Kevin Slater - HKA An Interview with
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
An Interview with…
Kevin Slater - HKA
Tony Wareing EUR ING Kevin Slater
Director & Editor CEng, CMarEng, MIMarEST,
MEI, ACIArb, AMAE
DecomCONNECT
Technical Director
HKA
TW: Can you tell us a little of where later at Northumbria University
you studied and worked? (formerly Newcastle Polytechnic).
My study days would involve a 15
Kevin: I left school at 16 years old and hour day, 2 days a week (including the
started an engineering apprenticeship commute). Perhaps this is not
at C.A. Parsons at Heaton, Newcastle something many 16 year olds would
upon Tyne (manufacturers of Steam willingly undertake these days.
turbine Generators). This was a four
year apprenticeship approved by TW: Why did you choose your
North of England Engineering career path? And what were your
Employers Association, which was motivators for making the choices
excellent, even though I didn’t you have?
appreciate its significance at the time.
Kevin: I chose engineering by default
I studied on day release at Newcastle I suppose. At school my best subjects
College of Arts and Technology, then were Engineering Drawing,
Any statements made, articles or intentions expressed in this publication may not necessarily reflect the view of DecomCONNECT Ltd.. See website for full Terms & Conditions and Disclaimer
SKILLS
Woodwork, Maths, Physics and TW: How long have you worked in
Computer studies; so it seemed like your role?
a natural progression to move into
the engineering sector. Also, I lived Kevin: I have worked as a
not too far from Newcastle which Technical Director for HKA for the
has a heavy engineering industry past 2 ½ years, prior to that I
heritage and in those days, many worked as a freelance consultant
boys who were leaving school and engineer.
looking for a career in engineering, TW: And have you found any
generally sought employment at changes over recent years not
C.A. Parsons, or Swan Hunter including Covid of course, we'll
shipyard or the National Coal Board. address that shortly?
TW: No doubt you have had many Kevin: Yes many changes. Prior to
influencers throughout your HKA I worked freelance as a
career, could you mention any and consultant to the Oil and Gas
how they encouraged you? Industry for 20 years. The Oil and
Kevin: My mother encouraged me Gas industry is going through a
to take responsibility and work for major transformation due to the
a living whilst at the same time climate crisis and the effects of
studying, which was very hard CO2 emissions.
work. She believed in my academic TW: How has lockdown been
ability, however both my parents for you? Maybe tell us about a
came from a working class 'typical day in [or out of] the
background, therefore she office' - have you taken up
expected me to earn a living as anything new? or revisited
soon as I could. It taught me self- something you started?
discipline, responsibility,
independence and Kevin: The lockdown has not
accomplishment. affected my usual routine as much
as it has for others since I was
My father was a motor mechanic already working from my home
and he seemed to be able to fix office the majority of the time.
anything, and I have taken the However, the travel restrictions etc
same hands-on approach to have prohibited office visits,
solving problems in engineering. therefore most days have meant
working in isolation apart from
Any statements made, articles or intentions expressed in this publication may not necessarily reflect the view of DecomCONNECT Ltd.. See website for full Terms & Conditions and Disclaimer
online ‘digital’ meetings and The diagnosis was dramatic. It
conferences. warned of the emergence of a new
era of weird weather, leading to
My routine is generally 8.30 to political unrest and mass migration
17.30 with an exercise break at (which, in turn, would cause more
lunchtime. I have always exercised unrest).” At that time, they were not
and I believe this is a very sure if the climate changes would
important part of living a healthy occur as a result of warming
life. It keeps my energy levels high, temperatures or cooling but they
which allows me to be more were concerned about the political
productive. impact, i.e. mass migration, political
TW: Is the Energy Transition and unrest, potential wars etc.
