VIDEO: OTC 2013 Attendance Reaches 30-year High

Experts from the offshore energy industry around the world came together 6–9 May for the 2013 Offshore Technology Conference at Reliant Park in Houston. Attendance at the conference reached a 30-year high of 104,800, the second highest in show history and up 17% from last year.

Attendance surpassed the 2012 total of 89,400 and the sold-out exhibition was the largest in show history at 652,185 ft², up from 641,350 ft² in 2012. The event had 2,728 companies representing 40 countries, including 244 new exhibitors in 2013. International companies made up 39% of exhibitors.

“We had a terrific conference with deep and broad technical coverage, supported by excellent panels and executive keynote presentations,” said Steve Balint chairman of OTC. “Technology is at the heart of the offshore industry and it was all here on display at OTC 2013.”

This year’s event featured nine panel sessions, 29 executive keynote presentations at luncheons and breakfasts, and 298 technical papers. Speakers from major IOCs, NOCs, and independent operators presented their views on the current challenges and future directions of the industry.

OTC’s Spotlight on New Technology recognized 15 technologies for their innovation in allowing the industry to produce offshore resources.

Governors (Texas, Alabama, Alaska, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina) from the Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition participated on a panel discussion on offshore energy development and the need for improved cooperation between the states and the Federal government.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell toured the exhibition floor and held a press conference where she discussed her commitment to work with industry leaders to ensure safe and environmentally responsible offshore oil and gas operations.

Energy ministers and national oil company senior executives participated on a panel where they shared their perspectives on how the industry and its partnership models should adjust to address future supply challenges and what role companies and governments should play to shape the energy future.

Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and his wife, the Crown Princess Mette-Marit attended the Annual OTC Dinner on Sunday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Norway’s participation in OTC. The royal couple toured the exhibition floor where more than 60 Norwegian companies were part of Norwegian Pavilion on Monday.

More than 100 Houston-area classroom teachers and 200 students attended the Energy Education Institute where teachers learned how to teach scientific concepts of energy and its importance in a fun and exciting way. Participating students saw firsthand the exciting opportunities the oil and gas industry can offer.

The Annual OTC Dinner was attended by more than 1,000 industry leaders and conference attendees, and raised USD 250,000 for the Offshore Energy Center. OTC also presented its 2013 Distinguished Achievement Award to Ken Arnold; OTC Heritage Awards to James Brill and Dendy Sloan; and the Distinguished Achievement Award for Companies, Organizations, or Institutions to Total’s Pazflor deep offshore development at the sold-out event on the floor of Reliant Stadium.

OTC 2014 takes place 5–8 May 2014 at Reliant Park.

Encompassing the two weeks of move-in, through Day 3 of the conference, watch this quick video to see the exhibition being built from the ground up.