The SPE Offshore Europe gathering originally scheduled for September 2021 has finally been cancelled after wider consultation. Organizers had announced that the show’s face-to-face convention would be taking place from 1st until the 4th of February 2022 at P&J Live, Aberdeen, adding that the conference will run virtually from 7th until the 10th of September 2021.
Portfolio Director – Energy & Marine at RX, Reed Exhibitions, co-organizer with the Society of Petroleum Engineers, SPE Jonathan Heastie, was quoted to have said: “With September rapidly approaching, many health and safety uncertainties still exist around holding major indoor events of the scale of SPE Offshore Europe. The Offshore Europe, OE Partnership has consulted widely across the industry including operating and service companies, SMEs and industry organizations on options for the 2021 event. The overwhelming support is to proceed with the conference programme in a virtual format in September 2021, which will facilitate timely discussion pre-COP26, and to hold the face-to-face event in February 2022.”
Phil Chandler, Director, Europe & Caspian Events at SPE also was reported to have said: “The September conference will be strongly focused on the energy transition and supporting the industry’s role in delivering net zero. With further high-level energy transition content at the face-to-face event in February 2022, SPE Offshore Europe will straddle COP26, providing a unique learning opportunity as strategies, experiences and technologies are shared.”
The September virtual conference includes opening ceremony, plenary panel, and keynote and technical sessions, with full programme details to be announced in a couple of weeks.
The live event, on the other hand, will include an in-person socially distanced exhibition, new energy transition keynote conference content, show floor features including Energy Transition Zone and Theatre, Decommissioning Theatre, a TIDE, talent investment & diversity programme and networking.
Jonathan Heastie added: “We are excited to look forward to a live event in February 2022 which will offer greater potential for visitor attendance, networking and international participation. We conducted a survey of previous visitors and the results were decisive; by holding the event in Q1 2022, both domestic and international visitor levels would be significantly higher and sufficient to merit holding the face-to-face event next year. Furthermore, all the international pavilions expect to attend in February 2022.”
“We thank all the stakeholders in SPE Offshore Europe for their continuing support to delivering an event that provides maximum value for the industry in these COVID-impacted times.”
“For almost 50 years Aberdeen has proudly hosted Offshore Europe, a fitting home for one of the energy sector’s flagship events as a European energy capital. The event provides us with a platform to not only showcase our world-leading industry capabilities and projects, but places our city and wider region on the global stage.
“Whilst it is disappointing that the face-to-face element of Offshore Europe 2021 has to be postponed as a result of COVID-19, we support the decision made by the organizers. We will work to make the virtual event a success whilst turning our focus to delivering an exceptional and safe event in February 2022 when Aberdeen will once again be proud to bring the delegates together”, Leader, Aberdeen City Council, Cllr Jenny Laing, was also quoted to have said:
And Chris Walker, Head of Communications and External Affairs, Oil and Gas Authority said: “Offshore Europe was always going to be different this year and the decision to split the event in two was made with safety and public health considerations at heart. With a firm focus on energy transition and industry’s role in supporting net zero, the virtual event in September promises to bring together a stellar line-up of leading industry speakers and a world-class technical programme. While nothing in life is guaranteed, the prospect of a safe, well-managed ‘physical’ exhibition next year is something very exciting to look forward to.”
Existing exhibition space bookings for the September 2021 event will roll over to February 2022.
