issue 14 | october [email protected] Take Step Change’s occupational health check....

issue 14 | october 2010

ContentsWelcomeThe common thread running throughout this edition of Wireline would seem to be

leadership. Leadership is shown in our news story about Step Change in Safety’s initiative

to promote best practice in occupational health across the industry with its new ‘tool kit’

to help companies measure their performance.

It’s also present in the news of the imminent launch of an industry-wide project that will

give companies access to a supply of fully trained people, not necessarily from their own

payrolls, to help deal with the many hundreds of calls from anxious relatives and members

of the general public that follow a serious incident, a need that was identified and a solution

developed as a result of the tragic events of last April in the Flight 85N incident.

The thread continues in our feature articles where the industry’s determination to drive

safety improvements through collaboration across the sector and with regulators and the

unions is demonstrated in the setting up of the new Helicopter Safety Steering Group under

Step Change in Safety and on the work of OSPRAG, the Oil Spill Response and Advisory

Group created in May following the Macondo incident in the Gulf of Mexico earlier this

year in April.

In this issue, we also say farewell to two very dear friends of the industry, who were both

leaders in their own way; the Reverend Andrew J Jolly MBE BD CertMin, our chaplain

whose compassion and ‘can-do’ attitude won him great respect; and Bob Kyle, Oil & Gas

UK’s safety consultant, whose long, outstanding commitment to improving safety rightly

earned him the industry’s first ever ‘life-time’ Safety Award presented by the co-chairs

of Step Change in Safety earlier this year. At Oil & Gas UK, we were devastated by their

deaths, both from cancer, within days of each other at the end of September. They will

both be missed very much.

Leadership inspires and encourages us forward to achievement. But I cannot end without

mentioning another source of inspiration you will find in these pages: our events manager,

Louise Wood who represented Scotland in the European Mixed Curling Championships this

autumn and came home with the gold medal. We offer Louise our many congratulations!

Trisha O’Reilly CommunicationsDirector

Wireline is published by Oil & Gas UK, the leading representative organisation for the UK offshore oil and gas industry. Oil & Gas UK’s members are companies licensed by the government to explore for and produce oil and gas in UK waters and those who form any part of the industry’s supply chain.

We want to hear your views on our newsletter so please send us your feedback as well as ideas for future articles.

Contact: Sally Fraser in the Oil & Gas UK communications directorate Email: [email protected] Tel: 020 7802 2404

NEWS• TakeStepChange’soccupationalhealthcheck

A new way to assess whether a company’s management of occupational health risks is fit for purpose

• Progresstowardsbankofrelativerespondersinemergencies Industry close to establishing a bank of relative response services for use in emergencies

• GovernmentproposaltolimitmigrationOil & Gas UK highlights how the proposal could jeopardise investment and employment in the UKCS

• HSE’sKP4assetintegrityprogrammewelcomed Oil & Gas UK welcomes HSE’s major new initiative to ensure that the UK’s ageing offshore installations are managed safely and effectively

• Industrymournslossoftwogoodfriends Oil & Gas UK saddened by deaths of Reverend Andrew Jolly and Bob Kyle

PARLIAMENTARYUPDATE• WestminsterandHolyrood

A round-up of Oil & Gas UK’s political engagements• Europe

Latest news from the heart of Europe

FEATURE ARTICLES• Collaborationiskeytounlockingnewtechnologies

ITF plays an important role in developing pioneering tools and technologies to unlock UK’s oil and gas

• HelicoptersafetyfindsnewhomeinStepChange New group builds on work of Helicopter Task Group to identify and address cross-industry issues concerning helicopter safety

• NewfacesboostnetworkingopportunitiesatPILOTShare Fair 12 Delegates meet the largest ever cross-section of oil and gas companies as event expands

• UKactiononoilspillcapabilityandresponseMalcolm Webb describes work carried in UK out since Deepwater Horizon

• Focusonoperations: oSpotlightonthestrategyforUKsubseaoperations Industry faces challenge of sustaining and enhancing its global subsea leadership position oAccesstoinfrastructure–deliveringtimelynegotiatedservicearrangements Paul Dymond explains how ICoP principles are being reinforced

• SpotlightonnewOil&GasUKBoardmembers Introducing new faces on the Board

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Wireline | issue 14 | Oct 2010

News

We all know there areoccupational healthrisksinvolvedinworkingin this industry andno matter how muchprogress is made interms of improvingsafety performance,people sadly still getinjuredandtheyalsofallill.

A significant test for any organisation is the way they manage these occupational health risks, a process which becomes all the more difficult when there is a gap between initial exposure to a health hazard and the eventual onset of illness.

There is now a new way to assess whether a company’s management of occupational health risks is fit for purpose. Step Change in Safety’s Workplace Health workgroup, which is jointly headed by Alan Johnstone, operations director at AMEC, and Simon Seaton, vice president UK of Halliburton, has developed an assessment tool to review and identify where improvements in internal health, safety and environmental management systems can be made so that resources can be better targeted.

The use of the assessment tool is not designed to measure compliance with legal requirements but the questions it raises are intended to encourage close scrutiny of the management of occupational health, focusing on key areas such as: • Leadership and commitment;• Policies and strategic objectives;• Health risk control;• Planning and procedures;• Implementation and monitoring.

The tool comprises two sets of questions; one specifically for management and the other directed at the people ‘on the ground’ at the worksite. The responses given can be assessed to give an accurate picture for the ‘state of health’ of an organisation’s occupational health processes.

Simon Seaton said: “The group has achieved much in a short period of time and this is testament to the way the industry has openly shared information and companies have volunteered to trial the system. Throughout its development, we have had valuable input from occupational health physicians and hygienists. The tool is now being used across the industry and it’s satisfying to see workplace health remains a priority in the Step Change arena.”

Formore informationonthetoolandhowtoobtainanassessment,contact Step Change in Safety on 01224 577268, email [email protected]

UK oil and gas companies have takensignificant steps towards a mutual aidagreement which will provide a bankof relative response services for use inemergencies.Theagreement,whichisclosetobeingfinalised,wasestablishedbytheEPOL(Emergency Preparedness Offshore Liaison)Human Resources subgroup which was setup to considerhow liaisonwith the familiesof employees involved inemergencies couldbe improved following the tragic incidentofFlight85NinApril2009.

The subgroup comprised representatives from ten oil and gas production and contractor companies and Grampian Police. One key issue it had to address was the way in which the volume of calls from concerned relatives should be managed and a collaborative effort on this front was identified as the best solution.

Under the agreement, relative responders will have been trained to provide help and assistance to relatives of employees

involved in major incidents and will go to whichever company needs them to staff the emergency telephone lines. The agreement will see participating companies release staff when they are called upon and provide an appropriate duty of care to guest staff.

