Last month I wrote about the substantial increases in E&P investment necessary to ensure the availability of oil and gas supplies in the future to reduce price volatility and enhance global energy security. I drew on the analysis in a recent report of the International Energy Forum and IHS Markit.
Business activity and investment in E&P remains on my mind this month, as I look forward to the upcoming NAPE Summit, from Feb. 8-11, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.
NAPE Summit is a partnership of the American Association of Professional Landmen, the Independent Producers Association of America, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists and AAPG. It’s “where deals happen,” as the event’s tagline proclaims, and each year it provides investors, explorers and industry watchers an unparalleled opportunity to see what plays are hot and who is active.
This Year’s Program
Over the years, NAPE Summit has grown significantly, and this year offers nearly a full week of programs and activities.
Tuesday begins with a series of workshops offered by the NAPE partners. AAPG’s own Dr. Susan Nash and Mark Hamzat Erogbogbo will co-chair AAPG’s “Directions and Opportunities in Energy: Assets, Financing, Technology, Data.” It’s a full-day program that will cover a wide range of topics. Registration is required and more details are available at the NAPE Summit website.
The Global Business Conference dominates Wednesday’s schedule. One fact that has become increasingly clear over the last several years is that oil and gas professionals need to have a broad understanding of the energy sector, not just E&P.
The morning session focuses on how the power grid is likely to evolve in coming years as well as how oil and gas companies need to prepare to participate in the energy transition.
The keynote luncheon talk features Chesapeake Energy Executive Chairman Mike Wichterich and Gordon Pennoyer, managing partner of DrivePath Advisors, who will talk about the varying perspectives of public companies and private equity – both important in growing industry investment.
Panels and presentations on ESG, the outlook for oil and gas, and the connection between oil and gas demand and the economy round out the afternoon of the business conference.
Keynote Speaker Mike Pompeo, Other Offerings at NAPE
If you’re looking for a job, all NAPE Summit registrants are invited to the NAPE job fair on Wednesday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. And the opportunity for networking with friends and colleagues kicks off at 5 with the icebreaker reception.
The exhibition hall opens on Thursday at 9 a.m. with a rush, as attendees stream in the doors to meet with companies, large and small, public and private to talk about E&P opportunities.
There will be special events inside the exhibition, too. Throughout the day in the NAPE Theater will be both domestic and international prospect previews. There is a Renewable Energy Pavilion, first launched last year, for attendees to explore other opportunities and prospects. And from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. there is a special networking event, “Connections & Conversations: Women in Energy” on the show floor for those who also attended the Global Business Conference. Thursday concludes with a cocktail reception in the exhibit hall.
Another special feature on Thursday is the NAPE Charities Luncheon. This special, ticketed event features a keynote address by Mike Pompeo, former U.S. secretary of state and director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
The beneficiaries of the NAPE Charities Luncheon are charities that support U.S. veterans. Since 2009, the partnership has donated more than $4.75 million to deserving charities, and 100 percent of the funds raised go to the charities.
This year’s charities are:
- Coalition to Support America’s Heroes
- The PenFed Foundation
- TADSAW
The exhibit hall reopens on Friday at 9 a.m. and remains open until 1 p.m.
A Competition, and a Magazine for Dealmakers
There are two other items that I’d like to mention about NAPE.
As most of you know, AAPG’s Imperial Barrel Award is our preeminent student program – a global competition focused on E&P. NAPE operates a similarly regarded Energy Innovation Case Competition.
Each year, groups of MBA students participate in a program that tackles specific company needs. The participating firm outlines the problem they’re trying to solve, usually requiring an innovative technology solution, and MBA student teams compete to present the best solution to a panel of industry judges. There’s also $50,000 in prize money that goes to the top three teams.
We need more people to understand the importance of what we do in oil and gas and energy – programs like the Energy Innovation Case Competition and the IBA program showcase the opportunities to our next generation.
Finally, did you know that NAPE publishes a magazine? It’s called “NAPE – The Magazine for Dealmakers” and features stories and profiles of dealmakers across our industry. The current issue is out now.
AAPG will be at NAPE in booth 2547 – come by and say hi!