Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing

RESEARCH PROPOSAL FOR MSc OIL AND GAS MANAGEMENT

PROPOSED TITLE: ANALYSIS OF THE GLOBAL FACTORS THAT IMPACT

SUSTAINABILITY DECISION-MAKING IN THE UK OIL AND GAS SECTOR.

CANDIDATE NAME:

i
 Table of Contents

Table of Contents..............................................................................................................................i

Introduction......................................................................................................................................1

Research gaps...............................................................................................................................3

Research questions.......................................................................................................................3

Research Aim...............................................................................................................................4

Research Objectives.....................................................................................................................4

Methodology....................................................................................................................................5

Rationale of the project design.....................................................................................................5

Data Collection............................................................................................................................5

Data analysis................................................................................................................................5

Research Justification..................................................................................................................7

Flowchart:....................................................................................................................................7

Ethics and Risk assessment.............................................................................................................8

Reference.......................................................................................................................................10

i
 Introduction

Sustainability is an increasingly important goal for businesses in the United Kingdom

including oil and gas sector. One of the major global factors that influence sustainability

decision-making in the UK oil and gas sector is the price of oil (Ahmad, Rezaei, Sadaghiani, &

Tavasszy, 2017). The price of oil is highly volatile and can have a significant impact on the

profitability of the oil and gas sector. As such, companies need to assess the current price of oil

and consider the potential future price movements when making decisions regarding

sustainability. Additionally, the changing global political and economic landscape can have a

major impact on the price of oil and consequently, the sustainability decision-making of the oil

and gas sector.

The UK oil and gas Industry is one of the significant contributors to the global economy

and is estimated to account for approximately 20% of total energy consumption in the entire

United Kingdom (Asif & Muneer, 2007). Due to its large scale and impact on the environment,

understanding the factors that influence sustainability decision-making in the sector is therefore

essential.

It is approximated that the UK gas and oil industries usually contribute approximately

£14 billion annually to the UK economy (UKOOG, 2018). The oil and gas sector is highly

regulated and is subjected to stringent environmental regulations. In recent years, the Oil sector

has been under greater scrutiny from the public and government due to its environmental impact.

This has led to an increased emphasis on sustainability in the oil and gas sector, with an

emphasis on reducing the environmental impact of operations and improving the sector's overall

sustainability performance.

1
 The sector needs to be more aware of the global forces influencing sustainability

decision-making, though. By examining the worldwide determinants that have an impact on

sustainable selection in the UK oil and gas sector, this research proposal aims to fill this

knowledge gap.

The worldwide variables that affect sustainability decision-making in the UK oil and gas

business have been the subject of several studies. According to a research by the Energy and

Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU, 2019), if more appropriate policies and investments were put in

place, the UK industry for oil and gas could reduce its emissions by up to 50% by 2030. In

particular, several studies have focused on the impact of international laws and regulations on the

sector.

Lloyd (2009) examined the impact of the European Union's (EU) environmental

regulations on the UK oil and gas sector. He found out that the EU's environmental regulations

significantly impacted the oil and gas sector, leading to reduced emissions, improved safety and

increased sustainability performance. Sjöström (2018) also looked into how global climate

change laws might affect the UK oil and gas industry. He discovered that the enactment of

climate change legislation has changed the emphasis to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and

raising investments in renewable energy sources.

However, there is a need for greater comprehension of the other global elements, such as

political and economic ones, that have an impact on sustainable decision-making in the industry

(Biresselioglu, Kaplan, & Yilmaz, 2018). By examining the global determinants that have an

impact on sustainable decision-making in the UK oil and gas sector, this research proposal aims

to fill this knowledge gap.

2
 By concentrating on the economic, political, and legal aspects that affect sustainability

decision-making in the industry, the proposal will build on the body of prior research. It will

offer insightful information about the universal elements affecting sector-wide sustainability

decisions. It will make it possible for the oil and gas sector to better comprehend the overall

context of sustainable decision-making.

Research gaps

1. Limited understanding of the global factors that influence sustainability

decision-making in the UK oil and gas sector.

2. Lack of research on cost-benefit analysis of sustainability initiatives in the

UK oil and gas sector.

3. Limited research on how to effectively assess the sustainability

performance of UK oil and gas operations.

4. Little research on the effectiveness of regulatory policies and compliance

systems on sustainability in the UK oil and gas sector.

5. Insufficient understanding of the incentives and disincentives that shape

sustainable decisions in the UK oil and gas sector.

Research questions

1. What factors have affected the UK oil and gas sector’s sustainability

decision-making in the past?

2. How have global economic and political influences impacted UK oil and

gas sector's sustainability decision-making?

3
 3. How have technological advances affected UK oil and gas sector's

sustainability decision-making?

4. What challenges do UK oil and gas sector face in regard to sustainability

decision-making?

Research Aim

To examine how global factors that affect UK oil and gas industry sustainability

decision-making.

Research Objectives

1. To identify the factors that have impacted the UK oil and gas sector’s

sustainability decision-making in the past.

2. To analyze the global economic and political influences on the UK oil

and gas sector's sustainability decision-making.

3. To assess the impact of technological advances on the UK oil and gas

sector's sustainability decision-making.

4. To identify the primary challenges that UK oil and gas sector face in

regards to sustainability decision-making.

4
 Methodology

Rationale of the project design

Based solely on secondary data gathering techniques, the proposed research design seeks

to study the worldwide elements that influence sustainability decision-making in the UK oil and

gas sector. The rationale for this project design is that it will allow for an in-depth understanding

of the factors influencing sustainability decision-making in the sector by providing an analytical

overview of the most relevant information and data.