Once an organisation signs up to the agreement, their management or HR department will identify suitable individuals who would make effective relative responders and / or retrain their current responders. Individuals will take a training course lasting one and a half days, run by in-house or external training providers. In order to standardise this training, OPITO has adopted a standard which can be found on its website at http://www.opito.com/uk/library/15_Relative_Responder_31_Aug_2010.pdf

TAQA’s HR manager and chair of the EPOL HR subgroup, Chris Dunridge, said: “I’m very pleased that so many companies have been involved in working towards this mutual

Progresstowardsbankofrelativerespondersinemergencies

aid agreement. Despite the fact that there is competition between organisations, it’s encouraging to see that when it comes down to helping people, the industry steps up to the mark. This new agreement will ensure a more efficient emergency response process and a far greater quality of service, allowing a bank of skilled responders to be called upon, should they be needed. Providing mutual aid in times of emergency is the right thing to do and I would encourage all companies operating in the UKCS to sign up for this.”

Formoreinformation,[email protected]

TakeStepChange’soccupationalhealthcheck

Governmentproposaltolimitmigration News

In June, the Government launched aconsultation on how limits on economicmigrationbynon-EuropeanUnionnationals,whichhavebeenimplementedonaninterimbasis,shouldbemadepermanent.Oil&GasUK, supported by the Scottish Council forDevelopmentandIndustry(SCDI)andOPITO,theindustry’sskillsbody,respondedstronglyto both agencies tasked with consulting onthisissue,theMigrationAdvisoryCommitteeand UK Border Agency, highlighting howthe proposals could jeopardise investmentandemployment intheUKcontinentalshelf(UKCS). The multi-national oil and gas industry relies heavily on the flexibility to transfer personnel across national boundaries as and when the need occurs, especially when projects require specialist expertise at short notice. Migrants brought into the UK industry through the points based system are highly skilled with unique experience in specific disciplines such as subsea engineering, decommissioning or deepwater technology. Developed over decades, these skills are not readily available in

the resident labour market. If a permanent cap was introduced it would damage companies, project plans and employment within the oil and gas sector.

Jessica Burton, Oil & Gas UK’s manager, special projects, said: “This is a global industry, dominated by multinational companies which require a flexible, highly skilled and mobile workforce. The industry will play a significant role in driving the UK economy out of recession and just when capital expenditure is rebounding, the current interim cap is threatening the progress of major projects which are linked to hundreds of jobs for UK employees.”

With multinational companies headquartered in the UK, EU or outside the EU dominating the industry, the route through which employees can gain experience and provide their expertise around the world (the Intra-Company Transfer route or ICT) is crucial for ensuring the continuation of successful operations. Without the ability to move staff between offices around the world, the option of locating in

Oil&GasUKhaswelcomed theHealth and Safety Executive’s (HSE)launchofKeyProgramme4(orKP4),amajornewinitiativewhichaimstoensurethattheUK’sageingoffshoreinstallationsaremanagedsafelyandeffectively.

More than half of UKCS fixed platforms are operating past their original design life, or will soon be. So KP4 will focus specifically on the implications of this, investigating the UK’s ageing offshore installations and how companies are managing the decisions about extending their operational lives.

KP4 was launched in July 2010 and is expected to run until September 2013. Over the course of the next three years, HSE inspectors intend to carry out more than 30 onshore and offshore visits to test companies’ integrity management systems. The HSE intends that the proactive scheme focused on holistic integrity management in which it liaises closely with the industry will avoid the need for a re-run of the KP3 scheme. A very active working partnership between HSE and industry will be essential to the success of this new programme.

The programme will develop technical policy and guidelines on managing ageing installations, covering structural integrity and the integrity of process plant, fire and explosion and electrical and control systems. It also seeks to promote good practice by working with industry bodies to organise seminars and workshops through which experiences can be shared.

Oil & Gas UK’s health, safety and employment issues director, Robert Paterson, said: “The industry has a significant challenge on its hands to maintain efficiency in what is a mature basin, but one with a great deal of production life left in it for decades to come. It is vital that the infrastructure of these installations continues to be efficient and, above all, safe. We won’t rest on our laurels and always stress that the drive to improve safety is continual.

“KP3 secured a significant focus on and investment in asset integrity. KP4 will take us to the next level and will ensure that the industry, working in partnership with the HSE, remains fully focused on maintaining its offshore installations.”

For more information, please see http://www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/

assetintegrity

the UK becomes significantly less attractive to these companies, who support thousands of jobs for resident UK employees.

Highly skilled, well-paid migrants within the oil and gas sector contribute significantly to the UK’s economy and place negligible demands on public services. Oil & Gas UK is therefore urging the Government to consider the evidence in its submissions and avoid imposing any permanent limit which will hinder the sector’s ability to continue driving the UK’s economic recovery.

For more information please contact Jessica Burton on [email protected]

HSE’sKP4assetintegrityprogrammewelcomed


News

ReverendAndrewJJollyMBEBDCertMin

Over five hundred mourners attended the Service of Thanksgiving for the Reverend Andrew J Jolly MBE BD CertMin, chaplain to the UK oil and gas industry, at the Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting in Aberdeen on 2 October,

following his death after a long battle with cancer.

Andrew was appointed the industry’s chaplain in 2006 and his deep respect for and passionate commitment to his unique ministry soon became apparent to all. A man of great energy and focus, Andrew quickly became a familiar and trusted face both on and offshore, and worked tirelessly to consolidate and strengthen the Chaplaincy as an integral part of the industry.

Andrew became the accepted focus for industry grief in the aftermath of serious incidents, providing chaplaincy support for the bereaved families, friends and work colleagues, as well as conducting memorial services both onshore and offshore. It was partly Andrew’s ministry in the aftermath of the Flight 85N helicopter crash in the North Sea in April 2009 that led to him being appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Her Majesty the Queen in the 2010 Birthday Honours List. He attended his investiture at Holyrood Palace

in July, and said at the time that the honour served as a reminder of all those others who, through natural causes or accident, had lost their lives during his time as chaplain.

But he was also there for the industry in happier times. His direct manner and willing, ‘can-do’ approach ensured his popularity across the industry, whether officiating at marriages, attending industry functions or simply enjoying the banter in the tea shack.

Malcolm Webb, Oil & Gas UK’s chief executive, said: “For more than four years, Andrew provided a vital and compassionate focal point for the industry, tirelessly providing pastoral care to all those connected with the industry and their families – throughout times of both happiness and tragedy. The personal and professional contribution he made to the lives of all of us working in this industry is immeasurable. His work has made Oil & Gas UK very proud to support the chaplaincy. Andrew’s passing is a terrible loss and we will all miss him immensely.”

Industrymournslossoftwogoodfriends

BobKyle

Oil & Gas UK is deeply saddened at the death from cancer of our colleague and friend, Bob Kyle, who died at the end of September.

