Technical Sections—SPE’s Hidden Gem

Over the past year as 2027 SPE President, I have had the opportunity to speak with SPE student and professional members around the world about the value of SPE membership. In these conversations, I have repeatedly encountered an aspect of SPE that remains surprisingly underutilized: our technical sections.

I consider SPE’s technical sections one of its hidden gems. Technical sections are part of the global disciplines, formed by global technical communities that provide expertise, knowledge sharing, solution development, and the exchange of best practices and replicable technical approaches.

Get Involved

If you are not familiar with SPE technical sections, I encourage you to explore this valuable member benefit.

Unlike geographic sections and student chapters, which are assigned based on a member’s location and membership status, technical sections are an opt-in benefit. Each SPE member can choose to join the technical sections that align with their interests.

Technical sections offer international scope and technical depth, especially valuable for young professionals, multidisciplinary practitioners, and individuals at different stages of their careers and leadership development. Technical sections also provide unique opportunities to connect with academia, industry leaders, and recognized subject-matter experts. These communities are networks of technical practitioners. They bring an external perspective that can complement project work and help deliver greater impact. Technical sections are led by global leaders and teams within a global framework and under the guidance of technical directors, providing an appropriate level of governance.

As described on the SPE Technical Sections webpage, “A technical section is a group of SPE members worldwide who share a common interest in a specific technical topic.” These groups provide opportunities to collaborate, exchange ideas, and work on projects related to their technical areas of focus. They share knowledge through discussions, webinars, and events, with the goal of strengthening technical competence and advancing the profession.

Perhaps most importantly, there is no additional cost to participate. SPE professional members and students can join one technical section or all 25 as part of their regular membership dues.

Technical sections continue to evolve. SPE periodically establishes new sections as emerging technologies and areas of technical interest develop. The Acid Stimulation Technical Section, launched last month, is the newest addition to the program. The Asset Integrity Technical Section will be added soon. Other sections may be consolidated, renamed, or discontinued as member interests and activity change. As a result, the technical section portfolio is more dynamic than the Society’s geographic sections and student chapters.

Technical sections activities adapt in response to changing business and technology priorities. For example, emerging focus areas such as geothermal energy, AI, and integrated reservoir development are being actively addressed through technical sections. Table 1 includes the current list of technical sections.

Table 1—SPE Technical Sections

Resources and Engagement

Joining a technical section provides more than a connection to colleagues with shared technical interests. It also gives members access to a range of resources and opportunities for professional engagement.

Many technical sections host regular virtual events, including webinars. Because technical sections bring together members from around the world, these events can reach a broader audience than traditional in-person programs. Many webinars are recorded and made available on SPE Energy Stream, allowing members to access the content when convenient. Because these resources are available at no additional cost exclusively to SPE members, users must log in with their SPE credentials to access them.

For example, I recently participated in an Asset Management Technical Section (AMTS) webinar, “Staying Engaged & Energizing Your Career: A Cross-Generational Roundtable and Insights.” This topic falls within the AMTS taxonomy subdiscipline of Professionalism, Training, and Education. Opportunities such as this demonstrate the breadth of conversations that can take place within technical sections, extending beyond technical topics to include career development, leadership, and the exchange of perspectives across generations.

Many technical sections also use blogs and discussion groups available under the Resources tab on their webpages. Blogs offer an informal space for members to share ideas, experiences, and perspectives, while discussion groups allow members to ask questions, exchange information, seek peer input, and connect with others in their technical community. Together, these forums help foster ongoing professional engagement beyond members' workplaces and geographic regions.

Section Leadership

Technical sections also offer members opportunities to develop leadership skills and contribute directly to SPE. Like geographic sections and student chapters, each technical section has a team of officers. Some positions are required, while others are optional.

According to the SPE Technical Section Committee Guide, each technical section must maintain six positions to remain in good standing: chairperson, program chairperson, membership chairperson, administrative chairperson, online community webmaster, and a young professional representative, a dedicated position for a member aged 35 or younger.

Technical sections generally solicit applications for open officer positions annually through their discussion groups and email communications. Because officers often continue in their roles or progress to other leadership positions, only some positions may be open each year.

One of the strengths of technical sections is their potential for truly global leadership. Ideally, officers represent different regions, employers, career stages, and perspectives. A leadership team may include members working in different countries and on different continents, bringing a diversity of experiences to the technical community they serve.

This global structure creates opportunities not only to lead but also to build relationships with SPE members we might not otherwise have the chance to meet. Serving as a technical section officer can provide valuable experience in organizing programs, communicating with members, developing technical content, and collaborating across geographic and organizational boundaries.

