The 2012 edition of the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) held in Houston, Texas
in the United States of America (USA) came to a resounding end with many bright
spots to look up to.
During a Pan-African programme at the fifth sub-Saharan Africa Oil & Gas Conference
held at the forecourt of Reliant Arena–OTC venue in Houston, Texas where organisers
of the event, noted that “a conference like this is needed to promote the new and
promising African market and it enables the sharing of knowledge among industry
peers and also triggers meaningful networking.”
They also added that the conference further gave the forum for the IOCs and
independents to understand what producing nations expect from them and also provides
an umbrella for cooperation amongst various stakeholders.
Later the Ghanaian delegation led by Ms Heather Byrnes who also doubles as the
Senior Commercial Officer at the United States of America’s Embassy in Accra, was
hosted by some of the Ghanaian based United States (US) companies including
Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, and MODEC International LLC.
At Western Geco, a subsidiary of Schlumberger, the Ghanaian delegation which was led
by Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah and supported by the Chief Executive Officer of the
Petroleum Commission, Dr Kwabena Donkor, was taken through some of the company’s
operations with regard to information technology and data management.
According to Rick Johnston, one of the company’s senior personnel, Schlumberger was
into three key activities including Drilling, Production and Reservoir
Characterization. The forty-five minutes tour ended up with a launch and later with
dinner.
This year’s conference was highly participated by almost all the major international
oil companies and big independents such as: Shell, Exxon Mobil, Noble Energy,
Marathon Oil Corporation, China petroleum Technology & Development Corporation,
Nigeria Sao Tome & Principe Joint Development Authority, Tullow Oil, ERHC Energy,
Afren, Kosmos Energy, MEPS – First Oil and Enventure Global Technology.
Also financial institutions such as Ecobank - a Pan-African with footprints in more
than 32 African countries and a great degree of industry big players, decision
makers and government representatives were present at the event.
From Ghana were about fifty local companies which participated. These were the Ghana
National Petroleum Company (GNPC), Association of Ghana Industries, Allied Oil
Company Limited, Attok International Ghana Limited, Centre for Professional System
and Service, Cicada Consulting Limited, Cigads Security & Allied Services,
Consolidated Shipping Agencies Ltd as well as Dalpha Ghana Limited.
Others were Folksworld Consulting Services, Geoquaye Company Ltd, Keness Ventures,
Macro Group, Meridian Logistics & Supply Ltd, Nexans Kablemetal Ghana Ltd,
Proconsult Ltd, Regency Alliance Insurance Ltd, SAL Consult Ltd, Sage Petroleum Ltd,
Schlumberger Ghana, Seaweld Engineering Ltd, Stable Capital Ltd, STMC Global Ghana,
Top Oil Company Ltd, Unity Oil Company Ltd Venture-G Travels Ltd, Walkdav Business
Ventures and Zodiac Marine Services Limited.
With a retinue of seasoned speakers from the industry and governments presenting
unique papers and representations from countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal,
Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, and others made the event to be resourceful
and colourful.
At the end of the event participants, exhibitors, sponsors, media partners expressed
the optimism of looking forward to another fruitful mix in the 6th annual
sub-Saharan Africa Oil & Gas Conference which has been scheduled to be held in
Houston, Texas from Thursday April 25 – Friday April 26, 2013.
The theme for the 2013 edition will be “Maximizing Exploration & Production through
Technology, Financing, Project Management, and Risk Aversion & Local Content
Policy.”
