PETALING JAYA: Upstream activities in the oil and gas (O&G) industry are expected to recover in the second half of this year albeit at a gradual pace due to the still high number of Covid-19 cases. It is noted that upstream activities in the first quarter of the year were dismal, while the sequential recovery in the second quarter came in slower than expected. Although offshore operations, which are classified as essential services, were allowed to operate as usual following the renewed lockdown on June 1, work progress has been dragged by the shortage of offshore crew due to quarantine requirements and the supply of materials.