Editorial Advisory Board insights: Offshore energy challenges that will have the greatest impact in 2026
This month we asked a few of Offshore's 2026 Editorial Advisory Board members about navigating challenges and embracing innovation, strategies for success, and key opportunities and technologies for 2026.
Which challenges and/or technologies will have the greatest impact on offshore energy operations in 2026?
"In 2026, the greatest challenges for offshore energy will be ensuring efficient drilling and high rig utilization to meet energy security needs, in a market shaped by lower-than-expected Brent prices and persistent supply hurdles.”
—Sofia Forestieri, SVP of Offshore, Esgian
"The macroeconomic unpredictability of demand in both oil and gas and offshore wind has created supply chain constraints and underinvestment in the offshore energy sector. If governments around the world are serious about energy security, they need to engage much closer with the industry to provide surety and support to the investment in the assets and people required."
—Iain Grainger, CEO, International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)
"With OPEC+ unwinding cuts and shale producers maintaining production, downward pressure on oil prices make offshore sanctioning a risky proposition. While maintaining free cash flow, operators and contractors will need to collaborate, leaning on both design standardization and strategic customization to deliver offshore projects at competitive costs."
—Matthew Hale, SVP of Drilling & Wells, Rystad Energy
"In 2026, the offshore energy sector will go through important changes driven primarily by digitalization, carbon capture and electrification. These elements will redefine offshore energy in 2026 and will be key to delivering sustainable performance while navigating the challenges of integration and decarbonization."
—Olivier Icyk, Chief Business Officer, SBM Offshore
"Offshore energy, particularly oil and gas, is entering a promising phase in 2026 and beyond. Global oil demand continues to rise, and companies are increasingly turning to prolific global offshore basins. However, the case for investment may be dependent upon the global region, with public policy factors such as tariffs creating a drag on investment in some basins."
—Erik Milito, President, National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA)
“For 2026 and beyond, I believe the greatest challenge for the offshore industry will be to make offshore energy more cost-competitive by leveraging existing infrastructure, focusing on minimum functional objectives and broader adoption of supplier-led solutions. Another major challenge is the growing talent gap in the offshore industry to deliver our business safely and efficiently. I believe AI will be a great tool to help close that gap, and 2026 will be a pivotal year for our industry to adopt AI as a transformational technology in all aspects of our business."
—Tim Mitchell, General Manager, Capital Projects, Chevron
Want more industry insights? Visit the 2026 Editorial Advisory Board page for more information on all 15 of our board members and the strategies and insights they'll continue sharing throughout the year.
About the Author
Ariana Hurtado
Editor-in-Chief
With more than a decade of copy editing, project management and journalism experience, Ariana Hurtado is a seasoned managing editor born and raised in the energy capital of the world—Houston, Texas. She currently serves as editor-in-chief of Offshore, overseeing the editorial team, its content and the brand's growth from a digital perspective.
Utilizing her editorial expertise, she manages digital media for the Offshore team. She also helps create and oversee new special industry reports and revolutionizes existing supplements, while also contributing content to Offshore's magazine, newsletters and website as a copy editor and writer.
Prior to her current role, she served as Offshore's editor and director of special reports from April 2022 to December 2024. Before joining Offshore, she served as senior managing editor of publications with Hart Energy. Prior to her nearly nine years with Hart, she worked on the copy desk as a news editor at the Houston Chronicle.
She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Houston.