
URTeC | Unconventional Resources Technology Conference 2027
Event Date
May 3–5, 2027
Location
Houston, TX
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryThe Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (URTeC) is a premier technical event focused on the science and technology used to explore and develop unconventional oil and gas resources such as shale and tight formations. The conference emphasizes the integration of technical and professional disciplines, bringing geologists, geophysicists, engineers, and business managers together on the same asset-team footing. URTeC is jointly produced by three sponsoring organizations: the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG).
Attendees include reservoir, drilling, completions, and production engineers; geoscientists; data scientists; and executives from operators, service companies, national oil companies, and research institutions. It is a premier event focused on the latest science and technology applied to unconventional resource development, and organizers position it as a leading opportunity to exchange information, formulate strategic ideas, and solve problems to optimize unconventional resource plays.
The next edition, URTeC 2027, marks a significant change in format. URTeC and the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) will be co-located 3–5 May 2027 at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas, bringing together two of the energy industry's most influential technology communities in a single, integrated setting. Each event will retain its distinct technical focus while the co-location creates new opportunities for expanded access, broader networking, and increased visibility.
Show Highlights
URTeC packages its content into several signature formats:
- Technical Program — three days of high-quality presentations, talks, and case studies from leading experts across the unconventional disciplines.
- Special Highlights — plenary, panel, and special sessions led by top industry executives and unconventional-resource specialists.
- Extended Learning — topical luncheons, short courses, and a New Technology Showcase.
- Core Exhibits and an exhibition hall where companies display the latest tools and services.
- Networking Opportunities designed to connect peers, innovators, and decision-makers.
Recent editions have drawn senior speakers such as Bob Fryklund (Vice President and Chief Strategist, S&P Global Commodity Insights) and Bob Brackett (Managing Director and Senior Research Analyst, Bernstein), alongside technical leaders from ADNOC, Chevron, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, SLB, and leading universities. For 2027, co-location with the Offshore Technology Conference expands the technical breadth and audience further.
Attendance
Historical figures reported by the organizers: the inaugural URTeC drew more than 4,300 participants, with nearly 350 presentations from engineers, geoscientists, and other energy professionals and over 170 exhibiting companies. Over 99% of surveyed attendees said they would recommend URTeC to a co-worker or friend. By its third edition, more than 5,200 oil and gas professionals attended, a 25% increase over the first year.
Registration
Registration for URTeC is handled through the official URTeC website, where full-conference passes provide access to the technical program, plenary and panel sessions, and the exhibition, with additional add-ons available for short courses and topical luncheons. Exhibitors register separately through the event's Exhibitor Registration portal. Specific pass types, pricing, and deadlines for URTeC 2027 are published on the official site as the event approaches; organizers have noted that further programming and participation details for the co-located 2027 event will be announced in the months leading up to the show.
History
The idea for URTeC came from leaders of three major exploration-and-production societies who envisioned a collaborative event uniting the main disciplines of the asset teams developing unconventional resources in North America and worldwide, resulting in a unique event sponsored by SPE, AAPG, and SEG. The inaugural conference was held in 2013. That first URTeC was, by all measures, a tremendous success, with nearly 350 presentations, over 170 exhibiting companies, and more than 4,300 participants. The third edition was held in San Antonio, Texas, and URTeC has become the leading conference to discuss unconventional technologies as the integrated concept proved successful. The conference has been hosted at Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center in recent years, and beginning in 2027 it will be co-located with the Offshore Technology Conference at Reliant Park in Houston.
Venue & Travel
Venue
Reliant Park
One NRG Park
URTeC 2027 will be held at Reliant Park in Houston, the NRG Park complex that also hosts the Offshore Technology Conference. NRG Park, formerly Reliant Park, is a complex named after energy company NRG Energy, encompassing 350 acres and consisting of four venues: NRG Stadium, NRG Center, NRG Arena, and NRG Astrodome. Conventions are typically hosted in NRG Center, the complex's convention center. NRG Center is one of the largest convention centers in the United States; its total building area is about 1,400,000 square feet, and it features over 706,000 square feet of contiguous single-level exhibition space divisible into 11 separate halls. The center contains 61 meeting rooms configurable into over 100 variations, 2 major conference centers, and over 150,000 square feet of registration space, and is equipped with high-speed internet, a fiber-optic backbone, on-site production facilities, and web-casting abilities.
Parking
NRG Park includes one of the world's largest parking lots, with about 26,000 spaces on site. The complex provides parking areas near NRG Center. Paid on-site parking is generally available for event attendees; check the official event and venue websites for the most current daily rates and lot assignments.
Getting There
NRG Park is easily reached from central Houston. The complex is located on Kirby Drive at the South Loop West Freeway (I-610). It is served by the Stadium Park / Astrodome station on the Red Line of the METRORail light rail system. Houston METRO and its METRORail operate various routes near and around NRG Park. Houston is served by two major airports—George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to the north and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) to the southeast—both accessible by taxi and rideshare services.
Nearby Hotels
NRG Park sits in Houston's South Loop / Texas Medical Center area, which offers a range of hotels within a short drive of the venue. Official URTeC 2027 room-block and housing details are published on the event's Accommodations page as the show approaches; attendees should book through the official housing link once available to secure negotiated group rates. (Note: hotels used for the 2026 downtown edition, such as the Hilton Americas-Houston and Home2 Suites near the George R. Brown Convention Center, served that location rather than NRG Park.)
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the next URTeC held?
The next edition, URTeC 2027, will be held 3-5 May 2027 at Reliant Park (NRG Park) in Houston, Texas. It will be co-located with the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC).
Who organizes URTeC and who should attend?
URTeC is produced by three sponsoring organizations: the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG). It is aimed at engineers, geoscientists, data scientists, and executives working on unconventional oil and gas resource development.
What makes URTeC different from other energy conferences?
URTeC is built around an integrated, multidisciplinary format rather than separate discipline-specific tracks, bringing geologists, geophysicists, engineers, and business managers together on shared asset-team challenges. For 2027, its co-location with OTC broadens the technical content and networking across both offshore and unconventional communities.
How do I register for URTeC?
Registration is completed through the official URTeC website, where full-conference passes and add-ons such as short courses and topical luncheons are offered, and exhibitors register through a separate portal. Pass types, pricing, and deadlines for URTeC 2027 are posted on the official site as the event nears.
How do I get to the venue and where can I park?
Reliant Park sits on Kirby Drive at the South Loop West Freeway (I-610) and is served by the Stadium Park/Astrodome station on METRORail's Red Line, with Houston's IAH and Hobby airports nearby. The complex offers extensive on-site parking, with roughly 26,000 spaces available.
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