Firms invited to join oil and gas trade mission to Gulf of Mexico
26/11/08
Scottish companies are being invited to join a trade mission in the new year to explore the wealth of oil and gas opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico area.
The mission is being organised by Aberdeen City Council and Scottish Development International (SDI) in partnership with UK Trade & Investment.
The Mexican stage of the mission runs from 25 – 30 January and includes visits to Mexico City, Villahermosa and Ciudad del Carmen. The mission then moves on to the Louisiana Gulf Coast from 31 January – 5 February, including New Orleans for the Deep Offshore Technology (DOT) conference and the ports of Fourchon and/or Port of Louisiana, and Lafayette. Companies can take part in either or both legs of the mission.
The mission will give local firms the chance to raise their profile in the Gulf of Mexico and meet possible partners and buyers. Companies will be given opportunities for private meetings with potential customers, briefings by market specialists, and introductions to key, industry and government contacts in each market.
Mexico is the world’s sixth largest oil producer and has the world’s fifteenth largest proven reserves of oil. Massive investment programmes and the need to explore deeper waters have created a host of business opportunities in all deepwater technologies, including reservoir appraisal, seismic activity, appraisal drilling, construction of platforms, decommissioning of production facilities, pipelines, environmental controls, health and safety, and training and education.
The energy reform bill to give more decision-making powers to PEMEX, Mexico’s state-owned petroleum company, was recently passed by the Mexican Senate. This paves the way for more private and foreign investment to enter the state-owned oil industry and oil and gas activity is now expected to increase.
Companies will be given presentations by PEMEX Exploration and Production (PEP) on the legal framework of the Mexican oil and gas sector. Firms will also get the chance to visit the PEMEX operational centres of Villahermosa, Dos Bocas and Ciudad del Carmen. The mission also includes a full programme and two tailored meetings for companies, at no cost.
Phase two of the mission will take participants to Louisiana, whose industry and ports are critical to production areas. The state is home to many energy companies, making it the ideal market-entry point for the US and Gulf on-shore and offshore energy industry.
Port Fourchon services about 90% of all deepwater offshore rigs and platforms in the US Gulf of Mexico, along with nearly half of all shallow-water rigs and platforms in the region. The area’s mix of large energy company offices and small to medium-sized service providers offers a wide range of opportunities for business networking.
The region offers strong prospects for companies specialising in subsea and drilling technologies, as well as those offering expertise in the areas of refining, transportation, pipelines and petrochemicals. Training and education, and health and safety are also key areas of opportunity.
Participants will visit an engineering company and a major operator site. A pass to the DOT conference will be provided, along with invitations to networking events. Meetings with key oil and gas decision-makers will be arranged specific to the participants.
The mission includes a pre-arranged programme involving group and individual meetings. A more intensive programme of tailored meetings can be organised by market specialists at a fee under the UK Trade and Investment OMIS (Overseas Market Introduction Service) initiative.
A financial assistance package of up to £650 to offset travel and accommodation costs may be available from SDI. Companies attending both legs of the mission will only receive one grant.
Applications to join the missions should be submitted by 15 December to guarantee places.
Please contact Rebecca Sales at Aberdeen City Council at rsales@aberdeencity.gov.uk, tel (01224) 814601, or Gordon Keir at gordon.keir@scotent.co.uk 0141 228 2882 for further information.
If you have any queries regarding this, or any other news story, please contact Aberdeen City Council on: 08456 080910.
