SPE Offshore Europe 2015 inspires the next generation
ABERDEEN -- The future of the oil and gas industry will be under the spotlight at the SPE Offshore Europe 2015 conference and exhibition being held in Aberdeen from Sept. 8-11, 2015.
The choice of this year’s theme, inspiring the next generation, empowers the industry to address both the technical and people challenges facing the oil and gas business today to secure future success. At the heart of this is a need to attract and encourage the next generation of talent into the industry.
Despite the current tough market conditions, oil and gas will remain indispensable to the world for securing heat, light, mobility and prosperity for many decades to come. According to the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook 2014, oil and gas will still supply around half of the world’s energy by 2040. Sourcing skilled, innovative and motivated people and developing new technologies are essential for the industry to be successful in meeting this demand.
Over the four days of the world’s largest upstream oil and gas conference and exhibition outside North America there will be a series of keynote sessions, technical sessions, topical lunches and breakfast briefings. Alongside the conference, visitors will have the opportunity to view the latest technology, product and service exhibits from the global industry. Taking over an entire hall, the dedicated Deepwater Zone will comprise its own conference and exhibition program. And, for the first time, the event will include a series of workshops and meetings to connect entrepreneurs and investors. A key message throughout will be that the industry is far from over and that it has a long and bright future.
The keynote program will feature 11 sessions focusing on the basic challenge of meeting energy demand while balancing concerns over climate change, security of supply and consumer affordability. Topics to be addressed include: health; the safety and security of people and assets; well intervention; financing investments; oil spill response; and inspiring the next generation to join the industry. Speakers will comprise a mix of senior representatives from international operating companies and contractors, as well as trade association representatives, government regulators and academia.
Michael Engell-Jensen, keynote chair of SPE Offshore Europe 2015 and executive director of the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, comments: “Our licence to operate ultimately depends on addressing society’s concerns about the industry’s operations and the hydrocarbons on which the world relies. Our activities must be regarded as both acceptable and useful.”
The development of technology to access resources from increasingly challenging locations and reservoirs is also fundamental to the future of the industry and forms another strand of the event’s focus on inspiring the next generation. More than 75 technical papers will be presented over the four days, including topics such as asset and well integrity, maximising economic recovery, smarter field development, pipelines and risers, subsea processing, talent development, unconventional gas development, process safety, and decommissioning.
Technical Chair of SPE Offshore Europe and CEO of Expro, Charles Woodburn, adds: “Whilst we continue to push the boundaries of technology and innovation, we must find better ways to attract and encourage the next generation of talent into our industry.
“For the first time we are including papers based on both people and technical challenges, to address both aspects in parallel. By embedding this approach within the fabric of SPE Offshore Europe 2015, we will deliver a conference that ensures continued progress within our industry.”
Frano Mika, health system manager for Saipem and chair of a keynote session on health, sees the event as a forum where the future – for both individuals and the industry as a whole – can be created through shared experiences, collaborative working, and lively discussion. “Respect for each other’s opinions and solutions, however different from our own, is what helps the dialogue and facilitates progress,” he states.
The exhibition space will include a diverse range of exploration and production companies from around the world, showcasing their technologies, services and expertise. Around 1,500 organizations are expected this year, including at least 280 companies, large and small, exhibiting for the first time at the show. Exhibitors will represent the complete supply chain of companies including operators, drilling contractors and oilfield service companies, consolidating Aberdeen’s established reputation as a supplier of services and products to global projects. Early feedback from registered visitors indicates that a large proportion of them are engaged on projects all over the world.
Reflective of the global nature of the industry as a whole there will be a large international exhibitor presence with 33 international pavilions booked so far. Large delegations are expected from Malaysia, Nigeria and Korea. UK Trade & Investment commercial officers from around the globe will also be available to meet with UK companies to discuss the opportunities that exist in each of their respective markets. Countries and regions that are likely to be represented include Brazil, East Africa, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Norway.
The Deepwater Zone is dedicated to the latest state-of-the-art technologies helping the industry advance into one of the world’s most challenging, harsh – yet potentially commercially rewarding – environments. Despite pressures on operator budgets deferring the sanctioning of certain projects, a Douglas Westwood report of April 2015 still expects deepwater expenditure to increase by 69%, compared to the preceding five-year period, totaling $210 billion from 2015 to 2019. A dedicated theatre will host industry experts presenting case studies and participating in panel discussions. This will give attendees the opportunity to learn about some of the very latest developments in the sector, with content programmed by Subsea UK and the Society for Underwater Technology. Topics will include deepwater developments, the future of inspection, repair and maintenance, and emerging technologies that will enable the exploitation of resources from deepwater in a safe and cost-effective manner. In the event’s largest Deepwater Zone to date, more than 30 companies from this rapidly evolving sector will display their latest products and services. These range from equipment such as valves, imaging systems and underwater vehicles to well control and intervention products, specialist material solutions, and inspection services.
With its emphasis on recognizing the long-term need for a secure talent pipeline, the event will be running ‘Inspire’, its largest ever program of activities for a younger audience.
Charles Woodburn adds: “The short-term impact of the recent downturn on our industry has undoubtedly cast a shadow over the sector and its attractiveness to new and emerging talent. But, as the past has taught us, we cannot afford to lose our next generation as they play a vital part in advancing safety, innovation and the technology our industry demands. While we must take action to respond to these challenging conditions, we need to maintain our focus on the high quality workforce of the future.”
A wide range of ‘Inspire’ events and workshops throughout the week, organized in advance by SPE and supported by OPITO, will allow students to engage with the industry face-to-face and learn more about this impressive industry.
Running throughout the four days of the event, the SPE Student Development Summit will include a program of lectures, games, networking, and attendance at the opening plenary and Friday keynote session. A number of schoolchildren will also be invited each day to participate in a program of activities being arranged by the SPE Aberdeen Section Young Professionals. And for school teachers, the SPE program Energy4Me will offer practical advice about teaching science and demonstrations of possible experiments via classroom sessions as well as visits to the exhibition floor.
This event provides a global industry hotspot where it is possible to connect with individuals and companies drawn from North and South America, Africa, Asia and Europe without having to make numerous trips to different regions.
With so many industry leaders and influencers under one roof, there will be ample opportunities to network and catch up with colleagues from around the world. As John Deasey, sales manager for Trelleborg Offshore, sums up: “A great meeting place to see old and new friends and to catch up on the latest technology.”
Don’t miss the free-to-attend SPE Offshore Europe 2015 if you want to refresh your industry knowledge, discover new technology, and network with established and new business contacts.
Visit www.offshore-europe.co.uk for more information about this free-to-attend global event, and to register.
