Wednesday 11 December 2002

UKOOA Announces Executive Officers for 2003

The UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA), the representative body for UK offshore oil and gas exploration and production companies, today announces the names of the eleven senior industry managers who will form its Executive Committee for 2003.

Bruce Dingwall, chief executive of Venture Production plc, becomes the Associations new President, taking over from Michel Contie, managing director of TotalFinaElf Exploration UK from today (11 December 2002).

He will lead the team of eleven executive officers who each take responsibility for reporting to UKOOA Council on key policy issues being addressed by the Associations policy groups and committees. Five will also represent the exploration and production companies on PILOT, the government industry initiative chaired by Energy Minister Brian Wilson. All will be members of the Industry Leadership Team (ILT) that supports PILOT.

Bruce Dingwall said: "This is an exciting time to be elected President of UKOOA. The UKCS is open for business and the industry is proving that late-stage provinces like the North Sea can be a dynamic environment. A new generation of oil and gas independents, together with the established operators, are creating jobs and generating commercial and fiscal revenues. These new enterprises are continuing the tradition of using the UKCS as a nursery for developing operational skills to translate into the international arena. I look forward to working with UKOOA members to drive forward industry standards and build upon its relationship with government and stakeholders."

James May, UKOOA Director-General, said: Future development in the North Sea will be increasingly characterised by small, entrepreneurial niche players working alongside long established companies to maximise economic recovery of the UKs remaining reserves. Bruce Dingwalls election as UKOOA President for 2003 reflects this trend and gives a key voice to the independents in an executive team which has great strength overall. The year ahead holds major challenges for the Industry and the balance of companies represented in UKOOAs officials will ensure that the Association will continue to play vital role in shaping the future of oil and gas in the UK.

UKOOAs 2003 Executive Officers and their responsibilities are:

President

Bruce Dingwall,Chief Executive, Venture Production plc

PILOT, ILT

Vice President

Michel Contie, Managing Director, TotalFinaElf Exploration UK

PILOT, ILT

Vice President

Paul Blakeley, General Manager, Talisman Energy (UK) Limited

PILOT, co-chair ILT

Honorary Treasurer

Beverly Mentzer, Manager, Joint Interest UK, ExxonMobil International Ltd

ILT, Fiscal Policy Group

Executive Officers

Alan Booth, Managing Director, EnCana (UK) Ltd

ILT, Economic Advisory Group/Exploration

Tom Botts, Managing Director,Shell U.K. Exploration and Production

PILOT, ILT, Step Change in Safety Leadership Team

Jonathan Legg, Group Managing Director, Consort Resources Ltd

ILT

John Michell, Director, Agip (UK) Ltd

ILT, Gas Policy Group, Sustainability Policy Group

Chuck Taylor, General Manager, ChevronTexaco Upstream Europe

ILT, Technical work programme

Les Thomas, President, Marathon Oil (UK) Ltd

ILT, OSPAR, Environment, Technician Training

Scott Urban, Group Vice President, BP plc

PILOT, ILT, Economic Advisory Group/Brown Fields

Notes to Editors

1. The UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) is the representative organisation for the UK offshore oil and gas industry. Its 28 members are licensed by the British Government to explore for and produce hydrocarbons in UK waters.

2. Bruce Dingwall, Chief Executive, Venture Production plc, has more than 18 years experience in the petroleum industry, including almost a decade in senior management positions around the world. Before forming Venture in 1997, he worked with LASMO plc, where he served as Business Development Manager for Asia, Vice President of Exploration for Indonesia, and Exploration Manager for Pakistan. During this time, Bruce successfully established LASMO as a key player in Pakistan and led the effort to establish a new LASMO company in Indonesia.

Bruce began his career as a geophysicist with Exxon working on the North Sea in the United Kingdom.

For more information, please call 020 7802 2400.