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elcome to the March edition of ‘OGV Energy Magazine’ where this month we are very excited to be hosting our OGV Recruitment Fair on March 27th in Aberdeen, where we will be welcoming 30 supply chain companies across the energy sector to engage with candidates in this evolving and exciting sector.

A big thank you to our front cover partner Moduspec and you can read all about how they are continuing to support the upstream Oil & Gas Skills challenge on pages 4-5 inside.

We are also delighted to welcome contributions from Rotech Subsea, Offshore Energies UK, Solab, Jee, Intervention Rentals, ROVOP, QHSE Aberdeen and Ann McRobb Associates Ltd

The rest of this month’s magazine as always provides you with a review of the Energy sector in the North Sea, Europe, Middle East, USA, Australia and Norway, along with articles from Brodies LLP, Leyton and project updates from The

For decades Aberdeen has led the way in supporting the wider upstream oil & gas industry to develop the skills required to safely extract hydrocarbons from deep into the seabed and deal with whatever mother nature has to offer.

Continuing to support the upstream oil & gas skills challenge

Our reputation in the industry for technical expertise in our niche market is excellent and our rig equipment courses are still renowned within the drilling community – despite a 10year absence. The Rig Inspection Workshop and Subsea Engineer Programme have a sort

onboard drilling rigs.

Today we interview Mark Watson –Operations Director for Europe, Africa and Middle East – and hear how ModuSpec and sister company Well Academy are tackling industry challenges with skills, head on.

What is the link between ModuSpec and Well Academy?

Great question, we are both part of the same ownership group and colocate in offices around the world where we work together to serve our clients – who on most occasions are the same and require both technical advisory services and technical training.

In October last year we opened our office and training facility in Westhill, Aberdeenshire where the ModuSpec technical and operations team for Europe, Africa and the Middle East is based on the first floor, while on the ground floor we have the Well Academy training facility.

Why have ModuSpec and the Well Academy set up a training facility in Aberdeen?

There are many training providers in Aberdeen and for sure we aren’t trying to compete directly with the large training and managed service companies which deliver a wide curriculum of training – our intention and business plan is different.

The Well Academy is the leading provider of courses related to well engineering in continental Europe and has a great reputation in the Americas and in Australia. As the only global provider of International Well Control Forum (IWCF) accredited training at levels 1 – 5, it makes entire sense for us to also offer the Well Academy’s diverse training portfolio here in Aberdeen.

Ultimately we are offering training in Aberdeen because we see real value in blending the capabilities of ModuSpec and Well Academy to deliver a set of niche technical training courses to the industry. No other provider can do what we do in the market.

What industry trends are you seeing in the market?

With the market shocks of 2015 and 2020 when drilling rig utilisation fell and training budgets were cut, there has absolutely been an impact on the overall skill and competency of the workforce. When the markets start to recover, operational budgets for operators and rig owners are tight and therefore gaps start to emerge in terms of training and competency.

We have seen much of the experienced workforce retire, move to other industries in search of job security or move internationally where opportunities are more prevalent due to market demand.

As the industry recovered after COVID-19, naturally there was an increasing number of new entrants to the market, including through graduate programmes and traineeships to make up the shortfall in the workforce. This creates an obvious skills and competency gap. With regards to rig equipment and well engineering, ModuSpec and Well Academy can support directly.

Since the launch of our training facility in Westhill, we have been overwhelmed with demand from our clients. It’s clear to us that there is a lack of knowledge within subsets of the workforce as to how rig equipment functions, how it should be maintained, how to troubleshoot failures and how to understand statutory regulations. From a wells perspective, over and above the required IWCF certificates, we are seeing more requests to support with operational problems such as stuck pipe prevention or to support a drilling and wells team in planning a complex well, for example high pressure, high temperature.

Not only have we seen demand in Aberdeen, but throughout the Europe, Africa and Middle East region.

Tell us more about the ModuSpec Masterclass sessions?

We are a company that invests in our client relationships and for the long-term. ModuSpec will celebrate 40 years of business next year and our values have always been to collaborate and deliver added value to our clients.

We are delivering free to attend Masterclass sessions, as a way of giving something back to the industry we have been part of for so long. Masterclasses are 1.5 hours in duration with lunch provided and aim to introduce a niche technical topic that our client base would not ordinarily be exposed to. Whether the attendees are from operators or rig owners, they both work as a team to drill wells – so being able to communicate on technical subjects is important.

We have already run a couple of sessions, for example the first Masterclass was an Introduction to Rig Compliance. We found there was a lack of understanding within our client base around the role of a class society, the role of the UK regulator and the role of American Petroleum Institute (API) standards. Understanding the basis of the UK Safety Case regime and knowing how equipment certification is managed are key topics for both parties to understand when operating a drilling rig.

We have found that clients really enjoy the micro learning session and are encouraging us to continue to hold the Masterclasses. So, we are!

The next sessions will cover Introduction to Well Intervention Equipment and Rig Intake Trends and we look forward to continuing with these throughout 2025 and beyond! 

A SNAPSHOT OF OUR COURSES

IWCF Drilling Well Control (Level 3-4)

IWCF Well Intervention Pressure Control (Level 3-4)

IWCF Well Control in Design and Lifecycle Management

Rig Inspection Workshop – Offshore Rigs

Rig Inspection Workshop –Land and Workover Rigs

Rig Inspection Workshop –Land Rig, Jack Up & Platform Rigs

Rig Inspection Workshop –Jack Up & Barge

Well Control Equipment Course (Levels 1 & 2)

View our scheduled courses in Europe, Middle East and Africa for 2025

In addition to face-to-face classroom training, we also deliver in-house customised solutions and virtual, instructor-led training.

Editorial newsdesk@ogvenergy.co.uk

+44 (0) 1224 084 114

Advertising sales@ogvenergy.co.uk

+44 (0) 1224 084 114

Design Jennifer

Editorial Tsvetana

Leading

Verlume wins Company of the Year (Under 50 Employees) Award

At a prestigious event in Aberdeen, Verlume won the award for Company of the Year (Under 50 Employees) at the Global Underwater Hub

Subsea Expo Awards.

Headquartered in Aberdeen with deployments of its products globally in world-first projects across North America, Europe and the UK, Verlume’s expertise is in subsea batteries and power management systems.

The company acts as a systems integrator, bringing together all relevant parts to make subsea power systems more reliable and efficient. An important part of its business model is remaining agnostic and flexible, meaning that it can work with any power input. 

TWMA Breaks Ground on Unrivalled Drilling Waste Management Facility

TWMA*, a global leader in drilling waste management, has officially broken ground on its latest facility in Habshan, Abu Dhabi. The milestone marks the beginning of construction for the world’s most advanced, self-sustainable drilling waste management site.

Scheduled for completion later this year, the cutting-edge facility is expected to be operational by summer 2025. Designed to streamline the management, transportation, and treatment of drill cuttings, the site will have the capacity to process up to 300 tonnes of drill cuttings per day. Additionally, it will recover up to one barrel of oil or diesel per tonne processed, enabling self-sufficiency through recovered fluids. 

Elemental Energies and Iceland Drilling launch global geothermal joint venture

Subsurface, well engineering and well management specialist, Elemental Energies, and geothermal drilling services contractor, Iceland Drilling Company (Iceland Drilling), have announced a joint venture (JV) providing integrated well engineering and project delivery solutions for the global geothermal market.

The JV brings together Iceland Drilling’s expertise in high-temperature geothermal drilling, through their fleet of modern hydraulic drilling rigs, with Elemental Energies’ subsurface and well engineering capabilities. With over 70 years of experience and several hundred geothermal wells delivered worldwide, Iceland Drilling is a global leader in the delivery of geothermal well construction. Elemental Energies has a proven track record in well management spanning over 35 years with extensive experience supporting global geothermal projects.. 

Industry invited to shape the future for skills in engineering construction Draeger UK secures contract extension with INEOS O&P UK, Grangemouth Unique Group Appoints Fraser Moonie as Global Commercial and Strategy Development Director

The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) is calling on all engineering construction employers, their workforce, training organisations, Government partners and asset owners to get involved in shaping the new training and development strategy for the industry.

2025 is the final year of the current ECITB Leading Industry Learning strategy. The ECITB Board, which comprises industry representatives and independent experts, has developed a draft strategic plan for 2026-30.

It is now seeking the views of industry on the proposed plan and is looking to hold discussions with partners and customers to refine and hone this strategy. . 

Draeger Safety UK Ltd, a global leader in the field of safety technology headquartered in Blyth in North East England, has secured a contract extension with INEOS O&P UK.

A direct continuation of the existing work scope, the indirect services agreement, which will run until 2029, covers the provision and maintenance of Portable Gas Detection and Rental Robot services to support the company’s operations.

Draeger UK has been working with INEOS O&P UK since 2018, supplying safety critical services and helping to maintain the company’s operations. Under the updated agreement, Draeger UK will supply new products for use at the site, including ConHub for the individual monitoring of personnel on site, with visibility of real time gas readings.. 

Unique Group, global leaders in subsea technologies and engineering, has appointed Fraser Moonie as their Global Commercial & Strategy Development Director – Survey Equipment. Fraser will play a key role in leading and executing the strategic commercial initiatives for the Survey Equipment division across Unique Group’s global locations.

In his new role, Fraser will be responsible for ensuring that Survey Equipment’s commercial strategy aligns with Unique Group’s overarching corporate goals. His focus will be on driving revenue growth, enhancing market share, and collaborating closely with senior management and cross-functional teams to ensure a cohesive and effective commercial strategy execution. 

CyberPrism safeguards your business-critical Operational Technology (OT). We use technology to simplify and automate OT cyber security services, putting people in control. We support regulatory compliance in your organisation to protect your systems and ensure organisational resilience. We help keep your people safe, underpin process optimisation, and eliminate reputational risk. www.cyberprism.net

For over 40 years, we have ensured that our customers can realize the full potential of their assets. Our passion for innovation drives us to develop cutting-edge technology solutions that deliver profound insights, extend asset life, and optimize performance. Our deep expertise across diverse technology fields, combined with advanced digital and AI capabilities, ensures that you make the best decisions for your

www.rosen-group.com/en

Nucore Group is a provider of integrated engineering solutions specialising in hazardous environments. Our range of services including design, manufacture, maintenance, installation, and commissioning makes us a unique turnkey provider of quality climate control, fire and safety solutions.

www.nucore-group.com

4Subsea is a leading provider of technology and services that help operators optimise energy production from subsea oil & gas fields and offshore wind farms. The company combines domain expertise with data analytics and digital services to maximise lifetime of assets, reduce operational cost and optimise future projects through data-driven design.

www.4subsea.com

Aratellus was founded in 2020 to deliver the world’s most advanced seabed investigation and intervention solutions for offshore energy. Our mission is to accelerate the global energy transition by lowering the cost and risk of offshore wind farm construction.

www.aratellus.com

Imrandd is an industrial data and engineering consultancy firm specialising in digital asset management. Imrandd deliver data-driven insights to help clients make the right business decisions for maintaining asset performance throughout the entire life cycle, for less.

www.imrandd.com

Jee is a leading independent multi-discipline subsea engineering and training company, delivering integrated services to the oil, gas and renewables industries.

From design, integrity management and pigging, to lifetime extension and decommissioning we provide tailored engineering services spanning the whole asset lifecycle, either as standalone services or integrated projects.

www.jee.co.uk

Installation, Seabed Intervention, Inspection, Maintenance and Repair (IMR), and Recycling.

www.tessaberdeen.co.uk

Photo by Steve McCaul

UK North Sea Energy Review

By Tsvetana Paraskova

The energy skills passport, the overturning of the government consent for two major new oil and gas projects in the North Sea, and production and project updates were the highlights of the UK North Sea oil and gas sector over the past few weeks.

Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) and RenewableUK, supported by the UK and Scottish Governments, have launched the first stage of a new website to help workers move around the UK’s energy mix, including oil and gas and offshore wind.

The Energy Skills Passport website is a tool which will enable workers to easily identify which qualifications, such as technical and safety standards, are needed for specific roles in oil and gas and offshore wind, as well as mapping out potential future career pathways within the energy sector. Research commissioned by OEUK has shown that 90 percent of oil and gas workers have skills which can also be applied to renewable energy.

“To grow our world-class industry as fast as possible, we need the valuable experience that oil and gas workers can bring,” said Jane Cooper, RenewableUK’s Executive Director of Offshore Wind.

Offshore Energies UK’s Director of Supply Chain & People, Katy Heidenreich commented:

“The UK’s offshore energy workforce has a proud heritage and continues to have high value jobs in oil and gas, which support a broad range of skills from engineering and construction to legal and commercial expertise. These skills are essential for the homegrown oil and gas the UK needs for decades to come together with the expansion in energy production we’ll need in future.”

In late January, the Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled that the government consent of two new oil and gas fields in the North Sea, Rosebank and Jackdaw, was unlawful as it did not account for the effect that burning the new oil and gas production would have on climate. The court upheld the legal challenge of environmental groups Uplift and Greenpeace against the government approval of the projects.

Despite the ruling, work on the fields’ development can continue while the operators apply again for consent.

Development of the projects can continue while new information is being gathered and new assessments made. However, the fields cannot produce oil and gas unless they receive consent at the end of the new development consent application process.

of three to two that a local UK council’s decision to grant planning permission to an onshore oil project was unlawful because the environmental assessment for the project failed to assess the effect on climate of the combustion of the oil to be produced.

Ithaca Energy plc welcomed the ruling and is pleased with the outcome, which allows it to continue progressing the Rosebank project while awaiting new consents.

Equinor, as operator of the Rosebank project, remains confident that the project timeline remains on track, with the start-up still planned in 2026/2027, Ithaca said.

The Rosebank development is expected to lead to £8.5 billion of total direct investment, of which £6.6 billion is likely to be invested in UK-based businesses, Equinor’s partner in the project said.

“Ithaca Energy, together with Equinor as Operator, will continue to work closely with the Regulators and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to progress the Rosebank project,” Ithaca said.

