Pioneer Award
2026 IOR Pioneer Award Nominations:
The deadline for nominations for the 2026 IOR Pioneer Award is August 31, 2025. Nominations should be emailed to Randy Seright at randy.seright@nmt.edu. The nomination must consist of a letter that details why the nominee should receive the award. A resume and/or list of nominee publications will be helpful, but is not required. Keep in mind that the selection committee is looking for individuals who are responsible for the most significant advances in Improved Oil Recovery, especially those with sustained efforts over an extended period. Awards will be made at the 2026 SPE IOR Conference in Tulsa, April 2026.
Congratulations to the IOR 2024 Pioneer Award Recipients
Varadarajan Dwarakanath
Baojun Bai
Mojdeh Delshad
Stephane Jouenne
IOR 2024 Pioneer Awards Committee
Randy Seright, New Mexico Tech, Chair
Bob Enick, University of Pittsburgh
Rick Hutchins, Gel Solutions International
Gary Jerauld, BP Retired
Bill Rossen, Delft University Emeritus
Past Pioneers
2022
Torsten Clemens
Russell T. Johns
Clarence A. Miller
Tadeusz W. Patzek
2020
Dr. Paul L. Bondor
Jill S. Buckley
Robert M. Enick
Clayton J. Radke
2018
Anil K. Ambastha
Tor Austad
M.R. Fassihi
Gary Jerauld
Sunil Kokal
Patrick McGuire
2016
Richard Donald Hutchins
Sadanand D. Joshi
Jenn-Tai Liang
Lanny Schoeling
Ali A. Yousef
2014
Dr. Betty Felber
Dr. S.A. (Raj) Mehta
Dr. Karl Miller
Dr. Ahmad Moradi
Dr. Norman R. Morrow
2012
Chun Huh
Brij Maini
Malcom Pitts
Bill Rossen
2010
Jeff Jones
Dr. R. Gordon Moore
Demin Wang
David Zornes
2008
Dr. Dwight L. Dauben
Dr. Kishore K. Mohanty
Dr. Randall Scott Seright
Dr. Kenneth S. Sorbie
Dr. Michael R. Todd
2006
Jae H. Bae
Don W. Green
Hossein Kazemi
Franklin M. Orr
Gary A. Pope
2004
Phillip J. Closmann
Harry Surkalo
G. Paul Willhite
2002
Howard Ferrell
S.M. Farouq Ali
W.L. ‘Bill’ Martin
George L. Stegemeier
W.C. ‘Carey’ Hardy
2000
Bob Barnett
Larry W. Lake
Richard ‘Dick’ Nelson
Burton ‘Burt’ B. Sandiford
1998
William E. Brigham
C. Robert Fast
George J. Hirasaki
Thomas K. Perkins
1996
Robert S. Schechter
Lowell R. Smith
Ben Sloat
Fred J. Stalkup
1994
J.C. Melrose
Necmettin Mungan
1992
Ted R. Blevins
R.C. Earlougher
Henry J. Ramey Jr.
Arlie M. Skov
1990
W. Barney Gogarty
John P. Heller
Joseph J. Taber
1988
E.R. Brownscombe
Elmond L. Claridge
H.R. Froning
R.L. Reed
1986
Robert J. Blackwell
Ben H. Caudle
Lincoln F. Elkins
Claude R. Hocott
Michael Prats
1984
Francis R. Conley
Lloyd E. Elkins
Ted M. Geffen
L.W. Holm
Howard A. Koch Jr.
Fred H. Poettmann
R. Vincent Smith
P.L. Terwilliger
L.W. Welch Jr.
Philip D. White