Highlights

Details

Prepare yourselves for an unforgettable introduction to the world of Asian culture, color and excitement. The Opening Ceremony, celebrating the historic status of AAPG’s first-ever ICE in Singapore, will be an inspiring, informative and entertaining event, offering insights into the current state of exploration and petroleum geology as well as a creative celebration of traditional regional music and dance.

Singapore General Chair Richard Lorentz will be the emcee for this fast-moving program that will include a colorful multimedia production highlighting the exotic and geologically compelling region, as well as brief addresses from officials connected to the Singaporean energy ministry, and a special address from AAPG President Edward “Ted” Beaumont.

The program will end with a traditional Singaporean Lion Dance — a dazzling, unforgettable blend of artistry and powerful rhythms that recreate the region’s traditional way of celebrating the New Year. It’s the perfect way to begin your Singapore ICE experience.

The ceremony begins at 17:00 — but arrive early for the sights and sounds that are sure to be the talk of the day.

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Come learn what the commercial promise for unconventional resources in Asia Pacific may hold for you and our industry with The Unconventional Resources Energy Revolution — Is Asia Pacific Next? — the first plenary in the history of AAPG ICE to feature unconventional resources.

A distinguished global panel composed of subject executives and experts from industry and government will explore a range of topics regarding the future potential for unconventional resources in the greater Asia Pacific theater. Brief overview presentations will be made by the panelists, addressing a range of topical subjects including:

• current status and relative significance of CBM, shale, tight, and naturally fractured unconventionals
• is the North American ‘Shale Gale’ unique or is there really global materiality?
• key technical, market, environmental and legislative issues that need to be addressed to commercially access these resources
• lessons learned from the North American ‘laboratory’ and their specific applicability and transferability to Asia Pacific

The floor will then be opened to the audience to further explore the insights, opportunities and issues identified by the panel.

This Plenary Session will set the stage for an outstanding Technical Program, where a range of unconventional resourcesrelated presentations will feature state-ofthe-art concepts, pragmatic prospecting and assessment tools, and case studies illustrating how bottom-line results have been achieved. In addition, a strong focus will be placed on lacustrine source rocks — so widely developed in Asia Pacific, yet so poorly understood.

Speakers:

• Shankari Srinivasan, Head of Global Gas, IHS CERA
• Widjajono Partowidagdo, Deputy Minister for Mines and Energy, Government of Indonesia
• Gavin Thompson, Head of Asia Pacific Gas Research, Wood Mackenzie
• Rod Wallis, President, Falcon Oil and Gas
• Nick Davies, Chairman, Dart Energy (CBM) International Pte Ltd

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The energy industry is the star of Switch, a new feature-length movie that asks the question: What will it really take to make the transition from oil and coal to alternative energy sources? AAPG Past President Scott W. Tinker, Director of the Bureau of Economic Geology, professor of geosciences, and renowned energy lecturer, is the onscreen guide at the center of a film that embarks on a round-the-world journey to answer this and related questions: If coal is dirty, why do we keep using it? Can we really clean it up? Will oil get more expensive? Will it run out? How quickly will we adopt alternatives, and which ones? How risky is hydraulic fracturing? How dangerous is nuclear? What are the biggest challenges — and most promising solutions — to our energy transition? What role does each of us play? Tinker goes inside the world’s premiere energy sites — from coal to solar, oil to biofuels — and talks to leaders in government, industry and academia to explore the world of energy like nodocumentary has ever done before.

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The Discovery Thinking Forum will be the sixth presentation of the AAPG 100th Anniversary Committee’s program recognizing significant discoveries and those who know them well. The forum in Singapore will be the first such panel at an International Conference, signifying expansion into a true global setting. The Singapore forum will feature five invited speakers, each of whom have made a difference outside of the U.S. and North America, with special focus on Europe and Southeast Asia. The speakers will celebrate important discoveries and creative thinking.

Each speaker and their associates overcame great challenges in both business and geological aspects of our profession. Topics to be discussed will include philosophy of exploration, stories from remarkable careers, professional insights and colorful anecdotes, and lessons learned on the path to success.

Speakers:

• Arild Jørstad, Exploration Geoscientist, Lundin
• Fred Wehr, Exploration and Development Manager, Apache
• Bernard Duval, Associate Professor, IFP School
• Lawrence D. (Trey) Meckel, III, Exploration Manager & Chief Geologist, Tately N.V.
• Sam Algar, VP Asia Pacific Exploration, New Ventures & Global Portfolio, Murphy Oil

As technology advances and a new wave of young geoscientists enter our profession, we see continued interest in forums such as this as a way to mentor future discoverers.

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Charles Hutchison died on 18 October 2011 after a long career in Southeast Asian geology. He was widely known in industry and academia for his many contributions to teaching and research from the mid-1950s until his death. He taught in the Department of Geology of the University of Malaya, first in Singapore and later in Kuala Lumpur, as a staff member and Head of Department, until his official retirement, but he continued to teach and research during his very active retirement.

His work was recognized by the university by an appointment as an Emeritus Professor and Senior Research Fellow. During his retirement he also contributed to teaching at the University of Brunei Darussalam and Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

Charles was active in many other areas of geology. He was a founding member of the Geological Society of Malaysia, and was rarely absent from their regular meetings. He served with SEATAR (Studies in East Asian Tectonics and Resources) and CCOP (Committee for Co-ordination of Joint Prospecting for Mineral Resources in Asian Offshore Areas).

He wrote and edited several books on Southeast Asian geology which remain essential reading for anyone working in the region, and he was a fount of wisdom, stories and reminiscences for numerous visitors to the university and to Malaysia. He will be greatly missed.

To recognize his many and varied contributions to our knowledge of the region there will be two special oral sessions with a theme of Borneo-Sundaland.

The sessions are:

• Theme 2: Charles Hutchison Memorial Session Southeast Asia Regional Tectonics
• Theme 2: Charles Hutchison Memorial Session Tectonics of Borneo

In addition, a special issue of the Journal of Asian Earth Sciences is planned which will be dedicated to Charles. The theme for this issue is very broad and will include papers on granites, petrology and geochemistry, regional geology, stratigraphy and tectonics, geology of the Malay Peninsula and Borneo to list just a few of Charles' interests.