We have spent more than £800 million since the regulator approved Jackdaw in 2022. Swift action is needed from the Government so that we and other North Sea operators can make decisions about vital UK energy infrastructure,”

Shell is developing the Jackdaw project while Equinor and Ithaca are developing the Rosebank oil project, with Equinor as operator.

The environmental legal challenge was made possible after the so-called Finch ruling of the Supreme Court in the summer of 2024. Back then, the Supreme Court held by a majority

“This includes submitting a downstream end user combustion emissions (‘scope 3’) assessment in full compliance with the Government’s new environmental guidance which is targeted to be published this spring.”

Shell, the developer of Jackdaw, said that the ruling “rightly allows work to progress on this nationally important energy project while new consents are sought.”

“We have spent more than £800 million since the regulator approved Jackdaw in 2022. Swift action is needed from the Government so that we and other North Sea operators can make decisions about vital UK energy infrastructure,” Shell added.

“When operational, Jackdaw would provide enough fuel to heat 1.4 million UK homes, at a time when older gas fields are reaching the end of their production and the UK is reliant on imported gas to meet its energy needs.”

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has called on the UK Government to reduce the 78-percent tax burden on North Sea oil and gas producers as a key first step towards greater domestic energy security.

Prioritising domestic oil and gas would minimise global uncertainty with the US threats of tariffs on countries including China, Canada, and Mexico, the Chamber says.

“The UK’s response to a global energy crisis in 2022 ran contrary to all good sense,” said Aberdeen & Grampian Chief Executive Russell Borthwick.

“With the world on the brink of a trade war, we cannot afford to repeat these mistakes.”

Borthwick continued, “The smart response would be to remove the EPL sooner rather than later – protecting our domestic energy sector and ensuring we’re not putting the UK economy at a significant disadvantage in an increasingly uncertain global context.”

Harbour Energy guides for 2025 production of 450,000-475,000 boepd, materially higher than in 2024, reflecting a full year’s contribution from the Wintershall Dea portfolio and broadly stable production in the UK.

Harbour Energy expects free cash flow of around $1 billion this year, at Brent oil prices of $80 per barrel and European and UK natural gas prices of $13/mscf.

The Jocelyn South discovery in the UK is expected on-stream in Q1 2025, Harbour Energy said.

Serica Energy said in a trading update that the five-well drilling campaign at Triton is now halfway through and delivering excellent results, with the Gannet GE05 well performing ahead of expectations.

The company continues to be very active in screening a broad range of cash-generative and

UK ENERGY REVIEW

value accretive M&A opportunities in both the North Sea and other geographies, Serica added.

“While we continue to deliver value from our existing portfolio, we are also actively screening multiple M&A opportunities to grow and diversify our business,” Serica Energy’s chief executive Chris Cox stated.

Capricorn Energy is also evaluating M&A opportunities, the company said in its operational and trading update.

“We are currently evaluating M&A opportunities in the UK North Sea and in the MENA region against a strict set of strategic, financial and returns criteria, and look forward to updating the market on our efforts when appropriate,” said Randy Neely, chief executive at Capricorn PLC.

Serica Energy plc announced in January that the OFAC License and secondary sanctions assurance relating to the Rhum field have been extended by two months to 31 March 2025. Serica Energy, which owns 50 percent in the gas and condensate field Rhum in the UK North Sea, needs a US license because Iranian Oil Company has a 50-percent interest in Rhum. This extension is to allow the processing of the company’s application for a new long-term license to be completed following the transition in US Administrations. The License and assurance permit certain US and US-owned or controlled entities, and all non-US entities, to continue providing goods, services and support to the Rhum field.

UK Oil & Gas PLC has announced that a workover campaign has achieved a significant increase in the Horndean field’s production and resultant revenues.

Based upon the improved post-workover performance, the operator, Star Energy, now forecasts 2025 annual field production to be 61,195 barrels compared to 49,402 barrels produced in 2024. This would be a 24-percent increase if achieved. The forecast assumes an average daily rate of 168 bopd. 

Europe Energy Review

By Tsvetana Paraskova

New licences and drilling updates offshore Norway, exploration and production news in the Mediterranean, energy storage opportunities in the UK, and milestones in renewable power generation and hydrogen featured in Europe’s energy sector in the past month.

Oil & Gas

Norwayawarded53newproductionlicences in its 2024 licensing round for acreage in developed areas, the so-called APA licensing round.

Of the 53 production licenses offered in APA 2024, 33 are located in the North Sea, 19 in the Norwegian Sea, and one in the Barents Sea. As many as 20 oil companies were offered parts in one or more of these licences and 13 companies were offered one or more operatorships.

In the APA round, Norwegian major Equinor was awarded 20 licences in the North Sea, six in the Norwegian Sea, and one in the Barents Sea. The company is the operator of seven of the licences and a partner in 20 others.

Norwegian oil and gas operator DNO ASA said in February that it plans to drill between four (firm) and six North Sea exploration wells in 2025. Meanwhile, complementing its ongoing exploration activities, DNO was awarded 13 new licences in Norway’s 2024 APA licensing round, including four operatorships.

“In Norway, we are applying a similar ‘can-do’ spirit to get our barrels from a string of recent discoveries out of the ground and into the market and do so faster than is the norm here,” DNO’s Executive Chairman Bijan MossavarRahmani said.

The company has raised its planned 2025 operational spend to US$750 million, driven by increased North Sea activity.

In the south of Europe, ExxonMobil and its partner offshore Cyprus, QatarEnergy, in January started drilling for gas in an exploration block in the Cyprus exclusive economic zone, the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, said.

The U.S. supermajor and Qatar’s state energy giant launched drilling activities in Block 5, Christodoulides wrote on X.

“Cyprus progresses exploration activities, aiming to be an alternative and reliable source of Natural Gas for the EU,” the Cypriot president added.

Cyprus has been hoping that its waters could hold giant natural gas resources, similar to the ones recently discovered in the Eastern Mediterranean offshore Egypt and Israel.

The other U.S. supermajor, Chevron, started oil production at its Future Growth Project (FGP) located at the Tengiz oil field in Kazakhstan. The expansion project aims to increase crude oil production at Tengiz, Kazakhstan’s largest oil field, by 260,000 barrels per day at full capacity.

In Germany, bp is seeking potential buyers for its refinery in Gelsenkirchen and DHC Solvent Chemie GmbH in Mülheim an der Ruhr.

BP Europa SE in early February announced its intention to market its Ruhr Oel GmbH –BP Gelsenkirchen operation in Germany for potential sale, with the marketing process for a suitable buyer beginning immediately and sales agreements targeted for 2025.

“bp needs to continually manage its global portfolio as we position to grow as a simpler, more focused, higher-value company,” Emma Delaney, EVP, customers & products, said.

“After a thorough review, we have concluded that a new owner would be better suited for the site to take it forward. We are convinced that the refinery can unlock its full potential under new ownership.”

Low-Carbon Energy

The government is forecast to miss its revised Clean Power 2030 targets for offshore wind, onshore wind, and solar PV by a combined 32 gigawatts (GW), new forecasts from Cornwall Insight showed.

Solar PV is set for the biggest underperformance, reaching 29 GW compared to the 45-47 GW government target—a shortfall of 16 GW. Despite the underperformance, Cornwall Insight’s forecast still represents a 70-percent surge in solar PV compared to the 17 GW currently installed.

Although onshore wind has been boosted by changes in policy, growth is expected to be 10 GW short of the 27-29 GW goal as planning issues continue to hamper progress of projects at the scale needed.

Offshore wind comes closest to the target, falling just 6 GW short of the 43-50 GW goal. Despite cost inflation issues, the sector has received consistent support through successive Contract for Difference allocation rounds, according to Cornwall Insight.

“Renewables are set for substantial growth over the next five years, as the country strives to meet its clean power ambitions,” said Tom Musker, Modelling Manager, at Cornwall Insight.

Recommendations include incentivising electrolysis to happen at the time and place when electricity is cheapest, and removing barriers to enable hydrogen producers to co-locate their projects with renewable energy generators which already have planning consent.

In a separate report, RenewableUK recommended actions and policy measures to encourage more battery and green hydrogen projects to “co-locate” with offshore wind farms. Proposed measures include reforming the Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions to encourage the co-location of energy storage and offshore wind, by enabling new metering arrangements and interactions with the Hydrogen Production Business Model which supports new projects. Another major hurdle could be overcome if the government improves the efficiency of the planning system by enabling developers to seek consent for offshore wind and energy storage projects simultaneously rather than separately, RenewableUK said.

In company and project news, Statkraft has secured planning consent for Kitland Solar Farm, a new 39.9 MW scheme north of Langford, in North Somerset, which will power the equivalent of around 13,000 homes. To maximise the renewable energy potential of the development, the consented plans also include the opportunity for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), Statkraft said.

Apatura has secured planning consent for a new 150 MW Battery Energy Storage System in Paisley, Renfrewshire, just 17 miles southwest of Glasgow. The latest approval increases Apatura’s BESS portfolio to more than 1 GW, while the new BESS site is the sixth BESS that Apatura has received planning consent for in the last 14 months, the company said.

“Renewables are set for substantial growth over the next five years, as the country strives to meet its clean power ambitions,”

“However, despite promising progress, the gap between this growth and government targets underscores the urgent need to address both the operational and investment barriers slowing renewables growth.”

Trade groups RenewableUK and Hydrogen UK have launched a joint report aimed at lowering hydrogen production costs to drive demand.

The recommendations of the associations – if fully implemented – could take the cost of hydrogen from £241 per megawatt hour (MWh), which was achieved in the first Hydrogen Allocation Round in 2023, to less than £100/MWh.

Following local feedback, Low Carbon has confirmed a further reduction of more than 25 percent in the number of turbines proposed for the High Brenfield project, an onshore wind farm project in Ardrishaig, Scotland.

Amberside Energy has sold to Elgin its development business which includes a pipeline of over 1 GW of solar and battery assets in the UK.

“This is a great strategic acquisition to grow our pipeline across the UK,” said Ronan Kilduff, CEO of Elgin.

The equal joint owners of Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm, ESB and Red Rock Renewables,

have announced that the Scottish project has reached financial close, raising more than £3.5 billion of funding. The 1-GW offshore wind farm, located 15 kilometres off the Angus coast in the North Sea, will now progress into its offshore construction phase.

Haventus, owner of the under-construction Ardersier Energy Transition Facility near Inverness, Scotland, has been selected by Cerulean Winds, the lead developer of more than 3 GW UK floating offshore wind, as its chosen deployment port.

Cerulean’s commitment to using the facility marks a major step toward realising the UK and Scottish governments’ vision of creating a world-leading floating offshore wind (FLOW) industrial base, Haventus said.

Innova have received planning consent for their Almholme Energy Hub project by Doncaster Council. With a 1025MW/2050MWh energy storage capacity and a 49.9 MW solar capacity, this is the second largest battery storage project in the UK to gain planning consent to date. The site will be able to store enough energy to power over 37,000 homes in Doncaster for an entire week and will generate enough electricity to power over 15,000 homes in Doncaster every year.

Polish refiner ORLEN and Northland Power in early February began installing the foundations for Poland’s first offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea.

The first two of a total of 78 monopiles have already been installed. These steel structures will support 15 MW wind turbines. With a total capacity of 1.2 GW, the Baltic Power wind farm is expected to commence operations in 2026, delivering clean, reliable electricity capable of powering over 1.5 million Polish households.

bp and Iberdrola’s joint venture launched construction work on Spain’s largest green hydrogen project of 25 MW. The next milestone of the project will be the reception and installation of the first main equipment, including the electrolysers, which is expected to take place in the second half of 2025.

In later phases of the project, the green hydrogen produced could also be used in hardto-decarbonise key industries in the region of Valencia such as ceramics, chemicals, and heavy transport.

Wind turbine manufacturer ENERCON, a subsidiary of Salzgitter AG Ilsenburger Grobblech GmbH, and TM Group company SMB Schönebecker Maschinenbau GmbH have teamed up to produce a tower using loweremissions steel which is entirely recyclable. 

USA Energy Review

By Tsvetana Paraskova

The U-turn in US energy policy under President Donald Trump and the repercussions of these sweeping changes and proposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico grabbed headlines in the US oil and gas industry at the start of the year.

While US oil and gas producers and refiners welcomed the efforts to boost output, accelerate energy infrastructure development, and expedite LNG export permits, they were far more cautious and called for dialogue regarding tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, although they stopped short of criticizing the new president’s trade policy.

Trump’s Executive Orders Look to Unleash American Energy

President Trump signed dozens of executive orders and other presidential actions on his first day back in the White House. Of these, several have direct relevance to the US energy industry.

The President declared a national energy emergency, which gives the Administration more powers to expedite approvals for infrastructure for fossil fuels, biofuels, nuclear power, and critical minerals, but not solar and wind.

The declaration includes measures to expedite the delivery of energy infrastructure, emergency approvals by agencies “to facilitate the identification, leasing, siting, production, transportation, refining, and generation of domestic energy resources, including, but not limited to, on Federal lands.”

In the executive order, the President’s new energy policy is to “encourage energy exploration and production on Federal lands and waters, including on the Outer Continental Shelf, in order to meet the needs of our citizens and solidify the United States as a global energy leader long into the future.”

The new policy also includes the elimination of the “electric vehicle (EV) mandate” and the promotion of true consumer choice. President Trump reversed on Day 1 most of

Biden’s energy and climate policies, signing a series of executive orders to boost oil and gas production, expand areas for drilling, withdraw from the Paris Agreement (again), halt offshore wind permits until a review into the economics is made, eliminate EV incentives and mandates, and promote true consumer choice.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) applauded the energy executive orders on President Trump’s Day One.

“Directing regulators to expand access to resources, lift the LNG pause, streamline permitting processes and roll back heavyhanded vehicle mandates will help deliver a stronger, more prosperous energy future for all Americans,” API President and CEO Mike Sommers said.

“This is a new day for American energy, and we applaud President Trump for moving swiftly to chart a new path where U.S. oil and natural gas are embraced, not restricted.”

The biggest US oil lobby also welcomed the reintroduction of bipartisan legislation to encourage investments in American energy.

