For those who haven’t the foggiest!
Anybody who has been stuck on a platform at the start of their shore leave will know - only too well - that fog can disrupt their plans, and at this time of year when the fog does come it can be particularly bad.
Opinion
The American stealth energy machine
When dramatic change occurs quietly, there is always a danger that its significance will be correspondingly under-estimated.
UK E&A crawls along into Q2
Nine wells are currently active on the UKCS, representing an increase of one since last month. The tally comprises three West of Shetland, five Central North Sea and one Southern North Sea probes under way.
Deepwater rig rates at watershed
There are signs of a sea change ahead for the deepwater rig market as rates soften and, so it appears, contract terms might be shortening.
The US market . . . fast moving and attuned to change
As we get to May each year a significant number of UK-based business leaders will make the annual pilgrimage to OTC in Houston. And it's with good cause.
Petrobras’ technological challenges and solutions for ultra-deepwater
In 2007, the Brazilian government revealed that largely state-owned Petrobras had discovered massive quantities of pre-salt light oil and gas. We are talking about an estimated 100billion barrels.
Cyber Risk – a new threat in the energy sector
Globally, it is estimated that cyber-attacks against oil and gas infrastructure will cost owners $1.87billion by 2018. In the US, 40% of all cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure in 2012 occurred against the energy sector.
Energy at the epicentre of Ukraine dispute
John Drake, Head of Intelligence and Max Hess, Intelligence Analyst at AKE Group, discuss the unraveling conditions in Ukraine and energy's role in it all.
Wood Review-interesting times ahead for industry lawyers
In many respects, however, the fiscal changes discussed are the most straightforward to implement. More challenging may prove to be the legal and regulatory innovations that the Review proposes.
Opinion: Ernst & Young’s Barry Fraser-Africa a continent on the move
Africa is on an upward growth curve, and it is both real and sustainable, underpinned by a longer term process of social, political and economic reform.
Climate Change – We need to deal with it
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has just released its third and final report on climate change.
Perspective from OTC: ‘US service companies in bullish form’
OTC is undeniably a barometer of global oil and gas activity and judging from Simmons & Company International’s reception in Houston last night delegates from across the industry are in a positive frame of mind.
Dean Wiseman: Human and organisational factors…do you tick the box?
Primitive, emotional, irrational – not exactly how most of us would characterise the workplace or indeed our thought processes and behaviours in it, but the best literature from the field of human and organisational factors tells us these adjectives may be more applicable than we think.
OTC: Travelling abroad? Stay fit and healthy
Typically, when we travel on work placements or for business, among our chief health and safety concerns are making sure we take necessary medications with us and ensuring we’ve had the correct vaccinations if travelling to a more exotic location.
Raising the US safety game
As the world’s oil and gas industry turns it eyes towards Houston and OTC, the foremost event for the development of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration and production, I find myself reflecting on how the energy landscape in the area is changing.
Fergus Ewing ‘It’s time to address poor North Sea stewardship’
Scottish offshore excellence will once again be showcased on the world stage at this year’s Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, which I also have the pleasure of attending as Energy Minister for the third year.
Opinion: Don’t risk your business at OTC
As industry leaders gather at the year's flagship event, don't fall into the cocktail trap of empty deals and undeliverable promises.
North Sea – The Future: Game far from over
In this final part of our thumbnail sketch of the North Sea, it falls to me to try to paint a picture of the future. So I raked around my desk drawer for the bag of rune stones that I keep especially for such occasions, gave them a rattle and scattered them on the floor.
‘Worrying times’ call for helicopter alternatives
These are worrying times for many in the North Sea with question marks hanging over one of its most fundamental activities of crew changes for offshore installations. It is everyone’s understandable wish to be able to travel safely to and from their place of work and discussions around this issue can be emotive, sometimes driven by fear and confusion about the actual risks
North Sea – The Future: New era of collaboration ahead
With declining oil production, rising costs and a crisis in exploration, the North Sea is at a crossroads. Press and Journal Business Editor Ryan Crighton reports on what the industry needs to do to remedy its problems.
Why UK’s squandered oil cash backs the case for independence
Professor John Howell, chair in geology and petroleum geology at Aberdeen University, explains why a 'Yes' vote is the only answer.
North Sea – The Future: Industry must focus on future talent, not poaching staff
The UK oil and gas industry has, for some time, operated within a tight labour market and the need to expand the talent pool has been talked about for many years, writes Aker regional president David Currie.
Macondo – four years on: The expert’s view
Loren Steffy, author of "Drowning in Oil: BP and the Reckless Pursuit of Profit", looks back at the safety lessons learned in the wake of the Macondo disaster
Vova’s nauseous chess game
The Russian Federation is playing a chess game with Ukraine that threatens to destabilize energy supplies to economies located west of Russia and their regional energy markets.
Davey: Union needed to keep oil industry successful
The prosperity derived from North Sea oil and gas is due in no small measure to Scotland being part of the UK, argues Energy Secretary Ed Davey