As I flicked through the pages of the event preview brochure for OE2013 a few days ago - armed with my highlighter and deciding which conference sessions and events to attend, what struck me most was the outward and internationally dynamic nature of what is on offer and what is clearly of importance to our industry.
We've spoken before about the raft of different reports in the last 12 months speculating over the Industry's projected skills needs over the next two, three - four years and beyond.
Apologies in advance but I've come over all parochial and am going to discuss Aberdeen itself. I've spent the best part of 40 years either working out of or in the place and have watched it evolve into what it is now.
2013 has seen the global oil and gas industry undergo fundamental change. With rising oil and gas demand, investment is forecast by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to reach some $20trillion between now and 2035.
2013 is set to be the biggest Offshore Europe in history as thousands of delegates from around the globe congregate in Aberdeen, Europe's oil and gas capital, to discuss the future of our industry.
These are challenging times for the oil industry, not least on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). The latest official statistics show UK oil production down 11% on last year and gas down 18%.
When Oil & Gas UK published its latest production forecast last month, chief executive Malcolm Webb appealed for the industry not to be used as "a political football" in the constitutional debate, an echo of my own plea in this column in July.
The shocking loss of yet more personnel in a Super-Puma incident in the UK sector once again highlights why so many offshore workers are worried out commuting offshore.
The Piper Alpha disaster on July 6, 1988, which claimed 167 lives is one of those poignant moments that one can recall what they were doing when they first heard the terrible news.
Although not a significant exporter of oil or gas in global terms, the troubles in Egypt serve to highlight some of the consequences of civil strife on the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons.
Yesterday, I had the sombre duty of signing a book of condolence for four oil workers who died in a helicopter crash off the coast of Shetland on Friday.
The suggestion, from what I gather from eye-witness reports, is that the most likely cause of the incident appears to be a catastrophic mechanical failure cutting the connection between the engine and the rotor blades, writes aviation expert Tim Ripley.
With four serious Super Puma incidents since April 1, 2009, the latest resulting in four deaths, the UK offshore industry has recommended the grounding of all Eurocopter Super Puma aircraft – not just the L2 variant at the centre of Friday’s crash.
Yes, another Eurocopter aircraft has suffered a major failure – the third in less than two years and, I think, the fourth Puma to have gone down since April 2009.
It was a given that Sea Lion would be developed using a floating production system; the surprise was that Premier currently favours using what is called a tension leg platform.
Tory MEP Struan Stevenson sparked a row by calling on policy-makers to send “trendy” environmental protesters “packing” and embrace shale gas. Mary Church, of Friends of the Earth Scotland says the country should be wary of fracking.
Elaine Ramsay of Brodies looks at the legal implications of introducing drug and alcohol testing for employees in the workplace.
The debate over fracking has divided communities in England and already forced one firm to reconsider its plans. But MEP Struan Stevenson warns failure to embrace shale gas could lead to UK blackouts
However, ageing structures must inevitably reach the end of their economic lifespans, production rates will decline through time, and with recently announced tax relief deeds allowing greater clarity in decommissioning decisions, a maturing of the UK sector seems imminent.
I’ve been watching the latest TV news reports from Egypt. It seems to me that an exceedingly terrifying, slow-motion implosion is taking place. And it started long before Muhammed Morsi came to power through an apparently democratic election following the January 25 revolution of 2011.
Is the oil and gas exploration minnow Antrim about to croak? Read the notes of yesterday’s result statement and you will find that the company itself admits to “significant doubts” about its ability to continue trading.
In the first part of his briberty series, Brodies' associate Paul Marshall looks at the steps which businesses who discover bribery connected to their organisation can take with the authorities to reduce the risk of prosecution.
Rightly or wrongly, the oil and gas sector is viewed as being vulnerable to bribery and corruption. The UK Bribery Act 2010 sets down the foundations to encourage prosecutions of corruption in business, especially British businesses with overseas operations. In the first of two articles on this subject, Paul Marshall considers how the Bribery Act increases the risk of prosecution for corruption.
In order to utilise quality to bring about an effective HSE system, first it must be defined. This in itself is a challenge as quality is often about the perception of the individual.
Mexico is set to open its doors to private investment in its oil and gas sector. The Mexican petroleum market has been controlled by the state-run entity, Pemex, for 75 years and during that time there has been no scope for outside investment.