Numerous companies with Bayou City ties have been selected to pitch their technologies during the 23rd World Petroleum Congress, an international symposium known as the "Olympics of the oil and gas sector," taking place in Houston next month.
This year, the 23rd World Petroleum Congress Organizing Committee is launching a new "Innovation Zone" — an exhibition floor feature where startups can showcase their technologies and practices during the event. WPC is taking place at the George R. Brown Convention Center Dec. 5-9.
A selection committee chose 32 finalists to pitch their technologies on stage in front of delegates at the conference. From the 32 pitching companies, one will be selected to receive the Energy Innovator Award.
Of those 32 finalists, these companies are locally based or have ties to the Houston area:
- CeraPhi Energy — CeraPhi Energy transitions existing assets from the oil and gas and utility sectors, like an oil well, to enable geothermal energy production. By retrofitting existing assets with its proprietary technology, CeraPhi Energy can give customers some commercial return as opposed to a costly well abandonment. Headquartered in the U.K., CeraPhi has its U.S. presence in Houston at cleantech accelerator Greentown Labs.
- Chainparency — Chainparency develops Software-as-a-Service blockchain products for companies, regardless of size or budget, to have access to blockchain traceability through an immutable, distributed ledger.
- Criterion Energy Partners — Houston-based Criterion EP focuses on developing distributed energy projects to provide clean, locally produced energy using geothermal heat. Criterion's geothermal production projects are co-located with commercial and industrial facilities to provide heating and power while reducing emissions with renewable sources.
- DataVedik — Houston-based DataVedik is a machine learning startup providing performance optimization and carbon footprint reduction for energy companies.
- DrillDocs — DrillDocs is a Houston-based technology company using data science and computer vision to support drilling operators. By deploying a deep learning vision system while drilling wells, DrillDocs can generate measurements and data about downhole conditions, helping operators make more informed decisions.
- Hess Corp. — Hess Corp. (NYSE: HES) is headquartered in New York, but the energy company has a large presence in the Houston market. Hess is collaborating with Houston-based Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) to automate and optimize fracturing operations, increasing well productivity and recovery.
- Nesh — Houston-based Nesh develops an enterprise answer engine, which pulls from internal and public data sources and is capable of understanding corporate terminology. The firm's smart engine is used by customers in power and utilities, chemicals, oil and gas, mining, finance and consulting.
- Oilfy — Oil technology company Oilfy provides downhole production enhancement products, including the WhaleShark gas and solids separator.
- Sourcenergy — Sourcenergy, formerly Sourcewater Inc., is a Houston-based technology company in upstream energy and water intelligence. The firm, spun out of the MIT Energy Ventures program, analyzes and visualizes energy and water activity using its water marketplace, satellite imagery, government data, market research and sensors deployed in the field to give customers insights into the oil field water market. The company rebranded as Sourcenergy on Nov. 1.
- Water Lens — Houston-based Water Lens develops a technology platform for water testing used for any water-intensive sector. The mobile system provides lab-quality analyses for over 30 water-quality parameters to manage water-related issues.
World Petroleum Congress postponed its 23rd event originally scheduled for late 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent global market volatility — particularly in the oil and gas sector. The symposium is held ever three years and hasn't been held in north America since 1987, when Houston was also the host city.
