Industry now facing up to the dismal facts
At last the penny has dropped with Oil and Gas UK regarding the real state of the North Sea.
Opinion
Beatrice: Modest yet grand old North Sea lady
Energy editor Jeremy Cresswell pays tribute to one of the North Sea's most remarkable survivors as Ithaca prepares to call time on the historic Beatrice field.
More must be done to address renewables skills gap
The energy sector is facing a possible skills crisis in the next decade due to the prospect of losing up to 80% of its workforce, mainly due to retirement. writes Sarah Johnson. Companies have to become aware of this fact and start acting now to ensure, that in ten years’ time, there are adequately-skilled people to step in.
Are immigration changes the solution to energy sector’s skills shortage?
It’s no secret that the oil and gas sector has a shortage of engineering professionals and graduates in the UK. Contributing to this problem is the fact that many school children post the age of 16 do not chose to study the maths and sciences which are required in order to progress into an engineering career.
Don’t squander the gains
Unite's giant inflatable rat mascot didn’t show at the heliports, but the ill-informed leaflets they were obliged to hand out to offshore workers boarding helicopters smelled unmistakably of the real thing: a cack-handed recruitment stunt intended to piggy-back genuinely held anxieties, writes Ronnie McDonald
Oil price certainty should provide 2014 E&P boost
A degree of certainty with regard to oil prices over the next year should help exploration and production companies in reaching decisions regarding capital investment while the service sector looks set to record further growth.
Healthcheck: Energy supplement – no excuses in fight for fitness
When the bells rang out a few days ago we wished one another a Guid New Year.
2014 – critical to take long-term UKCS view
I do not want to start 2014 on a pessimistic note but I believe it is a good time to take a longer term view of what is happening on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).
The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement – good news for oil and gas?
The Coalition Government's "new approach to tax policy making" promised an era in which the tax policy process would be seen as a competitive advantage of the UK.
Let’s make the offshore industry shine in 2014
Much like the industry itself, the last 12 months were a time of great change and positive momentum for Opito, writes group CEO David Doig.
2014 likely to witness growing terror threat with a little optimism for energy industry
The energy sector has faced terrorism for years, but the threat is likely to grow over the coming 12 months.
Economic growth will be spur for mergers and acquisitions
With a new year comes new hope for a return to economic growth in Europe, which may help to provide a much needed spur to the long awaited recovery in the mergers & acquisitions (M&A) market across the continent.
Breaking Boundaries: Why women belong in energy
It is no news that the times of “easy oil” in the North Sea are well and truly over.
A strange letter from Mr Anonymous
Anon letters have always been given short shrift by me; however, I've just made an exception, writes energy editor Jeremy Cresswell
2014 – just another year?
Like most people I try hard to be optimistic at the start of a new year, writes Dick Winchester. Invariably though, my optimism lasts about a week, sometimes two weeks but rarely survives beyond the end of January.
Playing the strategically vital export card
Over the past few months, I have been carrying out a review of Scottish exporting on behalf of the Scotland Office and I hope that its conclusions can be brought together early in this new year, writes Brian Wilson
Pool resources and share risks of oil and gas across a bigger population
Having lived and worked in Aberdeen and Shetland, I have been able to see the oil and gas sector develop at close hand, writes Scots Secretary Alistair Carmichael
Energy Prices: Independent Scotland would tackle the issue better
It is an absolute scandal that people are still living in fuel poverty in a country as energy rich as Scotland.
Energy Prices: Consumers should consider a switch
With winter price rises, followed by the UK Government reducing some of the levies on household energy bills, many consumers will be feeling confused about what all this means, and more importantly how it will affect what they are paying.
Energy Prices: Things need to be put into perspective
With widely-reported rising gas and electricity prices for consumers, kicking the “Big Six” energy providers has become something of a national sport.
2013 in review: Government must play role in creating stable energy environment
While the independence referendum may have created uncertainty in other sectors, it appears to have had no material impact on the UK oil and gas industry – yet, writes Rod Hutchison.
Energy Prices: Government needs to act to reduce bills
In recent years, the wholesale costs of energy have increased and this has become an even greater problem than ever.
Optimism and realism in a year of extremes
This has been a year of extremes, writes Les Linklater
Songa clears £260million refinance hurdle
Offshore drilling firm Songa says it has secured the conditions needed to go ahead with its $400million refinancing deal.
Marathon’s North Sea departure announcement was “disrespectful”
This is the time when the big US oil corporations publish their plans for the year ahead; and of course one is looking for a mention of North Sea investment.