Skilled labour supply key to hitting Mideast oil and gas production targets, says BP

This vital component of exploration operations is a facet of the petroleum industry that is currently challenged by severe shortages of skilled scientific and engineering staff. It may take between seven and ten years to train such staff, filling in job vacancies created by the retirement of the current generation of geoscientists. This effort is required to sustain and grow production levels in response to rising energy demand, according to BP Principal Geophysicist Leon Thomsen during a recent visit to Abu Dhabi from Houston.

Speaking after two seminars to students at Abu Dhabi's Petroleum Institute about the role of geoscience in the exploration and production of oil and gas, Dr. Thomsen said the energy sector is projected to lose 40 per cent of its skilled workers to retirement over the next ten years, and this at a time when demand for petroleum and other commodities is reaching unprecedented highs.

Dr Thomsen said, "At BP we understand that it is essential to nurture future talent, and we run a number of programmes to educate young talent and mentor tomorrow's employees. Lectures to organisations such as the Petroleum Instititue give BP the chance to speak to young people about an important, exciting, and rewarding career in oil and gas."

Dr. Thomsen, who stepped down recently from the Presidency of the worldwide Society of Exploration Geophysicists, also reviewed for the students the extensive array of SEG programmes to help and encourage student geophysicists around the world. Local students will have improved access to these programs once the affiliation of the Emirates Society of Geoscience with the SEG is complete later this year.

Dr Thomsen also gave a technical lecture to Emirates Society of Geoscience members on how new data and advances in technology are impacting the exploration and development of carbonate reservoirs, which are so important throughout the Middle East.

"BP is leading the way in developing wide ranging technologies to enhance the global energy industry. Geoscience plays a fundamental role in the exploration process, and across the world BP scientists are working with national oil companies to find new reservoirs and to increase recovery from older ones. We also work with the countries where we operate to educate and inspire a new generation of oil and gas experts", concluded Dr Thomsen.