OGV Energy - Issue 47 - August 2021 - Skills & Training

AUGAUGUST 2021 - ISSUE 2020 47

UK’s No. ENERGY SECTOR

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PUBLICATION

THE SKILLS & TRAINING ISSUE

GLOBAL ENERGY NEWS

FEATURING

WORLD PROJECTS MAP

AIS Survivex - Greenmar STC Insiso - GCSG - Stena Drilling QHSE Aberdeen - Polaris Learning Caledonia Competence - ONE AFS Technologies - Arnlea Systems Grampian Training Services

SKILLS & TRAINING ZONE GREEN ENERGY INNOVATION & TECH CONTRACT AWARDS DECOMMISSIONING ON THE MOVE STATS AND ANALYTICS LEGAL & FINANCE

SKILLS & TRAINING P.20

The growing digitalisation drive in energy leaves a skills gap that needs to be addressed

EVENTS

OIL-PRICE P.16

OPEC+ PARTNERS to boost collective oil production in August by up to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) in view of strengthening global oil demand

RENEWABLES P.36

Renewables jobs 'to grow fivefold globally by 2050' according to a study published in the journal One Earth Scan with OGV APP

THE NEW NAME FOR AIS TRAINING AND SURVIVEX Read on page 4

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CONTENTS

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COVER PARTNER 04 - AIS Survivex: The future of the energy industry is now – supporting the evolving workforce

GLOBAL ENERGY NEWS 04

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9 - UK North Sea 12 - Europe 14 - US 16 - Middle East

HACK ALERT!

WORLD PROJECTS MAP

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18 - EIC - World's latest project updates

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SKILLS & TRAINING ZONE 20 - Training and development for the future of energy 22 - GCSG Training: Set to open training school in Fiji 23 - Greenmar: A new renewable energy recruitment company in Aberdeen 23 - Caledonia Competence: supporting freelance personnel with a proof of competence scheme 24 - Stena Drilling: Commitment to training helps deliver world-class MPD Wells

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25 - RGU: New Energy. New Jobs. New Opportunities 25 - Grampian Training Services: First aid training 26 - Polaris Learning: Remote training and competency technologies for a net-zero future 26 - ETZ ltd: Maintaining a skilled workforce that reflects the changing nature of the industry 29 - Norwell Edge: How digital is transforming training 30 - STC Insiso: Creating an agile workforce 32 - AFS Technology: Training & competence

INNOVATION & TECH ZONE 34

46

34 - Safe Influx: Automated well control technology 35 - IMRANDD: A leading not lagging decision making process for effective asset management

EVERY MONTH 36 - Renewables 38 - Contract Awards 42 - On the Move 44 - Decommissioning 46 - Stats and Analytics 48 - People in Energy: Andrew Reid, Director, SAFER Training 49 - Community Partner: Aberdeen FC 50 - Legal and Finance 51 - Events

KENNY DOOLEY MAIN EDITOR Welcome to the August issue of OGV Energy, the oil price has continued to remain stable, more people have received their second vaccination, we are seeing a little more travel and it looks like sometime during this month we will be living our most normal life since February 2020. With the world starting to open up a little, it’s looking more likely that ADIPEC will go ahead in November and the opportunity to meet with clients and international partners face to face again will become a reality.

Our theme this month is “skills and training” and with that, we have one of our most packed issues for a while, kicking off with AIS Survivex and how they can support the evolving workforce within the energy sector.

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The rest of this month’s magazine provides you with a review of the energy sector in the North Sea, Europe, the Middle East, the US along with industry analysis and project updates from the EIC, Renewables UK, Westwood Global and our new decommission section sponsored by Well-Safe Solutions.

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In this issue, we also hear from Stena Drilling, Norwell Edge, QHSE Aberdeen, Caledonian Competence, Polaris, Grampian Corrosion Solutions Training, Grampian Training, AFS Technologies, Greenmar and STC Insiso and how they are adapting their services to upskill the energy sector to meet the demand for the energy transition.

Thanks again to our readers and partners for all their support and we look forward to a positive back end to 2021. @OGVENERGY

VIEW THE OGV MAGAZINE ONLINE AT www.ogv.energy/magazine

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COVER PARTNER

By Paul Knowles, Vice President UK & Europe, AIS Survivex

The future of the energy industry is now – supporting the evolving workforce.

It’s unavoidable - and it’s a major talking point - that the future of the energy industry is transforming, transitioning from fossil fuels to low carbon technologies (offshore wind, hydrogen or carbon capture and storage (CCS)), in order to combat the effects of climate change while ensuring that the global energy demand is met.

and the launch of the new AIS Survivex brand, we are in a stronger position to deliver a wider array of products and solutions to our customers, regardless of their career path. Increasing our offering with greater capabilities in Crisis Management for example, or the addition of accredited marine courses to our portfolio.

As part of the 3t Energy Group, the UK’s largest provider of global energy training services, AIS Survivex is set to transform the way training is delivered. Whether that is our digital check-in at our centres, or supporting a blended learning approach with our R3 App (Response, Repeat, Retain), a knowledge retention tool that specifically targets the forgetting curve.

Additionally, working in close partnership with our customers allows AIS Survivex to ensure the highest level of compliance and competence which is underpinned by our market leading workforce management solutions, including Training Management Solutions (TMS), as well as competency management and learning management platforms.

Transforming training Change is constant in the training sector and as a Group, we try to be courageous and boundless in our approach, everything we do should be Transformational. We continuously invest in our technology and course capabilities, with innovation at the forefront of our learning delivery. Whether that is integrating virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) or the implementation of Live Virtual Training (LVT); a method of delivering training remotely to anywhere in the world whilst still engaged with a highly experienced instructor via video link in real time.

The future is now The people are at the core of any business and as the energy transition continues to gather pace, we should ensure that we not only develop the alternative low carbon technologies but also a skilled and smart workforce ready to deliver the net-zero goals. The future of the energy industry is already here, and 3t Energy Group is ready to support it.

It is only natural that as the energy landscape changes, so does its workforce. The important question is not only how we can develop the alternative technologies to support the energy transition, but also what we can do to ensure that our workforce remains competent; acquiring the tools they require to transition to the new climate, which is key to delivering net-zero goals.

Joining the journey The latest Energy Institute report, The 2021 Energy Barometer, suggests that the majority of the UK workforce considers pursuing training in the coming year, specifically as a result of net-zero.

"Whether it be within renewables or the oil and gas sector, service excellence is something we are truly passionate about. "

More and more frequently, we are noticing delegates coming through our training centres who are retraining to evolve and enhance their skills. We want to follow them on that journey whilst continuing to support our customers as they evolve their own business models around Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, carbon reduction and net-zero commitments.

Following a recent rebrand, which combined the legacies and capabilities of three leading training providers, AIS Survivex’s goal is to deliver the world’s best learning experience, helping people reach their full potential and transforming careers as the industry evolves - as well as impacting industry safety and competence standards.

The complete portfolio Whether it be within renewables or the oil and gas sector, service excellence is something we are truly passionate about. With the recent acquisition of an in-person training business

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AIS Survivex is the UK's biggest energy sector training provider, offering over 500 courses in Scotland and Newcastle.

For more information visit ais-survivex.com

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Maersk Training appoints new UK Head of Commercial Based in Aberdeen, Paul Hudson will oversee sales, commercial and marketing activities for the company. He will work with UK managing director, Leonardo Machado, to expand the business as Maersk Training aims to be the preferred training and solution partner across the oil and gas, maritime and renewables sectors.

Mr Hudson said: “I'm honoured to join the team at Maersk Training. What is clear to me is that there is already an excellent culture within the business, backed by an iconic global brand. I am excited at the prospect of working with such a talented team of experts as well as engaging with our clients to discuss their specialist training and competency needs, across all the sectors we serve.”

Mr Hudson joins Maersk Training from ROVOP where he was head of business development before becoming its sales and marketing director.

Multiple new clients add asset55 innovation into their delivery programs Leading technology house, asset55, have reached record highs as they have seen their customer portfolio grow by more than 20 new adds in the last 9-months.

The specialist software and services provider to the global energy market has grown their client base by almost 30%, in addition to retaining and renewing several existing key accounts. These new wins have been spread across both their Operations and Construction Divisions, with the UK, North America, APAC, and the Middle East dominating geographically.

MDL undertakes double SURF lay for TechnipFMC Norway The two scopes – both follow-on campaigns from 2020 - were performed using MDL spreads mobilised on vessels from the client’s fleet. On the first mission an MDL Generation 3 Reel Drive System was used to install 2 umbilicals from 9.6m reels.

The second mission completed the replacement of a flexible jumper, using an MDL Generation 2 Reel Drive System, a TTS-2/140 Series Tensioner, an overboarding chute and deck deflectors.

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Ampelmann’s electric A-type is ready for operations Electric solutions, a lower carbon footprint and a strong commitment to sustainability are sure to be the future of the Walk to Work (W2W) industry.

Based on the technology and decade-long track record of its flagship system, the latest iteration of the A-type has seen its traditional hydraulic power train replaced by electric regenerative actuation, decreasing its energy use by more than 80%. This shift in technology does not only contribute to more environmentally friendly operations, but also makes the system significantly lighter, smaller in deck footprint and even quicker to mobilise.

Former North East servicewoman turned businesswoman reaches finals of national awards for ex-forces personnel A former military servicewoman from the North East has been shortlisted as a finalist in this year’s Scottish Ex-Forces in Business Awards.

Rachael Pacey, 38, from Inverurie, has been selected as a finalist for the ‘Team Leader of the Year’ award for her work as Implementation Team Lead with Aberdeen based IT services company Solab.

He has also worked in similar roles for Mitsui & Co., Forum Energy Technologies and Tritech over a 20-year career.

Commentating on the announcement, Mr Machado added: “We are very pleased to have Paul joining our senior management team in the UK. He brings vast experience, a successful track record in energy markets and strong commercial acumen which will accelerate our growth in the coming years.”

Earlier this year, Maersk Training’s Aberdeen safety and survival centre underwent a £720k refurbishment to ensure it meets the needs of the industry as it looks to the future and the energy transition.

Alongside the centre refurbishments, Maersk Training has introduced an upgrade to its Training Management Service (TMS), improving processes for companies dealing with fewer headcounts, and re-introduced its modular training units, offering an effective and safer solution for delegate training.

Re-Gen Robotics gears up for European growth with £4M investment Re-Gen Robotics which specialises in 100% no man entry tank cleaning in the Oil, Gas and Pharmaceutical Industry, is on track to take delivery of a further two robotic cleaning systems towards the end of this year. The systems are part of a multi-million pound investment which includes a new headquarters with state-of-the-art R&D facilities, high performance technology and the creation of eight jobs.

Designed in partnership with Gerotto, in Italy, the custom-made robots are light years ahead of anything else offered on the market.

John Lawrie Metals Wins Metal Recycling Business of the Year 2021 John Lawrie Metals Ltd, the decommissioning and metal recycling experts, has been named Metal Recycling Business of the Year at the 2021 Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management.

The awards ceremony, held in London’s Landmark Hotel on Wednesday 21st July, is the most prestigious event in the environmental calendar promoting the efforts of all businesses in the recycling, reuse and waste reduction sector.

Join the OGV Community to share your news with our ever-growing energy sector audience Find out more at www.ogv.energy/register

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ENERGY NEWS

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AUGUST 2021

UK NORTH SEA

Energy Review

By Tsvetana Paraskova

The progress in emissions reductions of the UK North Sea industry and the cost of decommissioning infrastructure, along with a number of supply contracts and asset sales, were the highlights in the UK oil and gas sector over the past month.

Total government revenues from UK Oil and Gas production stood at £248 million in the tax year 2020 to 2021, a drop of 71% compared to the previous year, the government said in July.

Offshore Corporation Tax payments, including ring-fence Corporation Tax (RFCT) and Supplementary Charge (SC), declined by 61% year-on-year in net terms (that is, net of repayments) to £498 million.

Over the past decade, government revenues from UK oil and gas production have decreased significantly, from £10.8 billion in 1984 to 1981 to £0.2 billion in 2020 to 2021, the government data showed.

OGUK launched at the end of June a major plan to cut emissions of methane, of the world’s most potent greenhouse gases. The key actions in the Methane Action Plan 2021 include 50% reduction in methane emissions by 2030, a target of UKCS methane intensity below 0.20% by 2025, zero-routine flaring before 2030. In addition, each company and offshore installation will develop its own Methane Action Plan by 2023, installations will seek to validate methane quantification wherever practicable by relevant measurements, and the industry will seek to align to international standards and reporting principles.

“We hope to see companies and other industries around the world adopting a similar approach, developing their own comprehensive guidelines to accelerate the drive for net-zero and reposition for a sustainable future,” OGUK Emissions Improvement Manager Thibaut Cheret said.

The Oil and Gas Authority’s (OGA) Technology Insights report showed in early July that net-zero and data and digital are increasingly key areas of focus for innovation in the oil and gas industry, alongside the core technologies for exploration, development, and asset operations.

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Technologies for net-zero were for the first time reported in operators’ plans last year, including solutions for emission monitoring, flaring and venting reduction, and the use of renewable power offshore, the OGA said.

Captain Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) project in the UK’s central North Sea. Petrofac will be responsible for fabricating, constructing, and commissioning the topsides development, bringing to life Ithaca’s strategy to maximise economic recovery.

Petrofac also won a three-year contract extension from Neptune Energy valued in the region of US$14 million. The renewal, which comes into effect on 1 January 2022, includes provision of operations and maintenance services for Neptune Energy’s Cygnus Alpha platform in the Southern North Sea. Petrofac has been awarded a new three-year contract with ONEgas, an integrated cross-border asset between Shell UK and the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij in the Southern North Sea.

The authority also estimated in its 2021 Decommissioning Cost Estimate report that decommissioning costs had declined by 23% to £46 billion, marking steady progress towards the £39-billion by end-2022 target called for in the 2017 report.

“The industry is responding to the challenge to cut costs well, but it must maintain focus and increase the pace to hit the 35% target,” Stuart Payne, OGA Director of Supply Chain, Decommissioning and HR, said.

Petrofac also entered into a strategic alliance with Storegga, an independent UK company pioneering carbon reduction and removal for a net-zero world, to fast-track net-zero infrastructure. Under the deal, Petrofac will provide capabilities, people, processes and systems to reinforce the technical development and management of Storegga’s growing portfolio.

“We will also work to bring companies together – because collaboration and knowledge-sharing is key, companies must continue to step up and collaborate in this area,” Payne added.

The OGA’s overview of performance over the past year and expectations for the coming years showed that OGA interventions in 2021 have helped the oil and gas industry avoid producing 970,000 tonnes of future carbon dioxide equivalent – the same as taking 500,000 cars off the road for a year.

CO2 emissions from offshore installations and terminals fell 10% between 2019 and 2020, the report found. Flaring volumes also dropped, by 22% in 2020 – equivalent to the gas demand of 200,000 homes. Production efficiency has remained at 80% for a second consecutive year, while operating costs have fallen to £11.10 per barrel, the OGA estimates.

“We also look forward to seeing new field developments being electrified and we’re actively supporting electrification projects in their early stages in the Central North Sea and West of Shetland,” said Andy Samuel, OGA Chief Executive.

The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) said on 1 July it had secured funding from the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which will take robot submarine ‘Boaty McBoatface’ around end-of-life oil and gas fields. This funding has allowed the use of state-of-the-art technology to provide futureproof solutions for the oil industry and will test whether these robotic approaches can gather equivalent information to the surveys currently facilitated on research ships.

“Autonomous submarines could offer many advantages over current approaches; improving the quality and quantity of environmental information while cutting the cost and environmental impact for a survey ship and its crew,” said Dr Daniel Jones from the NOC.

Company news Petrofac announced several contracts this past month. The firm has been awarded a two-and-a-half-year brownfield project with Ithaca Energy, valued at around US$17 million.

The project is for stage two of Ithaca Energy’s

Andy Samuel, OGA Chief Executive

"We also look forward to seeing new field developments being electrified and we’re actively supporting electrification projects in their early stages in the Central North Sea and West of Shetland"

Finally, Petrofac said it had collaborated with asset management specialist James Fisher Asset Information Services (JF AIS) to eliminate the need for offshore surveys ahead of modification scopes, reducing time and cost. The digital process enables offshore crew to capture detailed visual and measurement data through a process called Self-Capture Point Cloud. With the digital twin technology, Petrofac was able to undertake a spool piece replacement in the North Sea, avoiding the need to mobilise a survey team - a first for the UK energy industry, the company said.

Tailwind completed on 1 July the full sale of its interests in the Conwy field, including decommissioning, to Eni with all regulatory conditions satisfied.

Finder Energy has completed its acquisition of the highly prospective UK North Sea Goose licence, P2317, from Azinor Catalyst. The licence, located in the NW Witch Ground Graben of the Outer Moray Firth in the Central North Sea, covers an area of 292 square kilometres and is 175 km northeast of Aberdeen. The licence contains the drill ready Goose prospect that sits immediately adjacent to the Northern Flank of the Claymore field. Finder Energy currently holds an operated 100% working interest in this licence and is seeking partners to join in the drilling of the Goose exploration well in 2022 or 2023.

EnQuest completed the previously announced transaction to buy the entire 100% equity interest in the P1078 licence containing the proven Bentley heavy-oil discovery from Whalsay Energy Holdings Limited.

Tangram Energy has awarded Applied Petroleum Technology (APT) a master service agreement to provide basin modelling, petroleum systems evaluations, and geochemical analyses for the operator’s E&P activities on the UK continental shelf on a non-exclusive basis.

Serica Energy announced successful flow test results from the Columbus development well. A stabilised flow rate of 38.0mmscf/d of gas and 1,560bbls/d of condensate has been achieved through a 56/64ths inch choke. This rate was at the upper end of the pre-drill range of expected outcomes and was constrained by the surface well test equipment on board the Maersk Resilient Heavy-Duty Jack-Up drilling rig.

UK NORTH SEA REVIEW sponsored by www.ogv.energy I August 2021

UK North Sea

BRENT OIL PRICES OVER THE YEARS August review

1

YEAR AGO

- BRENT OIL PRICE 2020 - $44.74 Oil rose the most in nearly two weeks, tracking a move in stronger equities, as economic data from the U.S. to Europe and Asia signalled a flicker of life in languishing demand.

