UK-based and North Sea-focused E&P company NEO Energy has achieved the first gas from its Finlaggan field development, a tieback to the Britannia platform in the UK North Sea.

Oil major BP has confirmed that five crew members on its platform off the UK have tested positive for Covid-19 and have been flown to shore. As a precaution, BP will retest all remaining crew on the platform.

Norwegian oil and gas company Aker BP has started drilling operations on its Mugnetind exploration well located offshore Norway, using a Maersk Drilling-owned jack-up rig.

Environmental group Greenpeace will be looking to appeal a decision by a UK court after losing its case against oil major BP over a permit to drill in the Vorlich oil field in the North Sea.

Brazilian oil and gas company Petrobras has informed that Chinese oil and gas company CNOOC is interested in buying an additional interest in its operated Búzios field located in the Santos Basin pre-salt area offshore Brazil.

Norwegian operator DNO Norge has encountered a minor oil discovery on the Gomez prospect during the drilling of a wildcat well offshore Norway, which has now been concluded.

UK’s oil and gas regulator has launched a decarbonisation competition for the electrification of offshore oil and gas installations following the government’s commitment in the North Sea Transition Deal to support the funding for early-stage electrification studies by the end of 2021.

Offshore drilling contractor Aquadrill, formerly known as Seadrill Partners, has entered into a charter hire agreement with a subsidiary of Diamond Offshore Drilling (the manager) to provide the Auriga drillship for operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

Norwegian energy giant Equinor has added an additional well to a contract for the Odfjell Drilling-owned Deepsea Stavanger, which will see the rig busy into 3Q 2022.

Petrofac has been awarded a new multi-million dollar contract by Tatweer Petroleum to support their gas distribution network project in Bahrain.