THE 2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Best Practices in Pipeline Operations & Integrity Management to be held in Bahrain from October 20 to 23, is a multi-track conference which will be run alongside a large exhibition.

The three and a half day conference – organised by Tiratsoo Technical (a division of Great Southern Press) and Clarion Technical conferences, in association with Global Webb Energy Consultants – will be held at the Gulf International Convention & Exhibition Centre.

This major conference will bring together experts from within and outside the region to discuss some of the latest technologies and concepts for maintaining and operating oil and gas pipelines in the most efficient, cost-effective and professional manner, while taking account of environmental and other concerns of the communities through which they pass, says a spokesman.

The event will be held under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Minister of Finance, Minister in Charge of Oil and Gas Affairs and chairman of the National Oil and Gas Authority.

The event is also supported by Platinum Elite Sponsor Saudi Aramco, Platinum Sponsor Fathom, Silver Sponsors Rosen, Clock Spring and The Bahrain Petroleum Company.

Saudi Aramco Pipelines Department’s general manager Abdulhakim Al-Gouhi says: “It’s a great opportunity for us Pipeliners to gather and share knowledge. There are many challenges we ought to overcome and it will help a great deal if we can solve them collaboratively.”

The exhibition area will be parallel to where the technical papers are being held. This allows one to travel between the papers one wants to see, and meet up with new and existing contacts in the exhibition hall very easily.

The conference will begin on October 20 with six topical workshops. Saudi Aramco senior vice president for Downstream Abdulrahman Al Wuhaib and Al Ghouhi will formally open the main technical sessions at the Plenary Session on October 21, and will be accompanied by a major exhibition reflecting the widest interests of the pipeline industry.

The simultaneous tracks for the technical programme of the event will include:

• Planning, design, construction and materials;

• Operations and maintenance best practices, repair and rehabilitation;

• Automation and control, leak detection; and

• Asset integrity management, inspection and cathodic protection.

The 2013 exhibition will feature companies showcasing the latest in pipeline technology, equipment and services.

The exhibition hall will open at 10:30 am on Monday October 21 after the plenary session and close at 12:00 pm on October 23, and will host the latest developments in the oil and gas sector with leading industry professionals.

To register, or view a full list of exhibitors and the conference programme, visit www.pipelineconf.com