OTC 2016 fosters innovation and opportunity in times of volatility

OTC 2015 at a glance:

• OTC 2015 hosted more than 94,700 attendees from 130 countries.
• The sold-out exhibition was the largest show in history, at 695,005 ft².
• 2,682 companies exhibited from 37 countries, up from 2,568 in 2014. International companies made up 42% of exhibitors.
• The 5th Annual OTC Dinner raised $250,000 for the IPAA and PESA, for the benefit of the Energy Institute High School.

The 48th Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) will be held May 2-5, 2016, at NRG Park in Houston, Texas. Since 1969, the conference has served as a gathering place for energy professionals to exchange ideas and opinions, in an effort to advance scientific and technical knowledge of offshore resources and environmental matters. Over the years, OTC has expanded globally with the Arctic Technology Conference, OTC Brasil and OTC Asia.

Last year, the 5th Annual OTC Dinner raised $250,000 for the IPAA and PESA, for the benefit of the Energy Institute High School. This year, the event will take place as a luncheon, which will raise funds for Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas. Photo: Corporate Event Images.

OTC attracts thousands of industry leaders and buyers from more than 130 countries. Attendees are given an opportunity to meet with their industry peers, to explore how technology, best practices, emerging trends and proven methods are making an impact on the changing industry environment.

Topical breakfasts and luncheons will be held each day, where attendees can gather for refreshments and networking. In addition, a networking event will close Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, giving industry mavens a chance to more casually interact.

Training courses. OTC will debut several training courses in the days leading up to the official conference dates. Held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston, each course will be hosted by one of OTC’s sponsoring societies. Topics discussed will include everything from petroleum geology and deepwater operations, to marine broadband technologies and modern well design.

Technical highlights. The 2016 OTC technical program offers key insights from global experts on technological advances, safety and environmentally focused solutions, as well as economic and regulatory impacts. Sessions will take place throughout the course of the event. Featured highlights of the 2016 program include:

• Continued Operations: Addressing how to extend the life of aging fields, improving production rates and enhancing oil recovery factors.
• New and Emerging Markets: The opening of the Mexican market has sparked a lot of interest.
• Current Environment: Topics that have relevance in today’s offshore atmosphere, including reducing operating costs and case studies of recent projects.
• Protecting our Resources: Taking a look at cyber-security, tools for process safety and other risk-management techniques.
• Looking Back to Move Forward: Foundational areas of the offshore industry are studied, as well as the technology that will impact future developments.

At OTC 2015, 2,682 companies exhibited from 37 countries, up from 2,568 in 2014. Photo: Corporate Event Images.

Special events. Throughout the four-day conference, there will be various special events and activities featured, including The Next Wave program. Sponsored by BP, this event offers young professionals insight from industry experts on the boom-and-bust cycle. As previous price cycles have shown, the recent price slump is likely to breed new opportunities. A panel of energy leaders will share their first-hand acuity and experience about how to thrive in these times of volatility.

On Monday, May 2, OTC will once again hold the Spotlight on New Technology Awards Presentation. Each year, the program—exclusively for OTC exhibitors—showcases the latest advancements, naming recipients who are leading the way in innovation.

Scheduled for Tuesday, May 3, the OTC Distinguished Achievement Awards Luncheon will take place at noon. This is where award recipients are recognized, and funds are raised for the 2016 beneficiary. This year’s beneficiary is Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, an organization made up of a volunteer network dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Attendees can later travel to Houston’s Minute Maid Park, where they can watch the Houston Astros take on the Minnesota Twins, for OTC’s Night at the Ballpark.

Each year, OTC attracts thousands of industry leaders and buyers from more than 130 countries. Photo: Corporate Event Images.

Other special events include the OTC University R&D Showcase and the Rice Alliance Startup Roundup. The OTC University R&D Showcase, which will take place throughout the conference, provides universities with an opportunity to share their current and planned offshore R&D projects with attendees. Similarly, the Rice Alliance Startup Roundup allows up to 50 emerging energy companies available for investment to showcase their business offerings, and facilitate potential partnerships and investments.

d5: The next big thing. Scheduled for the day after the conference (May 6), d5 will be held at Rice University. The event highlights some of the brightest E&P minds, who will present and participate in discussions intended to inspire ideas and leave a lasting impact. Last year’s d5 featured a collection of non-energy industry achievers. This year’s speakers include Helen Greiner, co-founder of iRobot and CEO of CyPhyWorks; Ram Shenoy, principal at Innovation Impact, LLC; Larry Tesler, a Silicon Valley consultant; Gindi Vincent, an author and counsel at Exxon Mobil; and Richard Ward, senior expert at McKinsey & Company.

The event includes thought-provoking presentations, which are heavily focused on topics including ideas, innovation and impact. Presentations this year will examine ideas in energy outlook; start-ups; competitive advantage and winning strategies; as well as game-changing capabilities, science and big data.