“Columbus is part of Serica’s ongoing capital investment programme which is aimed at boosting production in the second half of this year and beyond,” Serica Energy’s CEO Mitch Flegg said.

Neptune Energy awarded in July a subsea inspection contract for its operated Cygnus gas field in the UK southern North Sea to Geodata specialist Fugro. Fugro will use advanced inspection technologies, enabling data processing to be carried out onshore, reducing time and costs.

“By using our ROC in Aberdeen, we can complete these scopes from onshore while maintaining our high standards of data collection,” Daniel Jones, Fugro’s Director IRM Services for Europe and Africa, said.

Harbour Energy plc said on 15 July it had become a signatory to the World Bank’s ‘Zero Routine Flaring by 2030’ initiative. Harbour Energy is taking significant steps within its operations to reduce emissions and achieve its commitment to be net-zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035, the company said.

Linda Z. Cook, CEO of Harbour Energy

“At Harbour Energy our purpose is to play a significant role in meeting the world’s energy needs through the safe and efficient production of hydrocarbons, while creating value for our shareholders,” Linda Z. Cook, CEO of Harbour Energy, commented.

Orcadian Energy has filed a revised concept selection for its Pilot field to include a significant improvement in process heat management and power generation efficiency. To further improve emissions performance Orcadian has also chosen to include a floating wind turbine in the development concept. Following a review

by Crondall Energy Limited, these initiatives combined have the potential to reduce expected Scope 1 emissions from the development by over 80%, to 2.6 kgCO2e/bbl, Orcadian Energy said.

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U.S. manufacturing expanded in July at the fastest pace since March 2019, while factories across the euro area posted their first expansion in one-anda-half years. In China, a private gauge showed the country’s factory activity grew at a faster pace in July than at any point since January 2011. Equities strengthened with the S&P 500 Index rising as much as nearly 1%.

Yet the deal between the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies to ease production cuts is keeping oil prices from rallying higher.

5

YEARS AGO

- BRENT OIL PRICE 2016 - $45.84 A team of scientists from CoorsTek Membrane Sciences, the University of Oslo (Norway), and the Instituto de Tecnología Química (Spain) has developed a new conversion of natural gas to liquids without CO2 emissions.

The procedure used natural gas as raw material for aromatic chemicals and a ceramic membrane to make the direct, non-oxidative conversion of gas to liquids possible for the first time. It not only reduces cost and eliminates multiple process steps, but it also avoids any carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The resulting aromatic precursors are source chemicals for insulation materials, plastics, textiles, and jet fuel, among other products.

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YEARS AGO

- BRENT OIL PRICE 2011 - $110.22

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Shell finally stopped the leak from its faulty oil pipeline in the North Sea, ending the flow of oil undersea after 10 days of the worst oil spill in UK waters for a decade.

Divers closed a relief valve which was the source of a small secondary leak, discovered after the first major leak in the pipeline at the Gannet Alpha platform had been plugged. Government officials opened an investigation into how the leak occurred and whether the correct procedures were followed. They also decided whether Shell should pay for government expenses incurred in the clean-up operation. Shell was fined £22,500.

ENERGY TRANSITION

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ENERGY NEWS

By Tsvetana Paraskova

Europe

Energy Review

New oil and gas field start-ups and a number of offshore wind plans and projects, including bids from major oil firms for Scotland’s leasing round, featured in Europe’s energy news over the past month.

Oil & Gas

laying a 36-inch pipeline, and installing a new process module on the Troll A platform.

In Norway, Equinor started an oilfield, decided to develop more fields, and received approval to work on a new field and expand the production system at another.

Equinor and the partners Petoro, Vår Energi, and Total E&P Norge have decided to develop the Lavrans discovery and the Kristin Q-discovery which is a part of the Kristin field that was put on stream in 2005. The technical life of the Kristin platform is estimated to end in 2034, with possibilities of further life extension to 2042. Production from Lavrans and Kristin Q will be tied into the Kristin platform. A subsea template will be installed at Lavrans, while at Kristin Q an already installed subsea template will be reused. A total of five wells are planned to be drilled, four at Lavrans and one at Kristin Q.

Equinor started up the Martin Linge oil and gas field in the North Sea on 30 June. The field is powered from the shore, resulting in low CO2 emissions, and is operated from its onshore control room. Expected recoverable resources at Martin Linge are around 260 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe). At plateau the field will produce around 115,000 boe per day.

The Norwegian authorities approved the plan for development and operation (PDO) of the Breidablikk field in the North Sea. Production from the field is scheduled to start in the first half of 2024. Estimated recovery from the field is around 200 million barrels of oil.

“The development of one of the largest undeveloped oil discoveries on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) will create substantial value for Norwegian society and the owners, while securing high activity and jobs for many years ahead,” says Arne Sigve Nylund, Equinor’s executive vice president for Projects, Drilling and Procurement.

The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) has also given Equinor the consent to use the Troll Phase 3 subsea production system on the Troll field. The subsea production system involves the construction of subsea well templates, the drilling of eight production wells,

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

Aker Solutions and AF Gruppen signed on 1 July a Letter of Intent (LOI) to merge the two companies’ existing offshore decommissioning operations into a 50/50 owned company, to create a leading global player for environmentally friendly recycling of offshore assets.

Bristow Group Inc announced four separate two-year contract extensions through April 2024 with Equinor, Shell, and Neptune to support its air transportation crew change services for their operations in the Norwegian continental shelf. Equinor extended its Bristow contract at the Bergen base for two years to end of April 2024, with additional two one-year options to extend. Equinor, Shell, and Neptune Energy also prolonged their Bristow contract at the Florø base for two years to April 2024, with additional two oneyear options to extend.

Low-Carbon Energy Every UK job has the potential to be green, according to a new independent, expert report published on 14 July and backed by the UK government. Independent Green Jobs Taskforce issued a call to action on how the UK can deliver a green industrial revolution with government, business, and the education sector working together. The UK government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting workers as the economy transitions to a low-carbon future with a package of green skills programmes, helping adults of all ages gain the skills needed to progress into green jobs. The steps would be crucial to support the government’s ambition to create 2 million skilled green jobs by 2030 and build back greener from the pandemic.

The UK government also said it would bring forward the deadline to phase out coal from Great Britain’s energy system by a year to October 2024. The earlier retirement of coal from the power system is a key step in UK government’s plans to decarbonise the power sector and eliminate the UK’s contribution to climate change by 2050, the government said.

ScotWind, the first round of Offshore Wind Leasing in Scottish waters for a decade, has received 74 applications from developers looking for the rights to build projects across the 15 areas of seabed available for development, Crown Estate Scotland said on 22 July after the application deadline ended.

“The high number of applications from developers shows just how much potential Scotland’s seas hold for the future expansion of offshore wind. There is now a huge amount of work to do in assessing every application thoroughly and fairly so that the strongest

Europe projects go through to the next stage in helping to power Scotland’s energy sector towards a net-zero future,” Colin Palmer, Director of Marine for Crown Estate Scotland, said.

Some of the applications came from major oil companies, which joined forces with other firms to bid in the ScotWind leasing round. Crown Estate Scotland is expected to announce the results of this round of ScotWind Leasing in early 2022. bp and partner EnBW submitted a bid for 2.9 GW offshore wind lease in UK North Sea in the ScotWind leasing round. If the bid is successful, it would bring multi-billion pound investments into Scottish offshore wind projects and supporting infrastructure, including ports, harbours and shipyards. bp also would use its unique integrated business model to invest in net-zero industries, including green hydrogen production and significantly accelerating the expansion of Scotland’s EV charging network, the company said. The potential £10 billion investments would make Scotland a global leader in offshore wind and accelerate its energy transition, bp noted.

ScottishPower and Shell have also joined forces to bid in the ScotWind leasing round to develop the world’s first large-scale floating offshore wind farms in the north-east of Scotland.

Scottish offshore wind developer Red Rock Power Limited and Italy’s Eni formed a 50/50 partnership as they prepared to make a joint bid with the support of transmission company, Transmission Investment in the ScotWind offshore leasing round.

“The success of ScotWind will be crucial for developing the local industry in this sector and for positioning new technologies in a growing global market,” said Alessandro Della Zoppa, Head of Renewables in Eni Gas & Luce.

Norway’s Equinor also confirmed it had bid for floating offshore wind in ScotWind. Equinor sees the leasing round as “a good strategic fit with its ambitions to continue to develop its North Sea offshore wind cluster and further deepen its presence across the UK.” “With around half of the sites being floating offshore wind opportunities, the offshore energy company believes the Scottish Government is offering a great opportunity to develop large floating offshore wind projects at scale,” Equinor said.

Ocean Winds and Aker Offshore Wind also announced a new partnership for the development of offshore wind in Scotland using floating technology. Currently partnering in California, USA, and Korea, the companies will join forces to bid in the ScotWind leasing round.

Every UK job has the potential to be green, according to a new independent, expert report published on 14 July and backed by the UK government.

bp and EnBW revealed the names of their planned new offshore wind projects in the Irish Sea – Morgan and Mona – and launched a dedicated supplier portal for the developments. When complete, Morgan and Mona will have a combined potential generating capacity of 3 GW, enough to power the equivalent of around 3.4 million UK households with clean electricity.

Eni UK and Uniper have decided to jointly evaluate decarbonisation initiatives in North Wales. The collaboration, in line with the UK government’s ten point plan for green industrial revolution, will investigate the technical and commercial feasibility to work together on future low carbon project initiatives in the region.

8 Rivers Capital and Sembcorp Energy UK said it would collaborate on the potential development of the UK’s first net-zero emissions power plant – Whitetail Clean Energy, which is planned to be a 300MW

NET Power station at Wilton International, Teesside, capturing and storing its carbon emissions offshore, creating a net-zero emissions power plant.

Shell became Technical Developer for the Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Project at St Fergus and the transport and storage project which will transport CO2 offshore from St Fergus through the existing Goldeneye pipeline to the Acorn store.

The Acorn project partners awarded Carbon Clean the contract to carry out the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) services for the Acorn carbon capture plant at St Fergus.

Shell started up Europe’s largest PEM green hydrogen electrolyser at its Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland near Cologne, Germany, producing green hydrogen.

“Shell wants to become a leading supplier of green hydrogen for industrial and transport customers in Germany,” Shell’s Downstream Director, Huibert Vigeveno, said.

Shell and Rolls-Royce signed an agreement to support the decarbonisation of the aviation industry and their progress towards net-zero emissions. The companies will join forces to progress the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in aircraft engines.

Nova Innovation and SABELLA joined forces to develop tidal energy projects in France and the UK. The alliance will include cooperation across French and UK sites, driving down costs, catalysing opportunities for funding, and delivering economies of scale to tackle the climate emergency.

Italy’s engineering firm Saipem launched on 19 July SUISO, a technological solution for the offshore production of green hydrogen and the conversion of oil and gas facilities. SUISO combines floating wind, floating solar, and marine energy and it will be applied for the first time to the Agnes project in the Adriatic Sea.

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ENERGY NEWS

US

By Tsvetana Paraskova

US

ENERGY REVIEW

US oil and gas activity continues to expand, but upstream operators continue to be careful and show capital discipline. As oil demand prospects improve and activity returns, employment in the US oilfield services sector is also ticking up. In addition, rallying commodity prices this year resulted in a very strong second quarter for mergers and acquisitions across the U.S. shale patch.

US oil, gas activity and outlook continue to Improve Rallying oil prices and re-opening of economies helped activity in the US oil and gas sector continue to improve in the second quarter of 2021, the Dallas Fed Energy Survey Q2 showed at the end of June.

According to the survey of oil and gas executives, the business activity index—the survey’s broadest measure of conditions for energy firms—remained elevated at 53.0, essentially unchanged from its first-quarter reading. Oil and gas production increased, with the oil production index jumping from 16.3 in the first quarter to 35.0 in the second quarter. This marked the second-highest reading since the survey’s inception in 2016. Similarly, the natural gas production index increased 19 points to 35.0, according to the survey.

Executives at oilfield services firms also reported improvement across all indicators, with the equipment utilisation index staying positive and operating margins improving further. The operating margins index rose from 14.0 to 22.5. The index of prices received for services rose from 20.0 to 30.0, the Dallas Fed Energy Survey found.

Generally, exploration and production firms are concerned about the Biden Administration’s policies to ban drilling on federal land and potential changes to the tax code that could negatively impact the industry, executives said in comments to the survey.

“Don’t take the bait, drillers: Stay capital disciplined and enjoy the higher prices for your product,” one E&P executive said, while another noted that “The uncertainty has decreased, but it is still very high.”

“Drilling costs remain low, and we have little competition from the “bigs.” It is a great time to be independent without debt!” said a third executive in the comments.

An executive at an oil and gas support services firm said: “While things are picking up in our areas of work, there is still much uncertainty as to “will this last?”

It’s hard to believe we are questioning how things are going with oil over $70 per barrel.”

US shale not rushing to boost production Despite the recent rally in oil prices, US shale is not racing to pump more oil, according to an analysis from Rystad Energy from early July, a week before OPEC+ finally sealed a new deal on easing their collective production cuts.

Even if US shale operators were to decide to increase production, it would take at least nine months to see a meaningful supply boost, according to Rystad Energy.

“Therefore, boosting output carries a considerable risk due to the volatility that surrounds oil demand and price trajectories,” the independent energy research company said.

“Even if the US shale industry wanted to produce more, the time required from a price signal to a significant production impact is at least nine months, including the time it takes to make an investment decision, the months needed from spud to frac end, plus the last stage from frac end to peak production,” said Artem Abramov, head of Shale Research at Rystad Energy.

The oil and gas industry is driving every sector of the U.S. economy

The aggregate employment index posted a second consecutive positive reading, edging up from 8.4 to 9.9. Growth in employment continues to be driven primarily by oilfield services firms.

Six-month outlooks improved notably, as the index moved up from 70.6 for the first quarter to 71.9 for the second quarter, reaching the highest reading in the survey’s five-year history.

Survey respondents expect a West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price of $70 per barrel by the end of 2021, with responses ranging from $49 to $85 a barrel. Participants see Henry Hub natural gas prices of $3.10 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) at year-end.

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

Upstream M&As Return As Commodities and Equities Rally

Upstream M&A activity jumped in the second quarter, with more than 40 deals worth a combined US$33 billion announced, energy data analytics company Enverus said in its regular quarterly report in July. That is the highest quarterly value total since the second quarter of 2019, which included Occidental Petroleum’s buy of Anadarko Petroleum, and is tied for the most announced deals above US$1 billion since 2014. There were seven deals worth more than US$1 billion each announced in the second quarter of 2021.

“Responding to investor pressure to operate more efficiently, E&P companies have prioritised consolidation,” said Andrew Dittmar, senior M&A analyst at Enverus. “With three extremely active

quarters out of the last four, there has been more than $85 billion announced in upstream M&A during the prior 12 months.”

The M&A activity so far this year shows that there has been a shift in the targets of deals in the shale patch, according to Enverus. 2020 was mostly about public companies consolidating for operational and administrative synergies, while in 2021 the main driver of deals has been public companies acquiring private and private equitysponsored producers.

“As long as there isn’t a sharp retreat in commodity prices, M&A activity is likely to remain strong during the second half of 2021,” Dittmar said, adding that there are numerous opportunities for further acquisitions of private E&Ps or non-core assets.

Oil services employment continues to grow America’s energy technology and services sector added an estimated 8,002 jobs in June 2021, marking a fourth consecutive month of growth, an analysis by the Energy Workforce & Technology Council based on preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed.

The 1.3-percent growth in June comes after the sector added nearly 24,000 positions over the past three months after hitting a pandemic low of 591,413 jobs in February, according to BLS data.

Gains over the past four months bring the sector to a net increase of an estimated 9,043 jobs in 2021.

The Council estimates a peak of nearly 102,000 pandemic-related job losses in the energy technology and services sector. Since then, the sector has restored around 18,600 positions, bringing total pandemic employment cuts to 83,000 jobs and more than $9.4 billion in annualised lost wages.

Estimates show that Texas added 4,400 jobs in the sector in June 2021 compared to the same month of 2020.

API says US oil & gas drives economic recovery The oil and gas industry is driving every sector of the U.S. economy and supported as many as 11.3 million total American jobs in 2019 across all 50 states, a study prepared

by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and commissioned by the American Petroleum Institute (API) showed in July.

The industry’s total impact on US gross domestic product (GDP) was nearly US$1.7 trillion, accounting for almost 8 percent of the national total in 2019, according to the study.

“Every state across the country – both blue states and red states – rely on American energy to fuel each sector of the economy and support millions of U.S. jobs,” API President and CEO Mike Sommers said, commenting on the study.

“This study reinforces that America’s economic outlook is brighter when we are leading the world in energy production, and it serves as a reminder of what’s at stake if policymakers restrict access to affordable, reliable energy and make us more dependent on foreign sources."

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MIDDLE EAST

Energy Review

By Tsvetana Paraskova

A dramatic OPEC+ monthly meeting has dominated the energy news flow out of the Middle East over the past weeks, while major oil and gas companies in the region announced production and supply deals and record bond issues.

OPEC’s dramatic disagreement As originally scheduled, OPEC and its nonOPEC partners prepared to hold their regular monthly meeting on 1 July and were widely expected to decide to boost collective oil production in August by up to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) in view of strengthening global oil demand and a tightening market.

The meeting, however, dragged on after one of OPEC’s largest producers, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), insisted that its baseline production level for the cuts be raised to better reflect its current production capacity. The UAE made an agreement on raising oil production from August and on OPEC+ extending the pact beyond April 2022 contingent on the Emiratis getting a higher reference level, which would allow them to pump more oil under their OPEC+ quota.

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

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On 5 July, OPEC+ called off a third meeting scheduled to try to resolve the differences between the UAE and OPEC’s de facto leader and largest producer, Saudi Arabia.

Consultations and mediations continued in private talks in the two weeks that followed.

Meanwhile, the oil market started to fret about a potential deep discord within the OPEC+ alliance, fearing it could lead to a breakup of the production pact and a return to a ‘pumpat-will’ policy and a new price war, like the one that contributed to sinking oil prices in March and April 2020.