The proposed project design is also based on the literature review and the sector's current

state. The requirement to identify and examine the global elements driving sustainability

decision-making in the industry further justifies it. The suggested methods for gathering data and

analyzing it are suitable for the project and will allow for a thorough understanding of the

variables influencing sustainability decision-making in the industry.

Research Method and Data Collection

The proposed research will use a qualitative method. Qualitative research will help to

uncover the larger socio-cultural and economic contexts within which decisions are made, as

well as the underlying values and motivations of stakeholders (Lund, 2012). Furthermore,

qualitative research will also be used to explore issues of power and influence, and can also

provide insight into stakeholders’ perspectives on the effects of their decisions (Bryman, 2008).

Therefore, primary data source for the research will be secondary data collected from various

sources such as online databases, academic journals, reports, and official sources (Bevan,

5
Baumgartner, Johnson, & McCarthy, 2013). The collected data will be analyzed using various

methods, including content analysis and regression analysis.

Data analysis

Qualitative methodologies will be used to analyze the data that will be gathered. To find

the major topics and trends in the data, content analysis will be employed. This will be followed

by a quantitative analysis to determine the variables most important in influencing sustainability

choices in the UK oil and gas industry (Allan, 2020). To determine the connection between

global influences and sustainability decision-making, regression analysis will be performed.

6
Research Justification

The techniques of data collection and analysis used will provide a thorough analysis of

the global elements influencing sustainability decision-making in the UK oil and gas industry.

The research will be able to capture the qualitative components of the problem by using

qualitative approaches (Akter, Debnath, & Bari, 2022). Using secondary data sources will ensure

that the research is based on reliable data and will provide a comprehensive overview of the

issue.

Flowchart:

Data Collection

Content Analysis

Regression Analysis

Results &
Discussion

7
 Ethics and Risk assessment

Ethical, health and safety considerations are essential components of any research

proposal. As part of the proposed research, data will be collected from multiple sources,

including online databases, academic journals, reports and official sources. In order to ensure

that the research is conducted ethically, the following steps will be taken to ensure that the data is

collected and used responsibly.

First, the study shall follow the moral guidelines of justice, beneficence, and respect for

people. The researcher must respect people by taking into account their rights and dignity when

gathering data from them. Beneficence requires the researcher to ensure that the collected data is

used only for the research and that it is not misused or abused. Justice requires that the research

be conducted fairly and equitably for all participants.

Second, the research will ensure that the data is collected and used following applicable

laws and regulations. For example, the UK Data Protection Act 2018 requires that personal data

be collected and processed lawfully, fairly and transparently. Any data collected from individuals

must be obtained through informed consent and not used for purposes other than the research.

The General Data Protection Regulation will be followed by the research in third place

(GDPR). This mandates that personal data must be gathered in a secure manner, stored securely,

and handled in accordance with the GDPR. In addition, the GDPR mandates that people be

informed about how their data is collected and used, and that it be safeguarded against

unauthorized access.

Finally, the research will adhere to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This requires

the researcher to ensure that the data collection does not pose any risk to the safety of the

8
researcher or any other individuals involved in the research. In addition, measures must be taken

to ensure that the collected data is not used to risk any individuals' safety.

In order to ensure that the proposed research is conducted ethically and responsibly, an

Ethics and Risk Assessment form will be completed and submitted to the relevant authorities.

This form will include details of the data collection process, the measures taken to ensure the

safety of the researcher and other individuals involved in the research, and the steps taken to

ensure that the data is collected and used responsibly.

9
 Reference

Ahmad, W., Rezaei, J., Sadaghiani, S., & Tavasszy, L. A. (2017). Evaluation of the external

forces affecting the sustainability of oil and gas supply chain using Best Worst Method.

Journal of cleaner production, 153, 242-252.

Akter, S., Debnath, B., & Bari, A. (2022). A grey decision-making trial and evaluation

laboratory approach for evaluating the disruption risk factors in the Emergency Life-

Saving Drugs supply chains. Healthcare Analytics, 2, 100120.

Allan, G. (2020). Qualitative research. In Handbook for research students in the social sciences

(pp. 177-189). Routledge.

Asif, M., & Muneer, T. (2007). Energy supply, its demand and security issues for developed and

emerging economies. Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 11(7), 1388-1413.

Bevan, S., Baumgartner, F., Johnson, E., & McCarthy, (2013). Understanding selection bias,

time-lags and measurement bias in secondary data sources: Putting the Encyclopedia of

Associations database in broader context. Social science research, 42(6), 1750-1764.

Biresselioglu, M., Kaplan, M., & Yilmaz, B. (2018). Electric mobility in Europe: A

comprehensive review of motivators and barriers in decision-making processes.

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 109, 1-13.

Bryman, A. (2008). Social Research Methods (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press

Lloyd, G., Smith, H., Ballinger, R., Stojanovic, T., & Duck, R. (2009). EU Maritime policy and

economic development of the European seas. The ecosystem approach to marine

planning and management (pp. 92–115). Routledge.

Lund, F. (2012). Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences. London: Sage

Publications.

10
Lund, T. (2012). Combining qualitative and quantitative approaches: Some arguments for mixed

methods research. Scandinavian journal of educational research, 56(2), 155-165.

Sjöström, E. (2020). Active ownership on environmental and social issues: What works?

United Kingdom Onshore Oil and Gas (UKOOG). (2017, 9 May 2018). What it looks like.

Available:http://www.ukoog.org.uk/community/what-it-looks-like\

11