Looking Forward To The Next 50 Years

Over the past decades, Aberdeen has grown confidently into its role as Europe’s capital of the oil and gas industry.

In the early days of the UK offshore industry in the 1970s and 80s, Aberdeen was one of the centres from which global companies made numerous North Sea oil and gas discoveries and then went on to develop one of the UK’s major industrial and commercial success stories. In recent years, the city has also transformed into a (Read More) global exporter of oilfield products and services.

The biennial SPE Offshore Europe conference and exhibition has evolved and grown in tandem – and this year celebrates its 40th anniversary. Organised by the Offshore Europe Partnership, a joint venture between Reed Exhibitions Ltd and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), the event turns the spotlight firmly on Aberdeen as over 48,000 visitors participate in the world’s

largest upstream oil and gas exhibition and conference outside North America. Senior representatives from the global industry, UK and international governments and academia will come together to lead the sessions during the four-day event from 3-6 September at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.

Free entry is offered to SPE Offshore Europe 2013, which will be the largest ever – with double the number of conference keynote sessions and more exhibitors than previously. The staging of the city’s largest event brings together all sectors of the Aberdeen business community, all aiming to welcome the thousands of international and UK visitors.

Malcolm Webb, SPE Offshore Europe 2013 chairman and chief executive of industry association Oil and Gas UK says: “The conference will be forward looking, extending the far too short a time frame frequently expressed around the offshore oil and gas industry’s potential future. We are extending the producing life of many existing fields and numerous new developments will continue to come on stream in the future. We also have a magnificent supply chain operating both in the UK province and internationally. A huge selection of these goods and services will be on display in the largest exhibition of the show’s history.

The conference opens on Tuesday, 3 September with a top line up of internationally-recognised industry representatives - Sam Laidlaw, Chief Executive of Centrica; Bob Keiller, Chief Executive of Wood Group; and Andrew Gould, Chairman of BG. They will be joined by a senior UK government minister.

Over the four days of the conference there will be a series of keynote sessions, technical sessions, topical lunches and breakfast briefings. The forward-looking keynote sessions will feature a mix of senior representatives from international operating companies and contractors, as well as government regulators and politicians. Topics to be addressed range from industry progress since Macondo, taking operations to frontier areas and finance though to safety, skills, technology, decommissioning and drilling. Papers presented at the technical sessions will address the technological challenges of field life extension and new frontier exploration and development. Breakfast and lunch sessions will also span a broad range of issues ranging from energy markets and UK energy policy to safety and skills.

Following its successful launch in 2011, the Deep Water Zone will be an important feature of the show. Deepwater exploration and production is playing an ever increasing role in the industry with a growing number of discoveries being made in deep and ultra-deep waters off the coasts of Brazil, West and East Africa, and in the Gulf of Mexico. According to a February 2013 report by energy advisory firm Douglas-Westwood, more than US$232 billion will be spent on deepwater projects between now and 2020. Aberdeen is growing as a centre of subsea excellence and exhibiting companies from this rapidly evolving sector will display their latest products and services. A full conference programme on current industry trends and challenges will run daily in the Deep Water Zone.

The sold-out exhibition halls will be full of exploration and production companies from around the world showcasing their technologies, services and expertise. Over 1500 organisations are expected this year, including over 250 companies exhibiting for the first time at the show. It sees the complete supply chain of companies including operators, drilling contractors and oilfield service companies. With 13 operators taking stands, this is the largest operator representation in the history of the event. E.ON. Talisman Sinopec are new to the event, Saudi Aramco and Chevron have corporate stands rather than recruitment as previously, and Statoil has increased its presence. All of the ‘big four’ service companies – Baker Hughes, Schlumberger, Halliburton and Weatherford – have stands this year for the first time in a decade. And other companies such as McDermott are back after some 20 years. SMEs and small innovative companies are also well represented, giving visitors the opportunity to see exciting and varied new technologies in one place.

Reflective of the global nature of the industry as a whole there is a large international exhibitor presence with participating companies from over 36 countries and 33 international pavilions. Countries spanning the continents from the Americas and Africa to Asia and Australia are represented. Pavilions from Malaysia, Korea and Australia will be included for the first time, and the Norwegian presence has expanded to three pavilions.

UK Trade and Investment commercial officers and selected international buyers from around the globe will participate in SPE Offshore Europe 2013 and will be available to meet with UK companies to discuss the opportunities that exist in each of their respective markets. Countries that are expected to be represented include Iraq, West and East Africa, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, Nigeria and Kazakhstan.

After a hugely successful show in 2011, the Energy Industries Council (EIC) will be hosting 43 UK companies at Offshore Europe 2013 in the EIC Pavilion – the largest at the show. Over the last 40 years, the UK energy supply chain has developed advanced products and services for oil and gas operations in the challenging waters of the North Sea, and has been applying this expertise for many years now across the globe. UK oil and gas companies have an excellent reputation for high-end engineering and innovative technologies, many of which will be on show in the EIC Group.

Sarah Lansdell, Head of National & UK Events at the EIC said: “We are delighted to be at Offshore Europe again to showcase the wide variety of solutions the UK supply chain has to offer. With the North Sea continuing to see increased activity, we look forward to helping our members promote the very best in innovation and manufacturing excellence.”

“With our EIC DataStream figures showing renewed optimism in the European offshore sector, our exhibitors are looking forward to a busy show,” she added.

With so many industry leaders and influencers under one roof, there are ample opportunities to network and catch up with colleagues from around the world. Comments Matthias Bichsel, Shell’s Projects and Technology Director: “Offshore Europe is still one of the world’s premier events for establishing business relationships in the oil & gas industry.”

A new ‘Energy Festival’ is planned for the week of the show, hosted by Aberdeen City Council. It will include a series of exciting evening events and will allow the show to carry on into the evening with plenty more opportunities to network, socialise and enjoy Europe’s energy capital, Aberdeen.

Visit www.offshore-europe.co.uk for more information.