Letter from the Chair . . . John Jepson

Happy Holidays,

We had a very busy and successful year. I can not believe the year 2000 is almost history and that it went by so fast. The year's highlights included the SPE/AAPG Western Regional meeting, a great golf tournament, the teacher training day and a year of stable oil prices. I wish all of you and your families a joyous holiday season.
John

Petroleum Operations Day Recap from Scott Hara

The Petroleum Operations Day For Teachers and Community Leaders held on Friday November 10 went.....fantastically!

The thirty teachers and guests who attended were treated to gift bags with an assortment of useful items ranging from water bottles, rulers and flashlights to folio organizers and SPE T-shirts. We supplied a wealth of petroleum industry handouts that covered both upstream and downstream operations in general and California operations specifically. The teachers were given presentations on the history of oil in the Los Angeles Basin, oilfield geology, world oil reserves and production, drilling and how we operate safely and responsibly.

The presentations were followed by a tour of the THUMS Island Grissom, where drilling and workover operations were occurring. After the THUMS tour, we treated the teachers to a Santa Maria BarBQ at Tidelands Oil Production Company's Operations Office. To round out the day, the teachers were given a tour of the Tosco Carson Refinery. We ended the day with unusual and very well-received raffle prizes, including helicopter tours of offshore platforms from Aera and Nuevo and an all-expense paid refinery tour for a class from Tosco.

What did the teachers think of the day? On a survey rating of 1-5, 5 being best, we received 26 fives and 4 fours for the overall event from the thirty teachers and guests who attended. This glowing review means we should have a second annual event next year. We hope we can count on the refineries and producers to continue supporting our efforts to educate our teachers and community leaders.

Thanks to all of the sponsors and people who helped make this inaugural event a success, especially the Los Angeles Basin Geological Society, CA DOGGR, the City of Long Beach, Stocker Resources, Signal Hill Petroleum, Halliburton, Schlumberger, Venoco, BP, Texaco, Conoco, ExxonMobil, Long Beach Desk and Derrick Club, CA State Lands Commission, and the previously mentioned companies above.

Petroleum Technology Forum

DATE: Tuesday, December 12, 2000
TIME: 11:30 am ­ Social
PLACE: Long Beach Petroleum Club
3636 Linden Avenue, Long Beach, CA
COST: $15.00 , $5.00 Students
SPEAKER: Darien G. O'Brien, an SPE Distinguished Lecturer
TOPIC: Star Wars Laser Technology for Well Drilling And Completions
Star Wars laser technology was developed for air defense but may find use in well drilling and completing. Rotary drilling, a century after replacing the cable tool rig, shows recently only marginal improvements. Despite the improvements, the bit is "on bottom, turning right" only half of the time required to drill a well, and there are limits in perforating beyond the damaged zone. A drilling and completing revolution may be forthcoming with high-powered lasers.

Darien G. O'Brien, PE, is Director of Engineering for Solutions Engineering, a petroleum and environmental engineering consulting firm located in Lakewood, Colorado. Mr. O'Brien's involvement with laser technology began while working in the Laser Division of the U.S. National Bureau of Standards in the early 1980's as part of the Star Wars research initiatives. A registered professional engineer, Mr. O'Brien holds a BS in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Alaska.

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