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February 1998 - NEWSLETTER
Meetings This Month
L.A. Basin Board of Directors Feb. 4
Petroleum Technology Forum Feb. 10
New Technology & Environmental Forum Feb. 7 or 14
PTTC (Petroleum Technology Transfer Council) Feb. 27
MESSAGE FROM YOUR CHAIR...
I read our SPE president, Deann Craig's column in the January issue of JPT with much interest as she addressed one of the problems that seems to be universal among all sections: low attendance at SPE local technical meetings. Based on her recent observation of a number of local meetings worldwide, she presents some novel ideas for beefing up attendance. If you haven't already read her column, I urge you to read it and get some fresh ideas on how we can increase the attendance at local meetings.
As you know, February 21-28 is the National Engineers Week. Many activities are planned nationwide during that week. LA Basin territory is no exception and many activities are planned by various technical societies. Try to actively participate in various engineering programs and tell your colleagues and friends about the importance of the petroleum industry and its engineers to the economy and well being of the Southland.
One event of particular interest to us is on Saturday the 21st of February, when the Institute of Advancement of Engineering will be sponsoring a luncheon aboard Queen Mary for presentation of awards and induction of Fellows. SPE candidates for Fellows this year are our past Western Region Director, Marina Voskanian and 97 SPE Western Regional Meeting General Chair, Scott Hara. So, please mark your calendar and attend this luncheon to congratulate these fine SPE colleagues who have earned such high honor by serving the SPE and the society. For tickets please call Ron Stein at (714) 457-9035.
Another engineering event of importance to us is on Saturday the 28th of February, when the Orange County Engineering Council will have their Awards Banquet at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine. Among the award recipients is our own Richard Stegemeier, Emeritus Board Chairman of UNOCAL, who will receive the ENGINEER OF THE YEAR award. Let's show up in force to congratulate this long time SPE member on this happy occasion and let him know that we are proud to have him as an SPE member. Reserve your tickets and tables by calling Ray Hesser at (714) 962-0091.
At our last Board meeting we had a bad/good news combination. Bruce Hessen resigned as our Section Vice Chairman and the Chair of the Scholarship Committee, because of a promotion that required him to leave the area. We would like to thank Bruce for his five years of dedicated service to the SPE LA Basin Board in various capacities, wish him good luck in his new position and invite him to continue helping us and the SPE as a whole whenever possible. We also thank Bruce for asking John Jepson to replace him as the Scholarship Chair. John, welcome aboard.
Another addition to our Board is Harry Staubs, who will be our delegate to OCEC replacing Dr. Torabzadeh, who, due to the press of a teaching assignment, could no longer function in that capacity. Dr. Torabzadeh will, however, continue to be the SPE representative to LACES.
Your Board recently updated the Section Bylaws. Elsewhere in this Newsletter, highlights of the revisions are presented. After you respond with your approval or suggestions for other changes, the revised draft will be presented to the SPE executive committee for approval before it becomes effective for our Section.
Have a Successful Engineers Week.
Sam Sarem
1998 National Engineers Week Activities
This year National Engineers Week is celebrated from February 22 to February 28. Its is celebrated always during the week of President George Washington's Birthday, our first engineer! Events are scheduled across the country to recognize and honor engineers, engineering educators, and engineering projects and accomplishments.
Also, Engineers are encouraged to visit local schools as part of the Discover "E" Engineers Week Program. Discover " E " is an Outreach of Engineers into the elementary and secondary school communities in the K -12 grades.
Engineers visit schools and interact with the students to encourage interests in math and science education and to highlight and explain or demonstrate scientific principles. Why don't you do it?
The National Annual Theme as in past years is "Engineers: Turning Ideas Into Reality!
A number of local activities are organized in the greater Los Angeles area to honor engineering. A few of these are listed below. Try to get involved.
The kick-off event for Engineers' Week 1998 will be held on Saturday evening, February 21, 1998. The Institute for the Advancement of Engineering (IAE) will hold their Honors and Awards Banquet is combined with the IAE College of Fellows Installation Ceremony. The banquet will be held on the Queen Mary in Long Beach. The event starts at 5:30 pm with an optional Tour of the Queen Mary. Tickets at $45 per person are available through the IAE Executive Director, Gary Sumner at 714-832-1113 or by FAX at 714-669-9941. In addition to the Fellows Installations , among the IAE Awards presented that evening are "Leadership in Engineering, "Outstanding Student Leadership, "Media Award" and "Outstanding New Engineer.
Also, during this evening at the same event, the Los Angeles Council of Engineers and Scientists (LACES) will present their prestigious "George Award" to their Engineer of the Year.
On the following Saturday, February 28 the Orange County Engineering Council (OCEC) will hold its Engineering Week Honors and Awards Banquet at the Hyatt Regency Alicante in Anaheim. Reception starts at 6 pm.
