Networking, Learning, and Sharing Opportunities Abound at the Offshore Technology Conference
The 2015 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC; www.otcnet.org) will take place May 4-7 at NRG Park in Houston. At the conference, attendees can learn about the newest offshore technologies and meet new contacts in the offshore energy industry. This annual conference is one of the leading events for the development of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production, and environmental protection. OTC attracts approximately 100,000 attendees from more than 120 countries, and has over 2,500 exhibitors, including a large number of fluid-power providers.
The Annual OTC dinner will be held on May 3, from 5-10 p.m. in NRG Stadium as a networking opportunity to meet industry leaders and colleagues from around the world. Tickets are sold separately and proceeds will go to the IPAA/PESA Energy Education Center, for the benefit of the Energy Institute High School.
The “Next Wave” program begins the conference on May 4 at 9 a.m. The program aims to prepare young professionals for the growing and changing global industry. Speakers with technological, operational, academic, and political backgrounds will discuss their experiences and consider the political aspects of the energy industry.
The first day will also showcase University R&D from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., hosting six universities from across the United States that will share their R&D projects relevant to offshore technology. From 4-5 p.m., a Spotlight on New Technology presentation will name the most innovative OTC exhibitors and showcase the latest advancements. The last event on May 4 is the Women in the Industry Sharing Experiences (WISE) event taking place from 4-6 p.m. This Networking Event will address the lack of gender diversity in the energy industry and is geared toward individuals that are interested in understanding the concerns and interests of the female workforce.
Other university R&D showcases will occur on the following days from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on the last day from 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. The networking events on May 5-6 are “Pursuing Opportunities in the Brazilian Market” and “Subsurface Integration: Where Engineering and Geoscience Meet.”
Other fun events are the complimentary OTC appreciation concert and the Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers ballgame at Minute Maid Park on May 5.
This year, a new program called “d5: The Next Big Thing” will take place at the University of Houston on the day after OTC (May 8) between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. A distinguished lineup of innovative leaders will speak about business, technology, the environment, and offshore resources, in the hopes of provoking ideas for connections and solutions in the offshore energy industry. Tickets are sold separately.