Special Sessions

Time:  1400-1500
Location: Special Session Room 1

DESCRIPTION:

This one-hour special session uses a realistic, field-inspired producing-well scenario where an operating decision starts with one ambiguous surface measurement signal. The signal may indicate a true production change, a flow-regime or flow-assurance event, a measurement-health issue, or a reservoir/well-performance response. The session asks a practical question: is the evidence strong enough to act now, or is the correct engineering decision to wait for targeted validation?

The discussion is intentionally structured around a complete evidence loop. It starts with surface-measurement credibility and diagnostics, adds flow-assurance context on multiphase behavior and operating-envelope constraints, then uses reservoir-management input to test whether the surface interpretation is consistent with expected well and reservoir response. The loop closes by returning to a decision-grade surface-rate confidence statement and a clear validation or measurement-improvement action.

The purpose is not to run separate discipline presentations. The purpose is to show how the same case changes meaning as evidence is added, challenged, and reconciled. Each panelist owns a part of the evidence chain, but the final discussion is integrated: what evidence changed confidence, what remains uncertain, and what action is technically defensible under operational constraints.

Panelists:

Moderators:

Greg Stephenson
Production Measurement Advisor
OXY

Time: 1400-1500
Location: Special Session Room 2

DESCRIPTION:

Inflow control technologies (ICT), including passive inflow control devices (ICDs), autonomous inflow control devices (AICDs), and electric inflow control solutions such as Inflow Control Valves (ICVs) and emerging eICD concepts at screen level, are transforming well design and reservoir management strategies. These technologies enable operators to choke back unwanted fluids—water and gas—while maintaining high throughput of desired fluids, improving recovery and operational efficiency. ICT can be applied in both oil and gas wells and is increasingly recognized for its role in energy efficiency, reducing CO₂ intensity and, in some cases, absolute emissions.

Electric inflow control introduces new capabilities, such as multi-target well production, allowing several reservoir zones to be produced from a single wellbore. This flexibility supports optimized field development, reduces the need for additional wells, and lowers both costs and environmental footprint.

However, the success of these technologies depends not only on robust design and qualification but also on effective monitoring and surveillance. Advanced monitoring solutions—such as downhole sensors, tracers, fiber optics, and Production Logging Tools (PLTs)—provide critical data on flow dynamics, reservoir behavior, and device performance. These insights enable operators to validate inflow control effectiveness, optimize well interventions, and improve future well planning. Integrating real-time data analytics and machine learning further enhances decision-making and accelerates learning cycles.

The market for inflow control and monitoring solutions is expanding rapidly, with technologies at different stages of maturity—some under qualification, others widely deployed. Standardized solutions are increasingly applied in technology development and qualification, ensuring consistency and reliability across the industry. Furthermore, extensive collaboration between suppliers and operators is essential—and ongoing—to deliver robust, fit-for-purpose solutions for diverse applications. Full-scale flow performance testing under representative conditions is critical upfront as part of qualification, ensuring reliability before field implementation.

This special session will bring together operators, service companies, and researchers to share insights on design optimization, qualification standards, and integrated monitoring strategies. Discussions will address how combining inflow control and surveillance technologies supports sustainability goals, operational efficiency, and improved recovery in mature and complex reservoirs.

By addressing these challenges, the industry can unlock the full potential of inflow control and monitoring technologies, enabling optimized well designs, enhanced recovery, and reduced environmental impact.

Panelists:

Moderator:

Ingvild Berg Martiniussen
Leading Researcher -
Production Technology
Equinor

Time: 1545-1645
Location: Special Session Room 1

DESCRIPTION:

As offshore energy infrastructure matures, operators are increasingly focused on extending asset life while maintaining safety, reliability, and cost efficiency. Autonomous technologies are emerging as a key enabler of this effort, providing new ways to inspect, monitor, and assess offshore assets with greater frequency and lower operational risk than traditional approaches.

This panel brings together experts from the subsea, surface, aerial, and academic sectors to discuss how robotics and autonomous systems are being deployed across the offshore environment. Through real-world examples and case studies, speakers will explore how autonomous underwater vehicles, uncrewed surface vessels, aerial drones, and advanced data analytics are improving asset integrity management, reducing vessel dependency, and supporting data-driven maintenance decisions.

