Frontiers of Technology

The articles in this collection were written to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Society of Petroleum Engineers’ Journal of Petroleum Technology (JPT). JPT's birth in January 1949 coincided with the growth of the petroleum engineering profession. These articles explore how the development of new technology has transformed the petroleum industry. They appeared in JPT in January–December 1999. The original series was sponsored by the SPE Foundation.  A reprint of the collection was sponsored by: SPE Gulf Coast Section, Schlumberger Ltd. and Mewbourne Oil. The original articles have been edited somewhat (primarily for length) for inclusion on this site. They are written for a non-technical audience,

Celebrating 50 Years of the Best Technology

Like all good products and services, JPT was created to fill a need. The American Institute of Mining & Metallurgical Engineers (AIME), from which today’s Society of Petroleum Engineers International evolved, had as part of its membership a small, but growing, number of petroleum engineers. These members had specific technological issues far removed from their peers in the older, more-established engineering disciplines. The AIME Petroleum Branch Executive Committee (whose members represented such companies as The Pure Oil Co., Dowell Inc., Humble Oil and Refining Co., and The Texas Co.) determined that the best way to meet this group’s needs was to develop a “publication so dominantly petroleum as to secure wide reader interest,” one that would “rapidly gain the respect of the industry…” Over the years, that goal was achieved. JPT came to be recognized worldwide as the source for authoritative technical information in the petroleum industry. The first technical paper published in JPT was “A Hydraulic Process for Increasing the Productivity of Wells,” by J.B. Clark. The hydraulic fracturing technique for well stimulation that Clark discussed was responsible for the subsequent recovery of billions of barrels of oil. Complementing the technology of the technical papers were articles relating to the oil and gas business. Titles appearing in the first issue included “Private Financing of Oil Producing Properties” and “Middle Eastern Oil and Its Importance to the World.”

JPT, like the profession and the industry it serves, has evolved over the years. But some things in the publishing business never change, as indicated by this January 1949 statement from I.W. Alcorn, Chairman of the Petroleum Branch Executive Committee, concerning JPT’s purpose. “We entertain no illusion of our ability to please everyone all the time, but since the Journal is ‘for petroleum engineers,’ we believe that with your help we can please most of the people most of the time.”

Celebrating Technological Achievement

In recognition of the magazine’s 50th birthday, JPT, in collaboration with the SPE Foundation, presented a series of historical articles throughout 1999. These articles look at the significant technologies that have shaped the oil and gas business and that have led the industry into new frontiers. Included are technologies in the seismic, drilling, and completion areas, along with reservoir engineering, deepwater structures, subsurface equipment, surface facilities, horizontal and multilateral wells, subsea completions, and formation evaluation.

These articles give readers insight into the forces that drove development of these technologies, including economic and environmental considerations, and the impact these technologies have on today’s operations. Interviews with knowledgeable, key individuals in each of these topic areas provide readers with a first-hand look at the various stages of technological growth. As was its intent 50 years ago, JPT’s mission is still to inform you well.