the race to net zero on track? The Oil and Gas Industry, in
Kevin: In summary, no it is general, has been for many years,
definitely not. There is much to be and still is, one of the biggest
done if we are to minimise the contributors to the current climate
global damage and destruction due crisis. The world depends on fossil
to global warming as a result of fuels as a major source of energy,
CO2 emissions. for transport, heating, industry etc
and the Oil and Gas industry, along
The race to net zero will require a with coal burning in power stations
major shift in the way we produce and industry, is the biggest
energy and how we consume it. It contributor to global warming due
will require global agreements, to CO2 emissions. For decades the
especially with the largest Oil and Gas majors have made vast
polluters and the poorest amounts of money from the
countries. production of fuels and bi-products
TW: How do you see the from the process of hydrocarbons
Environmental Impact of Subsea with detrimental effects to the
Production Systems and the Oil & environment. Now it is payback
Gas Industry? time. These companies, and the
people who work for them, have
Kevin: I read an article in the the experience and knowledge to
press last week concerning climate greatly assist in the Energy
change; “In August 1974, the CIA Transition to clean, green energy
produced a study on production and can provide the
“climatological research as it resource to make this happen,
pertains to intelligence problems”. faster, more efficiently and
Any statements made, articles or intentions expressed in this publication may not necessarily reflect the view of DecomCONNECT Ltd.. See website for full Terms & Conditions and DisclaimerSKILLS
successfully. But time is not on our TW: Will you be attending COP26
side. We have wasted too much in any capacity?
time denying that global warming
is mainly caused by human Kevin: Unfortunately we (HKA)
activities. The evidence is there for missed the deadline for business
all to see, as every year we registration, however I shall try to
experience warmer temperatures attend as an individual if possible.
(recently 49.6 C in Canada, 47.8 C TW: I read recently that, from a
in Siberia), extreme forest fires and business perspective, Net Zero
destruction in California, Australia, can be a golden opportunity -
etc and extreme flooding now in all do you agree?
parts of the world.
Kevin: Yes definitely. The UK, USA,
TW: How Can the Oil & Gas EU and China have all introduced
Industry Reduce its Impact on the net zero targets and legislation is
Environment? being introduced to achieve these
Kevin: By capturing and storing targets. From a business perspective
the CO2 produced before it is this is a golden opportunity, since
released into the atmosphere, the demand is confirmed. Indeed, I
known as Carbon Capture, think those companies who have
Utilisation and Storage (CCUS). CO2 already made the transition from
from industry, power stations etc, fossil fuels to carbon free energy,
can be captured and then stored in such as Ørsted, will succeed as
rock formations, either on land or leaders in the race to net zero.
offshore. Many companies and TW: Spending in the upstream
organisations see this as the best oil and gas sector is expected to
solution to allow the production of gradually begin to rise from 2022,
energy from fossil fuels (oil and do you think it will reach the pre-
gas) until the world is in a position crisis period any time soon?
to move completely to carbon free
energy production. This is viewed Kevin: There are many analyst
by many as a major factor in the reports available which offer
Energy Transition and the road to varying statistics. However
net zero, and many Oil and Gas according to the IEA, the current
majors are investing heavily in global oil demand in June 2021
CCUS. However, it is a contentious was 96.8mb/d, and the price was
issue due to its ongoing circa $72/bbl, this compares with
dependence on fossil fuels. circa 100 mb/d and $66/bbl at
Any statements made, articles or intentions expressed in this publication may not necessarily reflect the view of DecomCONNECT Ltd.. See website for full Terms & Conditions and DisclaimerDecember 2019. Oil is expected to industry best practices, compliance,
recover by 5.7mb/day y-o-y as the technical standard bodies, codes,
economy recovers, therefore it is regulators, certifying authorities
projected to reach pre crisis levels and operational safety processes.
by end 2021/ early 2022.
Examples of best practices exist in
Global gas demand is expected to the form of corporate governance
recover by 3.6% in 2021. And i.e. Stage gate reviews; risk
unless major policy changes to reviews, project execution plans;
curb global gas consumption are large scale project execution,
introduced, demand is set to keep project strategy procedures. Also
growing in the coming years, and is economic reviews, project controls,
projected to reach circa 4,300 bcm contract management, EPC
by 2024 which is a 7% rise from contracts, and mature technical
pre-Covid levels. standards and procedures.
The long range Oil forecast These industries have very
predicts demand will peak around experienced personnel and huge
2026 and then decline after circa amounts of data which, in most
2030, as the world makes the cases, are directly transferrable to
transition to renewable and the less well developed Renewable
sustainable energies. Gas demand Energy sector. This will assist
is set to increase and peak around greatly in the Energy Transition.
