OTC 2025: Offshore’s New Frontiers and Africa’s Bold Technological Ascent

The 2025 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston was nothing short of a seismic gathering—where global energy heavyweights, visionary technocrats, and disruptive innovators converged to map the future of offshore oil and gas.

- By A Staff Writer

As opening day unfolded on May 5, it was clear that the offshore sector isn’t just rebounding—it’s entering a new era of unprecedented growth, diversification, and digital transformation.

A World Stage for Bold Ideas

Kicking off with a power-packed executive panel featuring Vicki Hollub (Oxy), Magda Chambriard (Petrobras), Erik Milito (NOIA), and Jarand Rystad (Rystad Energy), OTC 2025 wasted no time spotlighting the offshore sector's growth trajectory.

Rystad underscored the “world record” production surge—rising from 48 million barrels per day (MMbbl/d) in 2019 to 50 MMbbl/d in 2025—with projections to hit 55 MMbbl/d by 2031. “Offshore is a long-cycle play,” he emphasized. “Its future is stable, scalable, and strategic.”

While Guyana, Brazil, and Namibia were named the top emerging growth regions, the Gulf of Mexico—rebranded by some panelists as the Gulf of America—dominated the conversation.

Hollub made a strong case for the Gulf as a stabilizing force in U.S. energy independence, especially as shale production trends toward decline. “In five to 10 years, the Gulf has to get stronger and deliver more,” she asserted, pointing to data access, leasing expansion, and AI-powered subsurface insights as the way forward.

Navigating Policy, Volatility, and Tariffs

NOIA’s Erik Milito didn’t mince words on the role of government policy, noting that while regulatory clarity is improving under the Trump administration, tariffs could raise offshore costs by over 17%—a burden the sector may not be able to sustain. Hollub echoed the sentiment, urging continued dialogue between industry and policymakers to remove barriers to long-term investment.