The proposed bipartisan Promoting Domestic Energy Production Act of 2025 fixes a tax liability for companies that use accelerated cost-recovery of intangible drilling costs (IDCs). This allows producers to receive the same treatment for IDCs under the corporate

Photo by Tom Fisk

alternative minimum tax (CAMT) as under the ordinary corporate tax rate.

“American voters sent a clear message in support of U.S. energy leadership, and this bipartisan legislation is critical to supporting the production of our nation’s abundant oil and natural gas resources,” API Vice President of Corporate Policy Aaron Padilla said.

American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President and CEO Chet Thompson welcomed the administration’s move to protect consumer choice and end petrol car ban policies across the United States.

“Leadership from the Trump-Vance administration is critical to protecting consumer choice and stopping federal and state efforts to phase out and effectively ban internal combustion engine vehicles and American-made liquid fuels,” Thompson said.

“We look forward to working with the administration and Congress on policies that protect consumer choice, further improve vehicle and fuel efficiency, and advance U.S. energy security.”

Tariff Threats Spook Markets and US Energy Producers

As promised on the campaign trail and in his inaugural address, President Trump announced tariffs on all imports from Canada, Mexico, and China to have them help tackle the extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl.

Under the plan, Canada and Mexico goods would be taxed with 25 percent and Chinese imports with 10 percent. Canadian energy exports to the US would be taxes with a lower, 10-percent, rate.

The tariffs on China went into force on 4 February 2025, to which Beijing responded with tariffs on US energy and farm equipment, among others. China imposed a 15-percent tariff on coal and LNG imports from the US and 10 percent on US crude oil.

The measures against Canada and Mexico were paused until March 4 after the two US neighbors agreed to take immediate steps to address the immigrant and illegal drugs flows. During the pause the US is assessing whether these steps constitute sufficient action to alleviate the crisis.

The announcement of tariffs on the North American trade partners and on the world’s second-largest economy, China, rattled global markets in early February, sending equities and cryptocurrencies lower.

US producers and refiners pointed out in statements that Canada and Mexico provide most of the heavy crude that US refiners in the Midwest and the Gulf Coast need.

“Energy markets are highly integrated, and free and fair trade across our borders is critical for delivering affordable, reliable energy to U.S. consumers,” API President and CEO Mike Sommers said.

“We will continue to work with the Trump administration on full exclusions that protect energy affordability for consumers, expand the nation’s energy advantage and support American jobs.”

Although the US is the world’s largest oil producer, US refineries—primarily in the Midwest—rely on Canadian crude to produce the gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel that’s critical for transportation, agriculture, and American consumers, API said.

The US is the largest market for Canadian crude oil exports and Mexico is the top destination for US refined product exports. US oil and natural gas exports to China totaled more than $14.4 billion in 2023 and are critical to reducing our trade deficit, the institute noted.

AFPM, the trade body of US refiners and petrochemical manufacturers, expressed hopes for quick resolution to the tariff threat, with CEO Thompson saying that “American refiners depend on crude oil from Canada and Mexico to produce the affordable, reliable fuels consumers count on every day.”

Asia and Europe, where refiners would benefit from higher and diversified supply.

US Upstream Mergers Hit $105 Billion in 2024

Last year saw $105 billion worth of US upstream oil and gas deals, the third highest total tracked by Enverus.

The value of the deals announced in 2024 trailed only behind a record-setting $192 billion in 2023 and just under the $108 billion booked in 2014, Enverus Intelligence Research (EIR) said.

However, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity tumbled in the latter half of 2024 with $9.6 billion of upstream deals recorded in the fourth quarter, which marked the fourth consecutive decline in quarterly value, according to Enverus tracking.

We look forward to working with the administration and Congress on policies that protect consumer choice, further improve vehicle and fuel efficiency, and advance U.S. energy security.

“Some regions in our country also rely on Canadian refined products, like gasoline, diesel and heating oil. We are hopeful a resolution can be quickly reached with our North American neighbors so that crude oil, refined products and petrochemicals are removed from the tariff schedule before consumers feel the impact,” Thompson added.

Analysts say that the tariffs would further reduce the already falling profitability of US refiners, who were reeling from declining margins even before the tariff announcement. If Canada and Mexico’s oil is taxed, the large exporters to the US could re-direct some of their oil flows to other countries, including

The Permian continued to lead deals, but the top US-producing oil basin has also become the most challenging in terms of available deals at reasonable prices, according to Enverus.

Buyers looking beyond the Permian are likely to consider a wide range of options, including more mature, established areas like the Williston Basin and Eagle Ford and emerging opportunities like the liquids window of the Utica, the intelligence company said.

“Deal value and volume continued to drop in the final quarter of 2024 from its peak at the end of 2023 as buyers grappled with fewer M&A targets to pursue. There are also quite a few larger E&Ps working to integrate their previous deals before returning to market to acquire more,” said Andrew Dittmar, principal analyst at EIR.

“Increased volatility in oil prices may have also deterred some buyers, while there is rising enthusiasm for gas and gas-weighted assets to feed burgeoning demand from LNG and data centers.” 

Middle East Energy Review

By Tsvetana Paraskova

Global oil demand is set to grow by 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) in each of 2025 and 2026, according to OPEC.

bbl to US$3.90/bbl over the benchmark – the highest level since December 2023 and the largest monthly increase since August 2022.

OPEC’s latest oil demand and economic growth forecasts, the hike of Saudi oil prices to Asia, and various diversification projects of the main national oil companies in the Middle East featured in the region’s energy sector in the past month.

OPEC Continues to Expect Robust Oil Demand Growth

OPEC, led by the major oil producers in the Middle East, continues to see healthy global oil demand growth for this year and next, while it noted that the “impact of US trade policy on global macroeconomic growth remains to be seen.”

In its Monthly Oil Market Report for February, the organization left its oil demand and world economic growth forecasts unchanged from the previous month.

The world economic growth forecasts remain unchanged at 3.1 percent for 2025 and 3.2 percent for 2026, and the US growth forecast is unchanged at 2.4 percent for 2025 and 2.3 percent for 2026.

Demand growth this year is expected to be driven by transportation fuels on the back of strong air travel demand and healthy road mobility. Support is also expected to come from the industrial, construction and agricultural sectors in non-OECD countries, according to the organization.

Liquids supply from producers outside the OPEC+ pact is expected to rise by 1 million bpd each in 2025 and 2026, with the US, Brazil, Canada, and Norway the key supply growth drivers, OPEC said.

Saudi Arabia Hikes Oil Prices To Asia

Saudi Aramco, the state oil giant, raised its official selling prices (OSPs) for crude loading for Asia in March by more than expected and by the most since August 2022, as the Middle Eastern benchmark prices rallied amid lower availability of Russian and Iranian oil for Asia.

As a result of strong Middle Eastern prices –against which Middle Eastern supply to Asia is priced – Saudi Arabia hiked its OSPs for all grades and to all regions for March loadings. The price of Aramco’s flagship Arab Light grade into Asia was increased by US$2.40/

Middle East’s Oman and Dubai prices and the physical market have been strong since the beginning of 2025 as U.S. sanctions are curtailing the available supply of oil from Russia and Iran to the Asian market.

Qatar Calls for Realistic Energy Transition

The world and all economies need a realistic energy transition with a diverse and balanced energy mix that takes into consideration each country’s economic growth plans, energy requirements, and environmental targets, said Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs and the President and CEO of QatarEnergy.

The rise in population and global middle class means that “we need more power, we need oil, we need gas, and we need more renewables to get a resilient energy mix for the long term. We need all resources on deck,” Al-Kaabi said at the Ministerial Plenary Session of the India Energy Week 2025 in New Delhi in early February.

“Demonizing energy producers does not help in solving our environmental problem, nor does it help in securing affordable energy supplies”, AlKaabi added.

UAE, Saudi Arabia Lead New Energy Diversification in Middle East

Several major Middle Eastern oil producers and their national oil companies (NOCs) are strategically positioning themselves to become manufacturing hubs and leaders in new energy markets, Ed Tockman, Senior Vice President & Head of MENA at Rystad Energy, wrote in a special insight in early February.

The Middle East will continue to play a key role in the global oil and gas markets, but it also aims to capture opportunities in the new low-carbon energy sector.

The result of the drive to diversification is an increasing divergence between the strategies of NOCs in the more forward-leaning countries, led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and, on a more regional level, Oman, and the more traditional petrostates, such as Kuwait and Qatar, where NOCs are primary focused on delivering operational results and revenues to the state, Tockman notes.

“The UAE and Saudi Arabia have emerged as strategic players in the global energy transition, with both ADNOC and Saudi Aramco recognizing that the future of energy will require more than just oil and gas,” the expert said.

While the UAE and Saudi Arabia and their NOCs lead the drive for diversification, other Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries such as Kuwait, Qatar and others, especially in North Africa, remain largely focused on developing traditional oil and gas resources to maximize state revenues for the coming decades.

– coupled with its financial strength, human talent and strategic location, positions its NOCs at the forefront to lead in traditional oil and gas as well as new energy markets,” according to Rystad Energy.

One of these, Saudi Aramco, signed a nonbinding Heads of Terms, which envisages the formation of a minerals exploration and mining joint venture (JV) with Ma’aden in Saudi Arabia. The proposed JV would focus on energy transition minerals, including extracting lithium from high concentration deposits and advancing cost-effective direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies. Commercial lithium production could potentially commence by 2027.

“We expect that this partnership will leverage the world’s leading upstream enterprise to apply significant low-cost advantages, industry experience, technological innovation, accumulated subsurface knowledge and an integrated supply chain ecosystem, with a view to meeting the Kingdom and potentially the world’s projected lithium demand,” said Nasir K. Al-Naimi, Aramco Upstream President.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia have emerged as strategic players in the global energy transition, with both ADNOC and Saudi Aramco recognizing that the future of energy will require more than just oil and gas

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), ADNOC and AIQ announced the successful proof-ofconcept trial of ENERGYai, the world’s firstof-its-kind agentic artificial intelligence (AI) solution tailored for the energy sector. A 90day proof-of-concept trial demonstrated that ENERGYai’s agentic AI can deliver significant improvements in the pace and accuracy of upstream exploration through rapid, precise and detailed seismic survey analysis, alongside relevant, actionable insights to support production optimization at ADNOC’s existing wells, the Abu Dhabi’s energy giant said.

dioxide equivalent per barrel of oil equivalent (kgCO2e/boe), setting a benchmark among global oil fields. The field reached this milestone through optimized field development, deployment of digitalization, AI and advanced technologies to maximize efficiencies and minimize emissions.

ADNOC Gas has signed a 14-year sales and purchase agreement with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IndianOil) for the export of up to 1.2 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG to India’s largest integrated and diversified energy company. First deliveries are expected to begin in 2026 under the deal which is valued in the range of $7 billion to $9 billion over its 14-year term.

The MENA region’s “unique endowment of both traditional oil and gas resources and renewable energy potential – particularly solar and wind

ADNOC has also announced that its onshore Shah oil field has achieved an industry-leading carbon intensity of 0.1 kilograms of carbon

TA’ZIZ has announced an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract award of $1.7 billion to SAMSUNG E&A for the construction of one of the world’s largest methanol plants in Al Ruwais Industrial City in the Al Dhafra region, Abu Dhabi. The 1.8 million tons per annum (mtpa) plant will be the first methanol production facility in the UAE. Upon completion in 2028, it will be powered by clean energy from the grid, making it one of the world’s most energy-efficient methanol plants, ADNOC said. 

Photo by Anoop VS

Norway Energy Review

By Tsvetana Paraskova

Norwegian natural gas production reached a record high in 2024 as Western Europe’s biggest oil and gas producer continued to award production licences to boost exploration and keep a high level of hydrocarbon production in the coming years.

Record High Gas Output

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate published in January its annual report, The Shelf in 2024, which showed that natural gas production offshore Norway is higher than ever, but continuous exploration and investments are required if Norway is to delay an anticipated decline in production going forward.

Norway’s gas production reached a recordhigh in 2024 and a total of 124 billion standard cubic metres of gas were sold last year, up from 122.8 billion cubic metres of gas sold in 2022.

“Since the transport of gas from Russia through Ukraine ended at year-end, gas from Norway has become even more important,” said Torgeir Stordal, director general of the Norwegian Offshore Directorate.

“Electricity exports are a hot topic these days. Energy content of our gas exports are nearly 100 times larger than net electricity export,” Stordal added.

Going forward, production is expected to remain at a stable, high level before a gradual decrease toward the end of the 2020s, the authority said.

Exploration activity offshore Norway also held at a high level last year. Although most of the discoveries were small, several of these are being considered for development tied back to existing fields.

“We’ve seen that even small discoveries can generate substantial values. Our analyses of exploration activity on the NCS also show that exploration is highly profitable for the community,” Stordal commented.

Investment levels continue to be relatively high, and operators are expected to submit a number of new development plans in the coming years.

More Investments and Exploration Needed to Offset Output Decline Later This Decade

Yet, more investment and exploration are needed to slow the expected decline in oil and gas production in the late 2020s.

“Exploration will need to take place close to infrastructure and in more frontier areas, in addition to more investments in fields, discoveries and infrastructure. Failure to invest will lead to rapid dismantling of the petroleum activities,” the Directorate says.

This year, investments are expected to rise by 2.5 percent from 2024. Significant activity and scarce capacity in parts of the supplier industry, a weakened Norwegian currency, and growth in costs have led to higher cost

and investment projections for 2024–2026 in particular, compared with what was presented at the end of 2023. Higher drilling costs per development well also contributes to a higher level of investment.

This year, exploration activity and exploration costs are expected to remain about the same as in 2024, the Directorate said.

In 2025, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate expects a total of about 40 exploration wells, where 20–25 will be in the North Sea, 10–12 in the Norwegian Sea, and 4–6 wells in the Barents Sea.

“Despite the high level of activity in the industry, new investment decisions will be necessary to maintain activity in the future,” it noted.

At the same time, emissions from offshore operations in Norway are coming down, and emissions per produced unit are expected to decline over the next few years despite the slight increase in production expected over the short term.

Emissions have been declining since 2015, mostly thanks to transitioning power solutions to power from shore.

