Impact of Sanction Laws

SPE must comply with all applicable sanction laws, including those of the US 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.

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 the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), licenses, and interpretations issued pursuant thereto.

The list below indicates which membership benefits are permitted under, versus those benefits which SPE may not offer in order to comply with, applicable sanction laws.

There are a number of services/benefits that may be provided to SPE members in countries sanctioned by the US and/or the EU (e.g., Iran, Cuba, North Korea and Syria) because these activities relate to the provision of informational materials and thus are not limited by applicable US 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 and/or the EU because there are persons involved in providing these services who may be prohibited by US 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
  • Volunteer appreciation gift
  • SPE Connect
  • Organizing or supporting any SPE conferences in embargoed countries

Additional information on US and EU laws regarding this issue may be found at US Treasury Civil Penalities and Enforcement Information and http://eeas.europa.eu/cfsp/sanctions/docs/measures_en.pdf2

For any questions regarding SPE's membership benefits, please contact Customer Service in the Americas Office in Dallas, USA  at +1.972.952.9383 or the Asia Pacific office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at +60.3.2182.3152

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

2Following implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, OFAC General License H now authorizes SPE's Middle East affiliate in Dubai to provide certain additional services to its members in Iran. SPE and its US personnel, however, remain prohibited from providing or facilitating the provision of such services to persons in Iran except as authorized or exempt from US sanctions.