"In the Headlines" 2009 Archives
October Archives
New Orleans Science Teacher Workshop: Oct. 7
Energy4me hosted a FREE workshop for more than 80 New Orleans area science teachers during SPE's Annual Technical Conference (ATCE). Teachers learned hands-on activities from the National Energy EducationDevelopment Project (NEED), and explored technical exhibits in tours led by petroleum engineers.
September Archives
Rediscovering natural gas by hitting rock bottom
Natural gas is cheaper than oil and, when burned, produces about half the carbon dioxide of coal. Read more.
Local efforts keep pipeline of engineers flowing
The Society of Petroleum Engineers is reaching students to tell them about career possibilities in petroleum engineering and the importance of energy. Read more.
Energy4me Kit now in five additional languages
Energy4me classroom presentation materials are now available for download on Energy4me.org in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish. Learn more.
Petroleum engineering highest-paying degree
The top 15 highest-earning college degrees have one thing in common -- math skills. CNN Money shows petroleum engineering is the most lucrative. Read more.
August Archives
AGI's Earth Science Week Toolkits Now Available
Order your kit of activities for Earth Science Week, 11-17 October. See the Energy4me experiment featured for September on the school science calendar . Learn more.
Report cites $1.2 trillion in energy efficiency savings
Investing in improvements like sealing leaky ducts and replacing appliances with new, energy-saving models could save the U.S. energy use 23% by 2020. Read more.
July Archives
API's Energy IQ survey results show misconceptions
Americans understand that we need more energy to grow our economy, but underestimate the amount of oil and natural gas we’ll need in years to come. Read more.
Petroleum Engineer Job Outlook For Graduates
As expected, the job market for petroleum engineering students this year is tight, but overall placement rates so far have been good and salaries high. Read more.
June Archives
Sears Tower to be revamped to produce its own power
The tallest office building in the Western Hemisphere, will soon have another unique feature: wind turbines on its recessed rooftops high in the sky. Read more.
Committee reports increase in U.S. natural gas
The Potential Gas Committee (PGC) indicates the highest natural gas resource evaluation in the Committee’s 44-year history. Read more.
Bright idea: lasers make bulbs shine brighter
Tired of dealing with fluorescent/halogen bulbs that tend to blow out and can't handle dimmer switches? You might find solace from an old and trusted source. Read more.
Hart's E&P gives Oil and Natural Gas glowing review
Must-read, fascinating, eye-opening and delightful are some words Hart's E&P uses to describe Energy4me’s Oil and Natural Gas book. Read entire review.
May Archives
Natural Gas in the Arctic is Mostly Russian
First comprehensive assessment shows 30% of the world's undiscovered natural gas could be trapped under the far north's barren land and icy waters. Read more.
Pupils conduct science experiments in lab lorry
Pupils participate in the "Lab in a Lorry" project, encouraging 14-year-olds to take physics. SPE and the Institute of Physics are program partners. Read more.
IEEE celebrates engineering careers for anniversary
IEEE, the world's largest technical professional society, announced Global Engineering the Future Day in commemoration of its 125th anniversary. Read more.
IEA warns on the power used for electronic devices
The International Energy Agency (IEA) calls on governments to urgently implement policies to make electronic devices more energy-efficient. Read more.
April Archives
Energy4me Participates in Year of Science
Energy4me provided facts on oil and natural gas that will be featured on during 'Energy Month' throughout April, on www.yearofscience2009.org.
Trust Doctrine Could Aid Ocean Water Management
A public trust doctrine for federal waters could be effective solution for energy development, while sustainably managing fisheries, marine animal habitats. Read more.
March Archives
Shell's Perdido: The top is on
Shell Oil Co. has finished installing the oil and gas drilling and production platform atop a 555-foot spar hull at its Perdido installation in the Gulf of Mexico. Read more.
Fort Worth Launches Petroleum Engineering Academy
The Fort Worth ISD has approved the Southwest Academy of Petroleum Engineering & Technology high school, beginning with the 2009-2010 school year. Read more.
