Q&A with Jacques Bosio

Editor's Note: In recognition of SPE's 50th anniversary this year, JPT is conducting interviews with several Society luminaries about their careers, their relationship with SPE, and the changes they have seen in the oil and gas industry and the Society over the past several decades. In 1993, you became the first person outside of the United States to hold the office of SPE President. What was the significance of this and was its significance realized at the time? SPE was perceived as 100% US at the time. But SPE was opening new sections every year outside the US already and appeared to be going in that direction. But, let us face it, I would say that one half of the SPE Board of Directors was not very much in favor of becoming totally international. Fortunately, some Presidents before me—such as Orville Gaither (1990) and Kenneth Robbins (1985)—had vision and realized that the central gravity of the oil business was moving east. Because of the North Sea, which was being developed, and of course, the Middle East, Texas was no longer the center of gravity. So it was really time to integrate the rest of the world into SPE, and it was also time to make it known that SPE had evolved and was truly becoming international. So the idea of a non-US President would be a symbol and I think it worked. When our members opened up their JPT one month, they had proof that SPE was going international, since the least you can say about a Frenchman is that he is a true foreigner! It was a sign of a clear evolution. Was there much reaction from the membership? The reaction was positive. SPE had opened a new section in France in the 1980s and in other areas already. As I traveled around—to Norway, to Great Britain, and to other places—the members all said they found the idea of SPE becoming more international to be a very good one. Looking back, what are your thoughts about the pace of SPE's international growth? Did it happen too slowly? At about the right speed? Certainly not too slowly; it was an evolution, not a revolution. SPE was already on the right track, and since my term, there have been several non-US presidents. Look at what SPE has become in 15 years—half of the members are now outside the US, we have sections all over the world, and we have opened several offices outside of the US. All of this growth went together with the technical revolution in communication, which was very expensive, along with the creation of a bunch of new meetings all over the world. If you think about it, if it takes 20 years to make an adult, then 15 years to do what SPE has done is not a very long time. In 15 years, we have gained international recognition and respect. It has been a fantastic success.