenge, the underwater technology specialist Sonardyne has formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AMOG, an international advanced engineering company. Together, they are set to provide a complete subsea asset monitoring service tailored directly to the needs of offshore energy infrastructure operators.
This strategic alliance integrates Sonardyne’s trusted underwater positioning, communication, and monitoring technologies with the industry-leading engineering assessment expertise of AMOG. By harnessing their combined capabilities, the partnership aims to unlock vital insights into asset health, substantially reduce costly operational downtime, and enable the safe life extension of critical underwater architecture. It will support a wide spectrum of subsea installations, encompassing floating offshore wind platforms and traditional oil and gas moorings, alongside essential pipelines and risers.
Dr Hayden Marcollo, director at AMOG said, “Combining high quality subsea data, processed at source on Observer, with advanced engineering assessments, will provide asset owners with more actionable, near-real-time insight into the condition and behaviour of critical subsea infrastructure.
“For operators, this could support earlier detection of anomalies, improved understanding of loads and motions, and more informed decisions around inspection, maintenance and integrity management, as well as asset longevity, in one end-to-end solution.”
Frank Rose, business development manager at Sonardyne, added, “By integrating on-demand and long term monitoring data from subsea environments with engineering models and analytics, there’s an opportunity to provide a more complete picture of asset performance—whether supporting day to day operations, integrity assurance or life extension strategies.”
“By working alongside AMOG, we’re exploring how data and engineering assessments can come together to give operators greater confidence in the way their subsea assets are performing, today and over the long term.”
Last week, Geoactive announced the launch of DecomX, a new P&A decision support system designed to reduce time and overhead around well decommissioning.
The technology addresses the increasing effort required when selecting the de-risked option, in the shape of validating compliance, drafting submissions, planning campaigns and keeping designs aligned as conditions change.
DecomX supports well abandonment designs across environmental, risk, cost, compliance, and execution. The P&A design has been built directly into the platform, with the system generating feasible alternative options for ALARP comparison. Compliance checks run independently on every design change, checking regulatory standards and internal company rules.
Submissions export a single PDF that includes schematics, barrier definitions, demonstrable evidence, compliance findings, and cost risk justification.
DecomX also allows for wells to be grouped into campaigns, allowing for planning, offshore unit scheduling and equipment allocation to be supported within the same environment.
Gary McWilliam, DecomX Product Champion, said, “P&A engineering itself is demanding, but most teams are spending more time proving and demonstrating decisions than doing the engineering. DecomX was built to deal with that overhead; not by replacing engineers, but by supporting their decisions with consistent, traceable evidence.”
Downhole Tools International (DTI), a supplier of coil tubing, wireline, slickline and cable-deployed tools, has adopted the name Pragma as it redirects its strategic focus toward the development and commercialisation of advanced well barrier technologies
Backed by recent investment from FrontRow Energy Technology Group and BGF (Business Growth Fund), the company is reshaping its business around a three-tier well barrier portfolio. At the centre of this strategy is its flagship M-Bubble metal expandable barrier technology, while the company continues to provide customers with its broader range of downhole tools.
The rebranding represents a return to the company’s original name and reflects a renewed commitment to its innovation-driven heritage. Pragma will continue developing technologies designed to address complex well integrity, water management, and plug and abandonment challenges across the global energy industry.
To support this direction, the company has made significant investments in its workforce, technology development pipeline and international presence, strengthening its position for sustained future growth.
The appointment of David Stephenson as CEO in late 2025 was followed by the establishment of an enhanced management and international business development team. The team brings extensive experience in global well intervention and well barrier development, covering design, operations and commercialisation.
Alongside the redesign and relaunch of its PKB and IX plug technologies under the Pragma brand, the company will maintain M-Bubble as a key component of its growth plans. Efforts will continue to focus on commercial deployment and wider international adoption, particularly in the Middle East and Asia Pacific markets.
David Stephenson comments: “Rebranding as Pragma is about more than a change of name - it’s about reaffirming our focus on well barrier technology and the innovative approach upon which the business was founded.
