The future is in the water

To meet rising energy demand, the world needs to develop all available energy resources. Despite substantial growth in renewables, hydrocarbons will continue to play a dominant role. As the days of easy – onshore – oil and gas are over, the locus of E&P activities is increasingly shifting to the offshore. 

During Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference in Amsterdam, the Netherlands exhibition visitors and conference delegates can expect to learn about the latest solutions in offshore E&P activities.

New technologies make it possible to develop deep water and ultra-deep water fields as well as stranded shallow plays. The conference theme for this year “The future is in the water” is aptly chosen. Topics covered at the conference include the future of global oil and gas, emerging markets, innovative technologies as well as above-ground risks and concerns. Speakers represent operators, OEM’s, EPC companies, suppliers, service providers and investors.

Traditionally, Offshore Energy caters to the interests of both regional Northwest European players as well as companies with business activities elsewhere around the globe. The recurring technical session on North Sea exploration and production this year focuses on the changing playing field. As ‘big oil’ is retreating from the North Sea, more room is becoming available for smaller, independent E&P companies. The session will discuss what is being spent this year on drilling, how new players expect to deliver value and what governments of countries bordering the North Sea do to establish an attractive E&P climate.

Relevant to both the North Sea and other offshore producing regions are the sessions on offshore maintenance services and on well plugging and abandonment. Many offshore platforms in use today are exceeding their intended lifespan. For the first time, the Offshore Energy conference discusses the challenges operators face to keep the equipment running and what solutions are available to keep producing responsibly and profitably. When the productive life of a field has definitely come to an end, a different process kicks in. Governments and regulatory agencies are informing the offshore oil and gas industry that unproductive wells must be adequately sealed to prevent potential environmental threats. In the North Sea area and Gulf of Mexico alone several thousands of wells have to be abandoned. One of the technical sessions looks at cost effective solutions for plugging and abandonment.

Subsea processing

Offshore Energy stays on top of new developments and with the session on subsea processing the conference addresses a key innovative area. Subsea processing provides an alternative to production equipment located on a fixed or floating platform. This session will discuss the latest developments in subsea processing solutions including water removal and re-injection or disposal, boosting, gas separation and gas compression. Experts will present the viability of subsea processing for both green fields and brown fields.

On the non-technical side, the conference addresses a topical gap in rules and regulations for offshore service vessels. At the moment, there are no clear, practical rules for offshore service vessels carrying more than 12 passengers. In particular the definition of people who are neither crew nor passengers poses a challenge. Offshore Energy will discuss how national governments are trying to define ‘industrial personnel’ and how regulations are being developed within IMO. This session neatly links with another recurring theme of new offshore vessels. For the third time Offshore Energy presents the latest in offshore ship concepts, design and construction, presenting cases on the drawing board, what’s being built or has recently been taken to the water.

Renewable energy

Offshore Energy pays attention to all forms of offshore energy, including renewables. One of the technical sessions will offer a quick scan of developments in marine renewable energy. Delegates can expect to hear about the latest inventions in wave, tidal and ocean thermal energy in both tropical and temperate zones. The co-located Offshore WIND Installation and Maintenance Conference addresses the technical, operational, commercial and managerial challenges associated with future industry growth. Already in its fifth year the conference offers an overview of wind farm developments, presents innovations in wind farm installation and maintenance and discusses the challenges of grid integration. The conference looks at developments in Europe and elsewhere, including for example China and India. It will also address the human capital and financial capital needed to realize the offshore wind industry’s full global potential, focusing on future workforce requirements and possible contracting solutions to improve the quality of offshore wind investments.

Continued growth

Offshore Energy is the fastest growing gathering of offshore industry professionals. Founded in 2008 Offshore Energy convenes annually at the Amsterdam RAI, breaking attendance records year after year. Taking place in the easily accessible and attractive city of Amsterdam, Offshore Energy brings together Dutch industry giants as well as a host of international parties. The 7th event in 2014 is expected to attract over 10,000 visitors from around the world (9,123 in 2013). Over 500 supply chain companies will showcase their products and services. Companies such as Fugro, Palfinger, Bluewater Energy Services, Technip-EPG, Van Oord, Keppel Verolme, Boskalis, Ulstein, IHC and Heerema Group have already booked their stand. More than 80% of the exhibition space has already been sold.

In order to facilitate the growth in 2014 again an extra hall will be incorporated into the exhibition. The new hall will be the gateway to the conference area and is home to the new Offshore Energy Arena that accommodates the C-level panels. The Industry Panel discusses issues affecting the industry as a whole and the Drilling & Dollars Panel brings together oil & gas financials. For the second time Offshore Energy organizes a Human Capital Panel, which this year focuses on retention of talent and leadership development. The future is in the water – but harnessing offshore opportunities can only be realized by securing the future’s workforce.

For more information and to register please visit https://offshore-energy.biz/