James Christie, new regional director for Africa and Europe, STR. (Image source: STR)

With a special focus for expansion across Africa and Europe, Subsea Technology & Rentals has made a fresh appointment of a regional director to address strategic growth and full field development experience 

Operations in these regions will be managed out of Aberdeen, spearheaded by James Christie, who has been with Ashtead Technology previously, bringing in more than 25 years of industry experience. Christie has also spent more than 10 years of his career with Subsea7 in operational roles.

“James joins us at a hugely exciting time for STR as we continue to grow at pace, diversify our product and service offering and enter new markets. Meeting evolving customer demand remains central to our strategy, with more clients choosing to collaborate with us on new product development programmes, partnering with us beyond traditional rental models.

“James brings a highly strategic approach to growth and full field development experience spanning operations, inspection, and maintenance to decommissioning, which will support our ambition to diversify and strengthen our service offering to our customers,” said Steve Steele, CEO of STR. 

Christie's impressive track record of developing strong client relationships and technical prowess will significantly add to STR's consistent market presence with more than US$10mn investments in technology and innovation, and atleast two product launches annually.

“I am thrilled to be joining STR at such a pivotal time as the business has become firmly recognised as a subsea technology leader and continues to invest, creating value for customers and bringing new challenger products to market. I look forward to further strengthening customer partnerships, supporting the growth ambition, and enhancing our focus and footprint across key global regions,” said Christie. 

The FPU will serve as the control hub for the entire offshore development.

Saipem has successfully converted the Scarabeo 5 semi-submersible drilling unit into a Floating Production Unit (FPU) for Eni’s Congo LNG Project, a key development for the country’s first natural gas liquefaction initiative

This milestone, awarded to Saipem in August 2023, marks the transformation of the Scarabeo 5 into a floating gas treatment facility, which will be installed offshore, northwest of the Djeno Terminal, at a depth of 35 metres. The FPU will serve as the control hub for the entire offshore development.

Built in the early 1990s, the Scarabeo 5 was selected for conversion due to its strong operational features. The transformation, completed in less than 24 months, showcases Saipem’s fast-track execution capabilities. This is also a prime example of a circular economy, where an asset is reused, reducing waste while maximising operational value. This aligns with both Saipem and Eni’s sustainability goals.

Alongside this, Eni is making significant progress with its Nguya Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) unit. Set to boost LNG production, the Nguya unit is 376 metres long and designed with advanced technology to minimise its carbon footprint. The unit, which will be moored offshore, will help process gas from the Congo Basin and support future developments. The project is on track to reach 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) capacity by the end of 2025, following the successful start-up of the Tango FLNG unit in 2023.

The refurbished Scarabeo 5 will also send processed gas to the Nguya FLNG unit, further solidifying its role in the LNG production chain. Eni’s commitment to sustainable development is evident through these projects, aimed at reducing costs, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring minimal environmental impact.

Eni has been instrumental in Congo’s energy development for over 55 years, contributing to the country’s energy security and social initiatives.

This marks a significant milestone for offshore exploration in Ghana. (Image credit: Shearwater)

Shearwater Geoservices has secured the contract to carry out Ghana's first deepwater Ocean Bottom Node (OBN) seismic survey in the Jubilee and TEN fields, operated by Tullow Oil and its partners

This marks a significant milestone for offshore exploration in Ghana. The two-month survey is set to begin in the final quarter of 2025.

This project follows Shearwater's successful deployment of the SW Tasman vessel and Pearl node OBN platform in other West African countries, including Côte d'Ivoire and Angola. Since late 2024, these platforms have been instrumental in conducting OBN surveys across the region, starting with Côte d'Ivoire, and continuing with surveys in Angola.

Irene Waage Basili, CEO of Shearwater, said, "These projects demonstrate Shearwater’s role in pioneering new technology in new regions, delivering operational excellence and industry-leading survey efficiency and data quality. By delivering the first OBN project in Ghana and other surveys across this part of Africa, we are opening new geophysical frontiers – combining precision, innovation and commitment to responsible resource exploration."

The Jubilee and TEN fields have been at the heart of Tullow's operations for nearly 20 years. This first deepwater OBN survey is expected to improve reservoir imaging, offering deeper insights for future field development and production strategies. It follows a previous streamer survey carried out by Shearwater over the same fields earlier in 2025.

Global shale oil and gas production is set to increase. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Global shale oil and gas production is set to increase, with Algeria among those countries looking to exploit its shale gas reserves

According to a recent report from leading data and analytics company titled Global Data titled  “Emerging Oil and Gas Shale Plays", notable increases in production are expected over the next few years, including the USA, the current leading producer. These are driven by technological advancements and significant discoveries in countries such as China, Argentina, and Saudi Arabia. GlobalData’s Strategic Intelligence report, “Emerging Oil and Gas Shale Plays,” reveals that the US was the undisputed leader in global shale oil and gas production with over 80% share in 2024, thanks to its vast reserves, advanced extraction technologies, and supportive regulatory environment.

Ravindra Puranik, Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, commented, “The combination of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling has unlocked unprecedented volumes of shale resources, particularly in formations like the Permian Basin, the Eagle Ford, and the Marcellus Shale. The growth of the shale industry has bolstered the US energy independence, reducing reliance on foreign oil and altering the country's geopolitical strategy.”

Canada holds the second-largest recoverable reserves of shale oil and gas after the USA. It is also ranked second in production due to the technological similarities with its neighbour and government encouragement for unconventional hydrocarbon development.

Argentina is another emerging hotspot for shale oil and gas, particularly the Vaca Muerta formation, which is characterised by strategic asset management by YPF, significant infrastructure investment, and robust growth in production and exports.

Recently, China has made significant progress in shale oil exploration, which could enhance its energy security and reduce dependency on foreign oil supplies, while Saudi Arabia is exploring gas shales within its northern and eastern regions, targeting a 60% rise in its gas output from 2021 to 2030.

Algeria, which has significant proven shale gas reserves, is reported to be negotiating with the USA’s ExxonMobil and Chevron, global leaders in shale production, on an agreement that would allow them to explore and develop Algeria's natural gas reserves, including its shale gas reserves. Algeria is seeking to revive its flagging oil and gas sector, on which its economy is heavily dependent, and boost gas exports, with an eye on Europe as it seeks alternative suppliers to Russian pipeline gas.

Puranik said, “The future of shale oil and gas will be shaped by a delicate balance between technological innovation, cost efficiency, and environmental stewardship. Countries that can align production growth with carbon management and energy transition goals will not only secure domestic energy resilience but also strengthen their position in an increasingly competitive and sustainability-driven global market.”