Houston Chronicle Sunday

Offshore Technology Conference ready to wow attendees Aug. 16-19

Event will offer virtual, in-person programmin­g

- By Valerie Sweeten FREELANCE WRITER

The 2021 Offshore Technology Conference has much to look forward to, especially after the pandemic caused the 2020 event to be canceled.

An event that has made a $3 billion impact on Houston since its inception in 1969 brings engineers, technician­s, executives, operators, scientists, and managers from all fields in the offshore energy sector.

This year’s OTC will be held at NRG Park Aug. 16-19 as a hybrid event including both in-person and virtual programmin­g.

In 2019, more than 2,200 companies representi­ng 40-plus countries exhibited at OTC, with 23 internatio­nal pavilions. The 59,000plus attendees and exhibit personnel represente­d more than 100 countries and were able to attend 350-plus technical presentati­ons, eight panel sessions as well as 23 topical breakfast and luncheons.

What is OTC?

Profession­als in the energy industry engage in a setting to exchange ideas and opinions. The goal is to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources and environmen­tal matters.

In addition, OTC’s purpose showcases leadingedg­e technology for offshore drilling, exploratio­n, production, and environmen­tal protection. OTC is one of the world’s foremost events for the developmen­t of offshore resources.

The program

Attendees will be engaged in activities throughout the event.

Setting the tone for the four days of dynamic, networking, and immersive learning, the OTC will kick off with the opening general session and the first-ever Executive Dialogue series.

These events are set to discuss the role of the offshore sector in meeting global energy and sustainabi­lity challenges. They will also direct a focus toward creating new, viable pathways to achieve net zero by 2050.

The opening general session will be held Monday, Aug. 16, from 9-10:30 a.m., and the Executive Dialogue series will take place throughout the day Aug. 16-17.

‘A critical forum’

Leigh Ann Runyan, CMP, who took over as executive director of the OTC in midApril, said the OTC serves as a critical forum for leading industry experts to discuss, debate and deliberate the innovation­s and technologi­es shaping the next generation of offshore resource developmen­t.

“The industry is at an inflection point as energy companies are tasked with meeting increasing demand, while helping facilitate a low-carbon future. This year, we look forward to engaging our tableau of speakers in meaningful conversati­ons about these challenges and other critical issues facing the offshore energy sector,” said Runyan.

Panelists in the opening general session are slated to discuss pathways for achieving mid-century climate goals and the offshore sector’s role in deploying lowcarbon energy technologi­es and reducing the global carbon footprint.

Included in the panel are Abdulrahma­n Abdulla Al Seiari, chief executive officer, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Drilling; Amy Bowe, head of carbon research at WoodMacken­zie; Jonathan Landes, president subsea at TechnipFMC; Bill Langin, senior vice president at Deepwater Exploratio­n, Shell; and Erik Milito, president, National Ocean Industries Associatio­n (NOIA), who will serve as the moderator.

The new 2021 initiative, the Executive Dialogue series, is targeted at connecting executives in their respective fields with thoughtful discussion­s regarding innovation­s, corporate shifts, and policies needed to drive the future of offshore energy and the energy transition forward.

Participan­ts in the Executive Dialogue Series include Damian Bednarz, external affairs director at EnBW; Dr. David Callender, president and chief executive officer, Memorial Hermann Health System; Peter Green, deputy laboratory director, Science and Technology at National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Katie Mehnert, CEO, ALLY Energy; Ester Morales, executive director, Clean Energy Leadership Institute; Bill Vass, vice president engineerin­g at Amazon Web Services; and Daryl Wilson, executive director, Hydrogen Council.

To register or for more details about OTC, visit online at https://2021.otcnet.org/register.

 ?? Courtesy of OTC/Courtesy Todd Buchanan ?? The Offshore Technology Conference attracts attendees and exhibiting companies from around the globe.
Courtesy of OTC/Courtesy Todd Buchanan The Offshore Technology Conference attracts attendees and exhibiting companies from around the globe.

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