In this exclusive interview for Oil & Gas IQ, Mark Roberton, Director, Risk Management and Insurance at Nexen Inc. speaks to us about the key issues that companies should bear in mind with regards to pollution damages.

Mark’s previous roles include risk manager at Husky Energy and as an insurance underwriter. He sits on a number of insurer advisory panels including OCIL, Swiss Re and AIG Canada. In addition to his day job, Mark has been an instructor at both the Insurance Institute of Canada and Mount Royal University.

He has lectured extensively including at the World Petroleum Congress, The Energy School in Philadelphia, Canadian and US RIMS and several captive, risk management, professional and construction conferences. He also co-instructs the Canadian section of the RIMS professional development course on captives.

In the course of his interview, Mark touches on:

• What are the first things that companies should bear in mind with regards to pollution damages in terms of current law, regulations and obligations?
• How should companies go about joint operating agreements for minority partners?
• What advice would you give in negotiating the strongest possible indemnity clauses to reduce the possibility of lengthy litigation?
• Nexen operates both offshore and onshore – are there any significant differences in how you should approach risk management for pollution?
• It has been four years since the Macondo blowout and oil spill. Is this event still influencing the way that we look at environmental issues in the oil and gas industry?
• What, if anything, has the legal field learned from the Deepwater Horizon disaster?

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