Annual Report 2007: FY July 1, 2006-June 30, 2007
Resource Evaluation Committee
The function of the Committee is to provide input and facilitate U.S. Government agencies and other appropriate agencies in performing assessments and monitoring the status of U.S. and international hydrocarbon resources. The Committee may publish resource estimates only if they are fully documented with appropriate maps, statistics, and explanation of methodology.
Meetings
The Committee on Resource Evaluation met once during this fiscal year, that being at the annual meeting in Long Beach, California. Although we usually meet twice each year, schedule demands prevented Tom Ahlbrandt, the then chairman, from being able to convene a fall meeting.
Chairmanship
Tom Ahlbrandt was chairman of the committee as the year began. A change in employment and concomitant increase in travel prevented him from being able to convene a fall meeting. Tom requested that Rusty Riese be appointed to replace him as chair, and that appointment became effective in January.
Projects
- Hedberg Research Conference on Understanding World Oil Resources— Committee member Richard Nehring initiated and organized the captioned conference. The meeting was held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in November. An AAPG publication on the results is planned, and member Pete Stark is assisting with that effort.
- Review of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Methods for Predicting Growth-to-Known Reserves—A review of USGS proposed methods for predicting growth-to-known reserves was conducted as the reporting year began. Committee recommendations for how this works and analysis might be performed were conveyed verbally to survey personnel during the course of the review. A summary report was compiled and reviewed in final form by the quorum of the committee, which met at the Long Beach meeting. A final draft will be sent to the Executive and to the U.S. Geological Survey as soon as the chairman can get it recompiled. Members who contributed to this effort were Jeff Brown, John Curtis, Ben Hare, Naresh Kumar, Pete Stark and Rusty Riese. Ken Logan of TransCanada Pipeline and the Canadian Gas Potential Committee also participated. Follow-up reviews are anticipated for this fall.
- Review of Minerals Management Service (MMS) Resource Forecasts and Methods—A review of MMS methods of resource assessment was conducted approximately four years ago. The results of that review were formally conveyed to the MMS only after considerable delay. This is important because the reviewing subcommittee expressed concern about the methods being employed and made a number of recommendations to the MMS for Annual Report 1759 how their processes and assessments might be improved. This is a topic in this report because it was reported at the Long Beach meeting that the MMS is now going to considerable effort to improve their methodologies, and that the changes being made are based on the committee’s recommendations.
- National Petroleum Council—The AAPG was represented on the Resource Evaluation Committee for the still on-going National Petroleum Council Assessment of World Oil and Gas Resources by Brenda Pierce, Jeff Brown and Rusty Riese. AAPG was also represented on the Unconventional Gas Technology Subcommittee by Bill Fisher and Rusty Riese.
- AAPG-SPE International Multidisciplinary Reserves Conference—The meeting was held in Washington, D.C., June 24–26, 2007. Members Brenda Pierce and Rusty Riese participated and assisted in the planning of two break-out sessions. (AAPG members Pete Rose, Don Juckett, and Ron Charpentier were involved in this activity.)
- 2008 San Antonio Annual Meeting — Session on Basin and Prospect Risk and Uncertainty Assessment—Member Rusty Riese is co-chairing the organization of the captioned session for the 2008 meeting.
Mission Statement
The CORE members are currently reviewing our mission statement with the intention of revising it to reflect the international flavor, which the AAPG has begun to develop and nurture. The existing mission statement reflects exclusive interest in assisting domestic U.S. government agencies via peer review of their assessment practices and products. While it is not the committee’s intent to interject itself anywhere that it has not been invited, we nevertheless believe that our mission statement should reflect our willingness to provide similar assistance to similar agencies in other countries. A revised statement will be submitted to the Executive Committee for approval as soon as it is prepared and reviewed by the committee members.
Membership
Several former members have departed the committee; several other members are generally unable to participate in the technical reviews we perform. Increasing activity levels have therefore left the remaining members with a heavy load. For that reason, and in light of the organization’s interest in increasing its international visibility, we are in the process of identifying potential new members who may be recommended to the Executive for appointment. This is proving to be a lengthy process for several reasons: our committee requires participation from individuals who have unique skill sets; and some contacted seem to be tardy in responding. We are also sensitive to the AAPG’s desire to see diversity in its committees. Our consideration of that goal notwithstanding, we are having a difficult time identifying potential members who may help us contribute to achieving that goal while at the same time maintaining the high level of technical skills, which our committee requires.
Leadership
The chairman is sensitive to the value of keeping former chairs actively engaged in the business of the committee. He also is keenly aware of the need to keep succession in mind as subcommittee assignments are offered. That will continue to be a focus in the coming year.
W.C. Rusty Riese, Chair
Committee members: Thomas Ahlbrandt, Clarence Cook, John Curtis, James Joseph Emme, William L. Fisher, Robert D. Gunn, Ben D. Hare, Naresh Kumar, Paul R. La Pointe, Raymond C. Leonard, Ken Mallon, Charles Mankin, Richard D. Nehring, Brenda Pierce, W. C. “Rusty” Riese (chair), Earl J. Ritchie Jr., John Ritter, Wolfgang E. Schollnberger, Bob Stancil, Dan Tearpock, and Ray Thomasson.