The Deepwater Development Conference 2026
March 10–12, 2026 | Lisbon, Portugal
With deepwater projects moving back into active planning and execution cycles, the need for alignment across operators, contractors, and technology providers is immediate and time-sensitive.
Taking place March 10–12, 2026, in Lisbon, The Deepwater Development Conference convenes senior leaders from across the global deepwater value chain at a critical point for project sanctioning, delivery strategy, and technology deployment. This is where the industry examines what is being developed now, what is advancing toward FID, and how deepwater projects must be executed to remain competitive under current cost, risk, and performance pressures.
With just one month to go, the program is finalized, speakers are confirmed, and the agenda is set. For professionals responsible for shaping and delivering deepwater developments, this is a timely opportunity to engage before key technical and commercial decisions are locked in.
Register to attend!
Where Deepwater Strategy Meets Project Execution
More than sixty percent of delegates hold senior, managerial, or executive roles, ensuring focused discussion among professionals with direct influence over project direction and investment decisions.
The 2026 program is built around real project experience and applied engineering, covering:
Operator and contractor perspectives on deepwater investment and delivery
Subsea engineering and production systems
Floating facilities, FPSOs, and mooring technologies
Digitalization and automation
Pipelines, flowlines, and risers
Reducing emissions and improving offshore efficiency
Leadership Perspectives from Across the Deepwater Value Chain
The 2026 program features senior leaders from operating companies, EPCs, and technology providers actively delivering deepwater projects today. Sessions are built around real project experience, execution challenges, and commercial decision making across both frontier and established basins.
You will hear directly from organizations leading deepwater activity across subsea systems, floating facilities, infrastructure led development, and digital delivery.
Speaking Companies
View Full Agenda
Expert Oversight Shaping the Conference Program
Advisory Board Members
The agenda is guided by an international Advisory Board of senior deepwater professionals, ensuring relevance, technical rigor, and alignment with current industry priorities.
The Advisory Board actively shapes the conference agenda by steering content priorities, reviewing session focus, and ensuring every panel and presentation is grounded in real project experience and current industry decision-making.
FULL CONFERENCE AGENDA
March 10–12, 2026
DAY ONE | TUESDAY, MARCH 10
13:00–14:10Registration Open / Exhibition Open
14:10–14:15Welcome Remarks: John Royall, President & CEO, Gulf Energy Information
14:15–14:30KEYNOTE: Industry OverviewObo Idornigie, SVP Energy Trends & Analysis, Welligence
14:30–15:15Operators’ Panel: The State of Deepwater—New Ways for a New Era
The evolving role of deepwater in the global energy mix
Managing costs and complexity while pursuing growth
Navigating global investment cycles and new project FIDs
Operator collaboration and digital transformation
Risk allocation and mitigation strategies
Panelists:Adriano Bastos, Head of Upstream, GalpElisabetta Boi, Head of Project Control & Portfolio, EniPablo Gomes, R&D Manager for Subsea Pipelines, PetrobrasGrant McKenzie, Vice President of Developments, Woodside Energy
15:15–15:45Coffee Break
15:45–16:15KEYNOTEGary Archer, Vice President of Subsea Production Systems, OneSubsea
16:15–17:30Case Studies and Lessons Learned
Agogo Integrated West Hub Project subsea control systemAndrea Olivieri, SPS & Umbilical Work Packages Section Lead, Azule Energy
Developing ultra-deepwater fields in harsh and remote environmentsJohn Wharton, Lead Project Engineering Manager, TechnipFMC
Phased and flexible engineering approach to an Eni ultra-deepwater projectMario Perrina, Deepwater & Subsea Engineering Department Manager, Eni
17:30–17:35Closing Remarks
17:35–18:45Icebreaker Networking Reception
20:00 onwardsVIP Dinner (By Invitation Only)
DAY TWO | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11
09:00–09:10Opening Remarks: Kurt Abraham, Editor-in-Chief, World Oil
09:10–09:40KEYNOTEBoyd Howell, Director of Sales & Marketing, MODEC
09:40–10:10KEYNOTEMahesh Swaminathan, Senior Vice President, Subsea and Floating Facilities, McDermott
10:10–10:55Contractors’ Panel: Enabling the Next Generation of Deepwater Projects
How contractors are applying new digital tools to improve design, executive and lifecycle performance
Balancing innovation, standardisation and cost efficiency in complex project delivery
Collaboration models between operators and contractors to accelerate field development
Building resilient supply chains and partnerships to support new frontier developments
Where does the risk lie and how do we mitigate those risks?
