Business/economics

OTC Panel Proud of the Past, Optimistic About the Future

The 50th edition of the Offshore Technology Conference kicked off with a distinguished panel representing operators and service companies evaluating the contributions of the past half century.

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Wafik Beydoun, chairman of OTC, speaks during the opening ceremony at the Offshore Technology Conference. He holds the 1969 program, handled with protective gloves, in one hand and this year's program in another.
Source: OTC Instagram.

The 50th edition of the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) kicked off with a distinguished panel representing operators and service companies evaluating the contributions of the past half century. And while the panel took a look back at the significant progress and innovation that has occurred since 1969, they also painted an optimistic view of the offshore sector’s future.

The opening ceremony featured remarks from Wafik Beydoun, chairman of the OTC Board of Directors, and panelists Patrick Pouyanné, chairman and CEO, Total; Ryan Lance, chairman and CEO, ConocoPhillips; Jeff Miller, president and CEO, Halliburton; Harry Brekelmans, project and technology director, Royal Dutch Shell; Clay Williams, chairman and CEO, National Oilwell Varco (NOV); and Solange da Silva Guedes, chief exploration and production officer, Petrobras.

Speakers emphasized the progress made in the safety of offshore operations as well as the technological innovation that has occurred since the first OTC was held in a small convention hall in Houston that attracted 2,800 attendees. More than 60,000 industry professionals attended last year’s conference.

Read the full story here.