President’s Page- Chris Bulley

We have decided not to plan a summer Event for the PESGB in 2002 but we are planning a special meeting for 20 June at Parliament. Bob Blizzard MP, the chair of the all-party Oil & Gas Group, has kindly agreed to host a meeting at Parliament, when it is intended that he will give a 20 minute, or so, talk on “government and the oil and gas industry” to be followed by a question and answer session.
So you can ask all those questions that you have always longed to ask! The exact details of the time and venue can only be confirmed one month before the meeting but, for security and logistical reasons, we need to get your expressions of interest now. The Council looks forward to a good attendance for this meeting. In response to the recent downsizing at several companies, the Society is running a ‘Back to Work’ seminar on 21 May at the Geological Society when representatives of several companies, including outplacement consultants, contractors and oil companies,
will give a series of talks and be available for further discussion on how to obtain and maintain a career in the oil industry. Attendance is free for the unemployed, £25 for those fortunate still to be in employment.
Further on the subject of careers, it was with regret that the Council took the decision to cancel the graduate seminar day in London due to a poor level of registration (the speakers would have out-numbered the attendees). However the graduate day planned for Edinburgh has had a much better response and looks to be heading to be a success.
Also, on 21 st March, I was honoured to be invited to sit on the adjudication panel for the Barrel Award on the M.Sc. (Petroleum Geology) course at Imperial College. The six teams had each worked on one of three datasets provided by industry (Gannet, Lancelot and Wytch Farm areas) and, despite only having three weeks to work the data, came up with ideas and presentations that
would put many oil companies to shame. It was so nice to see such a level of enthusiasm and imagination after experiencing the cynicism within the industry. I wish all the participants could be assured careers in oil and gas but so much will depend on serendipity.
It only remains for me to thank all of you that completed and returned the questionnaire, of which more in a future Newsletter, and to remind you all that the May meeting, in London is also the AGM so, please, no difficult questions! The formal notice and accounts are published later in this Newsletter.