THE 13th Society of Petroleum Engineers Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference (MEOS 2003) ended after four highly successful days having attracted a record total of 5,206 trade visitors and conference delegates from around the world.
Exhibitors and delegates alike had praised the event, held from June 9 to June 12, as the best in years in terms of quality visitors and choice of conference subjects.
This was reflected in the number of bookings already accepted for this year's edition of MEOS at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC).
The exhibition covered all areas of the oil and gas industry, including exploration and production, on-shore and offshore technology, transportation, geophysics, drilling and completion, measurement systems, automation and information technology, refining and petrochemicals, security and environmental protection, telecommunications and specialised education.
Group pavillions from Italy, the UK, US and the Netherlands participated in MEOS 2003, contributing to a total of 184 exhibiting companies from 25 countries.
Flagship stands had been taken by all six GCC national oil companies -- Bahrain Petroleum Company, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Petroleum Development Oman, Qatar Petroleum and Saudi Aramco.
They were joined by major international companies BP, Chevron-Texaco, ExxonMobil, Schlumberger, Shell and Total, in addition to smaller specialist suppliers and distributors.
Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa had performed the official exhibition opening ceremony accompanied by an entourage of senior ruling family members, ministers, diplomats and senior industry leaders.
John R Kelly of ExxonMobil has said, "We consider MEOS to be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how our extensive research and development programmes enable us to successfully apply optimal technological solutions to the difficult challenges facing the oil and gas industry around the world, including the important and strategic countries of the Middle East."
Mike Weaver, Downhole Injection Systems said, "A very satisfactory experience. Good traffic from potential customers, good show and good stand facilities."
A high-level technical conference organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers, which ran parallel to the exhibition, serves as a major highlight of the MEOS series.
In his opening address at MEOS 2003 , Bahrain Oil Minister Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa recognised the importance of MEOS in helping to disseminate experience, innovation and technology world wide.
Keynote presentations on the conference theme -- 'Technology Solutions for the Oil and Gas Business: New Middle East Focus' -- were presented by senior figures in the oil industry.
Speakers included Qatar Energy Minister Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah, Kuwait Oil Company chairman and managing director Ahmed Al Arbeed, and Saudi Aramco senior vice president exploration and producing Abdulla Al Saif.
