Dear SPE Members,
I wanted to share with you information from the recent SPE Board of Directors meeting, held in Cairo 14-16 March. It is my intent to share information with you after each Board meeting.
As SPE, and the industry, emerge from the downturn, one of the Board’s most important topics of discussion was financial. I am pleased to report that SPE is once again looking healthy financially. This significant improvement from the budget is primarily due to increased attendance at our events and training courses, along with generally improving conditions across our business.
The Board also approved the FY2020-21 budget. SPE budgets on a two-year cycle, because two large events – Offshore Europe and OTC Asia – occur only in the even-numbered fiscal years. This creates an up and down pattern in SPE’s finances, where our goal is to break-even over the two-year cycle. After losing more than one-third of SPE staff during the downturn, the healthy FY2020 approved budget includes 23 new hires globally to begin rebuilding our capacity to provide more events and other advanced services to our valuable members.
The Board was also excited to hear about the launch of the new SPE International App (available in the Apple and Google stores – search for Society of Petroleum Engineers International). Plans call for ongoing improvements to the app as we gather feedback from you. Try it and send us your comments through the app. Later this year, members will be able to renew their membership through the app.
Sustainability is a growing topic across our industry. As you know from my JPT columns, it has been a major focus of my Presidency. The Board discussed the numerous actions ongoing across SPE, as well as our work with other organizations in this area. SPE is leading an industry effort to reframe and account for the oil and gas industry’s sustainability performance.
Professional pride is one of the four key areas of SPE’s latest strategic plan. The March JPT included a special section on professional pride. As I noted in my New Year message, I would like 2019 to be the year we all share our good stories. We want to provide resources to help you do that. Plans are being finalized for a “resource center” that pulls together materials for members to use and potentially share.
Board members also learned about the plans for OnePetro. The plans include a move away from pdfs to “flowable content” that will be easier to use on mobile devices, search enhancements, and many other changes. The new platform will allow us to recommend items that may be of interest to you based on your prior searches in OnePetro. Because of the extensive changes being undertaken, the new platform will not be available until 2nd quarter 2020.
Another area of activity discussed was Energy4me. The Energy4me website is being redesigned with potential and significant technical content uplift.
The Board of Directors always appreciates hearing feedback from members. If you have suggestions or comments about our activities, please contact your Regional Director or contact me at President@spe.org.
Warm regards,
Sami Alnuaim
2019 SPE President
