Chairperson's message for September 2009
Message from the
chair. . .
Dear Fellow SPE Members,
This is my last message to you as the 2008-2009 LA SPE Section Chair-person. Starting October 1st, Vanessa Perez, the current Vice Chair will take over and will inform you of her plans for the Section activities for an exciting and challenging year ahead.
Last year was an extraordinary year not only for our industry but also for the whole world. The global financial recession and the resulting economic crisis affected almost every individual, company, business and government agency one way or another. With the oil price reaching the unbelievable value of close to $150/BBL in June 2008 and the sharp drop in price during summer and fall of 2008 and reaching to less than $40/BBL in December 2008, the industry experienced a roller-coaster in investment, hiring and change in strategies, never seen in our industry over such a short period of time. Despite this instability and significant price fluctuations, as well as global political situations, it seems that the supply-demand factor is coming back to control the energy price and hopefully bring some stability to the market and the industry.
Despite the global economic downturn, SPEI grew in the number of sections and membership world-wide. SPEI currently has close to 76, 000 members (more than 59,000 professional and close to 17,000 student members) in 170 sections and 204 student chapters throughout the world. Currently, the SPE total membership is split roughly 50/50 between US and non-US sections and chapters. It is interesting to know that close to 40% of the SPE membership consists of young professionals.
For the older and mature sections like ours (one of the pioneer sections since SPE establishment as part of AIME), it is more challenging to increase the membership (or even keep it steady) despite the significant changes in the local oil and gas industries, company and membership relocations, aging membership, as well as workforce reductions in the past 2 decades in our section. Despite all these adverse factors, the Los Angeles Basin Section has been one of the most active sections not only in the US, but also internationally. This has been only possible through the active participation of members like you and the dedication of volunteers serving on the Board of Directors of LASPE.
Last year was one the most successful and productive years for our section thanks to our Board members and volunteers who dedicated hundreds of hours of their time to fulfill the enormous task of planning, arranging, and conducting many activities for LASPE, its members, and the local and regional communities including: conducting monthly Petroleum Technology Forum and presenting excellent technical talks by outstanding speakers and experts; organizing workshops, continuing education courses, and seminars; public education on energy and environment; out-reach and support programs for local elementary, middle, junior, and high schools, colleges, and universities; participating in city, county, and state science fairs as supporter and judge; supporting Future Scientists and Engineers of America (FSEA); organizing career events and Energy Day at local universities; participating in Engineer’s Week; organizing fund raising events such as the Golf Tournament and awarding more than $20, 000 scholarships to outstanding high school and university students; participating effectively in the 2008 SPEI Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition in Denver, Colorado and the 2009 SPE Western North America Regional Conference in San Jose, California; and many other professional, educational activities, and community support services. For details of some of these activities, please visit the 2008-2009 LASPE Section Annual Report on our website: www.laspe.org.
Due to high level of activities, outstanding achievements, and excellent annual report, the LA Basin Section was nominated by the SPEI Membership Committee for consideration for a 2009 President’s Award for Section Excellence (35 out of 170 sections were nominated). While our section unfortunately did not win the award this year (only 7 sections received the award), it was a close runner-up in the balloting according to the Committee Chairman. This is a great achievement for our section and an indication that with some novel initiatives and additional efforts by our volunteers, our section can win this award in the coming years.
Another major achievement for our section was the successful nomination and selection of our long time dedicated member, officer, former Chairperson, and the great SPE advocate, Dr. Sam Sarem as the 2009-2012 Western North America Regional Director who will take over the Director position from our current Director, Dr. Med Kamal.
Although my term as the Chairperson draws to a close this month and I confidently pass the Chairperson position to Vanessa Perez, I will remain on the Board as the Junior Past Chairperson for the coming year and I will continue my service to the Section and the SPE at different capacities. I also would like to request you to do the same to help our section develop further and prosper more in the coming years. Additionally, I will have another very major responsibility for our section and our region this coming year that I need help of any volunteer and dedicated member. Last May, I have been honored to be nominated by the LASPE Board of Directors and further honored by the SPE Western North America Regional Council to be elected to serve (with significant help from our colleague, Scott Hara) as the Chairperson for the 2010 SPE Western North America Regional Meeting, WRM (Co-General Chair of the 2010 Joint SPE-WNAR/AAPG-PS Meeting) to be held in Anaheim, California, May 27-29. The conference will focus on technologies and issues affecting oil and gas fields in the Western North America Region. The information containing the Call for Papers is given in this newsletter and is posted on the Section website.
Please convey the message to your colleagues and volunteer yourself (and recruit others) to help organize various committees and plan for a successful meeting to be hosted by our section next spring. As you agree with me this is a major task that requires coordinated efforts by many. Please be part of the team by volunteering to serve on a committee, submit and present a paper, exhibit your service/product, or simply attend and enjoy the meeting and learn about recent advances in the industry. For information and participation please contact me directly at: torabzad@csulb.edu or visit www.lasp.org for other contacts.
Finally, I would like to express my thanks and appreciation for the help and dedication of 2008-2009 Board members: Vanessa Perez, Rick Finken, Robert Visser, Rick Reeves, AB Gorashi, Mike Utt, Eric Withjack, Candra Janova, Kate Wallgren, Jack Smith, Scott Hara, Sam Sarem, Mike Felby, Iraj Ershaghi, Larry Gilpin, Ed Santiago, Ed Mayer, and many other volunteers who made the last year a very successful year for the LA SPE Section. I also want to thank WNAR Director Med Kamal and the WNAR Council members, SPEI Section Manager Brian Wiggins and his staff for their support of our section. Participation of SPE student chapter officers at USC and CSULB in section activities is also appreciated.
Jalal Torabzadeh
LASPE Chairperson 2008-2009