Over 3,500 world energy leaders, stakeholders and executives from 50 countries are set to converge in Bahrain for the 13th Middle East Geosciences Conference and Exhibition (GEO 2018) for four days of strategic dialogue and business opportunities.

The event will take place from March 5 to 8 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre and the Ritz Carlton hotel under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Bahrain His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, with official support from the Bahrain National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA).

Convening under the theme ‘Pushing the Technical Limits: Shaping the Energy Landscape’, the conference programme features over 420 expert speakers and focuses on geological studies, reservoir challenges, the role of geoscience in the environment, safety, risk management and innovation. Key features include a ministerial level opening session, daily panel discussions led by chief executive officers, peer-reviewed technical sessions and a programme of activities designed for students and young professionals.

“We are certain that GEO 2018 will be an extraordinary platform which will provide all participants with unlimited benefits, and will open new frontiers for the current oil industry challenges,” said Ahmad Al Eidan, GEO 2018 general chair and deputy chief executive officer – Drilling & Technology Directorate, Kuwait Oil Company.

Eidan: GEO is an extraordinary platform

More than 100 companies from 19 countries will be in attendance at the parallel three-day exhibition that takes place from March 6 to 8. The 6,000 sq m international showcase features flagship participation from NOCs, IOCs, state-of-the-art equipment, machinery, technological advancements and innovative services in the oil and gas exploration and production sector.

“GEO is the largest gathering of the petroleum geoscience community in the Middle East and is the leading technical event of its kind. The exhibition and conference combine to provide a unique opportunity for the industry to gather, debate and shape the future, build skills, network with peers and purchase products and services that will take their oil and gas programmes to the next level,” said Fawzi Al Shehabi, director of Sales and Marketing, UBM AEM.

Inaugurated in 1994, GEO is the most established showcase of petroleum geoscience products and services in the Middle East, attracting NOCs, IOCs and major operating companies. The event is organised by UBM AEM in partnership with the world’s three largest professional geoscience associations – the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE) and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG).

GEO 2018 is also supported by a committee of NOCs, IOCs and major service providers in addition to local geoscience societies from Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia. In 2018, the programme committee is chaired by Kuwait Oil Company’s deputy chief executive officer - Drilling & Technology Directorate Ahmad Al Eidan Kuwait Oil Company.

In 2016, GEO was attended by a total of 3,784 conference delegates and exhibition visitors. The 2018 conference programme includes over 420 expert speakers, technical presentations, e-poster presentations, daily plenary sessions, field trips, a student programme and  other activities.

AEM, the exhibition organiser of GEO 2018 has merged with UBM and is now known as UBM AEM. UBM is one of the the largest pure-play B2B events organiser in the world.