ADIPEC (Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference) 2010 will host a series of field trips during its conference programme this year to provide first-hand insights in to the world-class oil and gas operations in the UAE.

Selected students and conference delegates will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the most unique and interesting fields in the industry during one of the largest events for the oil and gas industry, taking place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) from November 1 to 4.

Organised in conjunction with the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), the first field trip will take place on October 31, and will take participants to Schlumberger’s Middle East and Asia Learning Centre.

The state of the art centre, run in partnership with Adnoc, is one of the largest in the world and has both technical and classroom based training, including the replication of conditions likely to be experienced in the field, 10 training wells and two fully functional rigs.

Also on October 31, there will be the first of two opportunities to visit the Mangrove Lagoon of Abu Dhabi Island. This will take place as a two-hour kayak tour where participants will see modern carbonate sediments laid down in the arid environment of the lagoon.

This trip will be repeated on November 4.

The final field trip will be to the modern sabkha environment of Abu Dhabi, which is one of the few areas in the world where geoscientists can observe interplay between carbonate and evaporate sedimentation. Taking place on November 4, this trip will be run courtesy of Adco.

Waleed Refaay, SPE’s managing director, Middle East, North Africa and India says: “Adipec wanted to provide students and conference participants with the opportunity for a hands-on experience whilst in the region due to the fascinating insights of the front-line and behind the scenes of the industry.

The Adipec field trips cover a number of the most interesting as an excellent chance to bring the forward thinking of the UAE industry to the forefront of global thinking.”