Oil & Gas UK Annual Review 2013

ANNUAL REVIEW 2013

Highlights of 2013: Operator Chairman

It is clear that as Oil and Gas UK seeks to deliver its objectives of maximising the economic recovery of hydrocarbons, promote its world class supply chain, and raise the awareness of the industry’s benefits to the wider economy, the work does not relent. 2013 has been another stellar year of effort and achievement by the team. For me, these would have to include: • The Decommissioning Relief Deeds that secure tax relief certainty on decommissioning expenses for the basin, and free up considerable balance sheet capacity for further investment • The continuing positive work delivered through PILOT from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Oil and Gas Council at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), and the Treasury’s Fiscal Forum. This is aided by the further institutionalisation of these fine vehicles for collaboration and highly detailed communication between industry and government • The publication of the UK Government’s Oil and Gas Strategy, its launch attended by three Secretaries of State in Aberdeen, and Oil & Gas UK’s ‘Energising the Nation’ campaign, also ‘energising the lobby’ at BIS’s offices • The delivery of the EU Commission’s proposal on offshore safety as a Directive. This will allow the UK to continue to build constructively on its already strong framework, as well as assisting other member states to achieve significant advancement

• The Piper 25 Conference and Workforce Engagement Day • The quality of the technical and business programmes delivered at Offshore Europe 2013 • The timely and visionary initiation of the review seeking to maximise economic recovery at DECC, led by Sir Ian Wood and focused on securing the future for us all It has also been a period where we have had to endure the collective grief of another tragic and fatal accident within our basin, with the ditching of the AS332-L2 on approach to Sumburgh. This year we have also remembered Piper, and the ensuing 25 years in pursuit of continuous improvement for a workplace without harm. As we celebrate our successes and mitigate our challenges we should always remain vigilant to the threats we seek to control, without complacency and with humility.

• Our collective hydrocarbon release reduction achievement

James Edens

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