Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Managing Risks in Oil and Gas Companies

Introduction Oil and gas companies face a variety of risks in the process of their operations. Many occurrences that happen outside a company may have an effect on the firm and the financial decisions that it makes. Changes in interest rates, prices of oil, and exchange rates among others are likely to alter the financial decisions of a firm. It is therefore imperative for firms to ensure that no potential economic changes pose a threat to their business.Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on Managing Risks in Oil and Gas Companies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Taylor and Kathleen (2013, p. 80), corporate financial managers are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that any past, current, and future fluctuations will not affect the economic standing of the firm. McShane and Anil (2011, p. 641) affirm that companies use various risk management tools known as derivatives to manage risks. The tool used should caution the firm from negative impacts of various risks that may happen in its environment. According to Smistad and Igor (2012, p. 46), in western Canada, oil companies apply future derivatives to buy certain goods or services at a price that is agreed upon today. Chanmeka et al. (2012, p. 259) argue that some companies make use of options where a firm gains the right to sell or buy certain goods or services at a certain price in the future. McShane and Anil (2011, 641) confirm that risk information is crucial to investors and the entrepreneurs themselves. The oil and gas industry is likely to face various risks. For example, political risks, geological risks, price risks, supply and demand risks, and cost risks amongst others. This paper will discuss risk management in various gas and oil companies presenting a detailed literature review of risks in general followed by a detailed discussion of the in the oil and gas firms. Risks The subject of risks is quite pivot al when it comes to the running of various organisations. Companies need to be aware of the possible or rather potential risks that they are likely to encounter in a bid to develop mechanisms of mitigating them in real time once they occur to ensure continued operation rather than untimely closure of such firms due to their failure to take the necessary precautionary measures. Various risks are likely to affect different investments. Such risks include political risks, price fluctuations, and changes in supply and demand, natural calamities, geological risks, economic recessions, and government control risks amongst others. Entrepreneurship is a risky undertaking and every entrepreneur has to risk some of these factors and get into business.Advertising Looking for dissertation on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Taylor and Kathleen (2013, p. 83), in the world of business, general risks affect l iterary every company in business though at varying intensities. Risks have various implications on business depending on the level of their impacts and predisposition of a particular business on them. In some instances, risks may lead to complete loss of business. For example, if a business is exposed to fire and explosives risks, it can be completely wiped out in case of an accident. However, McShane and Anil (2011, p. 641) affirm that some of the risks affect all businesses in their every day affairs, for example supply and demand risk, price risks, and government regulations. Businesses have little or no control on some risks such as natural calamity risks, for instance earthquakes and floods. Nevertheless, it is important for a business to devise ways and methods of detecting, assessing, and mitigating the risks. Oil and Gas Companies Oil and gas companies provide a working illustration of the subject of risks that is under scrutiny based on the various risks they encounter in their everyday business affairs. From the point of extracting oil and gas, processing it into finished products to transportation, warehousing, and retailing, the whole business is a risk. These companies encounter various types of risks in their line of business. Chanmeka et al. (2012, p. 259) assert that risks affect almost every firm in business and are likely to affect the oil and gas industry more than any other firm. According to Helman (2013, p. 62), the oil and gas industry faces tight regulations on how to conduct its business. Such regulations include rules on how oil and gas are extracted from the source, regulations on where they can be extracted and where extraction cannot be done, and regulations of the period in which extraction of oil and gas can be done. The government has the upper hand in such regulations since oil business is lucrative. In fact, the political wrangles that affect most countries that have oil and gas resources revolve around the control of oil wel ls by the government. Countries such as Sudan and Southern Sudan have been in conflict due to control of oil wells.Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on Managing Risks in Oil and Gas Companies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Such political wrangles have also been witnessed in Kuwait and Nigeria. Whenever there are political wrangles in the control of oil and gas, the companies that invest in such nations face higher economic and political risks. Haselip and Martà ­nez (2011, p. 1) argue that politics of regionalism, equitable distribution of national resources, and resource distribution also affect oil and gas regulation. In some cases, the laws governing extraction, processing, and distribution of oil and gases in different states may vary. Antonsen, Kari, and Jarl (2012, 2001) reveal that it is more risky to carryout oil and gas business in dependence on foreign deposits without standardisation. In the oil and gas industry, some companies that show interest are likely to invest in any part of the world where the oil and gas field has a sheer disregard of the political climate of the country. According to Helman (2013, p. 63), if the host country nationalises the industry, foreign investors are likely to suffer loss. Politics of that kind of nation may also change to favour certain investors or category of investors where the foreign investor may not be considered. Antonsen, Kari, and Jarl (2012, p. 2001) argue that