American Oil and Gas Reporter - May 2021 - 19

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Return Of In-Person Events
Points To Restoration Of
Oil And Gas Industry Circuit
I am happy to say that recently I have done something that I
have not done in a very long time. I attended an honest to
goodness, real life and in-person oil and gas conference.
The Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association's midyear
meeting was recently held in Garden City, Ks. What a great
way to re-enter the conference and trade show circuit. My
congratulations go to Ed Cross and the entire KIOGA team
and Board of Directors for hosting more than 300 attendees,
giving what is generally a more modest gathering the appearance
of something closer to an annual convention. I must say, it
was great to reconnect with old friends and make a few new
ones as we all reignited some much-needed fire into the
regional industry.
One high point beyond the great networking was a state of
the industry panel discussion, in which panelists discussed
regional operators' opportunities and challenges in the coming
months. Chief among them was the rising cost of power. Later
that night, the entire group was shuttled to the American Warrior
shop, where the only thing more impressive than the shop's
classy appearance was the keynote presentation delivered by
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. Governor Noem had the
entire room on its feet as she highlighted her success in South
Dakota as well as the challenges she envisions on the horizon in
Washington. The entire event was supported by several exhibitors,
which offered me a chance to catch up with the latest products
and technology specifically developed for the area.
All this has me fired up for another Sunflower State group's
in-person midyear event. The Eastern Kansas Oil & Gas Association's midyear is scheduled for Flint Oak Hunting Resort in
Fall River, Ks. Participants will get membership and legislative
updates, and will hear from Kansas Strong's Warren Martin as
he discusses, " How Producers/Suppliers Weathered the 2020
Downturn and Pandemic. " After that, it will be time to head out
and shoot clays at one of the finest hunting resorts the region
has to offer. This one is definitely on my calendar.
My first large international show will be the 2021 Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, put together by
the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the American Association
of Petroleum Geologists and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists. This convention is scheduled to be held at the George
R. Brown Convention Center in Houston and should be a successful conference. Although URTeC is a relatively new event,
it has become an industry darling because of its unconventional
focus and wide reach. I love this event for putting engineers,
geologists and geophysicists in the same room. The cross
functional design makes it the perfect place for engaging debate
and networking opportunities.
The Offshore Technology Conference returns to Houston
in August and definitely is on my list of annual must-attend
events. If you have not been to an OTC, prepare to be impressed
by the event's sheer scale. From great presentations by some
of the industry's most lauded professionals to the latest in
technology for the offshore environment, this event is great.

" I must say, it was great to reconnect
with old friends and even make a few
new ones as we all reignited some muchneeded fire into the regional industry.

Everything is much bigger off shore, a lot more technical,
and-for an oil and gas geek such as me-a lot more exciting.
Even if you work on shore I encourage you check it out, you
will not be disappointed.
NAPE Summit Week returns to Houston in August with an
interesting take on big conferences. This year, event organizers
are hosting both a virtual and in-person event. The virtual
begins on Aug. 9 and runs through Sept. 3, while the in-person
event will take place from Aug. 18-20. This hybrid experience
has gained traction lately as a way to offer opportunities for
broader participation. In all my involvement with trade shows
and special events during the years, NAPE remains the only
show at which I actively see deals made right on the trade show
floor. When a company sells all the assets it has come to move,
it simply puts up a " SOLD OUT " sign. It is the oil field in its
purest sense.
Finally, to quench my thirst to see the mountains of Colorado
while taking in some top line technical content, I have added to
my list the annual convention for the American Association of
Petroleum Geologists, slated to be held in late September and
early October. Merging annual events with the SEG annual
event for the first time since 1955, this will be another hybrid
event offering multiple ways to take in content throughout the
course of the week.
These are a few of my favorite events for the coming
months. If you can take the time to check them out, you will
be glad you did.
❒

JEREMY VISCOMI is a strategic

marketing expert for the oil and
gas industry. Among his many
roles, he serves as the MidContinent regional lead for the
Petroleum Technology Transfer
Council, providing independent
operators with access to emerging technology aimed at reducing
risk and growing profits.
MAY 2021 19

American Oil and Gas Reporter - May 2021

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