“With the support of FrontRow and BGF, we’re in a strong position to grow M-Bubble whilst developing well technologies from concept through to commercial deployment, as we help operators tackle increasingly complex well integrity and water management issues.”
Baker Hughes has announced two major contract extensions with Equinor to deliver integrated drilling and well services solutions, along with wireline intervention services.
The multi-year agreements will support Equinor’s offshore hydrocarbon production activities in the North Sea.
As part of the integrated drilling and well services contract, Baker Hughes will provide a comprehensive range of solutions for both mature assets and new developments. The company will draw on expertise from its Well Construction and Completions, Intervention and Measurement portfolios to support projects across the Norwegian continental shelf. Technologies including the Kantori autonomous well construction solution and TRU-ARMS advanced reservoir mapping services will be utilised to help develop offshore resources more efficiently.
Under the intervention services agreement, Baker Hughes will supply fully integrated well intervention solutions, combining its surface and downhole technologies with complementary systems provided by service partners. The objective is to enhance the lifespan and performance of offshore wells operating in the North Sea. The extended contract also broadens the deployment of Baker Hughes’ technology portfolio built around the PRIME Technology Platform, supporting both production optimisation and emissions reduction initiatives across the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
“Baker Hughes’ ability to provide holistic solutions that unlock incremental value for our customers has been proven through decades of operation in the North Sea,” said Baker Hughes Executive Vice President of Oilfield Services & Equipment Amerino Gatti. “From greenfield well construction operations to interventions that extend the life of mature fields, our innovative technologies and ability to integrate our services can help create a more secure energy future for Norway and all of Europe. We look forward to being part of this new chapter of collaboration with Equinor.”
Baker Hughes has maintained a longstanding presence in Norway’s energy industry, employing thousands of people and operating multiple facilities across the country. Earlier this year, the company inaugurated its new Subsea Services Center of Excellence and manufacturing facility in Dusavik. It also operates a dedicated Center of Excellence for Plug & Abandonment in Stavanger.
Well-Safe Solutions has been awarded a new contract to provide full Well Operatorship and asset execution for an unnamed client in the North Sea.
The contract scope will see the company undertake operations management of the well decommissioning, including initial subsurface analysis and well design engineering, followed by rig, service, and support vessel provision.
This marks the first Well Operatorship awarded to the company, providing a pivotal step for Well-Safe Solutions’ expanding service offerings across the well lifecycle.
The logical step forward enables more efficient well management through fully integrated package offerings – with owned assets, engineering and services under a single contract.
Phil Milton, CEO of West-Safe Solutions, said, “It has always been our plan to position the business to be able to fulfil the role of Well Operator for our customers and we are grateful for the opportunity to do so under this new contract. This contract, and the Well Operator appointment, recognises our credentials as a cost and schedule3 efficient partners with an outstanding safety record. With our market-leading assets, technical expertise and project management capabilities, we are ideally positioned to provide full Well Operatorship responsibility in the North Sea.”
This contract award represents the fourth major contract win for Well-Safe Solutions this year, following three previous North Sea decommissioning projects.
Archer has agreed to acquire well technology specialist isol8 through a share purchase agreement, strengthening its capabilities in plugging and abandonment (P&A) and expanding its portfolio of well barrier technologies.
The acquisition will add isol8’s expertise in alloy-based barrier systems and advanced materials to Archer’s existing offering. The technologies are designed for application across well completions, intervention activities and P&A operations, supporting the company's ambition to further develop its plug business and enhance its position in the global well abandonment market.
By incorporating isol8’s products and technical expertise, Archer aims to broaden the range of solutions available to customers undertaking well lifecycle management projects, particularly in subsea and rigless abandonment operations.
Archer CEO Dag Skindlo commented: “This acquisition brings valuable technologies and talent into Archer. Isol8’s solutions will strengthen and expand our leading plug portfolio and advance our subsea and rigless P&A offering. The acquisition reinforces our ability to deliver safe, efficient, and scalable well abandonment solutions to our global customers.”
Founded by Andrew Louden, isol8 has developed a range of proprietary barrier technologies designed to improve well integrity and support safe, long-term isolation throughout the well lifecycle. The company’s solutions are used in applications ranging from completions and interventions to final abandonment.