Two weeks later, OPEC+ finally forged a deal Two weeks after the failed attempt to reach a deal on 5 July, after consultations and a lot of ‘consensus building’ as Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, would say later, OPEC+ ministers met virtually on 18 July and adopted a plan to ease the cuts.

The ministers decided that OPEC+ would raise its collective production by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) each month beginning in August 2021, until phasing out all the 5.8 million bpd the alliance is still keeping from the market.

The group will assess market developments in December 2021 and review the performance of the pact’s members, OPEC+ decided.

The alliance, however, is not abandoning its monthly meetings to take stock of the oil market and will hold their next OPEC+ ministerial meeting on 1 September.

The ministers also decided to extend the decisions of the pact beyond April 2022 and into December 2022. The reference production levels, the sticking point in the negotiations for the agreement, were also addressed. The UAE was given a higher baseline level effective May 2022. But so were Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, and Kuwait, as OPEC+ apparently worked out a compromise to accommodate reference level grievances from other members, while securing a deal about immediate oil supply now.

The UAE will see its baseline lifted to 3.5 million bpd as of next May, from 3.168 million bpd now. Saudi Arabia and Russia will each have a reference level of 11.5 million bpd from May 2022, up from 11 million bpd.

Iraq’s baseline level will be increased to 4.803

million bpd from 4.653 million bpd, while Kuwait’s reference level will be raised to 2.959 million bpd from 2.809 million bpd.

At the press conference following the deal, the UAE and Saudi Arabia went to reassure the markets that “OPEC+ is here to stay” and there would be no break-up in the pact. Two of OPEC’s most influential members, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, presented a new united front that the countries are committed to the deal and to continued cooperation within the OPEC+ alliance.

The fact that the group reached a compromise deal, even after two weeks of intense behind-the-scenes talks, removed one uncertainty which was hanging over the market—that a major disagreement could lead to an implosion of the OPEC+ group.

By working to reach an agreement, OPEC+ showed that it is still very much interested in staying in control of the spare capacity and oil supply to the market.

The Middle East advantage In upstream oil & gas The Middle East has several major advantages in terms of oil and gas resources and economics, Wood Mackenzie said in a recent report.

Without a doubt, the Middle East has won the geological lottery, Alexandre Araman, Principal Analyst, Middle East Upstream at WoodMac, says.

Fourteen countries in the Middle East account for only 3.6 percent of the world’s land mass, but they hold 45 percent of the global proven and probable (2P) oil reserves and 41 percent of 2P gas reserves. The Middle East has produced 30 percent of all hydrocarbons to date and holds 53 percent of total remaining 2P recoverable reserves, according to WoodMac’s estimates. Favourable surface conditions and favourable geology also make the Middle East the region with the overall lowest and most stable lifting costs.

Carbon intensity is also among the lowest in the world, but due to the sheer volume of oil and gas being pumped out in the region, the Middle East has high absolute emissions from processing as well as from flaring, Wood Mackenzie reckons.

Middle East Deals & Contracts Qatar Petroleum, one of the world’s largest LNG exporters, placed on 1 July a US$12.5 billion four-tranche bond in the largest corporate issuance in the Middle East and the biggest debt sale in emerging markets so far this year.

“This is the largest US dollar fixed rate oil and gas offering, the largest corporate issuance in the MENA region, and the largest corporate Formosa tranche raised globally,” Qatar Petroleum said in a statement.

The company plans to use the proceeds from the record bond to fund its growth plans to significantly raise gas extraction, liquefaction, and LNG export capacity this decade.

Qatar Petroleum also entered into long-term LNG supply deals with Taiwanese and South Korean firms. Qatar Petroleum signed a 15year LNG deal with CPC Corporation, Taiwan (CPC) for the supply of 1.25 million tons per annum (MTPA) of LNG. The Qatari state-held firm also signed a new 20-year agreement with Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) to supply 2 million tons per annum of LNG to the Republic of Korea.

In the UAE, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) announced on 14 July an investment of US$763.7 million in integrated rigless services across six of its artificial islands in the Upper Zakum and Satah Al Razboot (SARB) fields to support its production capacity expansion to 5 million bpd by 2030. ADNOC Offshore awarded contracts to Schlumberger, Halliburton, and ADNOC Drilling after a competitive tender process. Schlumberger’s share of the award is valued at US$381.18 million, Halliburton’s share is valued at US$153.87 million, and ADNOC Drilling’s share is valued at US$228.71 million.

ADNOC also announced earlier in July a joint study agreement with two Japanese companies – INPEX Corporation and JERA Co., Inc., and a government agency, the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) – to explore the commercial potential of blue ammonia production in the UAE as part of efforts to strengthen the UAE’s hydrogen value proposition.

The Middle East has several major advantages in terms of oil and gas resources and economics

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WORLD PROJECTS

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Energy projects and business intelligence in the energy sector

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The EIC delivers high-value market intelligence through its online energy project database, and via a global network of staff to provide qualified regional insight. Along with practical assistance and facilitation services, the EIC’s access to information keeps members one step ahead of the competition in a demanding global marketplace.

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GUYANA - CGX Energy Corentyne Exploration Licence US$200mn

QATAR - North Oil Company Al-Shaheen Offshore Development – Gallaf Project US$2bn

EPC contracts have been awarded. One notable award that has been announced is for the subsea flowlines contract. Subsea 7 has picked up the contract which is valued at between $50 million and $150 million, with engineering and procurement to immediately commence at its Singapore office.

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The Kawa-1 drilling campaign is set to begin between the 1-15 August.

Drilling work will take approximately 85 days. Kawa-1 is expected to be drilled to a depth of roughly 6,500m in around 370m of water depth.

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GHANA - Eni Eban Oil Discovery Est US$500mn

RUSSIA - LUKoil D33 Field Development US$1bn

UGANDA - CNOOC Kingfisher Oil Field (Block 3A) US$3bn

IRAQ - Eni Zubair Oil Field – Rehabilitation and Enhanced Re-Development Phases US$18bn

Eni has announced a significant oil discovery at its Eban prospect. The Eban-1X exploration well was drilled to a TD of 4,179 metres in water depths of 545 metres. The Eban 1X well is the second well drilled in CTP Block 4, following the Akoma discovery. Preliminary estimates place the potential of the Eban– Akoma complex between 500 and 700 MMboe in place. The discovery will be a subsea tie-back to the John Agyekum Kufuor FPSO.

Rosetti Marino has been awarded an EPCI contract valued in excess of €200 million. Scope of work includes project management, engineering, procurement, construction, transportation and installation of offshore topsides, jacket and piles for a total weight of about 9,000 tonnes.

CNOOC is set to sanction the project by the end of July, with the EPC contracts set to be awarded in August 2021. The project is split into four packages. Three packages cover drilling pads and civil works (EPC-1), a supply base and work camps and safety camp (EPC-2), plus a feeder pipeline (EPC-4). EPC-3 covers the central processing facility and is the most significant package said to worth about $335 million.

CPECC in partnership with PEG Engineering & Contracting has been awarded a $690 million EPCC contract. The scope of work will see the contractors construct four crude oil processing units each with a capacity of 50,000 b/d, four water treatment units with a capacity of 66,000 b/d, one water injection pump station with capacity of 750,000 b/d.

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

The Ravenna yard will construct the 5,000 tonne deck.

WORLD PROJECTS

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6 1 3

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10

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INDONESIA - Repsol Sakakemang CCS Project Est US$250mn

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Repsol plans to execute the final investment decision (FID) for Sakakemang block in 2022 as the company expects full gas production in 2027. Repsol also plans to develop carbon capture storage (CCS) in Sakakemang where the block is known to have 26 percent of CO2 content. The CCS project in Sakakemang is intended to store 2 million tons per year of CO2 or cumulatively 30 million tons for entire project life of 15 years.

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TIMOR LESTE - Santos Bayu Undan Gas Project – Phase 3C Infill Drilling Programme US$235mn

GERMANY - EnBW Offshore Wind Farm (Hochsee Windpark) He dreiht US$1.44bn

TAIWAN - Swancor Renewable Offshore Wind Farm Formosa 4 and 5 US$2.6bn

McDermott International, Ltd has been awarded a subsea, Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI) contract. Work on the Phase 3C Project commenced in May and, the scope will be managed

by McDermott's office in Perth. The McDermott scope involves a tieback of a single in-field well to existing facilities re-using existing flexible flowline with a new umbilical and certain infrastructure.

Vestas has been pre-selected to supply 60 x V236-15.0 MW offshore turbines for the wind farm. Turbines will begin installation in Q2 2025, will full commissioning anticipated for Q4 2025.

Swancor has partnered with Tien Li Offshore Wind Technology, Yeong Guan Energy and J&V Energy Technology to establish a consortium dubbed Taiwan Team which will focus on the development of Formosa 4 and Formosa 5 projects. Formosa 4 will be developed first, followed by Formosa 5 which will utilise bottom-fixed and floating foundations, respectively.

Once Vestas secures an unconditional order, the deal will mark the world’s first commercial deployment of the new V23615.0MW offshore turbine.

WORLD PROJECTS SPONSORED BY

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20

SKILLS & TRAINING

By Tsvetana Paraskova

Training and development for the future of energy Training of talent and development and upgrading of people’s skills have always been an important part in the energy industry. These days, training and development are even more important than before because the energy industry is on the cusp of fundamental changes.

Digitalisation in the oil and gas industry and the net-zero emission pledges from many governments call for new sets of skills in the energy sector. The industry looks to attract and train talent with digitalisation skills and skills needed for the net-zero commitments.

and hydrogen industries will rely heavily on many of the current skillsets in the oil and gas industry such as geologists, project managers, and a wide variety of engineers and fabricators.

“A carefully managed transition will help to ensure a prosperous future for the communities affected and that the UK economy retains people with these key skillsets, as demand for their current roles in the oil and gas sector wanes with production decline, so that they can help unlock these vital emerging low carbon sectors,” the Deal says.

Under the deal, the sector will map future energy skills demand, develop all-energy training and standards, and create an integrated people and skills plan, with measurable objectives, to support its transition and diversification.

The growing digitalisation drive in energy leaves a skills gap that needs to be addressed.

Skills Needed for Net-Zero The UK North Sea Transition Deal, for example, is expected to support up to 40,000 high-quality direct and indirect supply chain jobs in the UK’s industrial heartlands. One of the key commitments in the deal, People & Skills, contains actions and measures to facilitate the reskilling of existing parts of the oil and gas workforce. According to the UK government and sector associations, many of the skills present in the sector are also transferrable across the wider energy sector. Offshore renewables, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS),

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

The UK government, for its part, will continue to champion the role of the sector and its workforce in the energy transition, supporting work on its People and Skills Plan.

The government will continue to prioritise support for people in high carbon sectors of the economy, which need to transition, via the Green Jobs Taskforce.

Mass Skilled Workforce Needed for UK Net-Zero Strategy

According to a survey of more than 400 professionals from the UK energy system, from renewables to oil and gas, the UK will need mass skilled workforce to achieve its net-zero strategy. The seventh annual Energy Barometer report from the Energy Institute (EI) showed in July that it will be skilled people that will make net-zero happen.

‘The Energy Barometer 2021: the net-zero skills issue’ found that most UK energy professionals are already training for net-zero and considering a move this decade. Professionals agree that the push of a skills strategy, from schools and up, is needed, alongside the pull of a stable energy policy.

SKILLS & TRAINING

Moreover, UK energy professionals also believe that upskilling and retraining are essential to avoid leaving conventional workforces and their communities stranded in the energy transition. As a whole, a majority of UK energy professionals call for more action by government and industry to build the skilled workforce of the future.

“A laser focus on policies and initiatives to drive the development of low-carbon technologies is vital, but it must not eclipse the equally important need to support and develop the net-zero workforce,” Energy Institute President Steve Holliday FREng FEI said.

“The Barometer is clear that decarbonisation won’t happen at the necessary speed and scale without the assembly of a mass skilled workforce, and so we are encouraged by signals from ministers that this will be an integral part of the UK’s net-zero strategy,” he added.

UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) Director and EI Trustee, Prof Rob Gross FEI, commented on the survey: “A national net-zero skills strategy equally needs to focus on parts of the existing highly skilled workforce facing the most change. In the transition over the coming decades, roles in energy intensive industries, fossil fuel production and their supply chains will change markedly, so it’s vital for the reskilling to keep pace.”

Digitalisation Skills

Apart from finding, educating, or upskilling the people that could help deliver the energy transition, the industry in the UK and worldwide needs to also address the digital skills gap, especially in the oil and gas sector.

The growing digitalisation drive in energy leaves a skills gap that needs to be addressed.

Digital skills are essential for the oil and gas industry as it reshapes for the future.

The COVID pandemic and the crisis in the energy sector made the need of investment in digitalisation all the more urgent, according to an EY survey from September 2020. However, technology does not use itself, it needs skilled people to work with it, the Oil and Gas Digital Transformation and the Workforce Survey 2020 from EY showed.

A total of 46% of oil and gas companies, on average, said they did not have the skills within their current workforce to realise the investment on their adopted technologies. Moreover, firms shared in the survey that there is a gap between digital technologies they believe are important and the maturity of skills needed to implement those technologies. For example, company executives see Big Data analytics and insights as one of the top three trends that could drive business growth over the next three years. However, the gap between strategic importance and maturity of key skills was one of the widest on data analytics at 59%, EY’s survey showed.

“It’s not enough for companies to simply spend more on technology. Investment in the workforce is needed to scale and integrate technologies and ultimately capture the intended value. Companies must find an investment balance while addressing market pressures. Otherwise, the industry could potentially lose crucial years and a generation of workers,” said Tim Haskell, US Oil & Gas People Advisory Services Leader, Ernst & Young LLP (EY US).

The overwhelming majority of oil and gas executives, 92%, think that their ability to reskill as a company will determine their success over the next three years, according to the EY survey. But only 9% feel strongly that they have a robust plan in place to do so, and just 3% feel strongly their organisation is good at teaching in-demand skills.

“Oil and gas will encounter stiff competition for talent and will have to overcome negative perceptions among younger generations who tend to favor careers in technology and other industries. This makes reskilling and upskilling even more of an urgent priority for oil and gas companies,” Haskell says.

The new trends in the energy sector, with growing digitalisation and commitments to net-zero, need investment not only in new technologies and diversification, but also a targeted investment in retaining, upskilling, and attracting talent with skills the industry needs to be successful in the energy transition.

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SKILLS & TRAINING

GCSG TRAINING set sights on Fiji

The Aberdeen based and ever-growing Global Corrosion Solutions Group have set their sights on opening a training school in Fiji, South pacific.

Back in March 2021, Director Nicky Adams, was approached by Nano Tech Pacific and their director Payal Paddy, regarding the lack of knowledge and expertise on corrosion within the biggest marine port in the south pacific.

Nicky Adams, Managing Director, The Global Corrosion Solutions Group

Nicky Adams informed us “After several video calls and in-depth discussions surrounding corrosion and protective coatings, it was clear that although a very developed country, Fiji, had little knowledge on these subjects”.

“What was more concerning was the realisation that when a vessel or boat required work, it would have to travel to the neighbouring countries such as Australia or New Zealand to have the work complete. We soon realised that the carbon footprint and costs of fuel etc were completely unnecessary and all that would be required was a little guidance and training”.

The Global Corrosion Solutions Group are specialists in protective coatings and GCSG training is just one of the services they provide. Currently the only training company, globally, to offer courses and assessments for all industries, holding 4 of the 5 major coatings accreditations, with the 5th expected soon.

Nicky Adams Added “There are several companies already within Fiji who perform basic levels of surface preparation and application of protective coatings which includes some NACE coatings inspectors, with a few training courses and the proper supervision, it would not take long for these companies to enhance the work force and allow the work to stay within Fiji.”

OGV have followed Nicky and his company’s growth since 2018 when he acquired Aberdeen Corrosion solutions, and since then they have grown from strength to strength in the coatings industry. When asked what we should expect next from them, Director, Mr Adams, had this to say: “Since becoming independent in 2020, we have seen a huge growth in our client base. With work popping up every day and all over the globe including Canada, Poland and now Fiji, we see our success continuing.

We are awfully close to signing an agreement with one of the biggest training providers in the world who have locations in Aberdeen, Teesside, Norway, Baku, Dubai and Doha. The plan is to now offer our services in those locations. This along with the Distribution and Services sectors means I really do not know where we will end up.

Opening a full training centre in Fiji is now something we are focusing a lot of our time on, to raise the economy in a country so far away would be a sensational achievement, and definitely something my son would be proud of when he grows up.”

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

"We started our basic research last year on how we wanted to establish the first ever business which would specialise in protective coating and surface preparation, with the highest level of service in industrial and commercial blasting and corrosion prevention. It didn't take long for us to realise that we needed international, professional help in order to establish such services and business for our country.

We contacted 6 different companies but GCSG Global Corrosion Solution Group, and Nicky, were highly recommended by a good friend at the Association of Materials Protection and Performance Network. Therefore we were sure that we wanted to do business with GCSG. When I first spoke with Nicky he was very approachable and didn’t hesitate to help me with any information I needed, at any time.

Whether it was calls, messages or email enquires, Nicky always took the time to help, even with the major time difference. As a Pacific island business it’s often hard for us to connect and conduct business with companies overseas but not in this case.

I’m glad that we are partnering with GCSG as it didn't matter how small our country was, Nicky was very interested in trying to help us combat this situation. Over email he was extremley honest and straight forward, it soon became clear that he was willing to assist us in every possible way to help tackle Corrosion in the South Pacific by becoming our partner in business.

Nicky also provided me with a list of machines and equipment which are very important for such business. As none of the machines mentioned were available locally, through his contact, Nicky is currently assisting us with overseas orders.

Fiji is not alone but with us is our neighboring South Pacific island nation who will be joining us in this exciting venture. With Nicky’s expertise and as a local business we will also establish the first ever Corrosion Association for the South Pacific which will work to benefit our island nation. We have planned provide week-long training seminars with practical, theory and workshops which will provide insight and training not only for industrial professionals but also for our universities and government ministries too.

Even during this time when the COVID19 pandemic is causing delays in our plan, we are optimistic and believe that we will pick up soon."

Payal Pooja Paddy, Director, Elite Crystal Car Coating Elite Nano Tech Pacific

The Global Corrosion Solutions Group have now cemented themselves globally as one of the key providers for fabric maintenance companies.

