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This first issue of the newsletter in 1997 marks the beginning of a new stage for the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council the start-up phase is complete and the organization is now fully implemented in all regions. During the three years 1994 to 1996, we were very busy setting up from ground zero a national organization that included many diverse groups.
Our proposal to the US Department of Energy for seed money had a specific list of milestones that had to be reached starting with a national series of problem identification workshops to determine the priority needs of independent oil and gas producers. Despite many unforeseen obstacles, we accomplished all the goals of our set-up phase, which essentially ended on Dec. 6, 1996. It was on that date PTTC held the grand opening of its tenth and final regional resource center in Los Angeles. Several satellite centers are already opening around the country, but the West Coast opening marked the last of our main regional centers.
During the last three years there have been many people who have devoted their time, energy, funds, expertise, and reputation to see that PTTC's goals were accomplished. They have been dedicated to our mission doing whatever it takes to plan, implement and obtain funding for a national technology clearinghouse for independent producers. I don't have the room here to list everyone who has played an important role.
However, I'd like to call special attention to one person to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude. Jim Russell (1917-1995), Russell Petroleum, of Abilene, Texas, was the PTTC founding chairman, and the person who first articulated the need for a national technology program for independents. If he were with us now, Jim would be extremely proud of our progress and the commitment DOE has made to funding PTTC. But his real interest would be in hearing the documented success stories of technologies that have been transferred to independent producers.
This is the message that guides national and regional staff as we look ahead to 1997 and beyond. The set-up phase is finished, and we now have deliverable results, activities and products to benefit independents. We're seeking every opportunity to work cooperatively with national and regional groups to leverage each other's programs for mutual benefit. As the industry's informational requirements change, and as R&D becomes more collaborative, it makes even more sense to have PTTC's one-stop referral service designed for independents.
We still face many challenges (particularly in the funding area), but now we have a solid organizational base and successful track record. PTTC is not a membership organization, and welcomes any donation of funds or volunteer expertise. My staff and I feel energized to improve on what we have built "the national technology clearinghouse for US oil and gas producers." I hope that you will contact headquarters or one of the regions to find out how you can get involved.
Date: Jan. 31, 1997
Subject: Benefits from the PTTC
"I want to thank you for hosting the PTTC workshop on January 15. California State Lands has already benefited from the workshop. yesterday, we met with an independent oil producing company called magness petroleum to discuss the possibility of magness taking over an oilfield lease that exxon is abandoning. at the pttc workshop, magness heard our talk about offshore potential in state leases and other related talks. this motivated them to approach us about taking over the Exxon lease. we had had no prior dealings with magness. the pttc workshop made this business opportunity possible by getting us together." Paul Mount
Further, a letter from a supply company received at the same time highlights results of a PTTC workshop a thousand miles away. The Jan. 30 letter to PTTC North Midcontinent Region Director Dr. Lanny Schoeling of the Kansas Univ. Energy Research Center, Lawrence, said:
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your associates at the PTTC North Midcontinent resource center for the outstanding job you all have been doing in the area of technology transfer to the independent industry of Kansas. I am personally aware of hundreds of wells in Kansas that have been saved from premature abandonment as a direct result of new technology which has achieved practical application in the field as a result of your efforts.
My company specializes in the field application of polymer gels. Since our inception in 1989, we have applied polymer gel treatment to over 400 wells. Since the PTTC workshop (Casing Leak Solutions), my company has performed 11 casing leak repair operations, and at least 7 water-control operations using polymer gels, for the attendees of that workshop.
"to put it simply, at least 13 wells in kansas are still producing oil today, which would likely have been abandoned, had it not been for the technology transfer which resulted from that workshop." Randy Prater, president, Polymer Systems, Inc., Hays, Kan.
Petroleum industry software providers are among the earliest supporters of the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council. Almost $2 million dollars worth of donated exploration and production (E&P) software is accessible at the 10 regional resource centers. A Feb. 13-15 gathering at the Rocky Mountain Region at the Colorado School of Mines, Golden, brought technical staff from all PTTC regions for a software training workshop. Sixteen regional staff learned how to best showcase software applications at upcoming workshops in their regions.
According to Project Manager Lance Cole, the goal was ambitious to provide training on E&P packages from nine different vendors covering the spectrum from log analysis to reservoir simulation, using simple to complex, low-cost to high-dollar packages. Michael Holmes, a recognized expert in log analysis, demonstrated the log analysis capabilities of LESA by Resource Information Services, as well as a geologic display package. Jim Reed, president, Rockware Inc., reviewed the geo-technical programs of the Rockware Utilities package.
Tom Smith, president, Seismic Micro-Technology Inc., gave the non-geophysicist audience a lesson in seismic technology and demonstrated the capabilities of a new seismic interpretation package. Ted Mowers demonstrated the capabilities of GeoGraphix's GES. Robert Best, president of Neuralog Inc., demonstrated how to "convert paper to electronic" data using the NDS/Log and Map packages. Steve Holekamp demonstrated the capabilities of Dowell Schlumberger 's new FracCADE hydraulic fracturing package.
$500 and above Boneau, Dave Yates Petroleum Corporation Fancher, George H. Jr. Fancher Oil Company Nance, Bob Nance Petroleum White, A.J. Schlumberger Dowell Anonymous Northwest Oil Company $200 to $499 Conklin, Danny H. Philcon Development Co. Spooner, Harry Spooner Energy Woods, J.D. Baker Hughes, Inc. $100 to $199 Ballantyne, Stephen Verde Oil Company Bettis, H.M. H.M.J. Minerals, Inc. Bruning, Jim Freedom Energy Incorporated Dahlgren, Don Quail Creek Oil Corp. Dugan, Thomas A. Dugan Production Corp Earlougher, R.C. Earlougher Engineering Inc. Gibbs, Dave TDC Energy Gratton, Patrick Patrick J. F. Gratton, Inc. Hall, J. Chris Drilling & Production Company Harvey, Ralph L. Marlin Oil Corporation Hunter, Kenneth III Hunter Resources Kramer , Dan California Independent Petroleum Assoc. Mack, Jim Tiorco, Inc. McDougall, Robert E. Phoenix Production Company Mossel, Lee Ensign Oil and Gas, Inc. Ritchie, A.Scott III Ritchie Exploration, Inc. Schrider, Leo A. Belden & Blake Smith, Victor P. Self Watkins, Tarry TXLA Energy, Inc. Weiss, Eric Muslow Oil and Gas, Inc. Willis, Roger Universal Well Services, Inc.PTTC also thanks those individuals who donated less than $100 (not listed).