SPEAKER:  Don Paul, Professor of Energy Resources and Research Professor of Engineering

Dr. Donald L. Paul is the Executive Director of the USC Energy Institute and William M. Keck Professor of Energy Resources at the University of Southern California since January 2009. He oversees research, education, workforce development, and commercialization initiatives in the energy sector's digital transformation and transition. Dr. Paul had a distinguished 33-year career at Chevron, retiring as Corporate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, where he founded Chevron Technology Ventures and the company's global cybersecurity organization. He serves as a Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, an academic member of the National Petroleum Council, and has received numerous industry awards, including the World Oil Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. Dr. Paul holds B.S., M.S., and PhD degrees from MIT and was elected to the Board of Directors of Barry Petroleum Company in 2019.

TITLE:        The Future of the California Oil Industry   

Abstract:  

The presentation will explore scenarios for the California oil and gas industry 

in the context of the evolving California energy system.  The California oil 

industry has always had unique characteristics, and in modern times, has 

operated under an environment of growing regulatory and societal 

expectations.  We will discuss both the challenges and perhaps, the 

opportunities arising from the trends in the California energy market, 

emerging technologies, and the Energy Transition.