some economies will attract investors to begin the process of extraction. Nevertheless, once the process of extraction is complete and the oil and business industry becomes lucrative, politicians, activists, and government officials enact laws to enable the government to leap more from the industry. An investor who puts his or her resources in such an industry is therefore likely to suffer loss. Political risk in oil industry is a major threat to the stability of the secto r. It is even more risky to invest in the oil and gas industry in some developing countries. In some of the developing countries with plenty of oil and gas such as Libya and Sudan in Africa, the countries are under poor political leadership thus posing a great risk to investors in the industry. Whenever there is a political turmoil in various nations, oil tankers are targeted due to the high flammability of oil. In addition, Dumaine (2013, p. 102) affirms that oil and gas industries demand tight security and surveillance even in small quantities such as in China. It would therefore mean that, when there is political instability in a county, the rate of insecurity goes down. Consequently, the risk on the industry goes up.Advertising Looking for dissertation on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Wilkinson and Roland (2013, p. 118) assert that the process of gas and oil exploitation has also become very risky especially with the current dynamics. For instance, drilling of oil is happening in very dangerous environments such as oceans. Extraction in such areas increases the risks that oil and gas industries have to incur in the process of extraction, refining, distribution, and marketing. Smistad and Igor (2011, p. 91) affirm that there has also been an increase in the level of unconventional methods of oil and gas extraction. Out of such unconventional methods of mining, some potential oil and gas mines have been poorly exploited or destroyed. In fact, some of these procedures have been used to extract oil and gas in places where it would have proved impracticable. According to Smistad and Igor (2012, p. 46), gas and oil extraction companies involve themselves in great risks by investing a lot of finances and other resources in extraction. Some companies have incurred much c ost in the process of extracting gas and oil only to find minimal deposits than they had estimated. It is therefore risky ventures for a company to be sure that geologists and rock experts have enough evidence of the presence of oil or gas in a certain area. According to Smistad and Igor (2011, p. 91), it is also risky for the extraction company to hire specialists such as geologists in oil in the process of investigating the presence oil or gas in a certain field and then fail to realise the targeted amount of oil or gas. Oil and gas extraction, processing, marketing, and distribution constitute a business that aims at obtaining profits. The prices in the oil and gas markets must therefore be able to sustain the industry in a profitable way. Fluctuation in oil and market prices is a risk factor to the industry. No one can predict what the prices of oil or gas will be when the process of extraction will be completed. Mehemed, Kamal, Kieran, and Kong (2012, p. 201) argue that compani es in this industry therefore undertake a risk in extracting and purifying the gas without clear future market prices for their products. In several instances, oil and gas extraction companies have undergone the whole process of geological tests and drilling despite their ending up without the projected product. In such cases, unless the gas and oil extraction company is insured, it suffers a big loss. The nature of oil and gas market has been fluctuating over the years. According to Chen and Jevons (1993, p. 667), fluctuation of oil and gas prices poses a great risk to the stakeholders in the industry. Supply and demand issue is a limitation to the oil and gas industry. Venturing into oil and gas industry involves investing huge capital. The operations involved in extracting oil and gas are very expensive and extraction companies have to invest in the process. However, such companies may not be aware of the trend that prices of gas and oil will take in the future. Wood (2011, p. 11 3) affirms that demand and supply keep on changing. When the supply of gas in the world market goes high, the prices go down thus increasing the risk of incurring heavy losses. Oil and gas industry also experiences imbalances when prices of oil go up. In most cases, when the prices of oil and gases hike, large warehouses hoard the commodities. O’keefe and Doris (2013, p. 158) argue that hoarding increases the risk of loss of customers on retailers and local wholesalers since the commodity does not reach the target consumer. Such suppliers are also at the risk of being compromised of inconsistency by their customers. Mohanty and Mohan (2011, p. 165) argue that it is also very hard to predict the production rates of gas and oil in various states especially with a nation with many states such as the U.S. Kendrick (2012, p. 61) affirms that unpredictability of productivity increases the risk of price fluctuation in the oil and gas industry. In addition, Andersson, Sudhir, and Zaf ar (2009, p. 440) reveal that, whenever there is a financial crisis in a country or a region, for example, the American crisis or the European crisis of 2007, supply and demand of oil and gas also change. Financial crisis increases the risk of reduced purchasing power. Hence, the affected country experiences low demand for oil and gases. Wood (2011, p. 113) point out that the economic crisis increases the risk of low supply and demand due to its ability to reduce the capital base of a nation. When a country has a low capital base, it is limited in its operations. Donaldson and Schoemaker (2013, p. 24) argue that the macroeconomic position of the industry can also increase the risk of demand and supply. Macroeconomic power of every industry dictates the success of business under it. The oil and gas industry experiences huge operational costs. O’keefe and Doris (2013, p. 158) argue that all the other risk factors involved in the oil and gas industry drain into operational costs . Mohanty and Mohan (2011, p. 165) argue that, when the regulations set by political leaders and governments of a particular nation are very tight, the operation cost goes