OTC commemorates 50 years in Houston

OTC 2018 at a glance:

• More than 2,000 exhibitors from around the world will showcase the industry’s latest in offshore technology
• More than 70,000 attendees, from more than 100 different countries around the world, are expected
• More than 350 technical presentations are scheduled throughout the week-long conference

The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), the offshore oil and gas industry’s largest equipment exhibition, is celebrating its 50th edition this year. The annual conference—scheduled to take place at Houston’s NRG Park from April 30 to May 3—will showcase the latest technology for offshore drilling, exploration, production and environmental protection. Since it began, in 1969, OTC has expanded into the largest conference and exhibition of its kind. Today, OTC is a global event and also includes the Arctic Technology Conference, OTC Brasil and OTC Asia in its suite of offshore technology conferences.

Fig. 1. The OTC 2018 exhibition, spanning more than 500,000 ft2, is expected to host over 70,000 attendees from around the globe.

This year, more than 2,000 companies, representing more than 40 countries worldwide, will be set up in Houston to share the most advanced technologies that the offshore energy sector has to offer, Figs. 1 and 2. The exhibition, spanning more than 500,000 ft², is expected to host over 70,000 attendees from around the globe—up from last year’s 64,700+ attendees.

The milestone event is expected to draw an array of industry professionals, including company executives, government officials, scientists and engineers, as well as potential investors, making it the perfect place to meet and network with other energy industry mavens.

Celebrating 50 years. To commemorate the 50th OTC in Houston, speakers will observe key milestones of the last 50 years in the industry. They will discuss the evolution of offshore technology over the years, as well as what innovations are expected to develop over the next 50 years.

Fig. 2. This year, more than 2,000 companies, representing more than 40 countries worldwide, will be set up in Houston to share the most advanced technologies that the offshore energy sector has to offer.

“OTC is celebrating a significant milestone in the life of the conference,” said Patrick Pouyanné, chairman and CEO at Total, and OTC 2018 keynote speaker. “For 50 years, OTC has encouraged scientists and engineers to develop innovative technologies that have unleashed the potential of offshore energy sources needed for global growth and progress.”

At OTC 2018, attendees will have the opportunity to meet and network with industry executives, as well as like-minded professionals, who represent international operators, contractors and service companies, Fig. 3. A highly-esteemed lineup of executives is scheduled to give a keynote address during the opening ceremony on Monday, April 30. In addition to Pouyanné, speakers include Ryan Lance, chairman and CEO at ConocoPhillips; Clay Williams, chairman and CEO at NOV; Jeff Miller, president and CEO at Halliburton; Harry Brekelmans, project and technology director at Royal Dutch Shell; and Solange da Silva Guedes, chief exploration and production officer at Petrobras

Wafik Beydoun, the 2018 board chairman, will host a panel on energy transformation during opening day. A panel of cross-industry executives, moderated by former U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, will discuss energy transformation and decarbonization. Panel speakers include Carlos Ghosn, chairman and CEO at Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi; Eldar Saetre, president and CEO at Statoil; and Remi Eriksen, group president and CEO at DNV GL.

The first day of the event will close with the Party on the Parkway, where attendees can enjoy an evening of fun and dancing, with live music from Dysfunkshun Junkshun, a cover band from Austin, Texas.

Fig. 3. Petrobras CEO Pedro Parente delivered a keynote address during a topical luncheon at OTC 2017. This year, keynotes are scheduled from executives of Shell, NOV, ConocoPhillips, Halliburton and more.

Technical highlights. In addition to technical sessions, this year’s event includes topical breakfasts and luncheons, panel discussions and networking events, where attendees can hear key insights on offshore technology, from industry experts who specialize in its development.

A wide array of topics will be covered during this year’s technical program including subsea field development and tie-backs, digitalization, advances in mooring technology, risk management, regulatory standards, deepwater investment, advances in reservoir characterization and monitoring, well control, HPHT technology, reservoir engineering, flow assurance, drilling automation and machine learning, to name a few. It includes more than 350 peer-selected technical presentations, leveraging the collective knowledge of 13 societies.

Award winners. On Tuesday, May 1, OTC will hold the Distinguished Achievement Awards Luncheon, recognizing award recipients for industry achievements and raising funds for a worthy cause.

This year, the luncheon will benefit the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy (YWCPA), an all-girl college preparatory magnet school within the Houston Independent School District. With the support of the Foundation for the Education of Young Women, YWCPA was launched in 2011. It focuses on college preparedness and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

“OTC is honored to have the opportunity to support YWCPA’s efforts to promote STEM education among middle and high school girls,” said Wafik Beydoun, chairman of the OTC board of directors. “There’s a steadily increasing demand for energy-related skills from tomorrow’s rapidly diversifying workforce, not just within offshore oil and gas fields but society at large, and it’s important to invest in curriculum that will help meet this need. We’re excited that our support will provide more opportunities for these students and expect that we’ll see some of them at future OTCs.”

Brian Skeels, technology fellow at TechnipFMC, will be honored with the OTC Distinguished Achievement Award for Individuals, for his remarkable accomplishments in pioneering new subsea completions in record water depths, as well as for the development of new tie-back connections that have redefined industry standards.

Likewise, the OTC Distinguished Achievement Award for Companies, Organizations and Institutions will be presented to Shell and SBM Offshore for successful development of the world’s deepest oil and gas project. According to Shell, Stones field—situated in an ultra-deep area of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico—utilizes an FPSO facility connected to subsea infrastructure, which produces oil and gas from reservoirs nearly 30,000 ft below sea level.

Cesar Del Vecchio, of Stress Engineering Services, will be recognized with the Heritage Award for his contribution to the safe and economic development of deepwater floating systems by establishing, proving and gaining worldwide acceptance for the use of polyester mooring systems. Additionally, OTC will recognize Tom Sifferman with a Special Citation for his contributions to the advancement of production enhancement, complex rheology mitigation and chemical flow assurance of arduous reservoir fluids.

These awards will be presented in addition to the Spotlight on New Technology Awards. The program, exclusively for OTC exhibitors, will showcase the latest and most advanced technologies that are leading the industry into the future. Seventeen technologies will receive the award for advancements that are bringing about safer, more sustainable and more efficient oil and gas operations.

“As OTC celebrates its 50th edition, we reflect on the innovations that have been achieved throughout the past five decades,” Spotlight Award Committee Chair Paul Jones said. “We can never forget that companies like the 2018 Spotlight Award winners are driving the technological advancements necessary to propel our industry for the next 50 years.”