Major oil and gas provinces around the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) provide a challenging theatre for companies to explore for hydrocarbons.  The subsequent development of these discoveries depend on bold construction initiatives undertaken in a difficult and hazardous environment, which have inspired enormous advances in science and technology of offshore exploration and production.

Petroleum has been produced in small quantities on the UK mainland for centuries.  The first commercial discovery was made in 1918 in Nottinghamshire.  In 1973 Wytch Farm in Dorset was the first major onshore oil field discovery and is now the largest onshore oil field in Western Europe.  In 1965 came the first significant discovery of offshore gas in the West Sole Field in the Southern Basin of the North Sea.  In 1967 the first oil was found in the Arbroath Field.  Today there are a record number of around 240 offshore fields in production, many of which have been developed using advanced engineering techniques unknown twenty years ago.

Despite the maturity of the UKCS there is still considerable potential for further activity.  Co-operation between Government and industry is essential to ensure exploration and production continues on the UKCS.  The main forum for this co-operation is PILOT which is pursuing a programme of work aimed at securing improvements in the international competitiveness of the UK industry and continued exploration and development activity on the UKCS.

This work is in pursuit of the PILOT vision for 2010:

"The UK Oil and Gas Industry and Government working in partnership to deliver quicker, smarter and sustainable energy solutions for the new century. A vital UKCS is maintained as the UK is universally recognised as a world centre for the global business."

Ambitious and measurable targets were set to meet this vision:

• A production level of 3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2010
• A sustained investment level of £3 billion per year
• A 50% increase in the value of industry-related exports (by 2005)
• An additional revenue of £1 billion from new businesses
• 100,000 more jobs than there would otherwise have been in 2010
• prolonged self-sufficiency in oil and gas for the UK

Government Partnership with and Regulation of the Oil, Gas, Refining & Petrochemical (Plant Design & Construction) Sector

The work of DTI’s Oil and Gas Directorate (OG) includes the promotion and regulation of the exploration and development of the UK oil and gas resources; consideration of environmental issues and the needs of other land and sea users; the promotion of open and competitive markets and the collection, analysis and dissemination of data.

More information on the work of OG and specific contacts can be found at the following website:  http://www.og.dti.gov.uk

For further information on areas of this sector, please contact:

Oil and Gas Policy Co-ordination
Owen Jenkins
Email: owen.jenkins@dti.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7215 5223

Decommissioning of Offshore Oil and Gas Installations
Irene Thomson
Email: irene.thomson@dti.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 01224 254021

International Oil Markets, Oil & Gas Emergency Planning, Downstream Oil Economics
Paul Bailey
Email: paul.bailey@dti.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7215 5287

North Sea Taxation
Mike Earp
Email:mike.earp@dti.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7215 5271

Licence Administration
Mike Hawkins
Email: mike.hawkins@dti.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7215 5098

Environmental Regulation of Offshore Oil and Gas
Kevin O'Carroll
Email:  kevin.o'carroll@dti.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 01224 254025

Oil and Gas Supply Chain Sponsorship
Alison Taylor
Email: alison.taylor@dti.gsi.gov.uk
Tel:  01224 254098

Oil and Gas Supply Chain website

This Government website (http://www.dti.gov.uk/ogsc) contains information designed to help companies in the oil and gas sectors to gain the benefits that supply chain management has to offer, including: How Supply Chain Management Works, which provides information on how this works in offshore and other industries; Supply Culture Toolkit - a management check-list for the effective management of the external resources of a company; and Key Resources for Industry, a compendium of sources of information, funding and assistance from Government and elsewhere.

Specific Export Help for the Oil, Gas, Refining & Petrochemical (plant Design & Construction) Sector

UK Trade & Investment UK
UK Trade & Investment is the Government Organisation that brings together the work of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) in support of British trade and investment overseas.

Sector specific export help for Oil, Gas, Refining & Petrochemical (Plant Design & Construction) can be found on the UK Trade & Investment website.

Other Sector Contacts

Listed below is a selection of organisations that can offer assistance to companies in this sector.

A more extensive list of Trade Associations in this sector can be found at the Trade Association Forum web site.

Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration
Email: admin@apea.org.uk
Tel: 01582 882753
Fax: 01582 882754

The APEA is a UK based organisation, drawing membership from all quarters of the petroleum industry, including Regulators from National and Local Government Authorities, Oil Companies, Equipment Manufacturers and Suppliers, Service and Installation Organisations, Training Establishments and many others.

