The Future of the Industry

Good question Numpty,

Well firstly I think that there is a vast difference between sitting on a rig doing drill support and doing construction at 1500 plus metres.

Several reports, I have read recently, suggest that the oil price is about to leap – projected to be between 120 and 200 dollars a barrel before 2015 depending on which reports you read. Generally they are talking about 120 plus this year. Several reasons but over stating reserves being the main reason. Consumption by China and India likely to treble over a short period etc.

This would spur deepwater research which will increase the need for ROV again.

I am not going to knock the guys getting qualified in various countries, they are trying to improve their quality of life – but the standards of modern education and skills is crap by comparison to the earlier stuff. What people now call degrees are more like what we did at A level.

To back that statement up, before I get leapt over by everyone who has just finished a degree, when I was at school (a Grammar school) we were allowed to do 6 O levels (GCE/GCSE) and 3 A levels. My sister 8 years later at the same school was able to sit 12 O and 6 A levels. Now it is even more.
As far as I am aware, there are still 12 months in a year and 7 days in a week. School holidays are longer than when I was there so how have they suddenly managed to produce people who can sit so many more exams – to the same level in a shorter time?

There is only one answer – the standards have been compromised.
(also I have recently just finished a Master degree).

There is a vast dumbing down going on all over the world – governments do not want people who can think and question things – they want sheep who will work, pay taxes and do as they are told an not question anything. Just look at the crap they allow to be pumped out on TV, how the meidia is now controlled by governments or by a rich mogul – so do we get independent uncensored views – do we bollocks we get exactly what they want to tell us.

This idea progrsses through big business – who lets face it own most governments via banks etc.

Anyway, bottom line is, are you going to let a poorly educated and trained guy loose on an XLX at 3000 m? It is a bit different to flying a Tiger at 30 metres on drill support.

So personally I do not think that we going to see the end of ROV. In the other thread it has been cited by several people that once we see a few more vehicles lost and damage done that costs the company we will see a difference.

One consideration will be insurance, because once Sclub7, and similar, start to employ lots of poorly trained, less qualified guys and their insurers realise then their premiums will rise drastically. The conditions will be much more stringent and hopefully cost the bastards an arm and several legs.

It was not that long ago that a rather large concern (you mentioned earlier) almost when bust over Brazilian contracts where they miscalculated costings and managed to turn a very large contract (billions) into a huge loss (millions).

I feel it is only a matter of time before there is a major adjustment.

Numpty, maybe you are right mate.

I think no matter what was said before, or by whom, many countries are closing their doors to foreigners working offshore when unemployment is high and their own citizens can do the job.

I am now of the opinion that the OILC/RMT cannot have any influence offshore as it now appears that they do not have the stomach or will to do so. The last Offshore Grades Conference (OGC) was apparently a shambles. By that I can now conclude that there will be no ROV agreement on North Sea rates via that route for sure.

Therefore, the UK door is still very wide open and will remain a haven for cheap labour to be employed in the UK sector until the UK government legislates to shut the door and gives it’s own citizens a decent shot at working in their own oil & gas sector. You can see more of that approach by many countries now.. but still not the UK!

I’m amazed that, with unemployment so high, the UK authorities think that it’s OK for foreigners to fly in, head offshore and displace UK citizens from valuable jobs which results in lower tax and VAT revenue for the country. Beats me.

James, my sentiments exactly regarding the RMT.

I have paid my dues for a good few years now and it seems like it’s a case of one step forward and 2 steps back.

Incidentally I cannot gain access to NOKERNOK and have had no reply from recent enquiries. Hmmm?

I think it’s about time I kept my money to myself rather than "invest" in a union which should be renamed the RRT.

Hat’s off though to Neil and yersel for giving it a good push. :tup:

3500 members * 16 * 12 * 2 = 1.344 Million pounds……

Future of the market; consolidation at company level, diversification at personal level.

……I am now of the opinion that the OILC/RMT cannot have any influence offshore as it now appears that they do not have the stomach or will to do so. The last Offshore Grades Conference (OGC) was apparently a shambles. By that I can now conclude that there will be no ROV agreement on North Sea rates via that route for sure.