NOTE TO JOURNALISTS:
Those interested in attending should RSVP to Lisa Merkl for a parking
permit.
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY EXPERTS DESCRIBE STATUS,
CHALLENGES FOR SEISMIC E&P
Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) Forum
at UH First in Country
A forum on the status of and challenges for seismic exploration
and production (E&P) will be presented from 1 to 5 p.m., Tuesday,
Oct. 10 at the University of Houston.
Petroleum industry experts will discuss these issues at a Research
Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) event that will
be the first in a series of six technical forums to define the program
and direct funding to address issues relevant to the petroleum industry.
About 100 participants are expected. Among other universities hosting
RPSEA forums are MIT and Stanford.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded RPSEA the management
of a 10-year, $50-million-per-year federal research program for
the purpose of funding R&D efforts that address challenges to
locating and producing hydrocarbons in deep and ultra-deep marine
and onshore environments. The forums are designed to determine current
capability and challenges. UH has been invited to hold the first
of these forums – the RPSEA Seismic E&P Forum.
The Seismic E&P Forum at UH will allow the RPSEA management
team to describe the RPSEA/DOE objective, plan and schedule, as
well as provide industry seismic experts with an outlet to define
current capabilities and obstacles to effectiveness. The forum also
will offer a communication opportunity for seismic experts and stakeholders
from universities, government labs and industry. Input will be incorporated
into the RPSEA program.
“The purpose of the RPSEA program is to address pressing
challenges in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons,”
said Arthur B. Weglein, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished
Professor of Physics at UH. “The first critical step in designing
a research program is to determine what the actual prioritized challenges
are. Those are best understood and defined by those with a vested
interest in effectiveness, such as individuals in the petroleum
industry. The invited speakers at the UH-hosted forum are all seismic
industry experts.”
Following an overview by RPSEA President Mike Ming, industry leaders
Jacques Leveille of Hess and John Etgen and Uwe Albertin of BP will
describe off-shore seismic issues, while Douglas Foster of ConocoPhillips
and Bill Dragoset of Western Geco will turn their focus to on-shore.
UH is a board and executive board member of RPSEA, a non-profit
national consortium with 84 members, including 19 of the nation’s
premier research institutions, five national laboratories, other
major research institutions, large and small energy producers and
energy consumers with activities in 21 states. Weglein is serving
as the UH representative on the RPSEA board and executive board.
WHO: |
Petroleum Industry Experts from BP, Hess, ConocoPhillips
and Western Geco |
WHAT: |
RPSEA Seismic E&P Forum |
WHEN: |
1 to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 10 |
WHERE: |
University of Houston
Houston Science Center, Room 102
Entrance 15D off Cullen Boulevard |
For more information about UH visit the universitys Newsroom at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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