Slowing the race to Armageddon ?
Recent temperature readings appear to indicate that the world stopped getting hotter some 15 years ago.
Recent temperature readings appear to indicate that the world stopped getting hotter some 15 years ago.
Heavens, up to 30 new gas-fired power stations, life extensions for two of the current nuclear power station fleet and the laying of early foundations for the forthcoming UK shale gas push.
In this issue we're majoring on the Atlantic Frontier, or rather just three parts of it . . . UK West of Shetland, the Irish sector and, several thousand miles to the south, the Falkland Islands.
Skills are a huge issue in Britain today, with many businesses struggling with the challenges. The UK oil and gas industry is, however, now embarking on a collaborative approach to addressing the shortage.
Under new rules to be introduced next April, Health and Safety Executive checks will no longer be routinely carried out on premises considered to be low risk.
At the recent ITF technology showcase in Aberdeen BP's North Sea regional president, Trevor Garlick was reported as saying "If new technology is not developed fast enough the life of the North Sea oil and gas industry could be shortened".
According to every test of opinion, there is general support in Scotland for the development of renewable energy. That should be a great platform for progress and relative consensus.
The world may be poised at the beginning of "the Golden Age of Gas". Indeed natural gas is the only fossil fuel whose share of the global energy mix is expected to grow.
One is tempted to have some sympathy for the Government in its current attempts to formulate an energy strategy.
Cases of Norovirus (winter vomiting bug) have started to appear earlier than usual this year, which could indicate that we can expect higher than customary levels of the virus to be circulating over the winter months ahead.
As the region has matured UK Continental Shelf production has progressively fallen - approximately 6% per annum between 2000 and 2010.
Asian national oil companies bent on taking control of Canadian oil and gas assets through acquisitions by CNOOC and Petronas are facing growing opposition to the deals.
As an investor you weigh up risks and potential returns, trying to eliminate or limit the unknowns and one of the biggest issues with investing is political risk.
I concluded some time ago that UK Business Secretary Vince Cable was all frills and no knickers but was astonished that he said of the now thankfully dead BAe merger with EADS: "I don't worry about foreign ownership."
The debate surrounding Scotland's constitutional future is live and emotive and the outcome will have a fundamental impact on business operating throughout the country. Despite its significance, there was, until recently, very little clarity on the terms of reference and the question or questions to be asked.
Ever since the 85N Miller tragedy in April 2009 I've become increasingly anxious about the regulatory regime governing helicopter operations in the North Sea.
While the Prime Minister and Ofgem's proposed changes to gas tariff arrangements continue to prompt questions from politicians and industry alike, it may have escaped the attention of some observers that plans have also been recently announced by the Conservatives to promote a significant increase in investment in shale gas exploration and production in the UK.
I am writing this from Moscow where I have been spending quite a bit of time recently for a variety of reasons - football, Harris Tweed, energy. My enthusiasms are nothing if not eclectic.
Being overweight can have a severe effect on one's health.
If planned attendance at the industry's foremost business development event is anything to go by, confidence is returning to the UK oil and gas sector in leaps and bounds.
It was with great interest that I read the article by Les Linklater in September's edition of Energy. While the organisation for which he works, Step Change in Safety, is primarily focused on making the UK the safest place in which to work in the worldwide oil and gas industry, the theme of the article - working towards a change in industry culture - resonated with me, and also my CEO, Andrew Kain.
There is huge and growing interest in unconventionals these days, particularly shale gas and oil. Moreover, there's an unconventional gas conference being staged in Aberdeen late this month.
I have spoken many times over the years about the importance of establishing one common set of industry standards for safety and competency in oil and gas around the world.
I was talking to the executive of a major energy company this week and he told me he had been in the job for 11 years.
Through interviews with senior Oilfield Services (OFS) executives and private equity practitioners conducted as part of our latest "Dynamic Dealmaking" survey, Ernst & Young has established that merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the segment is expected to increase.