Offshore industry faces risk of dangerous farce over safety debate
The UK’s offshore industry finds itself at the centre of what could become a very dangerous farce – one that has huge safety and economic implications.
Opinion
Wood Review heralds new era for the UKCS
As the last edition of Energy went to press, the ink was barely dry on the final report of Sir Ian Wood's Maximising Recovery Review and the political bandwagon was still in town.
Taking care with medication is an absolute necessity when offshore
For those of us who work within the oil and gas industry, organisation is a key factor when preparing for a trip offshore. There are a number of considerations, one of which is typically your medication, which commonly may not be something that would be at the top of your list.
Is the barrel half full or half empty after the Budget?
The Chancellor's Budget on March 19 was largely positive for the UK oil & gas sector. Announcements such as the High Pressure/High Temperature Allowance will hopefully stimulate further developments.
Is training an answer to the skills shortage?
Rising costs of production and a sharp decline in drilling and exploration - these are the harsh realities of today's oil and gas industry in the North Sea.
Just how ‘bad’ was this winter?
It really has been a tough winter in the North Sea, with platforms running short of fuel and water, tankers unable to access ports, and the evacuation of personnel from some installations because of high seas.
Here comes the energy Cold War
if relations between the West and Russia worsened and Gazprom - which is a state-owned company - was ordered to either reduce or even cut off supplies to Europe how could we deal with the loss of that much gas?
The flow and ebb of Scotland’s renewable energy potential
It is difficult to avoid the impression that the potential for a major new Scottish industry in renewable energy is slowly ebbing away.
Safety message remains ‘stop, look and listen – it always pays’
David Pritchard's Aberdeen address was riveting, devastating in its brutal frankness. You could have heard a pin drop, so rapt was the attention.
Budget 2014 and the future of the UKCS
For Britain's oil and gas sector the most far-reaching announcements in Budget 2014 were those indicating the launch of a full tax review for the UK Continental Shelf and confirmation of the Government's acceptance of the Wood Review recommendations, writes Professor Alex Kemp.
Time for Reflection at Industry Safety Awards
As the oil and gas industry prepares to celebrate the UK Oil and Gas Industry Safety Awards later this month, we're provided with a time for reflection, and a reminder the sector must continue to remain ever vigilant.
The Mighty Gas of Aphrodite?
Some “good news” seems to have hit the shores of Cyprus recently, unless it would be likely to revive an old trail of international tensions, writes RGU's Nicolas Maulet.
Budget 2014: Treasury driving further nails into drilling coffin
Year in, year out, it seems to me that the chancellor giveth with the one hand and taketh away with the other, writes Jeremy Cresswell
Budget 2014: No surprises for energy sector
The UK Government appears to have learnt from its previous mistakes in that there are fortunately no surprises for the oil & gas sector in the budget announced today, writes Clare Munro.
Budget 2014: Golden chance to send partnership message
Tomorrow, George Osborne will deliver what is the most important Budget for the North Sea oil and gas industry in a generation. Writing exclusively today, Maersk Oil UK managing director Martin Rune Pedersen outlines what the sector needs to hear from the chancellor following the Wood Review.
Offshore industry must play its part in fitness battle
A lot of questions that have been asked in response to the CAA report have been around size and shape, writes Les Linklater.
Bond boss: We owe it to crash victims to demand highest safety standards
Writing exclusively for the Press and Journal, managing director of helicopter firm Bond Offshore Luke Farajallah explains why the 2009 Super Puma disaster means he will never stop striving to improve safety for his company’s passengers.
The UK supply chain is in good hands
There’s no doubt that the UK oil and gas supply chain - a world leader in R&D, technological innovation and high-end engineering - contributes a huge amount to the UK economy today.
Oil and gas firms should look sideways in bid to end skills gap
Petroplan managing director Andrew Speers on why the oil and gas sector needs to target transferable skills with sideways recruitment - and where it should go on the hunt.
Oman: all round energy offering
I write about Oman as we at CMS expand our Middle East work into this region.
The taxing matter of exploration
The recent level of exploration activity in the UKCS is of concern, and the relatively small amount of recoverable reserves discovered offers little encouragement to those who hope to see the basin properly exploited. Thus, it is perfectly reasonable to question whether the current oil and gas tax regime is effectively encouraging exploration.
Read Lord Cullen’s speech to the Another Perspective on Risk Conference
Read the keynote address made by Piper Alpha inquiry chairman Lord Cullen of Whitekirk to the Another Perspective on Risk Conference in Aberdeen.
Corporate health strategy requires achievable goals
Having a vision is essential to good, effective and profitable business practice. It is a clear statement of goals and objectives set within an agreed timeframe.
Mental health – a poor relation
In the body of mental health statistics, two facts speak for themselves; one in four people will suffer from clinically significant mental health problems and 40% of sickness absence from work is attributable to poor mental health.
The times they are a changin’
The times they are a-changin' - so said Bob Dylan and, not surprisingly for a political, social, philosophical and literary commentator, he wasn't wrong.