COVID-19 Pandemic Cancels Offshore Technology Conference
02 April 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has claimed another industry trade show in the oil and gas sector. The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), originally scheduled for May 4-7 in Houston, Texas, and later postponed to the third quarter of 2020, has been canceled.
The OTC Board of Directors announced the decision this morning, citing the continued health and travel concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As we navigate these difficult and uncertain times, it is with a heavy heart that the OTC Board of Directors has determined that it is in our best interest to cancel OTC 2020,” said Cindy Yeilding, OTC chairperson. “Our priority is the health and safety of our attendees and exhibitors, and we have taken federal, state, and local guidelines into account in making our decision.”
The Board of Directors attempted to reschedule the event in mid-March, with August or September as potential months. At the time, the board stated this would “preserve the significant work of the program committee and authors” while also minimizing the economic impact to Houston and the industry.
The board, however, soon realized that moving OTC to the late summer, early fall slot would put it in competition with several other industry events. The board decided that focusing on 2021 would be a better option given the current situation.
Plans for OTC 2021, set for May 3-6 in Houston, will begin soon, with the call for papers opening on May 28. The technical papers and presentations from the 2020 event will be available on OnePetro.org at a later date.
Several oil and gas trade shows have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. For a live look at the current COVID-19 statistics, please visit the Johns Hopkins University CSSE website.
With the unprecedented impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the industry, COMPRESSORTECH2 will provide updated coverage across its website. If you have news to share, please contact editor DJ Slater at [email protected].
To view our additional COVID-19 stories, please click the following links:
MAGAZINE
NEWSLETTER
