Welcome to our ONS edition of Scandinavian Oil-Gas Magazine!

Yes, there are other conferences and exhibitions between now and the next issue, but few working in the North Sea oil and gas industry would claim that that they are bigger or more significant than ONS.And this year’s ONS promises to be the best ever (they always do get better and better...).

We’ve worked to make this an issue that will be useful for everyone attending ONS 2004. But if you can’t be there, this issue is for you as well. We’ve tried to anticipate some of the topics that will be discussed within and outside the formal programme – topics that you might overhear in the exhibition hall, in your hotel lobby or while enjoying Stavanger’s night life.

We’ve begun with a series of interviews. First, we had the honour of an interview with the new Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Thorhild Widvey. No less an honour, we also have an interview with Sylvia Brustad of the Norwegian Parliament. Together, these two interviews provide an up-to-the-minute portrait of the Norwegian government’s position on the NCS.

From industry, Executive Vice President of Norsk Hydro, Tore Torvund, relates how Hydro views the not-too-distant future. And Programme Director Morten Wiencke explains how Demo 2000 supports the oil and gas industry via co-ordination of expertise and funding for field testing. The new Secretary General of the Norwegian Petroleum Society, Gro Mjellem, rounds out this series helping us to understand how the Society is a driving force in building networks, for uniting experts and for the sharing of information.

When reading these interviews, it’s easy to see that there’s no lack optimism for the future. Taken all together, these interviews, in the light of the Petroleum and Energy Ministry’s white paper this past spring, help to illuminate a pivotal time in the NCS. And this is only the beginning. We have forecasts: marketing the NCS, oil supplies and a mid-year analysis, among others. These bring the industry expert’s view on current issues and concerns for the North Sea oil and gas industry. These analysts may not absolutely agree, but you’ll find their discussion points thought provoking.

As for technology, pipelines, composites, oil-spill surveillance, drilling and subsea separation are only a few of the topics included in this issue.As you explore the exhibition hall at ONS 2004, be sure to visit those companies that made technical contributions to this issue. Company representatives will certainly be on hand to provide more information.

When is comes to ONS,we of course we have an in-depth preview of the ONS 2004 conference, including insight from ONS General Kjell Ursin-Smith, as well as an overview of places of interest in Stavanger and the Stavanger Oil Festival.

Hopefully, if you can’t attend ONS 2004,we’ve managed to make you wish you had....