up. Tight regulations make the process of extracting, processing, and distributing gas and oil more extensive and hence expensive. Wilkinson and Roland (2013, p. 118) posit that the operations that are involved in the process of oil mining and gas harvesting determine the level of operations risks that a firm is likely to incur. The operations involved in drilling are also extensive and expensive. Mehemed, Kamal, Kieran, and Kong, (2012, p. 201) establish that the process of drilling is coupled with many limitations, for instance, bad weather, poor soils and other geological factors, inaccessibility, and technological problems. Such problems increase the operations cost. When the operations cost hikes, the industry becomes disfranchised. Different producers set their own market prices to overcome their cost of pro duction. According to Donaldson and Schoemaker (2013, p. 24), variation in the cost of production makes it difficult for nations of the world to set standard oil and gas prices. In fact, some industries incur a double or triple cost of production compared to others. It is out of such variations that oil and gas prices have become very competitive in the market. According to Robb (2012, p. 756), industries that have been in the line of production for many years incur lesser risks than new industries. Managing Risks- Risk Identification, Risk Assessment, and Risk Control The oil and gas industry is a risk-prone industry. Various uncertainties go along these risks such as the risk of exploration, demand and supply risk, crude price uncertainty, and product line risk. According to Robb (2012, p. 756), the oil and gas industry is one of the risky ventures. Hence, to prevent the danger that the industry poses, there should be the need to manage it. Sarkar (2012, p. 28) affirms that manage ment of risks also ensures that the small industries and the upcoming ones become commercially viable. In addition, there are technological risks such as â€Å"cyber threats of Stuxnet virus, which also target lucrative oil and gas industry† (Sudhir, and Zafar 2009, p. 440). These and many other risks in oil and gas industry necessitate the need for risk management. Consequently, various methods of risk management have been put in place to mitigate risks in this industry. Risk Identification Oil and gas companies have invested in information access control and management. Such risk management strategies involve identifying and accessing the right information at all time when it is very necessary. Information management has been a great source of risk in the oil and gas industry. Oil and gas companies have therefore put in place mechanisms to harvest policy information, process it, and use it gainfully. According to Andersson, Sudhir, and Zafar (2009, p. 440), information harv esting, processing, and management reduce the risk of operations. When companies access the right information before investment, they are able to reduce compliance risks. The company can use future derivative to organise how it will acquire various goods and services in the future at a certain price. Sarkar (2012, p. 28) affirms that speedy exchange of information across the industry enables investors to make the right information. Classified information and access to the information systems of oil and gas companies has also been highly controlled. Risk Assessment Modern technology aids in the reduction of variation in governance-risk-compliance. Technology is also an efficient tool in the reduction of operational risk. According to Akhibi (2012, p. 6), the use of real time monitoring technology enables the oil and gas companies to improve the availability of the commodity to customers, reduce operational costs, avoid conflicts with the society and the regulatory authorities, and re duce the risk of demand and supply. Dumaine (2013, p. 102), affirms that oil and gas companies are adopting condition-based monitoring in risk management, which involves positioning various sensors to measure and record the prevailing environmental conditions such as vibration and temperatures (Pinheiro 2011, p. 34). Such sensors enable the oil and gas companies to detect equipment failure in real time. In fact, Srivastava and Gupta (2010, p. 407) assert that the devices are sophisticated to ensure that alert devices either sound the alarm or give work orders to the operations department. Wimalasiri et al. (2010, p. 49) affirm that sensors have enabled many oil companies to avoid the risk of losing billions of money in spillage and leakages. Some oil and gas companies have set up strategic teams to manage any eventuality such as equipment failure and fire outbreaks. Schroeder and Jan (2007, p. 0.1) point out that fire departments are also connected to sensors in order to enable quic k response to eventualities and occurrences. Wimalasiri et al. (2010, 49) argue that predictive maintenance enables the industry to realise when there is the need to purchase certain equipments before the actual damage is done. Various modern technology devices are put in place to detect wear-and-tear and obsoleteness of equipments in the oil industry. Qian, Yulin, and Gonzalez (2012, p. 859) observe that, whenever the devices sense that a gas tank or an oil tank is not up to the set standards, the necessary alert message is sent to the maintenance department for replacement. Srivastava and Gupta (2010, p. 407) affirm that the sensor is also able to compare and analyse the level of functionality of every device in the firm and or give the right report on each. Pinheiro (2011, p. 34) observes that such quick reactions enable the firm to avoid health risks. Risks Control Oil and gas companies have to deal with the increased compliance and regulations facing the industry today. For exa mple, according to Molokwu, Barreria, and Boris (2013, p. 2), in South Africa, tight requirements of reporting on all operations and events of minor accidents and incidents have been an expensive venture for the industry. There are also tight regulations on drilling operations. Oil and gas companies have therefore put in place mechanisms to ensure that the checklist for all regulations is complied with as the government of the area dictates (Chan 2011, p. 341). Such compliance includes registration of the company, authorisation for drilling, construction of the industry, reliability in maintenance of structures such as oil wells, and