Bob had worked as a health and safety professional in the offshore oil and gas industry for nearly 30 years, and latterly as a safety consultant for Oil & Gas UK. Having started his career in the RAF, he worked for Marathon Oil UK and Salamis M&I Ltd where he was involved in numerous industry wide committees and workgroups as a member of the UKOOA safety committee. In January 2001, he joined the staff of UKOOA, Oil & Gas UK’s forerunner, as the assistant director for safety. His lifelong commitment to making the UK the safest place to work in the worldwide oil and gas industry was recognised earlier this year when he was selected to receive the highly prestigious Step Change in Safety ‘Services to Safety Award’ at the first ever UK Offshore Oil and Gas Industry Safety Awards in April.

Bob represented UKOOA at the Piper Alpha inquiry as an expert witness on permit to work systems and subsequently helped revise the guidelines on permit to work systems for UK offshore. He also chaired the international E&P Forum workgroup on permits to work for the global oil and gas industry.

Bob was involved in the industry’s Step Change in Safety initiative since it began in 1997 as a member of the leadership team and leading on several initiatives. He chaired the HSE/Industry Leadership Forum for several years, served as a member of the Offshore Industry Advisory Committee and was involved in establishing the OIAC workforce involvement group.

Oil & Gas UK’s chief executive, Malcolm Webb, paid his respects: “Our thoughts first go to Bob’s wife Paddy, their three children, Sarah, Bridget and Kieran, the members of the wider family and Bob’s very many personal friends. The loss of such a kind and marvellous man who was a truly inspirational leader on safety is also a huge blow to us all here at Oil & Gas UK. Coming as it did so soon after the loss of another of our dear friends, the Reverend Andrew Jolly, it has made recent weeks some of the more personally difficult ones we have experienced in a long time.”

Parliamentary Update

With politicians returning to office after the

summer break, September always proves a

busy month. On 13 September, Oil & Gas UK

was delighted to welcome Energy Minister

Charles Hendry MP and Justine Greening MP,

the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, to

Aberdeen. They flew offshore to Apache’s

Forties Alpha platform where a field whose

life has been extended through significant

investment was showcased. The visitors

witnessed development drilling in progress and

newly installed technology to reduce emissions

from offshore power generation.

Mr Hendry and Ms Greening then attended

a positive meeting with Oil & Gas UK’s chief

executive, Malcolm Webb, economics director,

Mike Tholen, and representatives from

operator and contractor member companies.

The ministers made it clear that they are

keen to engage with the industry and for the

Department of Energy and Climate Change

(DECC) and the Treasury to work closely

together to promote investment in the UKCS.

A wide range of topics were covered including

the continuing role of PILOT, the need to

promote incremental investment to increase

recovery from existing fields, the effect of

uncertainty around decommissioning on

investor confidence, the potentially damaging

impact of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme

on ultimate oil and gas recovery and the

importance of gas in the UK’s energy mix.

On 7 September, Oil & Gas UK gave oral

evidence in front of the Energy and Climate

Change Committee (ECC) alongside the Oil

Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group

(OSRPAG) and Transocean Drilling UK Limited.

Chaired by Tim Yeo MP, the Committee’s

inquiry into UK deepwater drilling is expected

to publish its report by the end of the year. For

more information, see the feature article on

OSPRAG’s work in this issue of Wireline.

September also saw the start of the party

conference season. Charles Hendry was the

keynote speaker at an Oil & Gas UK sponsored

fringe event at the Conservative party

conference in Birmingham. Organised by the

Policy Exchange think tank, the topic was the

importance of the role of gas in UK security

of energy supply. Oil & Gas UK also held a

similar breakfast fringe at the Liberal Democrat

conference in Liverpool on 20 September.

WestminsterandHolyrood

Oil & Gas UK also sponsored two SCDI ‘meet the

politicians’ events in Aberdeen this autumn.

The first, which took place on 13 September,

allowed the local business community to

meet and question Gavin Brown MSP and the

second involved the new SNP MP for Banff and

Buchan, Eilidh Whiteford, on 29 October.

Oil & Gas UK was also delighted to welcome

the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Rt Hon

Michael Moore MP, to the decommissioning

conference it ran jointly with Decom North

Sea in Dunblane on 7 October where he

gave the keynote address. He said: “There

is huge potential for the supply chain in

decommissioning. But we must also be mindful

of the need to maintain our focus on getting

every last drop of hydrocarbon extracted from

the North Sea.” The conference presentation

slides are available at www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/

events

Formoreinformation,

please contact Rona Macdonald at

[email protected]

Following the Gulf of Mexico incident in April,

pressure has been mounting on the European

stage to ensure the risks of a comparable

incident in European waters are minimised. The

EU Energy Commissioner, Günther Oettinger,

met twice with industry leaders in May and

July to understand better the risks involved in

offshore exploration and production as well as

to learn about the industry’s oil spill prevention

and response practices and procedures.

In early October, the European Parliament

dismissed the suggestion of an EU wide drilling

moratorium as unnecessary and similarly the

Contracting Parties to the OSPAR Convention

concluded that a ban would be inappropriate.

However, on 13 October, the Commission

announced that it was contemplating new EU

standards including criteria for granting drilling

permits, controls of the rigs and safety control

mechanisms, with legislative proposals due to

be presented early in 2011.

Oil & Gas UK has responded strongly explaining

why a prescriptive regime, such as that

proposed by the Commission, could undermine

the impressive safety achievements of the

UKCS under its goal-setting style of regulation.

Europe

The significant progress already being made by

the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory

Group (OSPRAG) in its comprehensive review

of UKCS regulation and arrangements for

pollution prevention and response is also being

highlighted as part of Oil & Gas UK’s lobbying

against the Commission’s proposals.

Forfurtherinformation,

please contact Andrew Bassett at

[email protected]


From deep offshore reserves tounconventional gas resources, theindustry is working hard to extract theworld’s remaining energy resourcesusing the safest andmost cost effectivemethodsandneverhastheworkoftheIndustryTechnologyFacilitator,ITF,beenmore crucial. ITF plays an importantrole in developing pioneering tools andtechnologies to unlock these reserves.Establishedin1999,ITFisanot-for-profitorganisation owned by 23major globaloperators and service companies. Itskeyobjectivesaretoidentifytechnologyneeds, foster innovation and facilitatethedevelopmentandimplementationofnewtechnologies.

To date ITF has been responsible for delivering 151 new collaborative and revolutionary oilfield technology projects to the market, securing direct membership funding of more than £50 million. Recognised globally, ITF is unique in that each technology challenge which is addressed has been specifically identified by its members so it represents a targeted approach to overcoming technological hurdles; indeed, its membership contributes up to 100% funding for these projects.

