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INDUSTRY UPDATES

New oilsands processing solution in development

sonic_generator_drawing-webSonic Technology Solutions and Shell Canada Energy have teamed up to develop novel oilsands extraction processes, and their work has warranted a patent application. The patent was filed jointly between Shell and Sonic subsidiary SonoOil for the recovery of bitumen from oil sands. Read more »

R&D Conference examines hydrocarbon sustainability

spe-rdconf-webGlobal energy demand is predicted to grow substantially in the next 30 years, and the oil and gas industry will be expected to continue providing the lion’s share of future supply. With a theme of “Fueling the Future,” the 2009 SPE Research & Development (R&D) Conference investigated the new technologies and energy players required to meet the world’s energy needs. Read more »

Next-generation subsea module going global

vetco-semstar5_web

The SemStar5.

GE Oil & Gas recently announced that it will incorporate its award-winning, next-generation subsea electronics module, the VetcoGray SemStar5, as part of a contract to upgrade a suite of subsea control systems for StatoilHydro’s Tordis Vigdis Controls Modification (TVCM) project. The contract, totaling USD 70 million, represents the first global deployment of the SemStar5. Read more »

New noise-monitoring technology ensures compliance for drillers

The Environmental & Natural Resources Group (ENRG) has recently launched a new, patent-pending noise-monitoring service for drilling and completions activities. The service, reportedly the industry’s first real-time, Web-based noise-monitoring offering, will allow operators to proactively address potential sound issues that arise while drilling or completing gas or oil wells. Read more »

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SPE NEWS

IT Tech Section is now ‘Digital Energy’

Engineers Day expands for San Joaquin Valley Section

Penn State Chapter celebrates E-Week with homemade oil reservoirs

Dallas YPs launch new website

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PRESIDENT'S FORUM

Leo RoodhartLeo Roodhart is the 2009 SPE President. Read his monthly column to hear the latest SPE news.


Board Actions Guide SPE Programs

The SPE Board meets four times a year. Our most recent meeting was late February in Doha. The Board and Board Committee meetings span 3 days and cover a lot of business. Here are some highlights from that meeting.

Fiscal Year 2010 Budget. We spent a lot of time discussing the budget proposed for FY 2010, which runs 1 April 2009 through 31 March 2010. SPE is budgeting a positive result of USD 127,000. This will be a challenging financial year for SPE, just as for others in this economic downturn. While we intend to keep the quality of our programs high and to continue to provide the services our members need, we will be very attentive to our operating costs. Read more »

SPE Managing Costs and Maintaining Quality

We are a bit further into the year since I wrote my last column, and unfortunately the global economic crisis deepens. Companies have already tightened such things as travel budgets and will certainly be watching cash flow very carefully. I maintain, however, that this is the time we should focus on preparing for the next upturn by retaining capacity and developing or improving the relevant technology.In an ideal world, R&D and training would be anti-cyclic to the economic cycle: use a lower demand on staff in a downturn to train them for the next phase and allow this human capital to develop new ideas/R&D when there is time for it. Now, more than ever, companies should be seeking innovative ideas and technology to reduce their operating costs and produce better results.

Read more »

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