The Society of Petroleum Engineers’ (SPE) Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE), returns to Dubai, in-person and online, for its 97th edition from September 21–23, under the patronage of Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
 
ATCE Conference General Chair and Dragon Oil CEO Ali Al Jarwan said: “Dubai is once again hosting the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE), a place where progressive thinking turns into innovative technologies benefitting both regional and global companies that are determined to continue serving humanity with net-zero impact on our precious environment.”
 
This flagship event is SPE’s annual meeting of oil and gas professionals featuring sessions packed with committee-reviewed technical papers designed to encourage diverse and multifaceted progress in the industry. 
 
Professionals from around the globe are expected to share ideas, case studies, and research on post-pandemic development plans, net zero goals, new energy innovations, technology, and recent projects.
 
Addressing the twofold topic of industry challenges and energy transition, SPE 2021 President Tom Blasingame said: “The biggest long-term challenge is that of energy transition, and while it will be more of a 'fuel switch' relative to oil and gas (to battery power and hydrogen), this is very long-term, and oil and gas will still be critical elements in terms of chemical feedstocks for the foreseeable future. 
 
"The short-term challenge is "demand rebound" post-pandemic — this is happening right now, but demand is attenuated, at present, due to the ongoing pandemic. I believe demand rebound is going to significantly stress the industry, but I am confident that we can provide deliverability for any demand scenario(s).”
 
The 3-day programme includes a CEO plenary session, 5 panel sessions, 5 regional special sessions, and 60+ technical and ePoster sessions. Speakers and panellists include influential executives and industry leaders like:
- Saeed Mohammed Ahmad Al Tayer, Chairman, Dragon Oil
- Ahmad Al-Muhairbi, Secretary General, Dubai Supreme Council of Energy
- Ali Al Jarwan, CEO, Dragon Oil
- Omar Obaid Al Nasri, CEO, ADNOC Onshore
- Arnaud Breuillac, President E&P, TotalEnergies
- Vadim Yakovlev, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board and Deputy CEO for Upstream, Gazprom Neft PJSC
- Olivier Le Peuch, CEO, Schlumberger
 
The exhibition will feature 60+ companies from 12 countries showcasing a range of current and upcoming technologies with demos and interactive displays offering visitors an engaging experience of discovering technologies and networking.
 
Meanwhile, the Gastech exhibition and conference will take place alongside ATCE, from September 21-23 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The co-location with ATCE will enable visitors to visit both events’ exhibitions without having to register twice. They will have the opportunity to interact with a broader range of exhibitors serving the global energy value chain.
 
ATCE 2021 will be held in-person according to health and safety guidelines as directed by the Dubai government, global safety standards as certified by the Bureau Veritas SafeGuard Label, and the Dubai World Trade Centre’s own ‘Venue Safe’ standards.-TradeArabia News Service