Association of British Independent Oil Exploration Companies
Email: sheenagh@brindex.co.uk
Tel: 020 7925 4148
Fax: 020 7925 4619

Comprises British companies involved in oil and gas exploration and production. Also represents the common interests of the independent oil exploration companies.

Association of British Offshore Industries
Email: aboi@bmec.org.uk
Tel: 020 7928 9199
Fax: 020 7928 6599

British Chemical Engineering Contractors Association
Email: laurie.hickman@bceca.org.uk
Tel: 020 7839 6514
Fax: 020 7930 3466

British Pipeline Agency Ltd
Email: business@bpa.co.uk
Tel: 01442 242 200
Fax: 01442 214 077

A leading specialist in petroleum product pipeline engineering and operations.

Energy Industries Council
Email: info@eic-uk.com
Tel: 020 7221 2043
Fax; 020 7221 8813

First Point Assessment Ltd
Email: fpal@fpal.co.uk
Tel: 01224 337500
Fax: 01224 337522

First Point Assessment Limited was established primarily to provide objective information services to Subscribers and registered Suppliers to help achieve cost reduction and improved performance in the acquisition of goods and services throughout the oil and gas industry.

Industry Technology Facilitator (ITF)
Email: itf@oil-itf.com
Tel: 01224 853400
Fax: 01224 853480

The ITF works in the upstream oil and gas industry, facilitating the creation of joint industry technology projects that aim to extend the economic life of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS).

Institute of Petroleum
Email: ip@petroleum.co.uk
Tel: 020 7467 7100
Fax: 020 7255 1472 

International Association of Drilling Contractors
Email: dennis.krahn@iadc.org
Tel: 01224 874800
Fax: 01224 875600 

International Marine Contractors Association
Email: imca@imca-int.com
Tel: 020 7931 8171
Fax: 020 7931 8935 

ISOCON
Email: isocon@isocon.co.uk
Tel: 0151933 2307
Fax: 0151 933 0511 

ISOCON is the North West England Trade Association supporting companies supplying products and services to the oil, gas, power and energy industry sectors, including engineering and fabrication firms. 

LOGIC - Leading Oil & Gas Industry Competitiveness
Email: logic@logic-oil.com
Tel: 01224 853420
Fax: 01224 706532 

LOGIC is an industry-funded organisation, working with companies throughout the industry to stimulate collaboration and radically improve competitiveness. 

Northern Offshore Federation
Email: team@nof.co.uk
Tel: 0191 417 4254
Fax: 0191 417 4257 

Offshore Contractors Association
Email: iain.bell@oca-online.co.uk
Tel: 01224 326070
Fax: 01224 326071 

OPITO Ltd
Email: info@opito.co.uk
Tel: 01224 787800
Fax: 01224 787830 

OPITO is the National Training Organisation (NTO) for oil and gas extraction. 

Society of British Gas Industries
Email: mail@sbgi.org.uk
Tel: 01926 334537
Fax: 01926 450459 

UK Offshore Operators Association
Email:  info@ukooa.co.uk
Tel:  020 7802 2400
Fax:  020 7802 2401 

UKOOA is the representative organisation for the UK offshore oil and gas industry.  Its members are companies licensed by the Government to explore for and produce oil and gas in UK waters.

General Business Support, Schemes and Initiatives

DTI For Business
This page lists many of the initiatives that the DTI and other parts of Government currently operate. Included on this page are links with various support schemes and initiatives.

DTI Information Age
This page lists many of the initiatives that the DTI and other parts of Government currently operate. Included on this page are links with schemes and initiatives offering guidance and advice relating to new technology and fast access to information.

DTI International Trade and Investment
This page offers a comprehensive menu of links to sites offering support to exporters (through UK Trade & Investment), investors in the UK and importers into the UK.

Companies House
From this site, you can link to a wide range of Government sites and Professional Bodies that can provide general guidance and support for all UK companies.

The Trade Association Forum
The Trade Association Forum helps associations to deliver best practice to members.

Small Business Service
The Small Business Service operate a number of schemes and initiatives that are designed to help small businesses in a variety of ways. Further information found on their website.

Regulatory Guidance

DTI Regulatory Guidance provides general guidance from the DTI and also links to other relevant DTI web pages.

The Oil and Gas Directorate website also features sector related regulatory notices and guidance notes.

The Direct Access Government website provides guidance issued by other Government Departments.