The SPE Podcast

Electrical Submersible Pumps continue to play a vital role in artificial lift, offering efficient and scalable solutions across a wide range of reservoir conditions. In recent years, Permanent Magnet Motors (PMMs) have gained significant momentum as a preferred alternative to traditional Induction Motors (IMs) in ESP systems. While PMMs have been part of the industry since the 1990s, their widespread adoption has accelerated over the past decade, driven by advancements in motor efficiency, drive technology, and integrated control and monitoring systems. These innovations have contributed to lower power consumption, improved environmental performance, and enhanced economic returns, making PMMs a compelling option in today’s energy landscape. However, with these benefits come specific operational and safety considerations. One key challenge is managing the regenerative power generated by magnetized rotors, which can pose risks during handling, installation, and operation. The industry has responded with robust safety protocols, power isolation techniques, advanced control logic, and automated startup procedures to mitigate these risks and unlock the full potential of PMM technology. This SPE Live, in collaboration with the SPE Artificial Lift Technical Section, brings together leading experts to explore the evolution of Permanent Magnet Motor technology in ESP applications—from early developments to cutting-edge global implementations. Drawing on extensive experience from the Permian Basin and other key production regions, the discussion will cover: Recent technological advancements enabling the broader adoption of PMMs Integration with modern Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) for optimized control Enhanced operational reliability and energy efficiency Safety protocols for handling, commissioning, and operating PMM-driven ESP systems Field case studies highlighting cost savings, performance gains, and sustainability benefits Whether you’re working in a high-volume shale play or managing brownfield operations overseas, this session offers valuable insights and takeaways for engineers, operators, and asset managers looking to improve artificial lift performance through the adoption of PMM technology. Moderated by Shivani Vyas, Sales Manager, Odessa Separator Inc. Speakers: Dakai Yin, ESP Engineer Advisor, Oxy Lorne Simmons, North American Director of Quality and Training, Levare

Join us for an insightful SPE Live with the SPE Data Science & Engineering Analytics (DSEA) and Drilling Technical Directors as we explore emerging technologies, key trends shaping the industry, and how SPE is fostering innovation and collaboration among professionals. Speakers: • Sushma Bhan, SPE DSEA Technical Director. Board of Directors at Ikon Science • Robin Macmillan, SPE Drilling Technical Director. Consultant Moderated by Silviu Livescu, 2020-2023 SPE DSEA Technical Director. Co-Founder and CTO at Bedrock Energy  

Join us for an SPE Live on Energy Transition. Learn how the technical and scientific advancements in geo-engineering can contribute to meeting the challenges of the energy transition with a preview of the upcoming SPE Europe Energy Conference and Exhibition in Vienna. Under the theme of “Innovating Together: Solutions, People and Energy for a Responsible Transition”, the event will join upstream oil and gas technology with clean energy efforts to discuss future pathways of discovery, providing the chance to establish a common ground across disciplines to highlight recent achievements, sharing proposed guidelines for optimizing integrated processes and procedures, discussing the new targets of education in the energy sector, exploring strategic approaches to adapt traditional oil and gas expertise to new energy technologies, to create inclusive workplace cultures and to foster innovative initiatives for sustainable energy solutions. Moderator: Edna Michelle Bisso Bi Mba, Head of Reservoir Services, Harbour Energy Guests: • Reinhard Oswald, SVP Tech Center at OMV • Filippo Abbá, COO & Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at SAIPEM • Francesca Verga, Professor at Politecnico di Torino SPE Europe Energy Conference and Exhibition

Oil and gas from the North Sea has powered Europe for decades. The North Sea is now providing a diverse mix of energy solutions with ambitious plans for offshore wind, the scale up of carbon storage, and the potential for hydrogen generation and distribution. Europe’s energy systems have been hit by turmoil following the Ukraine war. In this SPE Live, you will hear perspectives from across Europe and the different approaches to how countries are managing their respective journeys to net zero emissions. Some countries continue to encourage investment in oil and gas to drive the economy and fund a broader energy transition, others have taken a different path seeking to accelerate renewable energy coupled with policy that removes incentives for oil and gas development. What is the future for the North Sea as Europe’s energy mix evolves? How do we best use this shared resource? This lively conversation will be continued at SPE Offshore Europe in Aberdeen on 2-5 September 2025. Moderator: Natalie Coupar, Communications and Marketing Director, OEUK Guests: • Martin Næsby – Chief Executive, Dansk Offshore • Laura Sims – Associate Director, S&P Global SPE Offshore Europe