Students and Young Professionals

Technical sections are increasingly creating opportunities specifically for students and young professionals. Until recently, technical section membership was limited to PhD students; today, all SPE student members are eligible to join.

Many technical sections are actively developing programs to engage students and young professionals. For example, the Integrated Reservoir Management Technical Section (IRMTS) recently launched a Youth Wing to provide additional opportunities for early-career members to participate and contribute.

Some technical sections also provide scholarships for students conducting research in their technical discipline. The Hydraulic Fracturing Technical Section, for example, has established a scholarship program supported by corporate sponsorships and funds raised through in-person events. These programs provide financial support for students while creating opportunities for sponsors to connect with members of the technical community.

Student competitions are another way technical sections engage the next generation. At its 2026 Energy Economics and Evaluation Symposia, the AMTS hosted an EnergyThon competition challenging students to develop a 10–20 MW data center power concept. Participants addressed gas supply and logistics, transportation and offtake agreements, generation equipment, and financial modeling, with eligible pathways including geothermal and hydrogen.

Programs such as these demonstrate that technical sections are not simply forums for established professionals. They can also serve as entry points for students and young professionals to develop technical skills, build networks, and become active contributors to SPE.

Recognizing Technical Section Excellence

SPE’s technical directors have established an awards program to recognize the contributions and achievements of technical sections. At the 2026 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE) President’s Luncheon, several sections were recognized for outstanding performance.

Presidential Award for Outstanding Technical Section—Asset Management Technical Section

Technical Section Excellence Awards—Integrated Reservoir Management Technical Section, and the Data Science and Engineering Analytics Technical Section

Technical Section Honorable Mention Awards

• Technical Knowledge Sharing—Hydraulic Fracturing Technical Section
• Member Benefits—Geothermal Technical Section
• Collaboration—Sustainable Development Technical Section

These awards illustrate the many ways a technical section can provide value to its members and to SPE. Technical excellence is important, but so are knowledge sharing, collaboration, member engagement, and fostering an inclusive professional community.

Member Nominations

Some technical sections have established an awards nomination committees to nominate deserving candidates for SPE awards or as an SPE Distinguished Lecturer. This is especially effective if there is a technical award that addresses the same technical discipline as the technical section. In two of my recent JPT articles, “Finding Purpose: Form an SPE Awards Nominations Posse” and “The Power of the Posse: How to Rally Support for an SPE Award Nomination,” I explain how an awards committee or a “posse” can collaborate to nominate colleagues for SPE awards.

Connecting in Person

Although much of the work of technical sections can take place virtually, many sections also organize in-person events. According to the SPE Technical Section Member Guide, technical sections hold their primary annual meetings close to or in conjunction with ATCE, providing an opportunity to conduct business and ratify officer elections.

At the 2026 ATCE, several technical sections hosted receptions and networking events, including events organized collaboratively by multiple technical sections. These included receptions hosted by Data Science and Engineering Analytics; Well Integrity; Geothermal; Asset Management; Methane; Robotics & Autonomous Systems; Sustainable Development; Carbon Dioxide Capture, Utilization & Storage; Flow Assurance; Flow Measurement; Geomechanics; Integrated Reservoir Management; and Research and Development technical sections.

Collaboration among technical sections can make these events particularly effective, bringing together members with complementary interests and creating connections that might not otherwise occur.

I have personally enjoyed participating in several technical section events in 2026, including two regional Energy Economics and Evaluation Symposia hosted by the AMTS—one in Houston and one in London—as well as the AI4Energy Americas Symposium hosted by the Data Science and Engineering Analytics Technical Section in Houston.

Because they are completely volunteer-led, technical sections are able to host smaller, more focused in-person events.

When technical sections organize in-person events, collaboration with local SPE geographic sections and student chapters is important. Local sections may have access to venues through employer sponsorships or discounted arrangements, and early coordination can help avoid competing events and instead create opportunities for collaboration. The SPE Gulf Coast Section (SPE-GCS) has provided Technical Event Guidelines for Collaboration for technical sections that plan to hold in-person events in the Greater Houston area served by SPE-GCS. These guidelines provide a useful template for collaboration between geographic and technical sections worldwide.

Sharing Knowledge Through Publications

Technical sections also contribute to SPE’s technical knowledge base through publications and other written communications. Some sections have coauthored technical papers and presentations related to their disciplines. The AMTS, for example, has developed technical presentations addressing the establishment of the section and the taxonomy of asset management.

Other technical sections publish newsletters highlighting technical developments, section activities, and members. I recently contributed a feature article to the IRMTS newsletter titled “IRM in Action: Leading Beyond the Reservoir.”

These activities demonstrate another important role of technical sections: creating communities that not only consume knowledge but also contribute to it.

