News

The 2017 edition of OTC Brasil and Rio Pipeline will discuss the future of oil and gas industry, and the opening ceremony was a sample of what is yet to come in the next three days of events held in Riocentro Conventions Center. With over 800+ participants and the presence of executives from the Brazilian Institute of Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels (IBP), the National Oil, Natural Gal and Biofuels Agency (ANP), the Mines and Energy Ministery (MME), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and Petrobras; the ceremony held this morning (24 October), set the first time that the two O&G events are held alongside, simultaneously.

OTC Brasil Chairman, João Carlos de Luca, highlighted the relevance of debating new technologies for the O&G sector. On his turn, Rio Pipeline Chairman, Marcelino Guedes, mentioned the 20 years of the pipeline conference and said it´s necessary to reinforce pipeline regulation in order to guarantee local production. “Brazil needs to be part of the global market, with technology companies to support the energy sector.”

Décio Oddone, ANP general director, mentioned that technology has never been so important for the future and that his organization is responsible for regulating the industry digitalization – which will certainly impact the entire industry. “In the next editions of OTC and Rio Pipeline, we will be experiencing the resumption that is just beginning,” he affirmed.

Petrobras CEO, Pedro Parente, said that Brazil has evolved since last year´s Rio Oil & Gas Conference, but there is still a long way to go towards the use of new technology to advance deep-water exploration. “We need to look forward and move our business towards the future”, he reminded.

Márcio Félix, secretary of Oil, Natural Gas and Renewable Fuels from Mines and Energy Ministery (MME), confirmed next year’s schedule “The 15th round bid will be held by the end of March and the 4th Pre-Salt bid round in June”.

The ceremony was also attended by IBP president, Jorge Camargo; ASME executive director, Thomas Loughlin; and OTC Chairman, Wafik Beydoun, who reinforced the importance of OTC Brasil to the energy industry in the country.

The keynote Lord John Browne, former CEO of BP and an icon of the oil and gas industry,  emphasized the responsibility of companies in relation to climate changes. “The response (to global warming) resides in technologic innovation, which is the most important tool to accelerate the transition process to a low carbon economy,” he explained.

In the end, Lord Browne declared to be optimistic about Brazil and the energy industry. “Progress may seem slow, but it´s possible that leaders get deeply engaged with society and continue working for humanity. “I have always been an optimistic and I believe in the path to human progress,” he concluded.

OTC Brasil 2017 is sponsored by Petrobras; Total; Shell; BP; Fluor; Statoil; Baker Hughes – a GE Company; Chevron; TechnipFMC; Repsol Sinopec; Saipem; ExxonMobil; Vallourec; Galp/Petrogal; Queiroz Galvão; Flutrol; Aker Solutions; CNOCC; Subsea7; Brazil – U.S. Business Council; Firjan; and OceanPact.

Rio Pipeline 2017 is sponsored by Petrobras; Rosen; Transportadora Brasileira Gasoduto Bolívia-Brasil (TBG); Nova Transportadora do Sudeste (NTS); Mattos Filho Advogados; and Tory-Tech.

Registration for OTC Brasil and Rio Pipeline is open online and onsite at Riocentro, until Thursday, 26 October.