ITF is not bound by geographical limitation. So, unlike other programmes that are mainly funded by governments, ITF has the ability to engage with industry and facilitate work on new technology developments on an international platform.

Measuringeffectiveness

In 2009, the organisation celebrated its tenth birthday and commissioned a report by the respected industry economist, Professor Alex Kemp, who is based at Aberdeen University. The study took an overview of the organisation’s performance over the last ten years, looked at the effectiveness of the ITF process and considered ways in which it could improve.

Overall, the findings of the report were positive, highlighting the expanding membership, the number of new technologies that have been delivered and the value that ITF gives its members. Developing technology through ITF allows its members to spread the risk and cost of research and development (R&D), enabling expenditure to be allocated more effectively and expertise and knowledge to be shared.

The report also revealed that the strategy of increasing membership and ‘going global’ was working with 82% of ITF’s members coming from outside the UK. The study found that ITF had been effective in bringing new and relevant technologies to the UKCS and to the oil and gas industry more generally. Broadly, sponsors and developers were satisfied with the outcome of the funded projects in terms of the results of the research and the timeliness of completion of the work. The increase in field trials and comparable work was commended and recognised as having the most positive effect on production.

Neil Poxon, managing director of ITF said: “It is clear from Alex Kemp’s report that the ITF process is redefining the way in which major research developments take place across the entire industry.

Our ability to act independently from governments and provide up to 100% funding from our members for proposals that get the go-ahead sets us apart from other organisations.

“As the sector strives to access the world’s oil and gas reserves it is essential that research and development projects not only address global challenges, but are sufficiently refined to achieve a real impact on the problems identified by the industry. The ITF process has been of real benefit to our international members and the global R&D community as it identifies the barriers, provides a collaborative stage on which to work and ultimately delivers innovative technology that is aimed at resolving some of the industry’s most pressing problems.”

2010activities

ITF has been holding a series of international technology challenge workshops during 2010 where members and the R&D community can meet to explore in detail activities in which the industry faces technological barriers. The topics identified for discussion by ITF’s membership in 2010 were:• EOR technology• Tight gas, shale gas and coal bed

methane• Drilling efficiency• Completions technology• Produced fluids management• High pressure high temperature

production

Each of the workshops results in the release of a global ‘call for proposals’ inviting the R&D community to respond with innovative ideas that address the particular challenges identified.

Forfurtherinformationvisitwww.oil-itf.com

Collaborationiskeytounlockingnewtechnologies

Feature Article

Feature Article

AnewHelicopter Safety SteeringGroup hasbeenformedundertheStepChangeinSafetyinitiative. Itsremit isto identifyandaddresscross-industry issues concerning helicoptersafety.

The new group builds on the excellent work of the Helicopter Task Group, which successfully dealt with a wide range of aviation safety issues in the aftermath of the loss of Flight 85N on 1 April 2009.

Bob Keiller, chair of the Helicopter Task Group, explained: “Helicopter safety is such an important issue; it deserves the industry’s full attention. The task group was always meant to just deal with the immediate matters arising from Flight 85N. However, throughout its existence, the value of having such a group on a pan-industry basis became obvious.

“Bringing the industry, helicopter operators, regulators, trade unions and workforce representatives together to work on safety issues can make a real difference, allowing specific matters to be addressed in a much more efficient way and new initiatives to be introduced without delay.

“It is important that the excellent work of the task group continues, albeit under different leadership and under a new umbrella.” The new steering group is now part of Step Change in Safety and is led by two co-chairs, Bill Munro, managing director of Bond Offshore Helicopters, and Ken Robertson, CNNS asset manager, Shell U.K. Limited.

Bill Munro said: “One of my first tasks as co-chair will be to ensure that we continue the excellent work started by the Helicopter Task Group. For example, we will be looking at initiatives that can prevent accidents, improve our emergency response procedures and further enhance workforce communication.

“I am particularly pleased that the offshore trade unions and the pilots’ union, BALPA, have confirmed their continued participation in this new group. There can be no doubt that helicopter operators take safety very seriously and that helicopter operations are conducted under a very stringent regulatory regime. However, where concerns remain it is important that we listen to the workforce, take their views seriously and implement changes if required. The joint approach in the new Helicopter Safety Steering Group will make this possible, benefiting not only the offshore workforce but the wider industry by making the UK a world-leader in offshore helicopter safety.”

In addition to the unions, the new group will include representatives from the helicopter operators, oil and gas operators and contractors, the regulators HSE and CAA, and Oil & Gas UK.

Multilateration–aworldfirst

One of the many achievements of the Helicopter Task Group was the introduction of multilateration, a new North Sea helicopter flight surveillance system which allows air traffic controllers to track helicopters over a far greater range than radar.

Until recently, helicopters were lost to shore-based radar at around 80 miles from the coast. Multilateration can track a flight path all the way to an installation in real time, down to 500 feet above sea level or lower. The system is due to become fully operational as Wireline goes to print and is the first in the world to be used for offshore operations.

A big advantage of the system is that a fixed wing aircraft in the area will also be displayed on the screen in the control tower, drastically reducing the risk of near miss incidents or

collision. This is particularly important for low flying military aircraft.

Multilateration works by using multiple points to determine the exact location of a helicopter. Equipment has been fitted to 16 host platforms; divided into four geographical clusters. When a helicopter leaves the 80 mile radar zone, its transponder responds to a signal sent from a platform, which is then sent back and detected by receivers on each of the four platforms within a cluster, allowing complete real-time flight following surveillance of the helicopter.

This data is then sent to the control tower at Aberdeen Airport, where the helicopter’s position is determined by triangulation. Only three signals need to be received in order to provide a position, but the fourth signal both increases accuracy and gives some redundancy should a signal not be received.

Iain Harris, head of engineering for NATS Services said: “We are delighted to deliver this significant safety enhancement to the North Sea helicopter air traffic control operation.”

Robert Paterson, health, safety and employment issues director with Oil & Gas UK, welcomed the progress, adding: “I am very pleased to see this system up and running. This is a considerable step forward in helicopter safety and typifies the sterling work done by the Helicopter Task Group to drive important safety-related projects to a successful conclusion.”

Formore information about the new HSSG,please visit http://stepchangeinsafety.net/stepchange/Resources_Workgroups_Helicopter_Safety_Steering_Group.aspx

HelicoptersafetyfindsnewhomeinStepChange


Feature Article

DelegatesatthetwelfthPILOTShareFairwillhave the opportunity to meet the largestever cross section of oil and gas companiesas the event relocates to themain arena atAberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centreon3November.

At PILOT Share Fair 12, sponsored by CAN, twenty companies from both the operator and contractor communities will deliver presentations on their project plans for the UKCS over the next 18 months. Up to 1,000 delegates from supply companies are expected to attend the event. They will be among the first to hear about UK oil and gas business development opportunities, estimated to be worth £4 billion. In total, more than 100 presentations will be delivered on the day and other activities include the opportunity for one-to-one sessions with key operators and contractors. Indeed, many delegates from small to medium sized supply chain companies have already booked face-to-face meetings with potential clients.

