Towards a New Reality: A Perspective on the Future of the Oil & Gas Industry

With the green shoots emerging, the oil & gas industry may have reasons to hope for, and perhaps foresee, better times ahead.

Optimism is gradually creeping in the oil & gas industry.

Background image courtesy www.gineersnow.com

Towards the end of 2016, the industry witnessed developments that herald a promising future for oil & gas. For instance, OPEC members and a number of non-OPEC producers have agreed to cut production, rig counts were steadily rising and the US natural gas sector continued to claw as it spurs the US’ rise as a global LNG exporter. M&A and divestiture activities have also started picking up.
With the green shoots finally emerging, the industry may have reasons to hope for, and to some extent foresee, better times ahead.

The general confidence, however, does come with caution. The industry and allied stakeholders admit that the recent downturn will leave long-term effects on a number of aspects of the oil & gas sector. Therefore, the collective opinion is that moving forward, the industry will be defined by the way it adapts to the changes and responds to the salient issues confronting the sector.

Below, we take a look at a few talking points (on partnerships, shortening project cycles, and manpower) and shed light on certain business and operational strategies that oil & gas companies may espouse.

Strategic partnerships with specialists

The industry is increasingly seeing new forms of business alliances. The industry once dominated by generalist companies (or those that discover, develop and operate an oil or gas field and provide all other allied services) is evolving into one that features partnerships among specialists in specific aspects of the operating environment. Such a collaboration offers the opportunity to leverage the specialties of the various entities involved. It furthermore ensures that each relevant process within the operation is looked after by companies most able to manage them.

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This is exemplified in the partnership of international oil companies and specialists, like British Petroleum (BP) and exploration company Kosmos to seek assets in Mauritania and Senegal. Then, there are oil-field services providers, like Schlumberger, Halliburton and Petrofac, which aligned with various oil & gas producers to offer their integrated field management services.

Oil & gas entities are also partnering with power services provider to ensure the continuous supply of electricity to their operations wherever they may be. The importance of electric power in oil & gas facilities cannot be understated, and by collaborating with reputable power providers, oil & gas companies can increase their production, avoid downtime and enhance operational efficiencies while minimizing operational expenditure.

A shift to shorter-cycle projects

At the height of the downturn, the industry saw a staggering USD 620 billion worth of projects through 2020 deferred or canceled. This fact epitomized the real risks of operating within the industry amidst the prevailing market situation. This, therefore, prompted oil & gas companies to train their sights on more viable shorter-cycle projects.

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For oil & gas companies, dealing with shorter-cycle projects entailed a new mindset, a heightened attention to capital allocation and more innovative ways of doing business. For example, in shorter-term projects, it may no longer make sense to devote a large chunk of capital to permanent facilities, like power generation systems, which will only serve for a limited time. In this case, instead of building their own power plants, oil & gas companies can choose to rent temporary power plants for the duration of the project.

By renting power plants, oil & gas companies, like ConocoPhillips, EOG Resources, and Anadarko, will no longer need to invest a huge amount towards the construction and operation of a permanent facility, and will no longer have to grapple with substantial upfront costs. Oil & gas companies can conveniently pay for the rented electricity from their operational profits, and can easily plan for their financial allocation throughout the project because payment schedules are fixed and regular over a contracted term.

Once the project is over, the rented power plants can be rapidly demobilized by the power provider, thus leaving no permanent power facility not utilized or that will require further maintenance and service.

An encouraging manpower landscape

At the height of the downturn, oil & gas companies had to streamline operations to survive the recession. This resulted in massive job cuts, estimated to have affected more than 100,000 through November 2016.

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On a positive note, the layoffs have ebbed in recent months, and encouraging numbers of oil-related postings for oil-producing states have started to manifest. But, despite the gradual increase in manpower requirements within the energy industry, most oil & gas companies remain lean and conservative in recruiting new employees.

This is another area where renting power can prove to be advantageous. A full temporary power service includes expert manpower to install, operate, maintain and service the power plants throughout the project. This means oil and gas companies will not need to hire, re-train or transfer employees to manage the power plants.

For more information on rental power solutions for the oil & gas industry, visit: http://www.altaaqaglobal.com/industries/oil-gas

Marching on to the future

The oil & gas industry has proven time and again that it has the ability to reinvent itself in the face of challenging times. The tough last couple of years has prompted the oil & gas sector to tighten its belt in order to thrive in an environment of low oil prices. Looking to the future, the emerging oil & gas industry will largely depend on how it reacts to its new reality. With the appropriate business strategies and responses to prevailing industry issues, a more resilient sector can emerge from the rubbles of the downturn.