Andrew Louden, Founder and CEO of isol8, commented: “Archer’s global reach and established customer base create a strong platform to scale deployment of isol8’s technologies across the entire well lifecycle. Together, we have the opportunity to expand adoption of our existing alloy barrier products and accelerate the commercialisation of our emerging metal element technology.”
Ocean services provider DeepOcean has been selected to support the subsea decommissioning and disconnection of an FPSO in the UKCS.
The scope of work includes hydrocarbon and chemical injection flushing; isolation and disconnection of subsea trees, manifolds, and pipeline infrastructure; disconnection of risers and dynamic umbilicals; riser and mooring chain severance and recovery; and FPSO sail-away and tow to shore.
The project will be managed and executed by DeepOcean’s operations in Aberdeen.
Robin Mawhinney, Executive Vice President of DeepOcean’s EMEA region, said, “This is a significant project encompassing both subsea and topside scopes that strongly aligns with our extensive experience. Our innovative approach has been successfully demonstrated across many complex projects, and it’s our teamwork and proven capability that will drive a safe, efficient removal of subsea infrastructure, along with the safe towage of the FPSO.”
Gary Scott, Commercial Director of DeepOcean’s EMEA region, commented, “Execution will build on the methodologies and proprietary tooling that was pioneered at the disconnection of the Gryphon Alpha FPSO last year, enabling the full scope to be delivered entirely without the use of divers. This is a testimony to the team’s successful delivery of decommissioning scopes in the region.”
Following five years of abandonment, Perenco UK has managed to revive the Davy gas field in the Southern North Sea, which is now generating production.
This is no mean feat, given the field was shut in for so many years, and finally earmarked for decommissioning following several failed attempts to restart it.
Now the company has completed a comprehensive revival project with production from Davy wells A3 and A5 restarting in late April 2026. Both the platforms are now stably generating a combined yield of approximately 14 MMscf/d into Perenco’s Bacton terminal.
The primary consideration that drove the comprehensive work programme to prolong field life was safety. The company significantly simplified the original 1970s' design, and included material equipment upgrades, along with the installation of a wind turbine.
In addition, partial decommissioning of nonproductive wells has been achieved with the plugging and abandonment (P&A) of 2 platform wells and 2 subsea wells. The simplified Davy platform is now powered predominantly by wind energy rather than diesel generation, so the operation is now continuing with a lower carbon footprint.
Jo White, UK SNS General Manager said, “The restart of the Davy gas field after five years offline is an excellent result and showcases how assets consigned for decommissioning can be revived and continue to make a meaningful contribution to the UK’s energy mix. Davy is set to continue to produce for several years to come, and to operate reliably and with lower OPEX following the recent work programme. This is another successful collaboration between the highly-skilled Perenco and Petrodec operational and project teams, and I would like to congratulate all those involved in realising this important project.”
The ongoing US-Iran war and resulting disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have triggered a pragmatic shift in European Union energy policy, forcing a temporary rethink of its green transition priorities in favour of immediate energy security.
Since the escalation of conflict in February 2026, which disrupted LNG flows from Qatar and pushed up global oil and gas prices, the EU has faced its second major energy crisis in four years.
According to some reports, additional costs for energy imports have already exceeded €24bn, prompting swift policy adjustments.
In April, the European Commission unveiled the AccelerateEU plan, proposing cuts to electricity taxes, coordinated summer gas storage refills, and incentives to accelerate clean energy deployment while shielding households and industry from price shocks.
The measures aim to make electricity cheaper than fossil fuels and support faster rollout of renewables and efficiency improvements.
More significantly, EU energy ministers are now openly discussing boosting domestic natural gas production.
At a meeting chaired by Cyprus (which holds substantial offshore reserves) officials are exploring greater use of indigenous resources to reduce reliance on volatile imports.
This marks a notable departure from previous reluctance to expand fossil fuel output within the bloc.
The Commission has also drafted guidance allowing member states to suspend penalties for oil and gas companies breaching the EU’s methane emissions regulation during supply crises.
