(Photo: Ross Johnston/Newsline Media)
Neil Saunders, conference chair of SPE Offshore Europe 2021 and executive vice president of oilfield equipment at Baker Hughes, is leading the 30-strong committee that has developed the 2021 theme: ‘Oil & Gas: Working Together for a Net Zero Future’.
“The future of oil and gas is in our hands and working together is crucial to remain relevant and in the energy mix,” said Mr Saunders.
“This year the world has endured a global pandemic and a resulting economic slowdown. This is not the first time that we have had economic slowdowns and all industrial sectors were affected. However, one dynamic emerged as a constant in the energy industry; the energy transition is accelerating and the oil and gas industry recognises it has a significant part to play.
“For SPE Offshore Europe 2021 we are partnering with key stakeholders in the region including Equinor, Shell, BP, Chevron, Total, Chrysaor, CNOOC International, Aker BP, Neptune Energy, Wood, Worley, Aker Solutions, Petrofac, Schlumberger, TechnipFMC and many others, with the same goal and vision in mind – to reduce the carbon footprint of the oil and gas industry.”
Total E&P UK has signed up as headline sponsor for the event which is taking place eight weeks before the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow (1-12 November 2021). Jean-Luc Guiziou, managing director of Total E&P UK said;
“Total is delighted to show its support for the offshore industry and Aberdeen by sponsoring next year’s Offshore Europe. We look forward to an excellent conference and exhibition.”
Features at SPE Offshore Europe 2021 will include an Energy Transition Zone to showcase companies leading the net zero drive and an Energy Transition Theatre located on the show floor. The theatre will host three days of thought leadership from operators and technology trailblazers on driving forward the energy transition.
More than 50% of the floor space has been sold with exhibitors including Shell UK, Petrofac, Wood and Worley and pavilions of companies from France, Germany, Norway and Scotland.
The keynote programme will comprise ten topical sessions aligned to the theme. These will include transitioning to lower carbon solutions (carbon capture utilisation & storage [CCUS], hydrogen, energy islands), oil & gas security of supply (equality, diversity, inclusion and future workforce, digital enablement), lowering carbon footprint and emissions, and future collaboration models for the industry.
More than 80 technical papers will be presented during the four-day show. Abstracts are now invited to be submitted for consideration via the website before 11 January 2021.
Kevin Gallagher, SPE Offshore Europe 2021 technical committee chair and digital transformation lead, CNOOC International commented;
“The offshore industry has an important role to play in the transition to the low carbon economy. This is reflected in the conference theme, and in our call for papers topics. We anticipate exciting discussion and debate as the industry steps up to the energy transition challenge. In parallel, we are observing an increased drive for digitalisation to further the advancement of cost reduction as well as improved safety and performance.”