Industrynewcomersrepresented

One presenting company is a recent newcomer to the industry. EnQuest PLC was launched earlier this year, immediately becoming the second largest independent producer in the UK. Paul Lindop, EnQuest PLC’s UKCS General Manager, said. “EnQuest PLC is very much looking forward to participating in PILOT Share Fair 12. This is a great opportunity for us to expand on the details of our production and development work programmes and to optimise the efficiency of our supply chain relationships, both building on existing ones and establishing new ones.”

Mr Lindop added: “EnQuest PLC has interests in 16 production licences covering 26 blocks or part blocks in the UKCS, of which 15 licences

are operated by EnQuest PLC itself. With these assets and a wealth of expertise – over 200 based in our Aberdeen offices – we are confident that EnQuest PLC has the technical skills, the operational scale and the financial strength to deliver sustainable growth in value for our shareholders.”

Returning for its second Share Fair this year, another relative newcomer reinforcing its commitment to sharing business opportunities with the oil and gas community is Taqa Bratani Ltd. Ian Rattray, Taqa Bratani Ltd UK’s sourcing manager, explained: “Last year’s Share Fair provided us with an excellent opportunity to establish ourselves in the marketplace as a customer. It also allowed us to source new suppliers we wouldn’t otherwise have met. For example, we are now planning to work with an online training provider in Eastern England, a contract that was agreed following initial contact during one of our one-to-one sessions.”

Mr Rattray also pointed to the invaluable resource made available to the industry through FPAL, which works to identify, qualify, evaluate, and monitor suppliers on behalf of its members. He said: “Most operators now source suppliers through FPAL, which enables them to share real time market intelligence and information about forthcoming opportunities online. However, the opportunity that PILOT Share Fair provides once a year to meet potential suppliers face-to-face and to engage with companies that might not yet use FPAL is very important.”

This year’s PILOT Share Fair is set to be the biggest yet with the high level of interest from presenters and delegates, reflecting the cautious optimism illustrated in the latest quarterly Oil & Gas UK Index. The following companies are presenting their plans at the 2010 PILOT Share Fair, which comprise the

following twenty companies: AGR Peak Well Management Services Ltd, Aker Solutions Ltd, AMEC Group, BP PLC, Centrica Energy, Chevron North Sea Limited, ConocoPhillips (U.K Ltd), EnQuest PLC, Fairfield Energy Ltd, Maersk Oil North Sea UK Ltd, Mobil North Sea LLC, Premier Oil PLC, PSN (Production Services Network), RWE Dea UK Ltd, Shell U.K. Limited, Talisman Energy (UK) Ltd, Technip UK Ltd, The SLP Group, TOTAL E&P UK Ltd and Wood Group Engineering (North Sea) Ltd.

For more information, visit http://www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/pilotsharefair/

NewfacesboostnetworkingopportunitiesatPILOTShareFair12

Feature Article

Theexplosionon theDeepwaterHorizon rigand the subsequent oil spill in the Gulf ofMexico earlier this year naturally caused usall to take a very close look at our drillingpractices andoil spill responsemechanisms.Oil&GasUK’schiefexecutive,MalcolmWebb,describestheworkcarriedoutsinceAprilbythe industry, regulators and trade unions toensuretheregulatoryregimeunderwhichweoperateintheUKCSremainsfitforpurpose. The Macondo well incident was a dreadful event. First and foremost, we think of the eleven men who lost their lives and the others who were injured, some of them seriously, as a result of that catastrophic event. The blowout and the sustained flow of oil which resulted from it was shocking and rightly caused the offshore oil and gas industry and its regulators around the world to reflect upon the implications of this incident for their own operations.

The UK was no exception and without prompting, the UK industry together with its regulators and trade unions, quickly came together to take stock of our position and without seeking to pre-empt or prejudge the lessons to be learned from Macondo, set about a thorough review of our practices and procedures, looking to see what enhancements could be made.

Strongregulation

One early result of this review is that we continue to have faith in our regulatory systems and industry practices, which differ vastly from those in the US. That is why, despite pressure from some quarters including NGOs and the European Commission, we believe that a moratorium on deep water drilling in the UK would be wholly unjustified and that the UK Government is right to resist such a move. In the UK, we have strong and competent regulators in the Department for Energy and the Offshore Safety Division of the HSE who preside over a robust, fit for purpose regulatory regime. Our dynamic, goal-setting safety regime has served us well over twenty years of operations during which time nearly 7,000 wells have been successfully drilled in the UKCS.

Our regime is based on recommendations made in the Cullen Report which was produced following the 1988 Piper Alpha disaster in which 167 people lost their lives.

The goal-setting nature of the regime places the responsibility firmly on the industry to demonstrate continually to HSE that the companies are taking measures to minimise the risk of oil and gas releases to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). The regime also requires an independent and competent

person, separate from the drilling line of management, to verify the well design, maintenance and control.

The other key way in which the UK and US regulatory regimes differ is that in the UK, responsibility within Government for licensing and regulation of the marine environment is separate from that of safety. Offshore oil and gas activities are subjected to extensive environmental assessment and are strictly regulated by European and UK legislation.

IntroducingOSPRAG

However, we are not being complacent and shortly after the Deepwater Horizon incident, Oil & Gas UK, in May, set up the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group (OSPRAG). The group brings together drilling contractors, operators, the regulators and trade unions to review the sector’s offshore drilling practices in the UKCS in light of the Gulf of Mexico events and assess the industry’s readiness to respond to a similar incident in this country.

Over the summer, the review groups through which OSPRAG conducts its work have been extremely busy and real progress has been made in several areas., First, the Technical Review Group (TRG) was set up to look closely at several key processes for primary, secondary and tertiary well control. Its main areas of focus are well examination, verification and primary well control, competency, behaviours and human factors, blowout preventer inventory and improvements including secondary control, well capping and containment and well flowing status.

The TRG commissioned Wood Group Kenny to develop and evaluate possible well containment and capping solutions for the UKCS. Three conceptual designs were considered: a sealing containment cap; a pressure containment cap with full/partial flow capability; and a non-pressure cap. OSPRAG is now taking to the detailed design stage the full/partial pressure containment cap option, which would close off or cap the well, preventing oil from leaking into the environment.

In the meantime, at the beginning of October Oil Spill Response Limited (OSR) in Southampton received delivery of new

UKactiononoilspillcapabilityandresponse


containment equipment from the Gulf of Mexico. The devices were developed by BP in response to the Macondo incident and are designed to be a key component in helping to capture oil leaking from an uncontrolled well.