The discussion will focus on lessons learned from operational deployments, the challenges of scaling autonomy, and the opportunities created by integrating robotic platforms across domains. Attendees will gain insight into how a connected ecosystem of autonomous technologies can help maximize the value of existing offshore infrastructure, extend asset life, and support a safer and more sustainable future for the energy industry.

Panelists:

Moderator:

Aziz Rahman
Associate Professor
HBKU

Time: 1545-1645
Location: Special Session Room 2

DESCRIPTION:

End-of-life obligations are often scoped early through EIA, permitting, and development planning. However, over a 15–30-year producing life, closeout execution can drift from the original assumptions and become dominated by operational timing, cost constraints, and evolving regulatory expectations once production stops. In today’s context of climate commitments, water stress, community expectations, and emerging low-carbon subsurface uses such as CO₂ storage, hydrogen storage, geothermal development, and monitoring networks, “after production” has become a long-horizon stewardship challenge.

This special session will explore how operators, regulators, technical experts, and sustainability leaders are reframing end-of-life from a narrow technical endpoint into an integrated stewardship plan. The discussion will focus on how methane risk, water protection, and subsurface reuse potential can be assessed, prioritized, funded, and communicated transparently at both well and basin scales. Well integrity and abandonment execution will be discussed as essential delivery mechanisms, but the primary focus will be on the broader stewardship outcomes and governance frameworks that determine whether post-production decisions are climate-aligned, socially durable, and fit for a sustainable energy system.

Panelists:

Moderator:

Dwayne Purvis
Principal Advisor
Purvis Energy Advisors

Time: 1030-1130
Location: Special Session Room 1

DESCRIPTION:

Artificial intelligence is demonstrating real benefits across the energy industry, yet many organizations continue to struggle to unlock real Return on Investment (ROI) across the core business. This 60-minute panel session focuses on maximizing ROI by aligning business strategy with execution, moving the focus away from algorithms and tools toward metrics, execution models, and engineering-leadership partnerships.

To translate AI potential into business outcomes, the discussion will be anchored around key pillars of operationalizing AI. First, panelists will address "Metrics That Matter," exploring how to align engineering and business KPIs to drive productivity, cost reduction, and risk mitigation. Second, the session will highlight how ROI accelerates through seamless executive-engineering collaboration, ensuring business strategies reflect ground realities. Third, speakers will discuss breaking down silos to unlock value across complex systems, shifting the focus from isolated project-level ROI to compounding portfolio-level impact utilizing both quantitative AI/ML and Generative AI.

The panel will also emphasize the human element, exploring how trust, accountability, and seamless human-AI augmentation act as critical ROI multipliers. Finally, the discussion will provide decision-makers and technical leaders with actionable guidance on overcoming organizational workflow barriers, demonstrating how to move from isolated pilots to scalable, repeatable deployments.

Panelists:

Moderator:

Pushpesh Sharma
VP, Platform Services
DNV

Time: 1030-1130
Location: Special Session Room 2

DESCRIPTION:

New technologies are moving quickly into the energy industry. Carbon capture projects are advancing, geothermal is gaining momentum, hydrogen systems are developing, and digital tools are reshaping how wells and facilities are managed. While the technology conversation often takes center stage, a practical question sits underneath it all: who is preparing the workforce to operate these systems?

Many experienced professionals built their careers in conventional oil and gas operations. At the same time, universities and companies are being asked to prepare engineers and field personnel for technologies that are still evolving. Organizations across the industry are working to bridge that gap while continuing to operate safely and efficiently.

This panel will explore three questions shaping how the industry prepares its workforce. First, how can organizations accelerate technical proficiency in areas where experienced mentors are scarce and traditional training pathways do not yet exist? Second, what role can simulation, storytelling, and lessons from other industries play in helping workers build intuition for unfamiliar systems? Third, how can companies and universities capture the knowledge of a retiring workforce while preparing the next generation for new energy technologies?

Panelists from industry, academia, and workforce development will share practical experiences building training programs, identifying transferable skills from conventional oil and gas roles, and adapting mentorship for a changing technical landscape.
The workforce is not a niche topic. It is the foundation of how our industry operates. Whether designing technology, operating equipment, or educating future engineers, the workforce connects us all.

