Deep well of support for Offshore Europe 2009

The biennial SPE Offshore Europe conference is the largest oil & gas technical meeting outside North America. Industry professionals from 96 countries worldwide attended the last event in September 2007, with the total daily attendance of 40,179 breaking the all time record for attendees. The quality of the technical sessions put together under the guidance of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) ensures that the meeting is a key date in the diaries of business leaders, engineers and technical managers worldwide.

Estimates indicate the show will likely increase in size by some 10% compared to the last SPE Offshore Europe, with some 230 companies representing approximately 5,000sq/m, one quarter of the show, that are totally new participants.

Other healthy indicators for OE 2009 include more than 1,500 participating companies expected as exhibitors. This encouraging support shows the continued importance that industry events such as OE play in generating new leads and business for its participants, especially in difficult economic climates such as those being experienced presently.

Other innovative developments at SPE Offshore Europe will include a new feature entitled the ‘People Zone’, which will focus on areas such as training, career development and travel. Another is the further development of the show’s final day, traditionally known as Education Day, where engineers of the future from across Aberdeenshire are encouraged to come learn more about the energy industry and the opportunities it holds for them. ‘Energize Your Future at OE’ is being run in association with OPITO, the UK oil and gas industry skills academy.

The theme of the top level conference at this year’s event is ‘Energy At A Crossroads: Making Choices’, a highly-relevant choice as the offshore industry along with many others now finds itself in a situation where very important choices need to be made to ensure long term success. There are four main sub-themes, focusing on climate and energy, industry operating models, breakthrough technologies, and people issues.

Offshore industry leaders need to make crucial strategic choices immediately so that the upstream sector is prepared structurally and technically for the future, according to the Chairman of SPE Offshore Europe. Thomas Thune Andersen, who is also Chief Executive Officer of international oil and gas company Maersk Oil, is chairing the 2009 conference and exhibition.

Participating in this year’s free to attend conference will be industry luminaries such as Total’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Christophe de Margerie; Mr Guilherme Estrella, E&P Director at Petrobras; and Andrew Gould, President of Schlumberger. They will be joined by others including Connie Hedegaard, Denmark’s Minister of Climate and Energy; Ayman Asfari, CEO of Petrofac; and Lord Browne, the former BP Chief Executive.

Looking back in three to five years time, Mr Andersen said this would be seen as the time when the necessary structural changes took place. ‘There is a whole new dynamic around access to resources in far away places, innovation and new partnerships, and what is happening to the climate. And we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that there is a very serious financial and economic crisis out there. But the oil industry is one where projects can take 10 to 15 years to develop’, he said, adding that one of the lessons learnt from previous downturns has been the need to make sure that the industry’s core competencies and skills are protected.

Elaine Hulse, SPE Offshore Europe’s Exhibition Manager, highlighted the global profile and relevance of the conference and exhibition, with countries such as China this year taking three pavillions, with new pavillions also from Spain and Western Australia, as well as others from countries who have previously participated such as the United States, Norway, Germany, France, Canada, Italy, Denmark, Belgium and Northern Australia. International delegations are also lined up to visit the show from important international markets including Brazil, Russia, North and West Africa, and the Middle East.