AROUND 300 delegates attended the opening sessions of the oil and gas industry’s annual Devex event in Aberdeen yesterday.
Devex, now in its sixth year, is aimed at geologists, geophysicists, petrophysicists and production technologists plus drilling, well, petroleum and reservoir engineers.
It features a host of technical workshops on different aspects of oil and gas production and development.
The conference is organised jointly by the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain, Aberdeen Formation Evaluation Society and the Aberdeen section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Delivering yesterday’s opening address at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre was Jim Mather, Scotland’s energy minister.
He warned of the dangers of short-sighted decision-making in the North Sea oil and gas industry.
Mr Mather told delegates he was aware of the pressure for a reassessment of priorities in light of the current economic slump.
But, he said, it was vital that nothing was done to harm the long-term prospects for the basin.
He also outlined the Scottish Government’s commitment to “cleaner generation” and renewables in any future energy mix.
Devex, which this year has the theme of “crossing the boundaries in pursuit of the ultimate recovery” continues today.
Senergy director Henry Allen, the chairman of Devex 2009, said “In talking about crossing the boundaries, we are addressing the many artificial barriers that we inadvertently erect when we go about our work.
“These may be disciplinary, geographical or demographic. We urgently need to bring on the younger generation to take the industry forward.”