This year’s Offshore Energy event has the theme “Investing in the future of energy.” Fabian Schellevis explains more.
“The offshore industry is in dire straits!” cry the newspaper headlines. In 2015 and 2016 the price of oil could drop to US$50 per barrel. Oil companies would then either freeze or drop existing projects, which would hit offshore contractors hard and deter investors. This potential domino effect makes 2015 a sink or swim year. During Offshore Energy 2015 in October at the RAI in Amsterdam, the main focus will be what the future will look like. And especially how the latest developments and opportunities can be improved upon efficiently.
On 13 and 14 October 2015 the Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference (OEEC) will again take place in the Amsterdam RAI. For two days more than 13,500 visitors and 650 exhibitors from over 80 different countries will dive into issues surrounding the developments and changes in the gas, oil and energy industry. “We want to update the industry on the various possibilities and innovations available,” says Femke Perlot-Hoogeveen, Offshore Energy conference manager. “This is the reason that we have chosen the theme ‘Investing in the future of energy.’”
The event pays a lot of attention to oil and gas developments. New conference themes this year include Well Intervention, Technical Data Management, and HP/HT Drilling. Moreover, Decommissioning and Subsea Processing are back on the agenda.
Conference Advisory Board
This year OEEC has established a special Conference Advisory Board. This new body is composed of a diverse group of offshore professionals who have a unique knowledge about how the industry works, and the possible developments. The Conference Advisory Board assists the OEEC organisation in identifying the key challenges and issues in the offshore sector. This way, the best master classes, panels, and technical sessions can be offered, and the program will be streamlined with present developments.
Guido van den Bos from NOV is looking forward to participating in the Advisory Board: “I expect, together with the Board, to lift the conference to an even higher level by suggesting current topics and difficulties in the industry, and to provide an effective, safe, and cost efficient solution.” Joop Slager of Wintershall Noordzee is also happy that he can share his experience and expertise through the Advisory Board: “I think I can play a role in improving the technical content of the programme and I want to give substance to high-quality issues.”
History teaches us that the oil, gas and energy industry has always shown great resilience. Oil prices have rarely been stable for long periods of time, and it is remarkable how the industry has maintained its ability to adapt to changes and developments. In the meantime the sector will have to continue to ask itself important questions, and it is certain that it will be up to the companies in the offshore sector to determine which cuts and adjustments t have to be made to survive in these uncertain times. Organisations must continue to focus on improvements on efficiency, strategy and operations and whether to block or divert expenditure. Offshore Energy 2015 intends to tackle these issues and provide clear answers.
Fabian Schellevis is with Navingo, organiser of Offshore Energy. www.offshore-energy.biz
