Heavy Oil Congress opens

Mucat : Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy, Minister of Oil & Gas of the Sultanate of Oman, and Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Oil of the Kingdom of Bahrain, officially opened the 2018 edition of the World Heavy Oil Congress and Exhibition (WHOC) at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, Muscat, yesterday. More than 3,000 industry professionals are deliberating on the transformation of the heavy oil value chain and the future of the world’s energy mix during the three-day event.  

In his opening remarks, Al Rumhy said, “Oman did not slow down during the 2014-2018 oil drop. The fear was always that the reduction in investment, specifically in exploration, was going to hit us hard but we stayed the course and proceeded with our previous plans with the support of the government, shareholders, and oil and gas companies operating in the country. As a country, we took the right decision to focus on investment and that has helped us in the end.” He added, “Both the public and private sector have a responsibility. With greater private sector participation and the optimization of ecosystems of our economy versus prioritizing profits, we can together further advance our industry forward.”

Shaikh Al Khalifa said, “Within the region, Oman was the first to invest in heavy oil and we have a lot to learn from them. Heavy oil could be in heavy demand, at least in the short term, as a result of implications of the light tight oil phenomenon in North America.”

The Ministers along with a high-level delegation from WHOC toured the exhibition, which will run until Wednesday, where regional and international NOCs, IOCs, service and technology providers are showcasing the best technologies, products and services for the heavy oil sector. Notable exhibitors include Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Eni SPA, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Bahrain Petroleum Company, Kitsnet, Badr EOR, Albpetrol, RGL Reservoir Management Ltd, SoluForce, HP Well Screen, and Salamander to name but a few.