Over 8,000 oil and gas professionals are expected to converge at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre to debate and shape the future of the oil and gas industry in the region over the course of the conference and parallel exhibition

The 20th Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference (MEOS 2017) will take place from March 6 to 9, 2017 under the patronage of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister of Bahrain Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

Organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and Arabian Exhibition Management (AEM), MEOS continues to be a premier platform for sharing E&P knowledge and expertise in the region.

Over 8,000 oil and gas professionals are expected to converge at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre to debate and shape the future of the oil and gas industry in the region over the course of the conference and parallel exhibition.

This year’s high-level conference takes place under the theme ‘Transforming the Industry through Innovation and Operational Excellence’.

"We as an industry are entering a new age of transformation through innovative ways of finding and developing reserves. Operators and service companies are identifying opportunities to do more with less through operational excellence while evaluating the financial outcome of their significant investment. This conference will reflect on the importance of industry transformation, and will address it from many perspectives through panels with invited industry leaders, presentations and open discussions," says Michael Bittar, 2017 MEOS conference programme co-chairman and senior director at Halliburton.

Following a record number of abstract submissions, 400 papers will be presented during 50 technical sessions covering topics on reservoir, production and facilities, exploration and appraisal, drilling and completions, project management, human resources, business models, and HSSE.

A key highlight of the conference programme, the ministerial session, will include regional oil and gas ministers who will look at the global energy picture through the eyes of pro-active governments capitalising on the industry’s strength to ensure sustainable growth.

The packed agenda at MEOS also includes an executive plenary session involving leading industry figures discussing the conference theme, an industry keynote session entitled ‘Oil Price Volatility: Continue Investing in the Future to Meet Future Demands or Control Cost to Survive?,’ six panel sessions discussing important matters relevant to today’s industry, and a special workshop entitled ‘Women in Leadership – Invest, Initiate, Innovate’ featuring influential speakers.

Two one-day training courses entitled ‘Advanced Hydraulic Fracturing Design and Treatment’ and ‘Artificial Lift and Production Optimisation Solutions’ will provide delegates with further opportunities to improve technical skills.

A full programme of events aimed at the next generation of oil and gas professionals will meanwhile offer high school students, university students and teachers the chance to engage and gain valuable career advice.

A three-day exhibition of oil and gas products and services will run parallel to the conference from March 7 to 9. Featuring over 200 exhibitors from 30 countries, it covers all areas of the upstream industry; including exploration, development, production, transportation, and processing of oil and natural gas.

Principal exhibitors include GCC national oil and gas companies, who will be exhibiting alongside international supermajors, service industry giants and independent specialist suppliers and distributors from across the globe.