State of the society

Abstract

I would like to close this update and my series of columns with a message to the young people in our industry and to the students whom we hope will one day join us. Ours is a rewarding profession that contributes to the welfare of everyone everywhere. Our profession allows us to work with the most exciting, advanced technologies on the planet, to work with diverse sciences and diverse cultures, and to provide energy on demand to an increasingly energy-demanding world. The outlook for our industry is especially bright for the young professionals and the students looking forward to graduation. I have worked in this industry for 31 years and I cannot think of a more exciting and challenging period, whether it is the coming globalization of the US unconventional phenomenon, the exploration and development of reservoirs beneath 10,000 ft of water, drilling and completing wells with miles of lateral reach, or designing floating liquid natural gas facilities. The opportunities and challenges are endless and I suspect that our industry will be thriving for at least a few more generations. The world's oil and gas sector will need to drill more than 670,000 wells from 2014 to 2020 just to meet forecasts of energy demand. Furthermore, as the "easy oil and gas" is already recovered, never has the need for bright, resourceful petroleum engineers been greater. And SPE will be there to help you.