SPE Live Podcast: Geomechanics Importance in the Petroleum Industry

This SPE Live will explore whether and how geomechanics plays a critical role in influencing and improving how our industry understands, develops, and manages subsurface resources. Key discussion points will highlight the value of geomechanics, particularly when it is not treated in isolation but integrated with geology, geophysics, petrophysics, reservoir engineering, drilling, completions, and production to build a more comprehensive understanding of formation behavior.We invite practitioners, researchers, users, and service providers to discuss challenging issues surrounding the importance of geomechanics and explore how the exchange of knowledge and best practices can strengthen the profession. Moderated by: Claudia Bonin, Adjunct Professor at Houston Christian University and Geomechanics Technical Section Officer Speakers: Peggy Rijken, SPE Completions Technical Director. General Manager, Geomechanics Center of Excellence at Chevron Technology Center   Koji Yamamoto, Geomechanical Engineer at Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security and SPE Asia Pacific Regional Director 

Join SPE President, Prof. Jennifer Miskimins, in this SPE Live with three outstanding early-career professionals from around the world as they discuss what inspires them to build careers in energy, how new technologies and collaboration platforms are reshaping the way they work, and why the aspirations of the next generation are redefining the future of our profession. Moderated by Jennifer Miskimins, SPE President and Professor & Department Head at Colorado School of Mines Speakers: Hitisha Dadlani, Senior Reservoir Engineer at ONGC, India Haoming Ma, Research Scientist at University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources Charalampos (Harry) Soilemezidis, Systems Engineer at CLS Engineering & Energy, Germany

Get more from ATCE 2026 with a strategic plan for learning, networking, technology scouting, and career growth. Susan Howes shares how to maximize the value of SPE's premier annual event.  

Hydraulic fracturing revolutionized unconventional oil and gas — and the same stimulation science is now being adapted to unlock next-generation geothermal energy. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Superhot Rock (SHR) concepts borrow heavily from decades of shale completions know-how, but operating at temperatures exceeding 300°C, in crystalline basement rock, introduces entirely new engineering challenges: engineering a reservoir volume, proppant and fluid stability, wellbore integrity, reservoir management under extreme thermal and mechanical stress and more that we will find out through time. In this SPE Live, we will dive into the synergistic approach of subsurface engineering and hydraulic fracturing from the oil and gas world into the geothermal realm. The conversation will explore where oilfield technology has direct transfer capabilities, where it must be reinvented, and what this convergence really means for the future of dispatchable geothermal power. Moderated by: Steve Schubarth, Chair SPE’s Hydraulic Fracturing Technical Section Speaker: Gabrijel Grubac, Principal Completions Engineer at Mazama Energy

The Reserves Education Subcommittee (RES) within the Oil and Gas Reserves Committee (OGRC) is a global group of subject-matter experts advancing PRMS education. The RES were recently mandated by the OGRC to update, design, and prepare a reserves education framework in modular presentations. The initiative resulted in the development of thirteen (13) modular presentations encompassing core PRMS principles, reserves classification, maturity distinctions, evaluation methodologies, commerciality/economic criteria, and common areas of misinterpretation observed in industry. The modules form the “PRMS Training Master Slides” and are to be taught by OGRC approved instructors and offer a practical and interactive approach as a third trilateral source on PRMS knowledge and education supported by OGRC. The “PRMS Training Master Slides” are standardized, committee-endorsed training for global dissemination across operators, consultants, educators, and regulators. It is anticipated they will perpetually improve global alignment on reserves estimation and classification, provide a clearer differentiation between resources and reserves, and finally a more consistent understanding of commercial maturity thresholds. These modular presentations will complement the much-needed training gap identified by OGRC. Moderated by Doug Peck, Head of Reserves at Woodside Speaker: Syed Hasan, Chair OGRC Reserves Education Subcommittee

September 2026

The Middle East is rapidly emerging as a key region for large-scale deployment of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), driven by industrial decarbonization needs, favorable geology, and ambitious national energy transition strategies. As projects evolve from early pilots to commercial developments, the focus is shifting toward building integrated CCUS hubs that connect multiple emitters to shared transport and storage infrastructure. These hub-based models introduce new technical, operational, and commercial challenges that require alignment across subsurface characterization, infrastructure design, and long-term storage assurance. This session will explore how CCUS initiatives in the MENA region are progressing toward scalable and bankable solutions, with a focus on the technical enablers required to move from concept to execution. The discussion will highlight lessons learned in hub development, including storage site selection, pressure management, system integration, and risk mitigation. Speakers will also share perspectives on how multidisciplinary engineering, subsurface expertise, and collaboration across stakeholders are shaping the next phase of CCUS deployment—providing insights relevant to both regional and global audiences. Moderated by: Christian Winterfield, Lead Petroleum Engineer CCS at Aramco Speakers: Bilal Sheikh: CCUS Business Development Senior Specialist at ADNOC Hooman Haghighi: Senior Director – Energy Solutions and Decarbonisation at Wood

This SPE Live session will provide an update on recent developments in OSDU and discuss why data remains critical in the age of AI. As AI use grows, the quality, structure, context, and accessibility of data become even more important. The session will highlight how OSDU is helping advance more consistent and interoperable data practices across the energy industry, while also acknowledging the practical challenges of adoption, standardization, and implementation. It will also touch on how SPE and OSDU can work together to inform members and support broader industry learning around data, digitalization, and AI. Moderated by: Pushpesh Sharma, Director of Product Management at Emerson Electric (AspenTech) Speakers: Kadri Umay: Senior Director & Microsoft Azure Data Manager(Energy Team) at Microsoft

In her final podcast as SPE President, Jennifer Miskimins reflects on a year of service, celebrates the people behind SPE’s success, shares updates on the Society’s future, and encourages members to remain engaged in advancing the profession and the energy industry. 

This SPE Live explores the intersection of HSES and Reservoir, two disciplines that increasingly shape the future of responsible and high performance subsurface operations. Our goal is to understand how these areas can jointly reduce uncertainty, improve performance, and support responsible development across the asset lifecycle. Moderated by Trey Shaffer, 2014-2017 SPE HSE Technical Director. Vice President, Key Clients at Resource Environmental Solutions LLC Speakers: • Dr. Linda Battalora, SPE HSES Technical Director. Teaching Professor in the Petroleum Engineering Department at Colorado School of Mines • Dr. Rahim Masoudi, SPE Reservoir Technical Director. Chief Technical Lead at EnQuest/Veri Energy