Next month’s Offshore Europe show is to be the largest in its history, according to organisers of the biennial Aberdeen event.
The September 6-8 gathering is the largest oil and gas event outside of Houston, Texas.
Organisers Reed Exhibitions and the Society of Petroleum Engineers said there would be more companies, more space and a greater show of the world’s operating companies.
Just over 82,000 square feet of exhibition space was available – an increase of 9% on last time – and it has sold out, making it the largest show in the event’s history.
Close to 1,500 companies are confirmed to attend, up from 1,421 in 2009, with a significant number new to the show, held in the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.
This year’s event will also see a jump in the number of oil and gas operating companies exhibiting, with the likes of GDF Suez, Statoil, Centrica, BP, Shell, Chevron, BG, Dong, ExxonMobil, Maersk, Petrobras, TAQA and Total all signed up.
Exhibition director Elaine Hulse said: “We are delighted the exhibition is sold out, and that it is larger than last time.
“We’ve also had significant global interest and participation, in terms of operating companies, government ministries and others, all keen to come to Aberdeen and participate in what we believe will once again be a very successful show for all involved.
“We are particularly pleased to have new features at the exhibition such as our dedicated Deep Water Zone.
“And it is encouraging to see the additional growing interest in the harsh-environment Arctic arena represented by the new Greenland pavilion, for example, as well as major markets represented by new pavilions from Malaysia and the Northern Territories of Australia.
“This shows the global reach that is now part and parcel of Offshore Europe as it continues to evolve.”
A spokesman for the organisers said current pre-registration levels for the event were similar to 2009, which broke attendance records at 30,698, up 18.8% on the previous event.
The largest single pavilion at this year’s show will be the UK’s Energy Industries Council, a leading trade association for UK companies supplying goods and services to the energy industries worldwide.
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ORGANISERS have urged visitors to this year’s Offshore Europe to use public transport where they can following the car-parking fiasco at the 2009 event.
After car parks outside Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) filled up, drivers parked on verges in the area but were then issued with parking tickets by Aberdeen City Council; most of which were later retracted.
The organisers have issued the following advice:
o Visitors should use the extensive public transport options wherever possible.
o There will be bus shuttle services from all the major hotels, Aberdeen University, industrial estates and Aberdeen-based oil firms.
o More than 5,000 free car-parking spaces will be in the designated car parks around the AECC site. Parking will be allocated on a first-come basis.
o In addition, park and ride services for overspill parking will be available.