Corruption still widespread in oil industry
There is enormous pressure in many countries to make illegal or undisclosed payments in order to win exploration licences, writes Tony Mackay.
Insights
Transparency in extractive industries gaining ground
While EU Directives are not meant to make life more difficult, certain countries may prohibit disclosure, causing some companies to have no option but to withdraw from projects, warns Penelope Warne.
Gulf of Guinea ranked world’s piracy hotspot
A report by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in June officially ranked the Gulf of Guinea as the world's most piracy-infested waters.
UK is open for business, not avoidance
Tax avoidance and tax evasion have become sustained banner headlines, writes Derek Leith.
Becoming part of an offshore family
I am looking forward to working offshore and getting some more hands-on experience.
SPE Aberdeen makes £15,000 worth of bursary awards
A total of £15,000 has been awarded to students in Scotland by the Society of Petroleum Engineers Aberdeen Section as part of its 2012-13 bursary programme.
Cults kids triumphant in global oil competition
Pupils from Cults Academy have triumphed in the north-east heat of an online competition which sees pupils around the world take on the role of oil barons.
Hazlehead Academy pupils grab top awards at Big Bang
Hazlehead Academy pupils grab top awards at Big Bang
Brian Wilson: The challenge of getting Energy Bill right
When the Energy Bill was published in May last year, I wrote here that it seemed a decent attempt to address the intractable challenge of how to incentivise the switch to low carbon generation while at the same time keeping the lights on and the bills just about affordable.
Dick Winchester: Oh joy – another North Sea review
Ed Davey - UK secretary of state for energy and climate change - has made my day. I was mulling over what to write about for the July issue of Energy but then up popped Ed with the announcement that he's going to have another review of how to maximise the economic benefits of North Sea oil and gas.
Jeremy Cresswell: EC225 ‘band-aid’ requires a definitive answer
Last Friday, a team from Eurocopter met the North Sea oil and gas industry's Step Change Helicopter Safety Steering Group to discuss a set of measures that the company feels will get currently grounded EC225 helicopters back to work.
New technology only half the battle for islands renewable energy
Lack of infrastructure and the challenge of getting renewable electricity from Scotland’s islands to market remain major obstacles to growth, writes Orkney MSP Liam McArthur
Whistleblowing: Why energy industry should heed the warnings
With the 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster drawing near, the on-going commitment to health and safety is rightly at the forefront of the industry's collective consciousness.
Preventing tragedy is greatest tribute we can pay Piper Alpha victims
The Piper Alpha disaster – still the world’s worst offshore industrial tragedy – changed the lives of the loved ones of all on board and it brought about fundamental changes to the way Scotland’s offshore industry treated the health and safety of its workers, writes Alex Salmond.
Challenge to show safety improvements demonstrate value
We were delighted to be able to accept the invitation and go to Melbourne in person to explain our joint approach to Process Safety and why we believe the Energy Industry is still struggling to avoid catastrophic incidents.
Piper Alpha: Safety standards must improve year on year
As the 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster approaches, it provides not only a time to reflect on the terrible tragedy but also an opportunity to look forward, writes David Mundell
Piper 25: Remembering the past, we must work together for the future
It was 24 years ago, almost to the day, when I spent my first night offshore on-board the Tharos support vessel. I had just finished my first shift on Claymore as part of a commissioning squad preparing for first oil post the Piper tragedy. In the days to come I would be caught up in the industrial action that dominated our offshore life and the headlines in 1989.
Control systems must aid decision-making, not dictate it
One of the most common questions asked by customers is which type of Control of Work system will deliver the best results – paper-based or electronic? The answer is always the same: that there is no absolute answer.
Piper 25: Vital to remember the individual lives lost to the disaster
That was the last time I saw Carl Busse, his curly mop of black hair and a warm, engaging smile that literally did light up the room. On the night of July 6th he and 166 other souls lost their lives in the worst rig disaster of all time. I was lying in bed and listening to the radio when the news of the fire began to unfold.
Piper Alpha: Challenge for industry to learn lessons from tragedy
The safety case, involvement of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the goal-setting regime has stood the UK CS oil and gas industry in good stead from a health and safety perspective since Piper Alpha.
Piper Alpha: Why we must never forget its lessons
Three questions dominated our thoughts: Who was on the platform, were they still alive and what had gone so terribly wrong?
Offshore safety is key to longevity of Scotland’s energy industry
The lasting legacy of Piper Alpha is a safer, though always hazardous, industry, writes Fergus Ewing.
The clock is ticking for Scotland to join shale gas revolution
Fracking in the UK poses its own unique challenges but I believe it is still a worthwhile resource to pursue, writes Murdo Fraser.
Oil and gas industry inquiry comes at ‘critical point’, says Sir Ian Wood
Sir Ian, who retired last year as chairman of Aberdeen-based oil services firm Wood Group, said maximising oil and gas recovery was “immensely important” for Britain’s economy.
Sir Ian Wood to head up new government review of UK oil and gas industry
The Wood Group founder will oversee the independently-led review announced by UK energy secretary Ed Davey today.