In 2019, Russia supplied 13% of the UK’s energy across LNG, electricity, gas, and oil. However, as of 2023, the UK has now banned the imports of Russian fuel into the country. This has placed a strain on home-run oil and gas companies to pick up the remaining fuel demands.
Whether looking to specialise in an industry significant to the functioning of the UK or want to get involved in the shift the sector is seeing towards renewable energy, oil and gas as an industry is a lucrative one for jobseekers.
Here, we will explore some oil and gas locations in and off the mainland of the United Kingdom and who owns them.
Onshore
London
While not a conventional place for oil and gas industry jobseekers to explore, the capital hosts many of the largest companies in the industry, including EnQuest Plc and Shell headquarters. This area focuses on the internals of the business rather than the production.
Here, you can find jobs in finance, HR, or even strategy – making it a great place for anyone with prior business experience wanting to get started in a new industry or for someone with prior engineering experience who can help streamline processes.
Wytch Farm, Dorset
The largest onshore oil field in western Europe is the Wytch Farm in Dorset. This location sits 17 miles from Poole and six miles from Wareham. As of 2012, there are over 100 wells across 13 sites, making it a great place for anyone looking to work in the oil and gas industry. French company Perenco owns the majority of production in this field.
As a functioning oil and gas station that pipes oil and methane elsewhere, this location is good for workers looking to experience pipeline management, engineering, or drilling. For those with specialist experience, this is a prime location for your skills.
Aberdeen harbour
Aberdeen’s Harbour is a perfect example of a location ripe for job seekers looking to make a difference. Not only is it a highly renowned port for its role in the supply chain of oil and gas, but it has also made its efforts towards the decarbonisation of the sector.
This makes it a good location for skilled tradespeople and those looking to develop their skills in renewable energy and contribute to the transition that the oil and gas industry is currently undergoing.
Offshore
Buzzard Field
The UK can also offer many offshore job opportunities. Just off the coast of Aberdeen, you can find Buzzard Field, one of the country’s highest producers of oil and gas. This is situated approximately 100 kilometres from the Aberdeen coastline, and it has produced the equivalent of over 800 barrels of oil and expects to carry on production until the past 2040 – making it a strong location to start a long-term career in.
No matter the type of job you are looking for in the oil and gas industry, there is a wide variety across the UK, from working offshore and getting to experience the North Sea with the Buzzard Field and surrounding oil and gas developments to city life working in London on behalf of an oil and gas company. These jobs can vary from permanent to interim, offshore and onshore, and skilled technical work to administrative duties.
