Table of Contents

 

Oops: A new assessment of oil potential in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve is dramatically lower than previous estimates.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/new-npr-a-numbers-slam-expectations-2010-12dec-hero.jpg?width=100&h=100&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=75amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true 2946 http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/new-npr-a-numbers-slam-expectations-2010-12dec-hero.jpg
 

The Never Ending Story: Three AAPG members add a new chapter to the history of Canada’s much-studied, much-revered Burgess Shale.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/burgess-shale-to-add-another-chapter-fig1.jpg?width=100&h=100&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=75amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true 2953 http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/burgess-shale-to-add-another-chapter-fig1.jpg
 

Discussion about the potential of gas hydrates – and the role they will play in the world's energy future – gets a new boost from a new AAPG memoir.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/memoir-89-natural-gas-hydrates.jpg?width=100&h=100&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=75amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true 3236 http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/memoir-89-natural-gas-hydrates.jpg
 

Take closer look at rare earth elements (REE) that are not making their way out of Chinese waters to the rest of the world. Will this create a global squeeze on our world?

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/ampleman-matt.jpg?width=100&h=100&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=75amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true 2956 http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/ampleman-matt.jpg
 

The 2011 Annual Convention and Exhibition is just around the corner and registration opens this month. The April event will be held in Houston this year.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/EXPLORER-cover-2010-12dec-thumb.jpg?width=100&h=100&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=75amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true 2957 http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/EXPLORER-cover-2010-12dec-thumb.jpg

Emphasis: Downhole Geology

 

We’ve come a long way, baby: Advances in downhole geology during the past 10 years tell a compelling story about the industry’s accomplishments, expectations and continuing demands.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/pitcher-jason.jpg?width=100&h=100&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=75amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true 2958 http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/pitcher-jason.jpg
 

So how high is "the bar"? EnergyPoint Research looks at customer satisfaction within the oilfield services industry. The results reflect the fast-paced advances that may have exceeded the technicians to apply them.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/satisfaction-bar-is-set-high-fig1.jpg?width=100&h=100&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=75amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true 2959 http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/satisfaction-bar-is-set-high-fig1.jpg
 

Geomechanics’ value: The deeper we get into shale plays, the more obvious it becomes that no two plays are the same.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/meeham-nathan.jpg?width=100&h=100&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=75amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true 2960 http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/meeham-nathan.jpg
 

What’s cooking? A new memoir provides a recipe for borehole imaging success.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/poppelreiter-michael.jpg?width=100&h=100&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=75amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true 2961 http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/poppelreiter-michael.jpg
 

Dangerous, or not so much? Some are anxious to give the public a different perspective on hydraulic fracturing.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/EXPLORER-cover-2010-12dec-thumb.jpg?width=100&h=100&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=75amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true 2962 http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/EXPLORER-cover-2010-12dec-thumb.jpg

Standing Columns

As I have traveled to AAPG conferences during the past year-and-a-half I have been impressed by the number of symposia on shale gas.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/EXPLORER-cover-2010-12dec-thumb.jpg?width=50&h=50&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=90amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/EXPLORER-cover-2010-12dec-thumb.jpg 2964 Explorer President’s Column

This is the theme that has led the efforts and planning for the AAPG Foundation’s Fundraising Campaign. Each year the Foundation has solid requests and needs that we cannot fund – that is why we set a stretch goal to $35 million by the end of 2011.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/EXPLORER-cover-2010-12dec-thumb.jpg?width=50&h=50&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=90amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/EXPLORER-cover-2010-12dec-thumb.jpg 2965 Explorer Director’s Corner

The final guideline that should be used when designing a 3-D survey is the use of the even-integer rule for specifying the exact dimensions of a recording swath.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/last-call-the-even-integer-rule-fig3.jpg?width=50&h=50&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=90amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/last-call-the-even-integer-rule-fig3.jpg 2967 Explorer Geophysical Corner

This month marks the fifth anniversary of the Geoscience and Energy Office in Washington, D.C. (GEO-DC), established by the AAPG Executive Committee in June 2005. We are taking this opportunity to review the purpose, past accomplishments and future plans for the office. 

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/smith-dan.jpg?width=50&h=50&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=90amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/smith-dan.jpg 2968 Explorer Policy Watch

The London-based AAPG European Region office has had a busy year – we moved to new premises in the heart of London last year and have had an exciting time developing our events and activities while liaising, helping and cultivating our membership and providing a welcome coffee stop for all those AAPG members passing through London.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/EXPLORER-cover-2010-12dec-thumb.jpg?width=50&h=50&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=90amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/EXPLORER-cover-2010-12dec-thumb.jpg 2969 Explorer Regions and Sections

The AAPG Foundation’s five-year, $35 million campaign is in the final phase.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/EXPLORER-cover-2010-12dec-thumb.jpg?width=50&h=50&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=90amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/EXPLORER-cover-2010-12dec-thumb.jpg 2970 Explorer Foundation Update

On the last day of the GCAGS meeting we learned that the moratorium on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico had finally been lifted. Although this is great news, what does it really mean for the petroleum industry? We know the implementation of new offshore drilling regulations will be forthcoming and will promote safety.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Desktop /Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/EXPLORER-cover-2010-12dec-thumb.jpg?width=50&h=50&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&quality=90amp;encoder=freeimage&progressive=true http://img.aapg.org/Portals/0/PackFlashItemImages/WebReady/EXPLORER-cover-2010-12dec-thumb.jpg 2966 Explorer Division Column DEG

News & Features