2035 then slowly decline towards
2050. Obviously these scenarios TW: What challenges lie ahead
will depend upon global for the offshore upstream Oil &
government policies and Gas industry?
regulations and the success of the Kevin: I recently heard in the
Energy Transition to clean news about the controversy
renewable energies (info courtesy concerning new Oil and Gas
of IEA). exploration in UK waters at the
TW: What 'good practices' can be Cambo oilfield near Shetland Isles.
learned across Oil & Gas, Nuclear, The UK will not commit to stopping
or Renewable Energy sectors? new oil exploration in the North
Sea despite warnings from the IEA
Kevin: The UK Oil and Gas sector that there can be no more new oil
has the advantage of being very and gas exploration if the world
mature (existed since 1970’s) and is wants to meet the net-zero targets
a world leading example of by 2050.
Any statements made, articles or intentions expressed in this publication may not necessarily reflect the view of DecomCONNECT Ltd.. See website for full Terms & Conditions and DisclaimerSKILLS
The UK government has stated “We and leading the global race to reach
will not be cancelling licences that net zero, if it is to continue with the
were recently awarded. Any future exploration and production of Oil and
licences are only awarded on the basis Gas. If the UK cannot get this right,
that they are aligned with the what chance is there for the poorer,
government’s broad climate change less developed countries to give up
ambitions, including the UK’s target of their dependence on fossil fuels and
reaching net-zero by 2050”. switch to renewable, sustainable
forms of energy?
However this could become a huge
embarrassment for the UK The main challenge for the offshore
government at COP26 if it is forced upstream Oil & Gas industry is the
into a U-turn on this issue. The ability to transform itself, in a very
government has commissioned the short time frame, from an industry
International Energy Agency to chart which is contributing to the global
a path towards net-zero emissions by warming crisis, to one which can
2050. The IEA Executive Director, Dr. greatly help industries across the
Fatih Birol, has stated the world world succeed in the race to reducing
already has sufficient existing Oil and carbon emissions to achieve net zero.
Gas resources to meet its demands In reality, we cannot continue to burn
and we must now concentrate on the fossil fuels to create energy or
transition to clean, renewable and provide transport. The world is in a
sustainable energies. state of crisis and the human
population has caused it due to its
A spokesman from the OGUK has ever increasing appetite for energy
stated “Stopping local exploration consumption, transportation, food etc.
would be a major drawback for the
energy transition underway – TW: What advice could you offer
reducing the UK’s resilience and to someone looking for a career in
increasing our reliance on imports your field?
from countries whose carbon
emissions we cannot control and that Kevin: There are huge opportunities
have lesser environmental for anyone thinking of starting a
regulations”. career in engineering. Never before
has there been such a huge demand
The dilemma for the UK government for Electrical and Electronic
is how can it be seen to be taken engineers and technicians
seriously as world leader in the i.e. as we produce more green,
transition to clean, green energies sustainable energies there will
Any statements made, articles or intentions expressed in this publication may not necessarily reflect the view of DecomCONNECT Ltd.. See website for full Terms & Conditions and DisclaimerSKILLS
be a huge demand to integrate the industries and develop the
increased capacity into the existing roadmap for government, business,
grid & infrastructure. Electrification and education institutions.
of transportation will require a
large resource. Also, energy There is much talk but now we
storage such as battery and need action. Education institutions
hydrogen storage will require and industries need to lay out a
thousands of engineers globally. clear path, signposted for students
to follow, which will guide them
TW: And finally, what question into the clean energy sector to
have I missed asking you and how help tackle the climate crisis. Not
would you answer it? enough is being done in this area.
Kevin: How can todays younger
generation make a difference in
the fight against climate change?
It’s all about education. And in
some cases we need our children
to educate our adults. We have
already seen children taking the
lead to educate others; i.e. a 15
year old Swedish school girl
challenging world leaders on
climate change.
From an engineering, scientific,
social and environmental
perspective the opportunities are
endless, as mentioned above. The
UK government has introduced its
10-point ‘Green Energy Revolution’
plan; its purpose is to lay the
foundations for a Green Industrial
Revolution and focus on the skills
needed to achieve net zero. The
plan is to support up to 250,000
jobs by 2030 which should help
increase diversity and support the
transition from high carbon
Any statements made, articles or intentions expressed in this publication may not necessarily reflect the view of DecomCONNECT Ltd.. See website for full Terms & Conditions and DisclaimerYou can also read