One example of higher production with lower emissions is the giant Troll field in the North Sea. Troll produced record high volumes of natural gas in 2024, up by nearly 10 percent from the previous record set in 2022, the field’s operator Equinor said early this year.

“With record-high production in 2024, the Troll field confirms its position as a pillar of Europe’s energy security. The field contributes to a stable gas supply for millions of households and is important for European industry,” said Kjetil Hove, Equinor’s executive vice president for Exploration & Production Norway.

Norway Awards 53 New Production Licences

As oil and gas production rises, Norway aims to keep activity on the shelf high and it awarded 53 new production licences in the APA 2024 licensing round. These annual licensing rounds were introduced in 2003,

with the purpose of facilitating the discovery and extraction of profitable resources in mature areas, before existing infrastructure is shut down.

A total of 20 companies were offered parts in licences, or operatorships, including Equinor, Aker BP, ConocoPhillips, Harbour Energy Norge, OKEA, OMV, Sval Energi, Vår Energi, and Wellesley Petroleum.

“Continued development of the Norwegian continental shelf is important for employment, value creation, and the ripple effects of petroleum activites on the mainland going forward,” said Energy Minister Terje Aasland.

“We need new discoveries to ensure that Norway can remain a stable and predictable supplier of oil and gas to Europe. It is therefore very positive to see such great interest in new exploration areas.”

After the rift in the ruling coalition, the government instead outlined in early February new steps to reduce electricity bills and maintain control over Norway’s national energy resources.

The package includes introduction of a fixed price for Norwegian consumers and reduction of VAT on grid tariffs.

“Given the great instability in the European energy markets, the Government does not want Norway to align itself more closely to the European energy system by introducing the controversial market rules included in the Clean Energy Package. This also applies for the next parliamentary period,” the cabinet said.

We need new discoveries to ensure that Norway can remain a stable and predictable supplier of oil and gas to Europe.

Kalmar Ildstad, Director of licence management in the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, commented,

“This year’s awards show that the companies on the NCS are still very confident in their ability to make more discoveries near existing oil and gas infrastructure. This is important for further value creation.”

Norway’s Government Collapses amid Spat over EU Energy Policies

At the end of January the Norwegian government collapsed after the Centre Party, the junior coalition partner and a Eurosceptic party, quit the cabinet over disagreements about Norway adopting some of the EU energy policies.

While not a part of the European Union, Norway is a key EU partner and is party to many EU single market initiatives, including in electricity interconnection and power markets.

The departure of the junior coalition partner leaves the Labour Party, which has ruled since 2021, to govern alone the remaining eight months before the general election in September.

The Labour party was considering adopting some EU rules concerning renewable energy consumption, energy performance in buildings, and measures to boost overall energy efficiency.

The Government will also ask Norwegian power system operator Statnett to postpone planning for new subsea interconnectors to other countries until 2029.

Norway also plans to establish closer cooperation with its Nordic neighbours to counteract high, unstable prices and safeguard the Nordic power supply system.

Norway Sets New Record in Share of EVs Sales

While Norway looks to boost its hydrocarbon production, it continues to lead the world in terms of market share of new electric vehicle sales.

In 2024, Norway set a new record for EV sales share—electric vehicles accounted for 88.9 percent, up from 82.4 percent in 2023, according to data from the Norwegian Road Federation OFV.

The EV share of light commercial vehicle sales stood at 29.6 percent in 2024.

No car running on petrol or diesel made the top ten list of the most sold cars in Norway last year.

“We are confident this share will grow even further in 2025, the year we aim to reach our goal of 100 percent zero-emission vehicle sales nationwide,” said Christina Bu, Secretary General of The Norwegian EV Association.

In 2016, the Norwegian Parliament committed to a goal that all new cars sold in 2025 should be zero-emission vehicles—fully electric or hydrogen-powered.

Offshore Wind Project Advances

Ventyr, the alliance developing the Sørlige Nordsjø II (SNII) offshore wind project, signed in January a collaboration agreement with Ramboll as the FEED designer for the project. Ventyr and Ramboll will design the foundations for turbines ranging from 15 to 18 MW.

Sørlige Nordsjø II is expected to power more than 500,000 Norwegian households with electricity from the offshore wind project.

Ventyr is an alliance of Parkwind and Ingka Investments, supported by strategic partner NorSea Group. 

Australia Energy Review

By Tsvetana Paraskova

Australia set a new annual record in LNG exports last year, while it continues to develop battery storage, green hydrogen, and green aluminium projects.

LNG Shipments Hit Record High in 2024

Liquefied natural gas shipments from Australia, the world’s third-largest LNG exporter after the United States and Qatar, set in 2024 a new annual record of 82.0 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa), up from 81.1 Mtpa in 2023. Last year’s shipments beat the previous record of 81.3 Mt shipped during 2022, Australian-based energy advisory firm EnergyQuest said in a monthly report.

The 2024 revenue of AUS$67.7 billion (US$42.5 billion) was less than the record AUS$90.3 billion in 2022 and AUS$74.3 billion during 2023, chiefly due to lower LNG prices, which was countered somewhat by a falling Australian dollar compared to the US dollar, EnergyQuest said in its analysis.

LNG exports in December 2024 jumped from November as the heating season in the northern hemisphere began. At 85.7 Mtpa on

an annualised basis, Australia’s shipments were higher than the 80.9 Mtpa exported in November 2024 and represented 97.3 percent of the country’s nameplate LNG export capacity, according to data compiled by EnergyQuest.

Outlook on Domestic Gas Supply

The near-term outlook for Western Australia’s gas supply has strengthened compared to last year’s report, with domestic gas supply expected to exceed consumption through 2027, said the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), which manages electricity and gas systems and markets across Australia.

AEMO’s latest WA Gas Statement of Opportunities (GSOO) revealed the adequacy of gas supplies and identified investment opportunities from now to 2034, drawing on data from industry participants and public sources.

AEMO interim Executive General Manager WA, Nicola Falcon, said that gas supply is expected to increase from existing facilities and new supply is being brought online from advanced projects. These include Chevron-operated Wheatstone, Karratha Gas Plant and Pluto projects by Woodside Energy, along with new domestic supply expected from Woodside’s Scarborough Energy Project, expected to commence 2026, and West Erregulla by Strike Energy, commencing in 2027.

“The period from 2028 is subject to the most uncertainty. A supply gap in the domestic gas market could materialise if projects are unable to be accelerated to match consumption, or consumption is greater than forecast,” Falcon said.

Gas is expected to support the reliability and security of the electricity sector through the transition to a net-zero emissions future.

“In future, gas storage is likely to be used more frequently and we will need more flexibility in daily domestic gas supply to match this increasingly seasonal and peaky gas demand,” she added.

On the East Coast, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) expects gas surplus on the immediate horizon. However, the region needs longer-term regulatory certainty to avoid future shortfalls in gas supply, ACCC warned in its latest gas inquiry report.

While the short-term outlook for Australia’s east coast gas market has slightly improved, with a surplus forecast in both 2025 and 2026, domestic gas supply is in structural decline and future investment is uncertain. The southern states are already facing seasonal shortfalls and are dependent on gas being transported from Queensland, the commission said.

LNG Projects Advancing

Meanwhile, companies are progressing gas and LNG projects to boost output and exports.

At the end of 2024, Woodside said that the Scarborough Energy Project had passed another significant milestone with the final Pluto Train 2 modules arriving at the Pluto LNG facility in Karratha, Western Australia.

The successful completion of the Pluto Train 2 module program advances the Scarborough Energy Project towards the targeted delivery of first LNG in 2026, the company added.

Once operational, Pluto Train 2 will have capacity to process approximately 5 million tonnes of LNG per annum. The expanded Pluto facility includes new domestic gas infrastructure and will have the capacity to supply up to 225 terajoules per day to the Western Australian market.

Woodside and the North West Shelf Joint Venture also welcomed the Western Australian Government’s decision to provide environmental approval for the North West Shelf Project Extension.

After six years of assessment and appeals, this is a critical step in the approvals process to underpin the ongoing operation of the North West Shelf Project so it can continue to deliver a reliable supply of energy locally

and globally. The State’s decision re-launches the Federal environmental approvals process, which was paused while appeals were being considered.

In addition, Woodside and Chevron have agreed to an asset swap under which Woodside will acquire Chevron’s interest in the North West Shelf (NWS) Project, the NWS Oil Project, and the Angel Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Project, and transfer all of its interest in both the Wheatstone and JulimarBrunello projects to Chevron.

“This transaction simplifies our portfolio, improving our focus and efficiency by consolidating our position in our operated LNG assets,” said Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill.

“It is immediately cash flow accretive and includes a cash payment upon both execution and completion.”

Santos has signed a binding long-term LNG Supply and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Japanese gas utility Shizuoka Gas Co. Ltd. to provide LNG from Santos’ portfolio of LNG assets. The long-term agreement will supply between 0.35 and 0.4 million tonnes per annum of LNG at plateau. The contract term is 12 years, commencing in 2032 on Delivered Ex-Ship (DES) terms.

Green Energy Push

Investments in battery storage within Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) have become increasingly profitable thanks to higher power price volatility and changing market dynamics, consultancy Wood Mackenzie said in a recent report.

Australia has a massive pipeline of 60 gigawatts (GW) of projects under development representing more than AU$80 billion (US$50 billion) of potential investment, according to WoodMac.

As the world’s second largest producer of both bauxite and alumina with the best access to solar and wind resources in the developed world

“Our analysis of both the base case and scenarios with increased price volatility indicates that investment returns for 4-hour battery systems will exceed 10% in the top three National Electricity Market (NEM) regions: Queensland (QLD), Victoria (VIC), and New South Wales (NSW),” said Max Whiteman, Research Associate, Asia Pacific Power & Renewables at Wood Mackenzie.

“This underscores the profitability of battery storage across various market conditions.”

WoodMac projects that internal rates of return (IRRs) for 4-hour battery systems would range from 13 percent to 15 percent, highlighting their viability in a volatile energy market.

Moreover, the planned coal retirements in Australia create more opportunities for battery storage projects, the consultancy noted.

to aluminium smelters transitioning to renewable energy by 2036. Smelters will receive incentives for every tonne of clean aluminium produced over a decade, boosting confidence and investment in local facilities, the government said.

The Clean Energy Council welcomed the initiative, saying it would help retain aluminium manufacturing on Aussie shores and lay the foundations for future investment in clean energy technologies and local jobs.

“As the world’s second largest producer of both bauxite and alumina with the best access to solar and wind resources in the developed world, Australia is ideally positioned to be the long term home of clean aluminium production,” said Kane Thornton, Clean Energy Council Chief Executive.

In green energy project news, Lumea, part of the Transgrid Group, says it is progressing works to connect one of the world’s biggest batteries to the grid, delivering renewable, affordable, reliable energy to electricity consumers in Victoria.

The Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub (MREH) is expected to be operational by the end of 2025 when it will start storing excess rooftop solar and surplus energy from the grid, providing extra power to meet Victoria’s growing demand.

Hydrogen technology and solutions provider Plug Power Inc has announced a purchase agreement with Allied Green Ammonia (AGA) under which Plug will supply 3 GW of electrolyser capacity to AGA’s green hydrogen-to-ammonia plant, currently under development in Australia.

“The agreement underscores Santos’ commitment to providing reliable, cost competitive energy within the Asia-Pacific region,” Santos managing director and CEO Kevin Gallagher said.

“Additionally, we look forward to future discussions on Santos’ carbon capture and storage, and synthetic gas opportunities.”

In January 2025, the Australian Government announced AUS$2 billion in production credits for the domestic aluminium industry, aiming to position it as a cornerstone of the nation’s economic and green future.

Australia, the world’s sixth largest aluminium producer, is introducing the Green Aluminium Production Credit offering targeted support

In a significant step towards a clean energy future, AGA will install a 4.5 GW solar plant to power the Plug electrolysers with zero emission clean electricity. The green hydrogen produced will be used to make green ammonia.

Upon a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) expected by Q2 2025, Plug will launch the manufacturing and delivery of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysers starting in the first quarter of 2027. 

BRENT OIL PRICES

OVER THE YEARS

$86.16

Brent traded to its highest levels since November the previous year on the back of OPEC+ extending voluntary supply cuts. As well as this, the market was boosted as a result of Ukranian attacks on Russian refining capacity and lingering disruptions to oil flows through the Red Sea. The price in the second half of the year looked dependent on whether OPEC+ would continue with voluntary cuts.

5 YEARS AGO

$22.58

The price of oil sank to levels which had not been seen since 2002 as demand for crude collapsed amid the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Demand for transport was hammered by grounded airlines and fewer cars on the road as countries brought in tougher measures to fight the outbreak. It was announced that people in the UK may only leave home to exercise once a day, travel to and from work, and when it’s “absolutely necessary.”

1 YEAR AGO ALL THIS FOR ONLY£540 +VAT PER YEAR

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10 YEARS AGO

$57.88

Oil prices rose and shares fell after Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest crude exporter, and its allies launched airstrikes on rebel targets in Yemen. Pressures on the oil price eased after it became clear there was no immediate threat to Middle East oil shipments but fears remained that Iran could be drawn into the conflict.

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TAYRONA BLOCK –SIRIUS DISCOVERY

The operator is set to start drilling the Buena Suerte-1 well in March. The well be drilled by the Noble Discover semi-submersible rig. Petrobras is advancing the conceptual design for the project which will likely comprise of a 117km long subsea pipeline to connect Sirius to shore.

GATO DO MATO OIL FIELD

A final investment decision on the project is expected in March/April 2025. Plans for Gato do Mato envisage the installation of a mid-sized FPSO with oil and gas processing capacities of 120,000b/d and 10.19MMcm/d (360MMcf/d).

The unit, which would have an oil storage capacity of 1.6 million barrels, would be linked to a total of 12 development wells, being five oil producers, four gas injectors and two water injectors, plus a spare slot.

LOWER ZAKUM – LONG TERM PHASE-1

ADNOC has selected Tecnicas Reunidas, NMDC Energy and Target Engineering as the successful contractors for three separate EPCI packages as part of the Lower Zakum oil field expansion under its P5 programme. The initiative aims to increase production by 150,000 barrels per day, targeting 5 million bpd by 2027.

