Opinion: Capturing the Imagination
The effects of greenhouse gases are beyond dispute. The more CO2 there is in the atmosphere, the warmer the planet becomes.
Opinion
Westminster – expert in economic camouflage
I recently had an e-mail from a friend of mine containing a link to an article which said "UK R&D funding is strikingly below rivals such as the US and Germany and could be increased by up to 50% to match them".
Is private equity diving into the North Sea?
I expect few of those reading this column will have ever heard of Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co, the Blackstone Group or Permira Advisers LLC.
US overtakes UK with its CCS big push
While the UK goes on talking about carbon capture and storage, the US has had a live CCS project operating for more than a year at Port Arthur, Texas.
Opinion: Melfort Campbell on the Oil and Gas Commission report
In developing the Oil and Gas Commission report, it very quickly became clear that current high levels of investment are hiding an undercurrent of reduced investment. Low production efficiency, limited enhanced recovery projects and a reduced backlog of new projects for development point to significant under recovery of UKCS resources.
Opinion: Predicting the unpredictable
It’s often said that we measure success by counting failures. It’s the same with safety. Whether it’s the number of hydrocarbon releases or lost-time incidents, we tend to count and measure what’s gone wrong rather than what’s gone right.
Oil & Gas UK Awards: Celebrating our SMEs
Just a few weeks ago, Oil & Gas UK hosted its first Oil & Gas UK Annual Conference – the largest of its kind for the UK oil and gas sector in 2014. Now, as summer approaches, like many organisations in the offshore oil and gas sector, we’re working hard to plan and prepare in anticipation of a busy autumn period.
Opinion: Culture change needed to pull more women into oil
Last May it was reported that the percentage of women in the offshore oil industry had dropped to a new low, despite long running efforts to make it more attractive to the women.
Iraq not that important to global oil price, expert tells Energy Voice
Energy Voice spoke to David Bell, Professor of Economics at University of Sterling, about how the Iraq crisis can realistically impact global prices of oil - including those at the pumps.
Opinion: Oil and gas’ role in low carbon economy
Oil and gas play a crucial role in providing modern Britain with the energy it needs; the importance of that role is unlikely to change any time soon.
Webb: Industry holds high hopes for radical change
Last week I was pleased to chair the very first Oil & Gas UK Annual Conference.
Opinion: Meddling in Iraq
There is on the PolicyMic website some marvellous old British Pathe footage of Iraq during the 1950s. It paints a picture of an ancient land once called Mesopotamia and people aware of their heritage.
Opinion: A wake-up call for the transatlantic treaty’s negotiators
On the Obama side of the Atlantic, several rounds of opaque negotiations have been going on since July 2013 in order to father a USA-EU transatlantic trade and investment partnership, or “TTIP”.
Opinion: The unwanted gift
Overcoming a challenge without tapping into the knowledge and information that already exists within a culture or community is one of the oldest human follies.
Opinion: ‘When a corner office isn’t enough it’s time to rethink your strategy’
In the energy world, the battle to win and keep the best workers is well and truly underway. New job vacancies appear every day, the number of skilled workers is declining and in their desperation to recruit the brightest and best talent, companies offer fat pay cheques, bumper benefits and the opportunity to travel to far-flung locations. And in order to stop employees from succumbing to external temptations, employers offer even more: more zeros on a pay cheque, a corner office, the promise of promotion, luxury business travel – the list goes on.
Opinion: Ed Davey says ‘We’re determined to make the most of what is left’
As the North Sea enters the next phase of its life, we will make sure it continues to provide jobs and wealth throughout the UK. North Sea oil and gas can work alongside wind, solar, tidal and nuclear power to cut expensive foreign imports and help keep our lights on with British-produced energy. The broad shoulders of the United Kingdom is unlocking the power of Scotland to take its place as one of the world’s great energy hubs – generating energy and generating jobs.
Opinion: Opening the investment floodgates
Forty-five percent of oil and gas firms recently surveyed claim that the Scottish referendum on independence is impacting their investment plans (so says Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce’s 20th Oil and Gas Survey sponsored by Bond Dickinson).
Storing up trouble: CCS and a stop-go government
Extracting and using fossil fuels is fundamentally embedded in industrial society. But carbon dioxide emissions from these cause climate change, sea level rise and ocean acidification.
Opinion: Oil companies already paying more than enough
The release of Sir Ian Wood’s report in February marked a seminal moment in the history of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).
Jobs for the boys (and girls)
I've long been a sceptic as far as the oil and gas recruiting problem goes because I think it's almost unbelievable the industry can't find enough qualified and experienced people to satisfy its demand.
Preparing for climate change
While on holiday in Skye recently I had the pleasure of meeting a forester who was involved with the planting of Sitka spruce as part of a carbon offset scheme.
Malaria – an increasing health risk for North Sea rig workers?
While malaria is not a medical problem one would typically associate with workers on North Sea oil rigs, it is nevertheless a condition that warrants a degree of awareness. Indeed, just last month, we assisted an offshore worker who had a case of imported malaria.
Finding a smart exports solution for Scotland
Scotland's record as an exporter is not as good as it should be or needs to be if we are to create economic growth and sustain employment. In recognition of this, the Scottish Government set its own target a couple of years back of doubling the number of companies engaged in exporting by 2020.
Don’t count on UK shale oil prize yet
Every day there are headlines about the shale gas revolution that is engulfing the US and which the current UK Government hopes will sweep the UK.
Trap aims to profit from £60million-plus swoop on North Sea
Trap Oil Group (Trapoil) aims to cash in on a £60million-plus private-equity swoop on the North Sea.