SPE will hold its Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE) from 26 September through 28 September at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Transforming and shaping the future of the exploration and production (E&P) industry will be the theme of the meeting. It will be the first time in the 92-year history of the ATCE that the event has taken place in the Middle East.
The conference will provide an unparalleled opportunity for learning and collaboration at workshops and training courses, while the concurrent exhibition will showcase the latest technologies from around the world. More than 250 companies and organizations are expected to exhibit. Oil and gas professionals from at least 70 countries are expected to attend the ATCE.
A high-quality slate of 58 technical sessions is scheduled covering all aspects of the upstream oil and gas industry. More than 450 peer-selected papers will be presented, which were chosen from more than 2,100 abstracts submitted.
Two plenary sessions, six panel sessions, and 13 special sessions are on the program, focusing on short- and long-term challenges affecting areas such as business strategies, project management, innovation, young professionals’ development, academia, and mature fields.
Plenary Sessions
On the 26 September agenda are two plenary sessions, the first in the morning and the second in the afternoon. Both will examine the conference theme “E&P 2.0—Transforming and Shaping the Future.”
A diverse group of global E&P industry chief and senior executives will serve as panelists for the sessions: Nizar Mohammad Al-Adsani, deputy chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Kuwait Petroleum; Ali Al Jarwan, executive advisor at Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company; Mohammed Y.A. Al-Qahtani, senior vice president of upstream at Saudi Aramco; Arnaud Breuillac, president of exploration and production at Total; Martin Craighead, chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes; Paal Kibsgaard, chairman and CEO of Schlumberger David J. Lesar, chairman, president, and CEO of Halliburton; D.K. Sarraf, chairman and managing director of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation; Datuk Anuar Taib, executive vice president and CEO of upstream at Petronas; and Vadim Yakovlev, deputy chairman of the management board and first deputy CEO of Gazprom Neft.
|
|
|
Panel Sessions
Six panel sessions are scheduled throughout the conference, beginning on 26 September with Radical New Ideas: Innovation Beyond the Limits. On 27 September, panels will discuss Project Management: Getting It Right; Boosting Efficiency in E&P; and Collaboration 2.0—Reinventing the E&P Industry. The panel sessions conclude on 28 September with Successful Strategies for Mitigating the Effect of Boom and Bust; and The Next Generation (YP 2.0): Talent Management for Future Energy.
Special Sessions
A robust slate of 13 special sessions is scheduled, including
26 September
- Big Data, Analytics and Impact
- Increased Water Cut—How to Handle
- Processes and Technologies
27 September
- How is Academia Managing in a Cyclic Environment?
- The Way To Move Forward is To Look Back
- Women in Leadership: The Value of Gender Diversity in Leadership
- Unconventional and Tight Gas Reservoirs
- Human Capital and the Impact of Low Oil Prices
- Local Content and Diversity
- Managing the Oil Industry Cycles: Employee, Student, and Employer Perspective
28 September
- Getting the Most From Mature Fields
- New Technologies and People Competencies for Integrated Flow Assurance Solutions
- Exploration 2.0
Annual Events
- On 26 September, a breakfast will be held honoring the SPE Distinguished Lecturers and members of the 25-Year Club.
- On 27 September, the Annual Reception and Awards Banquet at the JW Marriott Marquis will recognize significant contributions of members to the industry, SPE, and the greater community. A reception will precede the banquet.
- On 28 September, the President’s Luncheon and Annual Meeting of Members will be held. The luncheon showcases 2016 SPE President Nathan Meehan’s presentation on new achievements at SPE and upcoming initiatives. SPE’s newly elected Distinguished Members, notable volunteers, and outstanding SPE sections will also be recognized. Attendees will be able to meet SPE Board members and 2017 SPE President Janeen Judah, who will receive the presidential gavel and officially begin her term.
Training Courses and Technical Sections
Ten professional training courses will be held covering a variety of technical disciplines, including four 2-day courses on 24–25 September, a 1-day course on 25 September, and five 1-day courses on 29 September. Participants will receive 1.6 continuing education units (CEUs) for 2-day courses and 0.8 CEUs for 1-day courses.
SPE technical sections will also hold meetings, including
25 September
- Drilling Systems Automation Technical Section symposium
26 September
- Projects, Facilities, and Construction Technical Section dinner
- Multisection dinner (Digital Energy, Petroleum Data-Driven Analytics, and R&D technical sections)
27 September
- R&D Technical Section topical luncheon
- Wellbore Positioning Technical Section luncheon
Other Events
- The ATCE Welcome Reception will take place at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel on 25 September. Dubai’s traditional arts and culture will be showcased.
- Attendees wishing to improve their ability to submit papers can participate in a session titled “How To Write a Good Technical Paper” on 26 September.
- Soft skills workshops on leadership, strategic tools for career success, marketable team skills, and strategic planning will be held on 27 September.
- ENGenious, a JPT-sponsored showcase of young technology, will be held throughout the conference.
Students and Young Professionals
A Student Meet and Greet event will take place in the afternoon on 25 September. Special activities will help attendees meet and network with fellow students.
The 15th annual PetroBowl will be held on 26 September. Teams from around the world will take part in a tourney-type contest that will challenge their knowledge of the oil and gas industry and SPE. A reception will follow.
The International Student Paper Contests will take place on 27 September. Winners of regional contests will compete for prizes at the undergraduate, graduate, and PhD levels.
A Student Communication Workshop will be held in the morning on 27 September. For those unable to attend, the workshop will be repeated on 28 September. Students will work in small groups to hone their networking abilities, refine their communication skills, and build up a toolkit of essential knowledge for their careers.
The Student Awards Luncheon will take place on 27 September. SPE will honor outstanding student chapters and the winners of the student paper contests and PetroBowl.
A Career Pathway Fair with Career Breakout Sessions will be held on 27 September. Students will meet with specialists from multiple disciplines in the industry to gain insight into different career paths, how those paths fit into the industry, and what it is like to work in a particular discipline. In an informal setting, students and graduates will have the opportunity to speak with young professionals and more experienced industry hands.
A Young Member Reception will take place in the evening on 27 September.
SPE’s energy education outreach program Energy4me has invited 50 UAE high-school-level science teachers to a free 1-day energy education workshop on 27 September. The teachers will receive hands-on training by qualified SPE facilitators, listen to a presentation from a prominent keynote speaker, and tour the ATCE exhibitions. In addition, the teachers will receive a variety of free instructional materials to take back to their classrooms.
On 28 September, approximately 150 UAE high school students will see firsthand the opportunities the industry has to offer. The free program sponsored by Energy4me will include a scavenger hunt of the technology exhibits and hands-on energy lessons led by qualified SPE facilitators. The students will also have the opportunity to meet industry professionals and ask questions about careers in the E&P industry.
SPE Pavilion
At the SPE Pavilion, staff members will be available to answer questions about membership, publications, continuing education programs, sections, and student activities.