For more information visit www.globalcorrosionsolutionsgroup.com

SKILLS & TRAINING

23

GREENMAR

sustainable energy recruitment specialists Greenmar, a new renewable energy recruitment company, has been launched in Aberdeen.

A subsidiary of energy recruitment experts Drillmar Resources, Greenmar will provide a suite of staffing and HR solutions to a range of sectors in the worldwide renewable and sustainable energy industry, with the aim of playing a key part in the people aspect of the Energy Transition.

Operations Manager Peter Rhodes believes that the resources and expertise of Drillmar will have an important part to play, while Greenmar represents the company’s commitment to sustainability within global energy; “The energy sector is undergoing a period of evolution as we recognise that the only way of limiting global warming is through an Energy Transition based on renewable sources.

This transformation brings both a workforce transition as well as a workforce expansion.”

“Our services will include traditional people-oriented solutions such as executive search and provision of contractors on an ad-hoc or project management basis, but we will also look to provide innovations in the transferral of skills from the broader Energy industry, with which we are well versed.”

“As the renewables industry looks to transition talent from other sectors, we are ideally placed to source that talent and aid that transition into sustainable energy. We want to demonstrate to such candidates that these opportunities can be careers, not just jobs.”

“The RGU Energy Transition Institute predicts a 25% increase in the workforce requirements for the UK offshore energy sector by 2030, supporting offshore wind, oil & gas, hydrogen and CCUS activities. This creates a requirement for new workers to be attracted to the sector, a requirement to retain existing ones and crucially a requirement to facilitate the transition of workers between the different industries.”

“There are many pieces to the overall jigsaw on how we achieve ‘net-zero’ and they are all interlinked.”

A graduate engineer with thirty years working in the energy sector, Peter began his career working offshore in the North Sea and has since held various operational, technical and managerial roles in the industry. He will now turn his experience and skillset towards leading Greenmar’s ambition to contribute to the global transition to safe, reliable and sustainable sources.

A market leader within the energy recruitment industry, Aberdeen headquartered Drillmar Resources provide specialist ad-hoc and permanent staffing solutions in the North Sea and globally.

For more information visit www.greenmar.co.uk

CALEDONIA COMPETENCE

proof of competence scheme An Aberdeen based provider of Competence Assurance services is supporting freelance personnel with a Proof of Competence scheme.

Caledonia Competence are providing competence assessment, verification and certification services to ROV personnel who can not access those provided by ROV Contractors.

Gavin Smith, Managing Director of Caledonia Competence explained, "Since I established the company in 2015, I was often asked by freelancers if we had plans to offer a competence scheme for individuals who could not access one run by an ROV Contractor. When IMCA finalised the Freelance e-Portfolio mechanism, we felt it was the right time to put our Proof of Competence (POC) scheme into place."

The scheme is split into three stages – enrolment, evidence gathering then final assessment and verification by Caledonia Competence’s Assessor and Verifiers.

Feedback received from individuals who have been certified by Caledonia Competence include comments such as “The Assessor’s questions were well thought out and allowed me to feel more confident in my own abilities. The Video Call Interview with the Assessor was professional and enjoyable. I learnt a lot from the experience and felt like I was being mentored as well as being assessed.”

Rachael Spence, who co-ordinates the POC scheme, added, “We are always seeking to make improvements to the process. To that end, we

will shortly be offering POC Candidates the opportunity to use our ATTAIN Competence and Training system. ATTAIN is available both online and offline via mobile apps that are accessible in the Apple and Google Play Stores.”

The ATTAIN system is to be a key offering from Caledonia Competence going forward. Gavin Smith commented, “ATTAIN allows us to assist our clients who do not have a robust, easy to use portal for their people to complete Competence and Training activities. It links well with video conferencing tools, such as Zoom, which we use for our Virtual Competence Assessor Training and of course, we use it for e-learning modules that we develop for our clients. We already have clients who are using ATTAIN for their Competence Assessments and the feedback we receive is very positive.”

Competence and People Development Specialists For more information visit caledoniacompetence.com

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SKILLS & TRAINING system engaged in a controlled manner prior to drilling out the casing shoetrack. These individual components come together to create a robust training program that readies crew for MPD operations, allowing them to engage with confidence. Beyond this training, MPD is further integrated into the company’s Competence Assurance System (CAS) with multiple CAS elements added for the relevant crew to achieve by engaging in given MPD operations and providing objective evidence of their competence in it.

COMMITMENT TO TRAINING helps deliver

world-class MPD Wells

Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) can be considered one of the "Stena Drilling’s largest growth markets in the deepwater drilling industry and MPD training Stena Drilling have observed program seeks to this growth first hand. From provide its crew with having zero MPD capable rigs and little experience of a firm understanding MPD operations in 2017 the of the what, how and company now has a fleet of why’s of MPD." three, DNV approved deepwater MPD Drillships and has drilled thirteen deepwater MPD wells safely and efficiently. By the end of 2022 Stena Drilling expects to have doubled that well count with a fourth drillship upgraded to DNV approved, MPD capability. Stena Drilling’s own success and growth in this sector can be attributed to consistently delivering safe and efficient MPD operations to our clients and that is in no small part down to ensuring its crews are trained and competent in those MPD operations.

Stena Drilling’s MPD training program seeks to provide its crew with a firm understanding of the what, how and why’s of MPD. Firstly, a multi-day classroom course gives crew an introduction to MPD, the techniques and equipment used and the problems it solves before giving them an in depth look at the equipment and procedures they will encounter when they arrive on board their MPD rig. Thereafter, simulator training is used to give the crew a feel for how the MPD system will integrate into the day to day process of drilling deepwater wells as well as allowing them to experience various contingency scenarios in a safe and controlled environment. When the crew arrive on the rig, they are then required to engage in further rig-site training which allows them to perform various MPD operations with the actual MPD

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

Stena Drilling’s MPD training continues to evolve with a number of key projects currently underway to improve and develop both the standard of training and how it is delivered.

When the pandemic struck in early 2020, the nature of training changed fundamentally.

The prospect of bringing personnel together from across the globe to conduct a multi-day training course in a conventional training venue became impossible. When the company needed to train dozens of crew for an MPD project on the Stena IceMAX in The Bahamas, the use of video conferencing systems like Zoom and Microsoft Teams provided not only a general training solution but added benefits previously not considered.

One major benefit was that the training was not only able to target participants who were onshore, on leave, but could also include personnel offshore who could engage and participate from the rigs conference room using the continually improving satellite internet connection. Remote, video training also allowed the training to be refined and consolidated with less time lost to the control and management of large groups of personnel en masse. The option to dial in individuals from anywhere in the world created the option of dialling in technical experts to cover small but specialised portions of the course without them having to commit several days to the course, this allowed the organisers to ensure the best possible content and delivery. Lastly, the remote training was able to be easily recorded using widely available recording software, this then produced a resource that could be provided to the candidates to go back over in their own time but also to give to personnel who perhaps could not attend or would join the team at a later date.

Stena Drilling’s MPD training continues to evolve with a number of key projects currently underway to improve and develop both the standard of training and how it is delivered. A move from classroom training to computerbased training modules is already underway, which will allow the training to be delivered even more conveniently to candidates in a format that will be more visual and engaging.

In addition, working closely with the MPD system manufacturer, the development of bespoke control system operator training is ongoing to allow Stena Drilling to continue to integrate all aspects of the MPD service into its crews’ core competencies.

Looking to the future, MPD is going to be fundamental to the deepwater drilling industry, so too will comprehensive and engaging MPD training to ensure MPD operations are delivered safely and efficiently. Stena Drilling have built a solid foundation and continue to build their wider MPD training programme to ensure they remain at the forefront of the deepwater MPD market.

Stena Drilling is one of the world's foremost independent drilling contractors and has pioneered some of the most leading-edge technologies and innovations in the drilling world.

For more information visit www.stena-drilling.com/we-innovate/mpd-managed-pressure-drilling/

SKILLS & TRAINING NEW ENERGY NEW JOBS NEW OPPORTUNITIES

By Professor Paul de Leeuw, Robert Gordon University Energy Transition Institute

The future of the UK’s energy sector is being fundamentally re-shaped through a combination of COVID-19, the energy transition, technology & innovation and changing industry dynamics. By building on the UK’s track record as a world class basin for oil, gas and offshore wind, there is significant scope to create a new, leading net-zero energy basin and turn the UK into an offshore powerhouse.

It is estimated that over £170 billion will be invested on capital and decommissioning activities in the offshore energy (including oil & gas, offshore wind, CCUS and offshore hydrogen) in the North Sea between 2021 and 2030. With the overall number of jobs in the UKCS oil and gas industry projected to decline over time, the degree of transferability of jobs to adjacent energy sectors such as offshore wind, CCUS, hydrogen or other industrial sectors will be key to ensure the UKs retains its world class skills and capabilities.

With investment driving activity and activity driving people demand, future jobs will be closely correlated to the investment in the basin.

With many of the skills and competencies required for the offshore energy sector to be highly interchangeable, there is a unique opportunity to create a new world class net-zero energy workforce.

Robert Gordon University (RGU) in its recent UK Offshore Energy Workforce Transferability review highlight that the offshore energy workforce mix will change significantly in the next 10 years, with roles in decarbonised energies projected to increase from 20% to 65% of all jobs in the offshore energy sector.

The review also indicates that around 200,000 people are likely to be required in 2030 to support activities in the UK offshore energy sector, including offshore wind, hydrogen, CCUS activities and oil and gas. This compares to around 160,000 people directly and indirectly employed in the UK offshore energy sector in 2021.

The oil and gas workforce are well placed to take advantage of the new opportunities in the offshore renewables sector. Over 90% of the UK’s oil and gas workforce have medium to high skills transferability and the majority are well positioned to work in adjacent offshore energy sectors. Particularly soft skills and other nontechnical skills are generally highly transferable.

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Around 80% of the UK offshore energy jobs in 2030 are envisaged to be in nine key job families - Operations, Technicians, Engineering, Projects, Commercial/Business development/ Marketing, Procurement/ Supply chain management, Finance, HR and Health, Safety, Sustainability and Environment (HSSE), with the remaining 20% of the workforce employed in over 14 other job families.

It is key that UK and devolved governments work together with the offshore energy sector to ensure the managed transition of skills and experience in a way that protects and sustains key UK energy jobs. The prize of delivering the targets identified for offshore wind, oil and gas, hydrogen and CCUS by 2030 is hugely material.

Success can deliver around 200,000 jobs by 2030. However, the combined impact of lower ambitions, reduced activity level and accelerated decline in the oil and gas industry could reduce the offshore energy workforce requirements to fewer than 140,000 jobs by 2030.

The higher education sector will have a key role to play in upskilling and reskilling the offshore energy workforce and it is encouraging to see that universities and colleges across the UK are developing new and exciting programmes to support the energy transition.

In support, RGU has set targets for 60% of its course portfolio to incorporate a net-zero narrative by 2023, rising to 100% by 2025 and the university is evolving its energy-related course offering to complement and augment the climate emergency and net-zero narrative.

WORKPLACE FIRST AID TRAINING

for your staff will help us teach children to save lives However, GTS offer a unique package unlike any other training company.

Working in partnership with Grampian Training Services, companies can have their staff trained and then sponsor the FREE training of Primary 5, 6, 7 schoolchildren in their local area.

The company’s name will be closely associated with the training the children receive in recognition of the support they are providing: Grampian Training Services, 2020 Award Winners of the Northern Star “Inspiring Futures”, offer companies a range of HSE recognised First Aid training courses. We have availability on the following dates:

3 day First Aid at Work (1 day online + 2 days in person)

19/20 Oct 16/17 Nov 14/15 Dec

1 day Emergency First Aid at Work

18 Oct 15 Nov 13 Dec

We can also offer In House First Aid training on mutually suitable dates.

• Company support will be flagged up whenever schools, parent councils and PTAs tell parents that Grampian Training Services is on board.

• Company branding will feature on the certificate that is awarded to every pupil who completes our course as well as the other printed materials used.

• Company name will appear on associated mainstream and social media.

Saves lives.

On Saturday 30th November 2019, in Portlethen, Rachel, demonstrated that she was able to apply the first aid skills, that she learned at school, in a crisis. She remained calm and levelheaded when others, (adults), around her were unsure what to do.

Rachel's Gran collapsed unresponsive on the kitchen floor. Rachel instructed her Dad on how to put her Gran into the recovery position and assisted while he called for an ambulance. Her Gran recovered thanks to Rachel’s great response.

• The event provides the sponsoring company a unique CSR and marketing opportunity.

All courses are approved & accredited by FAIB – First Aid Industry Body, & FOFATO – Federation of First Aid Training Organisations.

GTS have trained over 100,000 North East children and offer businesses this unique opportunity to support their local school and general community, many who will be customers of tomorrow!

For further information, please email enquiries@grampiantrainingservice.co.uk Tel: 07971 962576

Grampian Training Services Ltd is a community-based business. The company’s long-term mission is to see that every child in the North-east receives first-aid training before going to secondary school. For more information visit: grampiantrainingservices.co.uk

26

SKILLS & TRAINING

By Keith Adam, Managing Director, Polaris Learning

REMOTE TRAINING AND COMPETENCY TECHNOLOGIES FOR A NET-ZERO FUTURE: Finding practical and sustainable solutions Keith Adam

As we move to a net-zero future and push on with the energy transition, the COVID 19 pandemic has forced all of us to accelerate our thinking and focus our efforts when it comes to working remotely across all areas of our businesses.

The world of training and competency has, of course, been no different.

The challenges facing all of us since March 2020 are the same challenges that we face in a net-zero future: How do we keep our people trained and competent using remote technologies? How do we do this in a way that engages and motivates them? What do we do to ensure that learning is transferred to the workplace? What strategies work well for developing soft skills and technical skills, and achieving competencies? And how do we do this in a way that is practical and works for each individual’s needs and organisation’s requirements?

However, talking about remote training and online learning is not the whole picture in any industry and certainly not in a high risk industry.

Competence is also essential.

We have been working in the world of remote training and competency solutions for many years and we recognise that we need to all work together to provide learning and competence solutions that are fit for purpose, are not over developed or complicated to use but built from proven principles of learning and development.

You can also use these technologies to make sure that the training is genuinely being transferred to the workplace. And you can use the information provided by the technology to identify gaps in competency so that you can circle back and work out what learning and support is needed.

At Polaris Learning, we repeatedly see that to upskill our workforce and achieve our growth strategies using remote training and online learning we must keep learning and development strategies at the heart of everything, and we must understand how people learn and the process that they need to go through if they are really going to absorb, own, apply and use the information when it really matters - that is, on the job.

By Andy Rodden, Energy Transition Programme Director, ETZ Ltd

MAINTAINING A SKILLED WORKFORCE that reflects the changing nature of the industry

This challenge is not only reflected in the nature of how Energy will be generated and used but to the emergence of new technologies and the increase in digitisation that will drive Energy Transition.

A major challenge facing the energy sector is around the need to develop and maintain a skilled workforce that reflects the changing nature of the industry.

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

In addition, we should maximise the opportunities from going online, for example, planning progression and creating solutions to assist with multi-skilling and soft skills development. We can also use online solutions to provide the tools to address more challenging areas of training and competence such as maintaining knowledge of procedures, organisational learning and reassessment.

If we want people to be upskilled for the energy transition, we need to make sure that they are competent. Linking remote training with on-the job training and mixing online assessment with on-the- job assessment are options, and new technologies make this possible.

Not only are you then able to upskill your workforce for the future, but you are able to check that it is working. You may also find that your learning and development strategy has become more effective through your having a much clearer picture on where to focus your time, effort and budget.

And we are sure that you will also achieve sustained change, and a more motivated, connected and technically and soft skills upskilled team.

Ultimately a key cornerstone of the successful delivery of skills to the industry is the link between industry, employers and academia to ensure that people entering the sector are equipped with the skills to make them successful and to enhance their employability. Employers will not only look to attracting the best talent but continue to invest in upskilling and reskilling the current workforce to deliver a sustainable Energy Transition and Net-Zero. Some of these competencies will not exist today or may be outside of the Energy Sector and will need to be developed or acquired to meet future demand.

There is a broad recognition of This was a key driver for the the importance of developing decision to facilitate the creation STEM and the need to position There is a massive of the National Energy Skills energy beyond Oil and Gas by potential for knowledge Accelerator (NESA) as part demonstrating the positive transfer to future generations of Energy Transition Zone in impact and key role that the Aberdeen. NESA was created sector will have in delivering but industry bodies and to act as both a focal point to Net-Zero. As we develop employers must continue the work with industry to identify new industries including work underway to ensure that and deliver the competencies the creation of high-value certification should not be a that employers need now and, manufacturing, we need barrier and limit the pool of in the future, to meet the needs our current and future of Energy Transition. available personnel workforce to view this as a long-term sustainable career.

There should be a collective effort, NESA is intended to act as both a across government and industry, to point of reference for the energy sector ensure careers are accessible by harnessing but to also collaborate with other skills hubs initiatives like the Young Persons Guarantee, and initiatives, nationally and Internationally, to alongside reinforcing the role for apprenticeships and emulate best practice from other sectors which will degrees to create achievable pathways for anyone be essential to ensure that the workforce is ready wanting to enter the Energy Sector regardless of and available to meet the challenges that delivering gender, background or academic choices.

Energy Transition will present.

SKILLS & TRAINING

27

Why Choose Training From QHSE ABERDEEN? COURSES AVAILABLE QHSE ABERDEEN provide an extensive selection of training and coaching for your Staff. As a Leading QHSE organisation they are determined to use their broad knowledge and expertise to take your Company to the next level.

ISO related courses Foundation, Internal Auditor and Lead Auditor Training courses for: • ISO 9001 • ISO 14001 • ISO 45001 • ISO 27001 • ISO 9001/14001/45001 (IMS) Integrated course

Health & Safety Training

QHSE ABERDEEN can train your staff, so they understand ISO 45001 standards for Occupational Health and Safety, learn how to migrate from OHSAS 18001 or gain the skills you need to perform internal audits. With an estimated 80% of workplace accidents resulting from unsafe acts and unsafe conditions, developing and continuously supporting a strong safety culture through training and updating skills you can create a strong safety culture which will safeguard your employees, revenues, and reputation.

