Petrobras, Colonial Pipeline CEO Highlight Pipeline Opportunities Conference

Executives of Petrobras, owner and operator of the largest network of pipelines in Brazil, will highlight the 4th Annual Pipeline Opportunities Conference on March 25, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency in Houston, Texas. The conference is sponsored by Pipeline & Gas Journal (P&GJ) and the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA).

Jeff Share, conference chairman and Editor of P&GJ, said Petrobras brings international scope and interest to the event, especially since it plans to spend $10 billion over the next five years on pipeline projects.

Petrobras is not only the largest energy company in Brazil, but is also aggressively pursuing an offshore strategy that will make it a key player in the Gulf of Mexico, said Share, who invited Petrobras executives to participate during a recent meeting in Rio. “Petrobras is involved in developing environmentally friendly fuels, its operating practices have been recognized worldwide for their excellence, and it is a leader in technology.”

Share said Petrobras executives will discuss their planned pipeline projects; working conditions in Brazil, and their experience with ethanol, which many in the U.S. tout as an alternative to gasoline. Petrobras operates a network of 10,000 kilometers of oil and natural gas pipelines, 44 terminals in every region of Brazil and a fleet of 52 petrol tankers.

The keynote speaker for the conference will be Norm Szydlowski, president and chairman of Colonial Pipeline Co. Based in Georgia, Colonial operates the largest-volume refined liquids petroleum pipeline in the world and in recent years has been regarded as an industry model for its safety and environmental programs.

Szydlowski was a manager for Chevron before serving as a senior consultant to the Iraqi Oil Ministry in Baghdad. His team achieved a record performance in post-war production despite working in adverse conditions. Share said the 37-year industry veteran has earned a reputation as a strong and effective leader who takes great pride in the pipeline industry and its often-overlooked accomplishments.

The pipeline conference will include roundtable discussions presented by executives of natural gas and oil pipelines regarding new projects and business trends. Share said there will also be discussions on two other important issues: manpower and the environment.

“The big questions companies face today concern whether they will have enough workers to handle the big increase in work we foresee and how can they transform themselves into green-oriented businesses because it helps the environment and is smart business,” Share said.

Among energy companies who have already agreed to participate are Kinder Morgan; Spectra Energy; El Paso Corp., Enbridge, Energy Transfer Partners, TransCanada, Bechtel Corp., and GE. Share said more companies will be announced shortly. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been invited to discuss any new developments concerning the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline project.

Sponsors include BusinessWire; SMU’s Maguire Energy Institute; Global Energy Management Institute of University of Houston; Quorum Business Solutions; El Paso Corp., Gulf Interstate Engineering; Mears Group; Bayou Coating; URS; SensorTran; ITT, and Great Ideas Company.

Online registration is available at www.pgjonline.com. For information, contact conference manager Karen Francis at kfran@oildom.com or Jeff Share at jshare@oildom.com. Early registration is recommended because a sellout is expected.