Editor’s Note: This is a summary of the July episode of the President’s podcast. We encourage you to listen to the episode to hear the full conversation.
In this month’s episode, I had the opportunity to discuss several key topics with SPE CEO Simon Seaton. We delved into the exciting preparations for the 100th anniversary of the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE), analyzed the recent member survey results, and highlighted our prestigious awards programs.
Recent Travels and Engagements
My recent travels included visits to various SPE sections around the globe such as India, Houston, Midland, Texas, and Brazil. These visits enable opportunities for expansion in growing energy regions like India as well as underscored the dedication and enthusiasm of our members. For example, in the Permian Section, the awarding of over $140,000 in scholarships is a testament to our collective effort in supporting the next generation of petroleum engineers through volunteer work and corporate sponsorships. In addition to attending the first CCUS Symposium in Brazil, I had the opportunity to speak with many of the student sections supported by SPE Brazil and SPE Macae.
ATCE 2024 in New Orleans
As we gear up for ATCE’s 100th anniversary in New Orleans, I’m thrilled about the extensive lineup of activities planned. Last year, SPE staff and the SPE Board began working on reimagining ATCE, employing a third-party consultant to interview members, ATCE attendees, and some of our exhibitors. The team came up with several high‑level findings.
Based on member feedback, the event layout was updated to create a more dynamic and interactive environment for attendees, create more networking opportunities, and drive more traffic to the exhibit floor. The Executive Advisory Committee (EAC) was expanded to include a broader range of industry perspectives. In addition to assembling the opening general session, this expanded EAC put together six additional executive level strategic panels that will tackle key industry challenges and opportunities.
The Opening General Session will feature an all-star CEO panel that includes Tayba Al Hashemi, ADNOC Onshore; John Lindsay, Helmerich & Payne; Jeff Miller, Halliburton; and Meg O’Neill, Woodside Energy.
Another highlight of the event will be Liberty Energy’s CEO, Chris Wright, who will deliver the keynote address at Monday’s chairpersons’ luncheon, who will share his insights and industry trends.
ATCE’s technical program remains strong. This historic event will feature more than 400 technical presentations in 50 technical paper and poster sessions. Additionally, we will present a selection of the best papers from two other conferences, showcasing cutting-edge research and innovation from the Drilling Conference and the Hydraulic Fracturing Technical Conference.
Also new in 2024, SPE members will receive complimentary access to the exhibition floor, encouraging greater participation from local members and providing an opportunity to explore the latest technologies and solutions and network with industry leaders.
SPE Awards Programs
We also discussed SPE’s awards program, an integral part of our Society. It recognizes members at section, regional, and international levels for their technical contributions and professional excellence. Regional award winners compete for international recognition and receive additional awards for outstanding achievements. Distinguished and honorary memberships represent the pinnacle of recognition within SPE.
I reviewed the process for nominating your colleagues, and in fact, nominations for the 2025 awards will open in September. Regional winners are announced early in the year, and international winners are honored at our annual awards banquet at ATCE.
Member Survey Insights
We spent the remainder of the episode discussing the recently completed Member Survey. SPE has historically conducted a survey each year, this year strategic changes were made to the survey based on input. Past surveys were sent to a random 1,000–1,500 members, and really represented more of a “satisfaction survey.” This year’s survey was sent to all 127,000+ members, including former members, to assess member value perception. With nearly 10,000 responses, we gathered a representative and robust dataset reflecting the views and needs of our diverse membership. All regions were well represented, as well as students, young professionals, and professional members.
We wanted to ensure diverse representation on the survey responses by various demographics and regions. By and large, the respondents matched the membership profile. For example, 75% were professional members. We would have liked a higher percentage of students, but the good news is we had a lot of professional member responses. Of the respondents, 10% were life members, and 10% were young professionals, matching our overall membership percentage. Two‑thirds were from outside North America.
On the surface, the survey revealed high levels of engagement and commitment among our members. However, while our members are aware of 80% of our offerings, they only actively utilize 35% of them, indicating a need to examine each program and the value it provides members. Those who use an offering have a very high level of satisfaction, ranging from 84 to 79% satisfaction—consistent with past years’ member surveys.
Our overall Member Value Index scored 77, which is in the middle of benchmark data provided by SPE’s research vendor. In addition, this index score is consistent across our global super regions.
Next Steps
The full survey results were initially shared with the SPE Board and staff leadership during the board meeting in April. At that meeting, the board and staff began to delve into the extensive material. Since then, they have been discussing the results in greater detail, particularly through the two primary board committees: the Technical Content Committee, which focuses on events, publications, and training, and the Member Engagement Committee, which focuses on member benefits and programming.
The board plans to use these results to make informed decisions, prioritize programming, support member value, and shape strategic goals and objectives. These discussions will continue in the upcoming board meetings, emphasizing the use of the survey data to guide future actions. The organization is committed to keeping members informed about progress and improvements resulting from these discussions.
Next Month Sneak Peek
August will be my last podcast episode, so I plan to review SPE over the past year and discuss some things I’ve learned in my travels and interactions with our members. I will also discuss where I see our industry and SPE headed.