NAHR BIN OMAR FIELD DEVELOPMENT AND FLARE GAS PROJECT

Basra Oil Company has signed two agreements with Halliburton to develop Nahr Bin Omar and Sinbad fields. Halliburton will build the technical and economic model to improve production of oil which currently stands at 45,000 b/d but could reach 300,000 b/d. The agreement will also look to invest in development of the associated gas which could be produced at a rate of 300MMcf/d. Basra Oil Company will remain operator while Halliburton will manage the surface and subsurface projects.

WASSANA REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The operator is continuing to move forward with FEED work in connection with a potential redevelopment of the field to commercialise the additional oil volumes discovered through appraisal and exploration drilling in 2023 and 2024. A final investment decision could be made at the start of Q2 2025.

MAROOMBA FIELD DEVELOPMENT

ID on the US$1.2bn development is to be issued in February 2025 as project financing by BW Energy nears completion. The FPSO would arrive the Maromba field in Q3 2027 ahead of first oil in Q1 2028. Orders for long lead items are to be placed by March 2025.

ZOHR GAS FIELD EXPANSION

Drilling operations are set to commence on the gas field. Saipem will be using the Saipem 10,000 drillship to drill two deepwater wells in the Zohr field.

VENUS 1-X OIL DISCOVERY

While the joint venture partners are progressing with the fast tracking the development studies for Venus, TotalEnergies has announced plans for the project’s FID to be postponed from 2025 to 2026. TotalEnergies remains committed to the basin and plans to drill two wells offshore Namibia, Marula and Olympe, by the end of 2025.

NEFERTARI GAS DISCOVERY

ExxonMobil Egypt (Upstream) Limited has successfully completed the drilling of the Nefertari 1 well in the North Marakia Block using the Valaris DS-9 drillship. Gas-bearing reservoirs were encountered, and ExxonMobil will proceed with further evaluation of the results. Preliminary estimates place the discovery size at 3Tcf to 5Tcf of gas.

SAUDI ARABIA

$2.4 billion

Saudi Aramco

JAFURAH FIELD DEVELOPMENT –PHASE 3

Baker Hughes has been awarded a gas technology contract for Jafurah Gas Field Expansion. The contract, awarded by Técnicas Reunidas, includes six gas compression trains, six propane compressors, and associated balance of plant and auxiliary systems.

KUDA-TASI AND JAHAL OIL DEVELOPMENT

Finder is looking to move forward with the project which is currently in the concept select phase which the company aims to complete by Q3 2025. Once completed the plans are to move into the FEED phase in Q4 2025.

KATMAI WEST SUBSEA TIE BACK

Talos has announced the discovery of commercial quantities of oil and gas at the Katmai West-2 well. The well is projected to produce approximately 15,000 to 20,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Talos plans to start production by the end of June.

Skills and Training Are Vital for the Energy Industry and Transition

Skilled workforce has never been more important to the energy industry than at this time of profound changes in the global energy systems and supply. Keeping oil, gas, and fuels production stable and advancing the energy transition need continued additions of skilled and trained workers, while the digital transformation and AI advancements have created a whole new set of skills and expertise that the energy sector needs.

By Tsvetana Paraskova

UK Skills Passport

The UK has just launched the so-called Energy Skills Passport, a digital platform designed for professionals across the energy sector. The Energy Skill Passport can help professionals plan and develop their energy career by showcasing their expertise, verifying qualifications, and creating new career opportunities across the oil, gas, and renewable energy sectors. The passport could help professionals identify roles and projects that align with their skill set and career aspirations.

The ‘skills passport’, created in collaboration with industry and the Scottish Government, will help oil and gas workers access the skills passport online, which will initially help them identify routes into several roles in offshore wind including construction and maintenance, the cabinet said in January.

Many of the skills required for the transition already exist, with research from Offshore Energies UK showing that 90 percent of oil and gas workers have skills that are relevant to the clean energy transition, the government noted.

Moreover, workers across the UK will be supported with government-backed training programmes so they can benefit from thousands of new job opportunities in the clean energy sector, as part of the government’s Plan for Change and clean energy superpower mission.

The government has identified Aberdeen, Cheshire, Lincolnshire, and Pembrokeshire as key growth regions for clean energy, with flourishing offshore wind, nuclear, and solar industries. Local partners will receive funding to identify the skills support that is needed in their area to deliver clean power by 2030. Delivering clean power by the end of the decade will protect households and businesses from unstable fossil fuel markets for good, the government says.

“It is absolutely vital that we recognise and retain the considerable skills of oil and gas workers and ensure they are supported, as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to ensuring a fair and just transition for Scotland,” said Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Gillian Martin.

RenewableUK’s Executive Director of Offshore Wind Jane Cooper said:

“More than a hundred thousand people will be working in the UK’s offshore wind industry by 2030, mostly in highly skilled roles. To grow our world-class industry as fast as possible, we need the valuable experience that oil and gas workers can bring.”

Katy Heidenreich, Offshore Energies UK’s Director of Supply Chain & People, commented,

“We now look forward to working with policymakers to help unlock and enable the business investment we need for a new generation of good, high-value jobs and opportunities for firms and their people.”

As part of the mission to ensure skilled workforce for the energy transition, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has set up The Office for Clean Energy Jobs, which will focus on ensuring the UK has the skilled workforce in core energy and net zero sectors critical to meeting the government’s clean energy goals.

Initial government estimates show that the scale of the net zero workforce transition “will require rapid reskilling and presents a significant opportunity for good job creation, with clean energy jobs tending to advertise salaries higher than the advertised UK average.”

It is estimated that 1 in 5 jobs will experience a shift in demand for skills through the transition to net zero, with around 3 million workers needing some form of reskilling, the government said, citing research from LSE Grantham Institute.

Based on an assessment of external reviews, the UK’s Climate Change Committee have found that between 135,000 and 725,000 net new jobs could be created in low-carbon sectors in the country by 2030. The energy efficiency and low carbon heating sector will likely see the largest increase in jobs by 2030, with further significant growth in low-carbon energy, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen, and surface transport sectors such as EV manufacturing.

Assessments of skills gaps will be critical for the government to better understand the 2030 workforce requirements and support targeted skills planning.

UK Energy Industry Skills Landscape

OEUK had commissioned an Energy Industry Skills Landscape Study 2024 before the latest government initiatives of the past few weeks.

Authored by Dr Christine Currie, the study explores the skills landscape within the UK’s energy sector and found considerable skills gaps and fragmentation across existing initiatives.

Recommendations from the study say that “funding is critical to sustain an initiative but the value of building relationships to support a joinedup approach to skills development should not be underestimated.”

The study concluded that the availability of appropriately skilled workforce “is perhaps the most valuable element in the success of any energy project or operation.” While there is broad and clear agreement on this, there is work to be done to move the dial from aspiration to joined-up action, the author noted.

Global Energy Skills Challenges

OPITO, the global, not-for-profit, safety and skills authority for the energy industry, said at the start of the year that it is preparing for the future of the energy workforce by committing to regional and industry collaboration.

Despite progress made so far, the industry needs to see in 2025 “an acceleration by global governments to act and tackle current skills gaps and commit to future support,” OPITO’s Chief Operating Officer, Alex Spencer, said.

“Despite increased collaboration, government intervention and investment, we will not achieve a safe, secure and sustainable supply of energy without people,” Spencer added.

“We must prioritise embedding the skills and solutions required for the current and next generation of the energy workforce to thrive and reshape our energy system.”

Recent research commissioned by OPITO showed that the current industry qualifications gap is a significant barrier for young people interested in energy sector careers.

A total of 74 percent of young people across key international energy markets would consider a career in the energy sector. However, they see the perceived requirement for technical qualifications and lack of understanding of opportunities as preventing them from pursuing energy sector careers, according to the global research project ‘Energy Sector Entry and the Perceived Barriers’.

“We are proud to invest significantly in global STEM initiatives through My Energy Future powered by OPITO, which aims to inspire and attract young talent to the energy workforce,” said the organisation’s COO Spencer.

“This research makes it clear that we must provide the correct tools to allow young people to fulfil their ambition for energy careers,” Spencer added.

“Through global initiatives like My Energy Future, OPITO’s Energy Transition Qualifications and by working closely with governments and industry leaders, we remain committed to making sure that individuals are equipped with the skills they need to support the demands of the energy transition both now and in the future.”

Rotech Subsea: Bridging The Skills Gap

The creators of Controlled Flow Excavation (CFE), Rotech

Subsea, proudly exemplifies a business that has evolved and adapted to shifting market and client demands, maintaining its position at the forefront of the subsea sector. Their dedication to progression and commitment to developing employees’ skills and training have been pivotal in their sustained success and industry leadership.

Rotech Subsea is committed to providing its team with extensive opportunities to advance and expand their skill sets, creating a robust pathway for career progression. Back in 2019, Rotech introduced a new apprenticeship scheme. By collaborating with TULLOS and NESCOL, they ensure that their new recruits gain the necessary skills to complete their modern apprenticeships.

Martin Graham, Director of Engineering at Rotech Subsea, underscores the importance of continuous training: “Training and improvement of individuals is very important to Rotech. Alongside developing in-house courses, we have partnered with local companies to offer staff training that enhances health and safety awareness, technical understanding, and communication skills.”

Rotech Subsea has recruited experienced technicians to mentor apprentices and trainees. This mentorship ensures that apprentices gain relevant experience to complete their portfolios. Additionally, Rotech funds courses in areas such as hydraulics, rigging, and financial management to aid personal development. This approach not only offers exciting career opportunities but also ensures excellent staff retention.

The training sessions are strategically tailored to enhance both practical and technical knowledge. This approach ensures high standards and continuous improvement in operations. Feedback from team members has been overwhelmingly positive, with technicians reporting significant skill acquisition, such as correctly identifying hydraulic fittings and safely operating equipment. This feedback has been pivotal in refining Rotech Subsea’s training approach, ensuring it remains effective and relevant.

In January, Rotech Subsea’s Director of Field Operations, Kevin Cargill, and Workshop Manager, Alan Rodger, organised a bespoke training day for technicians. Executing the training was a collaborative effort, with Workshop Foreman Scott McLaren and Offshore Team Leader Alasdair Marshall assisting with delivery of the course.

The training day covered a variety of essential skills, including:

• CFE Tool Spread: Technicians were trained in project mobilisation, proper hose routing, connection procedures, and the operation and maintenance of the Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU). Particular emphasis was also placed on safe hose spooling and correct coiling procedures.

• Cutter Grab Spread: Training included hose routing, connection procedures, Electric HPU operation, and the functions and operation of the cutter grab. Technicians also learned to identify different hydraulic fittings and follow proper coiling procedures.

• Winches: The programme covered hose routing, connection procedures, safe operation, and maintenance of winches, ensuring technicians could perform these tasks with confidence, repetition and precision.

Andrew Macpherson, an offshore subsea technician who completed Rotech’s apprenticeship scheme in 2024, embodies the company’s commitment to training and development. Having already been entrusted with a backshift supervisor role, Andrew describes Rotech in three words: “family, opportunities, progression.” This sentiment reflects Rotech’s close-knit environment and dedication to providing opportunities for staff to advance.

Rotech Subsea’s comprehensive apprenticeship scheme and dedication to training is a cornerstone of its strategy to bridge the skills gap and ensure continued success. By focusing on both practical and technical skills, teamwork, and continuous improvement, Rotech is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for its CFE tools and offshore service offerings. The company’s commitment to training and development not only enhances the capabilities of its technicians but also fosters a culture of excellence and innovation. 

Futureproofing the Energy Workforce: Harnessing Intelligent Technology for Smarter Crew Management

In the fast-moving, ever-changing energy landscape it’s vital to correctly shape skills and training, and forecast how we can futureproof our workforce.

The answer lies in innovative technology that sits at the heart of crew operations. Intelligent, yet easy to use software that makes workforce optimisation simple. A central tool that enables you to plan, schedule and forecast global crewing activities, whilst identifying training, competence and development needs in your existing or future workforce.

Common challenges facing our industry such as skills transitions to renewables, succession planning for ageing workforces and entering new markets don’t have to be daunting. Working smarter to maximise the full potential of existing workforce capabilities, particularly on a global scale, can be embraced when you have the best system to identify where available personnel with the right qualifications, training and competences are. That visibility of your team’s skills and training – and how you can

unlock their potential to drive overall success –is key to releasing operational efficiency. After all, there’s a big difference between having a person in the right place at the right time and having the best, most competent and most experienced person poised and ready to go – and a back-up plan for making the process better or more seamless next time.

Onboard Tracker™ is a world-class Software as a Service (SaaS) digital crew management platform that supports 100,000+ energy, renewables, and marine personnel, in 110+ countries, across 8000+ on and offshore sites. Thanks to enterprise class design and an affordable subscription format, this agile, scalable software enables a growing number

of global clients to achieve 360° workforce visibility. The system empowers clients to own, structure and visualise their data to make targeted, cost-effective and safe crewing decisions, empowered by easily accessible skills and training data, which is complete, current and correct.

Listening carefully to clients, Onboard Tracker™ has been built by industry for industry to solve challenges and shape industry standards, streamlining and automating the accrual of all company-wide training, competence and skills data whilst maximising workforce engagement lie at its heart. Enabling the automation of key integrations with users’ training, competence, e-learning and skills providers means Onboard Tracker™ acts as the master system of record for clients who are assured that centrally held data is accurate, up-to-date and mirrors all other systems and databases.

So just how do we futureproof our workforce?

The answer is simple. The answer is Onboard Tracker™.

ROVOP strengthens offshore workforce with latest ROV pilot trainee recruits

ROVOP, a leading supplier of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) to the energy industry, has welcomed nine trainees to its in-demand ROV Pilot Trainee programme, marking another milestone in its commitment to developing future talent for the offshore energy sector.

This follows a busy 2024, during which the company welcomed over 50 new starts, and recruited its highest in-take of trainees ever, with 16 ROV Pilot Trainees beginning work at ROVOP for both UK and US divisions.

