- journal_title：The Leading Edge
- Contributor：Charles Knobloch
- Publisher：Society of Exploration Geophysicists
- Date：2012-
- Format：text/html
- Language：en
- Identifier：10.1190/tle31040471.1
- journal_abbrev：The Leading Edge
- issn：1070-485X
- volume：31
- issue：4
- firstpage：471
- section：Special section: Marine and seabed technology
From 30 April–May 2012, SEG will again cosponsor the Off-shore Technology Conference, also known as OTC.12—the world's foremost event for the development of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production, and environmental protection. OTC, founded in 1969, is now held annually at Reliant Center in Houston. OTC is sponsored by 11 industry organizations and societies, in addition to SEG, who work cooperatively to develop each year's technical program. OTC also has two endorsing organizations, and ten supporting organizations. The European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE) is the 2012 Invited Organization. OTC ranks among the 200 largest trade shows held annually in the United States and is among the 10 largest meetings in terms of attendance. Attendance at the 2011 OTC reached a 29-year high of 78,645, up 9% from 2010. The sold-out exhibition was the largest since 1982 at 603,000 square feet, up from 568,000 square feet in 2010. New last year was the OTC Parkway, spanning from Reliant Center to Reliant Arena, which increased the outdoor exhibition space. OTC.11 attracted 2520 companies, including 306 new exhibitors, from 41 countries (including new exhibitors from Egypt, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Philippines).