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September 2015

Deepwater Projects Abound in the Gulf of Mexico

When it comes to staying power in the U.S. oil game, the Gulf of Mexico takes the prize after producing copious volumes of hydrocarbons for decades, beginning with wells drilled in only a few feet of water. It’s only fitting, then, that an entire day at the upcoming 2015 annual convention of the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies in Houston will focus on the deepwater Gulf action.

Oil Giants Join Forces For Spill Response Research

The oil and gas industry, like any competitive industry, keeps technological advancements close to the vest. The greatest exception to that rule are advancements that promote safety and protect the environment. Nine international oil and gas companies came together form the Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology Joint Industry Program – known, in short, as the Arctic JIP.

Student Chapter Videos: Showcasing AAPG's Global Community

In order to foster both excitement and pride in the work being done in geology departments on university and college campuses, the annual student chapter video contest has become a way for these student organizations to highlight their commitment to geology.

Emphasis: International Spotlight

Outlook for the Post-Iran Sanctions Oil Market

Still feeling optimistic about the near-term future of oil? Here’s something to think about: When Iran, Iraq and Libya return to their full production potential, the world price of crude oil could fall considerably lower.

Rønnevik Champions Exploration in Norway

When revealing the traits that make an explorer successful, Hans Christen Rønnevik, recipient of this year’s Norman H. Foster Outstanding Explorer Award, said it is not necessarily a detailed eye that finds oil and gas.

PROWESS Honors China's First Female Geologist

AAPG can trace its first woman member back to 1918, whereas in other countries, women began studying and practicing geology decades later. China is one of those countries. The PROWESS committee recently discovered China’s first female petroleum geologist, Yang Yi, who began studying geology in the 1940s.

Angola Celebrates 100 Years of Oil Production

A milestone event is occurring in Angola’s oil industry this year – Angola celebrates 100 years since the first oil well was drilled in the country.

Marita Bradshaw: Moving Australia Forward

Marita Bradshaw, an AAPG member and retired geologist with Geoscience Australia, has spent her career helping to uncover Australia’s oil and gas potential and is now pleased to see recent large discoveries on the continent and the expansion of the export LNG industry. A symposium will be held in her honor this month at the AAPG-SEG International Convention and Exhibition (ICE) in Melbourne.

Standing Columns

President’s Column

TIGs, SIGs and Other Musings …

As I write this article, your Executive Committee is meeting in Tulsa to review the 2015-16 business plan, the current long-range plan and receive an update from Past President Lee Krystinik on the 2014-15 Ad-Hoc Committee on Governance, which is expected to report to the Executive Committee in October.

Director’s Corner

Fostering Community with TIGs and SIGs

In his presidential address at the 2011 Annual Convention and Exhibition in Houston, then-president David Rensink talked about the fact that AAPG is a tribe, a tribe of geoscientists whose common focus is oil and natural gas.

Division Column DEG

Care About the Environment? Join DEG

“Don’t you care about the environment?” DEG’s founder and first president – and an AAPG past president and legend – Bruno Hanson directly challenged me with that question.

Geophysical Corner

Finding a Better Path to Impedance Inversion

The proposed workflow for generating a low-frequency impedance model is superior to the existing methods of low-frequency impedance generation. The quality of the low-frequency impedance model used in the inversion has a pronounced effect on the final impedance result, and thus a superior low-frequency impedance model when used in the inversion process yields a more accurate impedance inversion output.

Policy Watch

Iran and U.S. Energy Exports

Congress long has been interested in ending the ban on the export of U.S. crude oil – and their interest in oil exports has increased with the recent international agreement to lift the nuclear-related sanctions on Iran.

Historical Highlights

Digging the Roots of Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic fracturing of rock formations has been hotly debated during the past several years, and public opinions have resulted in numerous legislative actions that closely control or even ban the practice in different parts of the nation. Fracturing, however, actually has been used in the oil and gas industry for 67 years and in the granite quarrying business in North Carolina since 1903.

Foundation Update

Weeks Grant Provides Educational Opportunities for Undergrads

The AAPG Foundation’s L. Austin Weeks Undergraduate Grant program annually awards deserving geoscience students and geoscience student organizations across the world with $500 in grant funds.

September 2015

Table of Contents

Emphasis: International Spotlight

Standing Columns

News & Features

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