JPT October 2025 Issue

On the Cover
Construction at the OpenAI‑led Stargate initiative kicked off at Project Ludicrous in Texas earlier this year. Source: Crusoe.
Monthly Features
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The technology to desalinate and reuse produced water for cooling AI data centers in the Permian Basin exists, but addressing cost challenges remains critical to widespread adoption.
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Industry observers warn that the future of the UK North Sea hinges less on geology than on whether fiscal stability can be restored.
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In today’s era of asset management, digital twins are changing risk management, optimizing operations, and benefitting the bottom line.
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Digitalization and advanced analytics have enabled drilling automation that is changing the way wells are executed to deliver more production earlier.
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With artificial intelligence and online training both on the rise, it's crucial to ensure workers and companies treat safety as more than a box-checking exercise.
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Jennifer Miskimins shares her vision for the year ahead—rooted in SPE’s new tagline, “Solutions. People. Energy.”—and outlines how the Society can meet growing global energy needs, support members, and shape the industry’s future.
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SPE is navigating one of the most challenging financial periods in its history. In this article, the SPE Officers outline the factors behind ongoing budget pressures, the actions already taken, and the new steps approved by the SPE Board of Directors to ensure long-term sustainability while protecting member value.
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Three SPE specialty publications are being retired, yet coverage of their respective topics will live on in JPT. The change gives members a single platform for upstream knowledge while streamlining SPE’s publishing operations.
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Each year during its Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE), SPE honors members whose outstanding contributions to SPE and the petroleum industry merit special distinction. Recipients will be recognized at the Annual Awards Banquet on Tuesday, 21 October 2025.
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Updates about global exploration and production activities and developments.
People
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This section lists with regret SPE members who recently passed away.
SPE Technical Paper Downloads
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SPE technical papers synopsized in each monthly issue of JPT are available for download for SPE members for 2 months.
Offshore Drilling and Completion
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The dynamic realm of offshore drilling and completion continually sees the development of innovative technologies aimed at enhancing safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. This edition highlights three papers showcasing transformative potential within the industry.
Artificial Lift
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The accelerating deployment of machine learning and automation is changing the artificial lift landscape. By embedding intelligence into the control loop, operators now can move from reactive decision-making to proactive, continuous optimization.
Emissions Management
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Emissions management remains an active and crucial research area in the oil and gas industry. It is a broad research category spanning several different directions. The papers of the past year demonstrate the rich diversity of ideas and analytical techniques used for tackling different research questions in this space.
Sand Management
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As reservoirs become more complex and economics tighter, the industry is shifting toward more-adaptive, data-informed, and targeted solutions. New research highlights innovative solutions that not only address technical limitations in existing designs but also enhance decision-making through digitalization and cross-disciplinary integration. The papers highlighted her…