Tuesday 11 November 2008

PILOT SHARE FAIR 10 ATTRACTS RECORD ATTENDANCE LEVELS

A record breaking 700 delegates from across the UK and overseas attended this year's PILOT Share Fair 10, held on Tuesday, 11 November 2008. Between them they listened to over 100 presentations and attended more than 600 one to one sessions.

Throughout the day, which was sponsored by CAN, 13 companies presented their strategies for the North Sea, including their upcoming drilling programmes, technology requirements, environment and integrity projects, plans for operations and maintenance, decommissioning and development projects, as well as providing key company contact details. These planned activities, which are all scheduled to take place over the next 18 months, are estimated to represent potential new business in the region of £4 billion.

Malcolm Webb, Oil & Gas UK's chief executive, said: "For the first time in the event's history, we have seen a complete sell-out, which underlines the continuing importance that the industry's supply chain places on Share Fair and the value businesses derive from it.

"This record attendance also reflects the growing significance of our industry's supply chain, which employs more than 350,000, has an annual turnover of £16 billion and pays £5-6 billion in corporation tax, payroll tax and national insurance contributions each year.

"I know of no other industry that stages an event quite like Share Fair; it provides an excellent opportunity for suppliers in the UK to keep abreast of business developments and for industry to gauge suppliers' appetite for staying committed to and focused on investing and developing the UK continental shelf.

"I know this industry will work together, particularly in these uncertain economic times, to improve efficiency, create value and drive out waste. PILOT Share Fair is one of the important mechanisms which helps our industry to do this." 

Aker Solutions, AMEC, BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, Fairfield Energy Limited, Shell U.K. Limited, StatoilHydro, Subsea 7, Technip, Total E&P UK and Wood Group, all presented at the event.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Britta Hallbauer

Oil & Gas UK Media Relations                       

3^rd Floor, the Exchange 2                                          

62 Market Street

Aberdeen AB11 5PJ   

                                                                       

Tel:      01224 577331

Fax:     020 7802 2401

Email: bhallbauer@oilandgasuk.co.uk

Mob:   07891769113