MEOS Expo, concurrently being held on the sidelines of the four-day MEOS 2013 Conference which kicked off on Sunday, is considered one of the most premier platforms for the Oil and Gas companies to showcase their products and services for the Middle East region which sits on 40% of the global oil reserves.
The MEOS 2013 Expo was opened by Bahrain’s Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) who took the tour of all major exhibitors and lauded the high-tech and alternative technology solutions.
Over 2,000 oil and gas professionals are took part in the opening session of the 18th Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) MEOS 2013.
The associated 14,800 square metre exhibition of industry products and services runs until 13 March is expected to attract over 7,000 attendees over the course of four days.
The MEOS 2013 conference was addressed by oil and gas sector heavy weights and high ranking industry figures, who delivered their own perspective on this year’s theme “Transforming the Energy Future”. The theme focuses on current issues the oil and gas industry faces as it strives to meet global demand for energy in the face of increasingly difficult challenges; with emphasis on the processes, technologies, business models and human skills required to meet future energy needs effectively and efficiently.
The opening session was addressed by Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and Minister in Charge of Oil & Gas Affairs, Bahrain; Abdulaziz Al Abdulkarim, MEOS 2013 Conference Chairman, Saudi Aramco and Egbert Imomoh, 2013 SPE President. Keynote speeches will follow from Amin Nasser, Senior Vice President, Upstream, Saudi Aramco; Martin Craighead, President and CEO, Baker Hughes; Paal Kibsgaard, CEO, Schlumberger; Sami F. Al-Rushaid, Chairman and Managing Director, Kuwait Oil Company and Sara Ortwein, President, ExxonMobil Upstream Research.
More than 200 technical and poster presentations designed to share the knowledge and experience of managing, operating and supplying companies follows over the subsequent four days of the conference. Topics range from exploration and appraisal, drilling and completions, reservoir engineering, production and facilities and health, safety, security and environment.
MEOS 2013 brings five panel sessions led by presidents, vice presidents, CEOs, deputy managing directors, and chairmen of key players in the industry such as Baker Hughes, Bapco, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, Petroleum Development Oman, Saudi Aramco, Schlumberger, Shell, Total and Weatherford amongst others. Discussion topics include the gas challenge; talent development and knowledge sharing; technologies required to unlock unconventional resources; greener petroleum; and developing local content.
Other highlights during the course of the conference include a special breakfast session entitled “Financing the Change” delivered by Abdullatif A. Al-Othman, Governor and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA). The session will address how the oil and gas industry can manage and finance itself in light of forecasts that approximate 15 trillion dollars will be spent in the next 10 years to meet expected future oil and gas demand.