VIPs To Debate Road Ahead At Spe Offshore Europe

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Offshore industry leaders need to make crucial strategic choices immediately so that the upstream sector is prepared structurally and technically for the future, according to the Chairman of SPE Offshore Europe. Thomas Thune Andersen, who is also Chief Executive Officer of international oil and gas company Maersk Oil, is chairing the 2009 conference and exhibition in Aberdeen in September, with the event to take place at a time when he says its topics have global relevance. The conference theme this year is 'Energy At A Crossroads: Making Choices', and some of the E&P industry's leading strategic thinkers have been confirmed to join Mr Andersen to discuss and debate the choices and decisions that lie on the road ahead.

Participating in this year's free-to-attend conference will be industry luminaries such as Total's Chief Executive Officer, Mr Christophe de Margerie; Mr Guilherme Estrella, E&P Director at Petrobras; and Andrew Gould, President of Schlumberger. They will be joined by others including Connie Hedegaard, Denmark's Minister of Climate and Energy; Ayman Asfari, CEO of Petrofac; and Lord Browne, the former BP Chief Executive.

Looking back in three to five years time, Mr Andersen said this would be seen as the time when the necessary structural changes took place. "There is a whole new dynamic around access to resources in far away places, innovation and new partnerships, and what is happening to the climate. And we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that there is a very serious financial and economic crisis out there. But the oil industry is one where projects can take 10-15 years to develop, " he commented, adding that one of the lessons learnt from previous downturns has been the need to make sure that the industry's core competencies and skills are protected.

Sessions focus on carbon issues, operating models & the talent pool

There are four main sub-themes at the 2009 event, focusing on climate and energy, industry operating models, breakthrough technologies, and people issues. Panel sessions will focus on the following subjects: 'Towards A Low Carbon Future'; 'Nurturing and Managing Talent in a Global Industry', 'Operating Models – Oil Company of the Future?; 'From Bright Ideas to Implementation'; and 'The Next Trillion Barrels'. These discussions will be enhanced by a detailed technical programme including sessions on facilities and infrastructure, well technology, reservoir management, health safety and environment, exploration, and low carbon technologies.

There will also be three Topical Lunch presentations, with the Day 1 speaker to be Paul Horsnell, Managing Director, Head of Commodities Research at Barclays Capital, focusing on 'Economics of Oil'. Day 2 will see Total's Mr de Margerie give a presentation entitled 'Competitiveness of the UKCS – Can the majors still play a role?', while Day 3 will feature a talk on Nanotechnology by Paul Ching of Meridian Resource Corp.

One of the many invaluable features of attending SPE Offshore Europe for delegates is that after attending as many of the conference sessions as they wish and hearing about the latest technological advances, they can then go and view many of the latest examples of the discussed technologies and products in the exhibition area.

SPE Offshore Europe delivers debate, learning, innovation and solutions, providing its industry with an ideal platform for professionals to meet, discuss and view at first hand the latest technology and solutions available. The conference and exhibition is organised by The Offshore Europe Partnership Ltd., a joint venture between Reed Exhibitions Ltd. and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

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