The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Green light for EnQuest pullout
Best of the produce firms recognised for excellence
The UK Government has approved a plan to decommission a North Sea development less than five years after first oil.
EnQuest submitted proposals to shut down the Alma/Galia oilfields two months ago. These were developed as tie-backs to a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel in 2015.
It was hoped the development would be in production for up to 15 years, but technical issues and a fasterthan-expected rate of production decline forced EnQuest to call time on the project.
“The costs of remedial work made it uneconomic”
Despite replacing three electric submersible pumps in 2018, the lower performance and likely costs of any further remedial work made the project “uneconomic”.
The EnQuest Producer FPSO is expected to leave the area during the third quarter of this year. It will then be recycled unless a re-use option can be found.
EnQuest has owned the vessel – previously known as Uisge Gorm – since 2012, when it purchased it from FPSO firm Bluewater for £42.4 million.
In the document for decommissioning Alma/Galia, EnQuest said: “The owner will be responsible for taking reasonable measures to assure itself that proposals to re-use the vessel will be credible, and that disposal of the FPSO will be in compliance with the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) Hong Kong International Convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships.”
The Alma and Galia fields lie about 192 miles south-east of Aberdeen in the central North Sea.
Mackie’s of Scotland picked up two of the top honours in the North East Scotland Food and Drink Awards.
The luxury ice cream firm, based at Westertown Farm, near Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire, won accolades for business growth and export business of the year.
The Organic Dairy, based at Kinellar, near Aberdeen, also enjoyed a double success – winning the best retail product by a small business and sustainability awards.
Bill Dunnett has moved on
Organised by private sector economic development body Opportunity North East (One) and Aberdeenshire Council, the awards are held every year to celebrate innovation and all-round excellence among the region’s food and drink firms.
This year’s event ended up online after Covid-19 scuppered plans for an awards dinner at the Chester Hotel, Aberdeen, earlier this month.
The gong for most successful product went to Peterhead beermaker Brew Toon, while fellow Buchan
Repsol Sinopec Resources UK (RSRUK) announced a change at the top yesterday.
The Aberdeen company said Bill Dunnett had stepped down as chief executive, as planned, at the end of his contract on Tuesday.
His successor is Jose Luis Munoz, a long-time company International Fish Canners (Scotland), of Fraserburgh, picked up the award for best retail product by larger firms.
WooHa Brewing Company, of Kinloss, in Moray, took the prize for best brewed product, while The Teasmith Spirit Company, run by Udnybased employee of RSRUK’s Spanish co-owner, Repsol, who has stepped up from the role of RSRUK managing director.
Mr Munoz said: “We are facing significantly more challenging conditions today, of course, than when my appointment was confirmed earlier this year.
“My first priority will be to ensure the continued health and safety of all Repsol Sinopec
husband and wife team Nick and Emma Smalley, tasted success in the best distilled product category.
Salmon from Sutherlands of Portsoy was named best foodservice product and yogurtmaker Rora Dairy, based in Middleton of Rora, near Peterhead, was crowned best young business.
Loch Lost Spirits, of Dess, near Aboyne picked up the award for best food and drink tourism experience, while the innovation accolade went to Farmlay Eggs, based near Strichen. personnel, and of the many contractors who support our operations.
“In due course I look forward to developing the considerable potential of this business.
“I know from direct recent experience just how capable and resilient the Repsol Sinopec team is, and it will be my pleasure to work with them and with all our stakeholders to ensure we generate
One vice-chairman Patrick Machray said: “We know that these are extremely challenging times for the food and drink industry as the country tackles unprecedented health, financial and economic challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We hope that by taking a moment to celebrate some of the brilliant producers in the region we can remind each other of the drive, innovation and achievements that make food and drink such an important part of our economy.”
“We know that these are extremely challenging times”
continued value from our North Sea portfolio for many years to come.”
Mr Dunnett, an Oil and Gas Technology Centre board member, held the MD’s role for three years before he was appointed CEO in 2018.
He also has current roles with the Oil and Gas Authority on its maximising economic recovery and technology leadership boards.