Walter Thain, managing director of Petrofac’s Engineering & Production Services (EPS) West business, is to lead the UK offshore oil and gas industry’s efficiency drive as chairman of the Oil & Gas UK Efficiency Taskforce.
He succeeds John Pearson of Amec Foster Wheeler, who has stepped down from the role.
Launched last year to provide the catalyst for greater co-operation to improve efficiency across the sector, the task force aims to share good practice and spearhead cross sector projects that will benefit the industry as a whole.
Since then, the regulator, OGA has itself launched a series of joint industry Maximising Economic Recovery working groups – one of which involves collaboration.
Thain said: “Undoubtedly, a change in culture is the key to finding a better way to do business in the UK Continental Shelf.
“Having joined the board of Oil & Gas UK this spring, I’m well aware of the progress we are making towards becoming more efficient – from taking a fresh look at inventory management through companies sharing details of some 200,000 spare parts online, to putting in place the use of standard rather than bespoke specifications in subsea design and construction and potentially saving 30% on costs in the process.”
Pixie Energy is an incubator and a facilitator of strategic research and project work, focusing on energy regulation, policy and markets at the local and national level. Find out more about Pixie Energy