MCEDD gets underway with Eni keynote, operator panel session

MILAN -- The premier deepwater conference got underway in Milan, Italy, on Monday, with an impassioned keynote speech and a spirited operator panel session. Hosted by Quest Offshore and World Oil, MCEDD (Marine, Construction & Engineering Deepwater Development) kicked off with a speech by EniProgetti CEO Luciano Vasques that outlined the challenges facing operators and service companies, alike, in the deepwater offshore market. One of those challenges is how the two groups can work better together.

Following the keynote address was an operator panel session, featuring participants from Total, BP and EniProgetti. It was a frank discussion among the panelists about differing approaches to deepwater development, as well as compare-and-contrast methods and benefits, and the value that their respective strategies are delivering to shareholders.

This morning, the panel format continued, as executives from Subsea 7, TechnipFMC and BHGE discussed the commercial/contracting side of the deepwater market. After making their initial presentations, these executives were joined by the operator panelists from yesterday afternoon, as the two sides discussed, and compared and contrasted, supply chain issues, sharing the benefits of added value, and outlining the types of win-win strategies that might be viable in working on offshore, deepwater projects.

The MCEDD conference continues with three tracks of technical paper presentations on deepwater technical issues through Wednesday.