Turbulence in the financial markets has made headlines over the last few years, but today’s Petroleum industry also faces uncertainty in a number of forms:

• Hydrocarbon reserves, from an operational and commercially realisable perspective
• Exploration environment, a multiplicity of hostile operating environments worldwide
• Crude prices, new sources of demand but volatility in traditional markets
• Product price turbulence, partly created by governments seeking new sources of tax revenue
• Unstable demand, economic uncertainty makes it more difficult to manage supply chains
• Regulatory, the need to protect shareholder value and avoid reputational risk

The industry’s reality is that:

• Operations take place in a variety of political, legal and commercial environments
• Process risks in exploration, construction and operation are being monitored more tightly
• Long-term projects offer low rates of return and revenue generation takes place in volatile markets
• The supply of experience skilled manpower is constrained. Productivity gains are needed from the current headcount

But adversity also stimulates innovation.

Many of our clients are using a combination of location-based analysis, process improvements and more effective data management to:

• Improve planning & analysis
• Streamline information sharing and decision making processes
• Drive improved operational efficiencies
• Significantly enhance existing asset management capabilities

In each case geography and Geographic Information Systems are being used to manage uncertainty and to shape a more resilient and sustainable future for shareholders, consumers and the environment.