Record-setting attendance at the 2008 World Heavy Oil Congress

The 2008 World Heavy Oil Congress (WHOC), the international technical and economical conference specializing in the heavy oil industry, welcomed over 900 Congress delegates plus more than a 1,000 in attendance at the three-day exhibition for the first time in Canada. Hosted in Edmonton, Alberta, which is dubbed the "Gateway to the Oil Sands", this year's WHOC set record attendance since its first forum in Beijing, China in 2006. In conjunction with this year's theme, The Challenges of Managing Success, and the Congress mandate, Unconventional Oil Challenging Conventional Expectations, key leaders of this sector analyzed the challenges, the trends, and the main guidelines for the future of the petroleum industry.

The 2008 WHOC welcomed guests at the Opening Ceremonies held on Sunday, March 9 where they were greeted by keynote speakers Mayor Stephen Mandel of The City of Edmonton, 2008 WHOC Chairman Eric Newell and 2006 WHOC Chairman and Vice President of CNPC Zheng Hu. Then over the next three days, a diversity of Ministers, CEOs and experts from oil and gas organizations around the world addressed technology and innovation, supply and demand, security and sustainability. Some of these key figures included senior executives of Suncor Energy, Total E&P, Shell, Statoil, Enbridge, Nexen Inc., Schlumberger, PDVSA, CNPC and Petrobras. In addition, a new feature to the Congress this year was the suite of unique technical tours that offered delegates the opportunity to meet with local businesses.

"With Canada as one of the global leaders in oilsands development, we are pleased and honoured to have welcomed distinguished industry leaders and experts for the first time in Canada at the second World Heavy Oil Congress," said Wes Scott, 2009 WHOC Event Director for dmg world media (Canada) inc. "This year's Congress was a tremendous success in large part due to our special guests from around the world, our principle hosts The City of Edmonton and Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, as well as key organizers, sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, volunteers and contributors. The 2008 WHOC was a highly memorable event and we look forward to the third World Heavy Oil Congress in Venezuela in November 2009."

The World Heavy Oil Congress is a leading forum bringing together key heavy oil industry leaders to discuss the current state of events within this international industry. The importance of bringing heavy oil to the global market in order to satisfy the world's thirst for energy is becoming increasingly fundamental. Hosted by the City of Edmonton, supported by the Government of Alberta, and organized by dmg world media and CNPC-Alberta Petroleum Centre (CAPC), the second World Heavy Oil Congress was held March 10 - 12, 2008 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.