The move follows intense industry and US pressure, aiming to prevent potential disruptions to imports as stricter rules approach in 2027.
These shifts highlight the tension between Europe’s long-term climate goals and short-term security needs.
While accelerating homegrown clean energy remains a priority, the crisis has underscored vulnerabilities in global LNG markets and reinforced the role of reliable regional suppliers like Norway, which is expanding its offshore output.
Analysts warn that prolonged reliance on emergency measures could delay the energy transition, yet most agree the current geopolitical reality demands a balanced approach.
EU leaders continue to stress that domestic production increases should not lock the bloc into long-term carbon dependence.
Norway is intensifying its offshore petroleum activities to strengthen European energy security amid ongoing global supply uncertainties.
Energy Minister Terje Aasland has underscored the importance of expanding, rather than reducing, operations on the Norwegian continental shelf.
On 5 May 2026, the Norwegian authorities announced the APA 2026 licensing round, offering up to 70 new exploration blocks: 38 in the Barents Sea, 22 in the North Sea, and 10 in the Norwegian Sea.
Applications are invited until 1 September 2026, with awards scheduled for early 2027.
This move continues Norway’s strategy of sustaining long-term production and attracting investment from international oil companies.In a separate development, plans were confirmed to reopen three historic North Sea gas fields like Albuskjell, Vest Ekofisk, and Tommeliten Gamma, which have been closed since 1998.
Operator ConocoPhillips, together with partners, is set to invest approximately €1.8bn, with production potentially resuming by 2028.
The fields could deliver significant gas volumes to markets in Germany and the United Kingdom through to 2048.
Additionally, Equinor has recently started production from the Eirin field via a subsea tie-back to the Gina Krog and Sleipner installations, adding further gas supply to Europe.
These initiatives reflect Norway’s response to tightening global energy markets.
By maximising output from mature and frontier areas, the country aims to provide reliable supplies while balancing its energy transition commitments.
Industry observers note that heightened geopolitical tensions have reinforced the role of Norwegian gas in stabilising European energy prices.
The developments are expected to generate substantial economic activity and support thousands of jobs across the Norwegian supply chain.
Equinor ASA has extended a series of major supplier agreements for drilling and well services, with a combined value of about NOK 17 billion.
The extensions are aimed at sustaining production on the Norwegian continental shelf, maintaining operational activity and supporting consistent energy supply to Europe.
The company has activated one-year extension options for three integrated drilling and well service contracts, alongside two-year extensions for 18 corporate framework agreements covering specialised services associated with these operations.
The integrated drilling and well services contracts are valued at NOK 8.3 billion, while the framework agreements for specialist services are expected to generate around NOK 4.3 billion annually over a two-year period.
Contracts for integrated drilling and well services have been awarded to Baker Hughes Norge AS, Halliburton AS and SLB Norge AS. These companies, along with an additional 15 suppliers, have also secured framework agreements for specialised services. The agreements are designed to ensure access to the expertise and advanced technologies required to improve efficiency in well operations and adapt to evolving operational demands.
“These agreements are among the largest we have, and they are crucial for activity on the Norwegian continental shelf. New wells enable us to maintain high production and deliver stable energy to Europe. This is particularly important at a time of turbulence in the energy markets,” says Jannicke Nilsson, chief procurement officer.
The contracts are expected to support around 2,500 jobs and will cover operations across both fixed installations and mobile drilling rigs on the Norwegian continental shelf.
As the region matures, drilling and well activities are becoming increasingly vital to sustaining output levels. Equinor aims to maintain production at approximately 1.2 million barrels of oil equivalent per day through to 2035.
“New wells are expected to account for around 70 percent of Equinor’s production in 2035. This involves both more wells and more well interventions, which must be delivered faster and significantly more cost-efficiently than today. That requires closer collaboration with the supplier industry and increased use of technology and standardisation,” says Rune Nedregaard, senior vice president for Wells.
“We are now moving to a greater extent towards industry standards. Together with our suppliers, we will use this to simplify work processes, reduce costs and increase pace, while maintaining safety,” Nedregaard continues.
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