First-Time Attendee? What to know before you go

For those of you who are attending ATCE for the first time (or for those who haven't attended in a long time), we've compiled answers to frequently-asked questions, ideas from past attendees, and other information that you might want to know.

Conference Location

Colorado Convention Center
700 14th Street
Denver, CO 80202  USA

Registration Information

What does conference registration include? Full conference registrations include one Proceedings CD and admittance to the technical sessions, exhibition, receptions, coffee breaks, and access to SPE On Demand, but does not include training courses and ticketed events.

Here is a list of the events that you must have a separate ticket for:

    • All Training Courses (1- and 2-day)
    • All Guest Tours
    • 25-Year Club Breakfast
    • Keynote Luncheon
    • Build Your Career Teams—Breakfast Social
    • Young Professionals Workshop & Reception
    • Annual Banquet 
    • Rocky Mountain Region Topical Luncheon
    • R&D Technical Section Topical Luncheon
    • President's Luncheon
    • Field Trip

Why wait to register on-site? Save time by registering online! Online registration remains open 24/7 until the last day of the show. 

Registrants may pay online in US dollars by credit card or bank transfer. We accept American Express, Visa, and MasterCard credit cards.

Accommodations Information

  • ATCE has many official conference hotels that offer special group rates, so reserve your room by 30 September to take advantage of this offer.
  • Experient is the official housing company for ATCE. No other hotel/housing provider is authorized to contact you on behalf of ATCE. We will vigorously pursue these other companies to prevent unauthorized contact.  
  • Beginning Sunday, 30 October, complimentary round-trip shuttle service is available between the Colorado Convention Center and most official conference hotels.

Attendee Badge Mailing

  • Domestic attendees’ badges and any purchased tickets will be mailed prior to the conference if registration is processed on or before 7 October 2011.
  • Attendees registering after 7 October and all international attendees can pick up their badges on-site beginning at 0800 hours on Sunday, 30 October, at the Advance Registration counter.
  • Please be prepared to show photo ID (passport or driver's license) to pick up your conference badge.

Suggested Dress Code

  • Don’t know what to wear? SPE conferences are business-casual to business-formal. Evening events such as the Annual Reception and Banquet are business-formal.

Safety Tips

  • As with any destination, we recommend that conference attendees practice common sense and do not wander into deserted, non-tourist areas of the city.
  • Wear your name badge at all times while in the convention center. Do not wear your name badge out in public.
  • Denver is exactly one mile high! Learn how to prepare your body for the high altitude.

Student and Young Professional Events

What does ATCE offer students and young professionals?

  • ATCE helps students and young professionals accelerate their careers by providing valuable lectures and presentations, workshops, student paper competitions, and numerous networking events and opportunities.
  • For example, this year at ATCE:
    • New! Student Mini-Series
    • Young Professionals Workshop and Reception
    • Student PetroBowl
    • International Student Paper Contest

Visa Information

  • Are you an international attendee? If yes, then you need to start planning now!
    • The process for obtaining a passport or visa may take several months. Create an official SPE invitation letter online that you can print and use in obtaining a visa. Please note that this letter does not guarantee that you will be granted a visa, nor does it commit SPE to assist you in obtaining a visa.
  • Make sure you know how to contact your country's consulate in case your passport is lost or stolen while you are in Denver. See a list of consulates in Denver.

It’s All About Networking!

  • Get the most out of ATCE by maximizing your networking! Attend social events such as:
    • Mile High Reception on Exhibit Floor
    • Expo Luncheon on Exhibit Floor
    • Happy Hour on Exhibit Floor
    • Annual Reception and Banquet
  • Students: Take advantage of specials events designed just for you!
  • Use the ExpoPlan feature to save time on the exhibit floor and find vendors who meet your needs.

Technical Session Format

  • Want to know what a technical session consists of?
    • It is typically 6-8 presentations, 25 minutes each, with Q&A at the end. Presentations can be based on papers or keynote and/or panel discussions.
    • Papers are grouped together in sessions by technical discipline.
    • Browse the technical program online for details on each technical session topic.
  • Access to these technical sessions is including with full conference registration and 1-day technical sessions and exhibits registration.

Find Exhibitors that Fit Your Technical Needs

General On-Site Information

Here is some general information to help you get around on-site. More details will be added soon.

25-Year Club

Monday–Wednesday, 0800–1600

The 25-Year Club is located in room 210/212, street level. The club was established for the benefit of those SPE members with 25 years or more of continuous membership,  members who have recruited 100+ members to join SPE, and current and former officers and directors.

Business Center

The Business Center is located in the convention center in Lobby A, street level, in the red carpet concourse. It will be open from 0730 to 1730 hours on Monday, 31 October, through Wednesday, 2 November. Contact the Business Center at +1.720.904.2300.

Conference Bags

Full and 1-day paid attendees can pick-up a complimentary conference bag in Registration, Exhibit Hall B. You will need your ticket, which is included with your conference badge, to pick up a bag.

Dining

A variety of concessions will be available throughout the exhibit halls.

Knowledge Sharing ePosters

The Knowledge Sharing ePosters are located in Lobby B, street level. An ePoster is an electronic version of a traditional poster presented on a flat screen monitor. It offers the added benefit of animation, audio, and video and enhances the visual experience to provide greater interactivity between the attendee and the poster author. See each day’s technical program for a complete schedule.

Internet Access                                

Complimentary internet access is available in the Wireless Lounge in Exhibit Hall A and the Blue Bear Café in Lobby F. Stay in touch with your office, colleagues, friends, and family.

Luggage Check

Luggage check is available in Lobby A, street level. The price is USD 3 per checked item.

Proceedings

Proceedings distribution is located in the SPE Pavilion in booth 2539 on the exhibit floor. Proceedings can be picked up during exhibit hours, Monday through Wednesday. A Proceedings requires a ticket for pick up, whether included in registration or purchased.

SPE Member Services

In the SPE Pavilion, booth 2539 on the exhibit floor, SPE staff are available to answer questions about membership, dues, online mentoring opportunities, continuing education programs, publications, sections, and student chapters, plus other SPE programs and services. You can also purchase SPE-published books.

SPE On Demand

ATCE offers SPE On Demand—an online portal to access the ATCE 2011 presentations, digitally recorded and available as audio synchronized to PowerPoint presentations.  Following the conference, all attendees who paid the full registration fees will receive complimentary access to SPE On Demand. Other attendees may purchase access separately. Visit www.SPEondemand.org for complete details.

Speaker Check-In/Practice Room

Presenting authors need to stop by the Speaker Check-in/Practice Room, room 709/711, street level. Computers will be available to review your presentation.