Southwestern Petroleum Short Course

What Southwestern Petroleum Short Course does

Southwestern Petroleum Short Course (SWPSC), legally The Southwestern Petroleum Short Course Association, Inc., is a non-profit education organization founded in 1954 and affiliated with Texas Tech University's Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering. The organization's purpose is to disseminate applied petroleum production technology and solve engineering problems through annual conferences and workshops. It serves petroleum production professionals — primarily production engineers, operations personnel, and field supervisors from oil & gas operators and oilfield service companies — with a strong geographic concentration in the Permian Basin and broader Southwest United States.

SWPSC's product portfolio centers on the Annual Conference (next held April 20-23, 2026 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center), which features 50+ technical paper presentations covering artificial lift, drilling, well completions, production handling, stimulation, workovers, and reservoir operations. Supporting offerings include 13 specialized Pre-Conference Schools (e.g., Gas Lift Training, Sucker Rod Lift, ESP Analysis, Hydraulic Fracturing, Corrosion Monitoring, Facility Design), a Digital Annual Proceedings archive of 2,900+ technical papers by 2,700+ authors, a separate annual Permian Basin Artificial Lift Forum in Midland TX, and an awards program (J.C. Slonneger Award, Duane A. Crawford Service Award, James N. McCoy Lifetime Contribution Award). The conference exhibit hall spans 40,000+ square feet and hosts 90+ exhibitor companies.

SWPSC's business model is event-driven and multi-stream. Revenue is generated through four primary streams: (1) conference registration fees ($300 one-day / $400 two-day, with early-bird and on-site variations), (2) six-tiered sponsorship packages ranging from $1,000 (Steel) to $10,000 (Grand) bundled with conference registrations, (3) exhibition booth rentals ($1,500-$1,750 per 10x10 space), and (4) pre-conference school fees ($600 one-day, $800 two-day). Distribution is direct to enterprise buyers, with marketing through industry association partnerships (SPE, Permian Basin Petroleum Association), LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram, email, and the swpshortcourse.org website.

Name

Southwestern Petroleum Short Course

Legal name

The Southwestern Petroleum Short Course Association, Inc.

Website

https://swpshortcourse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Southwestern Petroleum Short Course (SWPSC) is a non-profit education organization, affiliated with Texas Tech University, that delivers an annual petroleum production conference, pre-conference training schools, and a digital technical paper archive serving upstream oil & gas engineers, operators, and oilfield service companies primarily in the Permian Basin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lubbock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Conference Registration Fees: Revenue generated from attendees registering for the annual conference. Registration options include 1-day ($300) and 2-day ($400) passes, with early bird pricing and on-site registration at higher rates ($350/$450). Fees include access to online Annual Proceedings, lunch, exhibit hall, and Recognition Banquet.
2. Sponsorship Packages: Multi-tiered sponsorship program with six levels: Grand ($10,000 with 12 registrations), Diamond ($5,000 with 5 registrations), Chrome ($4,000 with 4 registrations), Titanium ($3,000 with 3 registrations), Copper ($2,000 with 2 registrations), and Steel ($1,000 with 1 registration). Sponsors receive logo placement, acknowledgment on LinkedIn and website, and banner displays.
3. Exhibition Space Rental: Revenue from exhibitors renting booth space at the conference. Single 10x10 space is $1,750; two or more spaces are $1,500 each. Additional personnel registrations available for $400. Exhibit spaces include pipe and drape, skirted table, chairs, and registrations for two company personnel.
4. Pre-Conference School Fees: Fees charged for specialized one-day and two-day training schools conducted by industry experts. One-day schools are $600; the two-day Gas Lift Training school is $800. Schools cover topics like sucker rod lift, gas lift, plunger lift, ESP optimization, hydraulic fracturing, facility design, and corrosion monitoring.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Southwestern Petroleum Short Course Association (SWPSC) is a non-profit education organization that delivers an annual petroleum production conference plus pre-conference training schools, focused on artificial lift systems, well completions, stimulation, workovers, reservoir operations, and production handling. It sells conference registrations, exhibition booth space, multi-tiered corporate sponsorships, and tuition for specialized technical schools, supported by a digital archive of 2,900+ technical papers.

