SEPTEMBER 2026 • VOL. 78, NO. 9
View the issue page for September 2026 JPT here
Features
Q&A With 2027 President C. Susan Howes: Learn. Share. Connect. Grow.
2027 SPE President C. Susan Howes discusses her vision for SPE, highlighting the Society’s role in professional growth and the development of future energy leaders. In this JPT interview, she explains why investing in people is key to the future of the energy industry.
Comments: Why Scaling CO₂-EOR Remains Difficult
The world produces vast volumes of carbon dioxide, and CO₂-EOR is one of the best-established techniques for increasing oil production. Despite this, its use remains limited because of economic, logistical, and operational challenges.
Guest Editorial: Playing Our Part—Petroleum Engineering Skills and Building the Future Energy Landscape
This guest editorial addresses the many capacities in which oil and gas technical professionals can play a role advancing the energy technologies of tomorrow.
Why a Different Kind of Oil Market Is Taking Shape
Oil prices are high, but spending has not caught up—yet. Meanwhile, exploration strategies are changing around the world toward a lower-risk model, and the frenzied pace of US M&A has very much cooled off.
Too Much Water, Too Few Answers
Disposal wells remain the lowest-cost solution for produced water but concerns over seismicity and long-term sustainability are accelerating interest in alternatives.
What To Do With Old Wells
With millions of wells having been drilled in the US since the beginning of the oil age, the land is pocked with old, unused wellbores. For most, repurposing is a pipe dream. Plugging is the best option.
Case Study: Testing Tubular Connection Performance for Emerging Thermal Well Designs in Canada
This case study outlines a full-scale testing program focused on the behavior of thermal casing connections subjected to severe bending and low-cycle fatigue loading.
Global Exploration and Production Updates: FIDs, Discoveries, and New Frontiers
This energy roundup highlights major global developments, including Western Australia’s approval of Woodside’s Browse gas project, TotalEnergies’ FID for Cyprus’ first gas development, and new oil and gas discoveries offshore Colombia, Namibia, and Angola. Read the latest updates on LNG projects, exploration successes, seismic surveys, and strategic upstream investments shaping the global oil and gas sector.
People
This section lists with regret SPE members who recently passed away.
In Memoriam: Zaki Bassiouni
Bassiouni, the former dean of LSU’s College of Engineering, passed 8 July.
Technology Focus Synopses
Reservoir Surveillance
Muhammad Navaid Khan, Senior Specialist for Reservoir Engineering, ADNOC
Integrated Surveillance and Reservoir Simulation Safeguard Value of Thin-Oil-Rim Brownfield
Proactive Surveillance Enhances Reservoir Characterization in Mature ACG Field
Fuzzy Logic Assesses Interwell Connectivity: Case Study of a Giant Presalt Reservoir
Field Development
Badar Ali Hilal Al Aamri, SPE, EOR and Reserves Management Manager, Medco E&P Oman
Fit-for-Purpose Development Planning for Greenfield Aims To Deliver Early Monetization
Physics-Based Model Accelerates Deepwater Greenfield Development
Approach Optimizes Presalt Geohazard Assessment and Well-Trajectory Planning
Offshore Facilities
Chris Carpenter, Technology Editor, Society of Petroleum Engineers
Concept Design of Nuclear-Powered FPSO Achieves Sustainable Offshore Energy
Combined-Cycle Approach Holds Potential for Offshore-Facility Carbon Capture
Framework Enables Evaluation of Aging Offshore Platforms for CCS
Oilfield Chemistry
Myles Jordan, Subject Matter Expert, ChampionX
Alkaline Earth Metals Enhance CO2 Mineralization in Saline Aquifers
Secondary Mineral Formation Examined During CO2/Basalt Interaction
Study Explores Potential of Subsurface Biomineralization in CO2 Injection, Storage
SPE Technical Papers Available for Download — August–September 2026
The complete SPE technical papers—synopsized in each monthly issue of JPT—are available for download for SPE members for 2 months.