Introduction to Contingency Planning: The value to oil and gas companies in high-risk areas
November 18, 2014 - London UKFinding Petroleum
Natalie@findingpetroleum.com
Phone:0208 432 3313
Many of the areas where oil and gas companies regularly work are in complex countries with a high level of economic, political and social risk. The past four years have continued to witness a broad spectrum of attacks on business interests, facilities and employees particularly in the areas of the Middle East and Africa.These have ranged from direct assault, hostage taking, assassination, bomb threats/Improvised Explosive Devices, to the evacuation of personnel through regional instability. The recent situation in Iraq has served to reinforce this, as have events in Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Syria and Ukraine, to name but a few. The current Ebola outbreak in West Africa is also of major concern. It is not possible to predict the exact nature of life-threatening events and to provide watertight solutions for every eventuality. However, with sound and detailed contingency planning, risks can be anticipated, substantially reduced and top-level decision making can be enhanced. The implications for getting it wrong are clear from the legal, public image and business confidence perspectives. The overriding consideration remains on the safety and security of an enterprise’s people; the implications of misjudging and mishandling a situation need no further elaboration. This course aims to provide attendees with an introduction to the complexities of contingency planning for high risk areas and the processes involved and what needs to be in place, in order to mitigate against the main threats posed. The course is aimed at Senior Management/Board level and will also be of particular use to HSSE, HR and Risk and Security Managers. Your Trainer: Colonel Mark Theobald served in the British Army in a variety of appointments, with particular experience of joint operational planning in NATO and the EU and is a graduate of the German Command and Staff College. He commanded a Gurkha Infantry Battalion in UK and Brunei. In 2006 he was Deputy Chief Planner for the EU Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Other jobs have included: command of the British Military Training Team in Ghana, Operations Chief in British Forces Cyprus and as UK’s Liaison Officer to the German MOD and Joint Operations Headquarters. He is a former commander of British Forces in Afghanistan (2003) and in Kosovo (2007). On leaving the Army he was employed by the Bahrain Ministry of the Interior as Advisor to the Chief of Public Security, whose additional responsibilities included National Resilience and Contingency Planning – this included the period of recent unrest. He is currently employed by Mars Omega LLP as their Manager for Training and Special Advisory Services.