Experience

International Experience

Struan Energy Limited international experience includes project work and studies for the energy sector in Australia, Azerbaijan, Denmark, Dubai, Equatorial Guinea, Faroes, Greece, Ireland, India, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Qatar, Romania, Russia, UK, USA, Vietnam.

Clients

Clients our personnel have worked with include:  AIOC, Amoco, BEIS, BP, Brown & Root, Cairn Energy, Conoco, DNO, EBRD, ELF, European Union, Exxon, Halliburton, ExxonMobil, NAM, OGTC, PetRom, RasGas, SEIC, Shell, SMNG, UKOOA, Worley.

Case Studies:

Struan Energy Limited Personnel direct involvement experience

Project NameClientProject Description
Coaction in Basinwide DecommissioningUnited Kingdom Oil and Gas Technology Centre (OGTC)The scope of the project delivered by Struan Energy was to investigate the extent to which coaction across the UKCS E&P decommissioning industry can achieve cost savings.  Decommissioning is forecast to cost approximately £60bn for the entire UK industry and with a stated intent of saving 35% of this cost, the role that combining decommissioning activities through coaction was assessed and evaluated. The assessment was first based on consultation with subject matter experts in the field, followed by the development of a spreadsheet based evaluation that considered the role of people, process and technology in achieving effective coaction.  Project evaluation demonstrated that by taking a more radical approach to coaction, more that £10bn in savings are possible.
Decommissioning: Unlocking New Ideas in Innovation and Technology  United Kingdom Oil and Gas Technology Centre (OGTC)SEL personnel prepared a report that considered where and how innovation will be most effective when deployed as new technology in the upstream oil and gas decommissioning industry.  In order to achieve this, an evaluation framework considered three dimensions to evaluate, value, innovation pathway; and activity expressed in groups of the work breakdown structure.  The report looked at innovation pathways and explored how they can relate to different areas of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and measured the value of that interaction using an evaluation framework.  These findings were summarised in a ‘heat map’, derived from a combination of the various evaluations of pathways to WBS groups.  The conclusions were that there are clear areas for focussing innovation, with some pathways being of outstanding value to area of the WBS, for example, the use of Campaigning and AI in support of Well P&A and in subsea operations.    
Oil Terminal assessment and strategic analysis  Client ConfidentialDr. Sneddon coordinated and directed this multi-disciplinary study that comprised a detailed analytical review of performance indicators, looking at financial results, safety performance, operations, investment returns, post investment appraisals, studies of throughput and margins, availability and capacity utilisation ratios and highlight any outliers in the data, to establish and evaluate the performance of the Terminal in financial, operational and economic terms.  The result was a game changing report that detailed business improvements to the Terminal, achieved through careful analysis and applied innovative thinking to match the asset with its market.
Decommissioning Offshore Oil and Gas in the UK Continental Shelf Reducing Scope and Increasing UK Competitiveness  United Kingdom Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)Dr. Sneddon directed the production of this paper which set out some of the many opportunities within reach of UK industry and policy makers, and had three main recommendations, Better Programme Management, a new focus on Wells Plugging and Abandonment (Wells P&A), and a change in mind set regarding Habitat Protection.
Assessment of Long-Term Degradation of Offshore Infrastructure and Ecological Impacts  ExxonMobilAndrew Sneddon authored the technical offshore installation analysis for a project that considered hypothetical oil production installations in four different environments: shallow cold water, deep cold water, shallow warm water and deep warm water.  Dr. Sneddon conducted a detailed analysis of the components and fabrication materials of freestanding offshore installations and associated subsea equipment. The study considered potential ecological risks to the marine environment from exposure to chemicals that may be released from the long-term deterioration and degradation of the structural materials left in the subsea environment.
