The project goal is to increase domestic reserves and production and prevent premature abandonment of domestic resources by providing E&P-related technology information and insights to producers in a concise, meaningful format that stimulates producers to make timely, informed technology decisions.

Petroleum Technology Transfer Council, (PTTC) - Tulsa, OK

Regional offices:
Eastern:

• Champaign, IL
• Kalamazoo, MI
• Morgantown, WV

Central and Eastern Gulf:

• Baton Rouge, LA
• Tuscaloosa, AL

Midcontinent

• Oklahoma
• Lawrence, KS

Rocky Mountain

• Golden, CO

Texas

• Austin, TX

Bob Kiker (satellite of Texas)

• Midland, TX

West Coast

• Bakersfield, CA

In the early 1990s PTTC was formed as a joint Federal, State, and industry collaboration to provide the domestic producing industry, primarily independent producers, with improved access to evolving and underutilized technologies. The original model was for PTTC to become self-supporting and sufficient within five years, but that has not occurred. State funding, primarily from cost-sharing by PTTC's regional organizations, continues. Industry provides significant time and expertise for PTTC activities, but there has not been an influx of industry money to replace Federal dollars. Federal funding uncertainty in 2006 and 2007 slowed PTTC activities. PTTC implemented a membership program, with minimal success, that was subsequently abandoned. During this time period though, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) offered a proposal, which was accepted by PTTC, for an AAPG-managed PTTC that would retain many of the fundamental aspects driving PTTC’s success. Planning and negotiations, led by a Transition Steering Committee, culminated in the acceptance of AAPG’s proposal, revision of PTTC’s Bylaws and voting in of AAPG as PTTC’s sole member at the onset of FY2008. The new AAPG-managed PTTC maintains an industry-directed and regionally-focused structure, university involvement at the regional level, the offering of local, affordable workshops, and a multidisciplinary focus. PTTC will benefit and grow with expanded management, marketing, and systems access offered by AAPG. The new AAPG-managed PTTC will rely more on industry to fund its efforts through sponsorships and increased fees. Soon after reorganizing, AAPG and PTTC approached the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) about them joining AAPG as a PTTC Member. SPE declined. Their joining AAPG as a PTTC Member may be revisited at some point in the future.

PTTC over the past 15 years has established an effective and growing information network with producers, primarily independents, scattered across the United States. Producers have come to rely upon PTTC for unbiased, no-nonsense technology information. Recognizing PTTC's reputation and expanding connections, technology providers actively participate with PTTC to communicate developing technologies to producers. Consultants recognize PTTC as a very cost-effective source for equipping them with the tools needed to serve producers. DOE's natural gas and oil RD&D program recognizes PTTC as a very effective medium for connecting with industry about project results and upcoming solicitations. PTTC also alerts DOE to concerns and issues within the domestic producing industry. States directly benefit from increased revenues from the increased production and reserves that result when producers apply E&P technologies. As technology information is disseminated and adopted successfully, the consequent increase in oil and gas production and reserves benefits the Nation's energy security.

PTTC's technology-transfer programs help small independent producers reduce costs, improve operating efficiency, increase ultimate recovery, enhance environmental compliance, and add new reserves. During a recent period when 1,266 million barrels of oil equivalent were realized by industry in 11 selected technology areas, 88 million barrels of that total could be attributed to PTTC's technology-transfer activities. (FY04 Annual Report)

Between FY2000 and FY2006, PTTC was involved in more than 140 workshops per year, drawing an average 6,000 attendees each year. Repeat attendance, which is a strong measure of customer satisfaction and value delivered, remained above 50%. More than 85% of attendees came from the E&P industry. Forty percent of workshop attendees answering a question about "applying technology they learned about at least partially through PTTC" indicated they were doing so. Due to funding insecurities and PTTC’s survival efforts, activities and therefore results were lessened in FY2007. PTTC participants did continue though, to provide regional activities and most subcontracts remained intact as PTTC transitioned. PTTC’s focus throughout FY08 was on (1) completing restructuring, (2) restarting the regional workshop program, and (3) implementing a business development plan. While doing all this, PTTC also communicated to industry that it still existed and, with an AAPG-managed organization, had resources to pull from to reasonably be there for the future. During FY09 PTTC is focusing on maintaining regional activity level, increasing revenue from attendee fees, and realizing funding from other than its primary tech transfer grant with DOE.

PTTC’s contact activity grew steadily from inception through FY2005-FY2006, exceeding 30,000 per year in those years. There was a significant decrease during FY2007 with the disruption of activities caused by the funding uncertainty. Operating under the AAPG-managed PTTC, the regions are once again conducting an active workshop program. PTTC continues to “connect” individuals through its Internet information system and other communication activities. Communication activities include a national newsletter, e-mail technology alerts, Tech Connections column in The American Oil & Gas Reporter, and an active conference exhibit schedule.

PTTC serves as DOE’s main outreach program for U.S. independent oil and gas producers, continuously developing its technology transfer in all areas of the country and expanding its role as a liaison between the R&D community and independents. PTTC provides about a 45% cost share to the program, mostly derived from State universities and geological surveys.

Through regional offices, PTTC identifies operators’ needs and barriers to production, provides technical assistance, maintains resource centers, and interfaces with DOE program officials to assist with planning, evaluation and stakeholder feedback.

PTTC’s most important products and services include:

• Workshops that provide real-world solutions targeted to specific constraints.
• Regional Resource Centers with technical referral assistance to service companies/consultants and demonstrations of E&P software.
• Website networks linking national and regional websites and other technical resources.
• Publications and information products, including a national quarterly newsletter, case studies published monthly in Petroleum Technology Digest in World Oil magazine, the Tech Connections column published monthly in American Oil and Gas Reporter magazine, and frequent e-mail Tech Alerts with industry, DOE, and PTTC highlights.

(January 2010)
This project has been completed. The final report is listed below under "Additional Information".

$9,552,000

$5,577,777

NETL – Ginny Weyland (virginia.weyland@netl.doe.gov or 281-494-2517)
PTTC – Lance Cole (lcole@pttc.org or 918-241-5801)

Final Project Report [PDF-1.37MB]