Sir Ian Wood said last night that the North Sea was facing one of its “toughest times ever" – but insisted it was “not dead by any means".
The industry doyen warned that the “worst thing" offshore firms could do was lose talented younger people and vital infrastructure during the current downturn.
He called for further UK Government action, including for the Treasury, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) and the industry to “get their heads together very quickly" to find solutions.
Sir Ian was speaking to more than 300 people at a summit organised by The Press and Journal's sister website Energy Voice at Aberdeen's Tivoli Theatre last night.
Energy Voice is getting ready for its Energy 2050 – Securing our Future event taking place tonight ahead of Offshore Europe.
Editor Rita Brown will be joined by a panel which includes industry leader Sir Ian Wood, Statoil graduate geologist Rebecca Wain, EY’s UK head of oil and gas taxation, Offshore Europe co-chairman Michael Engell-Jensen and Douglas Westwood’s Andrew Reid.
The panel want to hear your views on the North Sea oil and gas industry and how to inspire the next generation of innovators.
The threat carried by difficult to detect chemicals that affect asset integrity will be the topic of discussion when corrosion specialist Lux Assure addresses delegates at Offshore Europe next week.
Equalizer International, designer and developer of flange maintenance tools for the energy sector, will launch its new NutSplitter range at next week’s Offshore Europe.
OPITO, the oil and gas industry skills organisation, is looking to make contact with people now working in the sector who have attended its schools engagement programme Energise Your Future.
It’s 42 years since the first Offshore Europe conference was held in Aberdeen and 30 years since it first occupied its current home at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.
Energy Voice sat down with three young SPE Aberdeen (Society of Petroleum Engineers) graduates and interns working within the oil and gas industry.
The interviewees,Ross Taylor and Lalit Bhamare ,spoke ahead of Energy Voice's groundbreaking event on Wednesday, September 2 at the Tivoli in Aberdeen.
They answered a range of questions about how to inspire the next generation of industry leaders.
With this year marking the 50th anniversary since oil and gas was first discovered in the North Sea, the subject of ageing assets and asset maintenance is a hot topic of conversation across the industry. There is a misconception that mature assets are unreliable, unsafe and inefficient, but with a robust and proactive asset integrity management strategy in place, this is simply not the case.
The industry is well aware that corrosion poses one of the biggest threats to assets, not just offshore, but onshore too. It is also notoriously expensive and difficult to treat, and therefore understanding the corrosion prevention methods and technologies available to the industry is essential. Considering the current industry climate, and that pipelines can cost up to $3million per km to replace, putting the solutions in place which prolong the lifetime of infrastructure and avoid preventable damage is extremely valuable to operators.
Energy Voice sat down with three young SPE Aberdeen (Society of Petroleum Engineers) graduates and interns working within the oil and gas industry.
The interviewees, Marie Backstrom, Gabriella Thomas and Adam Zalewski, spoke ahead of Energy Voice's groundbreaking event on Wednesday, September 2 at the Tivoli in Aberdeen.
They answered a range of questions about how to inspire the next generation of industry leaders.
Scottish back-deck equipment specialist Maritime Developments will be using Offshore Europe as a platform to highlight a key innovation on a groundbreaking North Sea development.
New technologies to scan deeper waters for undiscovered oil are poised to bring all the excitement of space exploration to the global offshore energy industry.
Energy Voice is pleased to announce that tickets for the Energy Ball, Aberdeen's premier oil and gas get-together, are now being made available with a 10% discount.
The Energy Industries Council (EIC), the trade association for UK companies that supply goods and services to the energy industries, will be the largest single exhibitor at Offshore Europe in Aberdeen next month.
The chief executive of Aberdeen’s leading science centre said more young people need to be shown the opportunities they could have from working in the oil and gas industry.
Liz Hodge, who runs Satrosphere, made the comments as she gave her backing to Energy Voice’s Offshore Europe event on September 2.
The panel discussion at the Tivoli includes Sir Ian Wood, Derek Leith, office managing partner at EY Aberdeen and the firm’s UK head of oil and gas taxation and Offshore Europe co-chairman Michael Engell-Jensen.
Companies in the oil and gas industry must continue to attract talent even during the decline in oil price, according to an industry leader.
David Liddle, business development executive at the Society of Underwater Technology (SUT) said recruiting talent to explore future scientific approaches and technologies would play a "major role" in reaching new reserves.
His comments come as Energy Voice gets ready for its Offshore Europe event next month focused on the next generation of workers.
Both industry leaders and young people looking to come into the industry have given their backing to Energy Voice’s Offshore Europe event which takes place at the Tivoli on Wednesday, September 2.
With just weeks to go until Offshore Europe time is running out to have your say and take part in Energy Voice’s last leg of research.
Participants will have the chance to win a Breitling Superocean 42 courtesy of Finnies the Jewellers by taking part.
The latest survey has now gone live just weeks ahead of our own event ahead of Offshore Europe.
Industry leaders must ensure the next generation of talent know the door is still open into the sector, according to one young professional.
Adam Zalewski, who is currently studying for a Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Aberdeen, said high volumes of young people had been attracted by the industry following the “good years”.
However the 22-year-old – who is also president for the SPE student chapter at the University of Aberdeen – said it was now imperative companies took on the best talent.
Oil and gas companies will need to find a way to harness skills learnt in the last 50 years in order to benefit the future workforce, according to a leading HR expert.
Kate Butterworth, global HR leader for multinational businesses Hydratight & Viking Sea Tech, said focus needs to be placed on mentoring those moving into the sector.
The words of advice come after Energy Voice unveiled the final tranche of its research project which will focus on the next generation and the future of the North Sea.
Energy Voice wants you to take part in the last leg of our research aimed at building the industry’s next generation of innovators and have the chance to win a Breitling Superocean 42, courtesy of Finnies the Jewellers.
The latest survey has now gone live, just weeks ahead of our Offshore Europe event where the findings will be revealed.
To mark the final part of the research, we’ve teamed up with Finnies the Jewellers to offer this fantastic prize to one lucky participant.
Energy Voice has called on the global energy sector to participate in the final part of its landmark research launched to mark 50 years in oil and gas exploration in the North Sea.
The latest survey has now gone live, just weeks ahead of its Offshore Europe event where the findings will be revealed.
Take part here.
The final tranche will look at how to fuel the conversation and encourage the next generation of industry leaders and look at the future of the North Sea.
The project was launched in response to falling oil prices, which placed the UK and wider global energy marker under pressure.
