Page 13: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 1993)

OTC v93

May 3-6, Houston, Texas

Largest Offshore Industry Show

Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary

The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) cel-ebrates its 25th anniver-sary of reflecting the off- shore industry May 3-6 at the

Astrodomain Complex in Houston.

The four-day conference and exhibi- tion features a 49-session technical program which includes two key- note sessions, 11 special sessions and four OTC Topical Luncheons.

OTC serves as a forum for the exchange of technical information vital for exploration and develop- ment of ocean resources and protec- tion of the offshore environment.

Since its inception in 1969, OTC has served as a barometer of the industry's health and progress, said

OTC Board Chairman Dennis

Gregg. Some 4,200 people attended the first OTC, an event which occu- pied 38,500 square feet of floor space at Houston's Albert Thomas

Convention Center. OTC experi- enced its zenith during the boom years of high oil prices, with 108,161 registrants, and 2,500 exhibiting companies occupying a total of 631,000 square feet in 1982.

OTC primarily serves offshore in- dustry engineers, managers and sci- entists from around the world who participate in the four-day technical program.

More than one million registrants from more than 100 countries have attended combined technical pro- grams and exhibitions of OTC since its inception, and more than 30,000 attendees are expected at this year's meeting.

OTC registration decreased sig- nificantly during the mid-1980's at the same time that oil prices de- clined. Recently, OTC attendance has steadily increased. The 1992

OTC, in fact, posted the largest at- tendance in seven years, 34,828.

Attendance numbers are just one indication that OTC mirrors the worldwide offshore industry.

Through its 24-year history, OTC registration has reflected the global scope of the offshore industry.

Last year, registrants from 83 countries attended. One-third of the 1,257 exhibiting companies in 1992 were from 23 countries outside of the U.S. Total exhibit space exceeded 238,000 square feet.

To accommodate future growth and to provide access to purpose- built outdoor exhibition space, OTC will take on a new look for its Silver anniversary. OTC's main entrance will shift from the Astrohall to the new ExpoCenter on the southeast side of the Astrodomain Complex.

Expanding to the ExpoCenter will afford exhibitors an additional 60,000 net square feet of space with increased ceiling heights enabling exhibitors to bring larger equipment displays inside.

Additionally, the adjacent pur- pose-built outdoor exhibit space fea- tures in-ground utilities, reinforced pavement, and easy access to the indoor exhibition through the

ExpoCenter's covered entrance. "OTC is indeed the premier show- case and arena of dialogue for the offshore, but not just the offshore,"

Mr. Gregg said. "OTC also is ad- dressing Arctic operations and its related technology. With Russia opening its oil and gas business to outsiders, interest in this area has skyrocketed. And as western com- panies become increasingly involved there, the emphasis on Arctic opera- tions will be reflected in both OTC exhibits and technical sessions."

Accordingly, one of the two OTC

General Sessions will address "What

It's Like Doing Business in the C. I. S."

The Wednesday, May 5 afternoon panel session will include oil and gas industry officials from the Com- monwealth of Independent States as well as executives from major operating companies and the ser- vice/supply sector.

The other keynote session, set for

Tuesday, May 4 in the afternoon, will examine issues related to the real cost of policies that support the lowest possible energy prices. "At

What Price Cheap Oil?" promises to present a variety of viewpoints.

Panelists include a senior oil com- pany executive, a government offi- cial, an energy industry analyst, and spokesmen from major environmen- tal organizations. "It is my impression that the in- dustry is now concerned with the economic ways to develop what al- ready has been found rather than on the more glamorous deepwater fron- tier," Mr. Gregg said.

The OTC technical program re- flects this focus with sessions ad- dressing resource economics, cost- reduction measures to facilitate eco- nomic hydrocarbon production, de- velopment in materials technology, platform damage and repair and slimhole wells. Safety and environ- mental issues also are reflected throughout the program, with five sessions devoted entirely to safety and environmental considerations.

Four of the 11 OTC special ses- sions detail specific offshore projects.

They include "The Deep Star Project" on Monday afternoon, "Exxon's Zinc

Subsea Development" on Tuesday morning, "Troll Oil Development" on Wednesday morning, and "Snorre

TLP Installation" on Wednesday af- ternoon.

Another program feature will de- but at OTC '93. The Technical Key- note Address on Monday, May 3, in the afternoon, features a presenta- tion by an individual who is preemi- nent in the field of offshore technol- ogy. Odd M. Faitinsen, professor of marine hydrodynamics at the

Norwegian Inst, of Technology, will examine "Sea Loads on Floating

Offshore Systems." Mr. Faitinsen is a renowned expert on wave in- duced motions and loads on ships and offshore structures.

Other activities include the in- dustry exhibition and three days of special luncheon events. The OTC exhibition continues to be the off- shore industry's leading interna- tional event. This year, nearly 1,300 of the world's foremost manufactur- ers and suppliers of offshore equip- ment and services will occupy more than 238,000 net square feet of ex- hibit space in the ExpoCenter,

Astohall, and outdoor exhibition area during the 1993 event.

The OTC Awards Luncheon on

Tuesday, May 4, will feature the presentation of the OTC Distin- guished Achievement Awards and 15