Energy4me Donated 300 Books to Science Teachers
Teachers attending NEED sessions and the NESTA Geology Share-a-thon received free "Oil and Natural Gas" books with lesson plans during the NSTA annual conference.
Silencing the Lambs
Scientists Target Sheep Belching to Cut Methane. Reducing Gas in Livestock Could Help World Breathe Sigh of Relief Over Global Warming. Read more.
Global Marathon-Women in Engineering, March 11-12
Program features global, virtual programming from on the benefits and career possibilities for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Read more.
SPE Member Featured During Engineers Week
The New Faces of Engineering program highlights the interesting and unique work of young engineers, such as SPE member, Gabrielle Guerre. Read more.
February Archives
BP Jumps Into Next Generation Biofuels
Moving quickly to produce the next generation of biofuels, energy giant BP PLC said it is making a major investment in extracting transportation fuel from plants. Read more
Engineers Week celebrated February 15–21
Engineers Week programs are designed to reach out to current and future generations of engineering talent through coalition partners. Read more.
January Archives
Energy4me in NEED Newsletter Spotlight
SPE’s Energy4me education program and partnership with the National Energy Education Development Project are featured in NEED's January newsletter for energy educators. Read more.
Air Algae: Biofuel Flight Relies on Weeds, Pond Scum
The U.S.'s first commercial jet flight powered by biofuel runs one engine on African weed mixed with a smidgen of algae. Read more.
2008 Archives
December Archives
Drilling Achievements: Past, Present, and Future
The pioneering achievements of oil and gas drilling in its early days are well known, but less attention has been given to the drilling achievements of the late 20th century and this decade. Read more.
November Archives 
Oil Creation Theory Challenged by Fuel-Making Fungus
A newfound fungus living in rainforest trees makes biofuel more efficiently than any other known method, researchers say. Read more.
IEA World Energy Outlook 2008 now available
New Energy Realities - WEO Calls for Global Energy Revolution Despite Economic Crisis. Read more.
Scientists say a rock can soak up carbon dioxide
A rock found mostly in Oman can be harnessed to soak up the main greenhouse gas carbon dioxide at a rate that could help slow global warming, scientists say. Read more.
The Disappearing Road competition offered again
Texas A&M University offers the competition to develop innovative concepts for reducing the footprint of transportation to drill sites. Read more.
October Archives
New report shows that bioenergy can power sustainable rural development
Sound bioenergy policies could help lift western African rural areas out of poverty. Read more.
We are the children of oilmen contest
This all-Russian contest was introduced for the first time as part of the SPE 2008 Russian Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition. Read more.
Green gasoline available soon
Scientists now are developing gasoline that is synthesized from plants that are not so old. Read more.
Women in the oilfield
This issue of The Way Ahead magazine features articles on women working in the oil and gas industry. Read more.
Energy groups target young ones
Oil and gas companies have turned first to high schools and then to places like the museum to spark an interest in even younger children. Read more.
September Archives
Energy boost for Aberdeenshire primary schools
Several hundred copies of the newly published DK book ‘Oil and Natural Gas’ have been gifted to the schools by TOTAL E&P UK and the SPE Aberdeen Section. Read more.
Energy Rhetoric Versus Reality
API provides info on the most frequently heard claims and proposals from the US presidential campaign trail, along with realities that need to be considered. Read more.
Monitoring Gustav in the Gulf of Mexico
Minerals Management Service will monitor activities through its Continuity of Operations Plan until the storm is no longer a threat. Read more.
August Archives
Industry Leaders commit to UH Petroleum Program
Devon, Marathon pledge support for proposed undergraduate engineering degree. Read more.
July Archives
Central Solar Power for the Southwest
As utilities in the United States seek to develop renewable energy projects, one promising option is central station solar power (CSSP). Read more.
Onboard a High-Tech Oil Rig
Ever-increasing fossil fuel demand has companies going farther and digging deeper for oil than ever before. Popular Mechanics, April 2008. Read more.
