American Oil and Gas Reporter - November 2019 - 23

Proliferating Technology
Remains As Critical As Ever
For Small Independents
Perhaps the greatest thing about the oil and gas industry is
its endless ability to expand, develop and reinvent itself. From
the beginning, this industry has relied heavily on technology to
achieve success, and if that technology didn't exist, the industry
invented it. I cannot think of anything more American than that.
It has been nearly seven years since I wrote that statement
and it's still as true today as it was in 2013. After more than 25
years, in what has been called one of the most successful
programs funded by the Department of Energy-maybe because
we simply refuse to die-the Petroleum Technology Transfer
Council continues to carry on its mission of delivering technology
and best practices to the oil field. As the inspiration of independent
operators working in conjunction with academics at the University
of Kansas, PTTC was designed to provide the oil industry with
access to emerging technology with an aim to fast-track its use
to get things done faster, safer, more efficiently and more economically.
Now, more than 25 years later, PTTC still provides quality
content to operators and service companies working in the lower-48. Much has changed during the years, however, the industry
still has a strong need for easy access to technology and best
practices, especially among independent operators who have
found it difficult economically to train, test and try new technologies. During my time in the industry, attending many of the
industry's regional and national conferences-as well as getting
into the field every chance I get-has helped me identify operators'
needs. These needs keep changing and I am constantly learning,
especially as we welcome the digital transformation of the oil
field, big data and artificial intelligence. That said, there is still
a place for the tried and true technologies, as well as a whole
generation of new faces who need access to fundamentals such
as well logging and production geology.
This is what PTTC has always been about. My colleague-
Mary Carr from the Colorado School of Mines, serving the
Rocky Mountain region-and I continue to look for ways to
carry on the decades-old mission that started so long ago. Some
of our recent events have included, "Basic Open Hole Logging"
in Fort Worth as well as "Oil and Gas Property Valuation" in
Golden, Co. PTTC also has been offering web-based training,
such as hosting a course titled, "Wellbore Integrity" and another
called, "Saving Money in the Field Using Air Photos, Satellites
& Drones."
Additionally, PTTC Mid-Continent-my region-has renewed
a partnership with the University of Kansas Tertiary Oil Recovery
Project to rekindle a relationship that helped lead PTTC's initial
development. During the last several years, the North MidContinent has needed easily accessible continuing education,
technology training and best practices. Now in an effort led by
PTTC and KU TORP, our plan is to provide a unified regional
approach, leveraging our experience and history of success in
the area to not only provide technology access and training, but
the right training in the right areas. We begin in January next
year and I could not be more excited.

"As we continue to develop technologies
that help us effectively drill, complete
and produce, we are realizing precisely
how much we don't know.

Scientific advances, which are the result of oil and industry's
willingness to take risks, have created opportunities for those
working in the oil field. Emerging finds, stacked pay and new
technologies applied in established plays are what keep this industry moving forward. As we continue to develop technologies
that help us effectively drill, complete and produce, we are
realizing precisely how much we don't know.
This is where access to technology and best practices play a
key role. People in Houston can attend a different oil and gas
event every day if they really try, but how many of those events
are a good use of time for each person's particular needs?
Every event has something to offer, but sometimes sorting
through them all can seem daunting. It can be worth the time if
you are looking for a particular solution or set of skills.
Access to emerging technology continues to be critical to
the oil and gas industry's success. Organizations such as PTTC,
the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the American Association
of Petroleum Geologists and others are rising to the occasion to
serve the needs of operators and service companies in the states
and around the globe.
I am excited to be able to continue to share the latest
innovation trends, best practices and new twists on old technology.
This is a business of innovation and now more than ever innovations are coming off the line at a rapid rate. The goal for
PTTC and organizations like it is to help folks sort out what is
real and what still needs development. I look forward to seeing
what is in store for our industry in the coming years as well as
the emergence of new innovations that we never dreamed of as
industry continues to grow.
❒

JEREMY VISCOMI is a strategic

marketing expert for the oil and
gas industry. Among his many
roles, he serves as the MidContinent regional lead for the
Petroleum Technology Transfer
Council, providing independent
operators with access to emerging technology aimed at reducing
risk and growing profits.
NOVEMBER 2019 23

American Oil and Gas Reporter - November 2019

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