Home: Issue 9 2011 › A showstopper

A showstopper

A showstopper

13/10/2011 | Channel: IT, Technology, Equipment, Health & Safety, Exploration & Production, Drilling, Lifting Gear, Subsea, Support Services, Manufacturing, Hire & Rental, Human Resources, Environmental, Subsea UK, Decommissioning, Storage

As is the case with each SPE Offshore Europe exhibition and conference, this year’s event proved yet again to be a record-breaking affair.

In fact, despite the last event, held in 2009, running for an extra day, this year the three-day show set an all-time record attendance level of 32,025 unique attendees, and an overall cumulative attendance of 48,575, which represents an increase of over four per cent. Even on the first day the event was breaking records, with a new day 1 attendance level of 14,633 people, a rise of five per cent compared to the first day in 2009.

Those lucky enough to attend were treated to Offshore Europe’s usual mix of conferences, technical lectures and exhibitions all aimed at promoting new technologies, aspiring businesses and all of the key issues that our industry is facing now, and in the foreseeable future. This year’s free to attend technical conference was held under the overall theme ‘Securing Safe, Smart, Sustainable Energy’ and featured a range of discussions, briefings and conferences looking at topics based around this theme. “SPE Offshore Europe was a great platform to discuss major issues, to spend quality time talking about where we are going and what the future will be,” explained SPE Offshore Europe 2011 chairman, Samir Brikho, who is also CEO of AMEC plc.

He went on to explain that “Understandably in a complex global industry there are still many uncertainties, but the fundamentals of our business are here to stay. Based on what we debated and discussed in the conference sessions, it is very clear that if we want to manage supply and demand, there is no room for complacency. We need to be much more down to earth in our thinking when considering what will be the best solutions and to continue to put safety at the top of our priorities.”

Alongside Mr. Brikho, various political and industry leaders were keen to share their thoughts on the industry, including Matthias Bichsel, projects and technology director at Shell; Michele della Vigna, managing director, global investment research, energy at Goldman Sachs; and Chris Finlayson, executive vice president and managing director, Europe & Central Asia Region, of BG Group. Other industry VIPs participating either in conference sessions or topical lunches and breakfasts included the chairman of Schlumberger, Andrew Gould; Oil & Gas UK’s CEO, Malcolm Webb; Leo Koot, CEO of TAQA Brattani; Bob Keiller, CEO of Wood Group PSN; and Peter Mellbye, executive vice president of Statoil.

With such a plethora of guest speakers it is little wonder that the 2011 conference was one of the most substantial yet. Across three days nearly ever conceivable issue facing the industry in the future was discussed in depth in a range of sessions with titles such as; ‘Operating models for he future (2011 – 2040)’; Environmental regulations in the North Sea: What will the future be’; ‘Ageing and life extension of installations’; ‘Industry oil spill prevention and response capabilities’; ‘Improving reservoir monitoring to increase production offshore marginal oil fields’; and ‘The changing role of NOCs – International expansion and engagement’.

Of course, as any visitors to previous Offshore Europe events will understand, alongside the conference the enormous exhibition centre provides a real opportunity to get up close and personal with a large number of established and emerging companies, as well as some of the latest technical developments. The exhibition area this year was larger than ever before, covering a net area of more than 25,000 square meters. This year it included over 1500 exhibiting companies and pavilions representing the industry across the world, including Brazil, China, the US, Norway, Canada, Spain, Italy, Nigeria, Denmark, the UK, Germany, the Faroe Islands and Malaysia.

This level of participation from exhibitors means that Offshore Europe has traditionally been an important place to demonstrate the latest technological developments and industry innovations. This year, with the issue of oil spill prevention and response capabilities still fresh in many people’s minds it served as the ideal platform for the launch of the OSPRAG (Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group) well capping device. Having been developed in the light of Macondo, this equipment represents a vital step forward in oil spill recovery and has the capability to cap an uncontrolled subsea well quickly and efficiently.

Each year SPE Offshore Europe beats its own records in every area and all those involved in Aberdeen this year were delighted of the event’s continued success. Not only does it provide a forum where we can all discuss the future of our industry, it offers a great opportunity to meet new people, make new business contacts and ensure that the oil and gas industry remains strong and united for the years to come. Reflecting on the upbeat feel to the show, which represented the industry’s buoyant mood, SPE president Alan Labastie summarised: “I was delighted to see the enthusiasm and vast attendance at SPE Offshore Europe 2011 and it was an honor to be involved. The very high levels of activity were encouraging to see, both in the conference and exhibition, as the global attendees conducted business, networked and shared their ideas for the future of our industry.”

Offshore Europe 2011
For further information please visit: www.offshore-europe.co.uk