Train your staff in the following courses

QHSE ABERDEEN is a leading Consultancy and Training Organisation that has issued 100s of certificates to their own Clients for bespoke courses and on public courses. They are dedicated to helping businesses improve continually as well as understand their own ISO Management Systems, which is why QHSE ABERDEEN offer training services in addition to development and implementation of ISO Management Systems.

All of the courses offered, are taught by highly skilled Lead Auditors / H&S Trainers, and they can even tailor the training to meet your company's unique objectives. QHSE ABERDEEN offer all organisations the opportunity to invest in their staff through the services delivered by highly experience consultants.

See what their Customers have to say….

“Having that extra trusted “pair of hands” to assist with all the complexities of Quality, Health & Safety and Environmental management is reassuring and time saving. I would highly recommend QHSE Aberdeen to any organisation wishing to achieve ISO certification or even to just maintain & improve upon their present QHSE Management Systems.”

Tidy Green Clean

• Managing Safely Course • Supervising Safely Course • Working Safely Course • Risk Assessment • Method Statement / Safe Systems of Work “The service from QHSE has been • Manual Handling Awareness invaluable to the development of • Manual Handling Assessor our Company from the outset.

• Display Screen Equipment Helping you to QHSE were initially enrolled to • First Aid achieve excellence support with the development • Electricity at Work Regulations and integration of the IMS • Asbestos Awareness SKILL – “The ability to do system and have been integral • Confined Space Management something well; expertise.” in ensuring compliance with • COSHH Awareness the ISO qualifications from • COSHH Assessor TRAINING – “The process of 9001, 14001, 27001 and • Handling of Dangerous Substances learning the skills you need 45001. We could not thank • DSEAR to do a particular job QHSE enough for their valued • Working at Height or activity:” support and rapid response times • Radiological Awareness and would recommend them for any • Legionnaires Disease future operations.”

• Health & Safety Awareness FORTRESS ENERGY • Noise Awareness • Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) Awareness “After successfully helping LFH Engineering Ltd to transition from 2008 to 2015, they were then There is still time to book on to our – asked to assist and advise to help us achieve ISO 14001 & ISO 45001. They have done this through Integrated Internal Auditor course Training, Mentoring, Advising and Assisting ISO 9001/14001/45001 with additional workload such as Internal Audit 3 DAYS COURSE - 25-27 AUGUST programmes and again we have been successful achieving both these certifications” Contact us for more info https://www.qhseaberdeen.com/ LFH ENGINEERING iso-training-coaching/

QHSE Aberdeen provide a Consultancy and Advisory service to organisations of all sizes and sectors that require assistance in the development & implementation of robust Management Systems. For more information visit: www.qhseaberdeen.com

FINALISTS IN NORTHERN STAR BUSINESS AWARDS Due to the great reputation in customer service and satisfaction commitment QHSE ABERDEEN are now proud finalists in the AGCC Northern Star Business Awards.

“Our staff have worked hard to earn us this reputation.”

Managing Director David Rusling said “ we are a leading NE Scotland training provider, who can also develop bespoke courses to suit your organisation and staffing requirements. We deliver ISO internal auditor courses to suit all abilities and sectors of industry, we deliver H&S training such as confined space and COSHH to many of our clients. We are here to help your staff gain the knowledge required to perform their role.”

Mechanical Pipe Connector

Piping Repair, Tie-In or End Capping seal verification port

taper lock grips

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20 YEAR DESIGN LIFE

Permanent pipe to flange connection where welding may be undesirable. The slipover design and external gripping assembly enables a quick and cost-effective solution, with no specialist installation or testing equipment required.

SKILLS & TRAINING

29

Safety Starts With The Right Skills How digital is transforming training

As the oil and gas industry comes under everincreasing scrutiny to demonstrate the steps it is taking to protect both its workers and the environment, energy companies are turning to digital training to deliver Fostering sustained improvements.

Online learning is fast replacing traditional classroom-based courses as an effective way of closing competency gaps, breaking down silos, and ensuring people have the skills they need to address tomorrow’s challenges.

partnership working and collaborations have been central to Norwell EDGE’s success.

Rather than a one-and-done approach, e-learning provides continuous bite-size teaching that combines different methods of learning from videos, animations, quizzes and graphics to make training stick. Training is available long term, forming a database of knowledge that users can access at a moment's notice. This approach has been proven to be five times more effective for knowledge retention than traditional methods.

“Making sure people go to work and come home safely is the number one priority for the oil and gas industry. More recently, the regulator is quite rightly turning up the pressure on companies to show that they have clear programmes in place to ensure people have the necessary understanding and technical skills to work safely,” says Mike Adams, Co-founder of Norwell EDGE.

“Often technical training only focuses on an individual’s specific discipline but, as we have sadly seen during industry incidents, having a broad understanding of the entire upstream process is crucial if people are to react quickly and have those critical safety conversations if things go wrong. That’s why Norwell EDGE is committed to providing industry-leading digital training that spans the entire upstream lifecycle and is both affordable and quickly accessible on and offshore. Only by ensuring people have easy access to quality training can we raise standards throughout our global industry.”

A cornerstone initiative is the well integrity digital learning programme that is in the final stages of development. A joint initiative by Norwell EDGE, Spirit Energy and Neptune Energy, it has also recently attracted the support of TotalEnergies and TAQA. Together, they have developed a standardised digital course for well integrity training based on Oil and Gas UK’s (OGUK) well life cycle integrity guidelines and Norwell EDGE’s e-learning technology.

Working together to improve well integrity safety Fostering partnership working and collaborations have been central to Norwell EDGE’s success. Right from the first beta tests during the e-learning platform’s development, the company has worked closely with oil and gas operators around the globe as well as industry organisations and universities.

Willem Boon von Ochssee, Principal Well Engineer at Spirit Energy said: “The digital well integrity training is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when the industry comes together and commits to achieving something bigger than our individual company aims. We are proud to be both part of this initiative and of the high standard of the training that has been developed. I’m looking forward to rolling this out to our people.”

It is hoped further oil and gas operators and service companies will join the initiative once it launches later this summer.

For further information about Norwell EDGE and to explore their courses visit www. norwelledge.com

Norwell EDGE is an eLearning platform delivering high-quality technical oil and gas training.

The learning belongs to each individual user, staying with them throughout their careers.

For more information visit: www.norwelledge.com

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SKILLS & TRAINING

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE: Training and upskilling is key to creating an agile workforce Creating clarity from complexity is a skill STC INSISO has mastered.

A problem-solving company, STC INSISO has over 20 years of experience delivering blended learning solutions and leadership training as well as providing ECITB and IOSH accredited training programmes worldwide, helping companies solve inherent issues within their business.

Their blend of online, classroom, and practical learning targets the creation of highly motivated rising stars and leaders across both operational and support functions who need training as they face increased financial, people, and commercial responsibilities. STC INSISO boasts learning expertise spanning business & commerce, project management, supervision & leadership, and health & safety. They supply products, services, and training techniques that are equally applicable across organisations from operations to support functions, and across various markets including energy, construction, and manufacturing.

One of STC INSISO’s most popular programmes not only supports leaders already in a senior role but encourages employees with high potential to take steps to future-proof their skills and support them in confident decision making.

Cohorts are carefully selected to promote crossfunction communications and relationships within an organisation providing added value and even better results. Academy learning is industry agnostic and is typically used to harness potential and encourage growth in employees looking to accelerate their careers. Students that commit to an Academy Learning programme will gain a broader knowledge of what drives the business forward and will be better equipped to manage the key relationships that make a difference day-to-day.

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

Using real company data to allow the learning to be completely bespoke to their daily activities, the aim is to understand the business using key values, numbers, USP’s and marketplaces by completing four different programmes: business and money, managing self and others, projects and change, and value and markets. All Academy programmes also feature a live challenge facilitating a response to a real opportunity or threat that the business is exposed to at the time.

In 2016 Stork approached STC INSISO to design and deliver a new development programme to support Stork’s community of managers and leaders in maximising their potential and prepare them for expanding opportunities in the business. Stork operates, maintains, and modifies installations in oil and gas, chemicals, metals and mining, food and pharmaceuticals, rail and infrastructure, power and manufacturing. With such a wide range of operations within the business, the company recognised the need to support their emerging business leaders, but existing development programmes available to them such as MBAs felt too generic and not focused enough to be truly valuable to the business and to the learners’ day-to-day responsibilities and in-house functions.

STC INSISO responded by creating a tailored management academy programme specific to Stork called ‘The Diamond Management Development Academy’, to help boost strategic business understanding and enhance skills within the future leaders.

The creation of the bespoke Academy built by STC INSISO allowed Stork to provide a focused programme delivering the core skills and knowledge applicable to the company ensuring learning was relevant and exclusive to the business. This in-house approach to development also meant that company employees did not need to take extended time away from the business to attend external training, meaning no downtime in operations or increased workload.

Each module within the custom-built programme contained best practice scenarios and real-life context using actual data and information provided by the business. The modules conclude with delegates creating a list of actions that could be implemented within their job role to make a difference to the organisation.

The design of the ‘Diamond Management Development Academy’ programme also encouraged collaborative learning. By using a crosssection of personnel from across the business it ensures that best practice is shared widely and allows team members to develop an understanding of the importance of specific functions and implement a greater understanding towards them.

Daniel Stephen, Learning and Development Advisor at Stork said: “Academy learning has helped myself and others who have been through the programme to develop a greater understanding of business functions out with our area of expertise. It creates a lot of light bulb moments and helps to establish a greater appreciation and understanding of different business functions and how they can relate to what you do on a day-to-day basis. The programme goes a long way to helping experts in individual fields, adapt to a more all-rounded business way of thinking.”

Academies have an optimal completion timeframe of six months and provide learning and networking within the same environment creating meaningful results for the learners.

Craig Smith, People Change Manager at STC INSISO said: “The tangible benefits of Academy Learning is first clear through the crucial subjects in business of which our learners are required to study. Many companies who sign up for the Academy Learning programme go on to implement an annual programme to help them identify their future leaders.

"The programme is highly relative, many challenges and opportunities are addressed in real-time – from implementing immediate changes to performance, relations, and safety within their specific functions. Applying strategic thinking to larger business opportunities is one of the main skills we teach as part of the programme as it can be applied throughout the learner’s career.

"Following the programme, it's always exciting to see graduates of the Academy climb the ladder and obtain more senior roles in the business, inspiring additional and future employees to sign-up. Learners often cite how key learning from the programme allowed them to make that transition to a more responsible role with greater confidence."

SKILLS & TRAINING

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The course aims to help the learner shift to strategic thinking, encourage financial astute decision making, instil and share best practices and build stronger people management skills.

STC INSISO offers an array of additional training courses, one of the most popular courses on offer is their diversity and inclusion one-day course which is designed to help delegates understand their responsibilities for promoting equality, tackling all forms of discrimination in the workplace, and helping teams develop strong, productive, and creative relationships. Their Supervision Edge training package includes the UK’s biggest Engineering and Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) accredited supervisor’s programme.

The problem-solving company also deliver a unique range of specialist training courses designed to develop individuals into confident incident investigators as well as giving people the skills needed to deal with a major crisis. Using IOSH accredited modules, learners will develop the skills required to perform structured and thorough interviews with a range of different witnesses during an investigation into a safety or quality incident, HR investigation, internal enquiry, or equipment failure. The course will also help you assist elected safety representatives in your team and help them develop the skills required to contribute to a structured and thorough investigation into any safety, environmental, or quality incident.

STC INSISO worked proactively to support businesses training requirements during the pandemic, as a result, the ECITB now support their supervisory training courses to support the industry by adapting

STC INSISO worked proactively to support businesses training requirements during the pandemic

existing classroom-based content to conduct trainer-led sessions online using Adobe Connect.

The results were positive, with students able to connect and engage in the learning experience away from the traditional classroom environment with no travel and flexibility around timings.

All students successfully passed the final assessment with an overall course rating of 94%.

Hazel Llewellyn, Principal Behavioural Trainer at STC INSISO said: “Using Adobe Connect allowed us to create a solution for training which is accessible anywhere, anytime and on virtually any device to comply with remote working policies being implemented to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 infection. Further classroombased courses are now being adapted for virtual learning sessions to future-proof training.”

For STC INSISO, the diversification in the training able to be delivered and the broadening of available training channels place them in a strong position as companies adapt to a new normal. In the last 20 years, they have deployed their business performance improvement solutions and training across markets and global regions. In other developments, the firm has committed significant investment to develop up to five new technology products over the next two years as it strives to continue to advance the business performance improvement space and its training opportunities.

For more information on training opportunities delivered

by STC INSISO, contact Craig Smith by emailing craig.smith@stcglobal.net or visit: www.stcglobal.net

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SKILLS & TRAINING

AFS Technologies (AFS) are recognised as the leading independent expert in Small Bore Tubing (SBT), Flexible Hose Assemblies (FHA), Mechanical Joint Integrity (MJI) and Instrumentation & Control (I&C) services in the UKCS and internationally.

Our team are driven by our focus on reducing the carbon footprint of our clients by driving down releases of fluids to the atmosphere from Instrumentation systems. With our unique offering of field services, training and products, we offer a solution independent of any of the fluid connector manufacturers.

Training & Competence has always been part of AFS service offering alongside core offering of Services, Products and Technology.

Facilities/venues The AFS main Training Centre is in Dyce, Aberdeen and is conveniently situated by the airport, train and other public transport. AFS also have a venue in Grangemouth and have recently opened a new site in Ashington and also plan to open in Middlesbrough in Q3. With a mobile set of training rigs for theory training and practical assessments that AFS can deliver anywhere.

Take an immersive online experience of AFS services, products and training sessions in their digital twin of the Aberdeen Facility, the link is available on AFS web pages footer. This innovative digital twin service is available as a product now to enhance your website and social media.

TAKE A TOUR The current Training covers the disciplines below with more in development: • Small Bore Tubing • Mechanical Joint Integrity • Instrumentation & Control • Production Operations • De-Commissioning • Renewables / Wind Turbines • Hydrogen Having specialised in the Oil & Gas Energy Industry for over 35 years AFS are now also covering new areas in renewables and alternative energy sources. With the energy transition era AFS are offering transition training programs to retain and re-use skills gained from the Oil & Gas Industry. www.afst.uk.com/training

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

Transition programmes AFS have developed conversion training programs for various disciplines such as SBT, Prod Ops and Inst & Control. In development are new programs for cross-industry knowledge sharing and fertilisation, using the vast amount of transferable skills available.

The Energy Transition Era is demanding new Skills Profiles that can benefit from those developed in the Oil & Gas Energy Industry.

SKILLS & TRAINING Online training portal AFS have invested in an online portal to manage all their training services, this also allows all users to have access to the portal where they have can see their: • Awards • Training events • eLearning • Knowledge Documents

Users can see awards for courses completed and also receive automatic alerting when they are due for renewal with system generated reminder emails.

Users can conduct a Course Search using various filters to find the training they need.

This ‘self-service’ for users is the way ahead for the energy transition and net-zero future. We can reduce your Training Management Service costs with this approach.

Skills profiles can be reviewed, comparing users current awards with roles created in the portal.

AFS are developing roles.

ECITB Connected Competence

Training Management Services (TMS)

Developed by some of the UK’s largest contracting organisations Connected Competence is an industry-driven initiative that is supported and enabled by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB). Developed with some of the UK’s largest contracting companies, each one has committed to working together to use standardised training and testing based on the ECITB’s technical tests. Connected Competence commands a base level of technical competence assurance for workers across the engineering and construction industry, which employers recognise and support in demonstrating the current competence of its workforce.

AFS offer a totally independent and dedicated Training Management Service (TMS) that ensures your company manage your training and licensing while reducing administration costs and ensuring compliance.

Effectively managing company-wide training needs is a complex task and our TMS service can be full or partial outsourcing of these tasks to let your company focus on its core business.

Connected Competence commands a base level of technical competence assurance for workers across the engineering and construction industry, which employers recognise and support in demonstrating the current competence of its workforce.

Our customised TMS solutions are created to fit your needs TMS@afst.uk.com

www.connectedcompetence.co.uk

AFS provide the Instrumentation & Control assessments as well as others: Practical tests include: TMI 01 - PRESSURE measurement and control systems TMI 02 - LEVEL measurement and control systems TMI 04 - TEMPERATURE measurement and control systems TMI 14 - FLOW measurement and control systems TMI 17- VALVE measurement and control systems TSBT02 - Disassemble and reinstall SBT Assemblies

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With access to hundreds of training courses (classroom, online & onsite) from training providers our TMS division specialises in management of all your organisations training and competence requirement to allow you to free up valuable company resources.

The AFS training portal is quick and easy to use, accessible 24/7; your workforce can access the Learning Management System to view their • Training calendar and skills matrix.

• Certification, document library • Training management: courses, eLearning CBT, Virtual reality, Simulator • Automated alerts and notifications The portal allows real-time reporting allows your business instant data access. Reports include finances, compliance and competence, recertification management and skill gap analysis.

Your team can access the portal 24/7 on smart phones, tablets and computers: anywhere! Training course on-boarding includes detailed Joining instructions, a paperless system provides savings and environmental benefits.

Training costs are mostly made up of travel & accommodation and not the course price itself. We can help reduce your training budget by eliminating these unnecessary travel and accommodation costs.

1.) We offer refresher sessions (eLearning CBTs and hands-on sessions) to reduce referrals 2.) We deliver both SBT and MJI theory and technical assessments eliminating any requirement for other training providers 3.) We are strategically based in Aberdeen by the airport and Dyce train station which reduces in-city transport 4.) We offer early start, evening and weekend slots to work around mobilisation and demobilisations to assets

AFS Technologies (AFS) are recognised as the leading independent expert in Small Bore Tubing (SBT), Flexible Hose Assemblies (FHA), Mechanical Joint Integrity (MJI) and Instrumentation & Control (I&C) services in the UKCS and internationally.

For more information visit: www.afst.uk.com

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INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY ANNUAL 2021 SPONSORED BY

The UK’s largest innovation funding consultancy Our expert teams work in close partnership with thousands of businesses each year to maximise the financial benefit they receive from R&D Tax Credits, Grants, and other innovation funding schemes.

www.leyton.com

In the past year alone, we have helped our clients successfully claim more than £200m in tax relief to support their future growth.

