Press Release
CONTACT: Dana Otillio (+1.972.952.9471, email dotillio@spe.org)
SPE Annual Meeting Highlights Heavy Oil and the Industry's Future
RICHARDSON, Texas, USA (25 July 2006) — On 24-27 September, the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) brings together more than 8,000 exploration and production professionals from around the world for the 2006 Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE 2006) in San Antonio, Texas, USA, to preview the industry’s future.
ATCE 2006 offers the opportunity to learn from world-class experts about the latest technology and innovative approaches for meeting global industry challenges.
The ATCE technical program includes more than 500 carefully selected technical papers and numerous panel sessions covering many opportunities and issues important to the industry.
Topics include
- megaprojects execution
- residual oil zones
- emerging technologies in reservoir monitoring
- real-time reservoir surveillance
- horizontal well completions
- drilling and completions waste-management strategy
- applications of dynamic price models
“Heavy Oil: From Rock Face to Fuel Pumps” is the subject for Monday’s Opening General Session. A panel moderated by Vikram Rao, vice president of Halliburton, discusses the unique challenges that heavy oil presents in relation to economics, reserves estimates and capacity. Panelists also address existing and future technology with an emphasis on the role of research and development for finding new methods of extraction and refining.
Panelists for the Opening General Session include Don Paul, vice president and chief technology officer of Chevron; Alan Kardec Pinto, refining executive manager of Petrobras; Robert Skinner, former director of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies; and Murray Smith, minister-counsellor of the Government of Alberta, Embassy of Canada.
"ATCE 2006 presents the most current topics in the industry, from the future of heavy oil to emerging technologies in reservoir monitoring. Attendees will see cutting-edge products and services from more than 350 exhibitors,” said 2006 SPE President Eve Sprunt.
In “Reserves: To Be (Proved), or Not To Be (Proved), That Is the Question,” a panel of industry experts share their perspectives on how the current and evolving classifications and definitions affect their areas of expertise.
Separate sessions address the unique interests and career issues of young professionals and women in the oil and gas industry.
A panel of young professionals from several geographic regions provides insight and shares information about current issues and activities across SPE, followed by a networking brunch where young professionals can meet and network with select industry management.
“Women’s Issues in the Petroleum Industry” brings together a panel of women who have managed successful careers in the oil industry to discuss career planning, mentorship and hurdles.
On the final day, San Antonio-area high school students plan to visit the ATCE exhibition and hear an exciting presentation by Dr. Brian Glass, noted NASA research scientist, on how petroleum technology is being used for drilling on the planet Mars.
After a successful inaugural year in 2005, the Chairman’s Luncheon returns with ATCE 2006 General Chairperson Clarence P. Cazalot Jr., president and chief executive officer of Marathon Oil Corporation, who shares his insights on the E&P industry.
ATCE’s time-honored events include the Annual Reception and Banquet, which honors distinguished SPE members; the Ramadan Iftar and Dinner; and the President’s Luncheon, which offers the “State of the Society Address” from 2006 SPE President Eve Sprunt, who will pass the presidential gavel to 2007 SPE President Abdul-Jaleel Al-Khalifa.
For more information on ATCE 2006, visit http://www.spe.org/atce.
###
About SPE
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) is a not-for-profit professional association whose members are engaged in energy resources development and production. SPE serves 69,000-plus members in 112 countries worldwide. SPE is a key resource for technical knowledge related to the oil and gas exploration and production industry and provides services through its publications, conferences, workshops, forums and website at http://www.spe.org.
