PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release: 30 January 2014
DIARY DATE
Event: Oceanology International 2014
Dates: Tuesday 11 - Thursday 13 March 2014
Venue: ExCeL London
Organised by: Reed Exhibitions Limited
Further information from: www.oceanologyinternational.com
OIL & GAS AND THE CHALLENGES OF WORKING IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS ON
THE CONFERENCE AGENDA AT OCEANOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
The challenges and the technologies used by the offshore oil and gas sectors operating in
extreme environments will come under the conference spotlight in one of the eight highly
relevant conferences being held as an integral part of Oceanology International 2014, the
world’s largest exhibition for marine science and technology taking place Tuesday 11 –
Thursday 13 March 2014 at London’s ExCeL – and there are other features of the show of
key importance to the offshore oil and gas sectors too.
‘Oil & Gas: Operating in Extreme Environments’ a day-long conference chaired by Richard
Gibson, Metocean Engineer, BP and Graham Feld, Senior Metocean Engineer, Shell takes
place on Wednesday 12 March and will be split into two parts, with presentations focusing
on deepwater operations and operating in the Arctic.
“The offshore oil and gas industry is pushing into deeper water locations and harsher
environments,” explain the co-chairs. “The challenges of exploring and operating in these
regions are often exacerbated by also being remote from infrastructure and support.
“The session focusses on some of the metocean challenges of working in such areas,
particularly those in deep water locations or in arctic conditions. The challenges that the
presentations will cover are in the context of understanding and mitigating the effects of
severe environmental phenomena such as squalls and, polar lows, as well as methods being
used to calculate their loading effects on floating vessels and on risers. Some case
examples of measurement campaigns in the arctic will also be presented illustrating how the
challenges there are being met particularly in the context of iceberg tracking and avoidance.”
The conference, which, like all the component parts of Oceanology International, is free to
attend, starts with the ‘Operating in Deepwater’ component with presentations on ‘Direct
Computation of Workability and Loads’ (David Hurdle, BMT ARGOSS); ‘Violent Wave
Trapping - Some Results on Water Projection Around Semi-Subs and TLPs’ (Paul
Taylor, Oxford University); ‘The Effects of Squalls on Floating Vessels’ (Finlay
McPhail, Shell); ‘Into Deepwater & Back Again: New Challenges for Current Profile
Characterisation’ (Gus Jeans, Oceanalysis Ltd); and ‘Joint Conditions for Riser Fatigue
Analysis’ (Oliver Jones, BP).
‘Operating in the Arctic’ is the topic for the second half of the conference when the following
presentations will be given: ‘Challenging the Arctic Weather - Polar Lows’ (Nina WintherKaland, StormGeo AS); ‘Measurement Campaign North East Greenland’ (Roy
Wollvik, Statoil); ‘A Metocean and Ice Measurements Campaign in Baffin Bay, Greenland’
(Mariska van der Boon, Shell Global Solutions NL); ‘An Iceberg Monitoring Service by
Spaceborne Radar Technologies and Drift Modelling: From Yacht Races Around Antarctica
to Offshore Oil Rig Safety in the Arctic Sea’ (Marc Lucas, CLS); ‘Ice Management Strategy
to Support Greenland Exploration Operations’ (Nicolas Fournier, Shell Global Solutions NL);
and ‘A Case Study: Safe and Cost Effective Metocean Survey in a Remote Location’ (Greg
Bush, RPS Australia Asia Pacific).
Also on the conference scene
Ocean science and technology lie at the very heart of OI 2014, with the conference
programme picking up on each major technology strand featured in the exhibition. As well as
the traditional areas, all relevant to the offshore oil and gas sectors – ocean observing
systems, hydrography, geophysics, and site investigation; and dealing with UUV
development, there are two new conference programmes this year – underwater positioning
and metrology; and underwater communications.
Marine renewables; and maritime security both also come under the conference spotlight.
Topical panel discussions looking at areas which are creating a growing demand for marine
science and technology – aquaculture, ballast water and subsea mining are an OI 2014
introduction.
The Innovation Zone – a new feature
The OI 2014 Innovation Zone is another introduction to the long-running show, and held in
collaboration with the Oiltech Investment Network (Oiltech). Innovative technology providers
are being invited to showcase their technology innovations to Oiltech investor members as
well as to the large international community visiting OI 2014 with the aim of connecting
innovative technology providers with access to funding opportunities.
A ‘Meet the Investor’ Workshop, comprising one-to-one meetings with Oiltech members, will
provide guidance in terms of getting technology to market in the fastest and most effective
