OTC Enters Asian Market with Inaugural Malaysian Conference in 2014

Rigzone: The Offshore Technology Conference is synonymous with Houston. Why did OTC decide to hold such an event in Asia?

Stokes: As we celebrate our 45th year as an organization, we have confidence in our business model that has been refined over the years in Houston. This model was developed through the collaboration of professional engineering and geoscience societies, and two oilfield trade organizations. Due to this success, as well as sound due diligence on the ground in the Asian region, there are multiple reasons why we decided to launch OTC Asia.

The growth in the oil and gas industry has been tremendous over the last few years. About five years ago, the Board began focusing on possible expansion. We realized we didn’t have enough room or time to allocate toward specific regions at OTC in Houston. We recognized there was a gap in our program, and there was potential to address it through a regionally focused technical conference and exhibition.

We pinpointed global activity among our board members, which facilitated conversations on Brazil and the Arctic. We then decided to launch regional conferences that focused on these specific areas. Before adding another region to the mix, we wanted to ensure that these conferences would be successful. And so, we have had two ATC and two OTC Brasil conferences. After the first conference at both, we began looking at the Asian region and felt it was time to launch a conference there as well.

There’s no intention for these conferences to be the same size as OTC in Houston. These conferences focus on what our members need, and what the industry needs. OTC in Houston will still be the international conference but won’t delve into the minute details of each region; a few sessions will provide specific and important accomplishments of the area.

In the regional conferences, we have the luxury to have a preliminary session where we have two executive keynote plenary sessions and an opener, whereas in Houston we don’t use this format.

Rigzone: The first OTC Asia will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. What led to the selection of KL as the venue for this inaugural event in the region?

Stokes: Besides the obvious reasons like beauty of the surroundings and its large economic prosperity in the region, it offers great international services, excellent hospitable amenities, and support and participation from local governments and the national oil company, Petroliam Nasional Berhad or PETRONAS.