Downstream Summer 2007 - Downstream Magazine

New offshore trade body
Oil & Gas UK is the new representative body for the UK
offshore oil and gas industries, succeeding the UK
Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA).
The new association says it will unite
in one forum all companies with a
stake in the future of the UK offshore
oil and gas industry, from super majors
to large contractor businesses and from
small independent oil companies to
SMEs working in the supply chain.
The first joint chairmen of Oil & Gas
UK will be Dave Blackwood, head of
BP's North Sea Business, and Tom
Smith, managing director of Nessco
Ltd. Chief executive is Malcolm Webb,
who formerly held that role at UKOOA.
Dave Blackwood said: "The role of Oil &
Gas UK is to develop and further the
case for a safe, sustainable and
successful future for the UK offshore
oil and gas industry. It will do that by
promoting an active and informed
dialogue within and across all sectors
of the industry on the issues affecting
it, whether of a technical, financial,
economic, safety, environmental, social
or any other nature, and developing
New UKPIA President
co-operative solutions to those issues.
The combined perspective of operators,
non-operators and contractors will give
our activities greater depth and a more
coherent voice for the industry,
particularly in its conversations with
the government."
Oil & Gas UK says there will still be a
role for other trade bodies, such as the
Offshore Contractors’ Association, the
International Association of Drilling
Contractors and the Well Services
Contractors’ Association.
* Oil & Gas UK research has revealed
that the industry is not suffering the
problems of an aging, largely-male
offshore workforce. It has found the
average offshore worker is aged 41
(average for any well-balanced
workforce aged between 20 and 60
years) and that over 1,800 women
work offshore, mainly in the catering
sector.
Nick Thomas, Director of Corporate Affairs UK &
Ireland for ExxonMobil, has been appointed
President of the UK Petroleum Industry
Association, the trade association representing
the nine main oil refiners in the UK. He succeeds
John Lynn of Chevron.
Nick has spent over 30 years in the oil industry.
He joined Esso UK in 1970 as an economist. In
2000, he became International Government
Relations Co-ordinator in the Public Affairs
Olde pump
Is this the oldest pump in the country,
and if so who delivers to it? Tom
Nicholson from Integer Micro Systems
took the photograph in the grounds of
an estate where his daughter was
married. Send any other pictures of
the ancient, quaint and quirky by
email to sh@fpsonline.co.uk.
Department of ExxonMobil's headquarters in
Dallas, Texas and then Public Affairs Manager for
the Esso and Mobil Companies in Australia, Papua
New Guinea, New Zealand and Pacific Islands.
Nick returned to the UK in 2003 to take up his
appointment as Director Corporate Affairs, UK &
Ireland. based at ExxonMobil's head office in
Leatherhead, Surrey. He also chairs the British
American Business Inc (BABi) Energy Forum and
is a member of the CBI South East Committee.
Summer 2007 Downstream
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