Qatar to host Offshore Middle East in 21 January

The January 21-23 event could bring together more than 1,800 participants from over 40 countries and the conference's discussions will cover the latest developments in offshore production and exploration in the region, home to more than 40% of the world's extractable oil deposits.

Pennwell is organizing the event, which will be held at the National Convention Centre in Doha under the patronage of HE Dr Mohammed bin Saleh al Sada, Qatar's Minister of Energy and Industry, also a key speaker at the opening of the event.

"Offshore Middle East is the region's premier event dedicated to the offshore exploration and production industries of the Gulf region and has a reputation for providing the best networking opportunities and a forum for the sharing of ideas and experiences," Pennwell said in a statement ahead of the three-day conference.

"With a history of attracting over 1,700 attendees from around the world, this internationally renowned event will deliver a world-class conference programme incorporating hot topic sessions over several tracks with over 65 expert chairs and speakers addressing important strategic and technical issues and sharing information about exciting new developments in the offshore oil & gas industry."

The statement said the participants would be exposed to cutting-edge solutions, strategic business information and high-level case studies, focussing around the specific regional challenges of the Middle East.

It said a dynamic exhibition floor that has traditionally attracted leading international companies will run alongside the conference showcasing revolutionary products and pioneering design solutions, whilst addressing technological challenges associated with safely and cost effectively developing subsea resources.

"With the Middle East offshore industry rapidly growing, Offshore Middle East Conference & Exhibition plays an important role in the expanding market and provides an annual forum dedicated to the advancement of the offshore industry."

Pennwell said it expected the two events to attract more than 1800 delegates from around the world while over 65 experts and speakers from 15 countries would address the meeting, which is expected to be attended by 600 conference participants.

It noted that nearly 94% of Offshore Middle East 2010 exhibitors found the event successful in meeting their business objectives while 83% of exhibitors established contacts for future sales and 90%improved their business prospects in the region.

The event coincides with plans by GCC states to expand their oil and gas production capacity to face growing global demand.

Estimates by OAPEC showed the GCC and other producers in the Middle East and North Africa could pump around $740bn into projects to develop their hydrocarbon and power sectors in the next five years. The report showed Saudi Arabia and the UAE account for nearly a third of the total investments, with an estimated $165bn and $107bn respectively.

GCC countries control more than 480 billion barrels of proven oil resources and 40 trillion cubic metres of natural gas.