Maneesha Maharaj
Director, GSTT
Well engineer (former exploration geoscientist), Shell TT Ltd
LONG celebrated for its rich hydrocarbon resources and a century-long legacy of oil and gas, TT, like many other mature production provinces, is tasked with reimagining its future in a world steadily moving towards cleaner, low-carbon, sustainable energy solutions while grappling the dual challenge of continuous resource maturation. The energy sector has always been subject to strong cyclicity, being linked to and affected by global financial, political and epidemiological events and supply and demand dynamics.
Today's situation is by no means novel, and much can be learnt from the past as we navigate the future. Notable downturns impacting employment and skill development occurred in the 1986 and 2014 oil price crash events, the 2008 financial crisis and the covid19 pandemic, all of which saw significant imbalance in the demand and supply of fossil fuels. Recovery typically spanned five to ten years and were riddled with expertise gaps. The accompanying timeline gives more detail into the cyclicity of the oil and gas industry over the last 155 years.
As for the evolution of a preferred energy profile, today we see the demand for sustainable and renewable energy sources, but historically, the world has experienced transitions from primitive sources (wood and straw for heating), into coal mining with the Industrial Revolution, supplementation with renewable energy in more advanced and first world nations (wind farms, geothermal harvesting) and nuclear power generation before entering the era of hydrocarbons as we know it. At the heart of these transitions, technological advancements drive the economics behind preferred energy sources, and morph the energy landscape towards sustainable, cost-effective solutions.
Preparing the TT's workforce for the next energy era is not a task for tomorrow - it is a priority for today. While some key technical, business and leadership skills are easily transferable between the traditional oil and gas industry and the upcoming era of renewables and sustainability, a host of new skill sets will be required over the coming years to satisfy the ever-critical demand for energy.
When asked his thoughts on the profile of a futuristic energy professional, Stephen Jagdeo, geophysicist at Heritage said, 'Next generation graduates in the energy sector must give themselves the competitive edge by being multi-skilled, oftentimes with tertiary qualifications spanning several interrelated disciplines. They should demonstrate interest in artificial intelligence, Python programming and data analytics/science. These are fast becoming standard requirements. Strong interest in CCUS and renewables will certainly be a plus.'
A non-exhaustive list of technical upcoming career paths is shared below.
1. Carbon management and energy transition
● Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) - Reservoir screening for CO₂ storage, well integrity for injection, and monitoring