How relevant is well intervention in today’s O&G landscape? Very much, as the need from operators to maximize ROI while maintaining cost control relies on mature asset management, production increases. Well Intervention is a fundamental technical discipline, which enables Operators to regain access to reserves and restore/increase production faster than drilling. The SPE/ICoTA conference is the cornerstone of the Well Intervention Technical Community, where companies share their newest technologies, developments, and achievements, contributing to the technical excellence and knowledge sharing amongst peers. Moderated by Carlos Torres, SPE North America Regional Director. Founder and Owner at Royal Oaks Energy Services Speakers: Manuel Chavez, Lead Well Interventions Engineer, Coiled Tubing SME at Shell Luis Castro, Asset Surveillance and Intervention Leader at Baker Hughes SPE/ICoTA Well Intervention Conference and Exhibition

Join us for an exclusive fireside chat with Erik Kirkemo, Senior Vice President of Drilling & Well at Equinor and Conference Chair for the upcoming SPE/IADC International Drilling Conference and Exhibition. We will explore the extraordinary shifts reshaping the drilling landscape—from harnessing advanced automation and digital innovation to pursuing net-zero targets. Erik will share insights on balancing short-term demands with long-term strategic planning, adapting to evolving regulations, and leveraging collaboration to drive meaningful change. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain fresh perspectives on what’s truly shaping the future of drilling. Moderated by Robin Macmillan, SPE Technical Director for Drilling Speakers: Erik Kirkemo, Senior Vice President of Drilling and Well, Equinor. Conference Chair for the 2025 SPE/IADC International Drilling Conference & Exhibition

In this SPE Live, we explore the evolution of safety in O&G, maritime, and civil aviation industries under a human factors approach, discussing how the evolution from human error to system resilience reshaped workplace practices and safety management. Drawing insights from incidents and normal work, we illustrate how human competencies, such as adaptive variability, non-technical skills, and team dynamics, are the solution, not the problem, to deal with the emergent challenges in high-risk environments as the complex sociotechnical system of these industry's workplaces. Moderated by Sarah Acton, Human Factors Engineer at Ascend Performance Materials Speakers: • Riana Steen, Associate Professor at BI Norwegian Business School • James Norman, FOQA Gatekeeper, ALPA at Delta Air Lines • Josué Maia Franca, Safety Engineer and Human Factors Consultant at Petrobras

We are excited to host two 2024 Energy Influencers selected by The Way Ahead for outstanding technical, entrepreneurial, and service contributions by young professionals. In this SPE Live, we discuss how technology innovation is enabling carbon capture, how industry is scaling-up these technologies in large projects globally, and how our energy sector is collaborating and working across industries to advance. Our guests have years of experience championing new technologies and are ready to share their perspectives and answer your questions. Moderated by Natan Battisti, Portfolio Risk & Decision Quality Lead at Harbour Energy Speakers: • Mohamad Yousef Alklih, Senior Reservoir Simulation Engineer at ADNOC • Rostyslav Dolog, Senior Lab Scientist at Aramco Americas

We are excited to host three 2024 Energy Influencers selected by The Way Ahead for outstanding technical, entrepreneurial, and service contributions by young professionals. In this SPE Live, we talk about the meaning and impact of being a leader, leadership skills, challenges face as young leaders and how to overcome them. Our guests have become leaders and are ready to share their perspectives and answer your questions. Moderated by Hitisha Dadlani, Reservoir engineer at ONGC Speakers: *Ravana Karimova, Completion and Intervention Engineer at bp * Debora Martogi, Geotechnical Engineer at Geosyntec Consultants * Nihal Darraj, CCS researcher at Imperial College London

Stringent regulations to protect the environment have generated an increased demand for oilfield produced water treatment for recycling and reuse, creating significant challenges to existing treatment technologies. Membranes technologies, even though they have sparsely been used in the oil and gas industry, offer promising solutions. During this SPE Live, we are going to discuss innovations on membrane materials, coatings and hydraulics. Field examples to illustrate applications of advanced membrane technology to treat produced water will be shared. Moderated by Patricia E. Carreras, General Manager at Blue Moon Strategies Speakers: • Jinwen Wang, Vice President of Product at PolyCera • Peter Christou, President at Swirltex