WEEKEND SUMMARY-->>> 28-29 APRIL 2012

The Weekly Digest brings you the highlights of 'The Mix: Oil and Water!' for the past week.

Catch up. Read your favourite Articles and Posts- again and again...and some more!!!

**CLICK ON THE ARTICLES TO READ**

Top 5 Posts Read- This Week:

BEYOND THE PIB- REGULATORY IMPACT ASSESSMENT IN NIGERIA

BRITISH PETROLEUM (BP)- CORPORATE GIANT IN A CORPORATE MESS?

EUROPEAN GAS MARKET: PIPELINE GAS VS LNG

NIGERIA CASE STUDY: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ...ANTI-BUNKERING LAWS?

BP's COMPETITIVE STRATEGY: LEADERSHIP AT WHAT COST?

Top 5 Posts Read- All Time:

1- British Petroleum (BP): Corporate Giant in a Giant Mess?

2- BP's Competitive Strategy: Leadership at what cost?

3- European Gas Market: Pipeline Gas VS LNG

NIGERIA CASE STUDY: Comparative Analysis on Enforcement of Laws relating to oil Bunkering

By Ogunnusi Morolake Afolasade

Nigeria, particularly the Niger Delta region, which constitutes of Bayelsa, Delta, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Imo and Ondo states is notorious for illegal oil bunkering activities, as a result of this activity the country has lost a lot of revenue.

A reform of the law to reflect illegal oil bunkering as an economic crime is necessary as this would allow for offenders to be dealt with. The enforcing agents should also arrest offending ships in a bid to serve as a deterrent to offenders who may want to engage in this activity.

Beyond the PIB- Regulatory Impact Assessment in Nigeria

By Feso Bright - Community Moderator

I have attended three industry events (2 Oil & Gas themed, 1 Agriculture themed) within the past week that have reinforced - to my thinking - the state of flux in Nigeria's business circles. However, more exciting is the recent spate of revelations from the Nigeria House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee to 'verify and determine the actual subsidy requirements and monitor the implementation of the subsidy regime in Nigeria'. ‘Exciting’ is the million dollar word.....because I see so much opportunity emerging from these contemporary developments. Let me explain.

The 'Nigerian factor' is slowly changing; The Petroleum Club- Lagos recently hosted a Business Roundtable on Sustainable practices towards effective Oil Block/ Marginal Field Licensing rounds (largely anticipated to take place in 2012). The Lagos Oil Club also hosted two of Nigeria's finest private sector and public sector - offshore drilling and electricity- tsars

Energy Institute Evening Lecture: An Assessment of Nuclear Safety in the UK in a post Fukushima world

 

An assessment of nuclear safety in the UK in a post Fukushima world evening lecture

Summary
Some people in the press and in public have referred to the events in Japan 12 months ago as a wake up call, others have called it a lesson we all must learn from. To the nuclear operators, it is more personal, more real perhaps, sobering to watch the three containment structures deflagrate. What next for an industry that views itself as a significant part of the solution to our energy needs (an industry that was in a renaissance) how do we persuade people that nuclear electricity is the right thing to do?

Speaker
Paul Stephens, Nuclear Safety Branch Manager, EDF Energy


Details: CLICK ON CAREERS BOARD PAGE TO FIND OUT MORE.

SPE London 1st Annual Conference and Exhibition

The SPE London Section would like to invite you to the 1st SPE London Annual Conference and Exhibition on 27-28 June at Savoy Place in London, UK. Book before 1 May for an early bird discount.

London is at the heart of the world’s financial sector. The Society of Petroleum Engineers London Section has therefore elected to focus its first, major two-day conference and exhibition on how to add value and manage risk in the oil and gas industry. This conference includes topics and themes carefully selected to be of interest to the unique mix of technical and financial professionals active in the oil and gas sector in the London area. 

Why should you attend?

This conference includes topics and themes carefully selected to be of interest to the unique mix of technical and financial professionals active in the oil and gas sector in the London area. You will learn from speakers who are industry experts working in oil and gas companies, financial institutions and research and strategy companies.

Details: CLICK ON CAREERS BOARD PAGE TO FIND OUT MORE.

