Intsok events become diary date
A growing awareness of the wide range of technology available to the off-shore industry from Norwegian contractors and suppliers is being created by Intsok, the Norwegian Oil and Gas Partners. The Intsok conferences and workshops have become a regular diary date in Houston, based on their value as a forum for high-level industry exchange, says Country Manager Else Terry.
In March, Intsok, whose role is to help Nor-wegian oil and gas companies go international, held its sixth annual Houston week, which included a two-day conference with workshops. The theme of the conference was "Gas – The Fuel of the Century: Realizing the Potential of Offshore Gas." Leading oil company executives shared the podium with prominent Norwegian contractors and suppliers.
The welcome was given by Karl-Edwin Manshaus, permanent secretary at the Nor-wegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, whose ties with top US oil company executives help to open doors for Norwegian technology. He highlighted the advances in offshore technology achieved by the industry in Norway.
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Workshops were devoted to subsea technology and LNG, with presentations from well-known companies such as ABB, Aker Kvaerner, FMC Kongsberg Subsea, Framo Engineering, Statoil, DNV, and Sintef/Marintek. SeaFlex Riser Technology, a small company which has made full use of Intsok's support services, followed up on a recent seminar appearance by delivering a paper on flexible gas risers. In conjunction with Kongsberg Maritime, SeaFlex recently delivered a riser management system to BP's Thunder Horse project. A presentation was also given by APL, which is supplying equipment to the world's first offshore LNG import terminal.
The Norwegian presence in Houston is still growing, and is now close to 90 companies. The Norwegian pavilion at this year's OTC is sold out, and in March, 120 companies were on the waiting list.
To access the Gulf of Mexico and other markets served out of Houston, it is important for Norwegian companies to have a presence in the city and understand the network-based business culture, Terry says. Intsok representation provides assurance for clients and is a source of market introduction for Norwegian firms.