WIRELINE Issue 35 Spring 2016

27 / 40

W I R E L I N E - I S S U E 3 5 S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 2 7
ANDY SAMUEL Q&A
new regulatory powers for the OGA including the ability for us
to participate in meetings with operators, have access to data,
provide dispute resolution and introduce a range of sanctions such
as improvement notices and fines up to £1 million. I hope that by
maintaining good relationships with industry, these are measures
we would only use infrequently as a last resort.
Internally, we have recruited a highly capable team and are now
focussing on building on our existing strengths while remaining
very cost conscious.
Q: With a relatively broad remit, how will you
prioritise in 2016 to give the industry the urgent
support it needs?
A: The sustained low oil price requires constant focus and careful
prioritisation. At the end of last year, we created our low oil price
contingency team specifically with the remit of understanding
the issues facing companies and what the OGA and other parts of
government can do to support.
As part of their effort to manage costs and seek efficiencies,
unfortunately many companies have been forced to reduce staffing
levels. It is vitally important that key skills are retained in the
industry and that apprenticeship and graduate schemes continue.
I am on the Energy Jobs Task Force chaired by Scottish Enterprise
chief executive Lena Wilson and we also have representation on
the New Anglia LEP Oil and Gas Taskforce to provide support in
this important region.
Technology is vitally important in extracting the estimated
20 billion barrels still remaining on the UKCS. Our technology
team is working closely with industry to ensure that existing
technologies are deployed to their full effect and new technologies
are developed. This effort is significantly bolstered by the recently
announced Oil & Gas Technology Centre with government
funding of £180 million.
Q: How will you seek to step up your engagement with
industry and government moving forwards?
A: The MER UK Forum acts as a conduit for bringing together
government, industry and the OGA. It is focussed on seven core
work areas (see image above), each with its own board and led
by an industry executive with support from the OGA and
Oil & Gas UK. These boards are an important vehicle for
engagement and consultation with industry.
Earlier this year, the UK Government established a new
inter-ministerial group on oil and gas, which I am part of, chaired
by Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Amber
Rudd. It was founded to co-ordinate the UK’s response to the
collapse in oil price and will focus on critical issues such as
exports, skills and investment.
We will continue working closely with industry and government
to harness the tripartite approach to challenges and opportunities.
Q: How do you see the relationship between
Oil & Gas UK and the OGA developing?
A: Having served as an Oil & Gas UK Board member I saw
first-hand the good work done by Oil & Gas UK on behalf of the
industry. This work continues and the OGA is working closely
with Deirdre and her team on a number of fronts such as the
recently published Activity Survey and the Rockall Trough and
Mid North Sea High seismic data release. We frequently cite
collaboration as being the solution to navigating industry through
the current challenging market and we recognise this approach
must fully apply to us too.
MER UK Forum and Boards