The 2026 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) Board of Directors has selected this year’s Distinguished Achievement Award honorees, recognizing Wafik Beydoun for individual achievement and Brava Energia’s BS-4 Block/Atlanta Field for institutional achievement.
The 2026 Heritage Award will be presented to James E. Chitwood, and a Special Citation will be awarded to the Aramco Marjan Increment Program. All recipients will be recognized during the OTC Opening General Session on Monday, 4 May, at the NRG Center in Houston.
Over the past 5 decades, OTC has served as a global meeting place for energy professionals to share knowledge, explore new ideas, and showcase advances in offshore technology and sustainability. OTC 2026 will be held from 4–7 May, bringing together thousands of industry leaders for technical sessions, keynote discussions, and a large-scale exhibition focused on the future of offshore energy.
OTC Distinguished Achievement Award for Individuals
Wafik Beydoun is being honored for his lifetime of leadership in the global energy industry, as well as his advocacy for the development and adoption of new technologies across technical sectors. With more than 30 years of experience, he is widely recognized for fostering collaboration among companies, professional societies, and governments to advance offshore technology.
Throughout his career, Beydoun has held senior technical and executive roles across multiple regions, including leadership positions with TotalEnergies, ADNOC, and the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers. His work has contributed to major offshore discoveries, advanced research and development initiatives, and strengthened international cooperation across the energy sector.
Beydoun has also played a significant role in professional societies and global industry events, serving on the OTC Board of Directors for nearly a decade, including as chair in 2018–2019. His leadership has helped support major initiatives such as the launch of OTC Brasil and the continued growth of global OTC events.
OTC Distinguished Achievement Award for Companies, Organizations, and Institutions
This year’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Companies, Organizations, and Institutions is presented to Brava Energia for its BS-4 Block/Atlanta Field development.
Located approximately 185 km off Brazil’s southeast coast in the Santos Basin, the Atlanta Field is the world’s deepest heavy-crude oil field, lying in more than 5,000 ft of water. Brava’s project stands out for overcoming technical challenges, including producing highly viscous, high-acidity crude from a shallow, unconsolidated reservoir in an ultradeepwater environment.
“This award reaffirms our value creation strategy and sends a positive message to the entire Brazilian independent industry,” said Brava Energia’s Offshore Operations Director, Carlos Travassos.
The Atlanta Field is operated by Brava in partnership with Westlawn Americas Offshore, which holds a 20% stake.
OTC Heritage Award
The Heritage Award will be presented to James E. Chitwood in recognition of his contributions and leadership in petroleum engineering, particularly in the areas of flow assurance and deepwater engineering. During a career spanning more than 50 years, Chitwood has helped drive advancements in subsea systems, deepwater production concepts, and offshore technology development.
Chitwood has been at the forefront of many of the industry’s most important deepwater research initiatives. He played a central role in the Chevron-led DeepStar program, one of the largest collaborative offshore research consortia, and later supported ultradeepwater technology development through the US Department of Energy–backed RPSEA program.
He is also recognized as an innovator, holding more than 100 patents related to subsea systems, chemical delivery, and offshore production technologies. In addition to his technical work, he has dedicated decades to mentoring engineers, students, and researchers, and has contributed to industry knowledge through publications, conferences, and collaborative research programs.
OTC Special Citation
A Special Citation is presented to Saudi Aramco’s Marjan Increment Program for its large-scale offshore development and outstanding performance in engineering, fabrication, installation, safety, innovation, and emissions reduction in the Arabian Gulf.
The program successfully commissioned the world’s largest offshore gas and oil separation plant, capable of processing up to 1.24 million B/D of liquids and 1.0 Bcf of associated gas. The scope of the program also included the design, fabrication, and installation of a new onshore plant, as well as 31 offshore platforms and facilities located across multiple countries.
By combining technical scale, innovative design, and a strong commitment to safety and sustainability, the Marjan Increment Program sets a new benchmark for complex offshore field developments.
About Offshore Technology Conference
OTC’s global events, including its flagship Houston event, OTC Brasil, and OTC Asia, have welcomed more than 3 million professionals. It is the largest and most prestigious platform where industry leaders converge to exchange ideas, explore the latest innovations, and build invaluable connections. Be a part of the community that drives the future of offshore energy by attending an OTC event today. For more information, visit www.otcnet.org.