Importantly, the TRG is liaising with the Gulf of Mexico Joint Industry Task Force to ensure technology developments and lessons learned are shared. Similarly the group remains linked with work being carried out by industry across Europe and other parts of the world through the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP).

Second, the Indemnities and Insurance Review Group (IIRG) was set up to assess the potential remediation and compensation costs associated with a range of different oil spill scenarios from minor leaks to major incidents. Companies operating in the UK are fully responsible for environmental or other material damage resulting from operational failures on their installations and there is no legislative cap on the extent of that responsibility for clean-up and compensation.

However, in addition to this liability, in 1975 the UK oil and gas industry established the Offshore Pollution Liability Association Ltd (OPOL). OPOL administers a voluntary industry mutual agreement which requires each operator to accept strict, ‘no fault’ liability for pollution damage and reimbursement of public authorities for remedial measures up to a pre-determined limit. Each operator is required to provide to the OPOL administration evidence of its financial ability to meet its liability under the agreement. All UK operators are OPOL members.

In the event that an OPOL member fails to meet its obligation and goes into default, the mutual agreement represents the committed response of the oil and gas industry in stepping up to make good the default up to a pre-determined limit, without limiting claimants’ rights at law to pursue any unsatisfied claims against the relevant member. On 18 August, on OSPRAG’s recommendation, the members of OPOL agreed to increase the limit of the OPOL guarantee from US$120 million to US$250 million per incident which is sufficient to cover the third party costs of an oil spill in previously modelled spill scenarios. The agreement came into effect on 1 October 2010.

In order to provide a more comprehensive picture of potential oil spill costs, the IIRG and the third OSPRAG review group, the Oil Spill Response Group (OSRG), have commissioned modelling of additional spill scenarios. The OSRG was established to review the UK’s oil spill response capability and industry co-ordination with the national response mechanism. In addition to spill scenarios and modelling, its areas of focus are a review of physical response capability, sensitivity and protection mapping in relation to clean up and restoration and Oil Pollution Emergency Plans (OPEPs). On the last point, this group is preparing for a major exercise during 2011 which will involve physical deployment of emergency response capabilities.

The final OSPRAG group, the European Issues and Global Liaison Sub-group is working with the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) in response to the EU Energy

Commissioner’s announcement to introduce changes to the regulation of offshore drilling in early 2011. Oil & Gas UK has robustly rejected his proposals on the basis that the UK’s regulatory system is robust and fit for purpose and any move that undermines its goal setting principles could put the safety of the workforce at risk.

Ensuring that the UK oil and gas industry puts safety and environmental protection first is Oil & Gas UK’s top priority. Therefore, we will continue to provide resources to OSPRAG to make sure its review of regulation and operations is thorough and that any improvements identified are implemented in a timely manner.

For the latest updates on OSPRAG’s work,please visit http://www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/

knowledgecentre/Key_issues.cfm

Thursday 18 November 2010 | 9.00am – 5.00pm

Environmental Seminar – towards a sustainable futureAberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, AB23 8BL

The regulatory ‘seascape’ for industrial operations on the UKCS is changing, driven by domestic and international policies to protect biodiversity in the marine environment and to promote sustainable use of the sea. In the next five to ten years we will see significant differences in the way that activities are managed, through a system of marine planning and marine protected areas, which can have a real impact on our objective to maximise production from the UKCS. This seminar will provide a broad overview of the challenges and highlight some of the Oil & Gas UK activities in response.

This seminar will be of interest to environmental practitioners and also to operations managers who need an overview of how these issues can impact their business.

For further information on the event agenda and speakers, and to book visit:

www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/events

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Feature Article

Spotlight on the strategy for UKsubseaoperations

With two thirds of all new fields in the UK likely to be tied back to existing infrastructure, the demand for subsea goods, equipment and experience is growing. Subsea technology allows hydrocarbons to be extracted cost effectively in increasingly challenging environments, maximising the utilisation of existing infrastructure and preventing the need to build new fixed production platforms at each offshore development site. The technology is also a key element of floating production field developments.

Thechallenge

Widely regarded as the technological leader in subsea operations and generating around £2.5 billion a year from the export of UK-developed technology, the industry here faces the challenge of both sustaining and enhancing its global subsea leadership position. Our offshore oil and gas industry has been using subsea technology for over 30 years and its importance in maximising the recovery of our oil and gas continues to grow.

Makingprogressbysharinginformation

Recognising the UK oil and gas industry’s need to maintain its market leading capabilities, Oil & Gas UK’s operations directorate has made subsea operations one of its key priority issues throughout 2009 and 2010. Building on past studies, it has strengthened its links with Subsea UK, the organisation which champions the UK subsea supply chain.

Subsea operations were the focus of Oil & Gas UK’s operations and technical discussion forum held in February 2010 where operator and service provider representatives identified a series of issues critical to ensuring the future

health of the subsea sector. As a result, a number of joint industry projects (JIPs) have been set up to address these.

Flexiblepipeintegrityassurance

One area of work is flexible pipe integrity. Flexible pipe is used extensively across the industry; it is the most viable technical and commercial solution for a variety of offshore pipeline systems including dynamic risers connected to floating production vessels and as infield flowlines for many subsea developments.

The ‘Sureflex project’, the JIP convened by Oil & Gas UK and managed by Wood Group Kenny, has delivered updated guidance notes to enhance the safe and appropriate use of flexible pipes and produced a report that brings together the latest industry knowledge on flexible pipe technology.

Patrick O’Brien, group director of strategic business and marketing, Wood Group Kenny, explains: “Contributors to the Sureflex project include all the major operators of flexible pipe worldwide, flexible pipe manufacturers and independent flexible pipe specialists in the field. The last report was published in 2002 and our work brings this up to date and incorporates data drawn from worldwide operational experience on the use of flexible pipe. The aim is to provide integrity engineers and managers with best practice guidance as well as a survey of all the latest technological developments.”

Tandemloading

A second JIP is updating the Tandem Loading Guidelines, which include advice on good practice for offloading vessels and Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs). This document was first compiled in 2001 in response to HSE concerns about the

risks of collision, pollution, loss of mooring, fire and explosion during tanker loading activities. Completion is expected in early 2011.

Subseaobsolescence

A third JIP is soon to be set up to look into the impact of obsolescence on subsea controls and plans in response to concerns that it is making subsea field life extension less likely and hindering recovery of oil and gas. This follows several meetings held by Oil & Gas UK and Subsea UK with operator company and service provider representatives at which the concern was raised. It is expected that the JIP’s findings will be published in mid 2011.