AUTOMATED WELL CONTROL

Safe Influx Ltd is an independent supply company providing pioneering Automated Well Control solutions to the oil and gas industry. We are the first company to develop this revolutionary technology designed to fully automate influx detection and shut-in sequences. The sensitivity of our Automated Well Control technology enables fast identification, decision-making and reaction to well control events, dramatically reducing the influx size and prevent major accident hazards. Developed to address the main safety issue of human factors, the proven technology improves safety and operational efficiency, reducing risk to people and the environment.

Company Details Website: www.safeinflux.com Email: info@safeinflux.com Tel: +44 (0) 7912 242421 Address: 28 Albyn Place, AB10 1YL, Aberdeen Scotland, UK

Technology Development stage: Commercial Launch date: 2018

A predictable, reliable and perfect response every time

When a kick is detected, faster and safer, the machine code instructions enable simultaneous commands to be issued and executed. The system alerts the driller at the HMI. Once Automated Well Control sequence has commenced, the system precisely takes control of several pieces of equipment that the human operator would normally control. However, the driller has the power of veto, and can intervene at any moment.

Safe Influx features Automated Well Control, a smart technology that makes the well control process safer by using automation to improve drilling performance and increase efficiency in wells operations, while mitigating risks. Our proprietary system is the only one available in the market that fully automates Safe Influx technology influx detection and shut-in enables continuous sequences during the drilling.

real-time monitoring of the well and manages influx flow automatically.

Safe Influx technology enables continuous realtime monitoring of the well and manages influx flow automatically. Once an influx is identified, the Automated Well Control system precisely takes control of the rig, performing a series of commands to stop the top drive, space out, shut down the pumps and shut in the BOP.

Designed to minimise personnel exposure to risks and enhance decision making in critical well control situations, our technology substantially improves well control. Our decades of knowledge and experience enable us to provide our clients with confidence to drill even the most challenging wells.

The Automated Well Control is customisable and can be adapted to provide very effective bespoke solutions to a particular well control problem, regardless of location, water depth or well type. Prior to Automated Well Control being installed, a rig survey is always performed to evaluate the rig equipment and define the scope of work for installation.

Cutting Edge Technology

The heart of the Automated Well Control system is a controller using very highquality components. The footprint on the rig is this controller, which is the size of a filing cabinet, and an HMI screen, which sits in front of the driller.

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

Easy-to-use, the HMI screen can be incorporated into the rig’s existing HMI screen system, and is set up, run and operated by the driller. Using control algorithms, the controller accurately monitors the parameters from the rig’s existing sensor package and controls the rig’s existing equipment. No additional monitoring or control systems are required.

Currently, the Minimum Viable Product is sitting at TRL8 in the 9-step scale and the technology possesses a Technology Qualification Certificate to operate on a cyber rig and traditional rig.

Functions and Benefits • Can be retrofitted to cyber or conventional rig, stand alone or integrated.

• Simple and short rig installation process. Typically, installation should take one to two days of predominantly offline work.

• Drillers-assist tool used by the existing rig crew. No additional personnel are required, except for the initial commissioning and training.

• Enable shut-in five times faster than conventional human interface methods, with the final influx size typically 20-25% of those experienced during manual shut-in.

• Enhanced decision-making, efficiency and safety.

• Reduce influx volumes and improve the well design to reduce well costs by 20%.

• Reduction in probability of human error, which could lead to a potential loss of well control, by 94%.

VIEW THE FULL TECH ANNUAL MAGAZINE ONLINE AT

www.ogv.energy

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IMRANDD is a progressive, diverse and agile technology, data intelligence and engineering company specialising in digital enabled asset management. The company combines technical expertise and tactical implementation to help operators make informed decisions that will increase uptime, improve production and reduce costs on their assets.

AIDA MAX ™ - MAXimum Visibility, MAXimum Predictability, MAXimum Efficiencies A leading not lagging decision making process for effective asset management More so than ever asset managers need to know the options available to ensure resource is cost-effectively deployed and commercial decision-making is sound and demonstrable.

With AIDA MAX – our new advanced analytics software, we’ve developed a faster, simpler and more cost-effective way of solving difficult asset management challenges to accurately prioritise budget and resource.

AIDA MAX performs in near real-time to collate, correlate, and analyse chemical, process and integrity data to predict current and future conditions. It provides an intuitive representation of the condition of your asset systems, including ambient conditions, degradation hot spots and remaining life.

AIDA MAX helps operators move away from reactive asset integrity management to a more proactive/predictive approach.

Having full visibility of your asset’s condition mitigates the risk and cost of failures and unplanned shutdowns and helps apply a more strategic focus to asset management plans.

The benefits • Accurate prioritisation of maintenance facilitates efficient inspection prioritisation and planning and provides exportable justification for decisions • Event-led integrity management - predict remaining life of plant and equipment by analysing both existing data sets as well as future scenarios and simulations • Full visibility - understand the consequences that process changes will have on your asset (remaining life, degradation rates, performance quality)

• Reduce OPEX – information that helps you cut the fat out of your inspection and maintenance regimes without compromising risk • Customisable to individual asset or operator needs - decide what’s most important to your asset and create a dashboard bespoke to your needs

R&D is the driving force behind IMRANDD and its raison d’être. Over 25% of the company effort is invested towards R&D to ensure the continued development and evolution of its services and cutting-edge data analytics software.

IMRANDD’s multi-disciplinary team of smart minds, customer-focused engineers and commercial advisors provide extensive experience in asset integrity management and specialist engineering to support its global customers’ fixed and floating offshore structures, marine systems and pressure systems.

Company Details Website: www.imrandd.com Email: enquiries@imrandd.com Tel: +44 (0)1224 937630

Features • Near real-time updates of your asset health and condition - full visibility of process conditions and the effect on integrity variables • Drilldown capability – navigate from system level summary to urgent issues and alarms to the specific variables causing your risks in a few clicks • Effortless data set comparison - differentiate between genuine integrity issues and data anomalies or “bad actors” by accessing the detailed data quality summaries • Create recognisable technical drawings annotated with health indicator and alarm overlays so that you always know the status of your asset • Interactive and personalised – bespoke visualisations and dashboards to see the things that matter to your specific asset, supporting good commercial and operational decision-making • Leading not lagging results - Simulate process changes and analyse their impact on asset condition so that you can predict and plan for any eventuality

Address: 214 Union Street Aberdeen AB10 1TL Scotland, UK

Technology Development stage: undergoing field trials Launch date: Q1 2021

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TECHNOLOGY IN ENERGY ANNUAL

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INNOVATION & TECH SPONSORED BY

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RENEWABLES SPONSORED BY

scotgrip.com

Delivering Safer Outcomes For over 30 years, SCOTGRIP INTERNATIONAL® has a track record of designing and manufacturing high-quality anti-slip safety products to prevent 'slips and trips' in work environments, across a range of sectors. We aim to support your HSE objectives, add value and deliver safer outcomes. We are also carbon neutral.

RENEWABLES JOBS 'TO GROW FIVEFOLD GLOBALLY BY 2050' as fossil-fuel industry shrinks

SCOTTISH POWER AND SHELL

Global renewable energy jobs will grow fivefold from 4.4 million today to 22 million by 2050, with more than 85% of those gains in the wind and solar sectors, according to an international team of academics.

submit bid for offshore windfarms

Jobs in the fossil-fuel sector will, at the same time, fall from 12.6 million to 3.1 million, with about 80% of the job losses related to oil, gas and coal extraction, the researchers write in a study published in the journal One Earth.

Scottish Power and oil giant Shell have submitted multiple proposals for new large-scale floating offshore windfarms as part of Crown Estate Scotland’s ScotWind Leasing.

Overall, the number of jobs in the energy industry will grow from 18 million today to 26 million in 2050 — with 84% of those in renewables, 11% in fossil fuels and 5% in nuclear — under the report's “well-below 2°C” (WB2C) scenario.

The companies hope their plans will create new jobs in the north-east and help the UK achieve its net-zero carbon emissions targets.

Floating offshore wind is expected to grow in the coming years as technology costs fall and is seen as more cost-effective in areas with deep waters like the North Sea. Scottish Power chief executive, Keith Anderson, said: “Scotland is the windiest country in Europe and has the biggest and most experienced offshore sector.

“Bringing Scottish Power and Shell’s collective knowledge, experience and expertise together means we’re perfectly placed to lead the way in developing large-scale offshore floating windfarms and creating a new green industry with massive potential for exporting our skills and experience globally and helping the UK decarbonise its energy generation.

“With just a few months until the Cop26 UN Climate Change Summit in Glasgow, ScotWind will help create a whole new industry in floating wind that will play a crucial role in putting the country on course for a cleaner and greener future.”

Shell UK country chairman David Bunch added: “If our bid is successful, Shell and Scottish Power are fully committed to working with Scottish communities and businesses to help develop supply chains and expertise which could make Scotland a world leader in floating wind.

“At Shell we continue to grow our capacity to generate, trade and supply cleaner power to our customers and to play our part in powering the UK to net-zero.”

ScotWind Leasing is the first round of seabed leasing for offshore wind in Scottish waters in over a decade and will grant property rights for new largescale offshore wind project development, including floating wind for the first time. The companies will find out if their bids are successful early next year.

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

“Climate policies are often pitted against job losses in national politics; however, our results show that, while the majority of fossil fuel jobs could be lost as those sectors decline in WB2C scenarios, in many parts of the world (although not all), these jobs could be offset by gains in renewable energy jobs,” said the report authors, which was made up of researchers from Canada’s University of British Columbia, the European Institute on Economics and the Environment in Milan, Italy, and Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden.

“In particular, there would be a large expansion of renewable manufacturing jobs, which could lead to competition to attract and expand solar and wind industries.

“This is an important finding as current fossil-fuel dependent countries with substantial fossil-fuel extraction jobs who face job losses in sectors like coal mining or others could promote the domestic renewable energy equipment manufacturing sector to create a large number of domestic jobs.”

Regions likely to benefit from the energy transition include Southeast and South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Indonesia, the US, Brazil, India, Japan and South Korea.

“In absolute terms, the Middle East and North Africa, and the US might gain over 1 million jobs in 2050 in the WB2C scenario compared with today, while other regions show more modest gains,” the report authors stated.

“In the case of these regions, future job losses are in their relatively low-job-intensity fossil-fuel sector (meaning fewer people are employed). However, these regions also have high renewable energy potential (with higher job intensities in the renewable energy sector) resulting in higher job numbers in the future overall.”

A recent report from think-tank REN21 concluded the world’s governments are missing a “civilisation changing” opportunity to switch tracks away from a fossil fuel-dominated global economy facing a climate crisis by shifting financial backing to support an accelerated build-out of renewables while turning off the taps on oil and gas.

RENEWABLES

NEPTUNE ENERGY WELCOMES SUBSIDY AWARD

for offshore green hydrogen pilot Neptune Energy today welcomed an announcement by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) to award a subsidy to the PosHYdon project, the world's first offshore green hydrogen pilot on a working platform.

The subsidy was awarded under the RVO’s Demonstration Energy and climate Innovation (DEI+) scheme, which invites funding applications for investments in renewable energy developments, including hydrogen pilots.

PosHYdon, which will be hosted on the Neptune Energy-operated Q13a-A platform, aims to validate the integration of offshore wind, offshore gas and offshore hydrogen in the Dutch North Sea. It will see the installation of a green hydrogen-producing plant on the Q13a-A platform. The plant will convert seawater into demineralised water, then into green hydrogen via electrolysis, which will be blended with natural gas and transported to shore via an existing pipeline.

Neptune Energy’s Managing Director for the Netherlands, Lex de Groot, said: “We welcome the award of this subsidy and look forward to progressing with this exciting project on our Q13a-A platform.

PosHYdon will provide the insights necessary to develop large scale green hydrogen production at sea.

“The Dutch North Sea sector has an exciting future as a ‘new energy hub’ and can play a leading role in large-scale green hydrogen production for north western Europe, given its infrastructure that connects offshore

with onshore. The integration of energy systems supports net-zero goals in a smart, efficient, and costeffective manner and without disturbing existing sea ecosystems.

“The extensive infrastructure network is connected to international grids and can easily accommodate wind farms further out at sea by converting the production of green electricity into green hydrogen and transporting it to the grid onshore. PosHYdon will be the key to making this happen and we are excited to consider future opportunities that the pilot can help unlock.”

Today marks the formation of the new PosHYdon consortium, comprising Neptune Energy and partners with expertise in offshore wind, green electricity generation and hydrogen transportation.

BP NAMES IRISH SEA WIND PROJECTS amid UK clean energy drive

BP PLC on Wednesday put a name to a pair of wind farms in the Irish Sea that the oil major will operate alongside German partner Energie Baden-Wuerttemberg AG.

Back in February, the duo were selected as preferred bidders for two major UK offshore wind leases.

In the Offshore Wind Round 4, the first UK leasing round since 2010, BP and EnBW won their bid for two leases in the Irish Sea. The leases have a combined 3 gigawatt potential generating capacity, the maximum award possible under the round's rules, plus a 60-year lease life.

The projects will be named Morgan and Mona, and BP noted they have a combined capacity strong enough to power 3.4 million UK households with clean energy.

"These leases will play a critical role in helping deliver the UK government's aim of producing enough offshore wind to power every UK home, quadrupling the country’s generating capacity to 40 gigawatts by 2030," BP Project Director Richard Haydock commented.

BP shares were 0.1% higher at 306.30 pence each in London on Wednesday morning.

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SPONSORED BY

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CONTRACT AWARDS SPONSORED BY

Infinity Partnership: Your Partner in Business Infinity Partnership is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary accountancy and business advisory practice, with a proactive approach to customer service.

www.infinity-partnership.com

Infinity has been a five-time winner at the British Accountancy Awards and has been a three-time finalist at the Scottish Accountancy Awards in recent times.

Subsea 7 awarded contract in the Middle East Subsea 7 today announced the award of a sizeable(1) contract in the Middle East.

The scope of work includes engineering, procurement, construction, and installation of various subsea pipelines totalling approximately 40 kilometres, with associated crossing structures and two composite power and fibre optic cables.

Engineering and procurement will commence immediately at Subsea 7’s office in Singapore.

Operations will be led by Subsea 7’s office in the Middle East with offshore activities scheduled to begin in 2023. No further details are disclosed at this time due to contractual obligations.

Subsea 7 defines a sizeable contract as being between USD 50 million and USD 150 million.

Saipem secures six-well drilling contract from Wintershall Dea ICR Integrity (ICR), a leading global industrial maintenance and integrity company, providing solutions for the oil and gas, power generation, defence, utilities and renewables industries, has been awarded a three-year contract with Shell UK, with extension options, for the provision of Technowrap™ engineered composite repairs, as well as Quickflange™ weldless connectors, for all its UKCS assets.

Following a competitive tender process, the award comes as excellent news for ICR having previously completed a similar contract for Shell over the past three years and is a testament to the standard and quality of work already done.

Scott Byers, Technowrap™ Key Account Manager at ICR said: “This renewal win, especially with the addition of Quickflange™, demonstrates the relationship we have with Shell as well the internationally recognised quality of the products and services we offer. Both Technowrap™ and Quickflange™ are industry approved and qualified to several type standards and are proven in improving pipeline integrity and flow assurance, which is imperative to Shell.”

ICR operates in global locations with operational bases in the UK, Norway, Abu Dhabi, USA and Australia as well as partners in over 25 countries worldwide.

Worley awarded detail design contract with TAQA Energy BV BV since 2017. This includes feasibility and concept studies alongside operational, capacity and reliability support at TAQA’s Bergermeer gas storage facility.

Worley has been awarded a contract with TAQA Energy BV to provide detail design services to a new off-gas compressor system at its Bergermeer gas storage facility in Alkmaar, the Netherlands.

The contract extension follows on from work Worley has been doing for TAQA Energy

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

The treatment and compression facility is designed as a zero-emissions plant and Europe’s largest storage for open-access gas.

Commercial storage operations began in 2015, re-using the depleted Bergermeer gas reservoir, located 2,500 metres underground.

Under contract, Worley will provide detail design services to TAQA’s new off-gas compressor system project. The project will benefit from an innovative approach using a four train non-API compressor system, ensuring high uptime, better operability and maintaining zero-emissions.

Work started in June 2021 and is led by Worley’s Specialist Technical Solutions division in Aberdeen, which delivers specialist technical insight and knowledge on everything from pipelines and asset integrity to process engineering and structural analysis. It will have support from its Global Integrated Delivery team in Hyderabad, India.

On the announcement of the contract extension, Kirsten Oliver, Director, Worley Specialist Technical Solutions said “We already have a dedicated task force, which provides direct plant support and this contract builds on our sustained relationship with TAQA. It also demonstrates confidence in our ability to provide our full suite of services to TAQA key operations as we help it find a way forward in the face of the energy transition.”

CONTRACT AWARDS Neptune Energy awards Cygnus subsea inspection contract Neptune Energy today announced the award of a subsea inspection contract for its operated Cygnus gas field in the UK southern North Sea to leading Geo-data specialist, Fugro. Fugro will use advanced inspection technologies, enabling data processing to be carried out onshore, reducing time and costs.

As part of the contract, Fugro will employ its specialised survey technology to inspect the subsea infrastructure, including pipelines and structures, and to undertake survey activities in advance of future drilling campaigns on the Cygnus field.

Traditionally, data processing would be carried out by a team offshore; however, this will be carried out from Fugro’s Remote Operations

Centre in Aberdeen, reducing costs and time associated with offshore travel.

Neptune’s Managing Director for the UK, Alexandra Thomas, said: “It’s crucially important to ensure the integrity and maintenance of subsea infrastructure and we are pleased to be awarding this contract to Fugro to help us achieve the highest standards of inspection.

“By deploying Fugro’s innovative digital technologies, we can support safe, efficient and reliable operations remotely.”

Daniel Jones, Fugro’s Director IRM Services for Europe and Africa, said: “Fugro is delighted to again be working with Neptune Energy in support of their subsea integrity management.

“By using our ROC in Aberdeen, we can complete these scopes from onshore while maintaining our high standards of data collection.”

