Organisers of Europe’s largest biennial oil and gas industry event have appointed a new conference chair for SPE Offshore Europe 2017 in Aberdeen.
Catherine MacGregor, President Europe & Africa for oilfield services giant Schlumberger, takes over a role that was split between two event chairs last year.
Ms MacGregor, who is based in Paris, called on the industry to “reinvent itself” as it faces one of the longest and most severe downturns in decades.
“We are in a position where operators, service companies and other stakeholders need to find new ways of working together to build sustainable business models,” said Ms MacGregor
“Visibility is limited on the timing of market recovery but it is inevitable as the balance of supply and demand eventually becomes tighter.
“The longer that E&P investment stays below production replacement needs, the sharper the recovery will have to be to meet future demands.
“Now is the time for the industry to reinvent itself to be ready for growth, having answered the cost and efficiency questions exposed during this downturn.”
Attendance at last year’s conference remained strong at 55,947, the second highest in the history of the show’s 43 year history. Organisers estimate the conference will continue to attract “more than 55,000” in 2017 despite the industry’s woes.
She said the 2017 event will serve to “shape the future” of the oil and gas industry’s next decade.
“SPE Offshore Europe will provide a great opportunity for visitors to understand how new ways to collaborate are being implemented, to learn from ongoing examples and to meet potential partners,” she said.
“We will share inspirational examples of innovations and technology developments, more cost effective processes and new business models.
“The knowledge and technology being shared will shape the future of the industry for the next 10 years.”
The announcement of the new chair comes as Schlumberger’s chief executive laid bare the challenges facing the industry and his company, which is in the midst of a £10.3billion takeover of rival Cameron.
Speaking at a conference in New Orleans, Paal Kibsgaard said his firm is expected to face further falls in revenues when it reports its first quarter next month. He called for a change in the way the energy industry works, where currently cost reductions by oil and gas producers are due to oilfield services providers offering pricing concessions and not efficiency improvements.
Ms MacGregor takes over the chair of Offshore Europe from Michael Engell-Jensen, executive director of the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP) who was the Keynote Chairman, and Charles Woodburn, chief executive of Expro was the Technical Chairman.
The event will take place in Aberdeen from 5-8 September 2017.
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