GO-EXPO 2001 PREVIEW

Revamped Canadian event showcases evolving technology

Preview of the agenda and technical program for the GO-EXPO 2001 conference and exposition, Calgary, June 12 – 14

very other year, the Canadian industry descends on Calgary for one of the world’s largest oil and gas shows, the National Petroleum Show (NPS). In 2000, this event attracted more than 60,000 industry professionals from 88 countries. Because of its size, the show producers have renamed the event, the Global Petroleum Show (GPS).

In the past, a smaller event, INTERCAN: The Calgary Oil & Gas Show, was hosted in the opposite years. However, INTERCAN seemed to be missing a clear focus.

To reflect an increased emphasis on natural gas exploration and development in the high Arctic, the event’s producers sought to find out what customers wanted in a new show. The answer was clear: exhibitors are looking for a show that focuses on new technology. Thus, show producers decided to re-launch the smaller event under a new name, GO-EXPO: Gas and Oil Exposition.

Every summer since 1979, Calgary has hosted Canada’s largest oil and gas shows. The second week of June has become such a firmly established tradition that the city’s mayor proclaims it Petroleum Week.

Overview of the Event

As Canada’s largest oil and gas event in 2001, GO-EXPO is held in conjunction with the (CIM) Petroleum Society’s prestigious Canadian International Petroleum Conference (CIPC).

With a focus on new technology for the global oil and gas industry, GO-EXPO will showcase the latest innovations from industry leaders. Consequently, a who’s who of equipment / service companies will exhibit, including Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, Siemens, The Wood Group, Kudu Industries, Alfa Laval and Enerflex Systems.

Although GO-EXPO will be a smaller show than the NPS/GPS, it expects to attract more than 25,000 international visitors and approximately 500 exhibitors during three days. The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede Grounds are the location for this event, providing exhibitors with 100,000 sq ft of indoor space and another 50,000 sq ft outdoors. The outdoor field equipment displays will include rigs and compressor stations.

GO-EXPO also will include a unique feature, the "North of 60 Business Opportunities" forum, for service companies, producers, governments and development corporations, to meet and discuss strategies.

Special Features

Three additional special features have been incorporated into the show. These forums will offer additional information on oil and gas opportunities in Canada and other countries, as well as provide career opportunities interaction between prospective employers and employees.

North of 60 Business Opportunities Center. As the future of North American exploration once again moves into the northern regions of Canada and the U.S., the question for many is, "What are the rules to ensure maximum success in these unique operating regions?"

GO-EXPO will provide answers to this and other questions on northern petroleum development via the North of 60 Business Opportunities Center. This unique showcase will disseminate information in three ways:

• All of the major government bodies and regional development authorities will participate in a special exhibition, where experts will answer questions and arrange more detailed discussions, as required.
• The World Oil Center Stage (sponsored by this magazine) will feature a series of presentations on Business Opportunities North of 60. Presentations will be free for all show attendees, covering technical and business issues.
• Special handout materials, with valuable information on business opportunities and a list of contacts, will be made available to all show attendees.

Career Expo. For the first time, a major international conference and trade show will include a Career Expo. This is an exhibition held in the same facility, designed to provide industry companies with prospective recruits and give qualified personnel a chance to meet potential employers. Companies participating in the Career Expo will be from North America and a number of other regions.

Foreign buyers program. Building on the highly successful NPS and World Petroleum Conference held in Calgary in June 2000, GO-EXPO will feature a series of market updates in the World Oil Center Stage theatres. A listing of these markets can be found on the show’s web site, at www.peteroleumshow.com.

Trade commissioners from all major producing countries will be available for one-on-one consultations with show visitors and exhibitors interested in a specific market. A series of special networking receptions are also in the planning stage. Details can be found on the web site.

World Oil Center Stage

Another unique feature of GO-EXPO is the World Oil Center Stage Technical Theatres, also sponsored by World Oil magazine. The theatres are located in the center of the show floor, providing presenters with maximum exposure. Presentations will include case studies on new technologies pertaining to exploration, drilling, and production; environmental strategies; information technology and e-commerce; and a special feature on developments "North of 60" in Canada’s Arctic, one of the last pure frontier plays.

Petroleumshow.com Version 2.0

As a value-added service for show visitors, event planners have completely redesigned GO-EXPO’s petroleumshow.com web site, to provide extensive information about petroleum industry events. After completing an online registration, an industry professional can create a personalized "show planner," to maximize his/her visit to the event. This planning tool, called "mypetroleumshow," allows the user to conduct research on participating exhibitors and products on display. It also assists the user in creating a personal itinerary, to organize a list of companies to visit and presentations to attend.

Canadian International Petroleum Conference

Canada’s leading engineering technical association and show partner, the Petroleum Society of CIM, has assembled a top-notch technical program for CIPC, which takes place on-site during GO-EXPO. Given the industry’s current good economics, the Petroleum Society expects healthy attendance for a variety of technical presentations highlighting exploration and development challenges in Canada’s petroleum basins, as well as in other countries worldwide.

Frontier development, Arctic natural gas exploration, and exploitation of Canada’s abundant reserves of heavy oil and oil sands will all be a part of the program at CIPC. Like the broader show, the conference will feature the latest cutting-edge technologies used to address the twin challenges of maximizing production efficiency while protecting the environment.

CIPC also represents the 52nd year of the Petroleum Society’s historic Annual Technical Meeting, first established following the discovery of Leduc oil field in 1948. This year’s conference theme is "2001: The Energy Odyssey."

The technical program will feature well in excess of 100 authors in traditional sessions, plus more than 50 invited presenters in special sessions and panel discussions, reflecting significant participation of the Petroleum Society’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs).

A number of student presenters also will take part in the student competition, as the Petroleum Society continues a tradition to seed the industry with promising young talent. Finally, the conference will provide attendees with an opportunity for professional development through a short course program that covers a wider variety of topics than in recent past years.

Many other familiar traditions have a new flavor this year, too. The Plenary Session will feature seven distinguished industry speakers addressing issues surrounding Canadian frontier exploration and development. Three on-site CIPC luncheons will be business-casual buffet meals, with a relaxed Western Canadian flavor. The prestigious awards evening function will again be held downtown, at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. It will include entertainment by comedian / juggler Clark Robertson.

Corporate registration will allow companies to send more employees at a substantial discount. All full-conference, non-member registrations include an honorary membership in the Petroleum Society, commencing July 1 and running until the end of the current year. Also included is a complimentary subscription to the Petroleum Society’s Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology for the same period.

This year, CIPC is also offering a single-day conference rate for those individuals whose schedule prevents them from being able to attend the full conference. This particular registration does not include a copy of the conference proceedings.

Student members of the Petroleum Society receive a full conference registration at the reduced rate of $20. Student authors (member or non-member) are also offered the $20 rate. A rate of $40 is offered for student non-members. Registering five or more delegates qualifies for transferable Corporate Registration packages. Prospective attendees should contact the Petroleum Society office for further information by phone: +1 (403) 237-5112; fax: +1 (403) 262-4792 or e-mail: info@petsoc.org.

A CD-ROM of the conference proceedings is included with all full-conference registrations. Additional copies of the proceedings are also available by registering online at www.petsoc.org/cipc-2001.html. Additional conference details can also be found at this web site address.