Chairperson's message for May 2009
Message from the chair. . .
Dear Fellow SPE Members,
Despite many talks and news about alternative energy sources, the industry experts believe that fossil energy will likely be the world’s primary energy source for at least the next two decades. Consequently, the need for new and enhanced technologies for developing and producing the remaining hydrocarbons is now greater than ever to meet the global demand. Unfortunately, investment in new and improved technologies in the oil and gas industry historically has been slow compared to other industries. Also, the cyclic nature of oil and gas prices which normally leads to industry cost-cutting will add to the problem since research and development projects are generally the first to go in downturn periods. Additionally, the technology life cycle (idea to commercialization) in the oil and gas industry can take 10 or more years which may not match the need.
Fortunately, there is an opportunity for industry-academia-government collaboration in the US to sustain R&D in certain strategic areas of petroleum exploration, development and efficient production of domestic resources to effectively deliver hydrocarbons to the citizens of the United States. The Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) is a non-profit corporation established to help meet the nation’s growing need for hydrocarbon resources produced from reservoirs in America. It is a consortium of producers, service companies and academia working to fund upstream R&D projects. RPSEA receives federal funding to oversee the program. The goal of the program is to “maximize the value of natural gas and other petroleum resources of the United States by increasing the supply of such resources, through reducing the cost and increasing the efficiency of exploration and production while improving safety and minimizing environmental impact.”
RPSEA’s focus is on meeting key energy challenges: (1) the growing demand for petroleum, (2) accelerated R&D requirements, and (3) new models for government/academia/private sector R&D collaboration. Currently the consortium’s focus is on developing projects in these areas: ultra-deepwater (depth greater than 15,000 feet) architecture and technology, unconventional hydrocarbon resource exploration and production technology, production from mature fields, and the technology challenges of small producers. In the past 2 years, RPSEA has funded deepwater projects involving subsea power generation and flow measurements, well intervention, subsalt imaging, and riser design. Also, as part of its mission, RPSEA has established a scholarship/fellowship program with institutions of higher education where the most promising students with studies relevant to the oil and gas industry are competitively awarded scholarships to help with their education and/or research activities. Currently, the program provides scholarships to10 students at 7 universities. For more details on RPSEA’s goals and activities, as well as opportunities to be part of this organization, please visit: www.rpsea.org.
As always, I am looking forward to your suggestions and active participation in our section activities including our monthly Petroleum Technology Forum. Also please do not forget to participate and invite your friends and colleagues to be part of the LA Section Charity Golf Tournament on May 15.
See you soon,
Jalal Torabzadeh
LASPE Chairperson 2008-2009