Total get Government go-ahead for Edradour and Glenlivet

Total has been given official permission by the UK Government to develop the Edradour and Glenlivet gas fields in the North Sea and connect them to its Laggan-Tormore pipeline.

Full story from Shetland News here: http://www.shetnews.co.uk/news/10376-new-gas-fields-to-come-on-stream

New developer for proposed Yell windfarm

Manchester-based Peel Energy has taken over the rights to the proposed Beaw Field wind farm near Burravoe in Yell from German company Enertag, reports The Shetland News.

Some changes have been proposed in the siting of the 20-turbine development.

Full story here: http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2015/03/16/new-developer-for-yell-windfarm-project

FT story - Total will auction 20 per cent stake in Laggan Tormore

According to a story in The Financial Times, Total is preparing to auction off just a 20 per cent stake in its Laggan-Tormore development, and would continue to operate the field, including the gas plant in Shetland.

Full story here: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9c00e9ec-c982-11e4-b2ef-00144feab7de.html#axzz3UUKHsDap

Total to sell Laggan-Tormore for £1 billion - Reuters report

French energy giant Total is planing to sell its Laggan-Tormore gas field, according to the news agency Reuters, quoting 'banking sources'. The gas plant associated with the field is still under construction at Sullom Voe in Shetland and is due to be completed by contractors Petrofac by the end of September, several months behind schedule.

Reuters report that Total will seek around £1 billion for their 80 per cent stake in the field. Development costs for Laggan-Tormore are thought to be approximately £3.5 billion.

Total has refused to comment.

Full Reuters story here: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/03/11/total-northsea-idUKL5N0WD3V820150311

Petro Global News follow up here: http://petroglobalnews.com/2015/03/report-total-mulling-sale-of-laggan-tormore-field/

Total gas plant 'completed by end of September' - new accommodation ship arrives, 2000 staff on site

The Laggan-Tormore Total gas plant contract at Sullom Voe will be completed by the end of September, according to a spokesman for Petrofac.

The company now has five floating accommodation units in Shetland - three barges and two liners. The latest, former cruise ship SNAV Toscana, arrived in Lerwick at the weekend. An incoming workforce of 2000 is now involved in the project.

Full story from The Shetland Times here: http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2015/03/07/new-accommodation-ship-arrives

New start date for BP gas sweetening plant in Shetland

Work by contractors Petrofac on constructing BP's new £500m gas sweetening plant at Sullom Voe in Shetland will begin six months later than scheduled, in early 2016. Clearance of the 16 hectare site will begin later this month and BP say the delay will let the company take advantage of improved weather and actually speed up completion.

BP has been looking at rescheduling some capital projects due to the oil price crash.

A BP spokesperson said:

“This helps us to reset the project to better weather windows. That will reduce the project time, which is beneficial and allows us to look at the project again to make sure it is as efficient as it can be. Everyone is looking at  capital projects and seeing where we could benefit from slowing down."

Story from The Shetland News here.

Shetland - the place to be. New film about oil and gas activity in the isles

A new film looking at Shetland's capabilities when it comes to oil and gas exploration and production in the North Sea and North Atlantic. More films soon about decommissioning and renewables.