The new Annual OTC Dinner, the signature event held on Sunday, 1 May to kick off the 2011 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), was attended by more than 1,000 industry leaders and conference attendees, and raised $200,000 for the Gulf of Mexico Foundation. OTC also presented its 2011 Distinguished Achievement Awards at the sold-out event at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

“Our industry has a profound impact on arguably more people than any other industry. This means that we have a profound responsibility for the impact we have on the communities in which we operate. Tonight, we come together to share our strength, by giving back to one of the communities connected to the offshore industry. The success of this effort is dependent on the generosity of you, our supporters. We thank you for your generous support that is enabling a significant donation that will help the Gulf of Mexico recover and flourish,” said OTC Chairman Susan Cunningham in making the presentation.

The beneficiary of the fundraising, the Gulf of Mexico Foundation, promotes and facilitates conservation of the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico and its resources. Through a unique combination of education, public awareness, research, and leadership programs, the Gulf of Mexico Foundation is working to maintain a sustainable balance in the health and productivity of the Gulf.

“The health and sustainability of the Gulf of Mexico is vital to the businesses that work in and alongside it. Recognition by the Offshore Technology Conference is the culmination of decades of collaborative efforts between the Gulf of Mexico Foundation and the offshore industries to understand and protect the quality of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem,” said GMF President and CEO Quenton Dokken.

OTC presented three awards at the dinner.

OTC’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Individuals was presented to Cortis (Cort) Cooper of Chevron for his pioneering work in metocean research. OTC’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Companies, Organizations or Institutions was presented to BP Norway for the Life of Field seismic reservoir surveillance project.

ExxonMobil Development Company was recognized with a special citation for the development and implementation of major deepwater projects in Angola’s Block 15. Detailed information on the recipients and their projects is available on the awards page. Photos will be available by contacting media@otcnet.org.

Also speaking at the event were T. Jay Collins, president and chief executive officer of Oceaneering and chairman of the 2011 Annual OTC Dinner Executive Advisory Board; Ed Emmett, Harris County Judge; and Annise Parker, Mayor of Houston. Corporate sponsors for the event were Oceaneering, Shell, and Statoil.

Tags: OTC 2011