Impact of Sanction Laws

SPE must comply with all applicable sanction laws, including those of the US, UK and European Union which prohibit personnel and nationals of certain countries (including the US) living abroad, from providing or assisting in the provision of certain services to individuals “ordinarily resident in” an embargoed or sanctioned country1.

Sanctions differ from country to country. Some US sanctions programs take the form of comprehensive embargoes of countries or regions within a country (e.g., Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Syria, and Crimea / Russian-occupied Ukraine). Others target certain economic sectors, entities, or individuals within a country (e.g., Russia). It is the policy of SPE not to engage in any activities prohibited under the applicable sanctions laws of the US, UK and the EU. SPE also shall not engage in transactions involving individuals or entities subject to asset freezes administered by such jurisdictions (e.g., Specially Designated Nationals on the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (“OFAC”) list).

For example, under US law, SPE may provide to members residing in embargoed or sanctioned countries only those membership benefits related to information or informational materials or that are otherwise authorized under applicable sanction laws, including regulations administered by OFAC, licenses, and interpretations issued pursuant thereto. Please note that the regulations do not permit the import, export, or dealing in of information and informational materials not fully created and in existence at the date of the transaction involving the embargoed country, or the substantive or artistic alteration or enhancement of such informational materials by or on behalf of such countries.

There are a number of services/benefits that may be provided to SPE members in countries sanctioned by the US, UK and/or the EU (e.g., Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Syria and Crimea / Russian-occupied Ukraine) because these activities relate to the provision of informational materials and thus are not limited by applicable US, UK and/or EU sanction laws. These permitted services/benefits include:

  • SPE membership
  • Geographic section membership in non-sanctioned countries
  • OnePetro subscriptions or purchases
  • Individual membership queries
  • Individual membership benefits for publications, published technical papers and informational matter
  • Attendance at SPE meetings, conferences, and workshops (cannot be an exhibitor)
  • SPE books and periodicals (print and electronic)
  • Information on SPE.org
  • Information on energy4me.org (Energy4me Program, energy education outreach to pre-university students)
  • Attendance verification

There are a number of services/benefits that may not be provided to SPE members in countries sanctioned by the US, UK and/or the EU because there are persons involved in providing these services who may be prohibited by US, UK or EU laws. These prohibited services/benefits include:

  • Section support
  • Student Chapter support
  • Funding of any type, including:
    • Section rebates
    • Gus Archie Scholarship
    • Nico van Wingen Fellowship
    • Henry de Witt Fellowship
    • Membership recruitment contests
    • Membership Development Appreciation Awards
    • OnePetro grants
  • Participation at SPE Forums
  • Participation on SPE Committees
  • Technical Section membership
  • Interactive training (training that is expanded beyond previously prepared information)
  • Programs
    • International or regional student paper contests
    • Participation in SPE Student PetroBowl program
    • Distinguished Lecturer Program
    • Student Chapter awards
    • Regional awards
    • International awards
    • Section awards
    • eMentoring program
    • Certification program
    • Insurance programs
    • Ambassador Lecturer Program
  • Technical Sections
  • SPE Connect
  • Organizing or supporting any SPE conferences in embargoed countries

Additional information on US, UK and EU laws regarding this issue may be found at US Treasury Department Enforcement and Civil Penalties, UK Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 and http://eeas.europa.eu/cfsp/sanctions/docs/measures_en.pdf.

For any questions regarding SPE's membership benefits, please contact Customer Service in the Americas Office in Dallas, USA at +1.972.952.9266 or the Asia Pacific office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at +60.3.2182.3152
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1Under US law, "Ordinarily Resident In" generally includes:

  • Individuals, regardless of nationality, residing in an embargoed country,
  • Individuals holding an embargoed country passport and a non-permanent visa (student, visitor, temporary, business) for any country outside the US, and
  • Individuals holding an embargoed country passport and a non-permanent visa (visitor, temporary, business) for the US