- The Event
The SPEE Software Symposium
The Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers (SPEE) Software Symposium brings together software vendors and petroleum evaluation professionals to discuss technologies used in forecasting, economics, reserves evaluation, and related workflows.
The 2026 symposium continues SPEE’s focus on how automated and assisted methods can support decline curve analysis and production forecasting. The event will also feature a vendor exposition where attendees can meet software developers, explore demonstrations, and discuss real-world applications.
- The Core Question
Why Is Automated Forecasting Important?
Decline curve analysis (DCA) is an established method for analyzing production behavior and developing future production forecasts. As production datasets become larger, automated tools can help professionals process information and build forecasts more efficiently.
However, automation does not eliminate the need for engineering judgment. Forecasts still need to be reviewed in the context of production history, data quality, assumptions, and the purpose of the evaluation.
That balance between automated forecasting and expert judgment is one of the central themes of the 2026 symposium.
What Engineers Should Take From It
- Automation improves efficiency, not accuracy on its own.
- Forecast quality still depends on data, methodology, and assumptions.
- Review stays part of the workflow, not an optional step.
- The real question is how to use automation responsibly.
- PHDwin Two Decades Of Participation
PHDwin’s History With SPEE Software Symposiums
PHDwin’s connection with SPEE software events goes back more than two decades, documented in SPEE’s own records.
2000
Petroleum Economics Symposium
SPEE listed TRC Consultants (PHDwin) among participating software companies, alongside comparative analysis, vendor presentations, a panel, and an exhibition.
2011
International PSA Modeling
SPEE’s newsletter lists PHDwin among seven vendors, each modeling a different country’s Production Sharing Contract.
2015
The Woodlands, Texas
SPEE’s official recap lists PHDwin among 11 vendors, examining capabilities and future development from vendor and user perspectives.
2024
The Forecasting Bake-Off
SPEE’s fifth Software Symposium since 2000 and its first since 2018, with a head-to-head automated forecasting exercise. TRC Consultants (PHDwin) was among the participating sponsors.
2026
The Woodlands, Texas
TRC Consultants (PHDwin) is connected with the 2026 symposium through its software-focused activities.
- 2018 Survey
What Did The 2018 SPEE Survey Show?
PHDwin published a summary of the 2018 SPEE Software Symposium Survey. PHDwin also tied with Aries for efficiency in creating and updating projections and economics.
These results reflect the 2018 survey.
Economic and Reserves Management software
Technical analysis software
Of users surveyed reported positive or neutral satisfaction
- 2024 Symposium
How Did The 2024 Symposium Advance The Discussion?
The 2024 SPEE Software Symposium brought renewed attention to automated production forecasting. SPEE described it as its fifth Software Symposium since 2000 and its first since 2018. The event examined advances in computing power, data management, and forecasting algorithms.
- 15 software vendors received a common dataset.
- 1,000+ unconventional wells in that dataset.
- Up to 12 hours to generate automated forecasts.
The exercise gave SPEE an opportunity to compare automated forecasting approaches using common data rather than relying only on individual software demonstrations. The results also created a basis for further technical analysis.
- The Software
What Is PHDwin?
PHDwin is petroleum reserves and economics software developed by TRC Consultants, LC supporting decline curve analysis, production forecasting, petroleum economics, reserves evaluation, scenario management, and reporting. The current release, PHDwin V3.1.20, shipped in September 2026.
Probit & Trumpet Plots
Built on SPEE Monograph 5 standards.
Risk Tree & Risking Reports
Updated risking reports alongside the new Risk Tree.
Income Tax Units
Tax handling built into the economics workflow.
V3Connect Updates
Continued integration improvements across the suite.
ODBC 18 & SQL 2025
Modern data connectivity and database support.
Fixes & Improvements
Nearly 800 changes, plus the new PHDwinOUT output tool.
- At The 2026 Symposium
PHDwin At The 2026 SPEE Software Symposium
For PHDwin, this creates a relevant connection between its long history with SPEE software events and the industry’s current focus on automated forecasting.
- At The 2026 Symposium
Automated forecasting can improve efficiency, but the quality of a forecast still depends on the data, methodology, assumptions, and review process.
- Looking Ahead
Where Technology And Expertise Work Best Together
From PHDwin’s participation in the 2000, 2011, and 2015 SPEE Software Symposiums to its involvement in the 2018 survey and sponsorship of the 2026 event, PHDwin has maintained a documented connection with SPEE’s software-focused activities.
As the industry continues to explore automated decline curve analysis and other forecasting technologies, events such as the SPEE Software Symposium provide an important forum for comparing approaches and discussing where technology and engineering expertise work best together.
What Engineers Can Take Away
- The 2024 Bake-Off showed the value of comparing automated approaches against a common dataset.
- The 2026 symposium extends that by testing automation alongside professional judgment.
- Forecast quality still comes down to data, methodology, assumptions, and review.
- FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SPEE Software Symposium?
The SPEE Software Symposium is an industry event focused on petroleum evaluation software, forecasting technologies, and related engineering workflows. The 2026 event is expected to address automated and assisted decline curve analysis.
When is the 2026 SPEE Software Symposium?
The 2026 SPEE Software Symposium is scheduled for October 14, 2026, in The Woodlands, Texas.
Has PHDwin participated in previous SPEE Software Symposiums?
Yes. Official SPEE records document PHDwin/TRC Consultants as a participating software company at the 2000, 2011, and 2015 symposiums. PHDwin also published results from the 2018 SPEE Software Symposium Survey.
Is PHDwin participating in the 2026 SPEE Software Symposium?
TRC Consultants, the company behind PHDwin, is connected with the 2026 symposium through its software-focused activities.
What is new in PHDwin V3.1.20?
PHDwin V3.1.20 introduces Probit and Trumpet plots, Risk Tree, Income Tax Units, updated risking reports, V3Connect updates, ODBC 18, PHDwinOUT, SQL 2025, and nearly 800 fixes and improvements.
