ATCE Provides Focus on Staffing Challenges, Innovation

Erica Shillings, JPT Assistant Features Editor

In the oil and gas industry, it is crucial to be informed of the latest technology, but if companies do not have the experienced individuals they need, then having the newest information is useless. “Innovate: A Golden Opportunity for People and Technology” is the theme of the 2007 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE), which will be held 11–14 November in Anaheim, California. The conference will give participants a chance to view new technology as well as attend sessions focused on the current struggle to find talented people to bridge the oil and gas age gap. The conference—located in Anaheim for the first time—will include more than 350 technical presentations, posters, and panel sessions. The 4-day conference will offer technical sessions in all of SPE’s major technical areas, including

Drilling and completions
Health, safety, and the environment (HSE)
Management and information
Projects, facilities, and construction
Production and operations
Reservoir description and dynamics

The Chairperson of the Technical Program Committee is Ashok K. Belani of Schlumberger, while Stuart Ferguson of Weatherford International is serving as Vice Chairperson. In addition to technical and panel sessions, ATCE also will offer special sessions, short courses, and a new feature titled “Introduction to Technology Series.”

Short courses will be taught the weekend before the conference on subjects ranging from horizontal-well completions to hydraulic-fracture diagnostics. On Sunday, 11 November, ATCE will hold a Student General Session, an opportunity for students to listen to presentations from industry leaders, as well as a Student Technical Session. The Sunday activities end with a Welcome Reception on the exhibit floor open to all ATCE attendees. Conference-goers can walk around the exhibit floor viewing the newest technology and products in the industry while enjoying complimentary food and beverages and networking with other oil and gas professionals.

Another student event is the PetroBowl, which takes place Monday. The PetroBowl is a contest that will consist of 16 student chapter teams in a tournament-style format that will test the level of students’ knowledge of the industry and of SPE. This event is sponsored by the Gulf Coast Section Young Professionals Program.

Opening Session

The Opening General Session on Monday, titled “Help Wanted: Meeting the Oil and Gas Industry’s Staffing Challenges,” will discuss the increase in petroleum demand and the decrease of experienced workers in the industry. While the oil and gas industry continues to grow, companies continue to face a shortage of individuals in the workplace. The session also will address the challenges in hiring new recruits but not having the time and resources to train and retain these employees. How staffing challenges are affecting HSE issues, operating efficiency, and technology will be another focus of the session.

The opening session will include moderator Anthony H. Smith, Vice President Operations–Northern US and Alaska, Smith Services, and panelists Giovanni Paccaloni, 2005 SPE President, and Joseph H. Bryant, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Cobalt International Energy. The session will discuss such topics as

Increasing training and development programs
New sources of qualified engineers specifically interested in and trained for the industry
Best practices for a new company that is formed and staffed by experienced people
Current approaches to sourcing and developing large numbers of people on a global scale
Innovations from outside the industry

A session titled “Societal Changes and Issues,” also will be held on Monday. The session will address the engineer’s role in promoting social change. The session begins with opening remarks by Diran Apelian, Vice President of The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, who will speak from his paper on the topic of “Advocacy for Social Change.” Additional speakers will provide case studies of how engineers can improve the quality of life for people in developing nations. Topics will include clean water, housing, and the evolving role of the professional engineer in society.

Also on Monday, ATCE will present a new conference feature titled “Introduction to Technology Series.” The series will provide speakers with high-level overviews of decision-making processes associated with a broad range of real-world projects. Each session features a technical oil and gas professional who will address his/her specific technical discipline to pro-vide the audience with a better understanding of why choices were made by the decision makers in those situations. Session topics include

Drilling: The Art and Science of Well Planning. Speakers will include Jennifer McCarthy, a drilling engineer with Alta Resources, and Colin Leach, President of Argonauta Drilling Services.
Reservoir Engineering: Heavy Oil and Tight Gas, with speakers Edward Hanzlik, a petroleum engineering consultant with Chevron, and George Petrosky, a staff reservoir engineer with ConocoPhillips.
Completions.

Later that evening, SPE’s Annual Reception and Banquet will be held. During the banquet, the society will recognize members who have made significant contributions to the oil and gas industry.

Special Programs

On Tuesday, a Young Professionals Motivation Workshop and Keynote Luncheon will be held. Topics discussed will include what motivates young professionals in their careers and communities, and how young professionals, companies, and SPE should address the big crew change. The workshop will feature presentations by industry leaders and will include an interactive group discussion. During lunch, members of the SPE Young Professionals Coordinating Committee will provide an overview of the society’s global young professional activities and share advice for developing and enhancing local activities.

Another special session, “Women in the Industry,” also will take place on Tuesday. This session features a panel of female speakers who hold technical and business leadership positions. They will share their experiences on how they have managed successful careers in the industry and on career planning, mentoring, and hurdles they have faced. The panel will address how the industry can attract and retain women and how women can achieve a balance between career and personal lives.

On Tuesday afternoon, the session “Advances and Applications in Reservoir Engineering and the Role of Reservoir Engineers” will highlight the technical developments made in reservoir engineering over the past 100 years. The session will benefit not only veteran engineers, but will be of interest to individuals who are new to the industry. The session will feature keynote speaker Abdus Satter, consultant, and panelists Larry Lake, professor, the University of Texas at Austin; Alain Gringarten, professor, Imperial College, London; Ganesh Thakur, Global Advisor–RM and Fellow, Chevron ETC; and Ram Agarwal, Distinguished Reservoir Engineering Advisor, Petrotel.

On the last day of ATCE, the President’s Luncheon and Annual Meeting of Members will feature 2007 SPE President Ab-dul-Jaleel Al-Khalifa delivering the “State of the Society” address and the official passing of the presidential gavel to 2008 SPE President William Cobb. This event also will recognize the newly appointed board members, distinguished members, former presidents, and regional
award recipients.

More information about the conference is available at www.spe.org/atce/2007.