More than 500 people have completed subsea oil and gas industry training courses in Aberdeen, Houston and Bergen since the start of the economic crisis, Steve Sasanow, editor of Subsea Engineering News, has announced.

He said that a new training course organised jointly by Subsea Engineering News and Clarion Technical Services of Houston is servicing the continued demand for high-level, practical training, with the current course running in Aberdeen until September 22nd.

Mr Sasanow urged executives to ensure that training budgets are not cut, despite economic difficulty.

"Most analysts expect things to pick up by the end of the year. Those who have held back on training will find themselves with a shortage of skills," he warned.

According to the International Energy Agency, the deepwater sector will be least affected by the drop in spending in the international upstream oil and gas industry.

Oil sands projects are said to be the worst hit, with 15 projects in Canada being suspended and one delayed since the onset of the economic crisis.

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