Microsoft to unite major oil and gas players at the Global Energy Forum

More than 25 key players in the energy sector including Accenture and Schlumberger will come together to demonstrate Microsoft's information technology solutions for the oil and gas industry.

The keynote address will be delivered by Gerald Doucet, Secretary General of the World Energy Council, exploring the key challenges facing the energy sector and will be followed by a panel discussion of prominent industry CIOs entitled, "The New World of Work in Oil and Gas: How is Technology Coping with Regional and Global Industry Challenges?"

The discussion will focus on questions that will include whether integrated oil companies (IOCs) and national oil companies (NOCs) face similar challenges; which of these challenges are regional and which are global; and how technology can deliver solutions.

Microsoft's Middle East and Africa oil and gas manager, Omar Saleh, said, "Microsoft recognises the critical influence of the region on the global energy sector and through the Global Energy Forum is committed to giving an unparalleled overview on how leading oil and gas companies leverage technology to reach new altitudes in overall performance. With reserves becoming harder and costly to exploit, organizations pursuit of energy efficiency and sustainability is at its peak. The Global Energy Forum showcases the impact information-based business solutions can extend towards optimized performance across the entire oil and gas value chain."

The Global Energy Forum agenda will concentrate on critical factors affecting the industry now and in the future. Microsoft in partnership with Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) will work in an interactive session with CIOs to explore the role of technology in addressing key industry priorities, including the ageing workforce, nationalisation, cross border collaboration, security and regulatory compliance requirements.