Digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of things, and blockchain can play a key role in creating a more sustainable and resilient low-carbon energy system. But first, what is blockchain exactly? Think of it as a decentralized digital ledger that records transactions and stores information such as financial transactions, medical records, and assets. Traditionally, transactional information is stored in one central ledger or database. A blockchain is a ledger, too, but one that stores data in encrypted blocks across a distributed network of computers.

Having the support of other actors from both the private sector and civil society will be essential to do so. So, in turn, companies have responded by starting to design strategies that align with the SDGs at a corporate and global level. But the SDG priorities of host governments can vary greatly between countries of operation. Navigating this at a local level can be challenging. To support companies in their efforts, in 2019, IPIECA commissioned a research project with Earth Security Group to help companies identify country-level issues, priorities, and opportunities and enable them to align their SDG initiatives with a host country’s priorities.

Having established itself as a player in the wind-power industry, Equinor is now turning to solar as an area to develop new business. This illustration shows what the pilot plant may look like. Equinor’s announcement of plans to build the world’s first pilot plant for floating solar power in rough water near the island of Frøya comes one day after the Norwegian energy major announced its selection as BP’s partner to supply offshore wind power to New York. Hailed as one of the largest renewable-energy procurements in the US, the award by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) seeks to transform the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal and the Port of Albany into large-scale offshore wind-working industrial facilities, thus positioning New York as an offshore wind-industry hub. While Equinor already is positioned as a player in wind energy, the Norwegian major is only taking its first steps in solar.

The Society of Petroleum Engineers is accepting nominations for its annual awards, including international and regional Health, Safety, and Environments awards and Sustainability and Stewardship awards. The deadline for international award nominations is 15 February, and the deadline for regional award nominations is 1 March. SPE’s international awards recognize individuals who make significant technical and professional contributions to the petroleum engineering profession and to the worldwide oil and gas industry. These award recipients are announced in July, and the awards are presented during SPE’s Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. The regional awards recognize members who contribute exceptional service and leadership within SPE, as well as those who make significant professional contributions within their technical disciplines at the SPE regional level.

Gender diversity and inclusion in the oil and gas industry has been widely promoted in the last decade to advance women in leadership roles. Following this, the SPE Java Section launched an initiative to encourage and empower women in the industry. The section held a webinar in November, which was moderated by Niesharsa Triaswari from BP Indonesia. In the webinar four high-profile women discussed and shared their leadership and experience in the oil and industry: Shauna Noonan, 2020 SPE president and director of artificial lift engineering at Oxy; Evita H. Legowo, general director of Oil and Gas Government of Indonesia (2008-2012) and professor at Swiss German University; Melanie Cook, president of ExxonMobil Indonesia; and Dian Andyasuri, president of Shell Indonesia. The opening session was led by Shauna Noonan, who shared her experience and first steps in the industry when she first came to Indonesia working for Chevron.

Should Oil and Gas Companies Move Full-Speed Ahead With Energy Transition Plans? Within the race for renewables, oil and gas companies are finding themselves in a proverbial rut as they reassess existing profitable models with future energy transition plans. The nature and magnitude of this shift has set new strategic parameters for the sector. What adds more difficulty is the question of speed in which companies pursue this conundrum. Should oil and gas companies be more aggressive in their energy transition plans?

As part of its strategic plans, Vintage Petroleum Boliviana (VPB), a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental, has developed and implemented a social responsibility (SR) program that supports company business objectives and positively affects and adds value for all stakeholders—employees, contractors, national oil company, communities, and the environment. VPB’s SR program achieves a balance between its oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) interests and communities’ expectations and needs. The SR program carried out through an extensive engagement process has served as the model for the company’s operational excellence and resulted in alliances between VPB and the communities in the areas of influence and at large. The objective of this paper is to share the methodology, approach, and processes that VPB has implemented to improve the quality of life of society as a whole and to be a shared-value partner with the communities. This paper addresses both tangible and intangible benefits that communities have received and quality-of-life enhancements in the communities, as well as the key performance indicators used to measure performance for operational excellence, community development, and project/program evaluation.

Accurate Wellbore Placement: Why It’s a Critical Skill for the Evolving Industry If a well is placed in a hydrocarbon production zone accurately the first time, there is less risk to personnel, less impact to the environment, and a better return over the life of the well for the operator. Do You Really Need Steel Pipe? A partnership between Saudi Aramco and Baker Hughes will build a plant where they will work to expand the uses of nonmetallic oilfield hardware, beginning with high-performance reinforced plastic pipe. Do You Really Need Steel Pipe? Santos Seals Deal With Mitsubishi for Barossa’s LNG The agreement has Santos selling 80% of its share of expected gas from the project to Mitsubishi’s Diamond Gas International. Pioneer Becomes Latest Permian Giant To Set Low-Carbon Targets What is to become the largest shale producer in the Permian Basin is stepping up its efforts to curb emissions and has shared new details in its annual sustainability report.

Times are turbulent across the globe as the ongoing responses to the pandemic remain varied. The oil and gas industry—and SPE members—remain affected personally and professionally by its effects on the supply/demand balance, the oil price, and the energy transition. To support SPE members in this time of change, the SPE Women in Energy (WIN) committee sponsored two special sessions at the 2020 SPE Virtual Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition on 27 October. The first panel event was entitled, “Do We Have the Skills and People Needed for the Global Energy Transition?” Four well respected panelists were featured, including 2020 SPE President Shauna Noonan, director of artificial lift engineering at Occidental Petroleum Corp.; César Patiño, technical management, Ecopetrol, and SPE Regional Director Latin America and the Caribbean 2018–2020; Susan Howes, vice president of engineering at Subsurface Consultants & Associates LLC; and Sarah Saltzer, managing director of the Stanford Center for Carbon Storage and the Stanford Carbon Removal Initiative. Peggy Rijken, chapter manager, geomechanics, at Chevron, served as moderator of the panel.

Petrofac is an international service provider to the oil and gas industry, undertaking projects that cover engineering, construction, and production operations. The company operates in challenging environments where human rights issues can become a source of risk, both for the business and for some of the people who work on Petrofac sites. The company is committed to working in partnership with its clients and suppliers to ensure that human rights and labor rights are respected. The main exposure in the construction industry is through the employment of large numbers of low-skilled migrant workers from high-risk countries at Petrofac sites. Migrant workers can be subject to risks, including excessive debt incurred through high recruitment fees, nonpayment of wages, poor living conditions, restricted mobility, and limited power to change jobs, which ultimately traps them in exploitative situations.