Every three years, the World Petroleum Council organises the World Petroleum Congress as the principal meeting place for global discussion of oil and gas issues. The triennial Congress is also known as the “Olympics” of the industry because it attracts the largest number of attendees from the largest number of countries from all over the world.
The 20th World Petroleum Congress will be held in Doha, Qatar, from 4-8 December 2011.
Led by plenary sessions that will bring together the most prestigious and influential industry leaders from around the world, the 2011 Congress is already being described as one of the most high-profile congresses in the Council’s history.
Following the Opening plenary with six oil and gas ministers from the Middle East, ExxonMobil’s CEO Rex Tillerson and Shell’s CEO Peter Voser will be joining Qatar’s Minister of Energy and Industry, His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, in a high-level presentation of Qatar’s role in the future energy landscape.
Other names participating in the Congress include BP CEO Robert Dudley, Russia’s Energy Minister Sergei Schmatko, Total CEO Christophe de Margerie, Petrobras CEO José Sergio Gabrielli, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient FW de Klerk from South Africa.
The sold-out exhibition accompanying the 20th WPC is expected to cover 35,000 square metres, surpassing the previous WPC event in Madrid in 2008 by 20%, and making it the largest exhibition in the WPC’s history.
In June 2008, over 4,000 delegates were registered at the 19th WPC in Madrid, where initiatives such as Ministerial Sessions, the electronic Poster Plaza and Special Sessions on youth in the industry, were all successfully implemented.
These will also be incorporated into the Doha Congress, with even more delegates expected to attend. Doha has already registered over 3,300 delegates and with eight weeks to go until the event the organisers are expecting total numbers to be in the region of 5,000 attendees.
A wide-ranging Technical Programme for the 5-day congress will recognize the scientific, technological and professional achievements of the oil and gas sector. Topics for the sessions will reflect the 20th WPC’s official theme: ”Energy Solutions for All: Promoting Cooperation, Innovation and Investment”.
Almost 2,000 high-quality papers have been submitted for the 24 technical forum sessions, which are distributed into five blocks: Natural Gas, New Exploration and Production Frontiers and Technologies, Innovations in the Downstream, Complementary Energy Sources, and Industry Commitment to Sustainability.
This is an unprecedented level of submissions, both in terms of quality and quantity, and about 300 papers and posters will be presented.
The technical programme also includes a broad variety of posters, roundtable discussions, special sessions, best practice keynotes, and plenary sessions with the confirmed participation of high-ranking industry and government authorities.
The Youth Programme is an integral feature of the 20th WPC and is inspired by the World Petroleum Council’s ongoing youth programmes and forums. The core message the organising committee wants to convey is that the youth of today can contribute in shaping a sustainable future.
Dialogue between young participants from around the world has already commenced on www.WPCyouthconnect.com which is a dedicated forum to discuss topics of significance to the industry. There will also be a dedicated youth session at the Congress.
The 20th WPC is being held at The Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) which is the first venue of its kind in the region that has been built to the gold certification of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED).
The WPC will require the full hosting capacity of the QNCC. Over five days during the 20th WPC, the organisers expect to welcome around 5,000 attendees, including 500 speakers, over 50 top chief executives and hundreds of global media representatives, in addition to staff and contractors.
Exhibitor Excitement
The parallel exhibition features more than 500 companies including most major international oil companies and national companies from around the globe. For trade visitors, this is expected to be one of the biggest events of its kind in the region, with visitor numbers expected to meet the full capacity of the QNCC’s exhibition space.
Bjarne-Andre Asheim, Region Business Unit Manager for Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals, ABB in the Middle East says that thw WPC poses a unique opportunity to exhibitors. “The World Petroleum Congress has over the past been one of the largest oil and gas shows globally.
Now that it has come to the Middle East, it will be a great way to connect and interact with some of the best oil and gas players in the industry and moreover witness the presence of international and national oil producers, major EPC contractors, consortium leaders, technology providers trading companies and consulatants under one roof.”
ABB provides a full range of Products, Automation and Electrical solutions, and EPC deliveries for onshore production; from well-heads to transportation and treatment facilities.
