Events June 2022 OES Beacon

Offshore Technology Conference Showcases the Energy Evolution

Brandy Armstrong, VP for Professional Activities and OTC  Marketing

Jerry and Brandy in the OES booth at OTC with long-time Houston Section volunteers John Lacey and Freddie Wong

IEEE OES Senior past president and OTC board director Jerry Carol, President Christopher Whitt and Vice President of Professional Activities Brandy Armstrong attended OTC to network with the local section and chapter. They met with the IEEE OES technical program committee Thursday for a lunch discussion focused on building OTC 2023 panel sessions, keynotes and general sessions.

Michael Romer, IEEE OES OTC technical program committee chair, is seeking additional subcommittee volunteers. He shared some potential OTC 2023 topics that may be of interest to OES members:

  • Marine Power Generation – What’s Beyond Offshore Wind?
  • Ensuring Reliable, Affordable and Secure Energy
  • Harmonizing Today’s Development Decisions with the Energy Transition
  • ROV/AUV Abilities Showcase
  • Blockchain and its Effect on Industry
  • Application of Digital Technologies to Boost Marine Mining
  • Electrifying the Subsea Ecosystem
OES President Christopher Whitt, Houston Section volunteer Cheryl Windom and VPPA Brandy meeting at the OES booth

As VPPA, I arrived early for set up and recruited a diverse group of volunteers from the local section to help man the IEEE OES booth, including women, students, LGBTQ+, and veteran volunteers. Students and young professionals who volunteered also received mentorship from senior members and time to network with the many exhibitors with job openings. Jenifer Castillo, IEEE Senior Member and 2021-2022 IEEE WIE Committee Chair, a regular at OTC, stopped by to let us know how great it was to see diversity and activity at the IEEE OES booth. Jenifer also shared information with us about the IEEE Industry Engagement Committee, including pamphlets and tools we can use next year at OTC. A big thank you to all our volunteers that made this year’s OTC a success!

Houston, Texas, USA (5 May 2022) – Offshore energy professionals from around the world convened at the 2022 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) at NRG Park to discuss the latest advancements in the offshore oil and gas industry, while touting the role the offshore energy industry plays within the energy transition. Experts representing diverse offshore technologies provided key insights on how their projects and industries are developing the latest innovations to continue securing affordable energy while advancing climate goals.

“OTC is widely recognized as a central hub for energy professionals and industry thought leaders to collaborate and develop solutions to address global energy challenges, particularly ways in which we can meet energy needs in a cleaner and more affordable manner,” said Paul Jones, Chair of the OTC Board. “As the energy industry works to deliver sustainable solutions and reduce carbon emissions, OTC continues to play a key role by facilitating knowledge-sharing, learnings and discussions around the technologies and experts that can deliver these low-carbon solutions now.”

To further collaboration across the industry, OTC launched a new Energy Transition Pavilion designed to highlight technological advancements for new and existing energy sources, as well as showcase solutions being developed to decarbonize, drive sustainability and improve energy efficiency. The Energy Transition Pavilion summoned experts from multiple disciplines and backgrounds to discuss the latest innovations driving global energy transitions forward.

IEEE OES leadership meets with the IEEE OES OTC 2023 committee. From right to left: Christopher Whitt, Hani Elshahawi, Shannon Hill, Brandy Armstrong, Hosam Abu Zeid, Michael Romer, Jerry Carrol, Peter Wallace, Ahmed Tahoun

 

The following report is from OTC Marketing

OTC 2022 welcomed more than 24,000 attendees, a number that has more than doubled since last year’s conference in August 2021. Of this year’s attendees, nearly 7,000 traveled from outside the United States. Also known for its robust technical program, OTC held 44 technical sessions presenting more than 300 technical papers. Additionally, the program included 17 executive dialogues and keynote speakers, 11 panels, 5 networking events and showcased 7 countries throughout the Around the World series.

A view of the OTC exhibition from the second floor

“This year has been unparalleled in terms of exhibitors and attendees presenting their latest developments from all over the world,” Jones added. “We are thrilled to see such a strong comeback after our hybrid program last year due to COVID-19. We featured more than 20 sessions dedicated to energy transition issues, reinforcing our support to advancing a low-carbon future for everyone.”

Likewise, OTC’s exhibition area increased significantly. This year’s conference spanned 258,645 square feet, with major equipment installations, demonstrations, and interactive displays actively engaging thousands of attendees from more than 93 countries. Throughout the week, 1,064 exhibiting companies from 39 countries showcased the future of offshore activities.

Total estimated economic impact of OTC 2022 amounted to more than USD 20 million, which includes business to business transactions and direct economic impact of attendees. For more information, visit: www.otcnet.org.