This continued investment into its training programme underscores its ongoing efforts to nurture a skilled workforce for the growing demands of the industry.

The new trainees will participate in ROVOP’s rigorous ROV trainee training programme, a blend of theoretical and practical sessions that adheres to IMCA guidelines IMCA R 002 and

IMCA R 010. Taking place over 15 days, the programme includes three 12-hour shifts on an in-house ROV simulator, providing trainees with crucial hands-on experience to prepare them for offshore operations.

Upon completion of the initial programme, the trainees will begin placement at ROVOP’s workshop in Westhill, Aberdeenshire, or on board one of our clients’ vessels where they will actively engage in the maintenance of ROV systems alongside the firm’s expert inhouse teams. This phase builds on their skills and competencies while working alongside knowledgeable colleagues who can share real-

life experiences and market intel with the keen workers. The process from commencement to offshore is only 6-8 weeks, offering trainees a fast track to real-life experience.

Overseeing the programme is Roland Reid, ROVOP’s training & competence manager. With more than three decades of industry experience, Roland plays a key role in ensuring the programme equips trainees with the relevant knowledge and expertise, while offering hands-on experience.

He said: “At ROVOP, we understand the vital importance of bringing fresh talent to the industry. We are proud to be able to increase the number of places in our training programme year on year and are even more pleased to kick start this year with a fantastic line-up of new starts.

“Welcoming nine new trainees is a testament to our dedication to building a pipeline of skilled professionals ready to meet the challenges of the offshore energy industry.

In today’s rapidly evolving sector, providing these skills and training is more critical than ever. An aging workforce, coupled with the increasing demands of sustainable and advanced energy solutions, means it has never been more important to invest in workforce development, and secure an energy future for generations to come.”

ROVOP’s commitment to training the next generation of ROV pilots underscores its dedication to sustainable offshore operations. As the energy sector increasingly adopts advanced technology, ROVOP stays ahead of the curve, powered by a skilled and motivated workforce. 

Ensure compliance and safety with industry standards

Intervention Rentals Skills and Training Commitment to Professional Development

At Intervention Rentals, we take pride in fostering a culture of continuous professional development, and our latest initiative reflects this commitment. We are in the process of registering 10 candidates for a Modern Apprenticeship (MA) in Management at SCQF Level 7. This program is specifically tailored for supervisors and line managers aiming to enhance their people management skills while demonstrating core competencies in management.

Modern Apprenticeship Program Overview

The MA program, spanning 18 months, is a significant investment in our team’s development. Five candidates are set to begin their apprenticeships by the end of February, with another five following in April. This initiative underscores our dedication to equipping staff with the tools and methodologies necessary to thrive in their management careers.

Core and Optional Training Units

The program consists of four mandatory units: developing knowledge, skills, and competence; leading teams effectively; managing people’s performance at work; and ensuring healthy,

safe, secure, and productive working environments and practices. Additionally, candidates have the flexibility to select at least three optional units, with the opportunity to complete all six if desired. These optional units include sustaining productive relationships with colleagues, supporting individuals’ learning and development, managing conflict in teams, coaching individuals, communicating information and knowledge, and implementing operational plans.

Recent Training Initiatives

Over the past year, we’ve also introduced two impactful training courses, Having Difficult Conversations and Essential Skills for Managers. With a 75% completion rate so far, we anticipate full completion of these courses by October 2025

Addressing Skills Gaps

These initiatives reflect our proactive approach to identifying and addressing skills gaps within the organization. While many of our staff have successfully advanced into senior roles through their experience and dedication, we recognize the value of complementing their practical expertise with formal supervisory and management training. By introducing structured development programs, we are ensuring our managers are equipped with the latest tools and methodologies to excel in their roles and drive the organization forward. Additionally, we’ve identified the need for “Train the Trainer” programs and Sales and Account Management training, further reinforcing our commitment to well-rounded professional development.

Technical Excellence

Our technical team continues to excel, with three of our technicians Emerson-trained and two holding Compex Ex01-04 certifications. These achievements highlight the technical expertise and dedication of our workforce.

Strengthening Our Workforce

By investing in our employees’ development, we are not only enhancing individual careers but also strengthening the collective capability of Intervention Rentals. This approach ensures we remain a leader in delivering exceptional service and innovative solutions across the energy sector and beyond. 

AMHWAL Academy and Ann McRobb Associates Partner to

Transform Leadership Training

In a move set to redefine the landscape of professional development, AMHWAL Academy, a leading name in bespoke leadership training, has announced a strategic collaboration with Ann McRobb Associates, a renowned provider of training and consultancy services.

This partnership aims to deliver innovative supervisory and management training programs designed to empower leaders and supervisors with the skills they need to excel in today’s dynamic business environment.

A Shared Vision for Excellence

Both AMHWAL Academy, founded by organisational psychologist and bestselling author Anurag Rai MBPsS FIoL, and Ann McRobb Associates founded by competency specialist Ann McRobb bring a wealth of experience in creating impactful learning experiences. This collaboration combines the expertise of two industry leaders to offer training solutions that are tailored to meet the unique needs of organisations across sectors.

Anurag Rai, Founder of AMHWAL Academy, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “At AMHWAL Academy, our mission has always been to empower individuals and organisations to achieve extraordinary results. Collaborating with Ann McRobb Associates allows us to extend our reach and offer even more comprehensive training programs to those aiming to elevate their leadership and management capabilities.”

Comprehensive Training for Supervisors and Managers

The partnership will focus on delivering a range of programs that address core supervisory and management skills, including:

Delegation and Motivation: Equipping supervisors with strategies to delegate effectively and inspire their teams.

Handling Difficult

Situations:

Developing the resilience and tact needed to navigate complex challenges.

Leadership and Decision-Making: Empowering managers to lead with confidence and make informed decisions.

Communication and Collaboration: Enhancing interpersonal skills to foster better workplace relationships.

These programs are designed to provide practical, actionable insights that participants can immediately apply in their roles, ensuring a tangible impact on organisational performance.

A Commitment to Tailored Solutions

With both organisations known for their bespoke approach, participants can expect programs that are customised to align with their specific goals and challenges. The training will be delivered through interactive sessions, real-world case studies, and hands-on activities to maximise engagement and learning outcomes. 

Tailored Corporate Member Packages for Every Business

At Newburgh we understand that each business has unique needs, which is why we offer a variety of membership packages to suit diverse business types. Whether you’re a large corporation or a local independent business, we are proud to support you with our flexible packages

companyurl.com

Bridging the Skills Gap: The Crucial Role of Bespoke Training in the Evolving Energy Landscape

As the energy sector undergoes rapid transformation, the need for specialist training has never been more critical. With emerging technologies, evolving regulatory frameworks and a growing focus on sustainability, companies must ensure their workforce is equipped with the skills and knowledge to thrive in this dynamic landscape.

Jee, a leading provider of engineering and training services, has been at the forefront of this effort since 1988. Specialising in design, construction, maintenance and consultancy within the energy and industrial sectors, Jee has built a global reputation for excellence in subsea engineering, oil and gas, renewable energy and offshore industries.

Bridging the Skills Gap

The oil and gas industry, known for its technical complexity, increasingly recognises the need for flexible and cost-effective training solutions. As the sector adapts to the challenges of the energy transition, bespoke and expert training is essential to bridge the skills gap in emerging markets such as offshore wind, hydrogen and decommissioning.

A recent report by OEUK highlighted the need to upskill the workforce in key areas of the integrated energy sector. Meanwhile, the IEA’s World Energy Employment report (2023) reinforced the importance of specialised training to nurture a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting the energy transition.

Meeting Industry Needs with Tailored Training

The energy sector’s appetite for customisable and targeted upskilling packages is growing. As the industry and its technology continue to evolve, training programmes must be adaptable, forward-thinking and aligned with the latest industry demands. This adaptability ensures professionals remain competent and competitive in an ever-changing market.

With over 20 years of experience in delivering training, Jee offers a unique approach by converting real-life engineering challenges and lessons learned from its extensive global project portfolio into practical, cost-efficient training programmes. Developed by Jee’s own engineers and industry specialists, these courses reflect deep sector-specific knowledge and hands-on expertise.

A Practical Approach to Learning

Jee’s training philosophy is built around practical application. The company ensures that engineers and technicians not only grasp theoretical concepts but also apply them effectively in real-world scenarios. Whether clients need specialised content for niche teams or broader training for diverse audiences, Jee’s courses are designed to meet specific client objectives and provide a targeted and impactful learning experience.

Blending Learning Methods for Maximum Flexibility

While the coronavirus pandemic accelerated the adoption of online training, Jee recognises that many professionals still prefer handson, in-person learning experiences. To accommodate diverse learning preferences, the company offers a blend of in-company, inperson and online courses, ensuring flexibility and accessibility.

Jee’s online learning platform, Jeenius, provides an immersive and interactive experience, allowing learners to select the

training method that best suits their schedules and learning styles. With over 30 specialist courses available, Jeenius empowers professionals to master the complexities of today’s energy challenges.

More than just a training platform, Jeenius fosters a community of professionals, offering access to valuable learning materials, case studies and direct interaction with Jee’s expert tutors for personalised guidance. As part of Jee’s commitment to flexible, specialist training a new LMS platform “Jee Training” will be launched later in 2025.

Supporting Businesses with Bespoke Solutions

For companies looking to upskill their workforce, Jee offers tailored training sessions, custom workshops, and flexible online modules designed to integrate seamlessly into employees’ work schedules. This approach ensures businesses can support both new entrants and experienced professionals as they navigate career progression or transition into emerging sectors.

By continuously updating its course content to reflect the latest industry developments, Jee ensures that clients receive relevant, impactful training that enhances compliance, drives innovation and improves staff retention.

As the energy sector continues to evolve, companies that invest in structured, expert-led training will be well-positioned to overcome industry challenges and seize new opportunities. 

By Irene Bruce Head of Energy Services Agreement (ESA) Employment & Skills

Shaping the Future of Energy: Irene Bruce on Workforce Development and the Energy Skills Passport at OGV’s Recruitment Fair

OEUK is sponsoring OGV’s Recruitment Fair on March 27 because of its commitment to do everything possible to prepare the workforce for future opportunities not only in oil and gas but the evolving low carbon energies.

Across the country, brilliant skilled people are working tirelessly to produce the energy that powers not just UK homes, transport and industry, but also the everyday products needed to support high standards of living.

These are the same people whose skills will be fundamental to developing and delivering sustainable, cleaner energy, which is why everything is being done to ensure there are pathways in place to support people as they work across the energy mix. OEUK’s research reveals that 90% of oil and gas workers have skills that can be applied to renewable energy.

Earlier this year, OEUK and RenewableUK (RUK) jointly launched the Energy Skills Passport. This industry-led project is supported by the UK and Scottish governments and it’s a tool that enables people to build new careers across energy sectors.

Irene Bruce, Head of Energy Services Agreement (ESA) Employment & Skills, will be demonstrating the Energy Skills Passport to people attending the recruitment fair whether they’re considering working in the industry or pondering a move to a different energy sector. Currently there is a pilot version of the tool

being tested by a group of workers, and initially it will feature skills in the oil and gas sector and the emerging offshore wind industry.

The OGV recruitment event is a great opportunity to help people understand more about this tool and other initiatives aimed at driving the development of a more flexible, multi-skilled and technology enabled workforce. The Energy Skills Passport will enable people to identify which qualifications, such as technical and safety standards, are needed for specific roles in oil and gas and offshore wind. It will also help people map out potential future career pathways within the broader and evolving energy sector.

Attracting, retaining and developing the diversity of talent needed across oil and gas and evolving low carbon energies requires a more joined up approach. There is significant transferability of skills across energy sectors. OEUK is working with stakeholders including RenewableUK and the Scottish and UK governments to help the UK offshore energy workforce to understand and plan for expanded home grown energy production.

Highlighting tools like the Energy Skills Passport helps more people recognise how

members of the workforce can have roles in different areas, building and evolving the skills they first trained to acquire.

Together with RUK, and energy sector skills standards bodies such as OPITO, Cogent and Global Wind Organisation (GWO) OEUK expects the passport to evolve as the UK’s energy production profile changes with more information on training courses and an increase in functionality being added as the sector expands. For the time being, however, the still significant oil and gas reserves around in the UK’s offshore waters means they are being used responsibly alongside the emerging renewable energies.

The Energy Skills Passport marks another positive step towards creating an integrated energy sector. Mutual recognition of skills in various energies benefits people and different sectors. This is an approach that ensures most of the transferable skills that people have built up over decades are there to help support delivery of a secure, skilled and sustainable future. 

Empowering the Energy Sector: QHSE Aberdeen’s Training & Consultancy Solutions

In an industry where safety, compliance, and operational efficiency are paramount, investing in high-quality training is not just an option – it is a necessity. At QHSE Aberdeen, we specialise in delivering world-class training and consultancy services tailored to the needs of the energy sector, including oil, gas, and renewables.

Comprehensive Training for a Safer, More Efficient Workplace

Whether you are looking for a half-day refresher course tailored to your organisation or an intensive week-long Course such as ISO Lead Auditor Training, Root Cause Analysis, or COSHH Awareness, we have you covered. Our extensive catalogue of courses is designed to support companies in maintaining compliance, enhancing workplace safety, and optimizing management systems.

Tailored Solutions for Every Organisation

One-size-fits-all training does not cut it in the dynamic and high-risk environment of the energy sector. That is why QHSE Aberdeen offers bespoke training Courses that align with your specific business objectives. From frontline workforce safety training to executive-level management systems implementation, we ensure that your team is equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to excel.

Management Systems: Building a Resilient Business

Beyond compliance, well-structured management systems provide a solid foundation for sustainable business growth. Our training helps organisations implement and refine management frameworks that drive efficiency, minimize risk, and enhance overall performance. With expert guidance, businesses can navigate the complexities of industry standards and stay ahead in an everevolving regulatory landscape.

Why Choose QHSE Aberdeen?

• Industry Expertise: Our trainers and consultants have extensive experience in the energy sector, ensuring that all training is relevant, practical, and impactful.

