Comments: Your Next Big Idea Starts Here: Why JPT Should Be a Habit
Authors: Jacobs Trent 
Published: December 2024

You may have noticed something a little different about JPT recently—me.

While I’ve been part of this publication’s journey since 2010, I am honored to now step into the role of managing editor, taking over from Pam Boschee. Pam, who deftly helmed JPT and its sister publications for almost 5 years, will continue leading our group as the director of SPE’s magazines.

My communications career in oil and gas began in 2010 by helping the industry and other stakeholders learn all about subsea oil spill containment. This introduction to the industry came during one of its darkest chapters: the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the US Gulf of Mexico (GOM).

While the world was still reeling from the scope and scale of the blowout, which had finally been brought under control, I joined Helix Energy Solutions in Houston to help shape the messaging around a solution.

I was proud to be part of a team that played a role in containing the mile-deep blowout using an innovative wellhead cap and riser system. The idea sounds simple but was nothing short of an engineering marvel at the time: cap the blowout well and redirect the uncontrolled flow of oil to a floating production and storage unit on the surface.

This approach had never been attempted before the Deepwater Horizon disaster—in fact, it hadn’t even been thought of until the events of April 2010 forced the industry to innovate under extraordinary pressure.

The engineers and subsea professionals who designed the system took great pride in sharing their knowledge with me, and I found equal joy in learning from them. I was hooked—bitten by the upstream technology bug.

Looking back, I’m reminded of the pride those engineers and professionals took in their work, which ultimately enabled the safe resumption of deepwater drilling across the US GOM. Their innovation became a much-needed insurance policy against future subsea blowouts, which, thankfully, have not occurred.

The experience ignited my passion for the oil and gas industry and prepared me to embrace a broader world of innovation when I joined JPT as a technology writer in 2013.

Today, as managing editor, my mission is simple: to ensure JPT remains an indispensable resource for SPE members worldwide. At its core, SPE is dedicated to knowledge sharing, and for more than 75 years, JPT has been a constant, reliable vehicle for that mission.

I want to reaffirm our commitment to delivering insights that matter—whether it’s a breakthrough to cut well costs, boost production, or enhance your team’s understanding of emerging technologies.

Now that you know what we plan to do, here’s what I ask of you, our readers. Make visiting JPT a habit, and if you already have, spread the word to a friend or a colleague by sharing an article you recently enjoyed.

Staying engaged with JPT—by visiting the site regularly, signing up for one of our email newsletters, or following us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/jpt-journal-of-petroleum-technology/)—might be one of the easiest ways to discover a new solution or peer-tested idea that also works for your team or asset. And one good idea might be all you need to move the needle.

Ignore this low-hanging fruit, and you risk losing a competitive edge.

Consider this too: SPE hosts more than 100 conferences, workshops, and technical gatherings each year. While no one can attend them all or sift through every technical paper, JPT bridges that gap like no other source. Our team of experienced editors—with more than a century of combined industry expertise—works hard to capture the highlights, distill the insights, and deliver actionable knowledge directly to you.

In an industry where knowledge is power, JPT is truly your easiest way to stay up to date on the evolving technology landscape.

Lastly, thank you for trusting us as your key source for industry insights. Let’s keep the conversation going and if you have an idea that JPT should know about, a new technology, a case study, or any feedback at all then please reach out to me at tjacobs@spe.org.