The brightest minds in E&P focused on digital transformation at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition in Dallas
Big data transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and other digital technologies were the key topics at the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE), which took place 24–26 September at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.
More than 8,100 E&P professionals from around the world attended ATCE for a comprehensive review of technical topics related to industry productivity, efficiency, and safety.
“We had a rousing and compelling opening general session, and the panelists set the tone for the whole event, helping to spur dialogue about the technical areas that are driving our industry forward,” said 2018 SPE President Darcy Spady. “For nearly a century, SPE members have walked away from ATCE with innovative ideas, and this year was no different. We’d like to thank all the conference’s speakers, exhibitors, organizers, and most of all our members for again making this year’s ATCE so remarkable.”
ATCE’s technical program kicked off with the Opening General Session on “Translating Big Data into Business Results.” The panel was moderated by Eithne Treanor, ETreanor Media, and included four panelists: Alisa Choong, Vice President & CIO, Projects & Technology, Shell; Melissa Suman, Vice President, Data & Digital, Schlumberger; Doug Suttles, President & CEO, Encana; and Darryl Willis, Vice President, Oil, Gas & Energy, Google Cloud.
The panelists emphasized the need for E&P companies to have a data strategy for effectively using data to improve operations and safety.
“More data has been created over the last two years than the last 5,000 years. That’s a challenge and an opportunity,” said Darryl Willis.
ATCE also celebrated the accomplishments of E&P professionals and the industry. More than 50 individuals were honored at the Annual Reception and Banquet for their significant contributions to the oil and gas industry and SPE.
Along with the extensive technical program of 300+ papers and presentations, ATCE also included one of the largest displays of E&P products and technologies with over 360 companies representing 16 countries showcased at the conference.
“As SPE’s flagship event, ATCE brings together thousands of engineers, geologists, academics, and other industry professionals to share insights and ideas. As we recover from the downturn, a sense of optimism and excitement was present among the attendees,” said Sami Alnuaim, 2019 SPE President. “Events such as ATCE help us look beyond our own companies and operations, and collaborate with others to advance the collective goals of the oil and gas industry.”
The 2019 conference will be held 30 September–2 October 2019 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. For more information, visit www.atce.org.The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) is a not-for-profit professional association whose members are engaged in energy resources development and production. SPE serves more than 158,000 members in 143 countries worldwide. SPE is a key resource for technical knowledge related to the oil and gas exploration and production industry and provides services through its publications, events, training courses, and online resources at www.spe.org.
