AS THE Chinese muscle their way around the world, it should come as no surprise that they are going to be at Offshore Europe, mounting their biggest display ever in Europe’s Energy Capital.
They were present in a big way at this year’s Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, so the Aberdeen show represents the next step as Chinese companies increasingly seek a share of the global supply chain market.
However, whereas they had one modest pavilion at the 2007 show, this year there will be three, and they are substantial.
One will be in Hall 4 (not far from registration, but not at the entrance) – organised by Beijing Zhenwei – stands D47, D45, D43, C47 and C43; one in Hall 3 – organised by Beijing CEW – stands 1563, 1561, 1559, 1557, 1555, 1554, 1553, 1551, 1545, 1458, 1456, 1454, 1452 and 1450, and the third in Boyd Orr – organised by CPTDC (they exhibited in 2007) – stand 1630.
The Hall 4 display totals 165sq m, of which a massive 108sq m will be occupied by the China Petroleum and Petrochemical Lab – 108sq m. Others signed up to this pavilion include Fufeng Group, Wuxi Beyond Aok Electric Company and Shandong Kerui Group Petroleum Equipment .
The Hall 3 presence will occupy 202.5sq m and feature Unbram Corporation, Yantai jereh Petroleum, RG Petro Machinery, Uno Steel, Juli Sling Co, Tianjn Jinlaite, Qingdda Green, Hilong Group and Henan Shenlang.
Put all the bits together and it looks as if China will have one of the larger one-country representations at the show – such as Denmark, Spain, Germany, Nigeria and France, for example.
Their presence is also thought to be on a par with the big individual company stands, such as BP, Wood Group, Schlumberger, GE Oil & Gas, and so on.
One observer said: “They have definitely come to make an impression.”
As Chinese petroleum companies, with their supply chains in tow, stake out the globe, the likelihood is that they will rapidly become formidable competitors in many aspects of the upstream oil&gas supply chain.
They are already thoroughly embedded in the construction of offshore support vessels and floating production units, such as Sevan Marine’s innovative can-shaped floating production units – such as the Hummingbird now producing for Venture Production in the North Sea.