Research & Development Technical Section

(SPE RDTS)

Connecting innovators across the energy value chain to turn bold research ideas into practical technologies for a lower-carbon, more resilient future

Explore 2026–2027 Programs How to Get Involved
Recovery Enhancement Symposium Low-Carbon Cement Symposium
About Why We Exist Our Community Strategic Focus Now & Next Looking Ahead Join Us Leadership
Featured Program

Recovery Enhancement Symposium

The Recovery Enhancement Symposium will be taking place from Nov 17-18, 2026 in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, hosted by CPG-KFUPM. It is part of RDTS Recovery Enhancement Program focused on advancing practical, technically rigorous solutions for improved recovery, reservoir performance, and field-scale innovation. 

Visit the symposium page for event details, program information, and participation opportunities.

Featured Program

Low-Carbon Cement Symposium

The Low-Carbon Cement Symposium will be taking place in later 2026 at University of Houston, as part of RDTS Advanced Materials & Sustainability Program portfolio, expanding the section’s focus on practical innovation for lower-carbon energy systems and infrastructure.

Visit the event page for program details, speakers, and participation opportunities.

About RDTS

Overview

The R&D Technical Section (RDTS) of the Society of Petroleum Engineers brings together members who are passionate about advancing research, technology development, and innovation across upstream oil and gas and the broader energy system.

Our community connects subject-matter experts from operators, service companies, start-ups, academia, and research organizations. Together, we explore emerging technologies, share lessons learned, and help shape the next generation of energy solutions—spanning subsurface, production, digital, decarbonization, and new energy domains.

Established
Early 2000s
One of SPE’s original technical sections, with a long-standing R&D legacy.
Global Community
0 +
Professionals and students across all major producing regions.
Focus
End-to-End R&D
From early-stage ideas to deployment and commercialization.

*Approximate recent membership based on SPE statistics.

Why We Exist

Our Mission

RDTS cultivates an open, cross-disciplinary environment where SPE members can explore emerging research and development topics, test new ideas, and accelerate technology deployment for the upstream and evolving energy landscape.

We are committed to:

  • Connecting R&D leaders, early-career professionals, and students across regions and disciplines.
  • Spotlighting technologies that improve safety, efficiency, sustainability, and value creation.
  • Translating research into field-ready solutions and scalable business impact.
RDTS program collage

RDTS delivers this mission through a mix of in-person and virtual offerings:

  • Webinars & SPE Live: Regular virtual sessions with global experts on emerging topics.
  • Workshops & Forums: Deep-dive, highly interactive events built around the R&D Grand Challenges.
  • JPT Articles: Feature articles that frame the Grand Challenges and highlight real-world case studies.
  • Podcasts & On-Demand Content: Coming in 2026—bite-sized conversations with innovators and entrepreneurs.
  • Social & Digital Platforms: SPE Connect and LinkedIn for continuous networking and collaboration.
Leadership Spotlight

Dr. Yun Yang

Director, Recovery Enhancement
Dr. Yun Yang is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Petroleum Engineering at the University of Houston. She received her Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Energy and Mineral Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and her B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tulsa. Before joining the University of Houston, Dr. Yang worked as a Research Scientist at the University of Wyoming and as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory. At Los Alamos, she served on the Young Researcher Committee of the Energy Frontier Research Center for Interacting Geo-processes in Mineral Carbon Storage. She also spent two years as a Mitacs Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Calgary. Dr. Yang’s research integrates experimental investigation and theoretical modeling of reactive transport in tight and fractured porous media. Her work has applications in unconventional oil and gas recovery, geologic CO2 sequestration, and geological hydrogen production ans storage. Her research has resulted in 26 peer-reviewed publications, including articles in Communications Earth & Environment and PNAS Nexus, which have received more than 1,600 citations. Dr. Yang serves as a Scientific Editor for the Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering and as a member of the SPE Cedric K. Ferguson Medal Award Committee. She has also received the Best Reviewer Award from the International Journal of Coal Science & Technology.
Our Community

Global Reach & Cross-Disciplinary Strength

RDTS is one of SPE’s largest and most diverse technical sections, with membership spanning all major oil and gas regions and an increasing footprint in emerging energy hubs. Our members work in:

Subsurface & Reservoir
Drilling & Completions
Production & Facilities
Digital / AI / ML
Advanced Materials
Sustainability & CCUS
Entrepreneurship
New Energy & Geothermal

RDTS frequently collaborates with other SPE Technical Sections—including Data Science and Engineering Analytics, Well Integrity, Flow Measurement, CCUS, and Sustainability—to ensure that complex problems are tackled from multiple angles.

