A major thrust of the Africa Region in recent years has been the membership drive to encourage geoscientists in Africa to become AAPG Active members and fully utilize the many benefits provided by the Association for the enhancement of their professional skills and development of the petroleum industry in Africa.
Recent AAPG reports affirm these efforts, with the Africa Region accounting for 24 percent of all new member applications for all classes of AAPG membership from both Sections and Regions during this past June and July.
Currently 11 student chapters in the region account for 24 percent of all student membership (the highest) in AAPG.
AAPG’s Africa Region also focuses on supporting regional O and G activities and conferences of interest to its members, such as the 24th annual international conference and exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), planned Nov. 13-18 in Abuja, Nigeria.
The conference theme, “Exploration Trends and the New Gas Challenges,” will address major issues of exploration, development and portfolio management in the production and sustenance of gas resources.
With increasing regional acceptance and focus on gas exploration and development – as evidenced by planned CNG and West Africa Gas pipeline initiatives, and LNG trains in Nigeria and parts of West Africa – it is apparent that the gas commodity market has the biggest growth opportunity for the regional upstream industry.
The opening ceremony (Nov. 14) will feature key personnel from the oil and gas industry, including the Edmund Daukuru, president of OPEC and minister of petroleum. Following will be a management session on “Surging Global Demand for Oil and Gas; Challenges and Opportunities,” with invited papers delivered by top management staff from the industry and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Technical presentations will run in parallel sessions from Nov. 15-17.
Other meeting highlights include a pre-conference workshop on “Nigerian Content: Capacity Building and Utilization” in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, and post-conference field trips to the Southern Bida Basin (Campano-Maastichtian sequences), Anambra Basin (Campano-Maastichtian facies) and Middle Benue-Keana Basin (Turonian-Coniacian sequences).
Exhibition spaces already are sold out and substantial high quality papers have been received including several from exploration managers in the industry. NAPE has made security arrangements in addition to discount accommodations with local hotels to ensure a smooth conference for the expected large turn-out of both local and international participants.
AAPG members are encouraged to attend what promises to be a technically stimulating conference.
Other future major conferences in the region include:
Third conference on the Petroleum Potential and Investment Opportunities in East Africa, set March 7-9 in Arusha, Tanzania.
First international conference of the Moroccan Association of Petroleum Geologists (MAPG), Oct. 28-31, in Marrakech, Morocco.