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Geoscience and Engineering: The way ahead
A discussion over four plenary forums

This year we are introducing a series of related one-hour plenary sessions over the four days of the Annual Conference. International energy industry leaders and analysts will be discussing the main issues, challenges and opportunities facing the geoscience and engineering community in this time of great uncertainty.

We hope to bring the most authoritative view possible of how the development of tomorrow’s energy needs will evolve. Each day will cover a different topic in a logical sequence from an overview of world energy trends to the education and careers of the next generation of geoscience and engineering professionals. Questions from the in-person and online audience will be encouraged.

Energy Transition – Will great expectations be realized?

Monday 18 October, Opening Session Forum & Awards Ceremony | 16:00 - 18:00 CEST

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Focus of the first forum will be on global energy transition issues and the pace of change in the balance of supply and demand for traditional fossil fuels and renewables. Just some of the questions arising include: What impact has Covid-19 pandemic had on transition momentum? How quickly can we reduce our dependence on oil and gas? What role will decarbonization initiatives play? Should oil and gas companies be taking the lead?

How the oil industry is addressing the energymix to meet the goals of the transition era.

Tuesday 19 October | 11:45 - 12:45 CEST

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However the energy sector develops, the oil and gas industry is going to be front and centre for decades to come. This will be the chance to find out how IOCs and NOCs view the future of exploration in the transition era, what measures are required to keep operations sustainable (e.g., digitalization, multi-client projects, revaluation of legacy data, etc) and the changing commercial and technology landscape for seismic service and equipment suppliers.

Role of geoscience and engineering in meeting decarbonization goals

Wednesday 20 October  | 11:45 - 12:45 CEST

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The forum will review how geoscientists and engineers can support many decarbonization and renewable initiatives. This starts with the oil and gas industry itself where cleaner, safer and more environmentally friendly E&P is a major priority. Carbon, capture, storage and utilization (CCSU) is another obvious application for industry expertise. But the panel of specialists can be expected to broaden the range of discussion to consider many other energy sources (geothermal, wind turbines, solar, tidal, hydrogen, nuclear, biomass, etc) and their relevance to geoscience and engineering in the future.

Great Career Challenge – the changing education and opportunities for tomorrow’s energy professionals

Thursday 21 October | 11:45 - 12:45 CEST

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The forum series ends with a discussion on how the changing energy landscape will affect education, training, qualifications, and career structures of geoscientists and engineers. This is an increasingly urgent issue for both academia and an energy industry structure undergoing rapid change.