IQPC to host Security for Energy Infrastructure in the Middle East event

The security risks faced by the oil and gas industry are diverse and come in many forms. Different parts of the world are beset by geopolitical circumstances that can leave local oil and gas operations in the line of fire for those wishing to compromise operational integrity for reasons of financial gain or simply social and political instability.

Of course security risks vary from region to region and country to country but security is of the highest concern and priority to all oil and gas companies. With production levels, expensive assets and even lives at stake no compromise is taken on the efforts to mitigate any threat. But security has to take on a unique character depending where you are in the world which means a planned and detailed approach.

A revolution in systems, standards and technology is allowing an unprecedented level of sophistication and operational efficiency to be achieved. The oil and gas industry looks at security not just from a CCTV and electric fence standpoint but takes a preventative and proactive approach through the integration of geopolitics into security planning.

This integration of geopolitical intelligence into security planning is seen as essential to mitigating possible threats. Such intelligence includes the construction of dynamic political risk models and directly assesses the role and responsibilities security managers should have in supporting corporate decision making.

This is an approach derived from local knowledge and acting in accordance with local geopolitical dynamics to allow corporate operations to complement the local socioeconomic conditions.

Oil and gas companies go to great lengths to integrate their operations, operations which can drastically change the local social and economic environment and ensure their presence is beneficial not just to the bottom line but the wider community.

This 'local content' approach is seen as a major corner stone in security and reflects an approach far removed from many people perceptions of security in the oil and gas industry. Such a strategic approach to security has its merits, but can it help diffuse Nigerian infantry warfare in defense of the delta oil and gas industry, or mitigate the influence of the Russian mafia and organized crime on the Caspian and Kazakhstan?

The geopolitical approach is the soft side to energy infrastructure security, demonstrating there is more to it than simple alarm bells and German Shepherd's.

The Middle East is perceived, incorrectly by many, as having great risk to security. Attacks in recent years in Saudi may make the front pages, but these instances are rare, localized and diffused efficiently. Elsewhere in the Middle East, particularly the GCC, oil and gas operations are considered to be operating in a 'safe haven' with internal and external risks being much lower compared to other producing regions in Asia, Africa and the Americas. Despite this continued close cooperation between all stakeholders is required as the security industry knows "They only have to get it right once - we have to get it right every time."

Many of the industries most experienced professionals are gathering in Abu Dhabi, one of the power houses of Middle East oil and gas, to debate the latest thinking in the field of energy infrastructure security. The outcomes of the conference are eagerly anticipated as security heads from Saudi Aramco, Dolphin Energy and RasGas amongst other major oil and gas companies are due to make presentations.