way. The Oiltech Investment Network was established in 2010 by leading global investors in
upstream oil and gas technologies to encourage the uptake of innovative products. Between
them these organisations have invested more than $1 billion in over 80 oil and gas
technology companies over the past five years. The network is managed by specialist
technology management consultants OTM Consulting.
Offshore oil and gas in the Exhibition
Established in 1969, Oceanology International attracts those involved with all aspects of
marine science and technology from all over the globe – total attendance was 7,669 in 2012.
The exhibition this year is the largest ever with the 520 exhibiting companies from over 35
countries taking an additional 10% more space than at the record-breaking 2012 event.
The exhibitor directory on the show’s website at www.oceanologyinternational.com/ExhibitorDirectory/# categorises exhibits – with oil and gas being one of the options available.
Dockside demonstrations, vessels and associated events
No Oceanology is complete without its display of vessels and dockside demonstrations - this
year’s will be no exception with a growing list of both on the show’s website. The early list of
vessels includes an oil spill response (the new Spillex area is being held as an integral part
of the OI 2104 exhibition); survey vessels – both conventional and remotely controlled; and a
vessel with a deployable ROV on board.
The expanding programme of associated events run by supporting organisations such as
IMarEST and IMCA, and exhibitors on topics as varied as ‘Meet the Metocean Expert’, and
‘ROV training – an international perspective’ is well worth keeping an eye on – check out the
list at the ‘visiting’ section of the website.
Further information on all aspects of Oceanology International, and free online registration, is
at www.oceanologyinternational.com
ENDS
About Oceanology International
Oceanology International is the global forum where industry, academia and government
share knowledge and connect with the marine technology and ocean science community,
improving their strategies for measuring, exploiting, protecting and operating in the world’s
oceans. Established in 1969, Oceanology International features the world’s largest exhibition
for marine science and technology, multiple agenda-setting technical conferences, and a
visiting vessels and waterside demonstration programme.
The Oceanology International portfolio includes
Oceanology International China 2013 (held 3-5 September 2013, INTEX Shanghai, China):
this launch event was developed with the local government and industry associations and
provided organisations with the opportunity to capitalise on China’s rapidly growing offshore
energy and marine industries. The next Oceanology International China event will take place
3-5 September 2014 in Shanghai. For more details: www.oichina.com.cn/en
Oceanology International 2014 (11-13 March 2014, ExCeL London, UK): Over 550
international exhibitors and 8,000 attendees are expected to take part in this global forum.
Eight one-day conferences and three panel discussion on key industry topics will take place
during the three days of the show, as well as waterside demonstrations. For more details:
www.oceanologyinternational.com
Spillex (11-13 March 2014, ExCeL London, UK): Spillex is a dedicated area inside the
Oceanology International 2014 exhibition hall and features the latest technology and service
solutions for assessing the potential of spill related impacts, mitigating against and, if
necessary, responding to them. For more details: www.oceanologyinternational.com/Spillex/
Catch the Next Wave conference (10 March 2014, London): at this international conference,
now in its second year, global experts will speak about disruptive technologies and where
they are emerging in the marine sector. The first Houston-based Catch the Next Wave
conference will be held in Autumn 2014. For more details: www.ctnwconference.com
Oceansp@ce: Oceansp@ce is an online and free-of-charge resource which delivers handpicked news from the world to the marine science and ocean technology community. For
more details: www.oceanspacenews.com
Notes to Editors:
Issued on behalf of Oceanology International 2014 by Judith Patten @ JPPR. Email:
judithpatten@jppr.uk.com; Tel: +44 (0)208 241 1912; Fax: +44 (0)208 940 6211

Judith Patten is here to help in any way possible with copy for preview issues/ tailor
made articles (to your requirements on content, word count – and, of course -deadline). The “What They’re Showing” preview with information supplied by
exhibitors is available at www.oceanologyinternational.com/en/ExhibitorDirectory/News-Products--Services-at-OI/

Press registration for Oceanology International 20124 is here
www.oceanologyinternational.com/en/Forms/Press-Enquiry-Form/

This is one in a series of releases written with the OI 2014 conferences in mind – if
you would like the releases(s) describing other conferences taking place at the show,
please contact Judith Patten, or you will also find them in the press section of the
show’s website.