Today, acquisitions and fast growth in the gathering industry are forcing operators to develop a data strategy and look deeper at all aspects of their pipeline asset data – from how it is collected, to making it available to decision makers. Currently, gathering systems are unregulated but trends in the industry show this is likely to change in the future. Preparing for this impending change is crucial, hence the theme of the conference.
The conference will take place in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort.
The goal of the GeoGathering Conference is to provide valuable information to gathering system and upstream operators who want to create efficient, accurate, and collaborative data strategies that work for their organizations.
Presenters will demonstrate how GIS technology allows you to collect and share data between the field and the office, enabling your organization to make well-informed decisions. The versatile agenda focuses on real-world experiences”everything from integrity management and data requirements to data security and making GIS technology more accessible to stakeholders.
GeoGathering is attendee-driven, so we welcome speakers and attendees who can share their personal stories and provide inspiration to others. The GeoGathering Conference committee estimates that close to 150 GIS professionals and top-level management from leading oil and gas companies will attend this year. Attendees will be able to attend sessions that include:
- PHMSA MAOP strategies
- Collection methods to meet requirements
- Data sharing: GIS as an enterprise
- Organising data for decision-makers
- MAOP& collecting the right data
- Acquisitions & validating the data
- Environmental permitting: collection & management of the data
- Data security and the cloud
- Field & office data strategies
- Collecting & sharing information to help enhance pipeline safety
- Data gathering: integrating the old with the new
- Data models and how they fit into a data strategy
- Web-enabled data sharing technologies & portals
- Enterprise GIS/database development with data sharing in mind
- GIS for business development professionals
To better meet the needs of the audience, conference management announced a shift to a biennial schedule in 2012 to accommodate increased attendance, allow for improved planning, and offer an exciting new format. This year attendees will experience the new, audience-focused format that offers two simultaneous tracks giving attendees the chance to tailor their own conference schedule. Plus, two of the biggest improvements by far are the addition of “structured networking’ sessions and a GIS Think Tank.
When attendees leave the structured networking session, they will have a solid list of new business contacts and possibly some new friends for meals and socialising. The networking sessions are strategically placed at the beginning of the conference to help you build new relationships over the duration of the conference.
The GIS Think Tank session is also a unique addition to the agenda. It will feature five to seven GIS managers from a variety of gathering operators around the country. This is not a typical Q&A panel session; instead it will allow the participating GIS managers to converse among themselves as the audience listens in.
This year’s conference boasts a strong seven-person steering committee with solid pipeline gathering background. Members include Trisha Menasco of DCP Midstream, Tom Coolidge of Esri, Ellen Nodwell of Hess, Cameron Collins of Williams, Rob McElroy of McElroy Consulting, Ron Brush of New Century Software and Victoria Skogman of New Century Software.
Early bird registration is open until the end April. The conference committee welcomes senior management, project managers, integrity management specialists, GIS professionals, field operations managers, regulatory compliance personnel, and engineers. Learn more about the conference by clicking here or visit http://www.geogathering.com