TOP NEWS PICK : APRIL 23, 2012

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Egypt's EGPC confirms it has scrapped Israel gas contract

The Egyptian General Petroleum Corp has confirmed that it canceled a gas supply agreement with Israel because the East Mediterranean Gas Supply Company, the Egyptian-Israeli consortium which operates the pipeline, was in breach of its commitments, Egyptian television reported Monday | Platts

Borders & Southern Finds Hydrocarbons South of Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands explorer Borders & Southern announced Monday that it has made a "significant gas condensate discovery" with its 61/17-1 well on the Darwin East prospect in the South Falkland Basin | Rigzone

EU pushes back oil sands decision

BRUSSELS, April 23 (UPI) -- The European Union has delayed a decision on whether to classify oil sands as a "dirty" form of crude oil, bringing praise from Canadian officials | UPI

Oil Price Holds Above $104

Crude oil prices climbed to more than $104 per barrel Friday in New York as the dollar turned lower and equity futures looked strong | HispanicBusiness

Bashir uses ‘guns and bullets’

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: The LiveWell Initiative Grand Health Bazaar 2012

I always like to say that HSE Starts with the letter "H"--> Health!

The Grand Health Bazaar is here again!!! Theme is 'Health and Wealth Partnerships at the next level...'

LWI GHB2012 comes up from April 18th -20th 2012 

Venue:

TOP NEWS PICK : APRIL 16, 2012

CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR FULL STORIES

Brent down on Chinese data 

Brent crude futures slipped towards $120 on Monday after weak growth numbers from China and a surge in Spanish borrowing costs triggered worries about global economic growth and demand | Upstream Online

Florida looks to delay BP settlement approval 

The Attorney General for the State of Florida has asked a federal court to delay granting preliminary approval of BP's $7.8 billion settlement with businesses and individuals suing over the massive 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill | Upstream Online

Oil and gas at heart of South China Sea dispute 

Thousands of American and Filipino troops begin military exercises today in the South China Sea | BBC

S. Korea urges G20 to be ready to act on oil prices 

South Korean Finance Minister Bahk Jae-wan has urged fellow G20 nations to send a strong message at this week's meeting in Washington that they are ready to take action on high oil prices, including releasing strategic oil reserves if necessary | Upstream Online

S. Sudan accuses Sudan of

Compressed Natural Gas for Power Generation in Nigeria

By Abimbola Shode

The erratic nature of electricity supplyfrom the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)has created the need for industrial and large scale consumers of electricity to resort to self-generation, utilizing natural gas or liquid fuels, to augment power supply. Natural gas is composed mainly of methane (CH4)and has some attractive properties – it is a cleaner, safer, cheaper and more reliable alternative to conventional fuels like diesel, petrol and LPFO, especially for industrial and commercial users. 

Compressed Natural Gas (“CNG”) is made by compressing natural gas to less than 1% of the volume it occupies at standard atmospheric pressure. CNG can be stored in steel or composite containers at a pressure of 200–248 bar (2900–3600 psi), usually in cylindrical vessels for storage and transportation over short/medium distances (10km to 100km on average). 
Why CNG for power-generation? 

TOP NEWS PICK : APRIL 13, 2012

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Petrobras makes new pre-salt find 

Brazilian state-run giant Petrobras has made a new offshore oil discovery to the north of the Lula field in the Santos basin pre-salt province | Upstream Online

Nigeria: JTF Razes 50 Illegal Oil Refineries 

THE Joint Task Force, JTF, codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, yesterday, raided and razed over 50 illegal oil refineries at Igbudu-Aghalokpe village in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State | Vanguard

Drillers dropping diesel for cheaper natural gas 

HOUSTON (Reuters) - North American oil and gas companies are trying to take the sting out of low natural gas prices by using it instead of costlier diesel fuel to drive their drilling rigs | CNBC

Brent falls on demand worry 

Brent crude futures slipped towards $121 on Friday as demand growth worries resurfaced after China's economic expansion lagged expectations, while caution ahead of talks between Iran and world powers and North Korea's missile launch capped losses | Upstream Online

Eco Atlantic inks Namibia

Recruitment Opportunity: Business Development Manager - Lagos

Industry: Oil and Gas ………….Location: Lagos

Overview of role

To manage the relationship between the company (and by extension the company’s client’s interests) and all actors of the market present in country. To get the full knowledge of the local market and business environment.

To coordinate on a daily basis the activities of the Oil and Gas Industry, especially with:

1. NAPIMS, DPR, NIPEX, NNPC or any new Governmental Body to be created

2. International Oil Companies (IOC) in Nigeria (Agip, Shell, Total, Exxon, Chevron, Addax, Sinopec…)

3. And potentially with major National Oil Companies (NOC) in Nigeria (Afren, Oando, Sahara, Camac…)

Relevant Experience (Type of experience and minimum number of years)
Essential

 Sales and Marketing/ business development background, real business planner.