Petrofac to support negative emissions in Stockholm Petrofac, a leading international services provider to the energy industry, has been awarded a front-end engineering design (“FEED”) contract for a planned CO2 capture facility at one of Stockholm Exergi’s combined heat and power (“CHP”) plants. This award, the first for Petrofac in Sweden, signals an important step in the Group’s growth strategy.

The development of CO2 capture facilities at the 375 MW CHP biofuel power plant at Värtaverket will support Stockholm Exergi’s goal of reducing carbon emissions beyond net-zero, while also meeting the energy needs of the city and the surrounding area. By introducing circular economy solutions, Stockholm Exergi will be able to improve sustainability, counter environmental impacts and align with the commitments of the Paris Agreement.

Petrofac’s scope of work for the project includes the process design package (“PDP”) and FEED

for the >800,000 tpa CO2 capture plant, along with CO2 compression, dehydration, liquefaction, onsite storage, and outward shipment terminal, from where the CO2 will be transported to its final storage site.

Stockholm Exergi has selected CO2 Capsol’s end-of-pipe solution as its capture technology and selected a third party to provide a Hot Potassium Carbonate solvent process design package.

Petrofac will deploy its significant experience to integrate the process design package into the main FEED deliverables, which include a cost estimate and technical documentation for the subsequent engineering, procurement, and construction phase.

This project adds to the recent clutch of new energy projects secured in the UK and Australia, further adding to the Group’s track record for the development, definition, and execution of infrastructure developments in offshore wind,

carbon capture, utilisation and storage (“CCUS”), hydrogen and waste to value plants.

John Pearson, Petrofac COO, said: “We are delighted to work on projects that support our customers’ ambitions to reach net-zero and beyond. This is a game-changing development for Sweden and an important project for us as we continue to deploy our engineering and project management skills in support of new energy projects”.

Floatel International seals Equinor contract in Brazil Offshore accommodation platform operator Floatel International has been awarded a contract by Equinor Brasil to provide maintenance and safety unit services alongside the Peregrino floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO) offshore Brazil.

The contract is for the 2013-built semisub vessel Floatel Victory, expected to commence on site in the third quarter of 2021 and last for six months. Equinor has options to extend the charter after the firm period.

Floatel International owns and operates five semisub accommodation vessels. Earlier this month, the company landed a contract with Inpex for the 2016-built Floatel Triumph at the Ichthys field in Australia.world,” said Chris Ashton, Chief Executive Officer at Worley.

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www.ogv.energy I August 2021

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North Sea oil firm wins London investor backing for bumper deal North Sea-focused EnQuest has received resounding support for a bumper acquisition in a success that suggests City investors still see potential in the oil and gas business in the area.

EnQuest said it had won the support of 99.997% of votes cast by shareholders for the proposed acquisition of a stake in the Golden Eagle development for up to $375 million from Canada’s Suncor.

The deal, which was announced in February, will continue a shake up in the North Sea that has gathered pace as a result of the fallout from the coronavirus crisis.

Some firms have decided to reduce their exposure to the North Sea and to shift investment to other areas.

Oil and gas firms face competition for investor attention from firms working in areas such as renewable energy amid growing concern about the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on climate change.

However, EnQuest is one of a number of firms that appear to have decided now is a good time to expand in the North Sea. It may be possible to acquire assets at attractive prices.

Some investors appear to share that view. The company was able to raise $50m equity to help fund the Golden Eagle. The relevant resolutions won the support of around 99% of votes cast at a general meeting yesterday.

The price of Brent crude has risen from $58.50 per barrel when EnQuest announced the Golden Eagle deal, to around $73.50bbl. The rollout of coronavirus vaccines has fuelled hopes there will be a strong recovery from the damage to the global economy triggered by the pandemic The Golden Eagle deal will allow EnQuest to acquire around 20 million barrels of reserves.

Golden Eagle is expected to remain in production into the 2030s.

The Golden Eagle development was brought into production in 2014 around 70 miles northeast of Aberdeen. It is operated by China’s CNOOC and includes the producing Golden Eagle, Peregrine and Solitaire fields.

CONTRACT AWARDS SPONSORED BY

"Infinity Partnership is an awardwinning, multi-disciplinary accountancy and business advisory practice, with a proactive approach to customer service."

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ON THE MOVE SPONSORED BY

www.ducatuspartners.com

Ducatus Partners Ducatus Partners is an industry leading executive search and leadership advisory firm operating across the global energy and infrastructure industries.

With decades of experience in our specialist sectors, the breadth and depth of our networks, coupled with a meticious approach to research and consulting, provide us with reach and insight few other firms can offer.

By Sean Buchan

Manageing Partner - EMEA at Ducatus Partners Tym Tombar

1

Cactus Announces New Appointment to Board of Directors

Cactus has announced that Tym Tombar has been appointed to the board of directors and will serve on its audit committee and compensation Tym is a Co-Founder of Arcadius Capital Partners and its predecessor, SW Capital Partners.

Gareth Broxton

4

THREE60 Energy Group Make Senior Appointment

THREE60 Energy Group has appointed Gareth Broxton as Engineering Director. He joins the company’s Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning team and will be responsible for technical assurance and customer focused delivery. Gareth joins from Wood, where he held a number of senior technical and project management roles across the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Throughout his career Gareth has supported major operators to deliver key project scopes including Shell, Repsol Sinopec, EnQuest, TAQA and TotalEnergies.

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

Jens Berge

2

Norwegian Hydrogen Appoint Chief Executive

Norwegian Hydrogen have named Jens Berge as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer.

Jens was previously the Chief Executive Officer of Awilco Drilling and prior to this, served as Chief Operating Officer of Prosafe.

Ronald Bain

5

VAALCO Names New Chief Financial Officer

VAALCO Energy has announced the appointment of Ronald Bain as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer. Ronald will be based in the company’s recently established London business development office and will split his time between London and Houston. He has over 25 years of oil industry experience in a variety of financial roles and significant capital markets experience. He has previously worked as the Chief Financial Officer of Eland Oil & Gas until the company was acquired by Seplat Petroleum Development. Prior to working for Eland, Bain led the financial integration planning for Baker Hughes on the GE Oil & Gas merger.

Marlon Richardson

3

Marlon Richardson joins KPMG as Partner

KPMG has appointed Marlon Richardson as part of its energy and natural resources leadership team.

He joins from EY, where he led the consultancy’s fossil fuels advisory sector.

Josh Carmichael

6

Wood Make Senior Hydrogen Appointment

Wood has appointed Josh Carmichael to fill the newly-created post of Vice President of Hydrogen. Josh will be tasked with leading Wood’s global hydrogen drive, working with clients, industry partners and government authorities to develop the growing sector.

He most recently led hydrogen and battery projects in the Netherlands for Transdev, which operates trains and electric buses and was the Director of the low carbon economy unit in South Australia, where he developed a green hydrogen investment roadmap for the state.

ON THE MOVE

www.ducatuspartners.com

8 Particia Collawn

7

Cheniere Appoints Two New Board Members Directors

Cheniere has announced that Patricia Collawn and Lorraine Mitchelmore have been appointed to serve as members of the company’s board of directors. Patricia has been appointed to the Audit and Compensation Committees and Lorraine has been appointed to the Audit and Governance and Nominating Committees.

Patricia is the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of PNM Resources, an energy holding company based in New Mexico. Prior to this, she worked for Public Service Company of Colorado, where she served as President and Chief Executive Officer. She is on the board of directors of Equitrans Midstream Corporation and previously served on the board of directors of CTS Corporation, as well as holding Chairman roles with the Electric Power Research Institute and Edison Electric Institute.

Lorraine most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Enlighten Innovations, a Calgary based clean technology company.

She was the former Executive Vice President Americas Heavy Oil and President and Canada Country Chair for Shell. She serves on the board of directors of Suncor Energy and the Bank of Montreal. Lorraine also previously was on the board of directors for TransMountain Corporation.

Tim Bullock

10

Oilex Appoints Chief Financial Officer

Oilex, the Australian headquartered oil and gas exploration, has appointed Colin Judd as Chief Financial Officer. Colin has served in a number of finance leadership positions, including as Chief Financial Officer roles for two private-equity-backed oil service businesses; Noskab Group and BW Group. He was also a co-founding member of Star Energy where he served as Chief Financial Officer and was instrumental in the company’s successful listing on AIM and ultimate sale to Petronas.

He joins the team following the appointment of new chief executive Roland Wessel who Lars Christian Bacher previously worked with Colin at Trans European Oil & Gas, a company backed by KKR, with the strategy to develop a pan-European energy business. The new executive team plan to expand Oilex’s United Kingdom interests which includes the Doyle-Peel license in the East Irish Sea and transform the organisation into a carbon-neutral company with carbon capture and storage being one future area of focus.

9

Milestone Environmental Appoint Carbon Sequestration Vice President Executive

Milestone Environmental has appointed Christopher Davis as Vice President of Caron Sequestration. Christopher joins from ExxonMobil after spending over 17 years with the company, working internationally in a number of roles covering commercial, reservoir engineering, projects and portfolio management. His most recent position was as a Commercial Manager where he participated in emission reduction initiatives and led upstream contracting standards and drove best practices across six business lines.

James Phu Nguyen

Essar Oil Appoints NonExecutive Director

Essar Oil has appointed Tim Bullock as an independent Non-Executive Director. Tim holds more than 30 years’ experience working across the oil, gas and power industries, both within the United Kingdom and internationally.

He is the current Chair of Bonroy Petchem and his former roles include having served as Chief Executive Officer of Mabanaft and Litasco. He spent 27 years with BP, including as Group Vice President of Global Oil Supply and Trading.

43

11

Christopher Davis

David Rodger

EnerMech Appoints First Asia Director

EnerMech has appointed James Phu Nguyen as its first Asia director to support its increasing operations in the region. He joins the business from Baker Hughes Process and Pipeline Services, where he held the position of Area Manager for the Far East. James has over 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry and has held a number of senior technical, sales and operations focused positions across Asia and Australia including at Roc Oil Company and Woodside Energy.

12

Aberdeen Renewables Group Name New Chief Executive

Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) has announced the appointment of David Rodger as its new Chief Executive Officer.

David previously spent four years with the group as a Communications Manager, before joining Vattenfall where he supported the development of the Clashindarroch onshore windfarm, as well as the European Offshore Wind Deployment Center.

Content provided by Ducatus Partners

44

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SAFE, SMART & EFFICIENT The complete package for well decommissioning Well-Safe Solutions provides a ground-breaking approach to the safe and cost-efficient decommissioning of on and offshore wells. We offer a specialist well abandonment service that allows operators to meet the challenges and regulatory imperatives around decommissioning, while significantly reducing costs.

Cambo Oil Field to cut carbon emissions Some campaigners believe the Cambo oil and gas project off the coast of Shetland should not go ahead. Actually, it would be far worse for the environment if domestic oil and gas production fields like Cambo are halted.

Some 75% of the UK’s energy needs are currently met by oil and gas. The UK government’s advisory body, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), has said the UK will still need oil and gas for decades to come.

Stopping production from fields like Cambo will not stop the need for oil and gas. Instead, the country will have to import it from overseas – frequently from countries with higher emissions and less commitment to act on them.

Retaining domestic production is therefore essential to both ensure the continued supply of the energy we need and to enable us to move faster to a lower carbon future.

But we all know – and agree – that emissions must come down. So, during the time that we still need oil and gas, the key must be to produce them with as low a level of emissions as possible so that we can still heat our homes, run our cars and power our industries as our country moves to lower-carbon energy.

Helpfully, the UK’s changing oil and gas industry has decades of expertise in developing the

technologies that we need to tackle climate change head-on. And we have a plan. Through the North Sea Transition Deal – agreed with the UK government in March this year – we are accelerating home-grown, greener energies and dramatically cutting emissions – not just in our sector, but across the UK. This was reinforced last week with the publication of the Transport Decarbonisation Plan by the UK government – and the recognition of the need for our sector’s skills and resources for electrification, hydrogen and new biofuels and synthetic fuels.

Over the last eight years, emissions from our industry have fallen by 16%. We will cut them by 50% over the next ten years, and 90% by 2040. By 2050, we will have made the UK Continental Shelf a carbon-neutral basin, reduced emissions by 60 million tonnes – that is the equivalent of taking 2.5 million cars off the road – and we will help the UK achieve its climate goal of net-zero emissions.

Oil and gas produced here in the UK has far a lower emissions intensity than many of the key imports – such as liquified natural gas – and we are committed to do ever better.

Projects like the Cambo field are part of a lowcarbon journey that will support energy security, jobs, the economy and the net-zero future that everyone wants to see.

Like all future UK oil and gas projects, the Cambo field is designed with loweroperating emissions in mind. It has been built 'electrification-ready', with the potential to import renewable power when it becomes feasible in the future. It is in line with the industry’s decarbonisation targets, and it is included in the country’s long-term energy projections.

Production from the Cambo field will help to power the country and be used to manufacture everything from medicines and clothes to laptops and even solar panels. While we are still going to use oil and gas, we should produce it here in the UK from fields like Cambo.

The North Sea Transition Deal will help all other future fields in UK waters become cleaner, with £16 billion worth of investment being unlocked to scale up carbon capture and storage as well as hydrogen.

John Lawrie Metals Strengthens Decommissioning Capabilities with Two New Quayside Facilities company now has the capability to receive and process subsea infrastructure and piece small material at both Aberdeen and Montrose Ports. John Lawrie is committed to servicing the increasingly important decommissioning industry and is excited to offer full decommissioning services at these locations.

John Lawrie Metals Ltd, the decommissioning and metal recycling experts, has announced two new quayside decommissioning facilities in the North East of Scotland.

Following the issue of full Waste Management Permits direct to John Lawrie, it means the

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

With its focus on metal processing efficiency and service agility, these new quayside operations will mean the company has the ability to downsize and process material onsite, as well as the potential to ship direct from the Ports with little or no road transportation or haulage required. Both sites will have direct quayside access meaning ease of discharge and handover for client materials and will be managed specifically for subsea structure

and piece small material returns, offering the decommissioning industry two new key locations for landing offshore assets.

By having both the Waste Management and Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 Permits in place, the sites are able to accept all types of material produced during a decommissioning campaign.

As the industry moves into a phase of slower production and increased decommissioning activity, it is becoming ever more important to have the right facilities in the right locations available to the market. With an aim of zero to landfill, John Lawrie Metals is the largest metal recycler in the North-East of Scotland, handling around 200,000 tonnes of metal annually.

DECOMMISSIONING Innovative thinking to overcome a decommissioning challenge The Oil and Gas Authority’s (OGA) 2021 Decom Costs report reveals that the estimate has fallen from the original £59.7 billion to £46bn and is on track to hit the target of £39bn by 2023 called for in the 2017 report.

This year’s 4% reduction contributes to a total cut of 23% thus far, an average of almost 6% a year, and in line with what is needed to cut the total cost by 35%.

Importantly, the paper reduction has been matched by a 20% cut in the costs of completed decommissioning projects. Actual decommissioning expenditure in 2020 was £409million lower than estimated the previous year, in comparison to a £170m reduction in 2019 and £432m in 2018. The 2020 reductions were largely due to deferral of activity as a result of Covid-19 and the low commodity price.

The industry is demonstrating a growing culture of continuous improvement, allied to knowledgesharing and learning from experience which is helping it to reduce costs despite the fragmented nature of the market which historically made collaboration difficult.

The report makes it clear that industry must maintain the pace of cost-cutting because the opportunity is immediate; the next 20 years is when most decommissioning will take place and when the reductions must be made.

The OGA’s recently-published Decommissioning Strategy warns that the industry must change its commercial practices to prevent higher costs and focuses on four main strands to achieve savings - planning for decommissioning, commercial transformation – encouraging the supply chain to be more proactive in soliciting

work, supporting energy transition from late life into decommissioning, and technology, processes and guidance.

Since 2017 reductions of 25-35% have been achieved across three of the largest cost categories – well decommissioning, removals and subsea infrastructure. Well decommissioning alone represents 45% of the total cost estimate and removals for a further 25%; and these two categories account for more than £10bn of the overall savings to date.

However, despite the overall positive performance, reductions have begun to slow, and if it continues at the same pace as the past two years, the target will be missed. Therefore, there is a clear need to build on what has already been achieved by capturing remaining opportunities from collaboration and aligned, incentivised contracting.

The OGA has recently relaunched the Pathfinder website which flags up a large and growing number of opportunities for contracts and which encourages collaboration in all projects, including decommissioning work.

Fairfield Decom to Cease Trading “Despite the industry calling for innovative decommissioning propositions, there is a discernible gap between the rhetoric and the reality. The Fairfield Decom team developed something entirely different – an innovative decommissioning model with integration at its core and a never-seen before commercial proposition. Nonetheless, without a firm commitment from an operator, numerous material offers fell at the final hurdle,” Fergusson went on to say.

Fairfield Decom has confirmed that it will cease trading in a statement posted on its website.

In the statement, Fergusson outlined that there must now be a sense of urgency in the decommissioning sector.

In the statement, the company’s managing director, Graeme Fergusson, described the decision to stop operations as being “very difficult”.

“Without the appetite for true commercial innovation and the willingness to move away from conservative working practices, we not only run the risk of higher decommissioning costs but of losing valuable skills and a sustainable supply chain,” he said.

“This was especially tough given the talented team that has worked tirelessly to bring this unique solution to the market, bolstered by significant support and encouragement from our shareholders, the supply chain, regulators, financiers and industry bodies,” Fergusson said in the statement.

“The next 20 years is poised to see an unprecedented increase in decommissioning activity. While we are naturally disappointed that Fairfield Decom will not be a part of that journey, we urge the industry to step up to unlock the huge potential of the global decommissioning market, thus providing muchneeded opportunities for UK businesses and the highly skilled energy workforce,” he added.

“Although our model was received positively by both operators and the wider industry, it has proven to be difficult for the operators to translate this enthusiasm into action,” he added.

Fairfield Decom was established in 2019 with Heerema Marine Contractors and AF Offshore Decom. The entity brought together an unrivalled track record and expertise to create a unique solution for ultra-late life and decommissioning operations in the North Sea, according to Fergusson.