Launching a New Technical Section

I have had the opportunity to participate in the leadership of two technical sections during their formation. I served as awards chair for the Hydraulic Fracturing Technical Section from 2022 to 2024 and as founding chair of the AMTS from 2022 to 2023, followed by service as past chair from 2023 to 2024.

Launching a new technical section is an exciting undertaking, and SPE has an established process for doing so. Any group of SPE members can propose a new technical section for endorsement by the SPE technical directors. The proposal should include: a clear statement of the group’s purpose and objectives; the names of committed leaders and a list of proposed members; and a proposed governance model, including leadership positions, selection processes, and membership criteria.

If you are considering creating a new technical section, my advice is to begin with a committed core leadership team. At a minimum, this team should be large enough to fill the six required officer positions. Seek SPE colleagues who bring different perspectives, including different employers, geographic regions, cultural backgrounds, career stages, genders, and educational experiences. Diversity of perspective strengthens a technical community and helps ensure that it serves a broad membership.

Start with manageable activities, such as webinars and virtual discussions, and expand the leadership team as the section grows. Depending on the scope of its activities, a technical section may add positions such as treasurer, regional liaisons, or directors, as needed. In-person events may require additional committees and volunteers.

I also recommend establishing term limits from the outset. Three-year terms can provide continuity while giving more members opportunities to serve in leadership roles and helping prevent volunteer burnout. A healthy technical section should continually develop new leaders rather than rely on the same small group of volunteers indefinitely.

Join a Technical Section

The examples throughout this column illustrate the breadth of opportunities available through technical sections. Members can participate in webinars and discussions, access technical resources, contribute to publications, attend networking events, develop leadership skills, mentor students and young professionals, support scholarships and competitions, and help recognize the achievements of their colleagues.

The Geothermal Technical Section, for example, emphasizes networking, gender diversity, young professional engagement, and member recognition. These efforts contributed to its 2026 SPE Honorable Mention Award for Member Benefits.

The Sustainable Development Technical Section provides another example through its emphasis on collaboration. Its activities have involved technical directors and several other technical sections, including Methane, Asset Management, Water Life Cycle and Strategy, and Well Integrity, as well as initiatives associated with SPE conferences such as ATCE, IPTC, and IHSES. Its efforts earned the section the 2026 SPE Honorable Mention Award for Collaboration.

These examples reinforce what I believe is the greatest value of technical sections: They create communities within our larger SPE community.

SPE membership connects us to a global network, but meaningful engagement is often built through smaller communities of shared interest. Technical sections provide a place to find colleagues who speak the same technical language, explore new ideas, contribute to the profession, and develop relationships that can span careers and continents.

I encourage every SPE member—professional and student—to explore the technical sections and join at least one. You may find a webinar that expands your knowledge, a discussion that answers a question you have been wrestling with, a colleague who becomes a mentor or collaborator, or a leadership opportunity that takes your career in an unexpected direction.

SPE’s technical sections truly are one of its hidden gems. More importantly, they are an opportunity for each of us to help build technical communities, professional relationships, and shared knowledge that will shape the future of our industry. SPE’s technical sections are a wonderful way for SPE members to create a sense of belonging and community through collaboration, shared experiences, and opportunities.

References

SPE 234137 Asset Management as a Technical Discipline in Energy: Part 3, by M.A. Capello, Red Tree Consulting LLC; C. Howes, Subsurface Consultants & Associates LLC; A. Ray, Chord Energy Corp.; H. Mohan, Cyberworx Energy LLC; M. Edwards, Edwards and Associates; G. Swami, G.S. Consulting; A. Vishal, S&P Global; and M. Guinazu, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo.

SPE 228043 Management as a Technical Discipline in Energy: Part 2 by M. Capello, Red Tree Consulting LLC, S. Howes, Subsurface Consultants & Associates LLC, G. Swami, NOV; M. Edwards, Edwards Energy Innovation Consulting LLC; H. Mohan, Cyberworx Energy; and M. Espinassous, BP.

SPE 220719 Management as a Technical Discipline in Energy by M. Capello, Red Tree Consulting LLC; S. Howes, Subsurface Consultants & Associates LLC; P. Kirkham, Twinza Oil; A. Calleberg, Inter Pipeline; N. Nandurdikar, ERM; and G. Swami, NOV.

SPE 214924 A Focused Community To Enhance Management in Petroleum Engineering: The Management Technical Section (MTS) by M. Capello, Red Tree Consulting LLC; S. Howes, Subsurface Consultants & Associates LLC; P Kirkham, Twinza Oil; R. Aguilera, KAPSARC; N. Nandurdikar, ERM; S. Dogulu, IHRDC; G. Swami, NOV; and T. Botn, ThinQ Decisions.