Leading figures from three companies adopting a dynamic approach to investing in infrastructure aimed at restoring competitiveness to the UK continental shelf (UKCS), are guest speakers at Oil & Gas UK’s forthcoming breakfast briefing. This event, the first in a series to be sponsored in Aberdeen by professional services firm Deloitte, will take place on May 3 at the AECC and also at a second briefing at Herbert Smith Freehills in London on May 11.
Mike Tholen, Oil & Gas UK’s economics director, said: “Over the past five years, the conventional model of offshore operators owning their own dedicated infrastructure has been shattered, with enterprising new entrants to the UK North Sea, specialising in the transportation and processing of gas and oil, bringing a fresh focus on operating excellence. These new investors have spent nearly $2 billion over the last two years acquiring offshore infrastructure, opening new avenues for employment and improving the chance of developing the billions of barrels yet to be recovered from the UKCS.”
Our guest speakers, who are presenting at both events, will explain their drivers for investing in infrastructure, as well as exploring the potential for applying their business models across the UKCS and the North Sea.”
The line-up of key players in a steadily growing area of investment activity comprises Andy Hessell, managing director of CATS Management Limited, part of the Antin Infrastructure Partners group, a private equity company focused on infrastructure investments.
Andy will outline how Antin, since taking its stake in the Central Area Transmission System (CATS) to 99 per cent following the acquisition of BP’s share of the CATS business in December 2015, has introduced a new business and operating model that will unlock the full potential of CATS and support the industry’s drive to maximise economic recovery.
Tom Gilchrist, Wood Group PSN’s operations and maintenance director, UK & Africa, will share insights into Wood Group’s collaborative partnership with Antin Infrastructure Partners, which leverages the company’s duty holder capabilities and expertise to support the development and growth of the CATS terminal and pipeline. Wood Group commenced a contract in December 2015 to provide operating services for the asset for up to ten years.
Andy Heppel, CEO of North Sea Midstream Partners, will describe how his company, as a focused and independent midstream specialist, is investing in assets such as the Frigg UK pipeline and the St. Fergus Terminal, to help maximise economic recovery of the UKCS’s remaining oil and gas resources.
Derek Henderson, senior partner for Deloitte in Aberdeen, said: “Deloitte is very pleased to be sponsoring Oil & Gas UK’s Aberdeen Breakfast Briefings. We look forward to exploring some of the most pertinent topics for oil and gas companies in the months ahead, ranging from infrastructure and investment through to the changes we are actually seeing on the UKCS against the backdrop of underpinning economic conditions,. It’s more important than ever for those working on the UKCS to have a regular forum at which they can gather to share knowledge and collectively build up the momentum required to drive forward a more efficient and sustainable industry.”
Places at the breakfast can be booked online at the Oil & Gas UK events web page here.