Riding the waves of Scottish energy innovation
EY’s latest attractiveness survey reveals that foreign direct investment (FDI) into Scotland is up 7 per cent - a faster rate of growth than in the UK as a whole.
Opinion
OPEC decision: how much more oil will this bring the market?
OPEC have agreed to keep the current total limit, but will now attempt to comply with it. Oddly enough, low compliance with cuts has been from members and non-OPEC signatories to the cuts producing too little rather than too much. This has not come about through want to of trying, but because some signatories (most notably Venezuela) have been unable to reach their quotas. Clearly the only way 100% compliance with the total can be achieved when some countries cannot pump any more, is by those with spare capacity doing the job for them. The UAE oil minister, Suhail Al Mazrouei who did the talking, was asked repeatedly in the press conference about how the allocation would work. He always gave the same answer - the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC - a committee formed of OPEC and non-OPEC members to monitor the implementation of cuts) will figure it out. As yet there is no plan as to how the limits will be reallocated. Presumably we will need to wait until the JMMC has met to agree on this.
OPINION: Decom giveaway laudable, but surely better to leave in place
I read with interest Energy Voice's article “Shell hoping impact of decommissioning project will be felt far beyond Brent’.
OPINION: Microsoft data centres – why Orkney?
Amongst the blizzard of publicity around the deployment of the Microsoft data centre in the water at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) a question kept coming up in interviews ‘…. er … why do it in Orkney of all places?’
Propelling innovation through gender diversity offshore
There are many positive stories in the media about women breaking the moulds of gender specific occupational stereotypes. Some of the world’s most influential leaders are women but, beyond just politics, we are seeing women pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and, in turn, making a huge impact on the evolving world in which we live. Stories about women working offshore, however, are few and far between. This is likely because there is still a very low proportion of female employees actively working in the field. Figures published last year show that a mere 3.5% of offshore workers operating on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) in 2016 were women (Oil and Gas UK, 2017), which actually represents a decline from previous years.
Opinion: Firms must strive to attract workers back to sector as skills shortage looms
Pinsent Masons Aberdeen Head of Office, Katie Williams, is relocating to Western Australia where she will build the law firm’s Asia Pacific employment practice from Perth.
Opinion: Lawyers get lost?
Much has been made in the press and on social media of Phil Kirk of Chrysaor’s comments at Safety 30 in Aberdeen that “lawyers need to get lost” for proper collaboration and safety advances to happen in the oil and gas industry.
Scotland must benefit more from offshore wind projects
Having re-branded as Crown Estate Scotland, complete with Gaelic sub-title, an organisation which attracted much opprobrium in the past – not least from myself - seems to have recognised the potential of the marine role that history has bequeathed it.
Clouded issues over artificial intelligence funding
Entrepreneurship – it requires courage, vision and critically, lots of financial support.
The answer is blowing in the wind
It is with some satisfaction that, over the past few weeks, I’ve been watching the installation of the 11 large turbines that comprise the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre, which is owned 100% by the Swedish energy utility Vattenfall.
Emerging market meltdown could undermine oil rally
Saudi Arabia and Russia just destroyed the oil price rally, potentially putting an end to all the speculation about what the group might do next. But higher production doesn't necessarily mean higher oil prices are entirely out of the question, and in fact, the oil market is still faced with a ton of uncertainty.
BHGE welcomes regulator guidelines to boost collaboration
Over the past few years, the oil and gas sector has been faced with the severe challenges of a prolonged industry downturn. This has had a profound impact on our sector, changing the way both asset operators and the supply chain approach new project developments, especially in key areas such as the North Sea.
Wind vs nuclear: low carbon allies or competitors?
According to a recent report by Imperial College London, Britain’s windfarms provided more electricity than its nuclear power stations in the first quarter of 2018. This was reported in the news as the first time wind had overtaken nuclear over a three month period.
Understanding the EU clean energy package is the first step to success
The EU clean energy package will introduce major changes that could transform how the energy market operates.
Paul Wheelhouse: ‘Crucial’ Scotland unlocks all decom opportunities
I recently visited the Oil and Gas Technology Centre’s Decommissioning Centre of Excellence in Aberdeen to see how the Centre will support the significant opportunities that the decommissioning market presents for Scotland.
Oil and gas set for digital disruption – that’s a good thing
We are on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work, and relate to one another.
Skills for safer future, 30 years since Piper Alpha
It’s almost 30 years since the Piper Alpha disaster shocked the world; the devastating events on July 6, 1988 will never be forgotten. In the wake of the incident, the oil and gas industry collectively vowed to do everything it could to protect the safety of its people and prevent a cataclysm like this from ever happening in the future.
Show me the money (again)
Spring has finally sprung, bringing with it some renewed vigour across all markets and especially in oil and gas.
Wireless technology gets smart
Can you remember life without your smart phone? Do you remember the days when you had to get behind a desk, log in and dial up to access the wealth of information on the internet?
BiFab – frustrated UK ambition
That the BiFab yard has been rescued from oblivion is good news; that the arm which reached out is Canadian is good news, too.
High-pressure connectors critical to operations in current climate, according to subsea technology firm
A subsea technology specialist that has deployed revolutionary products for the global oil and gas industry says the sector needs to address the growing urgency for high-pressure connectors – as deep-water field developments are on the rise once again.
Doing the “Rope a Dope”
Energy Voice’s boxing theme this month made me think about my favourite fight; the Muhammad Ali v George Foreman world heavyweight fight held in Zaire in 1974, or as it’s more commonly known “The Rumble in the Jungle”.
Focus on quality assurance crucial for long-term success of drilling sector
Oil and gas operators could save millions of dollars each year by investing in tighter quality assurance and controls on drilling and well completion equipment that would reduce equipment-related Non-Productive Time – failures that are a substantial and potentially “avoidable” cost, according to a leading industry specialist.
Power of partnerships a global solution for oil and gas industry
The North Sea is often viewed as the benchmark for global standards, especially in terms of quality and health and safety.
Growth lies in innovation
Building an agile workforce, establishing a culture of innovation and embracing technology and big data will be crucial to success in the oilfield services sector. Gemma Noble, Audit Director at EY, and Luke Johnson, CEO at Cognitive Geology and finalist in the ‘Rising Star’ category of EY Scotland Entrepreneur of the Year 2018, explain why.