NAPE Expo Expands to Denver December 2013

In its 20th Year, World's Largest E&P (Upstream) Oil & Gas Expo Announces Regional Expansion with NAPE Rockies

DENVER, April 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In conjunction with NAPE Expo, Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock and VISIT DENVER announced today that NAPE's newest regional show, NAPE Rockies will be held in Denver later this year December 11 -13, 2013.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130404/DC89186)

"Energy has been central to Denver's economy for the past 80-plus years and remains an integral part of our economic landscape today," Mayor Hancock said. "From exploration to production to research in all aspects of traditional and renewable energy, the Denver metro region has become a center of diverse energy innovation. It's a perfect time for us to welcome NAPE Rockies to the Mile High City."

Slated for December, NAPE Rockies will be held at the Colorado Convention Center and will focus on the energy rich Rockies region from Colorado to Canada. Consistent with current NAPE shows, NAPE Rockies will bring together attendees and exhibitors to highlight producing properties and prospects from across the U.S. and around the world, capital formation and services and technologies.

"We welcome NAPE to The Mile High City," said Richard Scharf, president and CEO of VISIT DENVER, the Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We estimate that the 2,000 to 2,500 people attending the first NAPE will generate between $4-5 million of direct and indirect economic impact for Denver. With the booming oil and gas industry in our region, we feel NAPE Rockies has the potential to become a major annual convention for Denver, and it solidifies our city as an important energy industry capital," Scharf said.

Twice a year, oil and gas professionals travel to Houston for the world's largest E&P (upstream) expo, NAPE Expo. In 2012 the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau reported that NAPE Expo surpassed the forecasted economic impact, bringing almost $18 million in visitor revenue to the city. This year, in addition to Winter and Summer NAPE - the two Houston shows - NAPE East will be held for the first time April 10-12, 2013 in Pittsburgh and NAPE Rockies will be held in Denver on Dec. 11-13.

"This is a big year for NAPE as our Houston Winter NAPE show in February marked 20 years, we are also expanding from two to four shows annually," said Marty Schardt, Executive Vice President of American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL). "It can be tough for some of the regional companies in various parts of the country to get to Houston for NAPE, so we are bringing the Expo to them. With the rapid growth of shale plays such as the Niobrara and Bakken throughout the Rockies region, Denver is the perfect fit for our next regional show. We are looking forward to a strong partnership with Mayor Hancock, the city of Denver and VISIT DENVER."

Created by the AAPL as the North American Prospect Expo in 1993, the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) was added as a partner in 1995, and in 2004 the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) and American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) also joined as partners. The following year the first Summer NAPE was held.

About NAPE Expo
NAPE Expo, the world's largest E&P (upstream) expo, brings prospects and producing properties (from the U.S. and around the world), capital formation, services and technologies together in one location, creating an environment to establish strategic alliances for doing business and initiating purchases and trades. For more information, please visit www.napeexpo.com and follow NAPE on Twitter at @NAPE_EXPO.

About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau
Celebrating more than 100 years of promoting the Mile High City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. Tourism is the second largest industry in Denver, generating $3.3 billion in annual spending in 2011, while supporting nearly 50,000 jobs. Learn more about Denver on the VISITDENVER website and at TOURISMPAYSDENVER, on Twitter @iknowdenver and the VISIT DENVER Facebook page, or by phone at 800 2 DENVER.

Media Contacts
NAPE:
Susan K. Medina: [phone] (cell) or [e-mail]
Jaime Hopkins: [phone] (cell) or [e-mail]

VISIT DENVER:
Rich Grant: [phone] or [e-mail]
Debbie Park: [phone] or [e-mail]
Katie Converse: [phone] or [e-mail]

SOURCE VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau