Conference History
2007 Houston World Oil Conference
Over 525 people attended last year's conference, a record for what was already the world’s largest annual conference on peak oil. Some 60 speakers addressed attendees who came from 18 countries and 35 US states. Attendees included an even mix of corporate senior-level management, academic / NGO, students, and general public. Over 25 members of the accredited press attended including AP, New York Times, Bloomberg News, the Houston Chronicle, World Oil magazine, the Oil & Gas Journal, and many others
Marshall Adkins (Raymond James Associates) helped start the event by sharing his view that world oil production would probably peak within five years. Tom Petrie (Merrill Lynch - Petrie) stressed that limited access to oil controlled by foreign governments point to the looming reality of “practical peak oil.” Aage Figenschou (Norway; oil shipping industry) noted that over the last four years, the French petroleum institute has been shifting their in-house view of the timing of peak oil from 2020 to 2015 and now “in the direction of 2010.” Matt Simmons (Simmons & Co.,Intl), Stuart Staniford (The Oil Drum) and Euan Means (also TOD) expressed varying degrees ofskepticism about the ability of Saudi Arabia to meet stated production goals; industry analysts Charles Maxwell and Henry Groppe were modestly more optimistic.
John Darnell (office of U.S. Congressman Roscoe Bartlett) warned that “a teachable moment [about peak oil] may be coming,” and that attendees should ask their elected representatives what contingency plans are in place for responding to it. Author Peter Tertzakian (ARC Financial) asked if peak oil “is an issue of technological engineering or social engineering.” Houston Mayor Bill White referred to oil production as “a race between technology and depletion,” but focused his remarks on public and private sector responses to the peak oil problem. Financial planner James Hansen urged attendees to “get timing out of your heads” and focus on smart responses. Oil and gas database expert Richard Nehring stressed that “rather than looking at [peak oil] as a problem of inadequate supply, we should look at this as a problem of too much consumption.”
"Very well done -- beautifully organized and moderated, rich with credible information and and generous hospitality."
"The conference was all that I had hoped it would be and more. The speakers were all engaging, approachable, and the networking was great."
"Excellent conference. This conference was not a rerun! I am really impressed with the exent that the conference moved to post peak scenarios and what people should be doing now."
"Very professional and well organized. Very high quality speakers (which was the main reason I attended) and a diverse cross-section of peak oil issues. I was very impressed and plan to attend again next year."
2006 Boston World Oil Conference
"I was extremely impressed with the way the many speakers were so generous in answering questions and entering into dialog with conference attendees during breaks in the conference schedule. They are truly committed to providing insight and education to others."
"I am astounded by all the research"
"As a result of discussions with speakers and others I am refocusing my investments."
"It was a great learning experience to hear and interact not only with the speakers but other attendees. I equate the ASPO-USA Conference experience to one attending a Computer Conference in the the early years of the personal computer industry where you could listen to and interact with the pioneers in personal computer industry such as Bill Gates and other visionaries."
2005 Denver World Oil Conference
"Excellent conference--watershed event. Well-organized, comprehensive, provided a broad perspective on the energy issues we face"
"Excellent conference! I have been to over 100 conferences in my life, and this was BY FAR the best one I have ever attended!"
"A get-together of people who are seriously concerned to actually DO something about limiting the consequences of an end to the on-demand increase in oil supply"
"The conference was well-organized, presented a wide range of high quality perspectives, and generated a great deal of enthusiasm for a wide variety of potential actions."
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