Oil multinationals host Ghanaian delegation

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.”