Workers in Lafayette busy setting up for LAGCOE, one of the biggest oil-and-gas expositions in the world

Oct 22, 2015 / News

Forklifts buzzed across the Cajundome grounds Thursday, carting crates filled with display materials for some of the 448 companies setting up for this year’s Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition, a biennial oil and gas show in Lafayette that’s in its 60th year.

LAGCOE 2015 starts Tuesday and ends Thursday at the Cajundome and Convention Center.

"We started (Wednesday) morning, and we’ll be setting up through Sunday,” said Brady Delhomme, a foreman for exhibition specialist Nimlok, who, with others, was building the giant booth for Knight Oil Tools inside the Convention Center.

The Knight display, a multilevel affair with iPad interactive stations, is but one that Nimlok employees will set up. Delhomme said his workers also will build the displays for Frank’s International, CNC, Quality Companies and others.

"We’ve got a lot of work to do,” said Cliff Couvillon, also with Nimlok.

Earlier this week, the LAGCOE employees who put on the show moved from their offices in Lafayette’s Oil Center to the Cajundome and Convention Center.

On Thursday morning, LAGCOE Executive Director Angela Cring and her staff tended to the million details that go along with putting on one of the largest oil and gas exhibitions in the world.

Also busy were LAGCOE’s many volunteers, including the oil and gas veteran who in 2013 was chosen for the ceremonial position of LAGCOE Looey.

"The show is totally sold out,” said Alfred Thomas II, who relinquished the LAGCOE Looey crown — an old, gold hard hat — to this year’s honoree, Charlie Moncla Jr.

"I enjoyed being LAGCOE Looey so much I offered to do it again,” Thomas said. "It was a privilege.”

Billy Gunn | The Advocate