How is Outsourcing Fueling the Oil and Gas Industry ?
Executive Summary
The Oil and Gas industry is, arguably, the most economically important sector as it meets more than two-thirds of the global energy demand. The industry has been facing challenges such as declining production, rising consumption and low reserves. The focus of the industry is now on cost containment as the global economy is coming out of the recent financial crisis. The current scenario has resulted in opportunities for service providers in this domain to offer industry-specific solutions across the entire oil and gas value chain. The major points of discussion related to outsourcing in the utilities industry as discussed in this report are mentioned below:
The Oil and Gas industry is, arguably, the most economically important sector as it meets more than two-thirds of the global energy demand. The industry has been facing challenges such as declining production, rising consumption and low reserves. The focus of the industry is now on cost containment as the global economy is coming out of the recent financial crisis. The current scenario has resulted in opportunities for service providers in this domain to offer industry-specific solutions across the entire oil and gas value chain. The major points of discussion related to outsourcing in the utilities industry as discussed in this report are mentioned below:
- Key challenges facing the industry include high price volatility for oil products, a shortage of talent, aging infrastructure and constantly changing compliance requirements. Increased activity in the upstream segment is adding to the high capital costs of oil exploration projects. There is a constant pressure to maintain profit margins and enhance shareholder value in the downstream segment.
- Cost containment is the biggest driver for outsourcing. Other benefits include increased efficiency, a greater use of technology for exploration and refining leading to lower costs, fewer errors and better relationships with suppliers and vendors.
- Popular outsourced services include Energy Trading and Risk Management (ETRM), supply chain management, enterprise asset management, ERP platform integration, IT Infrastructure, and retail automation solutions. Interspersed with these services are horizontal type offerings such as Finance and Accounting and Human Resource outsourcing. An increased focus on engineering has entered the outsourcing space with services such as product design and automation for both upstream and downstream companies.
- Major industry trends include companies moving towards a digitally integrated oilfield set-up which involves collating all data from various sources onto a common platform, a slow changing focus towards alternative sources of energy such as bio-fuels and a renewed interest in energy trading in order to reduce risks and increase efficiency in trading options.
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2 OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY REVIEW
2.1 The global picture
2.2 Key industry challenges
2.3 Building a case for outsourcing
2.3.1 Cost – a driving factor
2.3.2 Easing price volatility issues
2.3.3 Meeting training needs for the new workforce
2.3.4 Infrastructure upgrades
2.3.5 Addressing policy compliance
2.4 Key takeaways
3 CURRENT OUTSOURCING SCENARIO IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY
3.1 Types of oil and gas companies
3.2 Popularly outsourced services in the oil and gas industry
3.3 Latest deals
4 KEY SERVICE PROVIDERS
4.1 Major industry trends
4.2 Moving toward the digital oilfield era
4.3 Diversification into renewable sources of energy
4.4 Energy trading is back in the limelight
2 OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY REVIEW
2.1 The global picture
2.2 Key industry challenges
2.3 Building a case for outsourcing
2.3.1 Cost – a driving factor
2.3.2 Easing price volatility issues
2.3.3 Meeting training needs for the new workforce
2.3.4 Infrastructure upgrades
2.3.5 Addressing policy compliance
2.4 Key takeaways
3 CURRENT OUTSOURCING SCENARIO IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY
3.1 Types of oil and gas companies
3.2 Popularly outsourced services in the oil and gas industry
3.3 Latest deals
4 KEY SERVICE PROVIDERS
4.1 Major industry trends
4.2 Moving toward the digital oilfield era
4.3 Diversification into renewable sources of energy
4.4 Energy trading is back in the limelight
