Latin Oil Week 2012 in Rio April 16-18th

By Stephen Eisenhammer, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The 18th Latin Oil Week conference and the 8th Latin Petroleum Strategy Briefing, organized by Global Pacific and Partners, will be held in Rio de Janeiro, from April 16th to April 18th. The conference, which is the longest running upstream event in Latin America, will be held in the Sheraton Hotel, beachside between Leblon and São Conrado.

“Our focus is on Latin America’s oil, gas and energy landscapes and strategies, evaluating in-depth a range of near to long-term exploration, development, investment and strategy perspectives now in play […],” Dr. Duncan Clarke, CEO and chairman of Global Pacific and Partners, told the press in a statement.

“Existing hydrocarbon resources in Latin America are huge, under-invested, and with more potential, including in unconventional shale oil/gas, with world significance,” Clarke said.

He stressed the longstanding expertise offered by the conference in the area of upstream oil, which relates to activity involved in the exploration and discovery of reserves.

The conference will also discuss “how private and state oil/gas companies and governments will reshape Latin America in the world upstream game,” Clarke added.

The Latin Oil Week on average attracts around 200 delegates from 110 different companies from across the globe. The networking opportunities are subsequently impressive, bringing together super-majors, independents, governments and national oil companies, as well as those inside the value-chain.

Lunch, put on by Stellar, provides a great opportunity to meet industry leaders and the cocktail reception up in the Sheraton’s Trampolin Bar, on the pool deck, is an unrivaled location for informal end-of-day socializing on the Monday and Tuesday.

This year’s Latin Oil Week will also feature a special country-focus on Colombia’s exploration and production landscape and the new opportunities this holds. The country’s production growth is impressive. Output of crude has nearly doubled in the past six years, from 525,000 barrels per day in 2005 to a daily average of 914,000 in 2011.

“Colombia is one key to re-shaping of the continent’s oil and gas future, along with Brazil. As Colombia has attracted many majors and independents, it has outperformed others. There is more to come,” Dr. Clarke explained.

The conference will feature Orlando Cabrales Segovia, president of ANH Colombia, and Alejandro Martinez, president of the Colombian Oil Association speaking about the country’s untapped potential.

The conference features over 35 senior-level speakers from companies and governments drawn from across the industry, including: Marcio Mello, the CEO of HRT; Pedro Augusto Cortes Xavier Bastos, International E&P Business Development for Petrobras; and Ji Fahua, president of Sinochem Brazil.

The 8th Latin Petroleum Strategy Briefing on the Monday, provides an in-depth examination of the upstream oil and gas-LNG strategies in exploration and development in Latin America. Presentations will be made by Dr. Clarke in an intensive and interactive forum with delegates.

The combined conference and strategy briefing costs US$2,995. Entrance to just the conference or the briefing are also available, with the conference costing US$1,750 and the briefing US$1,995. Booking online is possible here.