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Industry Overview - Oil & Gas
The oil and gas industry is a compelling and sophisticated global
business. The industry develops and uses the most advanced technology
and innovative techniques to find and extract oil.
There are large installations standing on the seabed, where over 200
people may work, smaller floating production facilities on which there
may be as few as 30 people, and some structures which are totally
unmanned. They carry the equipment required to extract oil and gas, and
in most cases all the facilities needed to support the crews manning
them, which means power generation, equipment, accommodation and the
infrastructure that we tend to take for granted onshore.
There are now some 200 offshore installations producing oil and gas
providing around 80% of Britain's fuel with minimum impact on the
environment.
As technology advances, the lifetime of the oil and gas fields extends
as more of the reserves can be extracted economically. At today's
estimates it will need personnel for decades to come - personnel with
the relevant skills and qualifications, but who are also motivated,
adaptable individuals with good communication and IT skills, ready to
become part of a team.
Structure of the Industry
There are roughly 6000 companies involved in the oil and gas industry
in the UK. These can be split into three main types of company,
Operators, Drilling Contractors and Contract Service Companies.
Operators - These companies own
licences and are responsible for exploration and production in
different sections of the UK waters. Examples of such companies are
household names and multi-nationals such as BP, Shell as well as
Talisman Energy, Apache and many more.
Drilling Contractors - Operators sub-contract drilling companies to undertake drilling
operations and to supply personnel and equipment to these operations.
There are many drilling companies who work in the UK and are
represented by the employers association IADC - The International
Association of Drilling Contractors.
Contract Service Companies -
These companies undertake the wide variety of specialised roles
required to prepare for and maintain operations and supply essential
services in areas such as well services, Catering, Diving, Surveying
etc.
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