Steven Poruban
Senior Editor
In many ways, this year's Offshore Technology Conference, held May 2-5 at Reliant Park in Houston, was similar to the 41 exhibitions held before it. Offshore oil and natural gas service and supply companies still proudly displayed their must-have wares on the trade-show floor areas, industry specialists still made technical presentations that detailed the latest-and-greatest in offshore technology, and thousands of attendees from around the globe still swarmed the conference grounds to get their fill of information—and fill their canvas OTC bags with industry trade-floor swag.
And, as well, OGJ editors still attended OTC 2011 to report news of the ideas and technology continuing to shape the offshore oil and gas industry. As stories were filed, they were posted in real-time to www.ogjonline.com. These news stories begin on p. 19 of this issue, and will likely spill over into the next week's publication.
At this writing last week when OTC 2011 was just rounding out its fourth and final day, the conference's organizers were touting the trade show as the largest in 29 years. This year, organizers said, more than 2,500 companies had signed on to exhibit their tools and services.
Although final attendance numbers were not yet available as OGJ went to press last week, at last year's OTC, attendance reached 72,000 people from 108 countries. On May 5, Stephen Graham, OTC 2011 associate managing director, said, "OTC attendance remained strong on [May 4] and still at approximately 10% above last year. Attendance at the technical sessions, breakfasts, and luncheons remained at capacity."
The differences
For its many similarities, OTC 2011 also had its differences. OTC 2011's theme was "Diversity in Energy, People, and Resources," which seemed to more than adequately describe this year's conference.
Houston's offering of weather for the week, for starters, was near-picture perfect. It's been the experience of this OGJ editor after attending OTC over the past dozen or so years that the first week of May always seems to be the hottest and most humid of the year—if that's at all possible given May's relative position from this city's most-sweltering summer months.
Also different was the expanse of exhibition space. This year, exhibiters showed in Reliant Center, Reliant Arena, and in a newly expanded outdoor area—the OTC Parkway. (Good thing about that picture-perfect weather, right?)
OTC organizers took advantage of this expanded acreage, offering attendees additional networking events in the areas. OTC also offered on its web site a preconference planner to build one's own personal "plan of attack" for OTC. The conference also offered a mobile version for attendees to access on their smart phones.
Mood change
Just comparing the overall "mood" at last year's OTC with this year's conference could serve as the definition of the saying, "What a difference a year makes."
Last year at this time, the deepwater Macondo well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico was less than 2 weeks old, and there were few at the conference who would voice their opinions about the fast-developing and ever-changing story. The only thing certain at the time, it seemed, was the event's uncertainty.
The questions on everyone's mind—How did such a thing happen? How long will it happen? How will offshore drilling be affected afterwards?—stayed there, in their minds.
This year, at OTC 2011, industry stepped up to the plate to offer many sessions containing experts to discuss the Macondo accident, its horrific environmental aftermath, and what the event means for industry moving forward. Many of these stories follow, and OGJ editors will continue to keep readers abreast of developing saga.
With the tremendous amout of information being exchanged at OTC, it's easy sometimes for one to emerge from the event feeling overwhelmed. At OTC 2011, the industry—diverse in energy, people, and resources—seemed to band together to shed more light than heat, so to speak, on the topic of the year: the Macondo blowout.
Much can be learned from the mistakes made that caused such an accident, and much harm can be prevented when drilling subsequent deepwater wells. Similarities and differences aside, industry should always stick to the task at hand: clean, affordable energy that's low in environmental costs as well.
More Oil & Gas Journal Current Issue Articles
More Oil & Gas Journal Archives Issue Articles
View Oil and Gas Articles on PennEnergy.com
