PBE Podcast

The Evolution of UTAPWeLS & Well-Log Modeling

In this episode of the PBE Podcast, host Troy Tittlemier sits down with Dave Kennedy to explore the history of the UT Austin Formation Evaluation research consortium and the development of the UTAPWeLS software. Dave shares his expansive career journey, spanning from his early days at Georgia Tech and military service during the Vietnam War, to his extensive work with industry giants like Schlumberger, Mobil, ExxonMobil, and Baker Hughes. The discussion dives deep into the evolution of well-log modeling, detailing the industry's shift from the standard 30-year use of the 6FF40 induction instrument to proprietary array induction tools. Dave also highlights how consortium leader Carlos successfully united competing service companies to build a comprehensive petrophysical simulator that continues to push the technological envelope today.

Episode Highlights

Introduction to Dave Kennedy, his long-standing association with Carlos since 1986 at Berkeley, and the start of the UT Austin consortium in 2000.

Dave’s early life: Attending Georgia Tech, his family's military background, and his decision to join the army as airborne infantry during the Vietnam War.

Entering the oil patch: Landing a job at Schlumberger in 1972 after sending out a hundred letters through a vendor catalog.

Transitioning to research: Moving to Mobil in 1988, solving Maxwell's equations to understand the 6FF40 induction tool's response function, and adding 100 million barrels to the Statfjord field reserves using forward modeling.

The industry shift to array induction tools and the service companies' initial reluctance to share their proprietary hardware specifications and modeling data.

The birth of UTAPWeLS (University of Texas at Austin Petrophysical and Well-Log Simulator): How Carlos successfully negotiated with competing service companies to incorporate their models into a unified simulator for the industry.

Forward modeling vs. inversion: A breakdown of how UTAPWeLS helps determine hydrocarbon saturation by overlaying guessed formation layer conductivities onto observed tool responses.

Dispelling the myth of a "mature industry": How technological advancements like fiber optics, miniaturization, and rare earth magnets for nuclear magnetic resonance keep the oil and gas sector on the cutting edge.

Concluding thoughts on the 26-year-old consortium's ongoing evolution, Carlos's leadership, and the modern integration of AI into their research.

In this episode of the People Behind Energy podcast, Dr. Carlos Torres-Verdín (Professor at the University of Texas at Austin) and Mark Kittridge (Principal and Manager of the Quantitative Interpretation Team at Occidental Petroleum) explore the 26-year history and future of the UT Austin Formation Evaluation Consortium. The conversation details Dr. Torres-Verdín’s journey in establishing an independent academic program for formation evaluation, Mark Kittridge’s perspectives as a long-time industry sponsor, and the core physics behind subsurface reservoir measurements. They also examine how multiphysics modeling, novel sensors, and artificial intelligence are advancing petrophysics, driving reservoir recovery factors, and enabling energy transition applications such as CO2 sequestration.

Key Highlights & Timestamps

- Celebrating 26 Years of Innovation: The conversation opens with reflections on the 26-year uninterrupted legacy of the UT Austin Formation Evaluation Consortium and its pivotal role in advancing petrophysics.

- Mark Kittridge’s Longhorn Legacy: Mark shares his journey coming to UT Austin in August 1986 for his Master's in Petroleum Engineering under Dr. Larry Lake, discussing how his graduate work laid the foundation for his industry career.

- Dr. Carlos Torres-Verdín’s Career Path: Carlos outlines his academic and industry path, from earning his PhD at UC Berkeley to conducting research at Schlumberger (SLB) and working in operations at YPF in Argentina before joining UT Austin in July 1999.

- Pitching the Consortium Vision in 2000: Carlos recalls pitching his vision for an academic unit dedicated to formation evaluation, pushing back against the perception that petrophysical technology had reached its limit.

- Early Consortium Impact: Mark discusses the immediate value the consortium brought to operators by tying tool physics directly to multiphysics, multiscale data, quantitative interpretation, and downhole formation testing.

- The Power of Academic Neutrality: The guests discuss how UT Austin provided a neutral, independent research environment to maximize measurement value without commercial tool bias.

- The Future of Subsurface Physics: Carlos highlights future research frontiers, focusing on complex heterogeneous rocks, new in situ sensors, fast computing, and combining physical laws with artificial intelligence to boost reservoir recovery factors.

- Demystifying Formation Evaluation: Mark and Carlos break down how petrophysicists translate indirect wellbore measurements (density, acoustic, electromagnetic) into key reservoir properties like porosity, fluid saturation, and permeability.

- Evolution of the University JIP Model: The group analyzes how university-led Joint Industry Projects (JIPs) must evolve amid changing academic landscapes and shifting industry funding priorities.

- Subsurface Engineering in the Energy Transition: Mark details his work in CO2 sequestration, explaining how traditional petroleum engineering methodologies are being repurposed for carbon capture, groundwater management, and global energy solutions.

In this episode of the People Behind Energy (PBE) Podcast, host Troy Tittlemier sits down with Austin Williams, Founder of Upstream+, to unpack the hidden complexities of oil and gas accounting. Austin shares his unique journey from studying organic chemistry to building a revolutionary platform that bridges raw field data and actionable financial insights.

They discuss the industry's struggle with fragmented reporting, why traditional accounting processes are too slow for modern operators, and how Upstream+ serves as an "economic decisions intelligence layer" to stop profit leaks in real time. Austin also shares his compelling perspective on the right—and wrong—ways to leverage AI as a thought partner in highly technical industries.