• Flexible Training Options: We offer both in-person and virtual training sessions to accommodate your operational needs.

• Proven Track Record: We have successfully partnered with leading energy companies to improve their health, safety, and environmental performance.

Take the Next Step

Skills development is the cornerstone of a thriving energy business. Let QHSE Aberdeen be your trusted partner in achieving excellence. Explore our full range of courses on our website and take the first step toward a safer, more efficient future for your organisation.

What QHSE Aberdeen offer

QHSE Aberdeen have a number of public classroom-based training courses scheduled over the next few months covering all the main ISO standards.

• SO9001 - Foundation, IRCA Internal Auditor, Lead Auditor during April June, August & October 2025

• ISO14001 - Founation, Internal Auditor, IRCA Lead Auditor Conversion during March, July & November

• ISO45001 – Foundation, Internal Auditor, IRCA Lead Auditor Conversion during May, September & December 2025.

• ISO27001 - Foundation, Internal Auditor, Lead Auditor during April & October 2025.

Integrated Management System Internal Auditor (ISO9001, ISO14001 & ISO45001 combined) during April, September & November 2025

For more information, visit www.qhseaberdeen.com or contact us today.

When relations turn sour: resolving disputes during major energy and infrastructure projects

Ken MacDonald and Chris Duff, Brodies LLP

Ken and Chris are both experts in dispute resolution in the energy industry. For more information visit Brodies.com

Major energy and infrastructure projects, both new projects and those being decommissioned, often involve a wide range of participants based in different jurisdictions.

Such projects are notoriously complex, especially when there is a combination of innovative energy generation solutions, new materials and technologies being deployed and challenging local geography. Technology marked for the project also frequently develops during the construction phase, which can lead to changes to project planning, personnel and cost. In short, it is somewhat inevitable that, despite best intentions, this complexity can lead to unavoidable commercial disputes.

We all recognise the energy and infrastructure sectors as diverse. They span differing geographical and legal jurisdictions and there is prolific but not universal use of standard form contracts. There is also plenty of risk, which helps explain why disputes arise. It is necessary to factor in behaviours by the parties to the contract, which are often tied to a project's finance outturn. Further, some of the sub sectors often contract with bespoke or amended terms which may not be as industry recognised or well known, and which can promote uncertainty. The mantra is 'where there is uncertainty, there is scope for dispute'.

Disputes often arise because of a difference of opinion about what the parties' contract requires of them, or perhaps what their entitlements are. Disputes are relatively commonplace on major projects but whether those disputes result in a formal process will typically turn on behaviours, the strength of the parties' relationships, the merits of parties' positions and ultimately the value that attaches.

Many disputes which emerge in a project can be resolved during the project itself with

effective contract or project management. But sometimes the party's position is just too polarised, or the value which attaches to the point is just too great to resolve it without at least starting down the road of a formal process. Very often contracts include tiered or escalation clauses to try to have a final attempt at resolving matters before going into a formal process.

International energy and infrastructure disputes are particularly complex because of both practical and cultural considerations to contend with. In terms of practical challenges, it is necessary for the parties to the contract to agree the rules of process for dispute resolution. These rules of engagement as to how disputes are resolved might be very different from how those parties deal with disputes in their domestic markets, both in terms of choice of law and procedure. International Arbitration is often selected as the compromise by counterparties with economic parity.

Further, during a dispute, for example, in international arbitration there might be resort to local courts at the seat of the arbitration to enforce certain decisions of the arbitral tribunal. A party might need to procure local law advice in foreign jurisdictions and have a working understanding of that country's local courts.

Language, misinterpretation and translation can sometimes be an issue to overcome. Turning to cultural factors and without adopting lazy tropes, there may be differences in how each party approaches their dispute depending on how they tend to contract and behave in their home jurisdiction.

Disputes advice can be a distress purchase, and everyone deals with distress differently. If you have language barriers and different values and expectations at play, that can make resolving the dispute more difficult. That could be particularly important in international arbitration because there may also be differing ethical standards applying to attorneys than would apply in domestic courts, so the brakes, which are sometimes placed on party and on attorney behaviour are perhaps not as effective in all jurisdictions.

In cross-border disputes, a key issue is how do parties enforce the decision. In a sense, what happens if you win? Usually, it is obvious what happens if you lose, but what you do not want to do is win but then run aground trying to enforce that decision in your favour so that is always a key issue for parties at the outset.

Consideration should be given at an early stage to see if it is possible to resolve the dispute by agreement because that achieves certainty. If negotiation would prove too challenging, then mediation is a good option where an independent third party facilitates discussions to achieve consensual settlement. There is, however, patchy application of mediation across the globe, some jurisdictions mandate it, very effectively with cost sanctions, whilst others barely recognise or understand it. There are differences about the mediator's role depending on your global location. In some jurisdictions there would be an expectation that the mediator would play a purely facilitating role trying to bring the parties together to reach an agreement, whilst in other jurisdictions parties would look to the mediator for some recommended outcome to their dispute. There is also the possibility of Med ARB where the dispute starts as mediation but morphs into arbitration, and that is where the mediator becomes the arbitrator if no resolution is achieved in the initial mediation stage.

Whatever your project is, consideration should be given at the outset for appropriate contract mechanisms to encourage early and consensual resolution with resort to a formal process a last resort where circumstances so dictate.

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We simplify your access to these complex incentives. Our combined teams of highly skilled Tax and Technical specialists, enhanced with cutting-edge digital tools developed internally, maximise the financial benefits for any type of business.

Navigating the Energy Transition: Workforce Planning for a New Era

As the energy industry evolves, it is embracing a more integrated approach, balancing traditional oil and gas operations with the increasing adoption of renewable and sustainable energy sources.

Rather than a complete transition to a renewables-only model, the sector is moving towards a diversified energy mix, leveraging both existing infrastructure and emerging technologies to progress towards net zero. The urgency of climate change, evolving regulatory frameworks, and shifting consumer expectations are accelerating this shift. However, achieving a sustainable energy landscape will require overcoming significant challenges, particularly in workforce planning and skills development.

The Landscape of Change

The expansion of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydrogen presents both opportunities and challenges for the sector. Established companies are investing heavily in low-carbon technologies, while new start-ups are entering the market to drive innovation. However, oil and gas remain a crucial component of global energy security, with projections indicating that fossil fuels will still play a role in the energy mix for decades to come. This evolving landscape necessitates a dual focus: developing new talent for emerging energy technologies while also reskilling the existing workforce to support a more sustainable and resilient energy sector.

Immediate Challenges

1. Skill Gaps and Workforce Shortages: As we pivot towards renewables, there is a heightened demand for specific technical skills that are often lacking in the current workforce. The sector will need to be willing to invest in utilising technology to help develop and adapt technical learning programs as changes in standards become more frequent.

2. Retaining Experienced Workers: As the industry shifts, there is a risk that experienced oil and gas professionals may feel uncertain about their future and choose to leave the sector. It is critical that we address the emotional and professional

needs of these individuals, providing them with opportunities for retraining and upskilling in renewable technologies.

3. Cultural Resistance to Change: Many organizations with a rich history face internal resistance to transitions due to entrenched cultures focused on traditional energy production. This resistance can slow down the adoption of new technologies and methodologies that are essential for a successful transition. Learning programs will need to focus on more heavily on mindset and behaviours.

Future Challenges

1. Regulatory and Policy Changes: The energy landscape is heavily influenced by government policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions. Navigating these regulations will require a workforce that is not only technically skilled but also knowledgeable about the legal frameworks governing renewable energy.

2. Technological Advancements: As the industry evolves, new technologies will emerge, necessitating a workforce that is adaptable and committed to continuous learning. For example, advancements in smart grid technology and artificial intelligence will require professionals who can operate in these complex ecosystems.

3. Market Volatility and Investment Risks: The transition to renewable energy sources can be fraught with financial risks. The workforce must be equipped to analyze market trends and make informed decisions that align with both immediate and long-term business goals.

Workforce Planning for the Energy Transition

In light of these challenges, companies in the energy sector must develop comprehensive workforce planning strategies that prioritize both immediate needs and future aspirations.

Here are several key areas to focus on:

1. Upskilling and Reskilling Initiatives: Organizations need to invest in training programs that equip employees with the necessary skills for renewable energy roles whilst integrating regular capability tests to ensure a sharp agile technical workforce.

2. Attracting New Talent: As the industry evolves, attracting new talent will be essential. Partnerships with universities and vocational schools to promote careers in renewable energy will help generate interest among the next generation of professionals and help the cultural transition shift.

3. Fostering a Culture of Continuous Learning: Emphasizing a culture that values lifelong learning will be crucial. This can be facilitated through mentorship programs, coaching, and facilitating best practice sharing via peer to peer learning programs to complement highly technical learning streams.

Key Skills for the Future

As we look ahead, to support technical skills, we will need to develop Data Analysis, Project management, Regulatory Knowledge, Agility, and Critical thinking. More than ever we must learn to analyse situations, identify problems, and devise effective solutions quickly. This takes years of experience to develop, coming up with new ways to accelerate how we develop critical thinking will be key to developing a capable future workforce.

Conclusion

The energy transition presents both challenges and opportunities. By proactively addressing the immediate concerns and laying the groundwork for future workforce needs, we can ensure that the industry not only survives but thrives in this new era. Embracing more agile ways of learning and integrating them into the foundational technical learning streams will secure a skilled workforce. Those that invest in a forward thinking learning and skills strategy, integrating informal coaching, mentoring and peer to peer learning programs will adapt faster, and thrive. At Leyton UK, we have seen the power of a similar learning ecosystem, as an accredited exceptional learning organisation, we have seen the power a diverse learning culture can have on support the transition of an organisation. 

By

James Swift, Head of Talent Development, Leyton UK + USA

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Baker Hughes bags ‘major’ deal for ExxonMobil’s Guyana-bound FPSO duo

U.S.-headquartered energy technology giant Baker Hughes has been hired on a multi-year assignment related to two floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessels, which are destined to work on upcoming oil projects on the Stabroek block off the coast of Guyana, operated by an affiliate of America’s energy giant ExxonMobil.

Baker Hughes disclosed a long-term contract it described as a “major” and “significant” award with ExxonMobil Guyana, a subsidiary of the U.S.-based ExxonMobil.

This deal enables the firm to provide specialty chemicals and related services for the U.S. oil major’s FPSOs Errea Wittu and Jaguar, featuring a combined 500,000 barrels per day capacity, which will be deployed at the Uaru and Whiptail offshore greenfield developments in Guyana’s prolific Stabroek block.

The multi-year contract encompasses all topsides, subsea, water injection, and utility chemicals for the FPSO duo, which are currently under development. While the FPSO Errea Wittu is targeted to begin production in 2026, the FPSO Jaguar is scheduled to start operations in 2027.

Baker Hughes, which celebrated in 2022 the opening of a multimodal supercenter in Georgetown, also provides a variety of services and equipment to operators in the country, such as turbomachinery for ExxonMobil Guyana’s FPSO fleet and production chemicals for the FPSO Liza Unity.

Amerino Gatti, Executive Vice President of Oilfield Services & Equipment at Baker Hughes, commented: “ExxonMobil Guyana and Baker Hughes share a long history of supporting Guyana’s energy sector, and we look forward to working together to write its next chapter.

“Our experience operating across the country’s energy supply chain and unmatched expertise in oilfield and industrial chemicals make Baker Hughes uniquely suited to support complex FPSO operations such as these.”

TechnipFMC installed its first Subsea 2.0 equipment piece in Guyanese waters for the $12.7 billion Uaru project, which is ExxonMobil’s fifth oil development in the Stabroek block, in the last few weeks of 2024, after winning a similar deal for the U.S. firm’s sixth oil development offshore Guyana in April 2024.

The Uaru and Whiptail projects will include up to 20 drill centers and 92 production and injection wells. As each FPSO will have a capacity of 250,000 barrels per day, these two additions will bring the country’s total daily production capacity to approximately 1.3 million barrels.

Japan’s MODEC disclosed progress in the construction of the FPSO Errea Wittu in October 2024, with the completion of the hull block assembly 40 days ahead of the original schedule. China’s Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC) launched the FPSO at the end of December 2024.

On the other hand, the Netherlands-based SBM Offshore secured $1.5 billion with a consortium of 16 international financial institutions in November 2024 to cover the construction costs of the FPSO Jaguar.

ExxonMobil (45% interest) operates the Stabroek block, spanning 6.6 million acres or 26,800 square kilometers, with its partners, including Hess Guyana Exploration (30%) and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana (25%).

The list of ExxonMobil’s four other projects in Guyana includes Liza Phase 1 and Phase 2, Payara, and Yellowtail. However, wheels have been set in motion to get the required approvals for Hammerhead as the firm’s seventh deepwater oil project in Guyana.

This project will add between 120,000 and 180,000 barrels per day (bpd) by 2029, raising the country’s overall production capacity bar to nearly 1.5 million bpd. Since Hess is in the process of merging with Chevron, the latter may become ExxonMobil’s new partner this year.

Hess and Chevron passed the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) antitrust review. However, the completion of the merger remains subject to closing conditions, including the satisfactory resolution of ongoing arbitration over preemptive rights in the Stabroek block joint operating agreement.

Meanwhile, Baker Hughes recently won a deal with Venture Global for LNG equipment and signed a multi-year services frame agreement for the latter’s LNG terminal in Louisiana.

Shelf Drilling bags $50m rig contract extension from Chevron

United Arab Emirates-based jackup rig pure-play Shelf Drilling has secured an extension for one of its rigs.

Namely, the 2008-built Shelf Drilling Scepter will continue its drilling operations offshore West Africa for one more year.

The name of the client was left undisclosed in an Oslo Bors filing. However, the company’s latest fleet status report states that the rig has been working for US oil and gas supermajor Chevron in Nigeria since June 2023.

The initial deal was set to expire in July 2025 but Chevron had a one-year extension option which was now exercised.

The extension will begin in direct continuation of the rig’s current contract, extending the commitment until July 2026. The total added contract value is around $50m.

Earlier this week, Shelf Drilling and Arabian Drilling signed a memorandum of understanding to form a strategic alliance which will see Shelf use some of Arabian Drilling’s high-specification jackups to meet contract requirements.

