The 17th World Petroleum Congress was held September 1st to 5th, 2002, in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. Its theme was Petroleum Industry: Excellence and Responsibility in Serving Society.

The Chairman of the Brazilian National Committee, Mr. Joel Mendes Rennó and the Chairman of the Brazilian Organizing Committee (BRASOC), Mr. João Carlos Franca de Luca invited the world to attend the first ever World Petroleum Congress held in Brazil. International organizations across Latin America worked together to make this one of the most significant events in the world oil and gas industry in 2002.

The five day congress included almost 300 feature addresses, review and forecast papers, forum papers and posters. The congress included technical visits to industry facilities such as production platforms, shipyards, research and training centres as well as pre- and post-congress tours, some of which were combined with technical visits. It included a number of innovations including concurrent sessions featuring presentations by public organizations especially concerned with environmental and societal issues.

BRASOC reported 3,483 delegates, 484 accompanying persons, 200 students and 630 journalists attended, a 16 percent increase over the registration for the 16th WPC. The Rio Oil and Gas Expo held concurrently in the same conference and exhibition centre included 800 booths with presentations on all facets of the petroleum industry.

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