The OCEC banquet keynote speaker will be Dick Stegemier, CEO Emeritus, of UNOCAL who will be honored with a special OCEC Award.
Tickets are $45 per person available from the OCEC Treasurer, Ray Hesser, OCEC, P. O. Box 1156, Costa Mesa, CA 92628, Phone: 714-962-0091.
Many other activities take place during the celebrations of Engineers' Week that are organized by professional societies, organizations and companies.
Plan to attend some these events and celebrate your engineering achievements
along with those of your peers.
UPCOMING EVENTS
FEBRUARY 12, 1998
Hydraulic Fracturing for Efficient Completions in Unconsolidated Formations
Dr. Jacob Shlyapobersky, Shell E&P
SJV Section, Bakersfield (805) 392-3435
March 10, 1998
"Multilarterals Revitalize Waterflood"
Petroleum Technology Forum, Long Beach
April 14, 1998
Topic TBA
May 10 to 15, 1998
SPE FORUM SERIES IN ASIA PACIFIC
Integrating Well Testing & Res. Characterization
Nusa Dua, Indonesia (60)3-294-7211
May 8, 1998
SPE-API-D&D Charity Golf Tournament
Green River Rd., Corona, CA
May 12, 1998
THUMS Review of the Last Fiscal Year's Goals and Performance, Steve Freeman, President
Petroleum Technology Forum, Long Beach
May 17 to 22, 1998
SPE FORUM SERIES IN ASIA PACIFIC
Advances in Drilling Tech. & Operations
Nusa Dua, Indonesia (60)3-294-7211
Call SPE Richardson, for details @ (800) 456-6863
PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY FORUM
Co-Chairs, 1997-1998
Ron Behrens Chairman Chevron (562) 694-7813
Ed Santiago Program DOG (562) 590-5311
John Thompson Treasurer Gas Co (562) 578-2641
John Jepson Secretary DOG (562) 590-5311
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 1997
Time: Social: 11:30 a.m.
Lunch: 12:00
Presentation: 12:30
Place:
Long Beach Petroleum Club
3636 Linden Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90807
Cost: $13.00 member, $5.00 student
Reservations: Not Required
Speaker: Rod Eson, Vice President, Venoco, Inc.
Topic: AN INDEPENDENT'S EXPERIENCES OF WORKING IN THE LA BASIN
Abstract: Mr Eson will talk about his experiences of producing and drilling wells in the LA Basin from the
point of view of an independent oil company that can make a profit in this environment.
Biography: Mr. Rod L. Eson is Vice President of Operations and co-founder of Venoco, Inc. headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. Venoco is one of the fastest growing oil and gas companies in the United States. Since it was founded by Eson and Mr. Timothy Marquez, President, in 1992, Venoco has grown through strategic acquisitions and focused development to become the largest California based domestic oil and gas company. As Vice President of Operations, Mr. Eson manages all of Venoco's field operations in California, Texas, Colorado and Mississippi, which produce more than 9,000 barrels of oil per day and more than 30 million cubic feet per day of gas. Under Venoco's operations field operating expenses have been consistently reduced by 20-50%, while enhancing safety and significantly improving environmental compliance.
NEW TECHNOLOGY & ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM
Co-Chairs, 1997-1998
Vivian Bust Mission Geoscience (714) 955-9086
Scott Hara Tidelands Oil Prod.Co.(562) 436-9918
Ed Mayer Consultant (626) 796-4437
Allan Spivak Intera-Duke (310) 979-4777
Michael Hagood ARCO Env. Rem. (213) 486-3685
ARCO MARINE, INC. OFFERS OIL TANKER TOURS
Through the generous support of ARCO Marine, Inc., oil tanker walk-through tours will be offered this February 1998. Our host will be Mr. Richard L. Verches, the Director of Public/Media Relations and Crisis Communications. Because it is impossible to predict the ship's schedule(Valdez-Long Beach)and ship availability at the Port of Long Beach this far in advance, the following date windows are targeted for tanker walk-through tours.
TIME OF TOURS: February Tour Date Window: Saturday February 7 or 14, 1998 or a week-day as close as possible to these February dates.
RESERVATIONS: Call Ed Mayer's voice mail at THUMS (562) 624-3377 ON THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE TARGET TOUR DATE window and leave your name and telephone number. You will be contacted and your reservation confirmed. Reservation confirmation is required. At the time of confirmation, additional scheduling details of the tour will be provided to you.
PLACE: Meet at Pier Berth 121, Long Beach, CA
The tour will commence with a video of oil tanker operations and safety prior to the tanker walk-through tour. The tour group will be limited to 16 people. For the walk-through portion of the tour the group will be split into two smaller groups of 8 each. Duration of the tour will be about 1.5 hours.
