OPENING NEW VISTAS
Industry professionals across the globe to attend World’s leading Heavy Oil Congress & Exhibition in Oman from September 3 to 5. An OGR Report
The World Heavy Oil Congress & Exhibition (WHOC) to be held at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre from September 3 to 5, will explore the theme “Transforming the Heavy Oil Value Chain,” and provide an invaluable platform for industry leaders, decision makers, and professionals to converse and learn from each other on high level strategies, and mid to long-term plans for the sector.
HE Dr. Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Rumhy, Minister of Oil and Gas said, “Heavy oil contributes approximately 15 per cent of Oman’s oil production and is an important aspect of the industry, especially as we continue to innovate and pioneer novel EOR technologies to meet the evolving demands of producing heavy oil. We know that as the heavy oil sector matures, opportunities for collaborations, innovation, and investment will also continue to advance and evolve.”
“We have worked hard to put together
a high quality programme of technical presentations, panel discussions, and dedicated case studies that are engaging, nurturing, and thought provoking to address the challenges and opportunities our industry faces both today and tomorrow.
With an impressive lineup of more than 100 expert speakers and moderators, we are confident that WHOC will provide a valuable and unparalleled opportunity for heavy oil professionals across the globe to gain the latest insights in heavy oil projects, investments, and technologies while sharing knowledge and experience with peers,” said Jean-Philippe Cossé, Vice President, Middle East at dmg::events.
The event is expected to attract more than 3,000 international attendees.
“We are delighted by the growing number of delegates who have registered for the strategic and technical conference programmes and look forward to having record attendance of visitors and delegates at this year’s event,” he said.
“The low oil price environment of the last three years has provided both, a challenge and an opportunity, for the energy sector. With the market now approaching a possible stabilisation, the industry needs to begin planning for the near future focusing on value creation, increased margins and short-cycle investments,” said Luca Bertelli, Chief Exploration Officer, Eni. Commenting on the untapped potential of heavy oil reserves, Dr. Rifaat Al Mjeni, EOR Portfolio Leader at Petroleum Development Oman and Technical Committee Member for the World Heavy Oil Congress & Exhibition 2018, said, “40% of PDO’s hydrocarbon resources are classed as heavy and ultra-heavy oil of which very little has been exploited due to technical and commercial challenges. It is recognised that the key to unlocking a large portion of the heavy oil portfolio is EOR and their associated technologies both chemical, and thermal. Currently, about 10% of PDO production comes from EOR and it is anticipated that by 2025, this will increase to more than 30 per cent.”
Steven Moss, CEO of GlassPoint Solar said, “More than ever, GCC leaders are embracing the energy transition. In the past few months, we have seen major announcements from Saudi Arabia to the UAE and Oman revealing plans to diversify their energy mix with renewables and reduce domestic consumption of fossil fuels.
GlassPoint stands at a unique position, offering a solar technology tailor-made and proven for oil and gas deployment. We are uniting the two industries to produce today’s energy at lower costs and with less environmental impact, and at the same time, we are helping the oil and gas sector develop expertise and new capacities for the new energy era.” He explained, “As a company, we are focused on diversifying our project portfolio in new markets in the Middle East and North America and commercialising next generation technologies.”
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Oil & Gas and co-hosted by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the World Heavy Oil Congress & Exhibition will include a two-day strategic conference covering 10 diverse sessions, and a three-day technical conference featuring more than 80 case studies and presentations, alongside a three-day international exhibition.
Organised by dmg::events, an international exhibitions and publishing company headquartered in Dubai, the event is one of the largest congregations of heavy oil professionals globally.
In addition to the conference, WHOC 2018 will host an international exhibition with leading companies active in heavy oil sector exhibiting to include PDO,
Eni Spa, China National Offshore
Oil Corporation, Bahrain Petroleum Company, OXY Oman, GlassPoint Solar, Badr EOR, RGL Reservoir Management INC, High Tower Engineering LLC, HP Well Screen, Kitsnet, Albpetrol, Safety Technical Services Co LLC, Soluforce, Salamander Solutions, Terralog Technologies, Sonovita and Industrial Training Consultants to name a few.