Upcoming Trade Shows Aberdeen, UK for Oil & Gas

For over half a century, Aberdeen has been synonymous with the oil and gas industry. The city has even earned the title of the ‘Oil Capital of Europe.’ Since the discovery of North Sea oil in the mid-20th century, the city quickly rose in prominence and turned into the epicentre of active offshore drilling. As a result, the city enjoyed the newest advancements in petroleum technology and energy infrastructure. But not all stories of success last. The North Sea reserves are depleted and Aberdeen finds itself at a crucial turning point; one it’s willing to lean into and chart a future in the world of renewable energy. But let’s see how Aberdeen shed its former function as a fishing hub to become a giant in the oil and gas industry. The journey began in the 1970s, when offshore drilling began in earnest and its strategic location brought in national and foreign investment. This, in turn, brought a highly skilled workforce, and pioneering advancements in undersea technology. Key infrastructure, including Aberdeen Harbour and the city's heliport, added to its indispensability as a logistics center for offshore rigs. During its golden era, the oil and gas industry created nearly half a million jobs in the region. But Aberdeen has not been entirely immune to industry downturns. The 2014 oil price crash served as a stark reminder of the sector’s volatility and prompted local leaders to rethink the city’s long-term economic strategy. More recently, crude oil production has declined to just over a third of its peak, and projections suggest a further drop to 400,000 barrels per day by 2050. These figures highlight the urgency of diversification. With the North Sea’s natural decline, Aberdeen is reinventing itself as a research and development hub for energy innovation. Investments in renewable energy are gaining momentum.