Wednesday 14 May 2014

Building on success of Audience with Sir Ian Wood – Oil & Gas UK adds to Capital events schedule

Following from a recent successful event – An Audience with Sir Ian Wood – Oil & Gas UK is building on the theme of industry collaboration with a London Breakfast Briefing: Planning for success: Managing Complex Projects scheduled next Wednesday 21 May, from 8am at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Exchange House, EC2A 2HS.

The event, sponsored jointly by Herbert Smith Freehills LLP and Petrotechnics, has confirmed speakers Robert Faulds, Laggan-Tormore project director at TOTAL E&P, Mark Thompson, managing director at EPEUS Group and Ronnie King, Partner, Ashurst – London, will join the panel to give a view on disputes. The briefing will be chaired by Oil & Gas UK business development director Stephen Marcos Jones.

With levels of capital investment in the UK projected to remain high, the profile of major projects and their success will be under the spotlight and linked to financial performance and corporate reputation. This event will explore how these complex projects can be successfully managed in the face of risk and operational difficulties.

Mark Thompson commented:

“We know most projects experience difficulties and the more complex the project is the greater the impact can be on the overall success and on financial performance. Drawing on information from across the upstream oil and gas sector, we will explore behaviours that affect success and introduce techniques that can help to reduce the financial and reputation impacts of project failure.”

Earlier this year, Oil & Gas UK released its annual Activity Survey, highlighting the industry is facing its biggest challenge in 50 years and the contradictions currently at play in the UK offshore oil and gas sector. In 2013, just 15 exploration wells were drilled on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), continuing a steep downward trend against ever rising costs. However, confidence in the industry is forecast to remain high; alongside better than expected production in 2013, investment is at record levels - £14.4 billion last year.

Stephen Marcos Jones added:

“The success of the oil and gas industry is vital to the UK with the industry generating almost £40 billion for the UK economy each year and supporting some 450,000 jobs. This event will present industry experience of managing individual projects to ensure overall success for the UKCS, and will give delegates the opportunity to network with their peers.”

Following the sold out Aberdeen Breakfast Briefing Oil & Gas UK brought the event - An Audience with Sir Ian Wood - to London on the evening of Thursday 8 May, Sir Ian's first London speaking engagement since the release of his recommendations.

At the event Sir Ian called for Government and industry to take a fresh approach, working more closely together to maximise recovery from the UKCS supported by a new independent arms-length regulator - laying out suggested strategies for the new regulator to help revitalise exploration, improve asset stewardship and encourage a more collaboration approach. 

This next event in the capital - Planning for success: Managing complex projects – aims to build on Sir Ian’s recommendations, providing a collaboration environment in which to address the challenges facing companies operating in the UK oil and gas sector.

Oil & Gas UK's Breakfast Briefings present an excellent opportunity to network with industry colleagues and to be informed of the latest developments in the UK oil and gas sector. Spaces are limited, so please book here to secure your place.

Ends.

For more information or for a press pass to the event, please contact Helen Jackson on hjackson@oilandgasuk.co.uk. 

Oil & Gas UK is the leading representative organisation for the UK offshore oil and gas industry. Its growing membership, which comprises oil and gas producers and contractor companies, now numbers more than 440.