the ability to remain in the market as a competitive industry (Khan 2010, p. 157). According to Haselip and Martà ­nez (2011, p. 1), politics in a certain nation or state can play a role in the oil and gas industry. The major role that political forces play in the oil and gas industry is to regulate prices. Politicians are opinion leaders who largely b ecome policy makers. Oil and gas industries have therefore put in place mechanisms to work with government in price regulations and policy control. The gas and oil companies have to deal with various environmental and health risk compliance processes. The oil and gas industry also faces the risk of geological inadequacy. In most of the nations and states, the reserve of oil and gas is already tapped out. The risk has also spread in nations that have been exploiting their reserves since they are also in the process of being fully exploited. According to Andersen and Aamnes (2012, p. 2010), companies have therefore put in place methods of ensuring that they comply with the health regulations in their area of investment. Oil is a pollutant to the environment in a double way especially when not well handled. According to Perunović and Jelena (2012, p. 130), the risk of oil spillage in water, for example, during mining or transportation in the sea has been greatly reduced through mod ern technology. Sophisticated mining methods have been employed to ensure no oil spillage during mining. In fact, Perunović and Jelena (2012, p. 130) affirm that modern water vessels have also been adopted in transporting oil through the sea. Khan (2010, p. 157) posits that employees’ health and safety have also been a risk issue in the oil and gas industry. Oil and gas prices are another risk that investors in this industry face. Chen and Jevons (1993, p. 667) argue that prices dictate whether a venture into extracting oil or gas is to be feasible or not. When geological limitations are high, the price risk of extracting oil or gas goes high. Oil and gas companies have therefore ensured high safety standards to employees through education and trainings. According to Molokwu, Barreria, and Boris (2013, p. 2), employees are taught how to protect themselves, how to behave while in the extraction site or in the storage and distribution site, and even how to manage eventualit ies such as fire outbreaks. Chan (2011, p. 341) reveal that oil and gas companies have also ensured that the community living near the mines and storage areas are also informed on management of fire and spillage. According to Hayes and Hopkins (2012, p. 145), oil and gas companies have also made use of resource centres that are set within the industries. Various minds gather in the resource centres to exchange ideas on the problems facing the industry. Schroeder and Jan (2007, p. 0.1) affirm that, unlike in the past when orders came from managers, engineers in today’s industry meet and exchange knowledge on various problems that their firms face. Hayes and Hopkins (2012, p. 145) assert that, with the meeting of engineering experts from various departments, the right solutions are likely to be realised to eliminate various risks facing oil and gas industries for example the geological and price fluctuation risks. The experts will come up with recommendations on the right measu res that the industry should take to avoid risks. Such decisions and recommendations majorly include modification, technological adaptations, planning, and maintenance. With the modern advancement in information technology, cyber crime and information system hacking has posed another risk to the oil and gas industry. According to Akhibi (2012, p. 6), in Nigeria, oil and gas companies have therefore put in place cyber security designs and technologies to mitigate the risk. In oil and gas industries, information system security has been highly integrated with people, processes, data, and systems. Such ventures secure the system to ensure accountability on the side of the operators. Qian, Yulin, and Gonzalez (2012, p. 859) argue that information security also ensures continuous surveillance of the internet protocol openings and filtration of information before it gains access to the main information system of the company. Importance of Managing Risks specifically in Oil and Gas Compani es Based on the information already presented concerning risks and their repercussions if not mitigated, it becomes clear on the need to manage risks by all organisations, leave alone the oil and gas companies. Such risks reduce the ability of the firm to predict the course of business. The oil and gas industry faces various difficulties and tight monitoring by many authorities. Investing in the oil industry is also a very risky venture. In this light of probability of loss in the oil and gas industries, this paper highlights various importance of risk mitigation. Every derivative that oil and gas industries put in place should aim at risk mitigation. The derivatives that a firm takes should be aimed at cautioning the industry from the past, current, and future risks. Kendrick (2012, p. 61) asserts that risk management in oil and gas industries ensures that there is proper compliance with the regulations of the authorities in their place of business. Insuring the business against va rious risks also enables the company to have confidence and security in trade. Such regulations should also be adhered to avoid the risk of regulations and compliance. According to Andersen and Aamnes (2012, p. 2010), managing risks in the oil and gas industry enables the companies to have clear visibility of the current position and the future of the firm. Such a goal can be attained by venturing into future derivatives. The industry should sign for future trading ventures at certain prices with certain companies. Conclusion In conclusion, every business venture is exposed to various risks. Consequently, every business has to put in place various mechanisms to identify, monitor, assess, and control risks. Private enterprise is generally a risky venture. However, as discussed, the oil and gas company is bound to face more risks than any other business. The major risks that affect oil and gas companies include geological risks, political risks, government regulations, and compliance risks, price fluctuation, demand and supply, and natural calamities risk. Oil and gas companies have therefore invested heavily in various risk mitigation measures. Such measures include risk identification, risk assessment, and risk monitoring and control. It is important to manage risks in every business venture. Risks can result in complete loss of business. They can lead to conflicts with the authorities and the communities in the business environment. It is therefore important to comply with the regulatory measures put in place by the regulatory authorities. Insuring the business against various risks is also an important step in risk mitigation. 