In this episode of the People Behind Energy podcast, host Troy Tittlemier sits down with Derek Buster, a seasoned petrophysicist and subsurface consultant. Derek shares his unconventional career journey, starting from a childhood fascination with RC cars and a degree in physics, to his grueling but formative years as an MWD/LWD field engineer for Schlumberger in the Gulf of Mexico. He discusses his transition to the operator side with companies like Apache, Stone Energy, and Guidon, where he leveraged his service-industry data-acquisition expertise to drive major economic impact.

The episode's technical highlight is a deep dive into sonic logging. Derek shares a high-stakes, real-world story from the Midland Basin where his team hit a massive water-filled fault while drilling. By deploying acoustic dipole shear wave imaging (DSWI) through casing, they mapped the hazard, selectively avoided fracking it, and saved a multi-million-dollar well program. Beyond oil and gas, Derek also talks about the industry's "brain drain," mentoring the next generation, and his fascinating entrepreneurial side hustles—including 3D-printing custom RV parts and patenting a new air conditioning vent for RVs.

Welcome back to the PBE Podcast (People Behind Energy)! Today, we sat down with Bryan Bottoms for the first time since 2019 to catch up on life, fatherhood, and the booming state of the Mid-Continent oil and gas sector.

Bryan, a technical advisor at Detring, gives a masterclass on the current "real estate" market of oil and gas A&D (Acquisitions & Divestitures). He brings incredible data and maps to the table, breaking down how drilling activity in Oklahoma has come full circle back to the Western Anadarko Basin. We take a deep dive into the Cherokee Shale, the highly channelized Red Fork sands, and the geologic mysteries behind the deep, oily Woodford in the Marietta Basin. Whether you are an exploration manager, an operator, or a geology enthusiast, this episode is packed with high-level technical insights and actionable market trends.

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In this episode of the People Behind Energy Podcast, Troy and Joselynn Tittlemier, the host geologists, sit down with Iulian Hulea: physicist, saturation height modeling specialist, former Shell subject-matter expert, SPWLA leader, and independent petrophysics consultant.

Iulian takes us from his early life in Romania to a PhD in organic semiconductors, where he worked on the science behind flexible electronic displays. He then shares the unexpected moment that pulled him into oil and gas: seeing a piece of core and learning that a significant portion of it could contain oil.

This episode goes deep into:

Why critical thinking starts with asking “why?”

Organic semiconductors, transistors, flexible displays, and graphene

The transition from physics into petrophysics and Shell research

Saturation height modeling and capillary pressure explained simply

Heavy oil, brine, density differences, viscosity, and reservoir complexity

The role of SPWLA in technical growth and professional community

Building connection through the SPWLA 5K fun run

Discipline, running, accountability, and keeping promises to yourself

Reinventing your career through independent consulting

In this episode of the People Behind Energy Podcast, host Troy Tittlemier sits down with Dr. Brian Horn, the 109th President of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and the founder of Hatteris Energy Group.

Brian shares his incredible 40-year journey through the geosciences, from making hand-drawn contour maps in the Williston Basin to leading global exploration initiatives at ION Geophysical. He opens up about the pivotal moments in his life—including a serendipitous missed deadline at a seminary school that kept him in geology—and shares his deep passion for the future of the energy industry.

We dive deeply into the internal workings and future of the AAPG, the importance of engaging the next generation of geoscientists, and the expansion of the Imperial Barrel Award (IBA) to include modules in geothermal, lithium, and carbon capture. Whether you are a student, an early-career geoscientist, or an industry veteran navigating the M&A landscape, this episode is packed with invaluable career advice, leadership lessons, and technical wisdom.

This episode with Andy Anderson captures a retrospective discussion regarding the 67th SPWLA Annual Symposium, highlighting the event's unique atmosphere and professional value. The speakers emphasize the intimate, family-like environment that fosters organic networking and high-level technical exchange among petrophysicists, students, and major service companies. Key segments include the student paper competition, specialized workshops, and the transition of the international board of directors. The dialogue also explores the future of the society, focusing on digital innovation and the potential for AI-driven data accessibility for members. Ultimately, the show serves as a tribute to the volunteers and sponsors who facilitate global collaboration within the geoscientific community.

Tony Van Zuilekom, a Halliburton product champion with nearly five decades of experience in petrophysics and formation testing. The discussion highlights the transition of the oil and gas industry from analog to digital technologies, with a focus on the evolution of well logging and reservoir analysis. Van Zuilekom details the capabilities of the Reservoir Examiner and its "Deep" variant, which uses high-rate pumps and high-resolution gauges to investigate deeper into rock formations than traditional methods. A significant portion of the dialogue explains how these advancements allow for real-time data streaming and improved well control while circulating hydrocarbons. Ultimately, this show emphasizes how modular technology and data integration help operators reduce uncertainty and make more economical decisions regarding hydrocarbon recovery.

At the 67th annual SPWLA symposium, experts from Baker Hughes discussed integrating artificial intelligence with advanced subsurface technologies in modern energy exploration. The company introduced Proxima, a platform designed for formation evaluation in challenging well conditions using through-pipe conveyance. They also highlighted the Maxima platform, which utilizes machine learning to improve the speed and purity of hydrocarbon sampling while significantly reducing operational costs. For well integrity, the new CICM acoustic tool allows for 360-degree casing and cement imaging directly on the drill pipe, doubling operational efficiency. These innovations support a wide range of applications, including traditional oil and gas, geothermal energy, and carbon capture initiatives. By offering integrated advisory services, Baker Hughes aims to optimize the entire reservoir life cycle through collaboration and data-driven solutions.