Dec 2000

Reform of the oil sector, both upstream and downstream, is moving ahead, but there is growing acceptance that foreigners have to be brought in, writes Neil Heywood

These are difficult times for the worldwide seismic business, which faces corporate consolidation and a shake-out of surplus capacity. Without a return to health, the development of new technologies will be slowed and growth in the world’s oil and gas reserves will be threatened, writes Martin Quinlan

Optimism about Alberta’s oil sands development has faded as questions are being raised about the sector’s reliability, writes WJ Simpson

Despite the current problems affecting Canada’s oil sands sector, a recent report suggests it may be too soon to start writing the sector’s obituary, reports WJ Simpson

The sun has finally begun to shine on Mozambique’s infant gas industry after years of often difficult negotiations. And if all goes according to plan, the marriage of the gasfields with the South African market by 2004 should lay the foundation for developing a significant natural gas industry. By Claire Pickard-Cambridge, editor, www.petro21.com

Last month, Norway’s ruling Labour Party voted to recommend a partial privatisation of Statoil and the part-commercialisation of the State Direct Financial Interest (SDFI). Just prior to the decision, Petroleum Economist spoke with Statoil officials and the oil and gas ministry. By David Townsend

POWER IS THE MOST heavily politicised energy sector in China. Most significantly, high electricity prices have historically been closely associated with periods of high inflation. Chinese economists point to the power sector, for example, as chief instigator of the high inflation that so damaged the economy in the 1980s, reports Neil Heywood.

Prior to last month’s party conference, Petroleum Economist spoke to Norway’s state secretary at the ministry of oil and energy, Bjørg Sandal, about the government’s thinking behind the proposed changes.

How digital workplace applications solve the communication problem of multi-location working by offering a “virtual project room” on the web. By Rob Allison, international director, eRoom Technology

In an increasingly open domestic market, Petrobras has shown that it can compete effectively. It is now aiming to become an integrated energy company through direct participation in gas-fired power plants. It is also moving strongly into overseas upstream oil and gas. By Joshua Dylan Mellars

The recent high-level political initiative for an EU-Russia “strategic energy partnership” has refocused attention on the need to establish a better legal framework for foreign investors in Russia. One of the main instruments available to achieve this aim is the Energy Charter Treaty. Dr Ria Kemper, secretary- general of the Energy Charter Secretariat, explains why completion of Russia’s ratification of this treaty is important for EU-Russian energy co-operation.

In October, we published a snapshot of how the UK’s evolving Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) affects energy traders, noting that what constitutes a “regulated activity” would soon be published by the treasury in a regulated activities order (RAO). This is a foundation stone of the FSMA “general prohibition”, which states that no person may carry on a regulated activity in the UK unless authorised or exempt, reports Liz Bossley

Competition yields to collaboration as e-business in the oilpatch gains momentum, writes Satish Pai, president of IndigoPool.com, a unit of Schlumberger

The hazards and privations of oil exploration and development are forcing oil companies to minimise the number of staff they have on site, at the same time as competition and rising costs put them under pressure to cut the time taken to develop fields. Adrian Saunders, of the communications company, Concert, says new technology can reduce risks to staff, cut costs and increase efficiency.