Delegates and speakers from 28 different countries are among more than 500 people attending the 2006 Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition (APOGCE) at the Adelaide Hilton hotel from September 11-13.

The biennial conference, organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), is one of the Asia-Pacific region’s premier oil and gas industry technical events held in an Australian capital city.

“Never before have so many different countries been represented at APOGCE in any Australian city,” conference chairman Wilf Lammerink said.

“The oil and gas industry is currently experiencing a period of high product prices along with increased competition for quality opportunities, resources and people.

“The world’s dependence on oil and gas, changing political and economic dynamics, coupled with increased awareness of the physical vulnerability of our planet, requires constant innovation in finding, developing and producing hydrocarbons. That is what APOGCE is all about.”

Rebuilding the Iraqi oil and gas industry

Key speakers at today’s official opening session include 2006 SPE president worldwide Eve Sprunt and Santos chief executive John Ellice-Flint.

On Wednesday, the conference will feature several senior political and industry representatives from Iraq who will discuss the status and potential opportunities for the international oil industry to participate in rebuilding the Iraq oil and gas industry.

The oil industry in Iraq – one of the Middle East’s largest proven oil provinces – has substantially been damaged by the recent upheavals in that country.

Another feature of the conference is to expose and educate senior secondary students to the oil and gas industry as they may be the industry leaders of tomorrow. About 50 students and some of their teachers will be spending a day at the conference.

A Young Professionals Workshop will also be held to provide the opportunity for young engineers to discuss professional and career development, knowledge sharing and technology issues.