 Minimum of .....

Details: CLICK ON CAREERS BOARD PAGE TO FIND OUT MORE.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: For I am Back.....!!!

Photo: By Joanna Rae

Reflections:

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.

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Like a Jack Up Rig 
I have been gone for so long
Lost in toil for more oil

Retail Wheeling in the Electricity Industry

By Natasha Akpoti

The purpose of wheeling is to benefit the end-consumer. This means for the system to be implemented there has to be a realistic indication that the consumer will benefit. This is the fundamental basis of the competition, or “anti-trust” law. One can infer, although wheeling may be conceivable in a state or region it may not be in the “best interests” of the consumer to liberalise the market. Rather, there needs to be consideration of the wider impact. This is especially so in a developing country, where the government may have the only capability to provide the lines of transmission and the provision of electricity. As this analysis will illustrate there are greater problems when the suppliers, distributers and transmitters are the same organisation (especially after a rash liberalisation), because there is no incentive to allow other players on the grid. Thus, proper consideration of the whole model has to be undertaken; whereby a slow period of liberalisation and the development of separate, distinct organisations may be necessary. Even so, it will be highlighted if the only player to provide the service effectively and efficiently is the government (during a period of development); then liberalisation is not the best approach. Also, in the limited circumstances that wheeling will increase the cost of electricity to the end-consumer, the act of wheeling has no conceivable benefit, which means it should be avoided. 

In short, this research will illustrate that retail wheeling of the energy markets, as opposed to other liberalisation of the markets, is complex. This is because it centres on a core need – energy. Therefore, if the justification of retail wheeling is in the precepts of competition law, the core concept of benefiting the customer must prevail.

TOP NEWS PICK : APRIL 11, 2012

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S. Sudan 'captures Heglig oilfield' 

South Sudan troops have captured the strategic oil town of Heglig as a battle with neighbour Sudan continues to rage, a report has claimed | Upstream Online

Iran says it can withstand oil embargo for 'several years' 

Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Iran has enough funds to withstand a total embargo on its oil sales for several years, Reuters has reported | AMEinfo

Saudi Arabia might post record oil earnings in 2012 

Saudi investment firm, Jadwa Investment has said the kingdom may generate record oil revenue this year as the world's biggest crude exporter boosts output and benefits from higher prices for the commodity | AMEinfo

S.Arabia offers to bail Pakistan out of energy crisis 

Islamabad (Dawn/ANN) - Saudi Arabia looks askance at Pakistan's commitment to pursue energy cooperation with Iran and is nudging the government to reconsider its decision | ANN

Brent steadies at $120 

Brent crude held at $120 on Wednesday, after posting steep losses in the previous session, as a cut in global oil consumption forecast by the EIA and an unexpected surge in US crude stocks reinforced fears demand growth may slow | Upstream Online

Energy groups agree to

SPE Hydrocarbon Economics and Evaluation Symposium

The SPE Hydrocarbon Economics and Evaluation Symposium is 24–25 September 2012 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, at the Westin Calgary.

Who Should Attend?
Engineers
Executives
Energy analysts
Economists
Reserves/reservoir managers
Planning and operations managers
Academics

Submit Your Paper Proposal!

Details: CLICK ON CAREERS BOARD PAGE TO FIND OUT MORE.

TOP NEWS PICK : APRIL 9, 2012

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Nigeria: Oil spill- Impacted communities assured of compensation 

WARRI -Magistrate Nureni Kuranga, the president, Marine Board of Inquiry into the oil spill by J. S. Amazing vessel, has assured the 248 communities comprising Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo and Ilaje, impacted by oil pollution, that adequate compensation would be paid to them from International Oil Pollution (IOPC) fund | Sweetcrude

Indonesia's Feb LNG exports drop 19% on month to 1.56 mil mt 

Indonesia's February LNG exports fell 19.2% from January to 1.558 million mt, but was up 11.8% from the same period last year when the export volume was 1.394 million mt, Central Bank of Indonesia data showed Monday | Platts

Petrobras to sell crudes in Asia via VLCCs directly from Brazil: official 

Petrobras will continue selling Brazilian crudes in Asia through its offices in Singapore and Beijing, even after it ceased to be a registered oil products importer in Japan, the company told Platts Monday | Platts

Total assessing Elgin options 

Total is still accessing its options with regards to plugging a large gas leak at a North Sea facility which the French major says is diminishing | Upstream Online