Panelists:

Asiya Abbasi Principal Technical Professional Halliburton

Brian Cook Founding Partner NextGen Trades

Rita Okoroafor Assistant Professor Texas A&M

Zach Wilbur Chief Commercial Officer Blue Spark Energy

Moderator:

Jamie Elrod
Co-Founder
Flipping the Barrel

Time: 1400-1500
Location: Special Session Room 1

DESCRIPTION:

The oil and gas industry is undergoing a significant transformation as digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly influence management decisions. Traditionally, the focus has been on optimizing operations and managing assets, but the current trend is to extend the digital conversation to the boardroom. Executives and management teams are now leveraging digital tools and AI to enhance various aspects of their operations.

One of the primary areas where digital and AI are making an impact is in supporting strategic and investment decisions. By analyzing vast amounts of data, AI can provide insights that help executives identify new opportunities, assess market trends, and make informed decisions about where to allocate resources. This capability is particularly valuable in an industry where the stakes are high and the competition is fierce. Another critical area is improving cost, spend, and performance visibility. Digital tools enable companies to track expenses in real-time, identify inefficiencies, and optimize resource allocation. This transparency allows management to make data-driven decisions that can lead to significant cost savings and improved performance.

Risk management and governance are also being strengthened through the use of digital technologies. AI can help identify potential risks, predict their impact, and develop strategies to mitigate them. This proactive approach to risk management can prevent costly disruptions and ensure that companies remain compliant with regulatory requirements.

Furthermore, digital and AI are transforming how data is used to make management decisions. By turning raw data into actionable insights, companies can make faster and more accurate decisions. This agility is crucial in an industry that is constantly evolving and where the ability to respond quickly to changes can provide a competitive edge.

Finally, digital and AI are playing a key role in leading organizational change and the adoption of AI-driven insights. As companies embrace these technologies, they must also foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning. This shift requires strong leadership and a commitment to integrating digital tools into the core of the organization.

In summary, the oil and gas industry is at a pivotal point where digital and AI are reshaping management decisions. By focusing on strategic, financial, risk, and organizational aspects, executives are harnessing the power of technology to drive growth and efficiency in an increasingly complex environment.

Panelists:

Moderator:

Michael Edwards
Founder & CEO
Edwards Energy Innovation Consulting

Time: 1400-1500
Location: Special Session Room 2

DESCRIPTION:

Enhanced geothermal development is quickly becoming the ultimate stress test for modern drilling systems, artificial intelligence, and digital workflows. Recent projects have demonstrated that drilling techniques developed in the oil and gas industry, including long horizontal wells, advanced completions, and high resolution subsurface monitoring, can unlock geothermal resources in areas previously considered uneconomic.

At the same time, advances in artificial intelligence, real time data integration, and automated drilling systems are changing how wells are planned, drilled, and optimized. In geothermal environments, high temperatures, hard rock formations, and limited well counts increase both cost and uncertainty. These conditions make drilling performance critical and require faster learning cycles than many conventional developments.

This panel will explore three questions shaping how artificial intelligence, advanced data analytics, and modern drilling systems are converging to accelerate geothermal development. First, how can advances in drilling systems and automation help scale enhanced geothermal projects? Second, what role can AI, sensing technologies, and subsurface data play in improving geothermal reservoir understanding and well placement? Third, how can the drilling expertise developed in oil and gas be applied to shorten learning curves and improve well performance in geothermal operations?

This session represents collaboration between three SPE technical sections: the Drilling Systems Automation Technical Section (DSATS), the Geothermal Technical Section (GTS), and the Drilling Engineering Systems and Applications Technical Section (DSEATS). Enhanced geothermal development sits at the intersection of these disciplines and provides a platform for collaboration between drilling engineers, geothermal specialists, and digital technology experts.

Panelists:

Moderator:

Sarah Kern
Director of Strategic Engagement
Energy Innovation Capital

Time: 1545-1645

Location: Special Session Room 1

DESCRIPTION:

Establishing confidence on containment of injected CO2 is a critical element to CCS project development and a requirement for determining CO2 Storage Resources under the SPE Storage Resources Management System (SRMS). Demonstrating containment warrants careful consideration of geological factors – including evidence of laterally extensive and competent seal(s) – and also the integrity of any wellbores intersecting the seal(s). Site screening should seek to avoid (or minimise) significant geological risks and any new wells should be designed with CO2 service and long-term containment at the forefront of consideration. Consequently, legacy wells become the most significant risk to be managed. The increasing focus on repurposing of depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs for CCS is further amplifying attention to this challenge, with a need to address greater numbers of legacy wells potentially nearing end-of-life or designed without consideration for prolonged CO2 exposure. Failed exploration wells in potential aquifer stores where past abandonment is driven by reducing costs are another category of risky legacy wells. Some are left largely un-cased, or with plugs set at shallow depths likely without focus on isolating the target storage reservoir, and without consideration of future pressure increase. Either of these characteristics limits the maximum storage pressure and therefore the prospective CO2 volumes that can be stored.