Mercury release from abandoned oil and gas production flowlines and pipelines.  PTTEPAndrew Sneddon authored this study to consider the potential release in terms of rate and volume, of mercury entrained in the walls of subsea pipelines.  The total maximum volume of mercury entrained in the pipelines was estimated.  An evaluation of mercury release, based on the probable corrosion characteristics of the pipelines was made.  Finally based on the estimated volume of mercury, and the release rate, an estimate was made of the potential contamination levels of mercury into the environment and this was compared with international standards for mercury emissions and discharge.  Some additional comments regarding the behavior of mercury and its compounds, in particular with regard to worker safety, were made to set the removal options in context
UK Oil and Gas Decommissioning Assessments and Studies, North SeaBPAs part of BPs North Sea Decommissioning (a multibillion pound programme), Andrew Sneddon directed the following assessments and studies:
Brent Field Decommissioning Studies  ShellFollowing in-depth evaluations of the various decommissioning options, Andrew Sneddon provided oversight and directed a number of specific technical studies as part of the Brent Delta Decommissioning strategy.
Brent Field Topside Decommissioning ESIAShellStruan Personnel provided environmental services to Shell on the Brent Delta topside’s decommissioning, to satisfy Shell UK Ltd.’s internal mandatory requirements under their Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) and Social Performance (SP) Control Framework.  This included an Environmental Hazard and Risk assessment workshop for the £2 billion programme which involved the removal of the topsides, their transportation to harbour in Teesside, and subsequent dismantlement in port and transfer to an onsite waste disposal and recycling centre.
EIA, Equatorial GuineaPCEGLSEL prepared and wrote an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the exploration drilling of the coast of mainland Rio Muni.  The project included identifying the development areas; chemical, physical and biological characterisation of the environment, identifying impacts and recommending mitigation measures for these impacts.  The scope of work also include the preparation and drafting of an Environmental Management Plan based upon the outcome of the EIA to help in the reduction and minimisation of impacts.
Confidential Project, North Sea UKConfidentialSEL personnel conducted a net present value assessment of a mature oil production asset in the UKCS.  The work included an evaluation of the potential production upside of the asset as well as a comprehensive evaluation of the decommissioning liability.
 ESIA SLIP Document,BP AzerbaijanSEL was asked by BP to compile a Supplementary Lender Information Package (SLIP) on behalf of BP for the EBRD. This document comprised a summary, update and clarification of the Shah Deniz Stage 1 ESIA.
M.Sc Environmental Distance Learning PackageRobert Gordon UniversitySEL compiled 20 topics on various aspects of environmental protection and management. These topics form the basis of an environmental learning module for the attainment of an M.Sc.
 European Thematic Network,European UnionSEL is part of a network of organization’s from public and private sectors, with the aim of helping to satisfy Europe’s future energy needs through a sustainable and clean energy supply by addressing the fields of Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE).
Crisis Management TrainingExxonMobil, UKSEL were involved in participating in crisis management training exercises on behalf of ExxonMobil as well as updating emergency response training documentation.
 ACG Phase 1,BP, AzerbaijanSEL personnel conducted an environmental hazard and risk assessment of the project and subsequently used this to produce a project description for the EIA report.  SEL personnel were also involved in the EIA review process
Brent Spar Engineering ProjectShell SEL personnel through Brown and Root managed the production of a fully costed engineering study that comprehensively described all operations required to decommission the Brent Spar floating installation.  The work was performed for Shell as part of a competitive tender process.
 Due Diligence,Cairn Energy, IndiaSEL personnel conducted an audit of an onshore oil drilling facility prior to takeover of the facility. The work included inspecting the site and interviewing key members of the team in the field.
EIA,ExxonMobil, Equatorial GuineaSEL personnel performed an EIA for a full offshore development including drilling and installation of production facilities in Equatorial Guinea.  The work included a baseline survey as well as consideration of the impacts arising from the project linked to environmental characteristics.
 Environmental Data ManagementShell UKSEL personnel were seconded into Shell to develop and maintain a database containing all environmental reporting data for Shell Expro operations.  The work required close liaison with operational staff, IT and EHS personnel.
SEL Personnel and Associates direct involvement in projects