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Chanmeka, A, Thomas, S, Caldas, C, Mulva, S 2012, ‘Assessing key factors impacting the performance and productivity of oil and gas projects in Alberta’, Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 39 no. 3, pp. 259-270. Chen, K Jevons, C 1993, ‘Financial Ratios and Corporate Endurance: A Case of the Oil and Gas Industryâ€℠¢, Contemporary Accounting Research, vol. 9 no. 2, pp. 667-694. Dumaine, B 2013, ‘Fracking Comes To China’, Fortune, vol. 167 no.6, p. 102. Donaldson, T Schoemaker, P 2013, ‘Self-Inflicted Industry Wounds: Early Warning Signals and Pelican Gambits’, California Management Review, vol. 55 no. 2, pp. 24-45. Haselip, J Martà ­nez, R 2011, ‘Peru’s Amazonian oil and gas industry: risks, interests and the politics of grievance surrounding the development of block 76, Madre de Dios’, International Development Planning Review, vol. 33 no. 1, pp. 1-26. Hayes, J Hopkins, A 2012, ‘Deepwater Horizon — lessons for the pipeline Industry’, Journal of Pipeline Engineering, vol. 11 no. 3, pp. 145-153. Helman, C 2013, ‘The World’s Biggest Gusher’, Forbes, vol. 191 no. 3, pp. 62-68. Kendrick, V 2012, ‘Safety Management in the Oil Gas Industry’, EHS Today, vol. 5 no. 8, pp. 61-62. Khan, M 2010, Ã¢â‚¬Ë œEffects of Human Resource Management Practices on Organisational Performance — An Empirical Study of Oil and Gas Industry in Pakistan’, European Journal of Economics, Finance Administrative Sciences, vol. 1 no. 24, pp. 157-175. McShane, M Anil, N 2011, ‘Rustambekov, Elzotbek (2011). Does Enterprise Risk Management Increase Firm Value?’, Journal of Accounting, Auditing Finance, vol. 26 no. 4, pp. 641-658. Mehemed, E et al. 2012, ‘The Quantity and Quality of Environmental Disclosure in Annual Reports of National Oil and Gas Companies in Middle East and North Africa’, International Journal of Economics Finance, vol. 4 no. 10, pp. 201-217. 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Robb, M 2012, ‘Human factors engineering in oil and gas – a review of industry guidance’, Work, vol. 41 no. 1, pp. 752-762. Sarkar, A 2012, ‘Impact of Total Cost Management on Financial Performance: An Empirica l Study of Selected Public Sector Oil and Gas Companies in India’, Journal of Institute of Public Enterprise, vol. 35 no. 3/4, pp. 28-39. Smistad, R Igor, P 2012, ‘Hedging, Hedge Accounting and Speculation: Evidence from Canadian Oil And Gas Companies’, Global Journal of Business Research (GJBR), vol. 6 no.3, pp. 49-62. Smistad, R Igor, P 2011, ‘Hedging, Hedge Accounting and Speculation: Exploratory Study Based On A Sample Of Western Canadian Oil And Gas’, Global Conference on Business Finance Proceedings’, vol. 6 no. 2, pp. 91-104. Schroeder, B Jan, J 2007, ‘Why Traditional Risk Management Fails in the Oil and Gas Sector: Empirical Front-Line Evidence and Effective Solutions’, AACE International Transactions, vol. 1 no. 2, pp. 01.1-01.6. Srivastava, A Gupta, J 2010, ‘New methodologies for security risk assessment of oil and gas industry’, Process Safety Environmental Protection: Transactions of the Institution of Chemical Engineers Part B, vol. 88 no. 6, pp. 407-412. Taylor, M Kathleen, B 2013, ‘Managing Risks In The Volatile Energy Industry’, RMA Journal, vol. 95 no. 6, pp. 80-84. Wilkinson, A Roland, K 2013, ‘Living In the Futures’, Harvard Business Review, vol. 91 no. 5, pp. 118-127. Wimalasiri, V et al. 2010, ‘Social construction of the aetiology of designer error in the UK oil and gas industry: a stakeholder perspective’, Journal of Engineering Design, vol. 21 no. 1, pp. 49-73. Wood, D 2011, ‘Is the oil and gas industry adequately handling exposure to extreme risks?’, World Oil, vol. 232 no. 10, pp. 113-118. This dissertation on Managing Risks in Oil and Gas Companies was written and submitted by user Farrah J. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, April 13, 2020

Definition Classification Essay Topics - Class Topics

Definition Classification Essay Topics - Class TopicsHow do you determine the best classification essay topics for high school? A lot of students would want to know this. They would ask if there is a way to save time in writing their essay. If the answer is yes, they would not have a clue what to write.Definitions are important in a class, research paper, a research report, an exam, or even in English grammar. These are all examples of classes in which you would need a definition. These class topics are as follows:Meaning: What is the meaning of 'dictionary'. There are definitions given in books and manuals. However, do you have a definition that will help you answer the question, 'What is the meaning of the dictionary'? This can be more useful to your case if you are trying to give a definition for your essay.Definitions are often used in articles. When giving an essay on your favorite sports team, you need to give a definition for 'home run.' You need to define it more specifically . Without one, it is difficult to understand the article, or to give a better explanation.Material: This is probably the most important question when answering these classification essay topics. This will tell you how much you are going to be discussing your subject matter. When you are trying to define your topic, the best method is to compare your definition to the material given in the article.Student's class topics should not be too difficult. Sometimes you need to show how the topic relates to the main class topic. Therefore, you need to have a definition that shows you are showing the class what your topic is about. That is the best method, but if you do not have one, you may have to give an example.Exams: Are you writing your essay topics on a test? Writing good definition essay topics for an exam will be more beneficial to you than to someone who is not writing on a test. Look at the definition you wrote, and see if you have a better one.