This session will address the key risks presented by legacy well design and status. It will explore identification and assessment of unique risks posed by prolonged CO2 exposure and downhole pressures higher than initially designed for, along with methods to address, mitigate or tolerate these risks to ensure long-term containment of CO2.

Panelists:

Moderator:

Hugo Costeño
Senior Well Engineer and
CCS SME
SLB

Time: 1545-1645
Location: Special Session Room 2

DESCRIPTION:

Shale production has transformed global supply, yet recovery factors in unconventional reservoirs remain low. Despite promising concepts, including gas huff-n-puff (CO₂, hydrocarbon gas, N₂), chemical and foam-assisted processes, surfactants, nanoparticles, and Y-grade reinjection, large-scale deployment has been inconsistent. Reservoir complexity, economic volatility, and scale-up risks continue to limit adoption.

This expert panel will discuss how integrated techno-economic analysis (TEA) can screen, compare, and prioritize shale IOR/EOR options under realistic operational and market constraints. We will outline a workflow linking laboratory data, reservoir characterization, numerical modeling, pilot testing, and field logistics to economic decision frameworks. Key themes include:

• Current technology readiness and performance limitations

• Fracture–matrix interaction, diffusion, wettability, and scaling challenges

• Economic sensitivities to commodity prices, injectant supply, and logistics

• Lessons learned from underperforming pilots

The goal is to provide actionable insights for technology selection, portfolio optimization, and research prioritization. ATCE offers an ideal forum for multidisciplinary dialogue on this timely topic.

Panelists:

Moderator:

Reza Barati
Professor and Director 
Tertiary Oil Recovery Program
at University of Kansas

Time: 1030-1130
Location: Special Session Room 1

DESCRIPTION:

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the oil and gas industry, with AI copilots already helping professionals access information, summarize data, and accelerate decision-making. Yet, despite these advancements, humans remain responsible for evaluating recommendations, taking action, and owning outcomes.

Agentic AI represents the next evolution—intelligent digital co-workers capable of planning, reasoning, and executing complex, multi-step workflows across subsurface, drilling, production, and operations. As organizations move beyond AI assistance toward AI-driven execution, a critical question emerges: Is the industry ready to trust AI not only to advise, but to act?

This executive panel brings together leaders from operators, service companies, and technology providers to discuss the opportunities, challenges, and realities of deploying agentic AI in E&P. Panelists will share early use cases, lessons learned, and examples of where autonomous AI systems are beginning to deliver measurable value. The discussion will also explore the foundations required for broader adoption, including trust, governance, safety, accountability, and appropriate levels of human oversight.

Attendees will gain insights into how organizations are preparing for a future where humans and AI collaborate more closely, and where digital co-workers may become an integral part of the energy workforce. The session will challenge conventional thinking around decision-making, autonomy, and the evolving role of AI in shaping the next generation of oil and gas operations.

Panelists:

Moderator:

Supriya Gupta
AI Product Manager
SLB

Time: 1030-1130
Location: Special Session Room 2

DESCRIPTION:

This panel session will explore how novel and non-traditional wellbore geometries—including but not limited to U shaped and other complex trajectories—are reshaping the way unconventional reservoirs are developed. As operators push the limits of reservoir contact while managing cost and risk, wellbore geometry has emerged as a critical lever linking drilling execution, completion effectiveness, and reservoir performance. Panelists from Drilling, Completions/Hydraulic Fracturing, and Reservoir Management will discuss how alternative wellbore designs can enhance reservoir drainage, improve stimulation efficiency, and unlock new development strategies that are not achievable with conventional horizontal wells. The discussion will highlight technical challenges, operational trade-offs, and integration gaps across disciplines, as well as lessons learned from field applications. By focusing on cross disciplinary alignment, this session will examine how innovative wellbore geometries can improve recovery factors, reduce development cost, and enable more capital efficient field development, while also addressing the practical limitations, risks, and decision criteria that govern their successful deployment.

Panelists:

Moderator:

Peggy Rijken
General Manager,  
Geomechanics Center of Excellence
Chevron