Abstract
Engineering students spend years learning how to solve technical problems, yet many of the most important decisions in the energy industry have no single "right answer." Should we drill now or wait? Which development concept creates the most value? How much uncertainty is acceptable? And when is additional data worth the cost?
This seminar introduces the principles of Decision Quality, a framework used by leading energy companies to make better strategic and investment decisions under uncertainty. Through an upstream development case study, students will see how engineers move beyond technical analysis to evaluate alternatives, quantify risk, understand tradeoffs, and influence major business decisions. Whether your future role is in reservoir engineering, drilling, production, facilities, or leadership, the ability to make high-quality decisions may become one of your most valuable professional skills.
Bios
Ray Spence: Ray Spence is a Senior Consultant at Decision Frameworks. He has been with the company since 2017.
Ray has supported numerous projects in the upstream and midstream oil and gas business as well as portfolio planning, manufacturing, mining, and country entry strategy. He is often a go-to for client software support and has extensive experience teaching DQ concepts and leading DQ and software uptake amongst clients.
Ray has a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Houston and is pursuing coursework in sustainability. He is the 2020 – 2021 President of the Houston Chapter of the Society of Decision Professionals.
Selena Henderson: Selena is a Consultant at Decision Frameworks and joined the team in 2026. Selena’s main focus is contributing to both consulting delivery and client instruction across the energy sector.
With a background in petroleum engineering and experience spanning unconventional field operations and offshore project engineering, she brings a strong foundation in executing complex, high-stakes initiatives and aligning cross-functional teams.
She holds a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from the University of Houston and serves as Secretary on the Houston Chapter Executive Leadership Board of the Society of Decision Professionals.