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Free Essays on Iphigenia And Today

Our society isn’t much different from the society of the Greeks. In many ways, we are just like them. News stories are given to us in a format much like that of an ancient epic. We are given the meat of the story before we even know how the conflict started, and we are later given the outcome. We can see this in the case of the World Trade Center attacks. We awoke to hear the news of the towers being attacked, but it wasn’t until much later that we found out how and why. We still have yet to hear the end of that story, and I believe it will be quite a while yet before we do. Also, much like the Greeks, we, as Americans, believe we are the best country in the world. Until September 11th, we thought we were untouchable, and now we know we are untouchable as our government tightens our boarders and begins to regulate our means of travel. This is because of our recent â€Å"Trojan Horse:† the men who hijacked the planes were all living within the US. This had made ma ny people wander if we are too easy on foreigners who wish to enter our borders. If the Trojans would have been less allowing with what came through their walls, we might not have to think of them in terms of mythology. While Troy’s lack of forethought was good for the Greeks, it is still a loss for those of us who would have liked to know more about Troy’s past culture. While we resemble the Greeks in many ways, we still need to catch up to them in a few important things. Yes, I said we, not them. While they may not have had the technology of today, I believe their loyalties were in the right places. According to what I have been told in class, they put their gods first. I hardly ever speak to someone nowadays who actually does put his/her god first, be it Jesus, God, or any of the other gods people are worshipping. This is a sad thing to know. If we cannot put the entity that created us first in our lives, then what are our lives good for? The next most important thing... Free Essays on Iphigenia And Today Free Essays on Iphigenia And Today Our society isn’t much different from the society of the Greeks. In many ways, we are just like them. News stories are given to us in a format much like that of an ancient epic. We are given the meat of the story before we even know how the conflict started, and we are later given the outcome. We can see this in the case of the World Trade Center attacks. We awoke to hear the news of the towers being attacked, but it wasn’t until much later that we found out how and why. We still have yet to hear the end of that story, and I believe it will be quite a while yet before we do. Also, much like the Greeks, we, as Americans, believe we are the best country in the world. Until September 11th, we thought we were untouchable, and now we know we are untouchable as our government tightens our boarders and begins to regulate our means of travel. This is because of our recent â€Å"Trojan Horse:† the men who hijacked the planes were all living within the US. This had made ma ny people wander if we are too easy on foreigners who wish to enter our borders. If the Trojans would have been less allowing with what came through their walls, we might not have to think of them in terms of mythology. While Troy’s lack of forethought was good for the Greeks, it is still a loss for those of us who would have liked to know more about Troy’s past culture. While we resemble the Greeks in many ways, we still need to catch up to them in a few important things. Yes, I said we, not them. While they may not have had the technology of today, I believe their loyalties were in the right places. According to what I have been told in class, they put their gods first. I hardly ever speak to someone nowadays who actually does put his/her god first, be it Jesus, God, or any of the other gods people are worshipping. This is a sad thing to know. If we cannot put the entity that created us first in our lives, then what are our lives good for? The next most important thing...

