Professor Named Distinguished Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers

October 22, 2021

Marshall Watson was honored at the society’s annual technical conference on Sept. 23 in Dubai.

Texas Tech University's Marshall Watson, an associate professor, department chair and the Roy Butler Chair of the Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering in the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering, recently was named a Distinguished Member by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) at the SPE's annual technical conference in Dubai.

“It has been a dream come true to see the Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering succeed in becoming a first-class undergraduate program,” Watson said. “I am both honored and excited that my peers have nominated me for this award. I consider my peers as both mentors and friends, and I am humbled to think they all took the time to write the required recommendation letters for this honor.”

Watson's recognition honors his tireless work for the profession, his role in moving Texas Tech's petroleum engineering department forward, for leading the U.S. Petroleum Engineering Department Heads and for his service on numerous SPE committees.

Each year, SPE presents awards that recognize members whose efforts have advanced petroleum technology as well as their professional achievements and contributions to the industry and the society.

“It is an honor to recognize Marshall for his commitment and dedication to the oil and gas industry with the SPE Distinguished Membership,” said Tom Blasingame, 2021 SPE president. “SPE international award winners were nominated by their colleagues and selected by their peers for their achievement and contributions, and it's my pleasure to congratulate him on receiving this prestigious international award.”

About the Society of Petroleum Engineers

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) is a not-for-profit professional association whose members are engaged in energy resources development and production. SPE serves more than 164,000 members worldwide. The society is a key resource for technical knowledge related to the oil and gas exploration and production industries and provides services through its publications, events, training courses and online resources at www.spe.org.

tags: Academics, Achievements, College of Engineering, Faculty, Research, Stories, Vice President for Research, provost

Texas Tech University

A new era of excellence is dawning at Texas Tech University as it stands on the cusp of being one of the nation's premier research institutions.

Research and enrollment numbers are at record levels, which cement Texas Tech's commitment to attracting and retaining quality students. In fall 2020, the university achieved a goal more than a decade in the making, reaching a total student population of more than 40,000. In 2018, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education again placed Texas Tech among its top doctoral universities in the nation in the “Very High Research Activity” category. Texas Tech is one of 94 public institutions nationally and 131 overall to achieve this prestigious recognition.

Quality students need top-notch faculty. Texas Tech is home to a diverse, highly revered pool of educators who excel in teaching, research and service. The university strives to foster an environment that celebrates student accomplishment above all else. Texas Tech is large enough to provide the best in facilities and academics but prides itself on being able to focus on each student individually.

The momentum for excellence at Texas Tech has never been greater.

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Whitacre College of Engineering

The Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering has educated engineers to meet the technological needs of Texas, the nation and the world since 1925.

Approximately 4,646 undergraduate and 1,040 graduate students pursue bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees offered through seven academic departments: civil, environmental and construction; chemical; computer science; electrical and computer; industrial, manufacturing and systems; mechanical; and petroleum.

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Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum engineering is the practical application of the basic and physical sciences of mathematics, geology, physics, and chemistry and all of the engineering sciences to the discovery, development, and production, and transportation of petroleum.

The Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering is staffed with industry-experienced faculty who have an average of more than 15 years of experience per faculty member. This experience is combined with sound engineering and scientific principles in the classroom and made an integral part of the candidate's educational challenge.

Office of Research and Innovation

The Office of Research and Innovation is tasked with facilitating excellence in research, scholarship and creative activity for Texas Tech students, faculty and staff. The office promotes an academic environment embracing creativity, curiosity, innovation, diversity, ethics and integrity.

Among other programs, the OR&I supports responsible and safe conduct of research, faculty development and recognition, interdisciplinary collaborations, externally sponsored research, partnerships with industry and community stakeholders, international research collaboration and the application of research for the benefit of society. The OR&I promotes a culture of creative expression, discovery, innovation and collaboration with the goal of advancing Texas Tech's status as an elite national research university.

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