The Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts (SPWLA) is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the advancement of the science of Petrophysics and formation evaluation, through well logging and other formation evaluation techniques and to the application of these techniques to the exploitation of gas, oil and other minerals. Founded in 1959, SPWLA provides information services to scientists in the petroleum and mineral industries, serves as a voice of shared interests in our profession, plays a major role in strengthening Petrophysical education, and strives to increase the awareness of the role Petrophysics has in the Oil and Gas Industry and the scientific community. The Corporation has its main offices in Houston, Texas, USA.

The Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts is a relative newcomer to Abu Dhabi. Our Local Chapter was established in 2003. We now have about 220 members and our technical meetings are typically attended by around 50-60 people each month. We seem to have found a formula which is attractive beyond a narrow circle of Petrophysicists and appeal to other geoscientists and petroleum engineers.

The possibility of starting an Abu Dhabi Local Chapter of the SPWLA was first raised during the 10th ADIPEC Conference in October 2002. Among the prominent Oil/Gas Industry professionals attending ADIPEC was the SPWLA President, Dr. Mark Alberty. The wish to have a local SPWLA Chapter in Abu Dhabi was expressed to him by several Professionals and Managers during his formal and informal discussions in Abu Dhabi.

Consequently, the SPWLA President entrusted several Petrophysics professionals here with the task to establish a Local Chapter. The volunteers "polled" around and found about 50 engineers and geoscientists who expressed an interest in joining and serving a Local SPWLA Chapter of Abu Dhabi. There was also support from senior management in ADNOC and ADCO to launch such a Chapter, and in due course the Local Chapter will try to get the Annual SPWLA Conference organized in Abu Dhabi...

A launch meeting was held on the 26th January 2003. Philippe Theys – a recent SPWLA President – gave an opening address. The meeting agreed to start the Chapter and 32 people joined immediately. An “Organizing Committee” wrote up the Chapter By-laws and submitted a petition letter to SPWLA to formally start the Chapter, dedicated to fostering interest in Petrophysics matters and encouraging the exchange of experience within our local Petrophysics community. On 14th April, 2003 the Board of Directors of SPWLA formally accepted the petition of the Abu Dhabi Chapter of SPWLA by unanimous vote. Once "officially" established, the Chapter set up a web-page on the main SPWLA web-site for posting news of members and events.