Scottish Innovation and Expertise in Maturing Fields to be Highlighted at 2008 Offshore Technology Conference

    HOUSTON, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The Scottish government and
 representatives from 40+ Scottish oil and gas companies will be out in
 force at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, from
 May 5-8, highlighting the Scottish technology and expertise that is
 attracting companies from all over the globe interested in gaining
 experience in the maturing fields of the North Sea.
 
     The 2008 OTC "Waves of Change" conference -- the premiere offshore
 industry event for professionals, service industries and suppliers on
 issues of ocean resource development -- reflects changes in the offshore
 industry as project scopes and parameters are stretched to fulfill
 ever-increasing demand. In that environment, the push to maximize output
 from marginal reserves -- often in challenging, unwelcoming conditions --
 is driving technological advances that become features of the global
 market.
 
     The Scottish Pavilion at OTC will showcase Scottish companies that are
 embracing the challenge presented by the maturing North Sea and the
 opportunity to build on a strong base of industry expertise to demonstrate
 that the North Sea remains a critical innovation resource in the global oil
 and gas industry.
 
     "The skills and technologies being developed in Scotland will help
 companies recover marginal reserves and ensure longer life for oilfields in
 every part of the world," said Brian Nixon, head of energy at Scottish
 Enterprise. "Large international operators such as Chevron, Total and
 Shell, bring senior staff from countries including Nigeria, Angola and
 Brazil to gain experience in the harsh environments of the North Sea before
 redeploying them to senior positions around the world."
 
     "In fact, many operators have now established Aberdeen as their
 worldwide centers of excellence for the eastern hemisphere in these aspects
 of the business," said Nixon.
 
     The Scottish pavilion will feature key industry leaders in high
 pressure and high temperature reservoirs, downhole and drilling
 technologies for mature fields, subsea technologies and engineering,
 production optimization and asset integrity and decommissioning.
 
     Among the Scottish companies attending OTC are MCS; Lewis;
 Rubberatkins; Rotech Subsea & Proserv Group
 
     "Scotland's oil & gas industry has earned its experience, expertise,
 knowledge and has developed innovative approaches over the past 30-40 years
 in response to ever changing, and ever more challenging, conditions in the
 UK Continental Shelf," said Brian Nixon. "Today that experience and
 expertise is in demand across the globe as more and more producing
 provinces experience the same conditions that are now the norm in the North
 Sea."
 
     For further information or interviews with representatives from the
 Scottish Government or Scottish companies attending the show, please
 contact Carol Decker 713-461-2289 or Carol.decker@scotent.co.uk.
 
 
 

SOURCE Scottish Enterprise