First SPE Russian Conference Attracts Top Names

Abstract

The inaugural SPE Russian Oil and Gas Technical Conference attracted top names from the country's premier companies as well as leading industry professionals from around the world. More than 2,000 attended the 4-day event in Moscow in October, which featured nearly 200 technical presentations as well as an exhibition that showcased major service and operating firms. Highlighting the conference, which bore the theme "Technology for World Class Resources," were four panel sessions that examined the current state of the Russian oil and gas industry, case studies of some of the world's most important fields, academia's relationship to the industry, and legends in Russian oil and gas. The opening plenary session, focusing on Russia's role in the global energy balance, led off with Valery Isaakovich Graifer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC Lukoil and General Director of JSC Ritek OJSC Lukoil. Graifer, who chaired the conference as well, was joined by speakers from leading Russian and non-Russian firms and organizations, including Lukoil, Gazprom, Rosneft, TNK-BP, Transneft, ConocoPhillips, Schlumberger, Halliburton, and the Russian Federal Energy Agency. Graifer said it was significant that the SPE conference followed closely behind the recent G8 summit held in Russia, in which world leaders discussed the importance of global energy security. The G8 leaders concluded that energy is the most important force for sustainable development and economic progress, that energy security and the future of the world are inseparable, and that the world will continue to depend heavily on hydrocarbons despite a growing interest in alternative fuels. Russia will play a critical role in ensuring that security, Graifer said, but the country needs additional technology and specialists to help develop its oil and gas industry. This SPE conference is "creating educational wealth" that will benefit not only Russia but the international oil industry as a whole, he said, noting the importance of the participation of the leading companies of Russia and the world in both the technical presentations and the exhibition. Also helping to open the conference was 2005 SPE President Giovanni Paccaloni, who said the conference represented a milestone in bridging information on technology development with the great Russian oil industry. SPE's growth in Russia has been pronounced, he said. The first SPE section was formed in 1995. Now SPE has more than 700 members in Russia, as well as 520 student members. SPE also announced at the conference that it is opening a new office in Moscow to strengthen its presence and its programs in the region. Robert Dudley, President and Chief Executive Officer of TNK-BP, also emphasized the importance of sharing technology. "Through the exchange of ideas and experiences, we all do our jobs better," said Dudley, who joined SPE in 1982 and highlighted the Society's role in technology exchange.