DECOMMISSIONING SPONSORED BY

45

Offshore Energy Services Dashboard June / July 2021 Offshore Energy Services Offshore Energy ServicesDashboard DashboardJune June//July July 2021

46

available from available from

PROVIDED BY

SubseaLogix PlatformLogix SubseaLogix PlatformLogix

OffshoreO&G O&GEPC EPCAwards Awards $billions $billions Offshore 8080

Expected Expected

7070

Sanctioned Sanctioned

6060 50 50 Westwood Global Energy Group are specialist providers of detailed market intelligence for the offshore energy sector, covering; offshore rigs, production facilities, subsea equipment, subsea services, offshore marine and offshore renewables and power.

www.westwoodenergy.com

Field Development Update Offshore O&G related EPC investment for the first half of 2021 was estimated at $37.3 billion – more than double the total value awarded in 2020. Recent highlights include Chevron sanctioning its $4 billion Jansz-Io Compression project offshore Australia, Equinor’s decision to progress the first phase of its Kristin South (inc. the Lavrans & Kristin Q discoveries) development offshore Norway and TechnipFMC’s announcement for a huge subsea EPCI contract award supporting Petrobras’ Buzios 6-9 developments offshore Brazil.

The development is thought to include at least 60 subsea trees, with additional subsea award still expected to be confirmed with other subsea OEM. A further $22.7 billion of EPC value is expected to be awarded over the balance of the year. Key projects to watch include Woodside’s Scarborough and Shell’s Crux offshore Australia and TotalEnergies’ North Platte development in the US Gulf of Mexico.

22.7 22.7

40 40

71.0 71.0

30 30 20 20 10 10 0 0

31.1 31.1

June rig counts increased by three over May with the Arab Gulf jackup segment underpinning most of this growth. Total jackup utilisation tightened to 68% (78% effective). Total utilisation for both Drillships & Semisubs was 56% with effective utilisation for the former hitting 75%.

42.5 42.5

37.3 37.3 14.1 14.1

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Westwood’s 2021-22 outlook assumes a $60/bbl Brent oil price

Westwood’s 2021-22 outlook assumes a $60/bbl Brent oil price

Subsea Tree Awards #XTs Tree Awards Subsea #XTs 2021

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2021 2020

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121

33

187

FPS Throughput Additions by Year of Sanction

kpoepd FPS Throughput Additions by Year of Sanction 2,500 3,000 2,000 2,500 1,500 2,000 1,000

1,500 500 1,000 -

LNG Gas LNG Liquids Gas

Liquids

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Offshore Wind Update

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No formal orders for offshore wind turbines were placed in July, with total 2021 orders to-date still standing at 378 units.

However, Vestas did announce a pre-order agreement for their new V236-15.0MW turbine model for EnBW’s 900MW He Dreiht project in the German North Sea which is currently anticipated to come online in 2025. A further 1,451 turbines are expected to be ordered over the balance of 2021 and 2022.

2018 2019 Offshore O&G EPC Awards2020 2021-25 2021

by E&P

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

-

2022

$billions to be awarded

Offshore O&G EPC Awards 2021-25 by E&P $billions to be awarded 35.0

7.3

35.0

TotalEnergies TotalEnergies

Others

9.1

8.7

CNOOC CNOOC

9.9

8.8

Chevron Chevron

10.2

9.1

ExxonMobil ExxonMobil

10.4

9.9

Saudi Aramco Saudi Aramco

10.2

Qatar Qatar Petroleum Petroleum

16.7

10.4

Shell

16.7

Woodside Woodside Petroleum Petroleum

17.6

Equinor

29.3

Equinor

17.6

Shell

29.3

Petrobras Petrobras

The month of July also marks the deadline for the submission of bids for the highly anticipated 10GW Scotwind leasing round.

Amongst the bidders, BP and EnBW are hoping to build on their success earlier this year at the UK seabed leasing rights round 4 where they were awarded preferred bidder status for two sites with up to 3GW of capacity combined (recently named Morgan & Moana). This time round the duo have announced plans to invest up to GBP10 million to develop 2.9GW alongside new supply bases, a land-based green hydrogen plant and an EV charging network. The results of the hotly contested bidding process are expected in early 2022.

7

Sanctioned 33 7 Firm Sanctioned Probable Possible Firm Probable Possible

65

187

2020

kpoepd 3,000 Offshore Rig Update

PlatformLogix PlatformLogix

8.8

8.7

7.3

Others

STATS & ANALYTICS

SubseaLogix SubseaLogix

Westwood Westwood GlobalEnergy Energy Global Group Group

Offshore Energy Services Dashboard June / July 2021 47 Westwood Westwood Global Energy Offshore Global Group Energy Offshore Energy Energy Services Services Dashboard Dashboard June June // July July 2021 2021 Group available from available from

RigLogix RigLogix

Month 1 vs vs May May 1) 1) Month on on Month Month Backlog Backlog (June (June 1

May May Rig Rig Counts Counts Jackups Jackups

Semisubs Semisubs

65 65

496

96 96

54 54

19 19

496 Jackups Jackups

July 1 July 1

209,328 209,328

July 1 July 1

30,488 30,488

41,692 41,692

24 24

95

107

107 Semisubs Semisubs

95 Drillships Drillships

60 60

26 26

336 336

July 1 July 1

Drillships Drillships

21 21

24 24

RigLogix RigLogix

53 53

18 18

Contracted Contracted

Available Available

June 1 June 1

June 1 June 1

217,050 217,050

Stacked Stacked

June 1 June 1

30,922 30,922

40,040 40,040

Regional Regional Month Month on on Month Month Rig Rig Counts Counts (May (May vs vs April) April)

SE SE Asia Asia

1 1

0.1 -0.4

May-21 May-21

Jan-21 Jan-21

US US GOM GOM

Mar-21 Mar-21

NW NW Europe Europe

Nov-20 Nov-20

Global Global

Jul-20 Jul-20

Latin Latin Arab ArabGulf Gulf America America

-0.4 -0.8 Sep-20 Sep-20

SE SE Asia Asia

0.4

0.1 May-20 May-20

US US GOM GOM

Jan-20 Jan-20

NW NW Europe Europe

Mar-20 Mar-20

Global Global

-1.1 -1.1

0.2 Nov-19 Nov-19

0.7 0.7

2.1 2.1

Jul-19 Jul-19

85.00% 85.00% 80.00% 80.00% 75.00% 75.00% 70.00% 70.00% 65.00% 65.00% 60.00% 60.00%

Sep-19 Sep-19

3.4 3.4

Latin Latin Arab Arab Gulf Gulf America America

Global Global

-1.3 NW NW Europe Europe

US US GOM GOM

SE SE Asia Asia

Latin Arab Arab Gulf Gulf Latin America America

Global Rig Utilisation Effective 80% 75% 70% 65% 60% 55% 50% 45% 40%

75% 70%

80% 80%

65%

75% 75%

50% 45%

60% 60%

40%

Jul-19 Jul-19 Sep-19 Sep-19 Nov-19 Nov-19 Jan-20 Jan-20 Mar-20 Mar-20 May-20 May-20 Jul-20 Jul-20 Sep-20 Sep-20 Nov-20 Nov-20 Jan-21 Jan-21 Mar-21 Mar-21 May-21 May-21

65% 65%

Jul-19 Jul-19 Sep-19 Sep-19 Nov-19 Nov-19 Jan-20 Jan-20 Mar-20 Mar-20 May-20 May-20 Jul-20 Jul-20 Sep-20 Sep-20 Nov-20 Nov-20 Jan-21 Jan-21 Mar-21 Mar-21 May-21 May-21

60% 55%

70% 70%

available from from available

Jul-19 Jul-19 Sep-19 Sep-19 Nov-19 Nov-19 Jan-20 Jan-20 Mar-20 Mar-20 May-20 May-20 Jul-20 Jul-20 Sep-20 Sep-20 Nov-20 Nov-20 Jan-21 Jan-21 Mar-21 Mar-21 May-21 May-21

Total 85% 85%

WindLogix WindLogix

WindLogix WindLogix

Offshore WTG WTG Awards Awards by

by Status Status (exc. (exc. Mainland Mainland China) China) Offshore #WTGs #WTGs 1,200 1,200 1,000 1,000

Goldwind Goldwind 4% 4% General General Electric (GE) Electric (GE) 13% 13%

Expected Expected Awarded Awarded

800 800

Awarded by by Awarded OEM OEM

600 600 Vestas Vestas 26% 26%

400 400 200 200 -

Others Others 3% 3%

2018 2018

2019 2019

2020 2020

2021 2021

2022 2022

Asia Asia 26% 26%

Siemens Siemens Gamesa Gamesa 54% 54%

Western Western Europe Europe 56% 56%

Expected by Expected by Reigion Reigion North America North18% America 18%

48

PEOPLE IN ENERGY SPONSORED BY

www.prodrill-ers.com

Prodrill Energy Resource Solutions: people at the heart of the energy industry With over three decades of experience in sourcing the best talent in the upstream market, Prodrill are driven by people, passion and potential. Experts in human capital; Prodrill have a wealth of experience in providing tailored contractor management and staffing solutions for the global upstream & E&P industry.

How have you coped personally and as a company with the pandemic?

SAFER Training decided right from the offset of the pandemic that we would reduce class sizes and proud to say we were the first to implement the action. The way we have set up our new facilities was not for volume of delegates, but for quality time training the candidates who have really appreciated the approach we have taken. We have decided to continue with the minimum number of delegates on the courses as we have seen the difference it makes for the learner in how they are really immersed in the tasks given. I personally coped fine with the pandemic and the changes I made, just the same as everyone I had to make certain sacrifices.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

ANDREW REID Director, SAFER Training

Background: Andy Reid joined the SAFER Training team

in January 2018 and is responsible for the growth of SAFER Training in Scotland and the Middle East, mainly Qatar. "I am looking forward to getting back in the mix and doing what I really enjoy and that is finding the best, safest, cost effective quality training solution that meets our clients expectations."

How did you get into the Energy sector and how long have you been working in it?

I got into the energy sector back in 1989, just after the unfortunate tragedy of Piper Alpha when 167 personnel lost their lives.I was lucky enough to join a great team of people at the Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Board (OPITB) in Montrose, known now as AIS Survivex. I was also lucky enough to enjoy 15 years in the Middle East before it was my time to come home to the UK and join SAFER Training Scotland. I have been blessed with working in the energy sector for nearly 32 years, during which I've worked in various parts of the world, meeting so many great people who I have taken great traits from. I'm now utilising those traits to assist towards making SAFER Training Scotland a complete success going forward.

What does your job involve on an average day?

I like to be at our new facilities based in Dyce Aberdeen to welcome every delegate personally into the facilities and have a general chat with delegates, giving them a short introduction to who SAFER Training are and what to expect for the rest of day.

I feel it is vitally important for me to meet and greet our clients and make sure they feel welcome. Once the delegates get into the classroom, that’s when I get in to arranging meetings with clients, lots of researching industry, constantly seeking solutions that will make training safer, innovative, cost effective without compromising on quality ensuring the training delivered we offer and deliver is fit for purpose and aligned with current times.

www.ogv.energy I August 2021

It must be when I was in Qatar, and we won the largest training contract ever awarded at the time. We won a 5-year multi-million-dollar, Health, Safety and Leadership training contract to supply the Qatar Shell GTL Construction Project with all their training needs for a safe and successful project. This has certainly by far been the best project I have ever had the pleasure of being part of. Over the duration of the construction phase we trained over 160,000 personnel from all over the world.

What ambitions have you still got to fulfil professionally in your career?

I will be working hard to make sure SAFER Training are the number 1 training provider of choice for OPITO Offshore Lifeboat Coxswains Training and OPITO Competence Assessor & Internal Verifier Training both here in the UK and Middle East and Africa hopefully within the next 3 years.

Who has been the most influential person in your life professionally?

I would say Mr Ian McMillin, Managing Director of SAFER Training. Ian has been a great friend, coach, mentor, councillor and is always there to help. He has always been fair to everyone who has been lucky enough to work with him, since 2005 when I first met him in Aberdeen and we're still working together in 2021.

Over the next 10 years, what changes would you like to see in the energy sector with respect to D&I? Upskilling and cross training of personnel in industry as well as in the education training providers sector will require more technology-based training delivery such as simulation and virtual reality training methodology as opposed to the conventional training methodology.

We have seen a massive change in the way training providers are now moving into simulation and virtual reality, there is nothing that can’t be done via such training methods, so come 10 years down the line, I can only see the technology improving more and more and being utilised more and more as we move forward to enhance the training experience and improving competence and confidence by having more interactive, fully immersive training solutions via simulators and virtual reality, making training safer by combining safety and technology removing associated risks within the energy sectors.

Given the experience you have now, what advice would you give a graduate just starting their career in the Energy sector?

I would encourage them to always remember that ‘It is a small world and a long life.'

This mantra has been a guiding principle for me since I started my career and is a helpful reminder to treat people well, build relationships, develop your reputation and take a longer-term view about your decisions and actions.

PEOPLE IN ENERGY sponsored by

COMMUNITY PARTNER

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Aberdeen FC Community Trust Launches Duncan Skinner “BrighterFutures” Legacy Fund Aberdeen FC Community Trust (AFCCT) is setting up a legacy fund in memory of its former chairman, Duncan Skinner, who tragically lost his year‐long battle with cancer in April 2021, with the goal of reaching £100,000.

Kick‐started with £20,000, donated by Mr Skinner earlier this year, and a major contribution from CNR International, the “Brighter Futures” fund will support the Trust’s work with young people, including a year‐long programme to transform the lives of those aged between 14 and 18, and beyond into education and employment.

Delivered by AFCCT, the Youth Ambassador programme will give young people the chance to gain essential life experiences, skills and qualifications, otherwise not available to them. The programme will improve their chances of securing employment and reaching their full potential.

Each young person on the programme will be supported in setting goals and then developing the skills and qualifications required to reach those, through meaningful learning, work experiences and volunteering through the Trust. These volunteering experiences, in particular, will further the reach of the programme into support for the wider community.

Lynn Carter, partnership and business development manager at AFCCT, said: “For different and often heart‐breaking reasons, too many young people don’t engage in learning at school or have the means to secure the work placements and life experiences others take for granted. But, through the Trust with its links to Aberdeen Football Club, sports‐based activities and coaching in a supportive environment, these young people will have access to opportunities to secure a brighter future.”

Around 50 young people have benefited from the unfunded programme in the last few years but the Trust had no funding stream to continue and expand it.

CNR International recognises the benefit of supporting young people and is demonstrating its commitment to working together with local communities and stakeholders by supporting the fund. The company’s Vice President & Finance Director, Barry Duncan said, “At CNR International, we are strongly committed to supporting the communities in which we work and doing this both financially and practically. The Brighter Futures initiative is one that we feel we can contribute to in both these ways, to provide

excellent opportunities to as many young people as possible to reach their potential.”

The pledges from Duncan and CNR have got the fund‐raising off to a flying start. The Trust is aiming to meet a fund‐raising target of £100,000 which will allow them to put 150 young people through the programme over the next five years.

The funds will help deliver accredited training courses, STEM courses, youth exchange programmes, vouchers for interview and workplace clothing, travel costs, volunteering uniforms, work experience, internships and placements, an award ceremony for graduation and a mentor to support the young people through their first year of further education or employment.

The Trust has already received donations in Duncan’s memory which will be added to the fund and a dedicated Just Giving campaign will be launched for one‐off and monthly direct debit donations as well as the opportunity to sponsor a named young person through the year‐long programme.

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LEGAL & FINANCE

Contracting with care – addressing the environmental implications of decommissioning

By Katie Love, Solicitor in Government, Regulation and Competition Team (Corporate Crime & Investigation), Brodies LLP

As the North Sea basin matures, decommissioning activity is expected to increase in the coming years, with OGUK anticipating investment in excess of £15 billion over the next decade. This combined with an increased societal focus on environmental protection means it is imperative that operators consider the full regulatory landscape associated with decommissioning.

Prior to specific service contracts being drawn up, the entire programme should be mapped out from a regulatory perspective – from preparatory work through to final disposal of waste.

Indeed, different regulatory regimes are engaged depending on the type of asset being decommissioned and the specific waste materials present. For example, where a vessel is being decommissioned the EU Ship Recycling Regulations and the Ship Recycling (Requirements in Relation to Hazardous Materials on Ships) (Amendment Etc.) Regulations 2018 must be considered, whereas the Petroleum Act 1998 applies to rigs.

In general terms, the key legislation to be aware of includes:

1. The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (the OSPAR Convention 2. The Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007; and 3. The Radioactive Substances Act 1993.

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Suitably competent contractors should be invited to tender for the work by operators as early as possible. Assessing each contractor's capability and identifying which aspects of the work they could be deployed on (depending on experience and which permits / licences etc. they hold) will enable efficiencies to be identified.

Contractual provisions should be carefully reviewed to ensure they align with regulatory obligations and allocate liability as the operator intends.

LOGIC's General Conditions of Contract for Offshore Decommissioning is a useful starting point.

Key points to consider: • How many contracts are to be executed? What

part of the decommissioning process will each contract cover? The wording in the scope of work should appropriately reflect the work envisaged under the relevant contract.

• Where will waste be treated, transported, and ultimately disposed of? Given the specific and complex regulatory regimes that apply to decommissioning, a separate contract for the onshore element is advisable. Furthermore, if waste is being transported and disposed of outwith the UK, bespoke contracts will have to be negotiated to account for the appropriate local legislative provisions.

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• Where onshore work is included under

LOGIC's standard decommissioning contract, operators should be aware that the indemnity provisions may be a sticking point with contractors. Indeed, as the Industry Mutual Hold Harmless Deed does not apply onshore, contractors will want to ensure appropriate indemnity coverage, as between contractors.

• Sub-contracting should be closely considered.

It is unlikely that one contractor company will have the capability to carry out the entire decommissioning process, so sub-contracts may well arise. In this case, operators should consider the group definitions as well as the indemnity provisions to ensure they flow through and that the relevant risks are covered.

The compliance considerations relating to decommissioning are inherently linked to the contractual issues and should always be considered in tandem. Failure to comply with regulatory prerequisites, such as the selection of suitable contractors, may result in objections to the planned decommissioning works by the regulators, causing delay and unnecessary additional costs. It is therefore in an operator's best interests to get its compliance and contractual ducks in a row prior to submitting plans.

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