The head of industry body Subsea UK has urged the oil and gas industry to take action to now to safeguard the future of the UK’s £9billion subsea sector.
Neil Gordon, chief executive of Subsea UK, said: “If we don’t make changes now, if the oil price falls further, for longer, the subsea landscape will look very different in a year from now.
“We have an opportunity to define our future by truly embedding the behavioural change that will sustain our industry in the long-term and achieve the goals of Maximising Economic Recovery in the North Sea.”
Gordon was speaking as Subsea UK announced the final speaker line-up and programme for its eleventh annual conference and exhibition, Subsea Expo. Europe’s largest annual subsea event takes place at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre from 3-5 February.
This year’s theme Time for Transformation will look at the fundamental changes the industry must make to deliver the cost savings and efficiencies needed to sustain the sector in a lower, for longer oil price environment.
The event’s plenary session, chaired by Gordon, will provide an overview of the industry.
Matt Corbin of Aker Solutions will discuss collaboration, integration and standardisation and a sustainable future for the subsea sector. Gunther Newcombe of the Oil and Gas Authority will look at maximising UKCS performance. Matt Nicol of Centrica will lead a discussion on small pool reservoirs.
The session will also hear from Howard Woodcock of Bibby Offshore on leading safety in the new era through workforce engagement and Chris Bird of MOL Energy will look at transformational behaviour changes.
Gordon said: “Subsea Expo represents the ideal platform to bring together leading industry figures to discuss how we can deliver the fundamental changes to bring about the necessary transformation. With the UK subsea sector’s pioneering attitude and ingenuity, for which we are renowned for around the world, I am confident that we can transform and lay solid foundations for a brighter future.”
More than 6,000 people from the subsea supply chain are expected to attend the event, including dignitaries and senior industry figures from Africa, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria and the US.
The 2016 programme features speakers from companies including Subsea 7, Proserv, GE Oil and Gas and One Subsea. Presentations will cover global opportunities, key projects around the world, standardisation & optimisation, integrity management with a focus on pipelines, ROV inspection and technology R&D.
Gordon Drummond, project director of NSRI will lead the Spotlight on Technology session, which will look at the near to market technologies that will help maximise economic recovery of hydrocarbons and play a part in the exploitation of stranded small pools in the UK Continental Shelf.
Subsea Expo’s gala dinner and awards ceremony, on the evening of the opening day, will see a selection of the country’s best subsea businesses recognised for their success over the past 12 months.
Award-winning writer and broadcaster John Sergeant will be the guest speaker at the awards dinner.
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