Page 21: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 1991)

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Offshore Technology Conference And

Show Set For May 6-9 In Houston, Texas

One of the world's foremost inter- national showcases for offshore serv- ices and equipment annually for the past 22 years, the Offshore Technol- ogy Conference (OTC) is a leading worldwide forum for the serious exchange of information regarding the development of offshore re- sources and protection of the off- shore environment. Nearly one million registrants from more than 100 countries have attended the combined technical programs and exhibitions of OTC since its incep- tion in 1969.

This year's show, OTC '91, is slated for May 6 to 9 at Houston's

Astrodomain complex, site of the

Astrodome. More than 30,000 managers, engineers and scientists from around the world are expected to attend and more than 1,200 lead- ing manufacturing and service companies will market their latest technology to industry leaders who seek techniques and tools that can make a difference to their bottom line.

For example, the overwhelming consensus—from registrants, exhib- itors, authors, panelists and the media—is that the 1990 OTC was the best in years, if not ever. Atten- dance was 31,451, the largest since 1985. Net occupied exhibit space increased by 25,000 square feet, to 210,000 square feet.

Equally important was the posi- tive attitude that pervaded all as- pects of the conference. "OTC is the best show I've been to, both in numbers and quality," said Mike

Kiefer of Whittaker Corp.'s Elec- tronic Resources Division. "I haven't been to a show where we've made deals more substantial than the three we made here," he said.

Sea Level Supply Inc.'s M. Kent

Crawford commented, "The qual- ity of people who come to OTC can't be beat. We see people here that we've been trying to see for years."

With about 275 technical presen- tations by authors from 20 coun- tries, as well as an exhibition show- casing the latest products, equip- ment and services of over 1,200 companies, OTC '91 is expected to surpass the success of the 1990 show. "Much of the earth's future en- ergy supplies lie beneath the oceans.

The key to developing these sup- plies is a combination of ever-ex- panding knowledge, sophisticated equipment and unyielding commit- ment to human and environmental safety," said OTC program chairman

Cor Langewis of Conoco Inc. in

New Orleans.

Subjects to be explored at OTC '91 include oil spill response and mitigation, tanker safety and regu- lations, riser systems, platform concepts and designs, pipelining, corrosion, and more. The Freeport

McMoRan Sulphur, Snorre, TOGI, and Santa Ynez Unit projects are among the individual developments to be covered. In addition, political and economic considerations will be important parts of the program agenda.

Two special management ses- sions will feature perspectives from industry executives and government officials and are expected to draw extra attention Tuesday and Wed- nesday, May 7-8. Tuesday after- noon's "Future Directions in Off- shore Technology—Deep Water and

Frontier Areas" will focus on future worldwide offshore opportunities and challenges and the new tech- nologies that will be required to bring new projects to fruition. Wednesday morning's "Offshore Safety—The

Regulatory Environment" will ad- dress recently enacted regulations and discuss proposed steps to en- hance further safety and environ- mental measures in offshore opera- tions. The discussion will include industry and government responses to major safety studies, including the findings of the Cullen Enquiry, an extensive 13-month review of the

July 1988 Piper Alpha accident in the U.K. North Sea.

John Wakeham, the U.K. Sec- retary of State for Energy, will be the keynote speaker at the Tuesday

OTC Awards Luncheon. Mr.

Wakeham will discuss future off- shore development and energy poli- cies for the U.K. Continental Shelf, which remains the world's most active offshore operating area.

The seven OTC topical luncheons, scheduled Monday and Wednesday,

May 6 and 8, will offer registrants opportunities to learn details of current offshore developments, fore- casts for future operating environ- ments, new concepts for increasing ocean awareness and an assessment of clean-up operations in Prince

William Sound.

On Monday, C.D. Sabathier,

Mobile area producing manager for (continued)