GEO ExPro Editor in Chief, Iain Brown, on the use of AI and autonomous technology in the oil, gas and energy industry - and an introduction to the latest edition of the magazine.

Automation is an area of rapid development in many industries, and it is becoming increasingly popular in the exploration and exploitation of resources and the broader geosciences.

President Biden’s new administration has a very different view of climate change from the Trump Government. Early indicators are that there will be a significant focus on renewables.

The transition to sustainable energy is one of the fundamental challenges we face over the coming decades and it is my intention that GEO ExPro will continue to report fully on this, whilst championing the genuinely critical role the oil and gas business plays in ensuring security of energy supply.

After ten years as Editor in Chief of GEO ExPro Magazine, for an impressive 63 issues, Jane Whaley has decided to take a step back, so here is her final Editorial. She is handing over the baton to Iain Brown, our new Editor in Chief, to propel GEO ExPro through what looks to be an exciting future.

Achieving net zero is a complex issue and many companies involved in the oil industry are at pains to explain how they are going to go green.

An industry at the forefront of technology such as ours must always be breaking barriers.

Renewable energy has supply issues just as oil and gas does but as we move to a lower emissions world, choice and variety in our energy supply is vital, and we need to work together to ensure that supply is available to all.

The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in some welcome shows of solidarity, as countries help each other out with medical assistance, urgent supplies and, importantly, research into vaccines and cures, and it will undoubtedly have some positive long-term effects on the environment.

Everyone across the world, including in the oil and gas industry, is talking about digitalisation, although it could be admitted that in some ways we were a little bit slow to join the party.

Why doesn’t the oil industry just stop exploring for and pumping out oil?

Positive moves are afoot in the continent of Africa to ensure more gas is used domestically, to help electrification and industrialisation, diversify economies and create jobs.

Wherever the petroleum industry finds a challenge, great technological minds come up with a solution to improve the exploration, production and development of oil and gas resources.

Reduced costs mean tight oil is now the second cheapest source of new oil volumes globally.

Though global in nature, the oil and gas industry will not be totally immune to the effects of Brexit.