The COP26 climate conference is now behind us and we are left with mixed feelings about the future health of our planet. While some summarised the conference as “blah blah blah”, others talked about constructive discussions and breakthroughs.
In the latter stages of 2021, the lightning rod debate over the Cambo development has brought the role of oil and gas in our energy system into sharp focus.
Developing and deploying technology at scale will help us achieve climate goals whilst fulfilling energy demand and, if done right, create jobs and export opportunities for Scotland.
The offshore supply chain is crucial for the energy sector’s goal of achieving net zero, with commitment to a smooth energy transition and relevant opportunities from industry leaders vital to reach carbon neutrality, writes David Hutchinson, director with engineering and manufacturing specialist Pryme Group.
2021 was a big year for climate change.
The UKCS oil and gas industry has weathered some tough times in its past, but the last two years have been perhaps the most challenging, and the most critical in terms of shaping its future.
It’s clear that diversity and inclusion (D&I) is more than just a trending target for industry and society to aspire to, but, in simple terms, what do these words actually mean?
The recent spectacular increase in the UK wholesale natural gas price from less than 50 pence per therm in April 2021 to a peak of nearly 300 pence in October came as a complete surprise to everyone, including market traders engaged daily in buying and selling the commodity.
For Big Oil executives, it is difficult to imagine new business models beyond oil and gas. They climbed to the top of the pyramid by being the smartest guys in the room, turning hydrocarbons into petrodollars. Success is a lousy teacher: therefore, they are still determined to increase their total emissions this decade.
As 2021 draws to a close and the energy world starts to look ahead to 2022, there seems little doubt that the role of hydrogen will loom ever larger over government energy policy, both here in the UK and globally. So what specifically should we expect?
The UK has the potential to be a global leader in carbon capture and direct air capture technologies – but large-scale projects must be developed rapidly if our net zero goal is to be achieved.
Ollie Folayan, chair of AFBE-UK Scotland, looks at the key talking points for the year ahead from his hopes for diversity and inclusion to transition and the future for energy workers.
At this time of year you reflect on the past 12 months, and look to what the future holds. We started 2021 on a peak in Covid cases, and it looks like we will end the year in the same way. But even in another year dominated by the pandemic, there have been positive points to remember.
In a year where energy prices have been volatile, the market for technology and services across both oil and gas and renewables sectors has remained strong.
Lots has been accomplished on the D&I front this year – and 2022 provides more opportunity to build positive momentum in the industry’s journey.
At the opening of COP26 last month, Prince Charles told an audience of global leaders that a vast, military style campaign by the private sector would be the only real prospect we have of beating the clock on climate change.
The offshore oil and gas sector is a major UK industrial success story. The United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS) oil and gas supply has been at the heart of the UK's energy and industrial strategy for more than fifty years, maintaining the country’s energy security, while keeping our homes warm, our country moving and creating hundreds of thousands of quality jobs.
I read with wry amusement that some 58 of Aberdeen’s great and good have written to the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and other political leaders asking for a “more reasoned debate” on the future of oil and gas.
All of us who live in north-east of Scotland are acutely aware how reliant our economy has been on a world-class oil and gas sector.
The UK Government is calling upon a ‘spirit of innovation’ to develop technology and solutions for the growing UK carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) market at a pace never seen before.
A couple of weeks ago, a Scottish green party MSP claimed that it is only the “hard right” who continue to support development of the Cambo oilfield on the UK Atlantic Frontier.
A unique aspect of how the oil and gas industry operates is the concept of the mutual hold harmless indemnity – this is a legal tool for risk allocation by which each party to a contract agrees to take the risk of injury to its own personnel or damage to its property even if caused by the other party.
It’s hard to believe it’s December already. As another year closes, I ask you to consider, what has 2021 shown about your general wellbeing, particularly your mental health?
Perspective is everything. For climate activists, the recent pledge that more than 20 countries and financial institutions made to stop public financing for overseas fossil fuel projects was seen as a promising first step toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, one of the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Believe it or not the UK’s oil and gas industry is the nation’s best bet for building a green and low-carbon future – and that includes opening new oil fields like Cambo, says Katy Heidenreich, operations director at Oil & Gas UK (OGUK) which represents the UK offshore industry.