China has been proactive when it comes to snapping up offshore oil projects abroad, with a $16bn deal signed in Nigeria this year and a major exploration deal in the Philippines. We look at China’s international oil ambitions. We also examine what recent discoveries mean for Guyana and whether it has moved beyond 'frontier country'. 

President Trump's decision to open up Alaska to more oil exploration has prompted both upset and delight but what does the future of oil actually look like for the region? Elsewhere, as the move towards renewables continues, we plot some of the key locations that have now banned drilling, and those still pursuing it.

Also, the UK Oil and Gas Innovation Centre announced £640,000 in funding for the University of Aberdeen’s work on technologies to improve offshore drilling. We learn about the implications for drilling in the North Sea and beyond. And after years of downturn,  signs of recovery are gradually emerging for the offshore support market. We ask if the recovery can last.

Finally, we talk to Terra Drone about how drones could help during oil spills and examine whether oil and gas firms have a legitimate role to play in supporting decarbonisation in light of Oil and Gas UK's roadmap to offset emissions.

Callum Tyndall, editor

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