Offshore Technology Conference Attendance Remains Strong in 2015

Posted on 07/05/2015 by Fluid Power Journal in Features 0 Comments

Experts from the offshore energy industry around the world came together May 5-7 for the 2015 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) at NRG Park in Houston, Tex.

More than 94,700 attendees from 130 countries gathered at the annual conference, demonstrating OTC’s position as a leading forum to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for the safe, environmentally friendly, and sustainable development of offshore oil and gas resources. It is the sixth largest attendance in the 47-year history of OTC.

The sold-out exhibition was the largest in show history at 695,005 ft², including outdoor exhibits, up from 680,025 ft² in 2014. This year’s conference also had 2,682 companies exhibiting, up from 2,568 in 2014, representing 37 countries. International companies made up 42% of exhibitors.

“OTC continues to bring the world to Houston. The record-setting number of paper submissions ensured a high-quality technical program, covering the latest innovations and applications. Coupled with superb panels, in-depth exclusive keynotes, a new crop of Spotlight on New Technology award winners, and a record-setting exhibition, OTC drew everyone from CEOs to engineers to government officials,” said Ed Stokes, chairman of OTC.

This year’s event featured 11 panel sessions, 29 executive keynote presentations at luncheons and breakfasts, and nearly 300 technical paper presentations. Speakers – including major, independent, and national oil companies; federal and regional government officials; and academics – presented their views on a wide variety of topics, including future industry directions, operational integrity, and risk management.

OTC’s Spotlight on New Technology Award recognized 17 technologies for their innovation in allowing the industry to produce offshore resources, including two companies in the new category of Small Business Awards.

The conference’s focus on bridging technology was exemplified by the “Pumps and Pipes: Innovation in the Oil Field and Cardiovascular Medicine” technical session. Leaders from two of Houston’s major industries – medicine, and oil and gas – discussed advances that could be shared to add value, reduce risk, and improve efficiencies.

Safety also continued to be a key area of focus at OTC. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) announced the launch of the SafeOCS program, an initiative aimed at collecting and analyzing “near-miss” data to learn more about potential problems offshore and prevent them from becoming an issue. In addition, BSEE released its first-ever annual report, which presented the agency’s analysis of offshore activities and revealed an encouraging decline in incidents since the organization was created in 2011.

The Center for Offshore Safety hosted a breakfast session focused on “Improving Safety and Environmental Performance.” In addition, a technical session and lunch discussed ways to improve the effectiveness of safety and environmental management systems.

Additional highlights included discussions about the continued importance of deepwater exploration and the next emerging offshore plays. A panel session from the International Oil and Gas Producers shared thoughts about the need to simplify and standardize specifications to drive down costs and quicken the development of new projects, as well as further improve safety.

More than 200 Houston-area classroom teachers and 200 students attended OTC’s Energy Education Institute. Teachers learned about scientific concepts of energy and its importance in a fun and informative way. Participating students saw first-hand the exciting opportunities the energy industry can offer.

Individuals seeking career advice and new opportunities were invited to participate in OTC’s Open Access Day, which provided free registration to 1,300 attendees seeking to tap into the conference’s networking opportunities. As part of the day’s programming, attendees learned how to build valuable relationships and sharpen their skills through two professional development sessions.

OTC also hosted The Rice Alliance Startup Roundup. At this new event, 50 emerging companies had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with investors. It offered a great opportunity for OTC attendees to learn more about these startups, and enable potential partnerships and investments. The Next Wave, OTC’s program for young professionals, was attended by nearly 500 people and focused on how to face the challenges ahead for young professionals while recognizing the increased interconnectivity of this global industry.

Elmer Peter Danenberger received the 2015 Distinguished Achievement Award for his significant contributions to offshore safety and environmental protection. The Distinguished Achievement Award for Companies, Organizations, and Institutions was presented to Petrobras for its pre-salt development, and Ray Ayers, PhD, PE, was honored with the OTC Heritage Award in recognition for his 50+ years in offshore research and development.