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PRESS INQUIRIES
Altaaqa Global
Tel: +971 56 1749505
rbagatsing@altaaqaglobal.com


Sources consulted:

http://www.strategyand.pwc.com/trend/2017-oil-and-gas-trends

http://www.epmag.com/2017-outlook-optimism-abounds-oil-gas-sector-1454786#p=full

http://deloitte.wsj.com/cfo/2017/01/04/the-slow-road-back-oil-gas-industry-outlook-for-2017/

https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/energy-resources/us-er-2017-oil-and-gas-industry-outlook.pdf

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rrapier/2016/08/08/the-top-10-u-s-oil-producers/#31a8e4e76d20

A Defiant Stance: MENA’s Continued Investment in Oil & Gas

Amidst concerns of superfluity and suppressed prices, approximately USD 294 billion of oil, gas and petrochemical projects are said to be underway across the MENA region

The persistently low oil prices, not helped by the observed conflict in certain parts of the region, has weighed heavily on the economic prospect of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The International Monetary Fund forecasts the overall growth of the region for this year and the next to be in the area of a mere 3.2%.

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But, amidst the depressing economic projection, concerns of superfluity and stubbornly suppressed prices, approximately USD 294 billion of oil, gas and petrochemical projects are said to still be underway across the MENA region.

Spotlight: Select Regional Developments in the Oil & Gas Sector

Investment in oil & gas operations remains to be a crucial focus of oil producers in the MENA region to meet exponentially rising energy demands and to replace consumed or depleted natural resources.
As a case in point, let us take a close look at major oil & gas developments brewing in the region.

Driven by its objective to expand is gas capacity, the UAE is now looking to develop new sour gas reservoirs. This is said to include major projects in the Bab and Hail fields, as well as the expansion of the Shah gas field.

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Saudi Arabia is home to two of the region’s largest oil & gas projects underway: Sabic’s oil-to-chemicals project and Aramco’s integrated refinery and petrochemicals development, both in Yanbu. Additionally, Aramco is said to be planning to pour in USD 334 billion into its oil & gas activities by 2025. The world’s largest oil & gas company is reportedly keen at looking at expanding its gas capacity, which includes the development of non-associated gas fields in the Gulf and expanding shale gas production in the north.

Saudi Arabia is also reportedly planning to list Saudi Aramco in the stock market, with an IPO that values the company at a staggering USD 2 trillion.

For its part, Kuwait is expected to invest USD 115 billion on energy projects over the next several years to help enhance crude production capacity, keeping in mind its target of four million barrels a day by 2020.

A Time of Conviction with Caution

It is clear that oil producers and allied stakeholders in the MENA region remain undaunted by the bleak market outlook and the headwinds blowing against the global oil & gas sector. Looking at the slew of oil & gas projects in the pipeline, it is not difficult to see the region’s conviction to satisfy domestic and international energy demands, achieve energy production objectives, and maintain its role as the world’s premier energy resource provider.

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But in these economically trying times, it is essential for oil & gas companies in the MENA region to practice caution by controlling costs while capitalizing on expansion prospects and profitable opportunities. Oil & gas companies in the region, the likes of the UAE’s Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), should ensure the efficient utilization of their working capital while the industry is still on its way to recovery.

One area of operation where oil & gas companies can make significant adjustments to their capital expenditure is power generation.

While electricity remains one of the most important components of an oil & gas operation, regional oil producers do not have to confine themselves with devoting a significant portion of their scarce capital to a major expenditure, like a permanent power plant. Instead of building their own power generation facility, oil & gas companies can choose to hire temporary power plants.

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By turning to rental power, oil & gas companies can have a consistent, dependable and sufficient supply of electricity throughout the lifecycle of their operations without the need to strap a large portion of their funds to a permanent facility. Temporary power plants can adequately provide for the power needs of various processes of an oil and gas operation, from exploration and extraction, through to development and processing.

Aside from savings in capital expenditure, renting power will also have an impact on the allocation of funds for an oil & gas project. Regional oil majors, such as the Iraq’s North Oil Company and Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, will welcome the fact that payment schedules for the rented power are fixed and regular over a contracted term. This will help them in formulating accurate financial forecasts.

Moreover, a complete rental power service includes all ancillary and spare parts, as well as expert on-site engineers and technicians. This means that oil & gas companies will be shielded from additional costs that come with building a permanent power plant, and that they no longer have to hire, train or re-allocate staff members to manage the power plant.

