Oil & Gas sector services

IOCs working in the oil and gas sector are facing more risks and operational challenges than ever before. Increasing competition from emerging market operators and national oil companies has driven IOCs to seek out opportunities in new and often more risky frontiers, challenging efforts to meet traditional pressures to improve exploration efficiency, operational capacity and overall performance. Long term challenges to replace and grow reserves, manage assets, avert risks and improve capital returns are among the key concerns for companies working in emerging markets.

Menas Associates helps to address these challenges, delivering integrated and expert solutions to enable oil sector executives to make the most of strategic business opportunities and nurture growth. Our specialists have decades of experience consulting IOCs on the management of political risk in established and emerging oil frontiers.

• Market entry: Our team of in-house experts and external associates provide clients with a clear and contextualised picture of the country's political, regulatory, socio-economic and infrastructural conditions, highlighting the potential risks they are likely to generate both at a market-entry stage and also at a more advanced phase of IOC engagement. We work together with clients to provide individually tailored services detailed to meet the necessary level of focus and to suit their needs and requirements.
• Business Intelligence: It is imperative that IOCs recognise and identify the key individuals and groups who might affect the smooth running of their operations. In many emerging markets, local, regional and government bodies play an integral part in the development of the country's natural resources and therefore have a significant impact on the foreign investors operating within the region. Our teams are familiar with country-specific practices and key interests groups, and can cast light on how best to protect business interests and capital investment.
• Political and Social Risk Consulting: Our political and social risk assessments provide a clear and coherent overview of the non-technical risks that may undermine our clients' business objectives. Each assessment evaluates the probability and consequence of events or trends and is tailored to meet the client's specific requirements. Typically, most risks revolve around security of tenure, regulatory and fiscal changes, major security incidents, loss of social licence and risks posed by corruption and interference by vested interests. We work together with clients to eliminate gaps in their existing risk management strategy so that it does not compromise their ability to deal with risk as and when it arises.
• Stakeholder Assessment: We use our extensive knowledge of local conditions to support IOCs in dealing with key stakeholders, including national and local bodies, host communities, government representatives and in-country agencies. Menas Associates evaluates in-country stakeholder engagement practices and recommends an appropriate strategy for engaging stakeholders in order to achieve mutually beneficial working practices.
• Strategic Advice: We recognise that an efficient implementation of business strategies in emerging markets often requires timely and flexible access to external expertise. An understanding of the dynamics behind a major political crisis, the introduction of new legislation or a security emergency allows oil companies to make better-informed decisions in the face of seemingly unpredictable events. Menas Associates offers flexible 'retainers' and on-demand advice to suit each individual client's needs and interests.