The 7th of October was a closing day for Offshore Marintec Russia, an international exhibition and conference on shipbuilding and R&D of high-technology equipment for development of the Arctic and continental shelf.
Based on the order issued by the Russian Government, an international offshore and maritime exhibition and conference– Offshore Marintec Russia – took place October 4–7 in St. Petersburg. The event brought together major players in the global shipbuilding and energy markets, representatives of government agencies and leading scientists on the single platform to discuss key aspects of the development work in the Arctic region.
EXHIBITION
The exhibition display enabled more than 80 companies to introduce their top priority projects, cutting-edge technologies for more efficient hydrocarbon development, offshore facilities and special purpose vessels as well as hardware and software to further improve the shelf infrastructure. The participants included Gazprom, Gazprom Neft, Lukoil, Gazprom Flot, Sevmash, Zvezda Far East Plant, Vega, Redaelli SSM, Valcom as well as academic and research institutions working in energy and development of the continental shelf, such as the Afrikantov Experimental Design Bureau for Mechanical Engineering, Okeanpribor Central Research Institution, Prometey Central Research Institute, Institute for Environmental Design and Studies, Krylov State Research Centre, St. Petersburg Mining University and many others. The exhibition was visited by more than 5,000 experts representing science, business and federal and local authorities, developers and designers of equipment and technical systems.
CONFERENCE
Organisers of Offshore Marintec Russia prepared a busy agenda for participants. Multiple discussion platforms focusing on a variety of subjects worked in parallel, thus it was possible to address many relevant issues of the current development stage in the Arctic and have a closer look at the prospects of its development in the next 20–25 years.
114 presentations on a wide array of topics were delivered in three days of 2016 Offshore Marintec Russia, including those in shipbuilding, coastal energy infrastructure, underwater and under-ice drilling, strategic development of the Arctic, rescue and accident prevention equipment, technical equipment and process systems to develop oil and gas reserves of the continental shelf.
The sessions were attended by over 350 experts, including scientists, equipment designers, developers and manufacturers, representatives of the federal government, local authorities and business.
PLENARY SESSION
The second day of Offshore Marintec Russia featured a plenary session which discussed strategic objectives and priorities regarding the Arctic and Russian continental shelf. The debate stirred up considerable interest among experts and identified a number of key issues that were raised at the conference in the following days.
Should Russia now develop oil production in the Arctic? What technology and technical equipment are needed for this purpose? How can Russia secure its position in the global energy market, especially in perennial ice regions? Scientists, experts, government and business representatives, subject-matter designers and manufacturers tried their best to provide answer for these and other questions.
According to the Chairman of the Program Committee, Chairman of the RAS (Russian Academy of Sciences) Scientific Council on geology and development of oil and gas fields, member of the RAS Alexey Kontorovich, it is this discussion platform that allows raising and dealing with major issues of ideological policies for oil and energy production. "Since 1932, when the first Yaitskoe oil field was discovered, the domestic oil and gas industry has achieved excellent results," Alexey Kontorovich emphasised. "Outstanding progress shown by Gazprom, Rosneft and Lukoil in the Ob and Taz Bays in the recent years, the discovery of the Pobeda oil field in the Kara Sea last year and an unparalleled technological breakthrough at the Prirazlomnaya platform which produces about 1.5 million tons of raw materials, are the benchmarks to be followed to ensure continuous commitment to the future Russian leadership in oil and gas sector."
The plenary session was also attended by Kirill Molodtsov, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation, Sergey Menyailo, Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the North-western Federal District, Iliya Mandrik, Vice President of Lukoil PJSC, Sergey Matrosov, Head of Offshore Business Development and Government Regulations at Gazprom Neft PJSC, Dmitry Kolodyazhny, Vice President for Technical Development at United Shipbuilding Corporation JSC, Sergey Yegorov, Deputy General Director for Engineering at Rusatom Energo International JSC and other senior officials.
CONTESTS RESULTS
The exhibition also hosted an award ceremony for the International Contest for R&D Innovations for Development of the Arctic and Continental Shelf, organised by the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation.
According to the Jury Chairman, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexey Kontorovich, the entries submitted this year have suggested an optimistic outlook for the future of the oil and gas sector. "Everything that we have seen forms a strategic reserve of national importance," Alexey Kontorovich said. "This is the potential that is able to shape the future of the domestic energy industry and the entire economy."
Another good tradition at Offshore Marintec Russia is its Best Stand Contest. This year, the first place in the Best Stand Design nomination has been deservedly shared by Gazprom Neft and Lukoil. Prize-winners in the Most Informative Stand nomination have become Protea (Poland), and Zvezda Far East Plant, while the Audience Choice Award has been given to Gazprom Flot and FIZPRIBOR, a Moscow-based plant.
The 2016 Offshore Marintec Russia Exhibition and Conference was supported by the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation.
We are looking forward to seeing you at Offshore Marintec Russia 2018!