A keynote address at the APPEA event’s opening session on Monday, May 8 will provide details on how the policy regime for the region developed and evolved in response to changes to the basin.

The paper, to be delivered by the UK Department of Trade and Industry’s Energy Resources and Development Unit head Jim Campbell, discusses the main changes to UK Government policy over the period and the mechanisms used to implement these changes.

Campbell’s address outlines three distinct phases in the development of the UKCS.

The early years saw the dawning recognition of the scale and longevity of the activity that would result.

This was followed by a frenetic period of growth, which culminated in concerns over competitiveness of the basin after the oil price fall in the early 90s. This period ended in industry consolidation.

Then at the turn of the century, there was a strategic response to the increasing maturity of the province, again against the background of low oil prices, which was led by the formation of an Oil and Gas Industry Task Force.

Campbell will then take delegates forward and comments on possibilities for the future.

The 2006 APPEA Conference is being held at the new Gold Coast and Exhibition Centre from May 7 to May 10.

The final program is available at www.appea.com.au/2006 conference

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