The January 2011 issue of E&P is the debut not only of a new design for the magazine but of expanded content.We have broadened our global perspective in the printed magazine with the inclusion of a regional report, and we have expanded our coverage of international highlights.

As those who have attended the Hart events on unconventional plays can attest, Hart has carved out a niche in the unconventional arena. This is reflected in a special section this year that takes an in-depth look at individual shale developments and the technologies that are being implemented to produce them.

While we have made improvements, we have not abandoned the features E&P readers expect to see each month. The Industry Pulse,World View Executive Interview, Digital Oil Field, Management Report, Operator Solutions, and columns will continue to be part of each issue.And of course, readers will still find case studies that address specific technologies related to exploration, drilling, production, and offshore challenges.

As we have done in the past, we will continue to place more technical content online. The online Table of Contents in each issue in 2011 lists the additional feature articles that can only be accessed online.

In the interest of keeping abreast of the technologies that are most critical to the industry, E&P also has formed an Editorial Advisory Board that will help to direct editorial content. This group of industry experts has agreed to serve a two-year term from 2011 through 2013. They graciously contributed their insight and guidance in assisting the editors in choosing our Top 10 Technologies to Watch for the coming year. And board member John Gilmore of Invensys Operations Management has provided a thought leadership piece that is featured in the Last Word, the final segment of the issue.

I hope you will take the time to explore the new and expanded content and that you enjoy reading this inaugural issue of the bigger and better E&P as much as we have enjoyed creating it for you.

Finally, I would like to officially recognize the group of industry experts who have agreed to serve on our board:

-Kurt Albaugh, Consulting Engineer for the Oil & Gas Industry – Upstream

-Mike Bannon, US Industry Solutions Director, Energy & Process, Microsoft

-Chris Barton,Vice President, Business Acquisition – Asia Pacific, McDermott

-Kevin Brady,Vice President of Sales and Marketing,Verdande Technology Inc.

-Mike Forrest, Exploration Consultant, formerly with Shell

-John M. Gilmore Jr., Director of Global Industry Solutions Upstream Oil & Gas, Invensys Operations Management

-Chris Johnston,Vice President and Managing Director, North America, Pride International

-Ulisses T. Mello, Manager, Petroleum & Energy Analytics, IBM

-Donald Paul, Executive Director of the University of Southern California Energy Institute, where he holds the William M. Keck Chair in Energy Resources

-Eve Sprunt, Business Development Manager, Chevron Energy Technology Co.

-Manuel Terranova, Senior Vice President, Regional Operations and Global Sales – Drilling & Production, GE Oil & Gas

-Ronnie Witherspoon, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Nabors Drilling USA LP

-Dennis A. Yanchak, Senior Geosciences Advisor, Apache Corp.