“Products and demos displayed at our stand will offer our oil and gas audience innovative solutions that will help optimize operations,eliminate losses,improve the quality and flow of information, and meet safety and environmental regulations,” explains Asheim.
“Events like WPC are primarily designed to let entrepreneurs meet many potential customers face-to-face in a brief period of time. ABB looks forward to introducing customers and visitors world’s leading power and automation technology, leading-edge application knowledge and local expertise.”
Pekka Paasivaara, a member of the GL Executive Board, said: “we are pleased to be exhibiting at World Petroleum Congress (WPC) for the first time this year. Senior representatives will be available at stand 9216 to talk to delegates about the innovative technical solutions and software we use to help our clients plan, design and develop, operate and optimise and assure their on- and offshore assets worldwide.”
Paasivaara adds that he is delighted to see WPC come to the Middle East for the first time, and especially to Qatar. “GL Noble Denton has experienced a significant uptake in demand for our services from the region in recent years, and we continue to place a strategic focus on developing business in the region,” he says.
GL Noble Denton will use the pulling power of the event to publicise an exclusive preview of some of the findings in a new report the company has commissioned the Economist Intelligence Unit to produce on the future of the oil and gas industry in 2012 and beyond.
“Due to be released in January 2012, the comprehensive report will gather opinions from a wide selection of senior industry professionals from around the world on the future opportunities and challenges that the sector is likely to face in the future,” Paasivaara says.
“We will also be also offering WPC delegates the chance to come to our stand and vote on a range of hotly debated issues in today’s oil and gas industry. Delegates will be invited to give their opinions on a thought-provoking question during each day of the event, and the results of each day’s Industry Snapshot poll will be announced the following morning.
The poll will include questions on the whether the oil and gas industry can sustain growth in the world’s energy demands, and whether unconventional gas has a long-term role to play in the sector.”
Delta Doha
The Middle East’s only local wellhead manufacturing company, Delta Doha, will also be using the WPC exhibition to build brand awareness. Managing director Wesam Swelem says growing the profile of the Qatar based oilfield engineering, design and manufacturing company, which specialises in the production of wellheads, christmas trees, valves and related productions will be key.
“Since we are the only existing wellhead manufacturing company in the Middle East and we have more than 30 years of experience in the field, we are confident that the show will be an opportunity for us to meet with many of the exhibiting companies that we would prosper to build strong ties with, through interaction with our employees and information about our products and services,” explains Swelem.
“In particular we would like to communicate the capability of our engineering and R&D department for their innovation and competency in creating DDC’s product line,” says Swelem. “An example is our newly-launched Hydraulic Actuator and Self Contained Surface Safety Valve that is conventionally maintained and suitable for both offshore and onshore operations and ideal for use in H2S and CO2 applications.”
Swelem says the timing of an international audience couldn’t be better, as the company is currently going through an expansion plan through the opening our new Delta U.S. branch that will target the South and North American markets.
Offshore Opportunity
John Cunningham, business development manager at Offshore Solutions BV, said: “We intend to build our Gulf business upon the considerable experience gained in successfully operating our first OAS in the region for the Qatar Shell GTL Limited project.
“The 20th WPC exhibition provides OSBV with a platform for raising awareness of the benefits of marine access and meeting existing and potential clients based in the region.
“As market leader in heave-compensated marine access systems, Offshore Solutions BV is committed to developing a long-term sustainable business in the Middle East.
“OSBV is committed to maintaining our incident free HSE performance, which has been achieved in a range of challenging sea states and from a variety of vessels.
“We will be showcasing video footage at the exhibition of the OAS operating in 3 metre wave height in the demanding conditions of the North Sea as filmed by our own operator technicians.”
Cunningham says the capability to operate in these challenging sea states, combined with a 24-hour connection capability (and engineered by OSBV to perform for extended periods in demanding climatic conditions), a vessel with an OAS installed onboard is capable of delivering major benefits to operators in the Gulf.
“We have also developed a Free Standing Offshore Access System (FSOAS), primarily for shorter term contracts. This is an important step in the strategic development of our company and is a key part of our global strategy.”
Tech Talk
Jens Fuglsang Pedersen, global industry manager oil and gas at Endress + Hauser, a major supplier of measuring instruments and automation solutions for the industrial process engineering industry, says the face to face opportunities the WPC exhibition provides will be an excellent platform to build on dialogue with local and international clients.
