ADIPEC 2014 drives industry innovation with largest-ever technical conference programme

~~More Than 600 Speakers Present at Record Number of Technical Sessions, Panels and Forums

Sessions Include UAE Country Focus, Innovation, East Africa as New Frontier

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 11 November 2014:The 30th anniversary edition of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC), hosted by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and organised by dmg events, features the largest-ever conference programme, with more than 600 local, regional and international speakers across the Executive Plenary and technical sessions.

For the first time at ADIPEC, the conference programme includes industry breakfasts and luncheons, which are designed to offer influential delegates networking opportunities for exchanging ideas with peers and colleagues, complementing the knowledge-driven discussions in the technical sessions.

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) is returning as conference organisers for this year’s event, bringing a host of innovators, policymakers and experts to discuss both challenges and opportunities facing the industry over the next 30 years.

“SPE has been part of ADIPEC for 30 years since 1984 when a group of SPE members got together to hold the first ADIPEC. The ADIPEC conference continues to grow and become stronger,” said Waleed Refaay, Managing Director, Middle East, North Africa, and India, SPE.

“A quick look over the last 30 years shows the conference programme has grown from 24 technical sessions and four panel sessions to an unprecedented 81 technical sessions and eight panels this year, along with a further four special sessions featuring papers from academia and three special sessions focusing on IT.”

“New to ADIPECthis year are also three industry breakfasts and three topical luncheons. Additionally there are four field trips, four training courses and a program for university students,” Refaay added.

The conference includes an industry-setting strategic programme with a Ministerial Panel Session and Executive Panels and Plenary Sessions that offer key insights from leading experts on how to enhance energy production by developing sustainable models that meet international, regional or country specific needs.

Leading speakers at the conference include Amin Nasser, Senior Vice President, Upstream, Saudi Aramco; Arnaud Breuillac, President, Exploration & Production, Total, Andy Brown, Upstream International Director, Royal Dutch Shell; Lorenzo Simonelli, President & CEO of GE Oil & Gas; and Robert Dudley, Group Chief Executive, BP.

The first Industry Breakfast Session will offer a UAE Country Focus discussion, including an overview of ADNOC activities in the company’s effortsto support Abu Dhabi’s leading position as a reliable global energy supplier.

Other breakfast sessions will include presentations on accelerating innovation in the UAE with international research and developmentcentres and carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery. Lunch sessions focus on US unconventional resources, CO2 injection in sequestration and improved oil recovery, and a final session on East Africa.

“Industry events such as ADIPEC are essential to drive understanding and knowledge sharing among the various disciplines that make up the oil and gas industry,” said Christopher Hudson, Senior Vice President, dmg events, organisers of ADIPEC.

“This year’s edition of ADIPEC features our most diversified line-up yet of sessions, panels and speakers – providing information and sparking debate on the key issues that the industry needs to address today and looking forward to the next 30 years.”

The technical programme for ADIPEC 2014 features sessions addressing some of the most critical topics in the energy sector, including Exploration and Production Geoscience; Unconventional Resources; Field Development; Drilling and Completion Technology; Projects Engineering and Management; Operational Excellence; Health, Safety, and Environment; Gas Technology; and People and Talents.

The multi-disciplinary conference is a platform for international and regional oil and gas professionals who are involved in both the technical and non-technical functions within the industry.

Industry professionals also have an opportunity to engage in eight Executive Panels, covering critical topics that form the pillars of driving and sustaining energy growth. Discussion topics include the importance of on-going research and technology development, the collaboration between national and international oil and gas companies, and the ability for countries to attract and develop a talented workforce for the next three decades.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, ADIPEC 2014 runs from 10-13 November 2014 under the theme of “Challenges and Opportunities for the Next 30 Years”. ADIPEC 2014 is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and supported by the Ministry of Energy, ADNOC, and the Abu Dhabi Chamber.