Brazil to host 17th World Petroleum Congress & Rio Oil & Gas Expo

Pipeline & Gas Journal, Sept, 2002

The 17th World Petroleum Congress (WPC) and the Rio Oil & Gas Expo 2002 are scheduled to convene in Rio de Janeiro this month. More than 35,000 industry leaders, scientists, engineers and energy ministers are expected to attend these world-class energy events.

These two important forums tot the international energy industry will be held in the Riocentro Convention facility in Rio de Janeiro: The Congress runs from Sept. 1-5; and the Rio Oil & Gas Expo 2002, Sept. 2-5.

17th World Petroleum Congress

Every three years, the World Petroleum Congress offers an international oil and gas congress hosted by one of its 59 member countries. For the first time, the event will be held in Brazil. More than 3,000 delegates from 90 countries am expected to attend. Delegates to the event will be discussing trends and the outlook integral to the future success of the oil and gas industry. Delegates will also be able to explore international business opportunities, exchange ideas on global issues, network and sham the latest information on technology, business management and industry developments.

The Congress will present 174 technical papers, covering all aspects of oil and gas operations, contributed by professionals from throughout the world.

Among the industry leaders that will attend the event are 29 keynote speakers, including: OPEC Secretary General Rilwanu Lukman, PDVSA President Ali Rodriquez Araque, ChevronTexaco CEO David O'Reilly, Saudi Aramco CEO and President Abdallah Jum'ah and Gazprom Board Chairman A.B. Miller. Petrobras CEO, Francisco Gros, and the General Director of the Brazilian National Petroleum Agency, Sebastiao do Rego Barros, are two of the Brazilian keynote speakers.

Awards

For the first time, WPC will present awards of excellence.

According to WPC officials, 78 projects were proposed for the WPC Excellence Award, Norway's Statoil was the winner in the category for Technological Developments for its Underground C[O.sub.2] storage project. The award for Social Responsibility was won by Schlumberger, for its Program of Excellence in Educational Development.

Other companies commended for technology developments include: Phillips Petroleum and Technip-Coflexip. In the Social Responsibility category, honorable mention went to PDVSA and Tecpetrol. The awards will be presented at a WPC luncheon on Sept. 17.

Rio Oil & Gas Expo 2002

The Rio oil & Gas Expo 2002, the largest Latin American oil and gas exposition, takes place every two years, along with an oil congress in Rio de Janeiro. This year organizers teamed with the WPC.

Four Riocentro pavilion will be required to accommodate the wide array of goods, merchandise and equipment that will be displayed. Organizers say more than 800 exhibitors will demonstrate their experience and capabilities, bringing the best of products, equipment, service and technology from around the world.

Expo officials anticipate 35,000 visitors from 38 counties attending the event.