Well Oil Be Damned

http://news.stv.tv/north/293569-ian-wood-warns-of-aberdeen-downturn-as-north-sea-oil-winds-down/

Businessman Ian Wood has said Aberdeen needs to plan for a “difficult period” as oil and gas “winds down” over the next 35 years.
The former Wood Group chairman said the North Sea industry is going through a “difficult period” and warned that Aberdeen would begin to feel the effects of a downturn in the oil and gas sector by 2030.
Sir Ian said the city's leaders must do more to seize a "golden opportunity" to "transform" Aberdeen.
In a guest column for STV Aberdeen, Sir Ian said: “I strongly believe Aberdeen needs to think and plan ahead with real vision for what will undoubtedly be a difficult period of economic readjustment as the North Sea Oil Industry winds down over the next 30 to 35 years.
“Right now, the industry is going through a difficult period with a very worrying lack of exploration, continuing low production efficiency, seriously damaging high costs and a significant number of offshore assets up for sale.
“One good outcome of the referendum No vote is that two key initiatives, the UK Treasury’s in-depth look at its fiscal policy and the initiative to establish a new offshore regulator, should have a very positive impact on investment and activity levels.
“But depletion is inevitable and the recent Independence debate has established the likely oil and gas depletion timetable.
“Professor Alex Kemp’s figures show that in 1999, the height of oil production, we were producing 4.6 million barrels per day.
“This year it will be down to 1.45 million, just above a million in 2030, 500,000 in 2040 and 200,000 in 2050, so that’s down to 15% of our current production.
“The practical impact is that, probably no later than 2030, we will begin to see surplus capacity in hotels, pubs, restaurants, retail outlets, rented properties, housing and many other sectors.”
Golden opportunity
Sir Ian criticised Aberdeen City Council and the city’s “unattractive” city centre.
He continued: “Local government, who did show some vision with their economic development plan when oil and gas first appeared, should be in the vanguard on this challenge, but our present administration show virtually no signs of even recognising the approaching economic challenge so clearly out there.
“Aberdeen’s recently completed impressive sports centre and the plans for a very ambitious new exhibition centre are both helpful developments, but there’s little else.
“Our already unattractive city centre continues to deteriorate and I’m bound to say it’s almost unbelievable that we didn’t go ahead with the Union Terrace Gardens proposals of some two years ago, which had majority support in a referendum.
“In my opinion, history will see this as a lost golden opportunity to transform the centre of our city.”
He added: “You may say that 2050 is 35 years away, but the beginnings of the impact will be felt in 2030, and that’s only 15 years away. So the time for action is now.”

 

Ah ****ing knew you ****s should have voted yes

 

Breezeblock city unattractive ! Magine that.

 

Well said Ian.

Told you the SNP and the yes vote were full of pish.

 

Aberdeen will end up like ER's Diary.

Barren and empty.

 

Yup and Scotland will be completely ****ed forever.

 

That's you that is.

 

As the North sea diminishes the west coast and Atlantic ridge will flourish. Boom time for Oban. Happy days (except in Aberdeen which will die a slow horrible death. Much like ER is currently going through just now)

 

Watch out for those low flying choppers penis face.

 

I'll keep an eye out . Does the penis face make it more aerodynamic ?

 

Breaking:

When asked about their new fracking rights and intended areas for doing so, a spokesman for the Wood Group said "Ach, we only want to do it under ER's hovel anyway - not as if anyone's gonna give a flying ****."