Industry professionals seek guidance in a tough market from OE 2017

SPE’s biennial Offshore Europe (OE) E&P conference and exhibition will be held at the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Center in Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, during Sept. 5–8. The conference, which is recognized as a top E&P event in Europe, is organized to connect professionals with the global industry, and allow them to acquire new technical know-how, as well as to stay in touch with the latest business trends.

Fig. 1. At OE 2017, attendees will have an opportunity to engage with technical experts from more than 1,000 suppliers on the exhibition floor.

At OE 2017, attendees will have an opportunity to engage with technical experts from more than 1,000 suppliers on the exhibition floor, including international market leaders and innovative technology companies, Fig. 1. This year, the exhibition floor will incorporate a Decommissioning Zone, specifically dedicated to decommissioning activities in the North Sea. It will include more than 20 decommissioning technology and service providers, such as Decom North Sea, ITF, IMechE and SUT. More than 11,000 technical, business and government industry professionals are expected to participate in the Decommissioning Zone. Additionally, independent North Sea operator Fairfield Energy, presently engaged in the decommissioning of the Greater Dunlin assets, is set to share details regarding the company’s progress.

Attendees also will have time to network during the conference’s breakfast briefings and topical luncheons. They’ll receive exclusive insight and best practice advice directly from industry experts and business executives from around the world.

CONFERENCE SESSIONS

Among the main conference sessions are the keynote and technical programs.

Keynote program. This year, OE 2017 has planned an all-inclusive lineup of keynote sessions, covering an array of important industry topics. Following a plenary session, the program will kick off with “New business models to address mature basin challenges,” a panel discussion that will assess the various ways to optimize mature fields and aging infrastructure in northwestern Europe—a region that has seen a recent decline in activity, but still is recognized as holding significant resources. The session will delve into the technical parameters of IOR/EOR, HPHT and heavy oil, as well as the new or adapted business models that can be introduced to maximize economic recovery. EnQuest COO Neil McCulloch will moderate.

In addition to business model discussions, keynote speakers are scheduled to examine other key matters, including digital solutions and Big Data; technology; cyber security; safety; and exploration and decommissioning activities. The remaining keynote sessions include:

• Making capital work in the new reality
• Disrupting & digitizing our industry: Harnessing technologies to shape and transform all aspects of our business
• Cyber and physical attacks—understanding & managing the risks
• Describing a future E&P based on innovative digital solutions and Big Data
• It’s all about us—the human factors behind safety statistics
• A sustainable future? Finding, developing and retaining tomorrow’s talent
• Benefits of adopting “best practice” from others
• How are we going to embrace and deliver sustainability in the sector?
• Breakthrough ideas in supply chain effectiveness
• Decommissioning: Are we thinking big enough, or is the challenge smaller than we think?

Attendees will get valuable information and in-depth assessments of these E&P advancements and trends from contributors that include upstream professionals, executives and industry experts, including Greta Lydecker, managing director at Chevron Upstream Europe; Clay Williams, chairman, president and CEO at NOV; Steen Karstensen, CEO at Maersk Supply Services; Ahmed Hashmi, global head of upstream technology at BP; Elyse Allen, president and CEO at GE Canada; Richard Ward, V.P., North Sea, at Baker Hughes; and Judy Marks, CEO of Siemens U.S.A., to name a few.

Technical program. The OE technical program has been organized under the theme, “Embracing new realities: Re-inventing our industry.” Each session will cover topics including HSE; digital technologies and innovation; subsea production; decommissioning; automation; drilling; and environmental impact. Among the confirmed technical sessions are:

• Data-driven decision support
• Decommissioning
• Innovation in pipelines and risers
• Improvements in safety and environment I & II
• Subsea technology
• Advanced condition monitoring and maintenance
• Unlocking the remaining potential: Resolving reservoir uncertainty, real-time, with geo-steering
• Reinvigorating drilling: Challenging what is possible
• Emergent platform inspection technologies
• Well automation and analytics.

Leading industry experts and engineers will contribute to the technical program, presenting worthwhile information from SPE papers and offering insight into the latest developments in oil and gas. Kerry Hall, ConocoPhillips; Paddy O’Brien, ITF; Annabel Green, Tendeka; Colin Higgins, Siccar Point Energy; Drummond Lawson, Subsea Technologies Ltd.; Alan Dobson, Technip Umbilicals Ltd.; and Steve Rose, Total, are among the program’s contributing chairpersons.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Event organizers also will stage several special events, among which are Inspire and an Investment Workshop.

Fig. 2. SPE’s Inspire Program will hold a series of activities, workshops and lectures that will allow students and young professionals to learn more about STEM fields. Students of various ages will get the opportunity to ask questions and engage with industry experts.

Inspire. SPE’s Inspire Program is a series of activities, workshops and lectures that are specially focused on supporting young individuals considering careers in the oil and gas industry. The program engages with students and young professionals, arming them with valuable information about STEM fields, Fig. 2.

The event—which was established by the Inspire Program Committee, with support from the Young Member Engagement Committee—covers a wide variety of topics that target specific age groups. It includes the School Engagement Program (ages 15–17), an overview of OE that will provide students with insight into engineering studies and the importance of science and technology during their school years; the Young Member Programs (University students and young professionals), a series of activities that address the skills and potential concerns of those interested in pursuing a career in the oil and gas industry; and an OPITO School Tour, which will highlight OPITO’s “Energize Your Future” events and help inspire the next generation of industry leaders. Additionally, the Marine Conservation Society and SPE Cares, a one-year-old initiative that aims to give back to the community that hosts OE, have arranged a beach clean-up at the north side of the River Don.

Investment Workshop. Sponsored by Oiltech Investment Network, in partnership with OTM Consulting, OE’s Investment Workshop Seminars will offer a series of drop-in sessions that will guide attendees through the process of getting their technology to market in the quickest, most effective manner. During the one-day event, which is free to attend, industry experts will offer advice and expertise regarding investment and partner funding, as well as filing for patents and holding strategies.