OTC’s Golden Anniversary
The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) showcases leading-edge technology for offshore drilling, exploration, production, and environmental protection. This year, the conference is celebrating its Golden Anniversary, attracting more attendees and exhibiting companies from around the globe than ever before.
These energy professionals meet to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources and environmental matters. OTC gives them access to leading-edge technical information, the industry’s largest equipment exhibition, and valuable new professional contacts. Since its launch in Houston in 1969, the summit has made an economic impact to the tune of billions of dollars. Over the years, OTC has expanded technically and globally, with the Arctic Technology Conference, OTC Brasil, and OTC Asia. It has grown into a stable and valued event for industry executives, engineers, managers, and scientists. The technical programme offers special sessions on significant industry topics, such as the future of petroleum and the challenges facing the industry in meeting the increasing demand for energy. It is held annually at the NRG park in Houston, Texas.
OTC’s 50 Years’ Legacy
For 50 years, OTC has been encouraging scientists and engineers to develop innovative technologies that can tap into the potential of offshore energy sources. Its large international participation provides excellent opportunities for sharing technology, expertise and products on a global scale. OTC brings together industry leaders, investors, buyers, entrepreneurs, developing markets and business partnerships. It has been a successful event right from the first edition in 1969. That first year, 368 companies exhibited, attracting around 2,800 visitors. In the course of the years, the event has seen substantial growth, both in size and worldwide participation.
OTC’s golden anniversary celebration started last year by focusing on subjects such as the current state of the industry, reducing costs and improving overall value, breakthrough technologies in a low oil price environment, and industry-leading safety practices, in addition to recurring topics. OTC 2018 welcomed over 61,300 attendees from more than 100 countries, while the exhibition covered more than 54,000 square metres, including outdoor exhibits. The 2018 conference also had more than 2,300 exhibiting companies representing 44 countries. Nearly 300 were new exhibitors, and international companies made up 55 percent of exhibitors. Wafik Beydoun, 2018 OTC Chairman of the Board of Directors, was very pleased with last year’s attendance, as it was above the 52,570 average of OTC’s previous 48 editions. With the 2019 exhibition space in NRG Center sold out even before the 2018 event, this year’s attendance might just break those records.
What’s New this Year
OTC 2019 will have a general opening session on Monday morning, 6 May, entitled ‘OTC’s Golden Anniversary Opening Session: The Next 50 Years of Offshore Developments’. At this opening, various industry executives, such as the president of Total, the CEO of TechnipFMC, CEO of Siemens gas and power, president of BP America and COO of Equinor to name but a few, will explore how companies are preparing for the brave new world of digitalisation, automation, and machine learning. They will share their vision for the future of offshore E&P operations. From Monday to Wednesday, OTC will feature a new programme called the ‘Around the World Series.’ Global industry leaders will discuss new licensing and business opportunities, as well as recently introduced technologies. This is where the latest information will be shared from principals representing Australia, Norway, Mexico, France, United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, and Guyana.
Special Events
University R&D Showcase
The OTC University R&D Showcase provides universities with the opportunity to share with attendees their current and planned R&D projects that are relevant to offshore technology. This year will feature presentations by the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Oklahoma, Rice University, the University of Houston and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.
Rice Alliance Startup Roundup at OTC
The Rice Alliance Startup Roundup at the OTC is a fast-paced event that will showcase approximately 50 emerging and growing energy technology companies. Each company will have 2-3 minutes to provide a quick pitch about their company, followed by an informal reception. It is an excellent opportunity for attendees to learn more about emerging businesses, and enable potential partnerships and investments. The technologies include the latest innovations related to artificial lift optimisation; flare gas energy recovery; high-performance corrosion coatings; big data analytics tools; hydraulic fracturing optimisation; biological remediation; efficient, distributed power generation; enhanced rate of penetration tools; robotic marine vehicles; downhole submersible pump enhancements; industrial IoT (Internet of Things) applications; smaller, lighter, higher-temperature heat exchangers; multiphase, high-ratio gas compression technology; sensors for reservoir monitoring and more.
Energy Education Institute
The Energy Education Institute conducts two events – one for high school students and another for all grade level teachers. Teachers and students will participate in grade-appropriate hands-on energy exploration experiments provided by the NEED Project, the U.S.’s leading provider of energy education programmes and materials to schools.
Golden Anniversary Gala Dinner
The OTC Golden Anniversary Gala Dinner will recognise the OTC Distinguished Achievement Award recipients and raise funds for Spindletop Charities. Spindletop has contributed millions to aid programmes supporting at-risk youth since 1966. The gala dinner will also provide an excellent opportunity for industry leaders to network with colleagues from around the world. The dinner, awards presentation and beneficiary recognition will be held on Sunday, 5 May. The conference will recognise Carlos Mastrangelo for individual achievement, the ExxonMobil-operated Hebron Offshore Project for institutional achievement, and David Baldwin will be given the Hoover Medal.