Sand Monitoring Services Ltd. (SMS) is teaming with Robert Gordon University (RGU) to investigate the extent and cost of sand production to the oil and gas industry.

Production and investment on the UK shelf are in slow decline, according to the latest activity survey by industry association UK Oil & Gas.

DONG Energy has produced first oil from the Nini East development in the Danish North Sea.

Nexen has restored production from the Buzzard field to full rates of between 200,000 and 220,000 boe/d.

Chevron North Sea has awarded Wood Group a three-year operations and maintenance for the Alba, Captain, and Erskine fields in the UK sector.

Statoil is exercising options to extend five production drilling/maintenance contacts with Odfjell Drilling Management, KCA Deutag Norge, and Seawell, all of which were due to expire in 2010.

Hyundai Heavy Industries has awarded CB&I a $50-million contract to provide engineering services for the Goliat FPSO project.

Talisman Energy’s production from UK North Sea fields last year averaged 89,000 boe/d, down 7% from 2008.

Gas production has begun from exploration well N52 in the North Sea, TOTAL E&P UK says.

Production potential from the Beatrice Bravo facility has increased by approximately 1,500 b/d of oil, following well intervention operations to refurbish and restart three wells tied into the platform, Ithaca Energy reports.