Popular news, November 10 – 16, 2014

Last week’s most read story was the one about SBM Offshore’s bribery case settlement. Aker Solutions followed with an announcement that it will not be laying off staff. You also read about AMEC taking over Foster Wheeler; Tullow slashing exploration budget; rig incident in Russian Arctic and Halliburton’s plan to oust the Baker Hughes’ board of directors… 

SBM Offshore pays $240M to settle bribery case

SBM Offshore, world’s largest provider of floating production storage and offloading units, has reached an out-of-court settlement with the Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office (Openbaar Ministerie) over the inquiry into alleged improper payments.

Aker Solutions: “We have no plans to lay off staff”

Aker Solutions has issued a clarification on a story reported by Norwegian broadcaster NRK saying that Aker Solutions’ fabrication yard in Egersund, Norway, will be letting 1,500 temporary workers go after the new year.

AMEC in Foster Wheeler takeover

Amec has successfully wrapped up takeover of Foster Wheeler, creating Amec Foster Wheeler – a new force in global engineering, project delivery, asset support, power equipment and consultancy.

Tullow to cut exploration budget for 2015

Tullow Oil, oil and gas exploration company focused on Africa, will significantly reduce spending on exploration activities in 2015. The company has said that it will focus its expenditure on its producing assets and on development of existing discoveries.

Halliburton goes hostile in Baker Hughes takeover bid

Halliburton wants to nominate candidates to replace the entire board of directors of Baker Hughes at its Apr. 2015 annual meeting.

Rough seas for ‘GSP Saturn’

GSP Saturn, a jack-up rig owned by Romania’s GSP Offshore, has reportedly sustained damage in a storm in the Pechora Sea.

CNOOC’s executive suspected of bribery

China National Offshore Oil Company’s (CNOOC) senior official is under investigation, suspected of having received bribes.