Product overview

Southwestern Petroleum Short Course (SWPSC) is a non-profit education organization that blends the talents of Texas Tech University petroleum engineering faculty with petroleum production experts. The organization offers a portfolio of educational services centered around its flagship Annual Conference (April 20-23, 2026) featuring 50+ technical paper presentations on petroleum production topics including artificial lift, drilling, completions, and reservoir operations. Supporting offerings include Pre-Conference Schools covering specialized topics (Gas Lift, Sucker Rod Lift, ESP, Hydraulic Fracturing, Corrosion Monitoring), Digital Annual Proceedings containing technical papers, Awards Programs (J.C. Slonneger Award, Duane A. Crawford Service Award, James N. McCoy Lifetime Contribution Award), Conference Exhibits with 90+ vendors, and the Permian Basin Artificial Lift Forum. The organization was founded in 1954 and has presented over 2,750 technical papers to tens of thousands of registrants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual SWPSC Conference Annual two-day conference offering 50+ instructional papers on petroleum production topics including artificial lift, drilling, well completion, production handling, stimulation, workover, and reservoir operations. Each paper is presented twice during the Short Course. Designed for petroleum production engineers, operators, and oilfield service professionals.
• Pre-Conference Schools Optional one-day and two-day specialized training schools conducted by industry authorities, covering topics such as Gas Lift Training, Fundamentals of Sucker Rod Lift, Plunger Lift, ESP Live Trend Analysis, Rod Pump Analysis, Hydraulic Fracturing, Corrosion Monitoring, and Facility Design with AI. Geared toward petroleum production engineers seeking hands-on, in-depth technical training.
• Digital Annual Proceedings Digital archive and publication of technical papers from each annual SWPSC conference, containing over 2,900 technical papers by more than 2,700 authors. Papers are made available online for registrants.
• Conference Exhibits Exhibition hall with 40,000+ square feet of exhibit space hosting 90+ companies showcasing oilfield products and services. Each 10x10 exhibit space includes pipe and drape, skirted table, chairs, registration for two personnel, meals, and banquet tickets. Designed for oilfield service companies and equipment vendors to engage attendees.
• Permian Basin Artificial Lift Forum Annual two-day forum in Midland, TX, focused on operator best practices and artificial lift-related technology, with an added day focusing on Facilities. Features presentations by Permian-based operators and vendors.
• Corporate Sponsorship Packages Multi-tiered sponsorship program with six levels ranging from Steel ($1,000, 1 registration) to Grand ($10,000, 12 registrations), including Diamond, Chrome, Titanium, and Copper tiers. Sponsors receive logo placement, acknowledgment on LinkedIn and the SWPSC website, banner displays at the conference, and printed pamphlet acknowledgment. Designed for oilfield service companies and operators seeking visibility.

Quantifiable outcome

• 72 years of continuous operation delivering petroleum production education
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Texas Tech University - Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1954Founded in 1954 by petroleum engineering faculty at Texas Tech (then Texas Technological College), SWPSC maintains a deep partnership with the university. Faculty contribute to conference programming, research, and governance. Texas Tech provides academic credibility and access to student talent.
• Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-promotional relationship with SPE for industry event marketing and professional development. Many SWPSC presenters and attendees are SPE members.
• Permian Basin Petroleum AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Permian Basin Artificial Lift Forum, an annual operator-focused event on artificial lift technology and best practices.
• Lubbock Memorial Civic CenterminorOthersThe primary venue for the annual SWPSC conference, located at 1501 Mac Davis Lane in Lubbock, TX.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Hart Energy: Energy industry media and events organization producing conferences, training, and publications for upstream oil and gas professionals. Hart Energy's DUG conferences address a related but distinct shale-focused audience, making it a partial-overlap emerging peer.

Direct peers

• PetroSkills: Provides petroleum-specific technical training through instructor-led courses and competency-based programs covering subsurface, drilling, production, and surface facilities. PetroSkills directly competes for the same per-course professional development budget that SWPSC targets with its 13 pre-conference schools.
• Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE): The largest individual-member organization for upstream oil and gas professionals, hosting numerous conferences, workshops, and continuing education events. SPE is directly comparable to SWPSC because both rely on technical paper presentations, sponsor/exhibit monetization, and petroleum-industry professional development.
• American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG): A professional society that hosts annual conventions, technical conferences, and continuing education programs in the petroleum sector. AAPG's annual meeting format with technical papers, exhibits, and sponsorships mirrors SWPSC's event-driven educational model.
• Offshore Technology Conference (OTC): Major annual energy industry conference featuring technical paper presentations, exhibitions, and training in upstream oil and gas. OTC shares the same conference-with-exhibits revenue model SWPSC uses, operating at a larger scale with similar monetization mechanics around registration, sponsorship, and booth sales.
• International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC): Industry association providing accreditation, training, and conferences for drilling contractors. IADC's combination of technical training, conferences, and industry committees makes it a direct functional peer in continuing education for upstream professionals.
• Permian Basin Petroleum Association (PBPA): A regional industry association that co-hosts the Permian Basin Artificial Lift Forum with SWPSC. PBPA operates with a similar event-driven, Permian-focused membership model and serves overlapping operator and service-company constituencies.
• AMPP (formerly NACE International): Professional association focused on materials, corrosion, and protective coatings, offering conferences and technical training to energy-industry professionals. AMPP shares SWPSC's structure of industry-led technical conferences plus specialized short courses in a niche production topic.

Regional players

• Energy Workforce & Technology Council: Industry association representing energy technology and service companies with educational programming, workforce development, and conferences. Operates in a related ecosystem with overlapping service-company membership to SWPSC but with a national rather than Permian-centric focus.

Broad incumbents

• American Petroleum Institute (API): The largest U.S. trade association for the oil and gas industry, operating at a much broader industry-wide scale than SWPSC but offering overlapping training, certification, and standards programs that target similar continuing education budgets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SouthwesternPetroleumShortCourse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southwestern-petroleum-short-course
• Instagraminstagram.com/swpshortcourse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southwestern Petroleum Short Course