EnQuest to shed 45 oil and gas jobs in Aberdeen

North Sea explorer EnQuest is to cut up to 45 jobs in Aberdeen as the oil downturn continues to bite.

EnQuest's Neil McCulloch said the firm was cutting 45 roles

The firm, which recently said it was confident of growing production by a third this year, said the cutbacks would be felt among staff and contractors.

Neil McCulloch, the group’s president for North Sea operations, said: “In the ongoing low oil price environment, we have inevitably been very focused on cost reduction and on production efficiency.

“In this context, we have today proposed additional changes within our onshore organisation, in Aberdeen. The latest measures regrettably include an anticipated reduction of up to 25 staff positions and 20 contractor roles. We will be working closely with those affected in the coming weeks.”

Enquest directly employs about 200 staff in Aberdeen, along with 130 onshore contractors.

McCulloch added: “In so streamlining our operations, we are further strengthening EnQuest’s position, taking appropriate action to address its priorities in these market conditions.”

The firm’s huge Kraken project, east of Shetland, is scheduled to produce first oil in the first half of next year, as is the Scolty/Crathes development, about 100 miles east of Aberdeen.