Special reports

The mining industry faces new challenges, such as winning a social licence to operate. Andrew Wheeler, Mining Practice Leader, Willis, explains.

Mark Guest, OilCareers.com, UK, addresses the downstream recruitment conundrum, arguing that a shift towards ‘unconventionals’ provides fresh opportunities but greater demands.

GBI Research, UK, discusses the current rig deployment scenario and explain how rig designs promoting improved safety and increased operational capabilities are key to newbuild orders.

Linus Adler, Energy Edge Ltd, considers how near we are to peak coal production.

International Process Plants, USA, describes converting refinery residues into clean syngas.

Dr Andrew Minchener OBE, IEA Clean Coal Centre, UK, explains methods for controlling non-greenhouse gas emissions from Chinese coal-fired power plants.

Iraq and Kurdistan offers considerable and growing opportunity for the drilling and oilfield services industry

DNV has taken the initiative to develop a Recommended Practice to address risks associated with shale gas extraction.

Neel Kamal Goyal, Ernst & Young Pvt. Ltd, India, considers how energy imports will affect India’s fuel crisis.

Effective risk management in the coal industry is all about people. To succeed, you need to embed a risk-aware culture and make the risk process simple and relevant so that it becomes part of everyone’s daily job. Loren Padelford, Active Risk, US, explains further.

Canada’s coal sector has the potential for a tremendous future – but it also faces tremendous challenges. Gordon Cope takes a closer look at the industry’s gathering momentum.

New research commissioned by GL Noble Denton reveals senior oil and gas professionals’ confidence, priorities and fears for 2013.

International Process Plants, USA, describes the benefits of a peak shaving plant.

Except for Mexico, natural gas, and indeed all hydrocarbons, has been largely ignored in Central America. However, the region could nevertheless hold tremendous potential, suggests Gordon Cope, Contributing Editor.

Gregory H. Boyce, chairman and CEO of Peabody Energy, US, takes a look at the long-term outlook for coal and explains why there are reasons to be optimistic.