Oil & Gas Show OGS 2009

• The premier event for gas-related infrastructure as GCC countries earmark up to USD 196 billion in oil and gas projects
• The networking and procurement event for oil, gas, petrochemicals and automation
OGS 2009, the 16th edition of the premier oil, gas, renewable energy and automation event, will be held from 27th to 29th October 2009 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, and will be complemented by an upstream networking energy forum with a focus on environmentally-friendly techniques for oil and gas procurement, as well as an Excellence in Engineering Forum.

OGS is the technical event for engineers, technicians, professionals and procurement experts in the energy, automation and manufacturing sectors. The event hosts exhibitors from related industry sectors to make it the most concentrated regional event for engineers and technicians from energy, water and automation fields.

There is a growing regional focus on upstream oil projects, which is reflected by a nine per cent increase in upstream investments in the GCC, from USD 188 billion in June 2008 to a current estimate of USD 204 billion. Statistics from Proleads data confirmed a marked surge in upstream oil and gas investments, counting 265 projects in January 2009 or a 10.9 per cent increase from just 239 in June 2008.

Published statistics have indicated that the UAE, home to the fifth largest oil reserves in the Middle East, accounts for the highest increase in upstream oil and gas investments, pushing expenditure by 30 per cent to USD 55 billion from USD 42 billion. Qatar has likewise upped oil and gas investments from USD 7 billion to USD 10 billion, including an 11 per cent increase in upstream gas investments, while Kuwait, the most hydrocarbon-reliant country in the GCC, has raised its budget to USD 40 billion from 34 billion.

Bahrain has been reported to be focusing its attention towards drilling deeper oil reserves, while Oman has been targeting to expand crude oil production to 800,000 barrels per day (bpd), up from its current rate of 750,000 bpd. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest exporter of crude oil, has unveiled a strategy to access more than 720 billion barrels of discovered oil resources.

Current forecasts project demand for gas in the GCC to grow at 6.66 per cent annually from 2007 to 2012, while oil demand is expected to grow at nearly three per cent during the same period.

With gas reserves estimated in 2008 to reach 25.7 trillion cubic metres (TcM), Qatar has the third largest gas reserves in the world behind Russia (44.6 TcM) and Iran (28.5 TcM). Collectively, the Middle East has the world's biggest gas reserves with 73.21 TcM followed by Europe, making the Arab World a crucial link in the global gas trade. Furthermore, several large-scale projects are now underway to boost capacity of existing gas fields in Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

"The oil and gas sector will remain a very important economic driver in the region and a critical resource for the global economy. As such, despite recent economic challenges, it is only natural for the GCC to continue its oil and gas investments, particularly in exploration and development projects to replenish declining reserves, replace and upgrade deteriorating assets and ensure long-term supply. With a renewed and expanded format for the Oil and Gas segment, OGS 2009 has been positioned to provide a strategic link between the upstream and downstream value chains, enabling industry players to optimise business opportunities, create new partner networks and synergise to overcome new challenges," said Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E), the organisers of OGS.

OGS 2009 holds true to its trade roots as well, with an emphasis on setting up a business to business forum for sourcing the building blocks of modern manufacturing, energy and automation industries. Showcasing an industrial cross-section of technology and machinery, the Instrumentation, Automation and Laboratory Technology segment will focus on analytical instrumentation, lab technology, bio technology, testing and measurement, process control and automation, and technologies for the water, power, renewable energy and oil and gas sectors. The segment, which also encompasses diverse sectors such as medicine, manufacturing, construction, municipal services, aviation and energy, will explore the technological and mechanical roots underpinning modern industry.

" OGS 2009 will particularly cater to emerging business prospects and networking opportunities related to numerous developmental and exploration projects being undertaken in Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia as these countries are expected to collectively account for up to 81 per cent of the total gas supply in the GCC," Godinho added.
At the same time, there is a realisation that conventional energy resources can be bolstered by renewable energy investments. Not just that, but the environmental impact of making available conventional sources of energy can be minimised through new green technologies and methods. For this reason, OGS 2009 will host the Alter Energy Convention 2009, a conference-led exhibition dedicated to the management of carbon and water footprints in the Middle East using alternative energies.

Alter Energy Platform:
Regional investments in alternative energy continue to increase as GCC countries remain committed to adopting sustainable solutions to address the region's electricity demand, which has been increasing at 7 per cent annually and reflects one of the highest growth rates in the world.

Alter Energy ‘09, a conference-led event that will be held in conjunction with OGS 2009, will gather key stakeholders, decision makers and policy setters in the energy sector to discuss issues related to the region's future energy strategy. Alter Energy ‘09 will provide a platform for GCC countries to examine new techniques, technologies and knowledge in harnessing non-conventional energy sources, including solar and wind energy.

The key topics to be discussed at Alter Energy '09 include various opportunities for oil and gas producers in alternative energy projects; strategies to minimise the impact of energy projects on carbon footprint and climate change; viability of solar power and other renewable energies for the Middle East region; strategies for minimising the regional water consumption and footprint; and current and future sustainable energy projects. Various case studies will also be presented and discussed during the conference.

Commenting on the Alter Energy Convention, Godinho said, "Although alternative energy represents the future in power generation, there are issues and challenges that need to be identified and addressed to achieve an integration of these new energy solutions into our existing power infrastructure. Alter Energy ‘09 creates an ideal platform for international and regional industry players of green technology and renewable energy to meet, debate and establish strategic partnerships and ultimately address the GCC's spiralling power requirements."

Alter Energy '09 and OGS 2009 will be held concurrently with the Excellence in Engineering Forum, which has been established to be the definitive platform for young industry professionals to discuss the opportunities and challenges that they are likely to face as they seek to build a career in the energy sector.

Excellence in Engineering:
Many top engineering and technical graduates as well as professionals in the early stages of their career have expressed interest to participate in the Excellence in Engineering Forum 2009, one of the key segments of OGS 2009. The Forum has been established to be the definitive platform for young industry professionals to discuss the opportunities and challenges that they are likely to face as they seek to build a career in the energy sector.

"Excellence in Engineering Forum offers a unique opportunity for top graduates and young professionals to identify various career enhancement prospects in the region. Furthermore, the event will feature speakers from leading companies in the oil and gas, construction and infrastructure industries, who will educate the delegates on the skills and relevant training required for them to optimise their career development potential in the energy sector,” Godinho commented.

"The Excellence in Engineering Forum will essentially bridge the gap between education and the industry, ensuring that young engineers are aware of opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Furthermore, the Forum will help OGS 2009 realise its core objective of reaching out to engineers. These knowledge workers are an integral part of regional development, and we want to offer them a forum to network and interact with students, while catering to the professional, technical and knowledge requirements of the entire energy value chain," he added.