Panelists:
Biswdeep Das, Vice President, Operations, Asia, Subsea and Floating Facilities, McDermottArun Duggal, President & CEO, MODEC Americas Inc.Pierre Morin, Group Business Development Director, SBM OffshoreFrancisco Nunez, Vice President Sales & Commercial, OneSubsea
Moderator: Iain Grainger, CEO, IMCA
10:55–11:30Coffee Break
11:30–12:45Subsea Engineering Innovations
Subsea tree refurbishment and reuseEva-Maria Pfeifroth, Bosch Rexroth AGCecilie Saelen, CEO, CCB Subsea AS
Freedom: Autonomous subsea inspection and data gatheringJohn Bethea, Geosciences Project Manager, Oceaneering
12:45–13:45Lunch Break (Sponsored by MODEC SOFEC)
13:45–15:30Subsea Technologies
High-performance DEH-PiP progress updateAntoine Marret, Technical Manager, Saipem
Subsea seawater injection technologiesSvein-Arne Marthinussen, OneSubsea
Subsea pumping for future offshore production systemsFabio Albuquerque, Mechanical Engineer, Petrobras
15:30–16:00Coffee Break
16:00–17:15Digitalization
Breaking the AI adoption deadlockJason Brown, CEO, Elementz
Digitisation to achieve operational excellencePeter Adam, Group Managing Director, ABL Group
TBCKristian Grjotheim, VP Strategic Accounts, Aize
17:20–19:00Networking Reception
DAY THREE | THURSDAY, MARCH 12
09:00–09:05Welcome Remarks: Kurt Abraham, Editor-in-Chief, World Oil
09:05–11:10Floating Facilities, FPSOs and Mooring Systems
Offshore carbon injection solutionsLuiz Feijo, Director Global Offshore, ABS
Composite structural reinforcement to reduce piping stressLeonardo Olbrick, MODEC
FPSO hull and marine systems for remote operationsGaurav Singhal, Wood
Subsea asset monitoring using Sonardyne technologyStephen Rounce, Sonardyne
11:10–11:45Coffee Break
11:45–13:00Reducing Carbon Emissions
GHG emissions assessment: Subsea vs conventional processingFreddy Garcia, TotalEnergiesLeila Eyni, OneSubsea
Decarbonising FPSOsLaurent Le Touze, SBM Offshore
13:00–14:00Lunch Break
14:00–15:35Pipelines, Flowlines and Risers
Future of flexible risers and digital twinsScott Duncan, 2H Offshore
Composite reinforcement to reduce piping stressDavid Filho, MODEC
Installing subsea infrastructure in deepwaterDanilo Machado, DNV
Active heating for flexible risersMia Sørensen, NOV
15:35–16:00Coffee Break
16:00–16:45Operators’ Panel: The Next Wave of Deepwater Growth
How frontier basins differ in geological characteristics and explroation risk
Opportunities for first-mover advantage in underexplored regions
Innovation approached to deepwater exploration, drilling and appraisal
Strategic partnerships and joint ventures
Investment considerations in a competitive market
Where does the risk lie and how can we mitigate those risks?
Panellists:Frederic Beys, Project Director B58 Surinam, TotalEnergiesChristie Brown, Director Offshore Business Asset Development, ChevronBudi Mawardi Nasron, General Manager, Resource Development & Management – Sabah, Malaysia Petroleum Management, Petronas
Moderator: Gordon Hardie, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, Welligence
16:45–16:55Deepwater Development Conference 2027 Host AnnouncementClosing Remarks
Exhibit and Sponsor at the Center of Deepwater Decision-Making
Exhibitors and sponsors at The Deepwater Development Conference gain direct access to a senior, project-focused audience of operators, EPCs, contractors, and technology leaders. The conference’s curated format and integrated networking ensure meaningful technical and commercial conversations, not high-volume foot traffic.
Participation places your organization alongside companies already supporting the event and engaging with the deepwater community while project strategies, technology selections, and partnerships are still being shaped.
Learn more about exhibiting or sponsoring.
Be in the Room Where Deepwater Decisions Are Shaped, Register Now!
With just weeks to go before The Deepwater Development Conference convenes in Lisbon, registering now ensures your place among a senior, decision-making audience of operators, EPCs, contractors, and technology leaders.
Register now to attend!
Get Involved
Register now:www.deepwaterdev.com/register
Learn More:
www.deepwaterdev.com
Explore opportunities:www.deepwaterdev.com/sponsor
Contacts:Rachel McGhierachel.mcghie@gulfenergyinfo.com
Melissa Smith melissa.smith@gulfenergyinfo.com WO