Muscat: With an increase of 10 % in attendees, 18% in exhibitors, and 50% in the Conference sessions with new content such as roundtable discussions and e-poster presentations, the 2019 World Heavy Oil Congress (WHOC), held from 2 – 4 September at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), has wrapped up another successful year. The annual Congress focused on today’s most pertinent topics within the strategic and technical fields of heavy oil. His Excellency Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Undersecretary Ministry of Oil and Gas, was in attendance at the Opening discussing how Oman’s heavy oil activities can make heavy oil a sustainable fuel of choice and contribute to the Sultanate’s long-term economic development. He later opened and led a group of delegates to tour the exhibition, where international NOCs, IOCs, service and technology providers, and SLCCs & LCCs Pavilion hosted by PDO, showcased the latest technologies, products and services in the industry.

Throughout the three days, experts from companies and research institutes across the globe also took the stage to discuss a range of subjects from digitalisation, technological innovations, and sustainability, to Oman’s In-Country Value programme, policy-making and global collaboration.

Steven Johnstone, Managing Director, Cavitas Energy – Aberdeen & Scotland, said, “Cavitas Energy was at the 2019 World Heavy Oil Congress & Exhibition introducing THOR, Thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery Downhole heater. It’s our second time in this show, we were visiting last year, and we exhibited this year. This event is a hub for everything happening in the Middle East region, certainly in respect to heavy oil production. We have some good opportunity here to work with regional operators. From my perspective dmg events and World Heavy Oil Congress & Exhibition have put on a great show again this year with very excellent content in the Strategic & Technical sessions. Lots of good exhibitors and visitors and we look forward to exhibiting again next year.”

A key highlight of the show was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between PDO, Oman Shell, Oman LNG and the Oman Oil-Orpic Group, focusing on increasing Omanisation rates in their turnaround services. Through it, the companies have committed to developing a self-sustaining business model for the turnaround activities of oil and gas installations. The ultimate goal is to increase Omanisation in the Turnaround Execution Workforce (“TEW”), with potential for future expansion in other activities based upon the success of the new initiative.

Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Oil & Gas, and co-hosted by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), with JP Global Digital and Occidental Oman as Gold sponsors alongside Maha Energy as Silver Sponsors, organisers are now gearing up for next year’s Congress, to be held in Oman from 1-3 September 2020.