Where is technology leading us?
Global oil and gas executives are preparing to accelerate investments in digital technologies, with the main goal of furthering their cost-saving ambitions.
Opinion
Living longer in the North Sea – modern innovations for mature assets
The past year has marked a significant milestone in the North Sea’s history, with one of the world’s largest oil producers, Shell, celebrating 50 years of North Sea production and predicting a positive outlook for the next 50. This renewed positivity and optimism has been reaffirmed recently with the likes of Gannet E coming back online, Buzzard restarting output and production from new fields, including Garten and Clair.
Oversold Lithium Could Be About To Rally
It's been a decade of lows for commodities after posting 7 declines in 11 years, but we've seriously underestimated lithium. It's back with a vengeance in 2019.
If you can’t spot talent, you shouldn’t be a manager
Recent press on a skills shortage for the oil and gas industry prompted me to share my views on graduate training and recruitment. It is focused on my own discipline Chemical (Process) Engineering, a key skill for the oil and gas industry.
Recycle, reuse, but let’s re-purpose too
I read with interest Penelope Warne’s Energy Voice piece on Decommissioning Re-use and Recycling.
Brexit leads to grave fear for future of Scots energy transition
I don’t belong to a political party, and haven’t for a very long time. I always find that at some level they disappoint.
We’ve got the power, let’s think how to store it
The year ended with exciting headlines about wind power having generated more than 100% of Scotland’s electricity requirements on 20 out of 30 days in November.
Data most valuable resource of the oil and gas industry
A year and a half ago, The Economist ran an article entitled “The world’s most valuable resource is no longer oil, but data”.
Stoking the fire of innovation in the oil and gas service sector
Like the temperature over the past three months, we have seen a dramatic plunge in the oil price index. So much so, it has left many asking if the oil and gas industry is suffering from a slight touch of winter flu, or, as others perceive, the start of a life-threatening illness.
Don’t expect US to blink in battle for oil security
This promises to be a weird year, one where massive uncertainties abound; any one of which could derail current efforts to sustain substantial oil and gas output from the UK Continental Shelf.
New AREG members give added diversity to energy mix
It has been a very positive 12 months for Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) as we have seen our membership rise with an increase in the number of companies supporting both the offshore wind, wave and tidal sectors.
Investing in Norway doesn’t have to be taxing
With recent reports of several new development plans on the horizon for Norway, the Norwegian energy industry is anticipating a promising three to four years of activity ahead. Wider areas of Norway are now being explored, including the West Barents Sea, and discoveries such as Johan Sverdrup and the extension of the Norne field by the Cape Vulture discovery, along with the Johan Castberg, will require new thinking and, in turn, attract new companies to enter the market.
Apprentice levy needs action now
The energy sector has historically shown strong commitment to employing apprentices.
Complacency about domestic gas supply ‘simply wrong’
This cold New Year’s week brought news that LNG imports to the UK in December were at their highest level in more than three years, with more LNG arriving in the fourth quarter of last year than in the rest of the year combined.
Act now – while there are no leaves on trees
We’ve all done it – sat in conferences, listening to inspiring keynotes, making notes about things you know will change how you work, how happy and motivated your workforce will be, how much money you’ll make.
Oil is at the mercy of financial markets
Oil prices regained more ground on Wednesday, pushed higher after equity markets rebounded from an initial selloff at the start of 2019 trading.
TechX – Pioneering and accelerating
2018 saw us celebrating the successful culmination of The Oil & Gas Technology Centre’s (OGTC) inaugural technology accelerator programme, TechX Pioneers.
Bayesian networks and subsea: managing integrity and reliability risk
If high levels of safety and environmental protection in the subsea oil and gas sector are to be maintained, then understanding the risks involved is more important than ever. That was the view highlighted by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) in 2016.
Has oil’s demise been greatly exaggerated?
I often speak to people who are concerned about how long the oil industry will last and have the misconception that its demise is just around the corner.
North Sea CO2 storage will support transition to low-carbon economy
We have 12 years to clean up our carbon act on a global scale or face catastrophic climate change: that was the stark warning from the IPCC in October.
OGA must be ready to apply ‘use it or lose it’ powers
The reduced oil price over the last 2 months (down 20%) is worrying, and it looks like the price could be between $55 and $65 this year.
Year of highs and lows for dynamic renewables industry
It’s a cliché to say that the past year has been one of highs and lows, but in a dynamic industry like renewables it’s a statement that’s rarely wrong.
What now? It’s all in the recovery factors
In last year’s end of year opinion piece for Energy Voice, I talked about the realignment of the oil and gas industry. I opined that the sector is not in a cycle as we know it, but rather, in a shift of mentality to one that is nimbler, more innovative in attitude with plenty of upside potential.
Revived zeal for tech development a silver lining to downturn
The downturn in the oil and gas industry has been well documented but the upside – and there is one - has been the incredible amount of work that is taking place in Aberdeen in supporting and nurturing a new generation of tech start ups who have the potential to ensure the UK has a sustainable hydrocarbon industry for years to come.
Brexit, the Energy Charter Treaty and Achmea: A ray of light?
In our Solar Wars series of articles we considered the numerous claims brought against Spain, Italy and other EU Member States under the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), brought by investors following the curtailment of those states' renewable incentive schemes.