Position Statement – working with the oil and gas sector

The James Hutton Group currently provides a number of commercial services for oil and gas companies through our commercial arm, James Hutton Institute Scientific Services (Hutton Scientific Services). 

The main scientific techniques and expertise involved are x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and inorganic isotope analysis.

We will continue to provide commercial services to oil and gas sector as a means of supporting the transition of the sector, recognising that the sector supplies not only fossil fuels but a myriad of other items based on petrochemicals, that our services help to support health and safety aspects in the sector, and that they are helping to reduce the impact of the sector on the environment in terms of pollutants and maximising the efficiency of production.

However as part of our commitment to the shift towards a low carbon economy, we commit to only providing services and research opportunities to those companies which have a clear plan to transition to net zero based on recognised criteria and science-based targets. We also commit to ongoing investment in business development activities that redirect the science expertise and knowledge currently focussed on fossil fuel production activities to other areas including those that directly support the transition to a low carbon economy.