Strategic Focus

R&D Grand Challenges

The RDTS Grand Challenges framework defines the strategic research and development priorities that will shape the oil and gas industry—and its evolving role within the broader energy system—over the next decade and beyond. These Grand Challenges are not static technical problems; they represent interconnected, system-level questions that require sustained innovation, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and long-term thinking across industry, academia, and government.

First published in the Journal of Petroleum Technology in 2011 and refreshed through a dedicated SPE workshop and accompanying article series in 2023, the RDTS Grand Challenges serve as a unifying compass for the Technical Section’s activities. They guide RDTS program development, technical events, publications, and external engagement, while also providing a shared language for discussing how upstream technologies must evolve in response to societal expectations, energy security needs, and climate imperatives.

Today, the Grand Challenges encompass five core focus areas:

  • Improved recovery and net-zero upstream operations

  • Digital transformation and advanced analytics

  • Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS)

  • Geothermal and new energy opportunities

  • Education, skills, and advocacy for the future workforce

Through these Grand Challenges, RDTS provides a platform for constructive dialogue, technical rigor, and forward-looking leadership—helping to translate bold research ideas into practical, scalable solutions that support a secure, affordable, and lower-carbon energy future.

RDTS R&D Grand Challenges group photo
R&D Grand Challenges Contributors (pictured):
  • Back row L to R, Gaurav Agrawal, Aksay Sahni, Richard Chuchla, Scyller Borglum
  • Front row L to R, Michael Traver, Matthew Balhoff, Thomas Halsey, Kishore Mohanty
Now & Next

2025 Activity Snapshot

RDTS continues to “make virtual work” with a high-tempo calendar of webinars and written content, co-hosted with regional sections and sister technical sections.

Webinars

19 Technical Webinars (2025)

Covering topics such as AI & deep learning in production forecasting, quantum computing for oil and gas, digital twins, neutrally buoyant proppants, produced water as a resource, and more.

Thought Leadership

Bi-Monthly JPT Articles

A series of five R&D-focused articles throughout 2025 explore Grand Challenge themes, case studies, and cross-disciplinary R&D success stories.

Collaboration

Joint Programs

Co-branded events with Gulf Coast Section, DSEATS, DSATS, AMTS, HYFTS and others expand the reach of RDTS content and bring in new perspectives.

Join the Community

Get Involved with RDTS

Whether you are an experienced researcher, a technology developer, a start-up founder, or a student curious about R&D, there is a place for you in RDTS.

  • Join the Technical Section : Add RDTS to your SPE profile to receive updates and event invitations.
  • Follow us on LinkedIn : Join the R&D discussions in the greater community.
  • Share Your Work: Propose a webinar, workshop topic, podcast idea, or JPT article.
  • Volunteer: Support one of our focus areas—Digital/AI/ML, Advanced Materials, Entrepreneurship, or Education & Advocacy.
  • Collaborate: Partner with RDTS on joint events across technical sections, universities, or regional sections.

To learn more or get involved, connect with us on SPE Connect, follow our updates, or reach out to the RDTS leadership team.

Looking Ahead

Aspirational 2026: New Initiatives

Building on the momentum from 2025, RDTS is planning several new offerings for 2026 that deepen our impact across digital, materials, and entrepreneurship themes.

Digital / AI / ML

Quantum & AI/ML Programs

  • 1st SPE Quantum Computing Workshop (planned at Rice University, May 2026).
  • Support for the 2nd SPE AI/ML Forum (planned for early 2026).
  • Continued webinars on generative AI, digital twins, and advanced analytics.
Advanced Materials & Sustainability

Low-Carbon Cement & Beyond

  • A dedicated Low-Carbon Cement Workshop (targeting Q2 2026, University of Houston) connecting materials scientists, operators, and service providers.
  • Integration of sustainability and life-cycle thinking across RDTS programs and Grand Challenges.
Entrepreneurship & Ecosystem

Podcast & Start-Up Engagement

  • Launch of a new RDTS podcast series featuring R&D leaders and founders.
  • Closer alignment with SPE Start-Up Village to support innovators and scale-ups.
  • Expanded engagement with universities and Eastern Hemisphere hubs.

Alongside these new initiatives, RDTS will continue its bi-weekly webinar cadence, opportunistic JPT articles, and collaborations with other technical sections—keeping our community connected and informed, wherever you are in the world.

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