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Emily Dickinson Quotes - Beloved Poems and Selections

Emily Dickinson Quotes - Beloved Poems and Selections Emily Dickinson, reclusive during her lifetime, wrote poetry which she kept private and which was, with few exceptions, unknown until its discovery after her death. Selected Emily Dickinson Quotations This is my letter to the world This is my letter to the world,That never wrote to me,The simple news that Nature told,With tender majesty.Her message is committed,To hands I cannot see;For love of her, sweet countrymen,Judge tenderly of me. If I can stop one heart from breaking If I can stop one heart from breaking,I shall not live in vain:If I can ease one life the aching,Or cool one pain,Or help one fainting robinUnto his nest again,I shall not live in vain. Short Quotes We meet no Stranger, but Ourself The soul should always stand ajar. Ready to welcome the ecstatic experience. To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else. I believe the love of God may be taught not to seem like bears. The Soul selects her own society Im Nobody! Who are you? Im Nobody! Who are you? Are you – Nobody – too? Then theres a pair of us! Dont tell! theyd advertise – you know! How dreary – to be – Somebody! How public – like a Frog – To tell ones name – the livelong June – To an admiring Bog! We never know how high we are We never know how high we areTill we are called to rise;And then, if we are true to plan,Our statures touch the skies.The heroism we reciteWould be a daily thing,Did not ourselves the cubits warpFor fear to be a king. There is no frigate like a book There is no frigate like a bookTo take us lands away,Nor any coursers like a pageOf prancing poetry.This traverse may the poorest takeWithout oppress of toll;How frugal is the chariotThat bears a human soul! Success is counted sweetest Success is counted sweetestBy those who ne’er succeed.To comprehend a nectarRequires sorest need.Not one of all the purple hostWho took the flag to-dayCan tell the definition,So clear, of victory,As he, defeated, dying,On whose forbidden earThe distant strains of triumphBreak, agonized and clear. Some keep the Sabbath going to church Some keep the Sabbath going to church;I keep it staying at home,With a bobolink for a chorister,And an orchard for a dome.Some keep the Sabbath in surplice;I just wear my wings,And instead of tolling the bell for church,Our little sexton sings.God preaches, - a noted clergyman, - And the sermon is never long;So instead of getting to heaven at last,I’m going all along! The brain is wider than the sky The brain is wider than the sky,For, put them side by side,The one the other will includeWith ease, and you beside.The brain is deeper than the sea,For, hold them, blue to blue,The one the other will absorb,As sponges, buckets do.The brain is just the weight of God,For, lift them, pound for pound,And they will differ, if they do,As syllable from sound. Faith is a fine invention Faith is a fine inventionWhen Gentlemen can see - But Microscopes are prudentIn an Emergency. Faith: variant Faith is a fine inventionFor gentlemen who see;But microscopes are prudentIn an emergency. Hope is the thing with feathers Hope is the thing with feathersThat perches in the soul,And sings the tune without the words,And never stops at all,And sweetest in the gale is heard;And sore must be the stormThat could abash the little birdThat kept so many warm.I’ve heard it in the chillest land,And on the strangest sea;Yet, never, in extremity,It asked a crumb of me. Look back on time with kindly eyes Look back on time with kindly eyes,He doubtless did his best;How softly sinks his trembling sunIn human nature’s west! Afraid? Of whom am I afraid? Afraid? Of whom am I afraid?Not death; for who is he?The porter of my father’s lodgeAs much abasheth me.Of life? ‘T were odd I fear a thingThat comprehendeth meIn one or more existencesAt Deity’s decree.Of resurrection? Is the eastAfraid to trust the mornWith her fastidious forehead?As soon impeach my crown! The right to perish might be thought The right to perish might be thoughtAn undisputed right,Attempt it, and the Universe upon the oppositeWill concentrate its officers - You cannot even die,But Nature and Mankind must pauseTo pay you scrutiny. Love is anterior to life Love - is anterior to Life - Posterior - to Death - Initial of Creation, andThe Exponent of Earth. The last night that she lived The last night that she lived,It was a common night,Except the dying; this to usMade nature different.We noticed smallest things, - Things overlooked before,By this great light upon our mindsItalicized, as ’t were.That others could existWhile she must finish quite,A jealousy for her aroseSo nearly infinite.We waited while she passed;It was a narrow time,Too jostled were our souls to speak,At length the notice came.She mentioned, and forgot;Then lightly as a reedBent to the water, shivered scarce,Consented, and was dead.And we, we placed the hair,And drew the head erect;And then an awful leisure was,Our faith to regulate. A word is dead A word is deadWhen it is said,Some say.I say it justBegins to liveThat day. Short Selections Of shunning Men and Women - they talk of Hallowed things, aloud - and embarrass my Dog - He and I dont object to them, if theyll exist their side. I think Carlo would please you - He is dumb, and brave - I think you would like the Chestnut Tree, I met in my walk. It hit my notice suddenly - and I thought the Skies were in Blossom - For my companions - the Hills - Sir - and the Sundown - and a Dog - large as myself, that my Father bought me - They are better than Beings - because they know - but do not tell. Behind Me - dips Eternity - Before Me - Immortality - Myself - the Term between - Susan Gilbert Dickinson to Emily Dickinson in 1861, If a nightingale sings with her breast against a thorn, why not we? Because I could not stop for Death Because I could not stop for Death,He kindly stopped for me;The carriage held but just ourselvesAnd Immortality.We slowly drove, he knew no haste,And I had put awayMy labor, and my leisure too,For his civility.We passed the school where children playedAt wrestling in a ring;We passed the fields of gazing grain,We passed the setting sun.We paused before a house that seemedA swelling of the ground;The roof was scarcely visible,The cornice but a mound.Since then ’t is centuries; but eachFeels shorter than the dayI first surmised the horses’ headsWere toward eternity. My life closed twice before its closeor, Parting is all we know of heaven My life closed twice before its close;It yet remains to seeIf Immortality unveilA third event to me,So huge, so hopeless to conceive,As these that twice befell.Parting is all we know of heaven,And all we need of hell. About These Quotes Quote collection assembled by Jone Johnson Lewis. This is an informal collection assembled over many years. I regret that I am not be able to provide the original source if it is not listed with the quote.

