The U.S. Petroleum Technology Transfer Council (PTTC) now has a home page on the Internet, which it will use to disseminate information and software to producers.
The Independent Petroleum Association of America spun off PTTC because it saw a need to improve technology transfer between producers and the research and development community
PTTC's mission is to inform researchers about exploration and production problems producers face and communicate back to oilmen technologies that can reduce costs, improve operating efficiency, and boost recovery
The initial PTTC home page (at http://www.msc.edu/pttc) eventually will be supplemented by 10 others serving geologic regions (OGJ, Dec. 19, 1994, P. 22).
PTTC'S CHALLENGE
just as it has begun to get under way, PTTC faces a life threatening challenge.
It receives nearly two thirds of its funding from the Department of Energy. Not only do Capitol Hill budget cutters want to dismantle DOE (OGJ, June 19, p. 30), they also plan heavy hits for DOE's fiscal 1996 R&D budget.
J.C. Hall, PTTC chairman and president of Drilling & Production Co., Torrance, Calif., called funding from DOE in fiscal 1996 critical for PTTC.
But he said the problem is that the oil industry is signaling Congress that it doesn't really care if DOE or its fossil research programs are abolished.
The American Petroleum Institute is ambivalent on the issue. Ironically, so is IPAA, although it secured DOE funding to launch PTTC.
An IPAA spokeswoman said the IPAA executive committee voted last February in favor of abolishing DOE if the funds were used for oil industry programs or deficit reduction.
She said, "Independents recognize there are some good programs (at DOE) that should continue. PTTC is one of them." But she hasn't taken a stand on PTTC funding.
AN INDUSTRY PROBLEM
Hall argues the oil industry should be lobbying hard to retain the R&D programs.
He said, "The problem is this: Congress is hearing that the industry sees no need for DOE, which had regulated it for many years, and it is taking that to mean that the programs in the oil and gas research sector also should not be retained."
Unfortunately, he said, one reason producers are reluctant to embrace DOE is that they haven't seen any benefit from the research.
"Actually, many of these programs have been refocused in the last 3-5 years to directly benefit the industry," Hall said. "Examples are the advanced computational technology program, reservoir class research, and PTTC. But producers won't see any results for another year."
Hall also said, "Industry had better speak out on this and speak out quickly, or it will lose this funding. Given the state that the oil industry is in, I don't think it can afford to lose any benefits it has."