Leading heavy oil experts gathered at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) for the 10^th annual World Heavy Oil Congress and Exhibition (WHOC) that began on Monday to focus on the role of global collaborations in the industry.

This year’s Congress include a three-day Technical Conference featuring 18 sessions, a two-day Strategic Conference featuring 7 sessions, 20 e-poster presentations, two roundtable discussions, and a three-day exhibition.

“We are proud to be hosting in Oman for the second year running. The Congress raised a wide range of topics pertinent to the current global heavy oil industry. As the industry matures and we continue to innovate and pioneer new technologies, forums like this provide important opportunities for collaborations, innovation, and investments,” said Dr Saleh Al Anboori, Congress Chairman and Director General of Planning and Studies at the Ministry of Oil and Gas, who spoke during the Congress Opening.

The event welcomed industry trade professionals from 52 countries, as well as over 40 regional and international exhibiting companies. Considered the world’s leading heavy oil Congress and exhibition, WHOC held under the auspices of Ministry of Oil and Gas, was hosted by Petroleum Development Oman. Occidental Oman returned to the event as Gold sponsors and alongside JP Global Digital, and Maha Energy as Silver Sponsors.

Meanwhile, roundtable discussions will focus on in-Country Value Programme: Harnessing Omani Potential in the Oil and Gas Industry, Embracing Digitalisation through Incremental Innovation, and Top Down, Upstream, and Downstream Heavy Oil approaches.

The poster sessions, provided by speakers from Saudi Aramco, PanTerra, CNOOC China Ltd. Tianjin, and the Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development (RIPED),  revolved around Enhanced Oil Recovery – Innovation, Development, Research; Reservoir Prospecting to Well Completion; Exploration, Production, and Field Development; and Heavy Oil Technologies, Data Management & Internet Of Things.

WHOC exhibition hosted LCC and SLCC Pavilion organised by PDO, which include the participation of Al Baraka Oilfield Service, Al Shawamikh Oil Services, Dohat Al Khaleej LLC, Berba, Mideast Integrated Drilling & Well Services, Peace Land Energy, Al Sawari International Investments, Al Sahari, Abraj Desert and NCC Oman, among others.