Oman’s oil and gas potentials at biennial exhibition
Posted: 20 March 2006
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The latest developments in the region’s oil and gas industry and Oman ’s role as a major producer will be highlighted this month with the holding of the Oil & Gas West Asia (OGWA) Exhibition and Conference on April 9-11 in Muscat .
 The biennial event, which is held under the patronage of Oman ’s Ministry of Oil & Gas, offers an opportunity for specifiers and purchasing managers to inspect new products and technologies. It also gives industry professionals an excellent chance to learn more the operations of international oil and gas firms as well as the large-scale projects currently being implemented throughout the region, particularly in Oman .
“Space bookings for this year’s exhibition have increased by as much as 20% compared to the 2004 edition of the event,” said C.J. Paul, general manager of Omanexpo LLC, the company organising the event. “This clearly demonstrates the high regard that international contractors and suppliers give to Oman as a major market for oilfield services as well as products and technologies for the oil and gas industry.”
Paul pointed out that over 150 companies have already confirmed their participation in the biennial event, which will be held at the Oman International Exhibition Centre. Besides the notable representation of a large number of companies from Oman , OGWA 2006 will also feature many exhibitors from Bahrain , China , Iran , India , Kuwait , Malaysia , Singapore , and the United Arab Emirates .
Among the major players that will participate are Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Oman LNG, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Oman Refinery, Occidental of Oman, Total, Dolphin Energy, Halliburton, Schlumberger, Reliance Industries, Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation, and Petrofac. Other companies expected to have a strong presence at OGWA 2006 are MB Petroleum, CNPC Engineering and Services, Sohar Refinery, Tatneft Gulf , Dalma Energy, OHI Petroleum, the National Pipe Company Ltd., and Oman Oilfields Supply Center .
Parallel to the exhibition, OGWA 2006 will also feature an international conference that will be held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, which is located right next to the exhibition centre. The two-day conference--dubbed the Middle East Energy Forum--will primarily tackle upstream and downstream technologies, the range of opportunities in the region, the energy challenges confronting Oman, and environmental considerations in oil & gas exploration and production.
“The Middle East Energy Forum will be a lively discussion of the strategies currently being implemented in the region and other important issues that will shape the industry’s future,” said Tom Myit, Conference Director. “Industry professionals should attend the conference to keep themselves abreast of the latest developments in the industry.”
First organized in 1998, this year's edition of OGWA is particularly special because it comes at a time when the price of petroleum has reached record highs in the world market. This has given oil producers the financial resources to invest in a greater number of exploration activities and to implement other strategies for increasing production. With the world's energy requirements continuously rising every year, steps are now being taken worldwide to boost production levels to meet this growing demand, thus helping stabilize the price of petroleum in the process.
Oman is at the forefront of intensive efforts to ensure that a sufficient supply of petroleum is always available worldwide. During the past 12 months alone, the Ministry of Oil and Gas has signed oil and gas concession agreements with many multinational firms for the exploration of the sultanate's highly promising onshore and offshore blocks. On the production side, the government is pushing ahead with the development of Mukhaizna field, the implementation of the Qarn Alam steam project, the operation of the Saih Nihayda gas plant, the expansion of facilities at Harweel, and the launching of many other projects.
Oman ’s core strategy of working in partnership with international oil majors and encouraging foreign investors has already started to pay off. Over the past two months, at least five new oil fields have been discovered in various parts of the country, a clear confirmation of the abundant petroleum resources with which the sultanate is blessed.
A number of important milestones have also been achieved recently or will soon be a reality for the country’s vibrant oil and gas industry. Last December, for instance, Qalhat LNG transported its first-ever commercial LNG cargo to Spain , a historic shipment amounting to 135,000 cubic meters. The $1.2-billion Sohar Refinery—which has an installed capacity of over 116,000 barrels per day—is also scheduled to start commercial operation later this year.
OGWA 2006 is thus an ideal opportunity for the sultanate to showcase the rapid development of its oil and gas industry and to underscore its potentials as one of the world’s major petroleum producers. The event promises to be one of the major highlights this year for the oil and gas industry not just in the Sultanate of Oman but throughout the region.
For more information on the OGWA Exhibition and Conference, visit www.ogwaexpo.com or contact Omanexpo LLC at tel. no. +928-24790333, fax no. +968-24706276, or e-mail omanexpo@omantel.net.om.
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