INTERVIEW
Disseminating knowledge to industry professionals
The Society of Petroleum Engineers is a non-profit organisation that collects, disseminates, and exchanges technical knowledge concerning the exploration, development and production of oil and gas resources. 2011 SPE President Alain Labastie spends time talking to Sunil Fernandes on the organisation’s role, objective and achievements
w
hat is the present membership of the Society of Petroleum Engineers? Presently, we have more than 92,000 members. It is also pertinent to note, that out of these 55 per cent are outside North America, which means that SPE has a diversified membership from around the globe. I must reveal that anywhere in the world where hydrocarbons are produced we have members. In fact, we recently opened a chapter in Surinam. Even though a country like Surinam has small hydrocarbon production, we have a centre there, which goes to show our ability to expand. It is not we, but our members that have enabled this. What about membership from around the Middle East? 36
May-June, 2010
The membership has been growing enormously from the Middle East region. In fact, I must state that the membership has been the fastest growing in the Middle East region, with the growth around 25 per cent. What about Oman? Oman is the second largest section in the Middle East and here too our membership has been growing rapidly. Oman is a very active section for us.
In Oman, there are monthly conferences arranged by the SPE Oman chapter. Are similar monthly conferences held around the Globe? I am not sure if every country chapter of the SPE holds monthly conferences, especially the countries with smaller members. But definitely, the countries with a large membership have monthly conferences. In addition, we also arrange internationally
Membership to the Society of Petroleum Engineers has been growing rapidly in the Middle East, with membership growth rate of as much as 25 per cent