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Distance Learning Thru Midland College’s PPDC
(Courtesy of Hoxie Smith, Midland College PPDC)
Distance Learning Thru Midland College’s PPDC (Courtesy of
Hoxie Smith, Midland College PPDC) Midland College’s
Petroleum Professional Development Center (PPDC) has
recently installed state-of-the-art distance learning
equipment that allows simulcasts of industry-related
workshops, technical classroom instruction and symposia. The
Center has offered over 200 learning events this past year
in all phases of oil and gas industry instruction and will
host a highly popular CO2 School in late August. The PPDC is
excited about using its capability to assist the PTTC and
other oil and gas technology organizations to conduct
technology transfer, especially in bringing independent oil
and gas companies across the US together to help solve
common problems. Currently, the PPDC has an Alliance with
New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, New Mexico to simulcast
courses to southeast New Mexico oilfield professionals so
that attendees do not have to make the 2-hour drive back and
forth from Midland, Texas.
Potential Alliances with PTTC
There are many possibilities. The Midland College PPDC can
serve as a host or receiving sight for technology transfer
events. Most PTTC regional organizations are within
universities, so on campus distance learning facilities
where a group of people could gather would be reasonably
accessible. For many people there would be significant time,
travel and cost savings. It’s especially attractive for
topics that apply nation wide. Not only is it cheaper, but
tech information would move much faster than could be
achieved by coordinating a series of workshops across the
country. Another application would really speed R&D and
technology adoption. There are many topics (both problems
and opportunities) that apply across most, if not all,
producing regions. If one could get people from across the
country simultaneously participating through interactive
forums to identify and discuss their TECHNOLOGY NEEDS, then
PTTC and others could quickly focus more resources in areas
of common need.
PPDC’s History
Midland College’s Petroleum Geotechnology Training Center was formed in 1997. In 1998
the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) |
Midland
College PPDC Director, Hoxie Smith, demonstrates distance
learning equipment to CO2 Consultant, Stephen Melzer. |
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provided seed money in the amount of $25,000, recognizing
the program as one of seven mid-career training centers
worldwide. From 1997 until 2002, the center’s benefactors
included commercial software vendors that donated oil and
gas industry software worth over $5,000,000 in value.
The largest single contribution was provided in 1998 by
Landmark Graphics Corporation with a donation of software
valued at $2.8 million dollars. On July 1, 2004 Midland
College’s Petroleum Geotechnology Training Center merged with the
Permian Basin Graduate Center, a non-profit continuing
education center that had held training for Midland oil and
gas industry professionals for 37 years. This merger doubled
the size of the Midland College program and accessed a pool
of worldwide experts, particularly in the geosciences, that
had worked with the Graduate Center for years.
The result is
the current PPDC, which is still recognized as one of seven
mid-career training centers worldwide by AAPG. Facilities
are located in downtown Midland, which is convenient for
most. PPDC’s dynamic and diverse continuing education
program expands Midland College’s ability to offer the
latest industry education to area oil and gas personnel.
Many classes qualify for re-certification credits that
Professional Engineers, Professional Geologists, Certified
Public Accountants, and Certified Petroleum Landmen need to
maintain their professional certification status.
Over the
last twenty years, the Permian Basin oil and gas industry
has gone through several major up and downturns. It has also
seen the demographic change from an exploratory basin to an
operations-based workforce. Many major integrated oil and
gas companies left the basin during the downturns of the
1980s and 1990s. Even if larger companies remained, many
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moved most of their petroleum engineers and geoscientists to
Houston. There was also the transition from majors to
independents. These independents rely strongly on the PPDC
to provide ongoing continuing education as they lack the
large in-house training programs traditionally provided to
employees of the majors.
Ongoing Education for Industry
Professionals
The center provides quality continuing
education for experienced industry professionals by bringing
in world experts in the fields of petroleum geology and
petroleum engineering. Our instructors are recognized
experts in their particular field, and include State
Geologists and Professors of leading academic institutions
as well as recognized leaders of industry research. The
center also has developed training alliances with some of
the most reputable oil and gas commercial training vendors
including: OGCI PetroSkills and John M. Campbell and
Company. Our center recognizes that the leaders of
high-quality specialized training have already been
established in certain niches of the industry, and we do not
try to re-invent that curriculum, but rather partner with
the organizations and bring their expertise to Midland. In
addition to the above-mentioned educational events, the
Midland College PPDC brings world-class speakers on energy
to the Permian Basin community. Notable over the last few
years are presentations by T. Boone Pickens, Chairman of BP
Capital and world-renowned investor, and Matthew Simmons,
energy investment banker, analyst and author. |
Texas
& SE New Mexico
Region