“It is important for Endress+Hauser to meet our customers face to face. Only in talking to them we can learn about their needs and answer their specific requests,” explains Fuglsang. “At this year’s World Petroleum Congress we will be displaying the world’s largest Coriolis massflow meter.”
Earlier this year Endress+Hauser signed a major agreement with Shell to supply process measurement instruments, engineering and associated services.
Both companies have signed an Enterprise Framework Agreement (EFA) with an initial term of five years.
“Shell selected Endress +Hauser for the global provisioning of instruments and technologies for flow, level, pressure and temperature measurements and for liquid analysis. We will also provide to Shell project management, engineering, maintenance, repairs and site services in Shell facilities around the globe.”
Emerson at the WPC
Emerson Industrial Automation exhibits at World Petroleum Congress 2011
Emerson Industrial Automation Middle East will be using the World Petroleum Congress in Doha to showcase its latest technologies and innovations for the Petroleum and Industrial marketplaces.
Emerson Industrial Automation, part of Emerson Electric Co., will be demonstrating its diverse range of innovative solutions to improve efficiency and reliability in production processes including specialized products for hazardous and extreme environments within the Oil and Gas industry.
The brands on display from Emerson Industrial Automation will include EGS, whos Appleton and ATX brands are leaders in the field of electrical products for hazardous areas including lighting, enclosures and control switches.
Asco Numatics whose range of pilot valves is used in the control of both production and distribution processes in the oil and gas industry. Leroy-Somer, who offer a specialized range of ATEX-certified hazardous area motors and alternators, demonstrating new IE2 high efficiency electric motors, as well as the other leading brands Control Techniques, demonstrating variable speed motor drives, and Kop-Flex, SealMaster, and Browning couplings for power transmission.
The Emerson Industrial Automation team looks forward to meeting industry professionals at all levels to demonstrate the total range of products and discuss our solutions for the evolving needs and demanding requirements of the oil and gas industry.
Stahl Cranes at WPC
Chris Wilson, Sales Manager at Stahl Cranes, is looks forward to showing oil and gas companies WPC what his company can do.
Why exhibit at WPC?
CW: Being the first time that the WPC will be held in this region and with so many of our core customers from the Petroleum companies and majors EPC companies attending, we believe this to be an excellent opportunity to showcase the products and services that we offer.
With the biggest product range and being the world leader in explosion-protected crane technology, we are delivering care-free service packages to global epc companies, which makes us the first choice for complex international projects.
In addition to this, we see this show as a great opportunity to demonstrate our local partnership with Petrotec in Qatar, where we combine safe high quality products of lasting value with an unequalled service.
What new equipment and services do you have to offer?
CW: Explosion-protected equipment is pertinent to the safe operation of the oil and gas industry to which we have contributed extensively, having pioneered the design of the very first explosion protected hoist. We shall continue to showcase our products which continue to this day to be the leading design in performance and safety in this field.
Our LNG hoists have been designed especially for maintenance work in natural gas liquefaction plants, they are equipped with two rope drums, two ropes, two gears and two motors and rocking suspension which currently is regarded as the safest hoist presently available on the market.
What do you hope to gain from exhibiting?
CW: To continue to expand the presence of our company and awareness of what we deliver to the industry amongst the many petrochemical companies attending.
DNV at WPC
DNV is Exhibiting at WPC as part of a wider presence at the conference. WPC is the most important meeting place for international oil and gas executives.
DNV is a global provider of knowledge for managing risk. “Today, safe and responsible business conduct is both a license to operate and a competitive advantage. Our core competence is to identify, assess, and advise on risk management, and so turn risks into rewards for our customers,” explains Tore Høifødt, senior vice president, communication director, Asia Pacific & Middle East for DNV.
DNV’s CEO Henrik Madsen, is giving a best practice keynote speech and the company is presenting papers at various sessions.
“From our leading position in certification, classification, verification, and training, we develop and apply standards and best practices,” says Høifødt. “This helps our customers to safely and responsibly improve their business performance. Our technology expertise, industry knowledge, and risk management approach, has been used to successfully manage numerous high-profile projects around the world.”
