The Society of Petroleum Engineers is delighted to announce the appointment of Silviu Livescu as the new editor-in-chief of SPE Journal, along with the addition of an exceptional team of three new executive editors—Yuguang Chen, Arjun Roy, and Chicheng Xu.
SPE Journal has long been committed to advancing research, fostering innovation, and providing a platform for high-quality scholarship in the field of petroleum science and engineering. With the appointment of this new editorial leadership, the journal enters an exciting new chapter that promises to strengthen its mission and broaden its impact.
Silviu Livescu brings a wealth of experience to the role. He is currently the co-founder and chief technology officer of Bedrock Energy. Livescu has served as a tenured professor at The University of Texas at Austin and has worked for Baker Hughes and ExxonMobil. He has served SPE for decades as a technical board director, SPE distinguished lecturer, and an SPE distinguished member.
Livescu brings his editorial experience as a current executive editor for SPE Journal as well as editor-in-chief for the journal Geoenergy Science and Engineering and has been involved in the peer review of more than 20,000 papers. He has also authored more than 100 papers and 40 US patents. Livescu is replacing long-serving Editor-in-Chief Birol Dindoruk (Texas A&M University) who steered SPE’s journal program through a complex consolidation.
Of his upcoming role as editor-in-chief, Livescu says he “will serve the petroleum engineering community by maintaining the highest standards of technical excellence while also guiding the journal toward emerging challenges in energy transition, digitalization, and sustainability, providing both rigorous scholarship and practical relevance while also mentoring the next generation of editors, authors, and reviewers to strengthen the community for years to come.”
SPE Journal also welcomes Yuguang Chen (Chevron), Arjun Roy (Bently Nevada), and Chicheng Xu (Open Petro AI) as the newest executive editors. They bring their experience as professionals, authors, and former associate editors to the role. The journal is thankful for the leadership of Birol Dindoruk and the executive editors who will rotate off in October, including Silviu Livescu, Zoya Heidari (The University of Texas at Austin), and Gary Teletzke (retired, ExxonMobil).
SPE Journal editors serve 3-year terms and are nominated by the current editors and elected by the SPE Board of Directors. The new editors will begin their term in October 2025.