Global Petroleum Show opens in Calgary with revamped format
CALGARY -- Amid an atmosphere among the Canadian oil and gas industry that activity is slowly getting better, the Global Petroleum Show (GPS) has opened this morning with an improved lineup of features that include a business and technical conference, and a new GPS Awards Gala. GPS organizers are hoping for/expecting attendance of 50,000+ for the three days ending on June 14.
In addition to the usual, vast exhibition, spread over several buildings and totaling 460,000+ sq ft, the GPS has taken back total responsibility for the conference side of the event. There is now a three-day Business Conference program, covering a host of management and regulatory issues, and featuring Canadian and U.S. speakers. A separate Technical Conference program will be running simultaneously with the business schedule, and it also will run the full three days. Some of the technical program streams include operational excellence, field development, E&P geoscience, drilling & completions, IOR/EOR, unconventional technologies, petroleum advanced analytics, carbon management, alternative energy, offshore & marine, HSE, and people & talent.
The GPS Awards Gala replaces the traditional Opening Night Reception (ONR) as the major networking event this year. It will be a sit-down dinner that will feature the handing-out of awards for eight categories, including Innovation in Technologies for three subjects, including Digital, Controls and Equipment. Other categories include Corporate Social Responsibility, Emerging Clean Technologies, Environmental Excellence, Health & Safety, and Indigenous Engagement.
Other new features include a GPS Celebrates Concert, featuring the Spazmatics, a 1980s-style retro band. The show will be in the Big Four Roadhouse. In addition, a Young GPS program is looking to inspire 50 future leaders, ages 12 to 17, to learn about new technology and how they can someday contribute to a sustainable energy future for Canada. GPS is also welcoming the Indian Resources Council to the show floor, with teepees installed in halls A, B and C, encouraging attendees to participate in dialogue about indigenous inclusion.
A Country Market Seminar Series is providing insights on international E&P interests and investment opportunities in 20 other countries. And the ever-popular Digital Oilfield Zone returns to the show grounds, and reportedly will even include exhibits on blockchain, A.I., and deep machine learning.
It should be noted that while U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may be having a public spat, the American and Canadian attendees at GPS are not letting that bother them. Colleagues from both sides are working closely together, as they always do. And, symbolically, the U.S. Department of Commerce pavilion, at the main desk on its one end, continues to feature the U.S. and Canadian flags standing next to each other. The Commerce pavilion includes about two dozen booths, highlighted by stands from the states of West Virginia and Louisiana.
