Formatting a Paper for Peer Review
The SPE Publications Style Guide 
provides information on the SPE
style for elements in technical papers. However, please note the change
related to preferred format for references below.
The paper should be single column, 1.5- or double-spaced, with text in 10-point type. [Papers being submitted to meetings should use the template provided in the author kit. While similar to these guidelines for papers being submitted for peer review, there are differences.]
Please ensure that the following major items are handled according to SPE guidelines:
Paper Number
Be sure that the SPE paper number assigned to your paper is clearly shown on
your manuscript and all publications materials.
Authors
List the authors under the title in the order you want them to appear.
Include the name and company affiliation of each author. Put SPE after the
names of authors who are SPE members. Example: Joe Smith, SPE, Generic
Petroleum Co.
Summary
Include a summary of 50 to 100 words at the beginning of the paper.
Headings and Subheads
Make sure that major headings, subheads, and sub-subheads are clearly
distinguishable by using the following styles:
- First-Level Headings -- 10-point bold on line by itself.
- Second-Level Headings -- 10-point bold, period at end, and run into the next paragraph.
- Third-Level Headings -- 10-point bold italic, period at end, and run into next paragraph.
- Fourth-Level Headings -- 10-point italic, period at end, and run into next
paragraph.
References
Please cite references in the text by placing the author's name and year in
parentheses; then, include an alphabetical listing of the references at the end
of the paper. [Note: this is a change from SPE's previous reference
style, which required references to be numbered in the order in which they were
cited.]
Numbering Figures and Tables
Number figures and tables (in Arabic, not Roman, numerals) sequentially in
the order they are cited in the text. Avoid numbering individual figures as
Fig. 11a and Fig. 11b. Instead, make them Fig. 11 and Fig. 12.
Numbering Equations
Number equations sequentially as they appear in the paper. Enclose the
equation number in parentheses preceded by a line of dots (see SPE
Publications Style Guide
Sec. 8.5.1).
Nomenclature
If symbols for quantities (e.g., p for pressure or q for
flow rate) are used in the text, equations, tables, or figures, include a
Nomenclature defining them at the end of the text. The Nomenclature should list
the symbol, the definition, the units of measure (or dimensionless), and the
dimensions (see SPE Publications Style Guide Sec. 8.7.4). Also available is the
SPE
Letter and Computer Symbols Standard which provides a list on commonly
used symbols and their definition.
Reference List
Include complete information on all references in the format described in
Sec. 8.8 of the SPE Publications Style Guide. Incomplete reference citations
may result in your paper being returned for correction and a delay in
publication.
Metric Conversion Factors
After the References section, include metric conversion factors for units
used (see SPE Publications Style Guide, Sec. 8.10.3). The metric conversion
factors should go from customary units to metric units.
Author Biographies
Provide a brief biographical sketch of each author at the end of the
paper. For each author, give only the name, title, company or organization,
location of the company or organization, work history, and education history.
Including an email address is suggested but not required.
Tables and Figures
All tables and figures should be cited sequentially in the text of the
paper. They should be grouped at the end of the paper rather than embedded in
the text. Please include figure captions in a listing at the end of the text.
In addition, please format tables using the Table menu on the MS Word toolbar;
tables should not be submitted as images. Figures can be submitted in Word,
Excel, or PowerPoint format, or as .tif or .jpg images. Images submitted
graphically need to be print-quality (300 dpi) not web-quality (72
px/inch).
Color Figures
Please use color only when necessary. Note: Authors will be charged
USD 800 for the first color figure and USD 150 for each additional
figure printed in color (with a maximum charge of USD 2,000). You
must notify SPE whether you want color figures when you submit your
revised manuscript.