West Coast PTTC Technology Workshop
Power Cost Reduction in Oilfield Operations
February 26, 1998 Bakersfield, Ca
February 27, 1998 University of Southern Cal, Los Angeles
Improved Pump Efficiency
Economics of Progressing Cavity, Reciprocating and Electrical Submersible
Pumps
Electrical Load Shedding
Pump-Off Controllers
New Opportunities
To register call PTTC (213) 740-8076
Reaching the OCEC Online
The Orange County Engineering Council (OCEC) now features, online, at www.OCEC.org, all the information about its 45 member societies and 28 Corporate Sponsors, that has appeared in the perennial popular 160 page "Blue Book". The OCEC is one of three umbrella organizations under the Institute for the Advancement of Engineering that represents over 160,000 engineering professionals across Southern California.
The OCEC Web site will allow you to enhance your technical credentials and increase your networking exposure in the industries of your choice.
The OCEC Web site will stay current with the Who's Who in the technical industry and be current with the numerous meetings, newsletters, and activities in the technical arena. Bookmark the OCEC Web site NOW at www.OCEC.org
HONORS and AWARDS Nominations
Annually, individual SPE members, committees and sections nominate members for major Society honors and awards. The nominees are then submitted t0 the SPE Board for approval. The deadline for submission of names is March 1, 1998.
There are three basic category of awards:
1. There are nine different awards for the contributions to-and achievements in the enhancement of petroleum for distinguished achievement in improving the technique and practice of finding and producing petroleum.
2. There are three different awards for the professional contributions or distinguished service separate from any technological contributions distinguished and outstanding service to SPE, the profession of petroleum engineering and geology and petroleum industry.
3. There are five awards for the technical contributions that further the profession and/or service to the Society and/or in special recognition for distinguished scientific or engineering achievement.
For the details either call SPE Richardson (800) 456-6863 or Sam Sarem (714) 692-1198.
SCHOLARSHIP REPORT
The Los Angeles Basin Section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers awarded two $1,600 scholarships for the 1997/98 school year to students from the University of Southern California.
These students were selected based on their excellent scholastic achievement, SPE involvement, school and community volunteer work, and petroleum industry experience.
The following are brief biographies for the USC scholarship recipients.
Joseph Durham, a past SPE Scholarship recipient, is a senior in Chemical Engineering (petroleum option) with an overall GPA of 3.7 He is the Vice President of the student chapter, a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, SPE representative to the USC Engineering Student Council, and a varsity member of the swim team! Joseph worked last Summer with Texaco in Kern River as an intern in their reservoir engineering and facilities departments. Upon graduation he "would like an opportunity to be part of a field from the exploration and development stage to mature production and even abandonment". With the financial support of the SPE Los Angeles Basin Section Joseph was able to attend the 1997 SPE Convention in San Antonio.
Dylan St. John, a transfer student from Hartnell College, is a junior in Chemical Engineering (petroleum option) with an overall GPA of 3.0. Since transferring Dylan has become active in the SPE student chapter as well as several other student organizations at USC. You may recall he gave an excellent talk about the importance of the SPE and the PTTC at the Industry Appreciation Night. He participated in the PTTC Comet program this last summer where he was employed with the Conservation Committee of California Oil and Gas Producers. He is currently interviewing for summer work and "hopes to find employment offshore in the Gulf of Mexico".
Funds for these scholarships come in part from Richardson, TX, through annual membership fees. But this only accounts for about 20 percent. The remainder of the scholarship money was raised through our annual fund-raisers, such as the Annual BBQ and the SPE/API/Desk & Derrick Golf Tournament. The Los Angeles Basin Section would like to thank our membership for making these events a success, which in turn allows us to provide these scholarships.
Joseph and Dylan, CONGRATULATIONS!
Bruce Hesson
Scholarship Chairman
PUBLICATIONS MENTOR
Do you want to write a technical paper, submit an abstract to the SPE but have questions about the best way to proceed? The Section has established the position Publication Mentor to assist you in matters related to SPE procedures for submission and evaluation of abstracts for SPE conference technical programs, preparation of technical papers for presentation at SPE conferences, peer review and possible publication in SPE journals. Lyman Handy has been appointed to this position. To consult with him or arrange a meeting call USC (213) 740-0322 or send an e-mail to lyhandy@earthlink.net.
JOB ADVERTISEMENT
ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES ENGINEER examination. Final filing date is 2/13/98. Positions exist with the California State Lands Commission in Long Beach, CA. $2943-4177/month. To receive the minimum requirements and application information, call (916) 547-1910, e-mail lloyd@slc.ca.gov or write CSLS, Personnel, 100 Howe Ave., Suite 100-South, Sacramento, CA 95825
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