Explorer Historical Highlights

During the 1980s, early prospecting in deepwater margins was the simple extension of prolific updip producing basins that were charged. However, the migration of petroleum exploration and development into deepwater was fraught with challenges. For engineers and geologists, one of our biggest challenges was to overcome our collective lack of understanding about the geology of deepwater. We had to revisit everything we thought we knew, one paradigm shift after another.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Learn! Blog

Welcome to a new series in the AAPG Learn! Blog entitled “My Favorite Outcrop.” In this series, we chat with geoscientists who tell us about their favorite outcrops encountered during their work in the field. Today we meet with Clara Abu, who is one of the founding members of the Salt Basins Technical Interest Group. One of her favorite outcrops was in Tusher Canyon, Utah, featured in the photo.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Regions and Sections

Since its inception in 1994, the Middle East Geosciences Conference and Exhibition series – or, “GEO,” as it is better known – has grown to become the main geosciences event in the Middle East Region and beyond, providing a platform for knowledge sharing, exchange and dissemination as well as an excellent opportunity to interact with major upstream companies, service providers and academia. The GEO Executive Committee made the decision to postpone the event to Oct. 4-7, 2021 in response to the global spread of COVID-19.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

“One of the drives I always had has been to explore beyond the visible horizon.” Those are the sentiments from this year’s Robert R. Berg Outstanding Research Award winner, Daniele Colombo, senior geophysical consultant for Aramco in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Historical Highlights

Sixty years ago this month, on Sept. 14, 1960, representatives from five oil producing gathered at the Al-Shaab Hall in Baghdad to form the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. OPEC was formally dedicated to “the coordination and unification of the petroleum policies of the member countries and the determination of the best means of safeguarding their interests, individually and collectively.” Public perceptions in the West about OPEC are usually negative. OPEC is viewed as an oil cartel, or even a monopoly, whose sole purpose is to control the oil market. The 60th anniversary of OPEC is an appropriate opportunity to review its formation.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

Recipients of 2020 AAPG Student Chapter Awards, encompassing recognition for student and volunteer achievements around the entire world, have been announced by AAPG. In a year that has seen its share of hardship, it makes it all the more special to present the awards to these deserving students, student chapters and volunteers who have risen to meet – and overcome – the challenges facing them.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Foundation Update

Call it unprecedented, call it exciting and unpredictable, call it historic – and you’re right each time. The 2020 Imperial Barrel Award global finals competition was one for the record books – for the first time ever, the entire competition, impacted by the global pandemic that threatened to end it before it began, was held virtually in early June, adding a new chapter in the program’s illustrious history. Indeed, this year’s competition had many firsts – a global pandemic, an entirely virtual competition and the introduction of the IBA Exploration Leadership Series.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

Helium rose back into the news recently, in part because of drilling exploration programs planned for an area along the Alberta-Saskatchewan border in southern Canada. North American Helium Inc. of Calgary announced it had arranged additional equity financing of about $29 million to purchase and construct its second helium purification plant at the Battle Creek field in southwest Saskatchewan and to fund an active drilling program. A number of other companies are reportedly involved in North American helium exploration projects, including Desert Mountain Energy Corp. and Royal Helium Ltd. of Vancouver, Weil Group Resources LLC in Richmond, Va., and Australian explorer Blue Star Energy.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer ProTracks

At a time when the geoscience job market is suffering from low demand and fewer jobs, the Middle East is hungry for petroleum geoscientists.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Director’s Corner

May is upon us. In the northern hemisphere we’re in the middle of spring, a time of awakening and new beginnings. Here in Oklahoma, the sun is shining, the grass is green and the roses are in bloom. But there’s another side to spring in Oklahoma: tornado season. And for many of us, the present situation looks more like foreboding thunderheads, hail, fierce winds and sheets of rain. COVID-19 continues to spread illness and uncertainty. Far too many of us have either been directly affected by this virus or know someone who has. None of us has escaped the impact of a staggering collapse in oil prices. Graduation has been canceled. This month looks more sinister than sunny. And all of us – newly minted graduates, mid- career and seasoned veterans alike – are asking, “What’s next?”

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)

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Leah Williams Events Manager - Middle East, Africa & Asia Pacific
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