Articles by Tim Haïdar

1) EU Policies Support Lower CO2 Emissions The European Union has strict targets in place to reduce CO2 emissions between 80 and 95 percent on 1990 levels by 2050. In its Energy Roadmap 2050, seven scenarios are outlined as to how this can be achieved, but in all scenarios gas is seen as "critical for the transformation of the energy system". Gas offers the reliable baseload and back...Full Article »

Prevention is better than the cure When dealing with oil and gas, safety and effective risk management is crucially important, as any errors can have huge repercussions not only for the environment, but also to the company involved. Accidents, spills and leaks can be incredibly costly to deal with, while an organisation's reputation can receive untold damage as consumers lose...Full Article »

EDITOR'S NOTE: Friday 25th November is the end of the early bird discount for the FPSO Online Summit 2011. To book your place for as little as £199 today, simply visit https://www.fpso-online.com/  1) Fast roll out = quicker profits The average semi-submersible oil rig takes 3-4 years to kit out and build, and a jack-up rig 2-3 years. From laying the keel in dry dock to first...Full Article »

In 2011, ConocoPhillips announced to the world that it would be splitting its $94 billion dollar company into two separate halves, one for exploration and production (E&P) and the other for refining and marketing (R&M). In doing so, Conoco bucked a long-established trend for vertical integration in an oil and gas sector that has been particularly voracious in its pursuit of M&A. But...Full Article »

As governments and the international community continue their quest to reduce CO2 emissions, the oil and gas industry is being scrutinised more than most. The downstream sector is the latest part of the oil and gas business to come under the microscope. In the United States refineries were recently granted a minor reprieve from new greenhouse gas limits, but it really is a question of when,...Full Article »

An ADNOC Natural Gas Fuel Pump in Abu Dhabi (courtesy of Fahad.com) Abu Dhabi is reaping the benefits of ambitious energy projects. Next year will see the emirate's peak power production top 10,000 MW for the first time – and is only expected to continue on the upward trajectory in the foreseeable future. "Abu Dhabi electricity demand growth is amongst the fastest growing in the...Full Article »

A Voyage Of Discovery In A Sea Of Possibilities In 2009, Arkansas-based energy company Murphy Oil embarked on a pioneering venture when it began production from its Azurite field in the Republic of Congo using a floating drilling, production, storage and offloading unit (FDPSO). Located in 4,500 feet of water and boasting both pre-salt and post-salt prospects, the Azurite field is in some ways...Full Article »

A is for Annulus Annulus is the latin word for ring, and in a drilling context it is the ring of empty space that surrounds a pipe in a well bore. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the “annular space.” B is for Borehole The borehole is also referred to as the wellbore, and essentially is the portion of the well that is excavated during the drilling process. C is for...Full Article »

EDITOR'S NOTE: With barely 2 weeks to go until Oil & Gas iQ's Pipeline Integrity Management Summit 2011, places are going like hotcakes. To register for yours today, simply click here The recent Kenyan pipeline explosion that claimed at least 100 lives in the Lunga Lunga district of the capital Nairobi was not just a wakeup call for the oil and gas business, but a possibly a...Full Article »

With the ongoing shale revolution promising true energy independence for the world's biggest energy consuming nation, Oil & Gas iQ assesses just who are the biggest players in the US natural gas market. 1 . Exxon Mobil By far the largest producer in the US market and one of the largest companies in the world, having been ranked either No.1 or No. 2 for the past 5 years.  Exxon Mobil...Full Article »

"Successful prolonged corrosion-free service of stainless steel in seawater requires sophisticated corrosion engineering, or enormous good fortune." As traditional reserves deplete on and offshore, the oil industry is moving into increasingly deeper waters in the pursuit of hydrocarbons. As the industry digs deeper, the challenges that face subsea infrastructure increase markedly, none...Full Article »