Ebola Epidemic Threatens Oil Production, Global Oil Supply

Now it's about money, and oil, maybe somebody will do something.

Ebola Threat May Hit Oil and Gas E&P Offshore West Africa

09/10/2014

LONDON – Consultants GlobalData reports oil and gas exploration and production in parts of West Africa are under increasing risk due to the failure to contain the Ebola virus.

John Sisa, lead analyst covering Upstream Oil & Gas in the Sub-Saharan region, said many of the E&P operations depend heavily on expatriates working and living in the region. Some operators may withdraw personnel and halt activities, he suggested, until the Ebola situation is controlled in the countries presently most affected.

“Although most of the drilling in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia occurs offshore in water depths ranging from 300-4,500 m (984-14,764 ft), almost all oil workers are based in onshore stations, exposing them to Ebola. Oil workers who are local nationals and return to their onshore homes in dangerous, infected zones could bring the virus to the drillships and platforms when reporting for duty.”

Sisa said Nigeria was the only country in the region with sufficient resources to contain the outbreak, but even there a risk remains of an uncontrolled spread of the virus. As the world’s eighth largest crude oil producer, there is a substantial threat of supply disruption should the virus spread further in the country, he pointed out.

“Almost 80% of Nigeria’s total oil production comes from offshore areas, while the remaining portion comes from onshore areas considered high-risk Ebola zones. If the outbreak spreads further, it could potentially disrupt all Nigerian onshore oil production, equivalent to $40 million per day.”

In the worst case, Sisa said, Ebola may spread to East Africa, endangering operations in Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Uganda.

West Africa oil industry at risk of Ebola exposure

….Nigeria, a member of OPEC and a global oil giant, has 21 cases with 7 deaths. Sisa noted that Nigeria is the only country with sufficient resources to contain Ebola, though that does not mean the virus is incapable of spreading. This possibility could have a significant impact on oil production, and therefore global supply.

They better start researching ways of being able to do this kind of work remotely. Nuclear industry has had to do this since the early days, and the offshore industry has to use ROV's or divers in pressure suits.

a reply to: stormcell

lol. Sounds like a pitch for robotic perfection over flawed humanity. Not my priority here, but thanks for your input.

They will use any excuse to jack gas prices up.

They aren't looking to stop ebola they just want to utilize the popular conduit to your wallet.

a reply to: soficrow

I am imagining a potential scenario with pharmaceutical companies pitted against the natural-resource plunderers.

The US is oil happy so
Nothing

a reply to: soficrow

DOOM DOOM...DOOM DOOM....DOOM DOOM (Jaws theme)


DOOM DOOM DOOM, DOOOOOMMM!! (the doom doom doom...doooooomm theme)

a reply to: drwill

Bare knuckles or Marquis of Queensbury rules? Is kicking allowed?

I might pay to watch that.....

a reply to: bbracken677


Kicking, pinching, underhanded punches, and a big, ole mud fight.

a reply to: drwill

Yeah, I'd pay to watch that!

Or I could just watch Rice n wife... that's free lol

Or..it could be big pharma vs consumers! Man! What a lopsided mess that would be!

After all, consumers are just as responsible as anyone for the plundering of resources, no?

a reply to: drwill

Betcha they're working together. Betcha more that when you get to the top of the pyramid you'll find they have the same parent company.

a reply to: soficrow
It's as if The Constant Gardener and The Lorax had a baby!

Erm. I don't make this stuff up -

the source article came from Offshore Magazine, a business publication for the oil industry.

...Companies are trying to decide whether or not to pull their people out.

a reply to: [post=18398783]soficrow[/post
Your research has been impeccable. Just wish the data wasn't so grim.

originally posted by: soficrow
a reply to: stormcell

lol. Sounds like a pitch for robotic perfection over flawed humanity. Not my priority here, but thanks for your input.

Offshore accommodation vessels would be another solution. No need to travel through those countries
www.techweekeurope.co.uk...

originally posted by: drwill
a reply to: soficrow
It's as if The Constant Gardener and The Lorax had a baby!

lol

a reply to: stormcell

But what about the Nigerian onshore oil production, equivalent to $40 million per day - even at only 20% of production? And this bit?

Oil workers who are local nationals and return to their onshore homes in dangerous, infected zones could bring the virus to the drillships and platforms when reporting for duty.

And how about East Africa, and the potential for endangering operations in Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Uganda?

a reply to: soficrow
As this news hits home, I think the "window" for stamping out Ebola has slammed shut. And the virus's window of opportunity is inching its way open.

originally posted by: drwill
a reply to: soficrow
As this news hits home, I think the "window" for stamping out Ebola has slammed shut. And the virus's window of opportunity is inching its way open.

There never was the possibility of "stamping out" Ebola - it's endemic to Africa. The hope is to stop the epidemic and prevent Ebola's evolution to airborne. ....The longer it spreads, and the more human hosts it infects, the more likely it will become airborne in humans.

a reply to: soficrow
Yes, absolutely. I meant the current outbreak and worded it poorly.