Chairperson's message for December 2008
Message from the chair. . .
Dear Fellow SPE Members,
I hope you had a happy and healthy Thanksgivings holiday. I also wish you and your loved ones peace, happiness and prosperity during this holiday season and the coming year.
December is the time to reflect upon accomplishments and achievements over the past year and to resolve goals and wishes for the coming year. Despite the enormous economic crisis and the associated problems as well as many natural disasters at national and global levels, fortunately, 2008 was a very productive and successful year for the petroleum industry. The record breaking high oil and gas prices earlier this year resulted in major changes in strategies, investments and activities throughout the industry. As the economy entered deeper recession, especially in the past two months, and the global demand for energy decreased, oil prices fell sharply. This has resulted in a more conservative approach to industry expansion. The turbulence and price volatility will probably remain high for the next few months. But the long term significance of recent developments can run much deeper. Expanding US energy supply can definitely play a significant role in strengthening the US economy.
2008 has also been a very successful year for the SPE in expanding its goals and objectives, increasing its membership, and implementing some new initiatives for the benefit of its members. The 2008 Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held in Denver, Colorado, September 21-24 with about 10,000 attendees, over 400 technical papers and tens of panel sessions was an example of this success. The LASPE section had also many successes in fulfilling its objectives. The monthly Technical Petroleum Forum attracted over 500 attendees who enjoyed and benefited from interesting and useful talks and seminars given by distinguished speakers and experts. Our section contributed to the 2008 Western North America Regional Meeting held in Bakersfield in March. The SPE student chapters at USC and CSULB were active and participated in various local, regional and international events including the Western Regional Student Paper Contest and ATCE. The LA SPE Section held many outreach and fundraising events, awarded more than $15,000 scholarships to local college and high school students, participated in County and State science fairs, sponsored many prizes for the science fair winners, and helped various school districts energy educational programs. Many of our Board members volunteered in several public service information and educational programs.
December is also the time for us to resolve our wishes and embark on new ideas and initiatives. At LASPE we would like to play a more significant role in fulfilling the SPE mission and goals at local and regional levels as well as in providing more services to our membership. Our industry is currently facing with many challenges including the economic crisis, the oil and gas price volatility, the globalization, the rapidly changing technology, the work force needs and changes to accomplish more with fewer people, the public image and perception of short and long term energy needs; environmental concerns; social responsibilities, sustainability, and many more. As expected with challenges, there will be opportunities. We need to address and understand these challenges and emerging opportunities. The LASPE Board is planning on arranging meetings, workshops, and short courses to address these issues as related to the needs of the members in our section by inviting experts and distinguished lecturers to facilitate expansion and acceleration of technology transfer, continuing education, promoting industry-academia-government partnership and other means.
As I mentioned in my previous messages, this is only possible by your active participation and involvement. So please join us in our monthly meeting, let us know what your priorities are, participate in various section activities, and help us find the right people to organize and conduct these events. Please read the “News from SPE” section of this newsletter on how to remain involved by renewing your membership, recruiting new or inactive members (and winning cash and valuable prizes), participating in nominating a Distinguished Lecturer, or nominating a colleague for a SPE regional or international award.
WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON AND A PROSPEROUS 2009
Sincerely,
Jalal Torabzadeh
LASPE Chairperson 2008-2009