Thursday 30 June and Friday 1 July have been allocated for this process, with a deadline of midnight on Friday.
The Norwegian Union of Industry and Energy Workers (Industry Energy), the Norwegian Union of Energy Workers (Safe) and the Norwegian Organisation of Managers and Executives represent the employees, while Norwegian Oil and Gas is negotiating on behalf of the employers.
Demanding for the companies
Companies covered by the offshore agreements face major cost challenges. With falling oil prices and reduced investment, achieving good profitability in projects has become more difficult on the NCS.
A number of our member companies are in the middle of restructuring processes to meet these challenges. That must be reflected in this year’s agreements on pay and conditions.
“We believe the industry must adapt to a lasting lower level of costs while improving its competitiveness in order to preserve as many jobs as possible,” says Jan Hodneland, lead negotiator for Norwegian Oil and Gas.
Investment down
Statistics Norway recently published figures which show that investment on the NCS will fall from NOK 189 billion in 2015 to NOK 166 billion in 2016 and to NOK 153 billion in 2017. That represents a decline of almost 30 per cent from the peak year in 2014.
Persistently low oil prices and a high level of costs are contributing to the reduction in offshore investment and activity.
“We’re seeing a number of examples now which show that more fields will become profitable to develop when costs are cut, even at lower oil prices,” says Hodneland. “That could contribute to increased activity on the NCS.
“In these circumstances, employers and employees have a common responsibility to help safeguard jobs and valuable expertise in an industry which Norway will be needing for a long time to come.”
Consequences of a strike
If mediation fails to yield a solution, about 6 per cent of daily oil and gas production on the NCS will be hit (updated, we previously reported 12 per cent) .
The Norwegian Organisation of Managers and Executives Safe has given notice that 75 of its members will down tools on the Gjøa platform south-west of Florø, operated by Engie E&P Norge. A controlled production shut-down will be implemented in the event of a strike.
Safe has notified a stoppage by 138 of its members on installations operated by Esso Norge on Balder, Jotun and Ringhorne. These three fields will cease production in the event of a strike.
Industry Energy is to take 524 out of its members at KCA Deutag Drilling Norge AS, which delivers drilling services to eight Statoil-operated platforms. Plans are being drawn up to secure wells for a possible shut-down if mediation fails. This applies to Oseberg B, C, South and East, Gullfaks A, B and C, and Kvitebjørn. These facilities will continue to produce.
Safe is also taking out 18 members in catering company ESS on three different Esso-operated facilities.
Production affected in the event of a strike
(Updated 14.45 June 30)
Esso Norge
Balder field, Ringhorne field and Jotun field, 64.000 boe/d
Engie E&P Norge
Gjøa field, 100 000 boe/d
Wintershall as a result of the Gjøa shutdown
Vega field, 65 000 boe/d
Contacts
Jan Hodneland, lead negotiator, Norwegian Oil and Gas, mobile +47 913 41 301
Kolbjørn Andreassen, communication manager, Norwegian Oil and Gas, mobile +47 952 82 808
Facts about the offshore settlement
About 7 500 employees are covered by the offshore agreements. They work in oil companies, in catering and as drilling personnel in the following enterprises: Statoil ASA, A/S Norske Shell, BP Norge AS, ESS Support Services AS, Esso Norge AS, Sodexo Remote Sites Norway AS, KCA Deutag Drilling Norge AS, Repsol Norge AS, Engie E&P Norge, ConocoPhillips, Wintershall, Coor Offshore AS, Eni Norge AS and Lundin Norway AS.
