Preregistration Deadline:
August 9

Free Careers Seminar Added

New 'Twists' for Birmingham

Birmingham's Known for Many Cultural Aspects

Those attending the AAPG international conference and exhibition in Birmingham, England, will be visiting a city that's noted for many reasons, including:

Birmingham is said to have more canals than Venice.

Birmingham is the home of Cadbury's Chocolates.

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, spent his childhood in Sarehole, Birmingham. The tiny village of Sarehole is said to have been the model for the Shire, home of Bilbo in the book The Hobbit.

Resident Alec Issigonis was one the most colorful car designers of modem times and was responsible for the Birmingham-made "mini,"of Mr. Bean TV series fame.

James Watt, who lived in Birmingham 1775-1819, developed the steam engine here. He also invented the letter copying machine, forerunner of the photocopier.

William Murdoch, who worked for Boulton and Watt's shop, invented gas lighting here. His cottage at Soho Foundary was the first domestic building to be lit by gas (1798).

X-ray photography was invented here; the first picture was taken in 1896.

If you thought you knew all there is to know about UK '99, think again.

Meeting organizers have announced several new twists for this year's international conference and exhibition -- including the presence of a newly added, free-of-charge career seminar.

Another new incentive: One- and two-day registration, making it easier to take advantage of specific technical program offerings.

UK '99 will be held Sept. 12-15 in Birmingham, England's revitalized "Second City," with the theme "Oil and Gas in the 21st Century -- Dawn of the Third Age."

The technical program, designed as "the next chapter in deep-water E&P technology," is centered on four main themes:

• Global Deep-Water Exploration and Development.
• Technologies in the 21st Century in E&P.
• Maintaining Field Life into the 21st Century.
• North Atlantic, Arctic, North Africa and Eurasian Hydrocarbon Systems.

One of the meeting highlights will be Monday's session on "Oil and Gas in the 21st Century," featuring the presidents and leaders of several major international oil companies.

"Birmingham is a must for the 21st century," said meeting general chairman Richard Hardman. "It's the best selection of business and technical papers offered, and it will be the best possible examination of problems facing our industry.

"Come, be briefed, be stimulated, be there -- even if only for a day," Hardman said. "No pre-registration is necessary."

Hardman praised the meeting site, Birmingham's modern International Convention Centre, calling it "the best in Britain."

The center's nearly filled-to-capacity exhibit hall (about 75 exhibitors) will feature, in addition to the latest in industry technology, the International Pavilion, offering attendees the chance to discuss exploration and production opportunities with key national and industry representatives.

Free Careers Seminar

The careers seminar will be offered Tuesday, Sept. 14, in the nearby Novotel. The session is a collaborative effort between AAPG and the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain, organized by PESGB's Christine Jones with assistance from AAPG's Kenneth F. Wantland.

Registration will open at 9 a.m. The seminar will go from 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The seminar will include:

• Diedre O'Donnell, author of Working Smart, who will discuss "The Flexible Organization," dealing with how the industry has restructured the way it operates and employs.
• Iain Bartholomew, former international new ventures manager for Oryx, who will discuss "Career Change -- and How To Use It Positively."
• Carol Boyd, former commercial and legal director for UTPL, who will discuss "Life After E&P -- A Personal Perspective."
• Industry perspectives from Michael Welland, former exploration manager for Lasmo.
• A session on "Working Smart -- Getting a Job,"involving skills analyses and interviewing tips.
• Wantland, head of AAPG's careers initiative, will discuss AAPG's role in career self-management and demonstrate the career services available on the AAPG Web site.

The seminar, in addition to being free of charge, also will offer tea/coffee breaks, and a free two-hour pass to the exhibition, which remains open until 6:30 p.m.

Registration is requested. For more seminar information contact PESGB in London, telephone -- 0171 495 6800; or fax -- 0171 495 7808.

UK '99 is a partnership between AAPG and the Geological Society, with PESGB serving as a co-host.

The preregistration deadline is August 9.

For more conference information contact the AAPG convention department, telephone -- 1-918-560-2679, fax -- 1-918-560-2684; or the Geological Society, telephone --44-171-434-9944, fax -- 44-171-439-8975.