American Oil and Gas Reporter - December 2019 - 21

Learning Opportunities
Continue Unabated As 2019
Gives Way To New Year
I still get excited every year around this time as life with
family and friends begins to dominate the season. And while
the oil field never stops, it does begin to slow just enough to
catch one's breath before bursting into the next year. It's the
time I begin to reflect on the past year and look ahead to things
to come.
For me, part of this process includes making sure I didn't miss
any great new information before year-end as well as beginning
some planning for my first few events in 2020. For those with
time to squeeze in a little last-minute training or networking, here
are some of December's more intriguing opportunities.
On Dec. 5, the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Gulf Coast
Section, was to host a luncheon speech titled, "Black Gold, one
Man's Story of Success in the Permian Basin," as told by Kurt
Mire. How could one pass up this? Mire was to discuss how, in
the 1980s when major investors were fleeing the area, he
purchased a package of small overriding royalty and working
interests in the Spraberry trend south of Midland. I am not sure
whether I was more excited about the opportunity learn at this
event or just shake Mire's hand; probably a little of both.
The Independent Petroleum Association of America was to
host another of its monthly "Leaders in Industry Luncheons"
on Dec. 11 at the Petroleum Club of Houston. The great thing
about these luncheons is the networking and the quality speakers
who, every time I have attended, gave an up-to-the minute perspective on their segment of the industry. The food is pretty
good as well! This month's speaker was to be Bob Fryklund,
vice president of upstream energy at IHS-Markit.
Finally, my Petroleum Technology Transfer Council colleague,
Mary Carr, planned to bring Robert F. Lindsay to the School of
Mines in Golden, Co., on Dec. 12 for a Permian Basin workshop
focused on the Grayburg, San Andres and Clear Fork formations.
Anyone who has been to anything Mary organized knows she
really does it well. This particular core workshop focused on
the "classic" conventional Permian reservoirs.
Moving into 2020, I am looking already at several regional
luncheons and workshops, but probably my first big event will
be SPE's Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference and Exhibition, Feb. 4-6 in The Woodlands, Tx. This event has become
a phenomenon in the fracturing world and industry at large.
Led this year by Committee Chairman Martin Rylance from BP
Exploration, the event is expected to again break attendance
records. The conference will showcase hydraulic fracturing
technologies and advancements, based on experiences from
frac operations in conventional and unconventional formations
around the globe. This is a must-attend event for anyone working
in the upstream.
From there, I will be driving back to Houston for the NAPE
Summit-or what I still call Winter NAPE-Feb. 5-7 at the
George R. Brown Convention Center. This is a longstanding industry marketplace for folks looking to buy, sell or trade
prospects and producing properties. It is billed as "where deals
happen," and deals actually do happen here.

"Conferences, events and
luncheons are a crucial part of how
information sharing works."
While NAPE has several meetings during the year, this one
each February is by far the best. What makes it unique is that it
brings together all industry disciplines, draws in decisionmakers, focuses its participation on prospect generators, and
hosts companies ranging from small independents to majors.
NAPE Summit Week will not disappoint anyone who wants to
participate in some great networking and see how the business
of oil and gas gets done.
As we wrap up 2019, I truly am grateful for the year the
industry has had. Things continue to move fast, and true to
form, technology continues to evolve to meet new challenges
and growing demand. Conferences, events, and luncheons are
the very last part of this information sharing, but are a crucial
part of how the whole thing works.
As you take that pause to be grateful for 2019 and begin to
think about 2020, keep your eye on what is to come at an
industry event near you.
❒

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.
DECEMBER 2019 21

American Oil and Gas Reporter - December 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Oil and Gas Reporter - December 2019