BPA, LLC
LONGBOAT KEY, FLORIDA

How Air BP helped make aviation history with Qantas for the first non-stop flight between Australia and Europe Discovered in 1953, the supergiant oilfield of Rumaila remains one of Iraq’s most significant natural assets – but decades of conflict left their mark on the oil-rich southern region of the country, where Basra – Iraq’s second largest city – is also located. To help rebuild Basra and the rest of Iraq after the war years, part of the answer lay in reviving and radically increasing production from the country’s main oilfields. In January 2008, the Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced the first Iraqi Petroleum Licensing Round. The bid round resulted in just one licence being awarded – to BP and its partner PetroChina. The partners teamed up with Iraq’s South Oil Company (SOC) and State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO) to breathe new life into the Rumaila field, 50 kilometres (30 miles) to the west of Basra. In November 2009, the partners signed a 20-year technical services contract (extended last year until 2034) and the Rumaila Operating Organization (ROO) was created in mid-2010 to deliver upon that contract. The gradual transformation of the field began and, five years on, the multinational team is marking the milestone. 1. Production on the up Since 2010, oil production has increased by more than one third. That means over 2.2 billion barrels have been produced during the five-year period – currently at an average rate of 1.35 million barrels of oil every day. Oil production at Rumaila has generated some $200 billion for the state over the past five years. Rumaila currently produces around a third of Iraq’s oil. Beyond the nation’s finances, well over $3 billion and more than 350 contracts have also been awarded to Iraqi suppliers. In 2014, the total value of contracts awarded to Iraqi companies was $837 million - up 35% on the previous year. As of mid-2015, some 200 new wells have been drilled at the oil field and 144 electrical submersible pumps installed to boost production. All 14 degassing station facilities are also under renovation, repair or refurbishment to make sure they operate safely, reliably and efficiently. Across the oilfield, the Rumaila workforce now operates in an environment with international standards of health and safety. Deputy general manager, BP’s Marc Hornbrook, adds: “Rumaila is a tangible example of how international oil companies can support state-owned operations by working collaboratively. "With current production levels averaging around 1.35 million barrels a day – from just below a million five years ago – this is evidence that the partnership is working and continues to operate in service to the Iraqi people.” How Air BP helped make aviation history with Qantas for the first non-stop flight between Australia and Europe “The demand for energy will grow over the next 20 years, driven by the expansion in the global economy. As the world economy grows, more energy will be needed to fuel that higher level of activity. Faster gains in energy efficiency are likely to dampen some of this growth. And, there remains considerable uncertainty as to how quickly global gross domestic product (GDP) will increase. But, even in a world of far slower growth, we’re still likely to see steady, material increases in energy demand.” 3. Time for action: carbon emissions growth from energy set to slow… “The growth rate of carbon emissions from energy is expected to more than halve over the next 20 years, compared with the last two decades. This reflects two factors: faster gains in energy efficiency and the shift towards lower-carbon fuels. On the most likely path, however, carbon emissions continue to increase, indicating the need for further policy action.” “Fossil fuels will remain the dominant source of energy powering the world economy. The demand for oil will continue to grow over the next 20 years, largely stemming from the strong growth in developing economies. The story is a simple one: as those economies get wealthier, vehicle ownership increases and oil products are needed to fuel those cars and motorcycles. We think gas is likely to become the fastest-growing fossil fuel over the next 20 years. That is helped by strong growth in supplies – US shale gas, for example, and liquefied natural gas which is far more tradable – as well as increasing environmental regulation, that encourages the switch away from carbon-intensive fuels, such as coal.” How Air BP helped make aviation history with Qantas for the first non-stop flight between Australia and Europe The Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) programme, introduced nationally in 2006, is about turning good intentions into real actions, providing businesses with the opportunity to formalise their organisation’s contribution to reconciliation by identifying clear actions with realistic targets. Since its launch, more than 350 Australian corporations, governments and community organisations have joined – and BP is among them. BP Australia has published two RAPs to date. The first, in 2011, formalised the business’s ongoing commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Vice president for sales and marketing, Mike McGuinness, explains further: “The decision to incorporate a Reconciliation Action Plan into BP’s business process helps address the issues of disadvantage, is morally the right thing to do, meets our responsibility to our stakeholders and makes good business sense.” "The decision to incorporate a Reconciliation Action Plan into BP’s business process helps address the issues of disadvantage, is morally the right thing to do, meets our responsibility to our stakeholders and makes good business sense." Launched in 2014, BP’s second RAP outlines detailed actions and targets in four areas where the business believes it can make the most difference: improving cultural awareness, developing supplier diversity, creating pathways to employment, and continuing to supply Opal – a low aromatic fuel designed to reduce petrol sniffing in remote communities.