23rd World Petroleum Congress announces first round of plenary speakers
HOUSTON -- The World Petroleum Council announced the first round of speakers scheduled for the 23rd World Petroleum Congress (WPC), to be held in Houston, December 6-10, 2020. Following the theme Innovative Energy Solutions, the program will feature eight high-level plenary sessions across five days, with several global leaders from the oil and gas sector now confirmed to speak. From the operator side, delegates will hear insights from U.S. and international bellwethers, including:
Michael K. Wirth, Chairman and CEO, Chevron
Eldar Sætre, President and CEO, Equinor
Darren Woods, Chairman and CEO, ExxonMobil
Mele Kolo Kyari, Group Managing Director, NNPC
Roberto Castello Branco, CEO, Petrobras
Kamel Eddine Chikhi, CEO, Sonatrach
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO, Total
Peter Coleman, CEO, Woodside.
The services segment is also well-represented with Lorenzo Simonelli, Chairman and CEO, Baker Hughes, and Jeff Miller, President and CEO, Halliburton, confirmed as speakers.
“I am delighted to share such a prestigious line-up of confirmed speakers who will explore those critical areas where vanguard technologies and innovative solutions are being applied, as the oil and gas industry adapts to the changing energy landscape,” said Tor Fjaeran, President, World Petroleum Council, Fig. 1.
The Congress also announced the event’s premier sponsors, with Schlumberger, BHP and Weatherford confirmed to date. Rounding out today’s announcements, Boston Consulting Group will be supporting as the official strategic partner.
In addition to the plenary sessions, the Congress program will also feature 16 ministerial sessions and roundtables, 16 CEO roundtables and panels, 12 strategic dialogues and 23 technical forums addressing innovation in upstream, downstream and natural gas, as well managing energy in the future.
The WPC is a triennial event and is one of the E&P sector’s largest and most prestigious international event. Tor Fjaeranalso commented the event is “the Olympics of the oil and gas sector” and attracts the highest-level industry and government leaders from around the world, including heads of state, ministers of energy and numerous C-suite executives. More than 100 countries, 50 ministers, 700 expert speakers, 1,000 media and 10,000 delegates are expected to participate in the Congress.
Houston selected for historic meeting. Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center will provide the largest WPC exhibition space in Congress history (50,000 m2). This also marks the first time both the city and the U.S. will have hosted the Congress since 1987. The 23rd WPC is anticipated to attract approximately 10,000 attendees to discuss the application of technology like artificial intelligence and transformational strategies across the energy value chain, from upstream to downstream, to progress the goal of sustainable energy for all.
As the energy capital of the world, Houston continues to be the epicenter for technology advancement and entrepreneurship, delivering solutions to the evolving oil and gas industry. Technical tours of leading energy facilities and a geologic field trip will be components of the 23rd WPC week and a draw for attendees. Unique to Houston, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with leadership from other top industries, including the Texas Medical Center and Port of Houston, further showcasing the city’s diversity and commitment to innovation.
Background - World Petroleum Congress.Established in 1933, the council provides a neutral platform for discussion of the issues facing the oil and gas industry and its stakeholders around the globe. It is a non-advocacy, non-political organization, dedicated to the application of scientific advances in the oil and gas industries, technology transfer and the sustainable use of the world’s petroleum resources for the benefit of all. Its nearly 70 member countries represent 96% of the world’s oil and gas production and consumption.
