Rocky Mountain high: AAPG turns the spotlight on Denver for its 94th Annual Convention and Exhibition, which starts June 7 at the Colorado Convention Center.
Colorado’s famed Maroon Bells, near Aspen – another good reason to head to Denver. Photo courtesy of Ron Ruhoff, Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau
AAPG is heading back to the Rockies for an annual meeting that offers the latest in science and technology from around the world.
The 94th AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition will be held June 7-10 in Denver at the Colorado Convention Center – and organizers believe this is an event that will be the right meeting at the right time.
“We have an outstanding technical program with exceptional highlights,” noted R. Randy Ray, this year’s general chairman. “The spectrum of practical science covered by our technical sessions spans geology, seismic and engineering techniques.
Specifically, he pointed to “shale gas, salt tectonics, seismic depth imaging of structure, petroleum systems, carbonate reservoirs, sequence statigraphy, fracture mapping, deepwater discoveries – we haveit all, with the latest advances and ideas.
“As a professional geologist,” he continued, “you must see the newest knowledge on emerging U.S. shale gas plays in the Haynesville, Marcellus, Pearsall, Barnett and Gothic plays – including not only the source and reservoir characteristics, but also the seismic depth imaging of the structure and then the micro-seismic fracture mapping.”
In fact, the technical program features more than 1,000 presentations, field trips, short courses and special forum events, ranging in subject matter from a management forum that deals with “Challenges for Global Energy Demand” to a multi-Division energy forum on carbon sequestration to two forums bout the science and implications of global climate change.
Other highlights include:
- An All-Convention luncheon featuring T. Boone Pickens, who will discuss “The Future of Energy.”
- The Michel T. Halbouty Lecture, featuring Guilherme de Oliveira Estrella, managing director for E&P for Petrobras, who will discuss “Breaking Paradigms: Giant Discoveries in Brazil.”
- A talk by Denver mayor – and AAPG member – John Hickenlooper, who will address the DPA Luncheon on Tuesday, June 9.
- This year’s “Discovery Thinking” Forum, when seven more of the “100 Who Made a Difference” will again share their stories and insights into finding success in the face of enormous challenges.
- Results of the AAPG survey on work force retention will be presented at the AAPG Professional Women in Earth Sciences Luncheon, set Wednesday, June 10.
- More than 200 exhibitors in the giant exhibits hall, showcasing the latest in technology, science and literature.
The meeting will officially begin with the opening session, where this year’s Sidney Powers medalist Marlan Downey will lead the list of 40 people who will receive AAPG honors and awards. The ceremony, which officially begins at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 7, in the Colorado Convention Center’s Four Seasons Ballroom, will include pre-show entertainment and music that begins at 3:30 p.m., featuring the award-winning Rocky Mountain Children’s Choir.
The program also will feature welcoming remarks from General Chairman Randy Ray; the presidential address from Scott Tinker; and remarks from Downey.
The Icebreaker follows in the exhibits hall. Technical sessions begin Monday morning, June 8, and Ray suggests that attendees be prepared to do some serious moving.
“If you don’t want to be at least three places at once,” he said, “then we haven’t done our job.”