Latestsharingevent

Oil & Gas UK and Subsea UK are also working together to ensure that the industry continues to share information about subsea operations. In September there was a joint seminar which focused on how the subsea sector could secure a safe and sustainable future, chaired by Subsea UK chief executive Alistair Birnie. The key note address was given by Robin Davies, global vice-president at Subsea 7 and Oil & Gas UK co-chair. During the day, speakers from a range of companies including Chevron Upstream Europe, BP Plc, Wood Group Kenny and Technip UK Limited gave presentations highlighting the key issues related to subsea asset reliability, obsolescence and life extension, flexible pipe and riser integrity, subsea safety systems and standards, and West of Shetland challenges.

Paul Dymond, Oil & Gas UK’s operations director, said: “One hundred participants attended the event in Aberdeen and were given a valuable opportunity to see the interim results of the highly focused collaboration now taking place across the industry. I have no doubt that the full outcomes of the JIPs will be instrumental in helping us harness wide ranging opportunities both in the UK arena and in other oil and gas provinces around the world.”

For more information on the subsea JIPs,please contact Paul Dymond on [email protected]

Focus on Operations byPaulDymond,

operationsdirector,

Oil&GasUK


Feature Article

Access to infrastructure –delivering timely negotiatedservicearrangements

To ensure that new and smaller players in the UKCS can develop and bring on stream discoveries which require use of third party infrastructure, the industry developed a voluntary Code of Practice for third party access to infrastructure, known as ICoP. Adopted in 2004, the ICoP outlines best practices and expected behaviours for those who conduct negotiations for the access to infrastructure. The principles to which participating companies adhere are outlined in Figure 1.

In June 2009, the House of Commons Energy & Climate Change Select Committee noted in its first Report of Session 2008-09 on UK offshore oil and gas that smaller companies in particular were having difficulties in accessing the infrastructure they require, in some cases because of unrealistic demands by the infrastructure’s owners.

The Committee wrote that ‘DECC and the industry should make it a priority to strengthen the voluntary arrangements so that they do not hamper the ability of companies to operate. If a voluntary code cannot be made to work more effectively, serious consideration should be given to introducing a common carrier system’. Currently all offshore structures and pipelines are owned by the oil and gas companies which invested in them. Neither the government nor

its agents have any ownership of the plant and machinery offshore. In a common carrier regime, either an entirely separate company would own the infrastructure and it would be regulated as a monopoly supplier, or the government would own and directly regulate use of the infrastructure. DECC responded in October 2009 that it was working with the industry to provide clarity on the department’s approach to setting terms and conditions of access to infrastructure, if it was requested to do so. Oil & Gas UK members favour reliance on the ICoP philosophy and processes over a common carrier regime and agree that it is vital to implement negotiated access effectively. DECC set out to work with the industry to improve guidance for companies and deliver other initiatives aimed at strengthening the voluntary arrangements of ICoP.

In the intervening year, much progress has also been made through discussion forums attended by senior managers from across the sector and as a result the industry and Government now stands on the threshold of significantly improving the process for helping the development of new fields which require third party access to infrastructure. The forum’s activity has centred around three key areas.

1. Transparent compliance review of ICoPelements(seeFigure1)A review of compliance with ICoP was carried out; it showed that most elements of the Code are complied with but that more work could be done to post details of commercial terms and that timely agreements are made for access to the infrastructure based on fair and reasonable terms.

2. Ensuring engagement of, and providingtrainingfor,seniormanagementininfluencingcommercial behaviours and outcomes ofinfrastructureaccessnegotiationsusingICoPOil & Gas UK has provided training and information about ICoP to senior managers throughout 2008, 2009 and 2010 and established and strengthened links with Code of Practice Champions in each company. In addition, in order to demonstrate senior level commitment to ICoP’s principles, Oil & Gas UK has drawn up and circulated an ICoP charter for signature, illustrated in figure 2. As Wireline went to print, nearly all Oil & Gas UK operator members had signed up and we expect to receive the outstanding signatures shortly.

3.Considering the revisionof theAutomaticReferralNotice(ARN)processThe compliance review also showed that more effort was needed to ensure that the Automatic Referral Notice (ARN) mechanism is used effectively. This mechanism allows companies to ask the Secretary of State to use his legal competence to determine any access request, should the negotiations between infrastructure owner and the prospective user fail to deliver a timely result. It was recognised that infrastructure access requests had become increasingly complex, resulting in a wide range of interpretations on how ARNs should be used. Throughout 2009, an industry workgroup supported DECC in updating its guidance notes; however, these discussions were put on hold when the new coalition government announced that it planned to introduce the new Energy Security and Green Economy Bill later this year which will include new requirements on access to infrastructure.

Thewayforward

The new Bill is currently being drafted. DECC aims to consolidate all existing legislation on access to infrastructure (statutory requirements on infrastructure access exist in the Petroleum Act 1998, the Gas Act 1986, the Pipelines Act 1962 and the Energy Act 2008) and introduce new measures to underpin the principles of the Infrastructure Code of Practice (ICoP) in the legislation, an approach which will have widespread industry support.

Oil & Gas UK’s Changing Gear Steering Group has been in discussion on the principles to be included in the Bill at several meetings with DECC. It is likely that new elements will include a right to request information and progress reports from all parties as well as the ability for the Secretary of State to intervene, where appropriate, even if not invited by the enquirer. DECC aims to put the new Bill before Parliament by the end of this year.

Figure1

InfrastructureCodeofPracticeOverarchingPrinciples• Parties uphold infrastructure safety and integrity

and protect the environment.• Parties follow the Commercial Code of Practice.

PrinciplesoftheInfrastructureCodeofPractice• Parties provide meaningful information to

each other prior to and during commercial negotiations.

• Parties support negotiated access in a timely manner.

• Parties undertake to ultimately settle disputes with an automatic referral to the Secretary of State.

• Parties resolve conflicts of interest.• Infrastructure owners provide transparent and

non-discriminatory access.• Infrastructure owners provide tariffs and terms

for unbundled services, where requested and practicable.

• Parties seek to agree fair and reasonable terms where risks taken are reflected by awards.

• Parties publish key, agreed commercial provisions.

STATEMENT OF ADHERENCE /

ICOP COMPLIANCE CHARTER

SPECIMEN

The oil and gas industry’s Commercial and Infrastructure Codes of Practice

promote the principle of co-operative value generation through efficient, fair

and timely negotiated third party access to UKCS infrastructure.

The future of the UKCS and our ability to maximise the economic recovery of

petroleum reserves is critically dependent upon all owners of infrastructure

ensuring that this is accessible to third party developments on a transparent

and non-discriminatory basis.

In light of this Joe Bloggs acting on behalf of Accessible Oil Company Ltd

hereby confirms:1. The Codes of Practice will apply throughout all our negotiations:

I recognise that the success of the Codes depends on all the negotiation

team adopting the stated behaviours and processes.

