Editor’s column: Big oil says EU needs to keep calm and carry on
Big oil found itself issuing statements to a referendum outcome it never saw coming.
Opinion
Opinion: Energy import costs likely to rise but structure of energy sector unchanged – Wood Mac
The UK has voted to leave the European Union. A majority of 51.9% voted to end a 43-year membership of the EU.
Opinion: Low oil price has bigger impact than Brexit will
This morning the UK woke up to the news that it is to leave the EU, as 52% majority supported the leave campaign.
Opinion: It’s too early to precisely predict Brexit impact on energy policy
Following the historic vote to leave the EU, there are now a wide range of possible outcomes for the UK’s energy sector in respect of its regulatory and market options, and its relationship with the EU.
Opinion: Impact of Brexit on UK business will be profound
One of the biggest expenditures for small businesses will be their energy, and the UK public have been warned recently that leaving the EU could have negative consequences on our bills.
Opinion: What Brexit means for energy prices
The UK has voted to Leave the European Union in an historical vote.
Opinion: Oil companies have one more thing to worry about
Even those oil and gas companies which didn’t express a view on “Brexit” prior to the referendum are likely to be concerned by the uncertainty and volatility which is likely to follow the “Leave” vote.
Opinion: What would Brexit mean for oil prices?
As Britons head to the voting booths to determine whether or not to continue their existing relationship with the European Union, the impact of the outcome on the price of oil is still far from certain.
Opinion: Urgent incentives needed to stimulate investment
Today yet more individuals and their families have woken up to uncertainty and turmoil as further job losses were announced in our industry yesterday.
Opinion: Vessel seizure highlights grim reality of Modern Slavery
Last week’s incident in Aberdeen Harbour where an offshore supply vessel was detained with 15 Indian nationals on-board, who had allegedly been unpaid for two months, has highlighted the relevance of the Modern Slavery Act in today’s offshore oil and gas industry.
Opinion: Standing on the shoulders of giants
In the distant past of the year 1993, when I was but a wee scrap of a lad at eleven years old, I saw the future emblazoned in black and white print. An advert in the latest issue of 'Personal Computer World' shone out at me like a beacon, lighting the way to tomorrow - the Amstrad PenPad PDA600, a touchscreen PDA no bigger than a typical paperback book, with handwriting recognition, a stylus, and all sorts of glorious applications for storing data and keeping notes. I had to have it.
OGUK 2016: Shifting the focus on decommissioning
Maximising economic recovery, the watchwords of Sir Ian Wood’s review for the UK government and hardwired into the remit of the OGA, is not just about exploration and production.
Opinion: Fuel for thought – The real impact of power outages
Following months of oversupply, the oil market has now found an unlikely “friend” in the form of militant activity. Last month saw unplanned outages reaching a record high as attacks from Niger Delta Avengers hit major global oil suppliers and Canada saw an estimated 1.2 million barrels a day knocked offline due to forest fires in Alberta.
OGUK 2016:The North Sea. Can terminal decline be prevented?
Activity in the North Sea oil and gas sector is fast approaching a cliff.
Opinion: The great dilemma for oil companies – preserving capital
With the collapse in oil prices over the past eighteen months, the major exploration and production companies have been doing everything they can to cut costs. Ultimately, this means the conglomerates have less cash available to pay suppliers, who provide them with essential services and products.
Opinion: Billionaire investors back a gold price rally in 2016
It wasn't so long ago that some of the more famous investor gurus were shrugging off gold as nothing more than shiny trinkets with no investment value. They were wrong. This safe haven is back, the recovery is clear, and there have been some very big changes of heart.
Opinion: Aberdeen regeneration will cement city’s position as Scotland’s ‘northern powerhouse’
The massive programme of regeneration underway in the city will reaffirm Aberdeen’s position as Scotland’s ‘northern powerhouse’ and help mitigate the effects of the North Sea crisis.
Opinion: Is India about to be energised?
India has always offered an interesting dichotomy for the upstream business. Full of potential with significant oil and gas fields, yet with only around a third of proven oil reserves online and less than 25% of India’s sedimentary basins currently explored. A huge and growing domestic energy requirement, yet India is a substantial importer of energy despite access to significant energy reserves. This is an interesting juxtaposition, which over the years many have commentated would change, yet until now hasn’t really. However, the scene is more than set now for this imbalance to be reset and India to increasingly take full advantage of its oil and gas resources.
Opinion: Shell rolls out cost-cutting measures following BG merger
Royal Dutch Shell has unveiled steeper cost-cutting measures for the business after the recent deal to acquire BG saw debt levels rise to 26% of the global oil giant’s total capital.
Private equity-backed infrastructure deals are good for everyone in the North Sea
There are deals brewing in the North Sea.
Opinion: Shell discovers capital discipline. But will it last?
Shell is learning not to waste a crisis. The Anglo-Dutch oil major is pulling on every lever to deal with the consequences of agreeing a takeover of rival BG Group just before the oil price collapsed last year. Shareholders can only hope that the zeal it now shows for running a tight ship will endure once the company is on a surer footing.
Opinion: UK local content . . . seriously a joke
Local content has for long been a major issue in the UK oil & gas industry. It has become one with renewables too.
Opinion: OPEC meeting yields little change in policy
As expected, the OPEC meeting concluded in Vienna on 2 June without agreement on a production ceiling.
Opinion: Emerging economies and the carbon challenge
Why should we consider countries outside our borders? This is not only a question for the European debate. It is historically a question of global trade, global aid and now, increasingly, of the global environment.
Opinion: What can we expect from today’s OPEC meeting?
The industry is waiting expectantly for the OPEC meeting in Vienna today, at what is proving to be an interesting time for oil and gas. Despite a modest increase in oil prices recently, there is continuing speculation about a production freeze and extra attention has also been fixed on Khalid al-Falih in his new role as Saudi Arabia’s oil minister. Mr al-Falih replaced the long serving Ali al-Naimi in early May and all eyes are on him to see how he performs and whether he continues his predecessor’s tough line towards Iran. Indeed, commentary on his presence at the summit has already begun, with analysts using his early arrival on Monday as an indication of his commitment to the half-yearly meeting this Thursday.