IPETGAS 2009, The 17th International Petroleum and Natural Gas Congress and Exhibition of Turkey will be organized jointly by Turkish Association of Petroleum Geologists (TAPG), UCTEA Chamber of Petroleum Engineers and the UCTEA Chamber of Geophysical Engineers an on May 13th-15th, 2009 at the Sheraton Hotel & Convention Center in Ankara, Turkey. The objective of the IPETGAS 2009 is to bring geoscientists, engineers and decision makers of petroleum and natural gas industry together from Turkey and neighboring countries in an elegant and distinguished atmosphere, enabling them to share their industrial experiences, discuss and discover the hydrocarbon potential and secured supply role of Turkey to surrounding countries.

Turkey is located in the heart of Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, the Caspian Region, and the CIS countries, playing a strategic role by being a critical and secure energy corridor between these countries. Turkey has become important and reliable with her geopolitical location, experiences and stability. She has been a major natural gas consumer in the last two decades. The development of new and renewable energy resources has become significant not only in the view of rising oil prices, but also in national energy policies of Turkey.

Turkey's geopolitical significance became a current issue with the development of petroleum and natural gas industries in the Caucasus, Caspian and the Middle East regions. Turkey has implemented reliable, secure and continuous energy supply terms in transportation of energy between East-West and vice versa. IPETGAS 2009 will discuss Turkey's geopolitical significance, her hydrocarbon exploration and production, recent developments in transportation, refinement and storing of hydrocarbons, LPG, LNG and CNG techniques, new and renewable energy resources, economics, environmental and legal issues. IPETGAS 2009 will embrace an extensive content; panel discussions, distinguished speakers, poster presentations and an exhibition which leading companies of the industry will attend. There will be a “SPE Turkey Student Chapter Contest” organized by SPE Turkey Section throughout the Congress. This event aims to bring new promising undergraduates and graduates into the oil industry and provide them job opportunities.

The Organizing Committee, would like to invite you to submit an abstract for the conference to share your experiences with all participants. Also, you will have a chance to exhibit new technologies developed by esteemed companies, equipments, tools and new application methods. We will appreciate your efforts and contributions in informing your colleagues, friends and business partners involved in the industry on the event. Your attendance will surely make the Congress exceptional and increase its importance. We hope to meet you in a memorable meeting in Ankara on May 13th, 2009, at the 17th International Petroleum and Natural Gas Congress and Exhibition of Turkey.

On behalf of the Organizing Committee
Ahmet Bayrak
Chairman