Abstract
Oil and gas operators and their suppliers reported skills shortages in the key occupations of geologists, geophysicists and subsurface/reservoir engineering. Subsea UK also reported deficiencies for highly qualified and experienced engineers.
The lead time to "produce" an appropriate individual (right technical degree, additional expertise etc) for the operator and subsea sectors requires long term planning based on sound information and intelligence.
The objectives of the research were to:
Understand the key factors, which contribute to identified problems of the availability of people to carry out jobs/roles in geology, geophysics and subsea engineering.
Evaluate the current provision within the learning supply chain; capacity; capability and current action.
Assimilate information from employers and learning providers such that recommendations can be made to improve agreed issues and challenges.
Companies reported that the problem was less to do with new graduates, in many cases small numbers of first-degree qualified graduates are recruited, and more about:
The difficultly in finding people with 5 years plus experience and filling senior positions.
The need for graduates with "critical thinking" and "problem quantification and defining skills" as well as excellent technical knowledge.
Super Majors and large contractors undertaking global recruitment, which mitigates their dependence on UK graduates but has repercussions for university departments.
Smaller companies experience problems recruiting for UKCS at all levels.
Specific issues facing subsea.
For Upstream Oil and Gas to sustain its core areas of exploration and production will require an agreed and sustainable plan.
The issues which can be directly affected by the industry, can be grouped into:
Work with schools
Supporting and developing geosciences in universities / industry liaison with universities
Industry practices
