American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2019 - 27

Organizations Adding
Webinars To Their Arsenals
Of Educational Offerings
The oil and gas industry is full of popular terms that
sometimes get used almost at random during business meetings,
conferences and sales pitches. A great example of this has been
"artificial intelligence." As a colleague informed me, "Artificial
intelligence is like junior high boys talking about girls . . .
everyone has a lot to say, but no one has been to first base."
Another term we are beginning to hear is webinar. Our
ability to access online resources and training-specifically
video-has become a necessity for most of us. According to the
National Education Association, YouTube provides access to
more than 500,000 educational videos from organizations such
as Stanford University, Public Broadcast Service and ted.com.
This doesn't include the thousands of local guys who have
helped me do everything from swap parts on my jeep to improve
my shot when bird hunting.
In oil and gas, "webinar" is used to describe everything from
a service company sales pitch to a semester-long college course.
Like everything else, there is a lot of information available,
and it can be difficult to decide which Web-based learning opportunities are best for one's company. At first glance, the
answer seems simple. However, on further investigation, it can
be confusing and overwhelming. After all, the oil industry is
full of highly skilled individuals who are comfortable with
technology and find themselves working long hours in remote
locations. This makes participating in a traditional classroom
difficult as well as time consuming, so online training makes
sense.
This was the need the University of Kansas Tertiary Oil Recovery Project addressed when streaming its improved oil
recovery and hydraulic fracturing conferences live in the early
2000s. Since that time, technology has improved, making it
easier and significantly more reliable to host and produce these
events.
The Society of Petroleum Engineers has done an excellent
job of integrating online content for its members. In the Online
Education section of SPE's website, one can navigate easily to
a nice amount of material put together by experts. SPE's content
is divided into three categories:
· Webinars consisting of 60-90 minute sessions containing
both live and on-demand content sponsored by the SPE
Foundation and provided to members at no cost.
· Online training where one can participate in a more indepth course on a specific topic.
· A nice amount of free content that is not formatted in traditional SPE style and features items such as paper presentations
and technical writing.
The American Association of Petroleum Geologists also has
added online training and content. AAPG's content is organized
into certificate courses, e-symposia and traditional courses.
The certificate courses are the most robust of the options I
reviewed, and according to AAPG's website, are designed and
billed as the equivalent of a semester-long, graduate-level course
lasting four weeks each. The e-symposia are one-hour, interactive

"Participating in a traditional classroom may
be difficult as well as time consuming, so
online training makes sense."
courses on hot topics and feature a day's worth of independent
study material. Traditional courses vary in length from a few
days to several months, include interaction with an instructor,
and may have daily or weekly assignments.
Finally, in keeping with its tradition of serving small to
midsize operators in the areas they work, PTTC has launched
the next chapter in its online training effort. PTTC applies its
published methodology combined with operator input, and
takes advantage of improved technology to maximize the impact
and effectiveness of the modern operator working in today's
complex environments.
The quality that always has made PTTC unique is its ability
to work within the schedules and locations of busy operators
while providing top-tier content at a low cost, and this also is
true with its online content.
Live courses are scheduled during lunch hours and allow for
instructor interaction. Each session is recorded, edited and
posted to a participant-only section of the PTTC YouTube
channel, giving participants the ability to re-watch sessions or
catch up if they missed a part. PTTC also allows a registrant to
sign up late and use recorded sessions to catch up before the
next meeting to maximize flexibility.
After its first course led by Dan Krygowski and titled, "What
the heck is Petrophysics?", PTTC hosted "Cementing Fundamentals," delivered by Talib Syed, where participants spent
four one-hour sessions learning about well integrity and
cementing. Coming in September, Dave Koger will present
"Air Photos, Satellites and Drones: Save Time and Money:
Prospect, Plan and Protect your Physical Assets." Finally, slated
to roll out in early 2020, PTTC is applying its published technology-transfer methodology to micro-certification courses in
which participants can become certified in specific areas of expertise.
Now, more than ever, there are loads of educational opportunities for new and emerging technologies and best practices.
Online training is a great way for people to improve their skills
at times and locations best for them.
r

JEREMY VISCOMI is a strategic

marketing expert for the oil and
gas industry. Among his many
roles, he serves as the MidContinent regional lead for the
Petroleum Technology Transfer
Council, providing independent
operators with access to emerging technology aimed at reducing
risk and growing profits.
AUGUST 2019 27

http://www.ted.com

American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2019

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