2. I will demonstrable my knowledge and commitment towards this code

by: • Actively promoting adherence to the Codes within

Accessible Oil Company Ltd

• Providing the context of scope and timescale at the start of each

negotiation

• Intervening, when it is appropriate, to escalate the process and meet

with counterparties

3. I appoint Fred Perry as my CoP Champion and will support him in:

• Promoting, giving guidance, training and support for the use of the

Codes of Practice within our company

• Monitoring our company’s compliance to the Codes

• Ensuring prompt and effective responses during deal making

• Meeting regularly with other CoP Champions, e.g. at bi-annual network

meetings4. Ensure a fair risk/reward balance to the outcome:

I will actively seek to agree fair and reasonable tariffs and terms where

there is an appropriate balance of risks and rewards and one where all

parties derive some benefit.

5. Ensure timely progress:

I will actively seek progress within negotiations in a timely and efficient

manner; ensuring conflicts and misalignment of interests are addressed

and that the meaningful technical and commercial information identified

by ICoP is provided.

6. Ensure transparency of information on compliance to the code:

I will support the provision of information that assists with regular Code

compliance reviews and publishing of the outcome.Signed Joe Bloggs

Managing Director for and on behalf of

Accessible Oil Company Ltd

In the spotlight

GordonBallardChairman, UK Schlumberger Plc

The requirement to maximise recovery from a mature basin which still has a strong infrastructure allied with the continuing need for fresh technical innovation.

The main challenge for Oil & Gas UK will be to do everything it can to ensure strong oilfield activity in the UKCS. Particular areas of focus should be lobbying government for the best possible business environment, offering maximum encouragement to new entrants and working with all stakeholders to ensure easy access to infrastructure.

I studied Civil Engineering at Glasgow University. However I was not convinced I wanted to pursue civil engineering as a career so was looking at other options. The oil industry was growing rapidly at that time in Scotland and looked an appealing and stimulating place to work, I heard about the Petroleum Engineering Masters Degree at Heriot-Watt University and that was that ...

Q

Q

Q

WhatintheUKCSpresentsthebiggest opportunity for yourcompany?

What should Oil & Gas UK’sfirst priority be over thecomingyear?

What motivated you to jointheindustry?

SpotlightonnewOil&GasUKBoardMembers

Responsibility for settingOil&GasUK’spositiononpolicy matters lies withtheBoardwhosemembersrepresent a cross-sectionoftheindustry.

Rotation of Boardmembers after two yearsofserviceensuresthattheorganisation remains wellconnected to the industryand that all members aregiven the opportunityto contribute to itsgovernance.

Hereweshinethespotlighton four new Boardmembers.


Glen CayleyVice President – Technical, EuropeShell U.K. Exploration and Production

As part of Shell’s investment in the UKCS this year we are working on an exciting development plan for the Fram field in the Central North Sea. We continue to see opportunities in developing our assets and shaping our asset portfolio to suit our strengths.

To contribute to the work of OSPRAG as it is doing and to work with other parties to assure people that our UK oil and gas industry operates to the highest standards with respect for people and the environment, and is well regulated. I see this as the most urgent work, but there are other areas to work simultaneously such as industry safety and developing our world-class supply chain for future opportunities.

It was an exciting industry for someone like me when I joined it 30 years ago, just as it would be today. I set out with a geology degree from Liverpool University and a post-graduate degree in petroleum geology from Aberdeen University. I’ve since had great opportunities to work in many different parts of the world in various production, field development and exploration roles.

JamesEdensVice President & Managing DirectorCNR International (UK) Limited

The experienced and talented people currently working within the UKCS creates the largest opportunity for us. We seek to attract some of the best people this basin has to offer, and develop them to create value in our assets both here in the UKCS and in our operations in Africa and Canada.

Promoting the value remaining in the mature producing assets of the UKCS. Oil and Gas UK has to work with government and industry, to profitably maintain the existing infrastructure, so the remaining targets can be captured for economic benefit. A number of issues need to be addressed to achieve this, from the availability of skilled personnel both onshore and offshore, to the high cost of security for decommissioning, to creating appropriate fiscal models to promote extraction of the last remaining barrels.

An excellent overview of the wonders of the petroleum industry by a major oil company. While studying at university, I thought I would work in aerospace, biomedical engineering, or telecommunications, until I was enlightened by what exciting opportunities existed in multi-faceted world of oil and gas exploration and production. Even today, I don’t think we as an industry do enough to promote to developing professionals the great opportunities which exists in our collective operations worldwide.

SusanElstonManaging Director, Offshore & Remote SitesAramark Limited

The biggest opportunity is in developing a service proposition that works across the North Sea that will contribute fully to workforce health and wellbeing and assist in business growth.

Oil & Gas UK’s first priority should be to continue to drive the sustainability agenda.

From a catering perspective the industry is a one-off, where there is true engagement across all parts of the industry and all opinions matter.

3November:PILOT Share Fair 12Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Aberdeen, AB23 8BL

7.00am – 4.00pm

4November:Oil&GasUKAwards‘10Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Aberdeen, AB23 8BL7.00pm - late

9November:JointOil&GasUKandNOFEnergyBreakfastNorton Rose, 3 More London Riverside, London, SE1 2AQ9.00am – 1.00pm

18November:EnvironmentalSeminarAberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Aberdeen, AB23 8BL9.00am – 5.00pm

25November:JointAnnualOil&GasUKandWestminsterEnergyForumSeminarWynyard Hall, Tees Valley, TS22 5NF8.00am – 10.00am

Contact Oil & Gas UK

Editor: Trisha O’Reilly, Oil & Gas UK Designed by: Fiona Bridgeman, Oil & Gas UKPrinted by: Compass Print on recyled paperCopyright © The United Kingdom Offshore Oil and Gas Industry Association Limited trading as Oil & Gas UK October 2010

Oil&GasUKAberdeen3rd FloorThe Exchange 262 Market StreetAberdeen AB11 5PJTel: +44 (0)1224 577250Fax: +44 (0)1224 577251

Oil&GasUKLondon6th Floor EastPortland HouseBressenden PlaceLondon SW1E 5BHTel: +44 (0)20 7802 2400Fax: +44 (0)20 7802 2401

Email:[email protected]: www.oilandgasuk.co.uk

Dates for your diary

And finally...

Oil&GasUK’sGoldenGirl

In the last edition of Wireline we announced that Louise Wood, Oil & Gas UK’s events manager, was set to represent Scotland at the European Mixed Curling Championships in Glasgow in September.

We are delighted to announce that her team returned unbeaten and with gold medals around their necks having beaten Russia, Finland, Turkey, France, Netherlands, Italy, Denmark and both Germany and Switzerland twice in order to win the prestigious title of European Mixed Curling Champions 2010.

ForfurtherinformationonalltheOil&GasUKevents,sponsorshiporspeakeropportunitiespleasecontactLouiseWoodorStaceyHopkinTel:01224577250orvisitwww.oilandgasuk.co.uk/events

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