Petroleum Review May 2020

The energy sector, from oil to renewables, has been hit by the coronavirus in both predictable and upredictable ways. This month’s issue begins by assessing the damage to date and looks at whether there are lessons to be learned from the financial crash of 2008.

We also look at how global energy policies are transforming with the adoption of sustainable goals as climate change concerns grow; and how oil and gas majors are stepping up to the challenge of carbon emissions mitigation. Meanwhile, the North Sea promises to become the world’s first net zero basin as the UK’s oil and gas sector plays a key role in the drive to net zero.

Our regional feature places the spotlight on Central Asia and the Caspian region, where the low price environment has slowed oil and gas activity. However, international financing and assistance has helped several of the Caspian states to begin harnessing their renewable resource potential.

We also present a view on how the oil and gas sector needs to change its narrative in response to public policy and societal issues; and introduce what could be a new trend in climate change legal disputes.

The issue closes with a look at developing technologies that are helping mitigate unplanned downtime in the refining and petrochemical sectors; and how performance indicators can be used to improve process safety.