A
host of workers are busy preparing for the upcoming regional international
conference, to be held July 15-18 in a city that is hailed as one of
the most beautiful and most “European” cities in all of Russia.
The VNIGRI/AAPG international conference, built on the theme “Exploration
and Production Operations in Difficult and Sensitive Areas,” will be
held in St. Petersburg, a treasure of world culture that lies close
to areas of hot petroleum potential for the coming century.
The conference’s technical program will focus largely on the arctic
and icy conditions that await explorers in this compelling and challenging
region - in both geologic and environmental terms. The meeting host
is VNIGRI, the leading Russian research institute for petroleum sciences,
and it is being organized in collaboration with EAGE and SEG.
There are three reasons why many should attend the conference - its
program will represent:
- Challenging
geology.
- Good business.
- A marvelous
venue.
For example, more than 85 papers and about 120 posters will deal with
clastic and carbonate reservoirs and hydrocarbon systems in extensional,
compressional and transform settings. The newest estimations of oil
and gas reserves and resources in the Arctic will also be discussed.
The extensive technical program is being worked out with the active
participation of the EAGE, DEG and SEG. It also includes a short-course
and field trips - both pre- and post-meeting - plus the chance to network
and acquaint attendees with the unique data bases characterizing the
petroleum potential of the Russian petroleum-bearing provinces, which
will be present at the VNIGRI Data Room.
Also, the conference will include the participation of the leading experts
in the Arctic and sub Arctic petroleum geology, Timan-Pechora, Western
Siberian, Eastern Siberian and Precaspian petroliferous basin geology
and petroleum production.
For that reason, the conference represents an excellent opportunity
to catch up with the newest results and relevant events, such as:
- In Greenland,
a bid round will be held in 2001 shortly after the St. Petersburg
conference.
- In Europe,
security of energy supplies is high on the agenda of companies, governments
and the European Union (EU). Europe is looking to arctic Scandinavia
and Russia for large oil and gas resources.
It is expected that the Russian Duma and President Putin will ratify
the Energy Charter Treaty during the first half of 2001. The Energy
Charter includes the very important Transit Protocol, which forms a
framework for efficient, uninterrupted, and secure transit for oil and
gas across national boundaries.
- An EU-Russia
summit dealing with energy supply is expected to take place in Moscow
in May.
As a bonus, the conference is being held during the season of “white
nights,” the best time for the acquaintance with the beautiful architectural
ensembles, channels and parks as well as the world-famous museums and
theatres of St. Petersburg.
Participants will be able to experience excursions to the Hermitage,
Peter and Paul Fortress, famous Petrodvorets park (with its wonderful
fountains), cathedrals and churches, and nighttime sails on city rivers
and channels.
In addition to the Icebreaker opening reception in the famous Smolny
Cathedral and end-of-the-day receptions in the poster area, a special
culture event will be offered by the city government - in fact, the
conference is supported by city government and personally by St. Petersburg
Gov. Vladimir Yakovlev.
Comfortable hotels, convenient highways and unique tourist routes make
this a meeting to attend.