Libya ‘probes

France Transport Sector : Methods for Decomposition analysis of Co2 Emissions Growth

By Amaka Benson

A better understanding of potential factors driving CO2 emissions growth can be obtained through a decomposition analysis13. Most of the studies have focused on the decomposition of national CO2 emissions and emission intensities e.g. Serap et al (2009) for Turkey, Ebohon and Ikeme (2006) for Sub-Saharan African countries, Paul and Bhattacharya (2004) for India and Lee and Oh (2004) for APEC countries. Other studies have focused on the decomposition of power and manufacturing sectors CO2 emissions and emission intensities. For instance, Bhattacharyya and Ussanarassamee (2004) focused on emission intensity of the Thai industry, whilst Liaskas et al (2000) similarly did for EU industry and Shrestha et al (2009) for the power sector of selected countries in Asia and the Pacific. 

The Lagos Oil Club Q+A with Remi Okunlola and Dr. Sam Amadi

 

Our GUEST SPEAKERS are Mr. Remi Okunlola, Executive Director, SeaWolf Oilfield Services Limited and Dr. Sam Amadi, Executive Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The April edition of The Lagos Oil Club Question & Answer Sessions comes up on Monday, APRIL 23RD 2012 and it is a bumper edition with special focus on Nigeria as the next frontier!

Mr. Okunlola, co-founder of SeaWolf Oilfield Services Ltd, Nigeria's only indigenous company operating in deepwater offshore drilling, will be speaking on 'Homegrown Player in a Global Oil Minefield: Lessons for Local Content'. 

Dr. Sam Amadi, Executive Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Abuja would speak on 'Unbundling the Nigerian Electricity Sector: The Energy Sector Situation'.

Details: CLICK ON CAREERS BOARD PAGE TO FIND OUT MORE.

European Forum Alpbach 2012- Scholarships on Offer

"Expectations - The Future of the Young" is the general topic of the European Forum Alpbach 2012 which will take place from August 16 to September 01, 2012 in the village of Alpbach in the Tyrolean mountains.

The three-week event offers an opportunity to enter into discussion with renowned personalities. In a unique atmosphere, speakers from a wide variety of disciplines will discuss burning issues of our times with the participants. An extensive social programme offers opportunities to continue debates outside the conference and seminar rooms. This special nature of the European Forum attracts around 4,000 participants from more than 60 countries every year.

To enable young people to share in this experience, the European Forum Alpbach Non-Profit Foundation under Private Law, supported by many sponsors, makes scholarships available for students and recent graduates.

Last year, more than 600 students and recent graduates from 46 countries were able to take part in the Forum thanks to scholarships.

Details: CLICK ON CAREERS BOARD PAGE TO FIND OUT MORE.

Internship Recruitment: Energy Community Regulatory Board Section

 

The Energy Community Secretariat offers a limited number of internships for young university graduates who wish to acquire an understanding of the Energy Community’s work or gain experience in the field of their studies. In 2012, the Secretariat offers the total of three internships. 

The recruitment of interns is subject to the conditions and specifications set out in Procedural Act 2011/03/ECS. Details on the open positions can be found on the Secretariat's website, subsection: Secondees and Interns.

Details: CLICK ON CAREERS BOARD PAGE TO FIND OUT MORE.

TOP NEWS PICK : APRIL 2, 2012

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Nigeria: Ex-militants bomb five Agip oil wells 

WHILE Christians trooped to the churches to mark Palm Sunday in commemoration of the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, suspected ex-militants stormed the National Agip Oil Company (NAOC) with explosives and bombed five cluster oil wells belonging to the company | Sweetcrude

S.Africa Iranian oil imports soar in Feb 

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African crude oil importsfrom Iran leapt in February to $364 million from zero the preceding month, customs data showed on Monday, dashing the view that Pretoria has bowed to U.S. pressure to curb commercial links with Tehran | Reuters

Total ‘prepares Elgin return’ 

Total may put personnel onboard the Elgin platform as early as in the next few days as it mulls its options to kill a large gas leak, a report indicates | Upstream Online 

Nepal, India agree on new pricing for oil products, to sign agreement soon 

State-owned Nepal Oil Corp has reached agreement with India's state- owned Indian Oil Corp to renew their expiring five-year oil products supply agreement, a senior NOC official said Monday | Platts

Providence in £63.1 million placement 

Irish company Providence Resources will raise about £63.1 million ($101.3 million) through a placement of over a quarter of its current issued capital to fund work on the Barryroe drilling programme, among other projects | Upstream Online

Nigeria: C/River demands