What you need to know about energy
A new energy booklet presents a picture of America’s current and projected energy needs. Published by the US National Academies of Science. Read more.
May Archives
Answers to energy questions
Energy in Brief is a new series from the US Energy Information Administration that explains important energy topics using plain language. Read more.
What’s behind rising oil prices?
You're paying way more for gasoline than common sense would suggest, and you might be surprised by who's to blame. Read more
Oceans eyed as new energy source
The world's most powerful sustained ocean current — the mighty Gulf Stream — rushes by at nearly 8.5 billion gallons per second. Read more
April Archives
Drilling record broken by ExxonMobil’s Sakhalin-1
ExxonMobil has broken its own world record for extended-reach drilling. Read more.
Energy Engineering Essay Contest going on
The National Academy of Engineering is sponsoring Engineering Energy for the Future, an essay contest. The contest is open to individual girls and boys in grades three through 12. Click here for full details.
March Archives
Companies explore oil shale
Increased energy demands spark renewed interest in Colorado deposits. Like any good story of buried treasure, X marks the spot. Read more
Engineers Week Recognizes SPE's Tony Thomas
New Faces of Engineering program highlights the interesting and unique work of young engineers and the resulting impact on society. Read more
February Archives
Picture changing for women engineers
While flying to work on a rig in the Gulf of Mexico, a long-experienced woman engineer was asked by the helicopter pilot if she was a cook. Read more
Events drove crude's ride from 10.72 (US dollars)
Looking back, several factors came together at the same time to help oil shoot up roughly tenfold in less than a decade and briefly touch $100. Read more
Oil price increase chart
January Archives
“Be part of the industry to help change it”
Engineering under pressure—companies coping with the personnel crunch are resorting to poaching or recruiting from other fields. Read more
NEED interviews marine biologist
Donna Schroeder, a marine biologist in the oil and gas industry, and another young professional discuss their exciting careers in the latest edition of Career Currents. Read more
Hybrids are a cool idea—but they won't save the planet
Popular perception is that to combat global warming, we should trade in gas- guzzling Hummers for gas-sipping hybrids. Read more
The end of the light bulb as we know it
The incandescent light bulb will be phased off the U.S. market beginning in 2012 under the new energy law just approved by Congress. Read more
2007 Archives
December Archives
SPE auxiliary sells cookbook to raise scholarship funds
Members of the Permian AIMEES, an auxiliary group to the Society of Petroleum Engineers, think they have cooked up a winning recipe to raise funds for scholarships for engineering students ... the goal this year, thanks to the cookbook, is to donate $11,000. Read more
High-school students have future in engineering
With a wide variety of careers available to prospective college graduates, one might think that engineering would be among the least desirable - with its math-driven, technical focus ... Not really, said Karla Guajardo, a production engineer with Occidental Petroleum and a volunteer with the Society of Petroleum Engineer's high-school student outreach efforts. Read more
Girls Dominate the Siemen Science Competition
For the first time in the prestigious national math and science contest's nine-year history, girls were awarded both grand prizes. Read more
New Oil Crisis: An engineer shortage
You've heard the reasons for high oil prices: instability in the Middle East, booming demand in China and India, the sagging dollar. Now add another one to the list: Engineers. The world doesn't have enough of them. From Alberta to Azerbaijan, the fervent hunt for new reserves of oil and natural gas is running up against a shortage of experienced oil patch professionals. Read more
November Archives
Boom in oil industry paves way for new petroleum engineers
A boom in the oil patch has led to a similar resurgence in university petroleum engineering programs. After surviving years of slumping enrollment, these programs are now growing again as a booming industry means graduates are virtually guaranteed employment at salaries upward of $100,000. Read more
50 ways one engineer can make a difference
One person can make a difference in the engineering profession and in National Engineers Week. Here are 50 ways to try. Read more
Chinese company becomes world’s biggest oil company
The meaning of the term "Big Oil" has changed overnight, as state-controlled PetroChina became the first company worth more than $1 trillion, tripling its value Monday in its debut day on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and making it by far the largest company in the world. Read more
