Seatrade Maritime is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Caspian challenges for Mid East offshore operators

Caspian challenges for Mid East offshore operators
$4 trillion Caspian challenges Mid East offshore operators Industry professionals at workboats & offshore marine show in Abu Dhabi to discuss investment, development and the diverse fleets required for Caspian Sea operations

Seatrade Middle East Work Boats & Offshore Marine 2013, the region's leading event for workboat operators, builders and equipment suppliers marks its return to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 30th September to 2nd October 2013, with a 'Regional Power Hour' on the opening afternoon of the show.

"The Caspian region is so complex that it continues to provide challenges to offshore operators, from geopolitical issues and bureaucracy to 80-degree temperature swings, vessel modification and risk management. Yet the rewards are significant, capex spending is estimated to reach US$ 55 billion between 2015 and 2020 and the region is estimated to hold over 200 billion barrels of crude alone worth US$ 4 trillion," Emma Howell, Head of Marketing, Middle East, Seatrade, organiser of the Middle East Workboats & Offshore Marine 2013.

Chairing the session is Roy Donaldson, Chief Operating Officer, Topaz Marine, which has more than 60 offshore support vessels operating in the Caspian region.

"The key to success is operating a young, diverse and well-equipped fleet that can stand up to the challenge of working in diverse environmental conditions," said Donaldson.

"For example, if one simply considers water levels, in Azerbaijan where the IOC's operate in water depths of between 150 to 1,000 metres the fleet consists of medium to large PSV's and AHTS," he said.

"Whereas in the Kashagan field, water depths are as low as two metres hence there is a requirement for specialised barges and shallow-water tugs. In Kazakhstan there is also a requirement for ICE Class assets whereas in other areas of the Caspian there is no significant sea ice," he stated.

Other leading industry experts that have accepted organiser Seatrade's invitation to join the panel include Zamig Ismayilov, Chief Operations Officer, Caspian Marine Services Limited; Dan Lewis, Regional Marine Authority/Marine Manager, AGT BP Marine and John Scott, Sales Manager, Polarcus DMCC.

According to energy analyst Infield Systems, the Caspian region is still one of the key drivers of offshore capex and expects a 33% increase in the Middle East and Caspian over 2011-15 compared to 2006-10, or an increase of $10 billion to approximately $39.9 billion.

Development of the region's oil resources has been led by three major projects: Tengiz and Karachaganak (in Kazakhstan), and Azerbaijan's Azeri, Chirag, and deepwater Gunashl (ACG) field. Combined, these three projects were producing roughly 30% of the regional total with total capital expenditure of $38 billion over the five years to 2015, which is set to increase to US$55 billion for the following five years.

Current estimates indicate that, in addition to huge gas deposits, the Caspian basin may hold as much as 200 billion barrels of oil—33 times the estimated holdings of Alaska's North Slope and a current value of US$4 trillion. It is enough to meet the United States' energy needs for 30 years or more.

This year's event line-up also includes the inaugural Saudi Aramco Global Workboat Technology Forum, on 1st October at which international experts will present a series of technical papers on industry agenda-leading topics, with Dynamic Positioning (DP) capability and systems development dominating the final day's debate on 2nd October.

Middle East Work Boats & Offshore Marine 2013 has already signed up over 165 exhibitors for this year's event which will offer business and social networking both in the conference sessions and on the exhibition floor. Exhibitors for the 2013 edition include ABS, Etihad Ship Building, IRSHAD, Stanford Marine and Topaz Energy and Marine.

For more information and event updates, go to www.middleeastworkboats.com.

-Ends-

About Seatrade

Established over 40 years ago, Seatrade is a leader in maritime and cruise publications, conferences and exhibitions, training, awards and other special projects. Regular events include international trade exhibitions and conferences across all maritime sectors, management training courses for shipping professionals, training seminars for travel agents and maritime award schemes, including the prestigious Seatrade Awards held at the Guildhall in London. Seatrade publications include magazines, supplements and yearbooks, while daily maritime news is provided online by seatrade-global.com and seatrade-insider.com.

For further information: Emma Howell, Head of Marketing, Middle East, Seatrade. Tel: +44 1206 545121; Email: [email protected].

Or

Josse Dulka
Account Manager
Shamal Marketing Communications
Dubai Media City, UAE
Office: +971 4 3652711
E-mail: [email protected]