With last weekend marking one year to go until the opening day, momentum continues to build behind the 23rd World Petroleum Congress, and looks set to continue into 2021, according to the 23rd World Petroleum Congress Organizing Committee (23rd WPCOC).

Even in the face of both the global COVID-19 pandemic and global market volatility, 2020 has been a year of progress, with new sponsors and partners coming on board, as well as the launch of new initiatives that would have been impossible to foresee 12 months ago. Presenting Sponsors Chevron, Halliburton, Accenture, Hess Corporation, ExxonMobil, BP, Qatar Petroleum, Baker Hughes, Saudi Aramco and ConocoPhillips, and Premier Sponsors Schlumberger, BHP, and Weatherford have also all reconfirmed their commitment to the Congress.

Deloitte has signed on as an Elite Sponsor of the Congress, joining an impressive roster of leading companies. Deloitte’s global Energy, Resources and Industrials practice leverages deep industry knowledge to provide perspectives and integrated solutions to the upstream and downstream oil and gas sectors, among others. This will be the fifth Congress that Deloitte has participated in as a sponsor or exhibitor in the past 15 years.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) has also joined as Supporting Partner, taking its place alongside National Oilwell Varco (NOV). API represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry with more than 600 members that produce, process, and distribute most of the energy in the United States. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy will also join the Congress lineup, as a major exhibitor with a substantial stand in the Global Business Opportunities Center of the Congress exhibition.

“Despite strong headwinds this year, we are on course to deliver a safe, world-class, global event 12 months from now,” said Jeff Shellebarger, Chairman of the 23rd World Petroleum Congress Organizing Committee. “I look forward to welcoming our delegates, sponsors, exhibitors and partners to Houston for a week of varying perspectives from energy decision-makers and experts, a unique exhibition, and the opportunity to connect with energy professionals from around the world.”

The health and safety of 23rd WPC participants remains the number one priority, and with registration due to open in the first quarter of 2021, the 23rd WPCOC is taking a number of steps to mitigate risks. As well as monitoring evolving data and guidance from U.S. authorities and international healthcare bodies, the 23rd WPCOC is also closely collaborating with the Congress venue, the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRBCC), to ensure that the most up to date best practices will be followed.

The GRBCC has added safety measures within the facility and is currently in the process of completing Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) Star certification. The GRBCC and official Congress hotels are also participating in the ‘Houston Clean’ program, an initiative committed to sanitation provisions that mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and instill confidence via hygiene surety at events, venues, and hotels throughout the city.

The 23rd WPCOC recently launched WPC Spotlight, a unique series of online conversations with thought leaders from around the world. The moderated discussions bring candid, in-depth insights into the many types of innovative solutions that will shape the future of energy. The series will run throughout 2021 with the second in the series due to air in February 2021.

About the 23rd World Petroleum Congress

The 23rd World Petroleum Congress takes place in Houston, Texas, December 5-9, 2021. The triennial World Petroleum Congress is the oil and gas industry’s largest and most prestigious international event. Known as “the Olympics of the oil and gas sector,” the Congress attracts the highest-level industry and government leaders from around the world, including heads of state, ministers of energy and C-suite executives.

More than 100 countries, 50 ministers, 700 expert speakers, 1,000 media and 10,000 delegates are expected to participate in the Congress, which will also feature the World Petroleum Exhibition in the 50,000 square meter George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston’s Downtown Campus.

The Presenting Sponsors of the 23rd World Petroleum Congress are Chevron, Halliburton, Accenture, Hess, ExxonMobil, BP, Qatar Petroleum, Baker Hughes, Saudi Aramco and ConocoPhillips.

www.23wpchouston.com

About the World Petroleum Council

The World Petroleum Council (WPC) is a non-advocacy, non-political organization with charitable status in the U.K. and has accreditation as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) from the United Nations (UN). The WPC is dedicated to the promotion of sustainable management and use of the world’s petroleum resources for the benefit of all.

WPC conducts the triennial World Petroleum Congress, covering all aspects of the industry including management of the industry and its social, economic and environmental impact.

www.world-petroleum.org