BCG's Eric Oudenot explains why the decommissioning of wells and platforms has become a fast-growing priority for oil and gas companies—as well as governments—around the globe.

Eric Oudenot is a core member of The Boston Consulting Group’s Energy practice, specializing in upstream oil and gas. He is one of the firm’s topic leaders for shale gas.

Since joining BCG in 2011, Eric has worked extensively with major corporations, national oil companies, and private-equity funds on a wide range of strategic and operational issues.

Eric’s client experience in the energy industry has covered many different functional areas, including global cost reductions, local content strategies, HR transformations, development of new strategies for operators and service companies, and commercial due diligence.

Eric is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the International Gas Union. Before joining BCG, Eric spent ten years in the industry, working for Total in Iran; BP in the Netherlands, UK, and Angola; and Schlumberger.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Cost reduction programs
  • Post-merger integration
  • Business unit/headquarters transformation
  • Decommissioning
  • R&D in exploration and production

EDUCATION

  • Master’s degree, finance, HEC Paris School of Management

Publications and Videos

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A New Reality for Oil and Gas Procurement and Supply Chains

Faced with an unprecedented crisis, operators should use a dual approach that supports suppliers and embraces strategic partnerships to build industry resilience.
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Oil and Gas Needs Decommissioning Models That Work at Scale

It’s a half-trillion-dollar liability that will only grow over time. Leading operators in each basin must decide on a strategy and work with their suppliers to put it into action.
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Profiting from Shale in Five Phases

By viewing production cycles through the lens of specific strategic phases, the shale oil segment can avoid costly errors.
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Are You Ready for the Next Wave of Upstream Transformations?

Upstream oil and gas companies took bold measures to weather the plunge in commodity prices. But they’ll need to reinvent themselves yet again.
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A Roadmap for Cutting Decommissioning Costs by 30%

Oil and gas operators and governments have announced ambitious plans to reduce abandonment expenses. To make it happen, they need to orchestrate a multifaceted approach.
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Preparing for the Next Wave of Offshore Decommissioning

Thousands of wells and structures in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and West Africa are nearing obsolescence. Governments must prepare for the massive decommissioning task ahead.
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The North Sea’s $100 Billion Decommissioning Challenge

Aggregate estimates for North Sea oil and gas decommissioning start at $100 billion and rise sharply. Systemic pain points among operators are adding complexity, time, and cost.
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Shale Gas: Ten Levers to Ensure Safe and Effective Development

Growing numbers of countries will likely seek to develop their shale-gas resources over the next several years. But they will face significant challenges.
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Britain’s Bowland Shale: What Next?

Policymakers who are weighing the tradeoffs of the fracking revolution should look closely at the U.S. experience, writes BCG’s Eric Oudenot.
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The Great, Global Shale-Gas Development Race

A second wave of shale gas development will shake the world in the next four to six years, with geology, economics, regulation, and social acceptability the key challenges that investors and operators must tackle.
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