Professional Ethics for Petroleum Engineers 

W. R. “Rick” Farmer IV, P.E., SPEC

Double R Engineering, LLC

April 30, 2024

Noon – 1 PM CST     11:30 AM  Lunch served 

Petroleum Club of Lafayette -  111 Heymann Blvd, Lafayette, LA

Abstract

Ethical practices in petroleum engineering are important for upholding industry standards, improving the public perception of our industry, and preserving our individual integrity. This meeting will include an introduction to concepts and guidelines for professional ethics and both in-person and online participants will discuss some real examples of the ethical challenges that arise in the practice of petroleum engineering. Please contact the speaker, Rick, if you know of ethical issues or questions that would be beneficial to discuss in the meeting. Members of all experience levels and specialties should find relevance in the examples. Participants will be credited with 1 PDH to fulfill the annual requirement for continuing education on ethics for professional engineers and can potentially be used for those who still need an ethics credit for 2024.

Biography                                             

W. R. “Rick” Farmer, P.E. is the owner of Double R Engineering, LLC, a consulting company.  Rick has over 45 years in the oilfield, starting as a roustabout / roughneck / pumper through college and then as an engineer for the Union Oil Company of California.  He worked for Petroleum Engineers, Inc. and Crescent Drilling & Production where he became a partner.  Rick was the Drilling and Completion Manager at Century Exploration. He worked at Stone Energy as a Deepwater Planning Engineer.   Rick began studying for his Fundamental Engineer Exam and his Professional Engineering License Exam following the Deepwater Horizon / Macondo Incident.  From 2019-2021, he worked for Beacon Offshore Exploration as their P.E. for work involving the Transocean “Asgard”. In 2022, at Cantium, LLC, Rick worked as a Drilling Engineer designing the Kings Hill Well, which was drilled in Bay Marchand Field in 2023, to 24.000’ through 12,500’ of salt from an independent backup. He has approximately 39 years of experience in Designing and Supervising Well Operations, including drilling, completions, workovers, and plug and abandonment work in the GOM and inland waters of Louisiana and Texas. Of this work, the majority has been in the Deepwater, Jackup, and Inland Barge work. Since 2016, Rick has been an Industry Professor developing and teaching petroleum engineering classes.

He has served on the Delta Section of SPE as a Director at Large and on the Evangeline Section as Director at Large and as Vice President.  Rick has served on the American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE) on the Lafayette and New Orleans Chapter Boards and on the National Board as National President.  From 2019-2021, he worked for Beacon Offshore Exploration as their P.E. for work involving the Transocean “Asgard”. In 2022, Rick  Rick is a member of the Louisiana Engineering Society, SEG, AAPG, ASME, and ASM.  He is a licensed engineer in the State of Louisiana.

Any feedback will be welcome for the Evangeline Section meeting:  SPEEvangelineSection@gmail.com

Meal headcount DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24th.

NOTE:  If registered after April 24th, The Petroleum Club may not have enough prepared food for you to have lunch.  Registration is required to attend the event.

Recommended guidelines regarding COVID-19 will be followed.  Lunch served ~11:30 AM.   Anyone with an interest in this subject is very welcome to attend.

*Note Pricing Details 

SPE Members:

$25 if paid by Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

$30 if registered by April 24, 2024 and select Pay at Door.

          Note: the email invoice will show $25, but $30 will be charged at the door.

$30 if no pre-registration.

If you use a Petroleum Club Membership to pay, please register and choose Pay at Door.  Your Petroleum Club account will be charged $30.

NON-SPE Members:

$35 if paid by Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

$40 if registered by April 24, 2024 and select Pay at Door.

          Note: the email invoice will show $35, but $40 will be charged at the door.

$40 if no pre-registration.

For Petroleum Club Membership to pay, please register and choose Pay at Door.

       Your Petroleum Club account will be charged $40.

Students/Faculty: First ten (10) are free; >10 then $10 / $15 at the door. Students/Faculty must email David Boucher for lunch vouchers by Wednesday, April 24th, and there is no need to register on the SPE website.  Valid for current SPE Evangeline Section SSPE members only.

Members in Transition (looking for work)  $0 in-person if pre-registered by April 24, 2024.  Join us to network and keep your industry knowledge current at no cost if you are not currently employed.  AND Please email David Boucher.  Valid for current SPE Evangeline Section members only.

See this guide for step-by-step instructions on registering.  

If you have trouble registering, try disabling the pop-up blocker in your web browser.  If you continue to have problems, contact speevangelinesection@gmail.com.

To receive a Continuing Education Credit Certificate by email, please email Continuing Education by April 24 or sign the roster at the meeting.  You will be emailed after our meeting. Monthly Meeting = 1 CEU.