Elevated risks: newer dangers for oil and gas players
The range of disputes that the industry is experiencing is evolving with the onset of environmental and climate change concerns. Currently the industry is defending an ever-growing list of climate change cases as activists begin to be more assertive, often through judicial review challenges. In 2020, several judicial reviews were brought by environmental campaigners seeking to limit or prevent oil and gas exploration activity.
Allied to this, The CMS Oil and Gas Disputes Survey respondents identify protestor disruption as a major area of risk for oil and gas players. A range of protest actions have occurred seeking to disrupt both onshore and offshore oil and gas operations, including in the fracking industry.
The CMS Oil and Gas Disputes Survey participants also acknowledge the risks associated with tax disputes, which arise in large part because international tax regimes relating to the oil and gas sector are hugely complex and increasingly so.
"Relationship building is critical."
Senior Lawyer at a global oil services company
Oil and Gas Disputes Survey: Managing disputes risk – the in-house perspective
- Key Findings of the CMS oil & gas disputes survey
- Geography: Complex environments deliver financial rewards but higher risks
- Where do the disputes come from?
- Interview with Johanna Coelho, Legal Manager, PetroRio
- Operational problems: activities and relationships that can lead to disputes
- Elevated risks: newer dangers for oil and gas players
- Interview with Duncan Holland, Head of Legal, Cairn Energy
- Risk mitigation: limiting the fallout
- Interview with Sandra Redding, General Counsel, Seadrill
- Riding out the storm
