Honoring the Past, Looking Ahead

Technical Program Leads the Way

Annual meeting time has arrived for AAPG.

The Riverwalk city of San Antonio, located in the scenic and geologically compelling "hill country" of south Texas, is the site for the 1999 AAPG annual meeting, April 11-14 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

Also meeting will be SEPM -- the Society for Sedimentary Geology.

The meeting's theme is "Reflections-Projections: Revisiting the Rocks -- Applying New Technologies," which has been used in planning all aspects of the technical program.

That program offers information and details on the hottest plays and concepts around; a jam-packed exhibits hall, loaded with cutting-edge technology; and speakers who will challenge and inspire as they discuss trends that will be significant in the coming year.

The meeting also provides, through some special career-oriented workshop sessions , the chance to network with people who can share valuable advice in dealing with tough times in the industry.

The meeting, which is AAPG's 84th annual event, is designed to celebrate and review the profession's accomplishments even as it prepares geologists for the next millennium.

"The focus will be to show how important concepts that were developed in the past have been enhanced by the creativity of geoscientists and the use of technology," said Ed Roy, meeting general chairman.

"The potential of a growing demand for oil and gas in a global economy is real," he continued. "Developing countries will require sources of energy to maintain their economies.

"This global search for new sources of oil and gas will require sufficient numbers of well-educated geoscientists and state-of-the-art technology."

For maximum efficiency, organizers divided the technical sessions into six categories, or "tracks," to help attendees to easily find the kind of talks and posters of interest to them. Those tracks are:

• Depositional Systems/Reservoirs.
• Energy Resources.
• Environmental Issues.
• Stratigraphy/Sedimentology/ Paleontology.
• Structure/Tectonics.
• Technologies.

The total convention package, Roy said, will "improve your knowledge of some of the newest concepts in exploration and production, environmental issues and government affairs."

Things to Do

Several field trips and short courses will begin on Saturday, April 10, although the meeting officially gets under way with the opening session and AAPG awards ceremony, which will be in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center's theater.

That session will feature a welcoming message from Roy, as well as an address by AAPG president Richard Bishop -- whose speech will include remarks from the presidents of various scientific sister organizations.

The session then will recognize the AAPG award winners for 1999, including a special posthumous tribute to Norman H. Foster, this year's Sidney Powers Medal winner.

Immediately following the ceremony will be the traditional Icebreaker cocktail party, held from 5-8 p.m. in the exhibits hall.

This year's exhibits hall once again features the latest in oil industry technology and information, presented in a nearly filled-to-capacity room by 314 exhibitors.

A "Mini-Breaker" also will be held in the exhibits hall from 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, giving attendees another chance to enjoy refreshments and drinks while meeting with exhibitors.

Other meeting attractions will include:

• The Career Center, which will provide the opportunity for potential employee/employer connections. Bring your resumes.
• E-mail Center, located in the exhibits hall, provides access to a complimentary e-mail box so you can send and receive e-mail while attending the meeting.
• The Prospect Gallery/Deal, another part of the exhibits hall, an area sure to feature the hottest of the hot deals being offered.
• The AAPG/DPA Government Affairs Forum, set Tuesday, April 13, from 1:30-3:30 p.m., is a chance to learn more about -- or comment on -- legislative and regulatory issues that affect the profession and industry.
• The DEG Forum: "Temperature Changes Through Time," held from 10-noon and continuing 1-3 p.m. Sunday, April 11, will feature scientists from various specialties to discuss temperature variation through the geologic record.
• The International Pavilion, back for a sixth year as part of the exhibits hall, and the International Corporate Forum, which provides a setting for meetings and discussions about exploration, farm-out, joint venture and other investment and cooperative opportunities.

Authors Slate Appearances

Don't Forget the AAPG Center

All of the fun and festivities in San Antonio won't be on the river. We'll be celebrating inside, too -- at the AAPG Center.

Look for some exciting new items in the General Store. Denim baseball jackets with the AAPG logo as well as AAPG watches and plush "beannie" dinosaurs are just some of the perfect mementos of your visit to San Antonio.

The Bookstore will be featuring great bargains, with 50 percent reductions on some titles. New books this year will include one written by former AAPG president Jim Wilson (and featured in the January EXPLORER), a beautiful new work, Terroir, about the wine country of France.

Not only can you get a copy in San Antonio, but in the AAPG Foundation's area of the Center, you can even arrange to have your copy autographed.

Authors of recent AAPG publications will be in the Bookstore during the Icebreaker on Sunday, and on Monday and Tuesday from 4-5:30 p.m.. Take a break and have a glass of ice tea while you talk to the authors about their specialties.

So bienvenidos to the AAPG Center! Join the festivities inside and shop with us.