Offshore hydrogen production: Am I missing something?
Along with renewables, energy efficiency, nuclear, land reform, BECCS, biofuels and batteries I am convinced that hydrogen will be key enabler to deliver net zero.
Opinion
BGF: Investing in the energy transition
The imperative to tackle our contribution to climate change is driving activity towards the energy transition faster than most of us thought possible.
Privatisation: 30 years of changes
Thirty years ago, legislation to privatise Scotland’s electricity industry was completing its passage through parliament. It created outcomes which were never intended and are ripe for review.
Helping employees to focus on wellbeing
This year has seen much greater and very welcome stability return to the oil and gas industry, thanks in no small part to a reduction in oil price volatility that has plagued the sector in recent years.
Oil sector to face stronger climate change headwinds in 2020
The Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
Omani bid round falls foul of shift away from wildcat E&P
News last week that Russian firm Zarubezhneft was being considered for the development of an offshore oil concession in Oman brought into sharp focus the lack of update provided since the country’s 2019 bid round closed in May.
After all that, here comes Brexit
Well I think 2019 has been a terrible year.
People make difference to innovation successes
As we approach the end of another eventful year in oil and gas, it’s timely to reflect on the significant progress made by the industry’s technology leadership board (TLB) to articulate and realise its strategy over the last 12 months.
Dig in for fracking fight
Last month the UK Government took the energy industry by surprise by announcing a moratorium on the quest for shale gas onshore in England.
Low-carbon road paved with opportunities and challenges, EY says
Few would doubt that the transition to low carbon provides the renewables industry with a massive opportunity.
Path to home-grown safety leaders set out
Companies that have relied on the expertise of foreign nationals to provide leadership are looking increasingly to their own citizens to fill these positions.
CMS: Intricacies of interim terms
Reviewing the past year is made much easier for me by our annual publication on legal developments in oil and gas, the latest edition of which came out in September.
Aberdeen deal activity – an honest assessment
I was asked to present a view on deal flow in Aberdeen. Not a bland “it’s getting better, albeit still challenging” comment, but something more realistic, perhaps more honest, based on what we’re seeing in the day-to-day.
Arts snub shows oil industry must get off the back foot
Nearly two years ago BP approached me to support the development of a course on greenhouse gas reduction and energy efficiency.
Be the change you want to see in the workplace
A wise man once said: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Tackling change in the North Sea
Change is a constant development in the North Sea – it challenges us, presents opportunities and asks us to keep thinking differently.
Opito sees a world of difference
The white heat of digital technology has greatly intensified during 2019. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is massively disrupting and transforming our industry and society all around us.
In today’s volatile world, good intelligence has never been more important
In September, a swarm of drones and missiles crashed into the oil-processing facilities of Abqaiq and Khurais - the heart of the Saudi oil industry. It was the most devastating attack in the industry’s history, and the latest spasm of violence in a region that has witnessed a series of attacks on oil tankers and pipelines over the summer months.
CSR: The power of the collective
The giant novelty cheque.
Unpopular maybe, but lower speed limits good for planet
The following figure is from the Government produced ‘UK greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions national statistics 1990 – 2017’. The bar chart shows the main sectors contributing to GHG emissions.
Are Norwegian energy firms ‘best in class’ for environmental management?
Throughout my time in the upstream oil and gas industry I have always considered Norway to be best in class when it comes to environmental management.
Labour’s windfall tax on oil a bad call
I’m hopping mad at Labour’s £11billion windfall tax on the oil and gas industry proposal in its manifesto.
OECD’s revolutionary tax changes could impact oil firms
The OECD’s 2019 workplan on addressing the tax challenges of the digitalised economy looks set to be a major overhaul of the international taxation system.
Why is decommissioning not a cost to the taxpayer?
Derek Leith’s recent Energy Voice post – Busting the decommissioning tax myths - has resulted in a lot of mud being thrown at me.
MER and the energy transition: Can OGA square the circle?
I recently presented at a UK Oil and Gas Law Seminar where the keynote speaker was Mike Tholen (Upstream Policy Director Oil & Gas UK).