Scottish Independence: Opinion – Nationalise BP? I think not!
Political has-been Jim Sillars’ weekend remarks about nationalising BP should Scotland become independent verge on plain stupidity.
Features
Scottish Independence: Opinion – Our future oil and gas reserves
For many, the goal of independence itself overrides any fears of economic consequences. But faced with a vote that will have a huge impact on future generations, I believe that is a luxury we cannot afford. The key question has to be whether or not we will be better off or poorer as a separate country.
Scottish Independence: “Extraordinarily difficult” to establish oil fund
North-east oil services tycoon Sir Ian Wood has claimed it would be "extraordinarily difficult" to establish an oil fund in an independent Scotland.
Scottish Independence: BP due for “day of reckoning”, political leader says
A former SNP deputy leader has claimed there will be a "day of reckoning" for major employers such as BP after a Yes vote.
Scottish independence: Industry academic backs ‘Yes’ vote
Academic Alex Russell has backed a Yes vote in next week's referendum, it was announced today.
Scottish Independence: N-56 report “economic and political dynamite”
Economic and political dynamite is the only way to describe the new report by N-56, an admittedly pro-independence think tank, that suggests that the remaining tax revenue from North Sea oil and gas could be £300billion beyond its former upper estimate of £365billion that could be garnered to 2040.
Scottish independence: Engineers concerned for job security
Concerns over job security and future investment in the oil and gas sector are shaping the chemical engineering vote, a survey has suggested.
Scottish Independence: BP and Shell bosses back Sir Ian
BP’s chief executive Bob Dudley has supported Sir Ian Wood’s call for realism in the Scottish Independence debate.
Scottish Independence: Sir Ian Wood says inflated oil forecasts are an ‘insult’
North-east oil services tycoon Sir Ian Wood has warned that Scots voters were being misled and influenced by highly inaccurate forecasts, false promises and misleading information about Scotland’s black gold reserves.
Scottish independence: Expert Alex Kemp predicts 99 further North Sea oil & gas finds
A leading oil economist has predicted a potential North Sea bonus of 99 new discoveries in the next 30 years.
Video: Wood Group creates ‘Terra Valora’
Terra Valora is latest in a long of targets for industry giant Wood Group.
Genel Energy restores full headcount in Iraq
Genel Energy today confirmed it will restore a full headcount and resume all operations at its bases in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).
Scotland Independence seen risking $23billion of power projects
A vote for independence in Scotland may halt work on renewable power projects that support £14billion ($23billion) of investment and 12,000 jobs by raising questions about how developers would get subsidies, an energy supplier said. Green Energy Plc, which sells electricity to almost 20,000 customers in the UK, said breaking up the union between England and Scotland in a referendum on Sept. 18 would force the two countries to negotiate how to divide payment for electricity.
Opinion: Unconventional hydrocarbons in the North Sea?
The Scottish Sun had a double-page spread entitled “£600bn – that’s a fracking fortune”. This is based on a report by a pressure group called N-56 which claims that 21-42 billion barrels of oil equivalent could be extracted from unconventional hydrocarbon deposits in the North sea using fracking technology. The claimed tax take is £3-600 billion. It is an attractive idea – enough for one Sun journalist to switch his vote from No to Yes. Sadly, it is largely nonsense.
‘No fracking boom’ – expert says
A leading petroleum geology academic has rubbished claims that offshore fracking represents a potential £600billion “black gold bonanza” for Scotland.
Scottish Independence: Think-tank claims fracking could unlock North Sea boom
Fracking for shale gas under the North Sea could be worth £600billion to the Scottish economy, a think-tank has claimed.
Scottish Independence: “one way ticket” for industry
Former chancellor of the exchequer and leader of the Better Together campaign Alistair Darling warned a successful vote for Scottish independence was a “one way ticket to an uncertain destination” for the UK and the North Sea oil and gas industry.
Scottish Independence: Opposing sides at oil debate
The SNP’s Fergus Ewing hit back at claims that the UK government has offered the North Sea oil industry a stable tax regime and said that an independent Scotland would do better.
Oil operators resume work in Iraq’s Kurdistan as unrest eases
Oil companies are resuming work in Kurdistan as security improves in the Iraqi autonomous region after unrest that led to staff evacuations.
Shamaran Petroleum resumes drilling in Iraq
Shamaran Petroleum has resumed drilling operations in Iraq after the conflict-ridden area was deemed too volatile to stay in.
Video: Step Change in Safety’s Les Linklater on EBS
Energy Voice sat down with Step Change in Safety team leader Les Linklater in the wake of the biggest changes to affect the offshore transport sector.
‘Independent Scots will seek big sum to clean old wells’
An independent Scotland will negotiate to claw back “substantial” historic oil revenues in order to ensure it can maintain decommissioning tax credits promised by the UK Government, an expert has claimed.
Almost 52,000 trained for new EBS
Almost 52,000 offshore workers have been trained to use a mandatory new emergency breathing system (EBS) as new rules on their use come into for today, the industry safety body has revealed.
Fall in North Sea tax receipts
The Scottish independence campaign has received “a body blow” with new figures showing tax receipts from North Sea oil and gas have dropped by almost a fifth, Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander said.
Gulf Keystone sends staff back to Iraq
Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd. is sending staff back to Iraqi Kurdistan after US airstrikes eased the threat from Islamic State militants that prompted a mass evacuation of expatriate oil workers three weeks ago.