Conference sees attendance rise to 30-year high
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HOUSTON (May 3, 2012) – Experts from the offshore energy industry around the world came together for the 2012 Offshore Technology Conference at Reliant Park in Houston. Attendance at the conference reached a 30-year high of 89,400, the third highest in show history and up 14 percent from last year.
Attendance surpassed the 2011 total of 78,645, and the sold-out exhibition was the largest in event history at 641,350 ft² with the addition of the outdoor pavilion, up from 603,000 ft² in 2011. The exhibition had 2,500 companies representing 46 countries, including 200 new exhibitors that included exhibitors from Bahrain, Hungary, Israel, Lithuania, New Zealand, and Twain.
“OTC 2012 was the most successful event we have had since the early 80s,” said Steve Balint, Chairman of OTC. “In terms of strength of the technical sessions and technology on display, OTC reached a record-breaking number of people and offered the most ways to connect, educate, and conduct business. The industry is on the rise and challenges are ahead, making it more important than ever to collaborate and share best practices with colleagues all over the world. OTC is the place to do that.”
This year’s event featured eight panel sessions, 29 executive keynote presentations at luncheons and breakfasts, and 300 technical papers. Speakers from major, independent, and national operators; global government officials; and academia presented their views on the current challenges and future directions of the industry.
Technology is always at the forefront of OTC and was evident by the 13 technologies winning OTC Spotlight on New Technology awards. The recipients were recognized for their innovation in allowing the industry to produce offshore resources.
OTC also introduced new technical topics and ways to connect through two focused networking events one on health, safety, and environment professionals and the other on women working in the industry.
“What we hoped to accomplish in this session was to bring women together to network and talk about what’s on their minds and how the industry can help,” said Cindy Yielding OTC, Board of Directors. Attendees in both sessions may continue the conversation on LinkedIn subgroups under the Offshore Technology Conference 2012 group.
The Annual OTC Dinner was attended by approximately 900 industry leaders and conference attendees, and raised $225,000 for Engineers Without Borders USA. OTC also presented its 2012 Distinguished Achievement Award to Joe Burkhardt and the Distinguished Achievement Award for Companies, Organizations, or Institutions to Shell’s Perdido Development project in the sold-out event at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
“Engineers Without Borders works to achieve a vision of a world in which all communities have the capacity to meet their basic human needs. The financial support from OTC will be put to use in communities around the world by the exact same engineers and employees who work for the corporations attending this year’s event,” said Cathy Leslie, Executive Director EWB-USA.
During OTC, the board of directors announced a partnership with IBP- Instituto Brasileiro de Petróleo, Gás e Biocombustíveis (the Brazilian Petroleum, Gas, and Biofuels Institute, IBP) for OTC Brasil, 8-10 October 2013 in Rio de Janeiro. The 2013 OTC takes place May 6-9, 2013 at Reliant Park.
Founded in 1969, the Offshore Technology Conference is the world's foremost event for the development of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production and environmental protection. OTC is held annually at Reliant Park in Houston.