Talking about there instead of gas and oil

After the oil spill in the United States, how do you see the future of the offshore activity in the Gulf of the Mexico

The lifting of the moratorium on oil drilling in deep water was faster than expected in the United States. The surprise of many observers, it has intervened before the mid-term elections. Activity will restart in the Gulf of the Mexico but progressive way. The US authorities increased the ceiling for commitment in black tide of 75 million to $ 1 billion, which will exclude many actors for the benefit of large companies. Only the "big five" will have the means to take risks at this height while the region was far from the dynamism of independent actors. Moreover, with the dismantling of the service of management of mineral resources (MMS) in three different entities, deadlines for allocation of exploration licences will probably increase. Can anticipate an increase in costs, even if it is very difficult to assess it today.

What will be the impact of the accident from the Macondo well on relations between oil operators and their service providers

The accident of Macondo will indeed lead to reassess relations between operators and service providers. The responsibilities of each and of others are at the heart of the debates in the United States and it is likely that courts will be drawn to decide on this matter. Some believe that large petroleum operators will return to service providers in order to have better control of operations. We have already seen this phenomenon in the second oil shock when companies were afraid to have a more difficult access to benefits, resources available on the market. I doubt however that today ' today it goes in this direction.

The changes imposed by Washington have consequences on other areas of offshore operation

He was not sure that developments in the oil regulation in the Gulf of the Mexico be repeated elsewhere. Following the oil spill, the Brazil, the Norway and Britain spent reviewed their procedures, but these countries gave no sign of coming change in their offshore regulation. Same observation for a big producer countries such as Angola. Offshore drilling will continue to grow at a rate in West Africa and off the Brazilian coast. The European Union expressed the wish to tighten up the regulations in the North Sea. But in fact, the regulation falls within the jurisdiction of States.

What is the weight of the offshore in global oil production

Last year, offshore accounted for 28 of world oil production against 72 for Wells on land. They are deep-water deposits that generate growth of volumes of oil products at sea. We are witnessing in contrast to a ceiling of oil production in less than 1,000 metres of water. The three major producing countries of oils in deep water are the United States, the Brazil and Angola with roughly equivalent volumes (26 each). But the Brazilian production will increase strongly in the coming years after new discoveries.

And the level of reserves

In the area of reservations, the weight of the offshore is less important. Terrestrial deposits represent 80 of the oil reserves of the planet. An important part of these reserves is located in the OPEC countries. The offshore fields lie in areas more accessible for international oil companies. The deposits located by more than 1,000 metres of water contain 4 of world reserves, against 16 for the shallower deposits. In recent years, the offshore reserves of oil have not much evolved from gas.

Could the accident of the well Macondo push the development of oil exploitation in the Arctic

A large part of the potential of production of hydrocarbons in the Arctic Ocean is located in Russia. Talking about there instead of gas and oil. It is therefore unlikely that the accident in the Gulf of the Mexico have an any impact on the development of the sector. It could even in contrast to accelerate. The signing in September of a Treaty of delimitation in the Barents Sea and Arctic Ocean between the Norway and the Russia should have a positive impact on the projects in this area. The two countries have clarified their maritime borders and defined rules of collaboration for the operation of cross-border hydrocarbon deposits.