Arabian Drilling is the largest onshore and offshore drilling company in Saudi Arabia by fleet size and currently has 12 jackup rigs in its fleet. 

Shearwater Geoservices gets work in oil-rich Guyana with ExxonMobil

Norwegian offshore seismic vessel player Shearwater Geoservices has been awarded a contract for a large deepwater 4D OBN reservoir surveillance program by US supermajor ExxonMobil in Guyana.

Under the award, Shearwater will commence a six-month survey starting in the first half of 2025. The field unit will be comprised of a Shearwater seismic vessel as a source vessel and a dual ROV vessel for node deployment.

This follows the company recently completing a4DtowedstreameroperationforExxonMobil in Canada.

“We see a steady increase in deepwater 4D OBN monitoring activity internationally, and Shearwater is well positioned for this growth,” said Irene Waage Basili, CEO of Shearwater.

Last week was a big one for ExxonMobil in Guyana. The supermajor submitted its environmental impact assessment for the development of its seventh oil project in the

Stabroek block named Hammerhead. It will consist of 14 to 30 development wells, the installation and operation of an FPSO, and the installation of a gas export pipeline from the FPSO.

The project would start production in 2029, once it receives the required governmental approval, with a crude oil production capacity estimated at 120,000 and 180,000 bpd, increasing the country’s production capacity to more than 1.4m bpd.

Also, the fourth FPSO to be operated by an ExxonMobil-led consortium in Guyana is on its way to the South American country’s waters from Singapore. The One Guyana FPSO will be followed by two more FPSOs in the next two years. 

Wood secures $120 million engineering contract extension with Shell UK

Wood, a global leader in consulting and engineering, has been awarded a $120 million contract extension by Shell UK Limited to provide brownfield engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) to onshore and offshore assets across the UK.

The two-year, cost-reimbursable contract extension, centres on providing brownfield EPC services, as well as subsea and integrity management, at the Shell UK-operated St Fergus and Mossmorran onshore terminals and the Nelson, Gannet and Shearwater offshore assets. New to the contract scope, Wood is also providing EPC services on the Penguins FPSO.

Ken Gilmartin, CEO at Wood said: “We are proud to continue our decades-long relationship with Shell in the UK, focusing on the continued delivery of safe, reliable energy supply. The extension is recognition of our people and their commitment to deliver bestin-class outcomes for our clients.”

The contract extension will be supported by around 240 Wood employees. 

Wood secured the original EPC contract in 2021

A new rule could speed up unused oil well decommissioning. Gulf States are suing to stop it

Thousands of oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico no longer in use need to be removed from the water, causing an environmental and economic problem at a time when the Trump administration wants to keep drilling for more oil.

As of 2023, there are almost 3,000 wells and 500 platforms that are overdue for decommissioning in the Gulf, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office. That same GAO report also says the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) aren’t doing enough to make sure this infrastructure is getting cleaned up.

Abandoned oil and gas wells can pollute the water by leaking methane, releasing corroded metal into the water or even causing oil spills. They could also pose a problem for navigation for the fishing industry and even the oil and gas industry itself.

“Almost half of the remaining active wells in the Gulf of Mexico are either approaching or are already past the end of their useful life,” said Andrew Hartsig, an expert on offshore oil and gas policy and senior director of Arctic Conservation at Ocean Conservancy. “Problems there are expected to increase, and that’s especially true for the older shallow water wells as those continue to decline in productivity and profitability.”

The BOEM finalized a rule last year to help ensure old wells are cleaned up. The rule also protects taxpayers from shouldering the cost, but a few Gulf States sued the office saying stricter criteria for cleanup would crush independent oil companies

When an oil company goes bankrupt, it leaves that infrastructure in the water for BOEM to clean up. Between 2015 and 2021, 148 oil and gas producers in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas, filed for bankruptcy. To prevent taxpayers footing the bill for cleanup, a 20-year-old BOEM rule says a company has to provide financial assurance to prove it can clean up the infrastructure afterward before it can get a lease to drill.

BOEM’s new rule updates the ways companies can provide financial assurance, including slightly stricter criteria to prove they can meet those financial obligations for clean up. Those who can’t provide that financial assurance in other ways have to put up a surety bond.

The GAO report recommended this change, estimating that BOEM needs between $40 and $70 billion for clean up. It currently only has $3.5 billion in bonds to pay for it.

The new criteria is harder for smaller oil companies to meet and they say they can’t afford to get those bonds.

Gulf States sue

Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas are suing against the new rule.

The lawsuit says it will “crush” their independent small and mid-sized oil companies and spare the major companies, such as Chevron and Shell. According to the lawsuit, independent companies produce about half of U.S. oil, and this rule will cause the loss of more than 30,000 jobs.

For these smaller companies, it’s a struggle to get the bonds needed.

“There’s not that many companies out there that do these kinds of bonds the government is requiring,” said Mike Moncla, president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Moncla said the bonds are too high to impose on leases that already exist and many of the association’s companies would go bankrupt trying to get them.

“We don’t mind the increase in the bonds going up for future stuff,” he added. “It’s changing the rules of the game and trying to

change contractual agreements that we have the issue with.”

Tracy Krohn, CEO of W&T Offshore, said one of the bonding companies he works with asked for $250 million in collateral, which his company cannot afford.

“We employ about 390 people. We employ probably another couple of hundred of contractors, so for us, having to post all this collateral would cause the company to go bankrupt,” said Kohn.

The lawsuit argues that going up the “chain of title,” another method that BOEM can use to get the infrastructure cleaned up, was working fine. Often, oil companies sell the leases to each other, so if a company goes bankrupt and cannot decommission the infrastructure, BOEM can ask the previous owner to clean it up.

“Honestly, I don’t see that there’s a problem,” Moncla said. “I think that the Biden administration invented a problem that wasn’t necessary to fix in the last 20 years.”

Unlikely bedfellows

Going up the chain of title, however, takes time and using bonds instead speeds up decommissioning, said Ava Ibanez Amador, an attorney for Earthjustice.

The nonprofit filed an amicus brief on behalf of environmental groups supporting the rule.

“The longer that you leave an infrastructure in the water, the harder it becomes to decommission,” said Ibanez Amador, “because it becomes more hazardous to have someone go in there and see what needs to be done.”

Ibanez Amador added faster cleanup protects coastal communities from the safety and environmental risks of leaving that infrastructure in the water, especially at a time when current administration encourages more offshore drilling.

“The more infrastructure that goes in the water, the more infrastructure that will be left in the water to the detriment of mostly coastal communities,” said Ibanez Amador. “If we don’t have strong rules that make sure that (the oil and gas industry) is able to pay the price of doing business in the Gulf of Mexico.”

Larger oil companies are actually aligned with environmental groups on this issue. The American Petroleum Institute (API), the largest trade association for the oil and gas industry supports the rule. The organization sued to try to stop the other lawsuit and will be filing an amicus brief in support of the rule. 

Australia’s decommissioning roadmap needs “tangible” support, says law firm

Global law firm Clifford Chance has provided its feedback on Australia’s recently-published roadmap for decommissioning, calling the blueprint a welcome development but one that needs “tangible” support to ensure success.

In its report – The Road to Decommissioning: Establishing a Global Decommissioning Hub in Australia – it charts the steps Australia plans to make following the release of the government’s long-awaited Offshore Resources Decommissioning Roadmap. In its closing remarks on where to next for the industry, Clifford Chance highlights some of the many opportunities –and challenges –ahead.

“There is significant potential for growth in the Australian decommissioning industry through involvement in upskilling employees, repurposing existing ports and building facilities that will improve the efficiency of recycling decommissioned materials,” it states. “The government’s commitment to ensuring Australia is equipped to grow the decommissioning industry is a welcome development, which needs to be matched with tangible actions.”

Testimony to Australia’s continuing commitment to energy transition, the main objective of the roadmap is to develop a world leading decommissioning hub in Australia. This proposed hub will service global demands, seizing the opportunity to capitalise on the estimated US$60bn spend on decommissioning

offshore facilities over the next 30 to 50 years. Among the growth opportunities highlighted by Clifford Chance are prospects for international collaboration. It notes that Australia lacks adequate vessels for engaging in heavy offshore decommissioning and there is also an opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate with other global markets to import machinery. Port modification is also seen as another area of opportunity. No existing Australian port researched by CODA and KPMG has all the required attributes to handle offshore decommissioning, Clifford Chance noted in its report. This means existing ports will need to be modified to host decommissioning.

But ultimately, this is only the beginning of the journey, it adds. “It is clear that the Australian government, and its state counterparts (who must come along this journey), are still in the information-gathering phase of developing the industry, as there has been a recent request for tender by the Department of Industry Science and Resources for technical advice relating to decommissioning.

“It is a long road ahead, but the areas of development highlighted by the government should act as a checklist for interested parties in ensuring that Australia is at the forefront of the decommissioning industry.

“The roadmap is a welcome and significant stepping stone in Australia’s energy transition journey, and in developing and fostering stakeholder engagement on Australia’s ambitions to become a global leader in the offshore decommissioning sector. Australia’s next step is eagerly awaited.” 

Shell taps Asian duo for ‘first major’ decom project offshore Brunei

Serikandi Hilong, a joint venture (JV) between Brunei’s Serikandi Oilfield Services and Hilong Group’s Hong Kong-based affiliate Hilong Marine Engineering, has won a contract with Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP), a subsidiary of the oil major Shell, for the engineering, preparation, removal, and disposal (EPRD) of redundant offshore structures in Bruneian waters.

According to Serikandi, the project aims to restore offshore environments to their natural state using innovative techniques and best practices in line with applicable legislation. While the value of the EPRD contract has not been disclosed, the Bruneian player described it as significant.

Revi Bhaskaran, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Serikandi Group, said: “This milestone reflects our commitment to environmental preservation and operational excellence. Collaborating with Hilong enables us to expand our capabilities while supporting regional decommissioning expertise.”

The project is said to prioritize resource reclamation, ecosystem revitalization, and economic growth in line with global sustainability

goals. The decommissioning activities are expected to start in November 2025.

“We’re honored to contribute to Brunei’s first major decommissioning project. Together with Serikandi, we will ensure successful delivery while upholding the highest safety and environmental standards,” noted Jeffrey Gu, Executive Deputy President of Hilong Group.

This follows last week’s deal between Hilong Offshore Engineering and another energy heavyweight–Eni. The Italian player hired Hilong to work on the second phase of the offshore transportation and installation works for Congo LNG, its liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Congolese waters. 

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Investing in People –ATPI’s Commitment to Skills, Training and Wellbeing

The Foundation of Organisational Success: People

A thriving organisation depends on its people. Ensuring employees have the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to succeed is fundamental to long-term business growth. A workforce that feels valued and supported is more engaged, productive, and innovative. Companies that invest in professional development, training, and wellbeing create environments where employees can excel, contributing to organisational resilience and sustainability.

Travel management company (TMC) ATPI embraces this approach by fostering a workplace culture that prioritises employee wellbeing, professional growth, and inclusivity. Through a range of initiatives, ATPI ensures that its workforce remains motivated, engaged, and prepared to meet industry challenges.

A People-First Culture

ATPI recognises that business success is closely linked to employee wellbeing and satisfaction. The company has established a strong, people-first culture, ensuring employees feel supported both professionally and personally. In a landscape where workplace wellbeing is increasingly recognised as a crucial factor in business performance, ATPI sets a benchmark by proactively implementing initiatives that nurture talent and enhance job satisfaction.

A key component of this effort is the ATPI Wellbeing Team, which develops and delivers wellness programs, mental health support initiatives, and resources designed to promote a healthy work-life balance. Flexible working arrangements and tailored support programs further reinforce ATPI’s commitment to employee wellbeing.

By integrating wellbeing into its business strategy, ATPI fosters a motivated workforce that is better equipped to adapt to challenges and provide high-quality service to clients.

Investing in Skills and Training

Recognising that a well-trained workforce is the foundation of a successful organisation, ATPI has developed comprehensive training and development programs that align with both individual aspirations and business objectives.

The ATPI Academy is a prime example of this commitment. Offering over 220 courses covering essential skills, compliance, and rolespecific training, the Academy ensures that employees have access to continuous learning opportunities. In 2023-2024 alone, employees completed 23,000 courses, reflecting a strong commitment to professional development.

ATPI’s Rising Stars Programme is a further example of an initiative which nurtures talent, by identifying high-potential employees and providing them with opportunities for career advancement, mentorship, and crossdepartmental exposure. By fostering leadership skills and supporting career progression, ATPI ensures that its workforce remains futureready, capable of driving the company’s longterm success.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Beyond professional development, ATPI actively fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are central to its business strategy. With 61% of its global workforce and 56% of leadership roles held by women, the company is committed to creating equitable opportunities for all employees.

ATPI’s DEI initiatives include gender pay gap analysis, global focus workshops, and employee-led cultural programs. These efforts promote an inclusive and respectful work environment, strengthening employee engagement and reinforcing ATPI’s reputation as an employer of choice.

By embedding DEI principles into its core values, ATPI encourages collaboration and innovation, driving organisational success.

Enhancing Employee Retention and Business Growth

ATPI’s focus on people has yielded tangible results in employee retention and business growth. The company’s Aberdeen office, has achieved a 93% retention rate, reflecting a 20% increase since 2022. Globally, ATPI has experienced a 23% rise in staff numbers between 2023 and 2024, demonstrating its ability to attract and retain top talent.

Higher retention rates bring numerous benefits, including cost savings, operational continuity, and improved client service. Employees choose to remain with ATPI not only for career growth opportunities but also for the supportive and dynamic work environment it fosters.

Creating a Sustainable Workforce

As businesses navigate an evolving workforce landscape, ATPI’s approach serves as a model for organisations aiming to prioritise employee wellbeing, skills development, and inclusivity. By investing in its people, ATPI ensures long-term engagement, motivation, and business growth.

In a competitive market, organisations that put their people first are best positioned for success, and ATPI exemplifies this philosophy. 

Rachel Brown, Global Talent and Culture Lead - ATPI

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