GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms has opened an Engineering Center of Excellence (CoE) for oil and gas safety in Luton, UK.

GDF SUEZ has acquired a 20% stake in the exploration, development, and production sharing agreement for the Absheron offshore block in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.

StatoilHydro has elected Jakob Stausholm as a member of the company’s board of directors.

Deep Down, Inc. has appointed Marcelo Lardosa as business development officer.

Sevan Drilling ASA has appointed Jon Willmann as CFO and VP of finance, effective Aug. 1.

Hess Corp. has named Gary Boubel as Sr. VP of global developments.

The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) has sent a notification of order to the Alvheim field licensees following two incidents with major accident potential.

Premier Oil has awarded AGR Petroleum Services (AGR PS) a $1.6 million contract to support the subsurface management of its newly acquired North Sea assets.

Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. has named Robert G. Blair as Sr. VP for contracts and marketing.

Aker Solutions has opened its expanded manufacturing facility for surface trees and wellheads in Batam, Indonesia.

Wintershall Holding AG’s supervisory board has appointed Dr. Rainer Seele as chairman of the board of executive directors.

Aker Solutions has appointed Karl Erik Kjelstad as Executive VP and member of the executive management team.

CUEL has signed an agreement with Swiber to incorporate a joint venture company called CUEL Swiber Offshore (Thailand) Ltd. (CSOTL).

Weatherford UK has won an award at the IADC North Sea Chapter Annual Safety Awards for its Single Joint Elevator.

Heerema Marine Contractors has appointed Jan-Pieter Klaver as COO effective July 1.