For more information on rental power for oil & gas operations, visit: http://www.altaaqaglobal.com/industries/oil-gas

Bucking the Trend

In defiance of growth forecasts and of the impacts of global oversupply that prompted a sharp fall in oil prices since 2014, oil producers in the MENA region have been continuously investing in the oil, gas and petrochemical sector. While global oil & gas spend is expected to continue to decline, oil producers in the MENA region are looking to buck the trend and to continue pouring funds into the industry to maintain capacity and fulfill ambitious production targets. But while the oil & gas sector is still regaining its old glory, regional industry stakeholders are expected to restrain their aggression with a bit of caution.

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PRESS INQUIRIES
Altaaqa Global
Tel: +971 56 1749505
rbagatsing@altaaqaglobal.com


Sources consulted:

http://timesofoman.com/article/103194/Business/Energy/Middle-East-to-invest-$294b-in-oil-and-gas-projects

https://www.forbes.com/sites/dominicdudley/2016/10/19/middle-east-economic-prospects/#8be515c1d7bb

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/101515/biggest-oil-producers-middle-east.asp

http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Middle-East-Oil-Gas-Investment-Surges-To-294-Billion.html

http://altaaqaglobal.blogspot.ae/2017/01/the-latest-mining-industry-trends.html

How Do You Stop Modern Civilization from Collapsing?

We know that oil is one of the most essential elements of life today. The global economy has been developing and expanding with oil as its life source for more than a century already. It has assumed a notable function in the modern world that according to studies oil accounts for approximately 40% of the world’s primary energy source, and fuels close to 100% of all means of transportation, which in turn accounts for about 20% of the global GDP. With such an enormous role in the lives of humans, if oil stopped flowing today, the modern civilization would collapse.

The extent of oil’s influence in our daily lives makes it almost impossible to find a suitable substitute should the world’s supply of oil dwindle. Experts say that until today no viable alternative to oil has been developed, and there is no clear indication that this generation will ever get to see one. Renewable energy sources are possible candidates but, despite their exponential growth, there still remains a vast ground to cover before they can match the size and range of application of oil. For reference, let us take a look at this comparison: World oil production in 2014 was almost 80 million barrels per day, which, at approximately six gigajoules per barrel, equates to 5.7 terawatts of power production. On the other hand, according to the Global Wind Energy Council, the total cumulative wind installation as of 2014 stand at about 369,553 megawatts. Solar power installed capacity, as cited by European Photovoltaic Industry Association, was at 136,697 megawatts. The discrepancy between the power produced by oil and that of renewable energy sources is notably wide that experts say that even if renewable power generation exponentially increased every decade for 100 years, it would still be trailing oil today.

With the survival of the modern world at stake, oil & gas facilities cannot afford to shut down, even momentarily. There are cases, however, when such occurrences cannot be avoided, and the need to refurbish, retool, expand or construct plants proves to be equally vital. When moments like these come, oil & gas facility operators can find merit in hiring the services of temporary power providers, which can deliver the necessary power when the permanent sources are still undergoing enhancements.

Rental power plants find application in various activities within the oil & gas industry. They can be utilized by companies specializing in oil & gas drilling services, or by those that deal with oil & gas exploration and production. They can also be useful to energy equipment service providers, and rig manufacturing and maintenance companies. Mobile power stations have the flexibility to adapt to the demands of different oil and gas operations by increasing or decreasing their power generating capacity. They represent a cost-effective response to increased seasonal demands and power requirements, as they entail a significantly lower investment, especially for short- and medium-term use, compared to the cost of interrupted production and abandoned business opportunities. They can be delivered to and from virtually anywhere in the world, owing to their size and configuration, and can easily be powered on, thanks to its plug-and-play set up. Vis-à-vis building permanent power facilities, hiring the services of rental power companies protect a company’s cash flow and curtails avoidable spending commitments.

Powering the development of the modern world

Oil has been the world’s foremost energy source for myriad decades now, and experts agree that it will maintain such a role well into the 21st century. It has been highly instrumental in the immense economic, social and industrial advances of the modern world. Currently, oil accounts for around 40% of the world’s energy mix, and its applications are ever growing as the latest innovations in the industry have made oil cleaner, safer and more efficient than ever. There is no doubt that oil will continue to be the world’s primary driver for growth, hence keeping its sources pumping and producing has grown ever more crucial. In this light, having back-up, supplemental or emergency energy sources, like temporary power plants, will be indispensable.  

The world recognizes that oil is a finite resource, and that living life without it can be a closer reality than most of us think. But, until such time that humanity develops a source of energy that can fully take the place of oil, it will remain the chief fuel of global development, and should consistently be viable and available.

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PRESS INQUIRIES

Robert Bagatsing

Altaaqa Global

Tel: +971 56 1749505

rbagatsing@altaaqaglobal.com