Young Exploration and Production Professionals (YEPPs) in Lafayette, Louisiana, officially kicked off their inaugural season in the fall of 2005 with a lunch presentation by SPE Evangeline Section Chairperson Doug Hobbs of Unique Rentals. At the general meeting in March, Dean O’Neal of Halliburton gave a talk on completion technologies. In addition to the technical aspects of their talks, speakers at these events give a brief history of their own career paths in the oil field and are encouraged to share advice and wisdom with the next generation of E&P professionals. Both of these events were motivating, and we are looking forward to more!
On 4 May, Mark Corrigan, President of Schlumberger Well Services, will present his November 2005 JPT paper “Innovative, Flexible Strategies Needed To Overcome the Human Capital Deficit” (to be held at 11:30 a.m. at Hotel Acadiana in Lafayette). As the title implies, this paper deals with the challenges facing the petroleum industry and how the industry needs to respond. Declining numbers in the petroleum industry workforce coinciding with record growth in world demand for oil and gas is putting a strain on human capital in the E&P world. Corrigan will address a number of solutions to meeting this mounting challenge, including changing the public’s perception of the industry, creating clear opportunities for career-path advancement, intensifying efforts to interest women in E&P careers, and using global talent to meet global demand.
Because of the importance of this talk to the wider industry, the YEPP chapter is extending invitations to the greater Evangeline Chapter, and a large turnout is expected. For more information, please contact David Stanley at 337.839.7243 or by e-mail at David_Stanley@bjservices.com.
Evangeline Section YEPP Board Members at Lafayette Petroleum Club, February 2006.
