Period of Transition

Our final issue always has the feel of something that’s standing in the middle. While we have features that examine the some the recent, fascinating technological advances, we also include a number of articles that look to the future, forecasting how the markets and industry activities might look in the coming months and years.

To kick-off this issue, we have an interview with Lukoil Overseas’ Senior Vice-President Mr Gati Saadi Al-Jebouri, an engineer by training, who administers a world of projects.

The recent downturn in oil prices is troubling, but by no means an indicator that activity will come to a halt on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. This year market a new record for the number of companies that applied for acreage on the mature areas of the NCS. Our look at NCS activity reveals that there’s much work yet to be done.

Infield Systems takes up the future of global offshore operations, with a glimpse at a few of the large fields and projects that will keep the industry busy in 2015. While expenditures in some provinces are expected to dip slightly, taken as a whole, the outlook is positive.

Although expenditures are slated to remain high, Hitachi Consulting reminds us that unless costs are brought under control, the long-term outlook may not be so positive.

Looking at a very specific aspect of the subsea market, Douglas Westwood’s World Subsea Vessel Operations Market Forecast 2015-2019 analyses the main factors driving demand for subsea construction vessels, whether for pipelay, intervention or maintenance. The perspective of the forecast is global, examining demand region by region.

November is the month in which the International Energy Agency released its annual World Energy Outlook. The Oslo launch, the Autumn Conference hosted by Statoil, has become a not-to-miss tradition, and we include a brief look at this year’s event. Sub-Saharan Africa was a key focal point – in addition to the WEO’s in-depth analysis of the energy outlook through to 2040. In addition to Norwegian Petroleum and Energy Minister Tord Lien and the IEA’s Chief Economist Dr Fatih Birol, speakers included acting Statoil president and CEO Eldar Sætre and former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan.

We also include a look at some of the activities in Horten, Norway – our neighbour south of Oslo. We’ve included a look at a few from the stellar array of world-class companies serving the oil and gas industry that have facilities in the Horten region.

And there’s much more to find in this issue as you turn the pages. We’ve got satellite communications from Globalstar, protective coatings applicable to LNG activities that perform in harsh environments with the risk of low temperature spills from Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings as well as marginal field asset management from Ramboll Oil & Gas – just to name a few. If your interest lies in the high North, ABS and Golder Associates look into some of the current activities concerning work in the Arctic.

Of course the holiday season is drawing near, which in itself is a tradition-filled transition from the old year to the new.

I’m sure I speak for everyone here at Scandinavian Oil-Gas Magazine, when I wish you

A Joyous Holiday Season

&

A Peaceful and Prosperous New Year