Sunday, February 16, 2020

An Organisational and Strategic Analysis of British Airways Essay

An Organisational and Strategic Analysis of British Airways - Essay Example British Airways realises its strong position on the international airlines market, however, its management is also well aware of the constant competition with other companies. Therefore, over the last decade we were able to follow the well-considered steps of the BA management aimed to hold the position of the company and advance it further of the airlines market. Let’s for example, investigate the technical advancement of the company. Realising that currently the market conditions remain for the greater part unchanged the management of BA decided to perfect in the technical perspective. Thus, Strategic Development British Airways began the expansion of the longhaul fleet of the company. The first step in this was the decision of purchase four Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft, which are supposed to make the first flights in early 2009. These technical advances aim to provide better competitive position of the company on the international market / About British Airways, 2007/. However, in this research I’m not going to dwell on the introduction of technical news and expansion of the air fleet of the company. Instead I would like to discuss the changes, which were introduced in the structure, organisation and management of the company, which are aimed to prompt the development and better performance of the company. British Airways realizes the necessity to improve its management and the qualification level of its employees. Therefore, I can say that BA is indeed able to foresee its future needs by identifying the skills and knowledge requirements to each employee and then match need with opportunity. British Airways views the work as a proper occasion to train its employees. In order to provide decent training and enable the employees to learn the company researches and develops new techniques) and seeks to obtain external

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Population and immigration in relation to hospitality market in the UK Essay

Population and immigration in relation to hospitality market in the UK - Essay Example People1st, the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the hospitality, leisure, travel, and tourism sector, UK, envisages an additional 15,000 new jobs between 2002 and 2012, in addition to the 846,000 replacement jobs lost through labor turnover. AGCAS also believes industry will require 30,000-35,000 trained people at management and supervisory level year on year until 2010. Meeting labor requirement is a perennial problem in the industry. This essay will examine why this sector is not popular with the British local people and why there are so many immigrants in this industry. The rationale for the labor requirement can partly be attributed to the Olympic Games being held in London in 2012 (People 1st). According to Lockwood and Guernier (1990), Travel and Tourism analysts, hospitality sector in the developed countries are experiencing labor shortages and can expect to face greater shortages in the future (cited by Choi et al, 2000). The world has shrunk due to advanced technologies and hence finding labor round the globe is easier than it used to be. Due to globalization and free market economy, the recruitment strategy too has to undergo change. Migration of labor worldwide in the hospitality industry is very common. According to People 1st, 11 percent employers find it difficult to fill up the vacancies, as there are not enough people interested in the jobs. Not many skilled people can be found in this industry, and this is a customer-driven industry. Customer satisfaction in this industry is vital. This sector traditionally recruits a young workforce yet the biggest challenge that this sector faces is that of skills shortages. Skills in this industry range from the unskilled porter to the highly skilled managers. The majority comprises the unskilled staff including the food and bar service staff, semi-skilled including the commercial and clerical staff and the kitchen staff (Choi et al). While

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Features of C++ in programming

Features of C++ in programming Ans1. Unique features of C++ : Encapsulation: It is the process of combining data and functions into a single unit called class. Using the method of encapsulation, the programmer cannot directly access the data rather data is accessible through the functions present inside the class. It led to the important concept of data hiding. Abstraction: It is one of the most powerful and vital features provided by object-oriented C++ programming language. The main idea behind data abstraction is to give a clear separation between properties of datatype and the associated implementation details. Polymorphism: It is the ability to use an operator or function in different ways. Poly, referring to many uses of these operators and functions. A single function usage or an operator functioning in many ways can be called polymorphism. Inheritance: It is the process by which new classes called derived classes are created from existing classes called base classes. The derived classes have all the features of the base class and the programmer can choose to add new features specific to the newly created derived classes. C++ better than C: Stronger typing: the type system in C++ is stronger than in C. This prevents many common programming errors coupled with the next very important feature, the stronger type system even manages not be an inconvenience. A Bigger standard library: C++ allows the full use of the standard library. It includes the Standard Template Library. Parameterized types: the template keyword allows the programmer to write generic implementations of algorithms. Data and methods to edit the data act as one entity i.e. by the usage of classes. Limiting scope of data i.e. by using private/public variables. Constructors and destructors for defining default behaviour of entities. Ques2. Demonstrate the use of Inline Functions and Function Overloading. Ans2. An Inline function is a function that is expanded in line when it is invoked. This kind of function is used to save the memory space which becomes appreciable when a function is likely to be called a number of times. It is used to eliminate the cost of calls to small functions. Normally, a function call transfers the control from the calling program to the function and after the execution of the program returns the control back to the calling program after the function call but in inline function, when the program is compiled, the code present in the function body is replaced in place of the function call. Syntax: inline datatype function_name(arguments) { function body } Example: #include #include inline float mul(float x, float y) { return (x*y); } inline double div(double p, double q) { return (p/q); } int main() { clrscr(); float a= 12.345; float b= 9.82; cout