The Oil and Gas Authority has launched a £500,000 competition to encourage innovative interpretations of the data acquired during 2015’s surveys of the Rockall Basin and Mid North Sea High areas.

Well known for its challenging seismic imaging, the Central North Sea still harbours a wide range of exploration opportunities.

Using super-high resolution seismic data in the Hoop Fault System area of the Barents Sea allows for the clear imaging of very shallow reservoirs, with AVO effects visible even at shallow depths.

Decommissioning brings uncertainty and there are many concerns but also possible opportunities ahead.

Recent discoveries and development of hydrocarbon fields on the Horda Platform have led to considerable interest in the northern North Sea.

50 years on from the first oil and gas discoveries in the North Sea we celebrate this golden anniversary by looking back at this important center of oil and gas production, set in silver but often turbulent seas.

The Hoop Basin was named after Der Hoop, a ship belonging to one of the great Arctic explorers, William Barents. Meaning ’hope’ in his native Dutch, this continues to reflect the aspiration of today’s oil industry that the hydrocarbon potential of the greater Hoop area will be fulfilled.

By announcing that Sir Tony Robinson, star of the BBC’s 'Black Adder' and presenter of Channel 4's 'Time Team', will deliver this year’s Stoneley Lecture, the PESGB have once again excelled in meeting the brief of providing the public with informative, entertaining lectures designed to increase their understanding of earth sciences.

Formed just as the first discoveries were being made in the North Sea, the Petroleum Society of Great Britain’s mission is to promote, for the public benefit, education in the scientific and technical aspects of petroleum exploration.

A prelude to the great discoveries of the North Sea, the onshore oilfields provide a fascinating insight into the history of UK oil.