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Explorer Historical Highlights By Mir-Yusif Mir-Babayev

Oil Rocks: Early Offshore Production from the Caspian City in the Sea

In 1949 an historic oil field was discovered under the Caspian Sea. The field was named “Neft Dashlari, which in Azerbaijani means “Oil Rocks,” and it was a milestone in the development of the global oil industry. Oil Rocks, an iconic “city in the sea,” pointed the way to modern offshore drilling as we know it today.

Added on 01 September, 2022

Explorer President’s Column By Steven Goolsby

Embrace the Controversy

Controversy can be a good thing, and sometimes, the more contentious things are, the better. Many great examples of this were discussed in my first geologic graduate course, the subject of which was “The History of the Science of Geology.” It was the controversy and debate itself that provided the greatest contribution to the science of geology – not the theories. Why is it important to recognize that controversy can be a good thing – important for AAPG and a good subject for my column in the EXPLORER? The answer is that controversy can also lead to the growth and improvement of a scientific society.

Added on 01 September, 2022

Explorer Readers Forum By Lee Krystinik

Don’t Blow Up Our Bridge for the Energy Evolution

We often see calls for the elimination of all petroleum products, including natural gas. As long as coal and biomass – which emit two-to-four-times more carbon than natural gas – are major components of electricity generation, it makes no sense to eliminate natural gas. Why would we blow up one of our cheapest, cleanest bridges toward the energy evolution when we are just starting to set foot on that bridge?

Added on 01 September, 2022

Explorer Article By Ken Milam

How to Store Renewable Energy in Depleted Gas Wells

Depleted horizontal oil and gas wells could have a second life storing renewable energy, according to researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Because renewable forms of electricity generation like solar and wind require low-cost energy storage, the NREL researchers propose using depleted hydraulically fractured oil and gas wells to store electrical energy in the form of compressed natural gas to be released to spin an expander/generator when electrical demand is high.

Added on 01 September, 2022

Explorer Article By David Brown

Is the World in an Energy Crisis?

Are years of upstream oil and gas underinvestment and under-exploration finally catching up with the world? Is the hope of avoiding a climate catastrophe now a lost cause? Can the global energy industry deliver adequate, affordable energy to meet the world’s future needs? Is the word in an energy crisis? Annually at midyear, a number of organizations publish overviews of the global energy picture. Based on those reports, there is good news. And bad news.

Added on 01 September, 2022

Explorer Article By David Brown

Middle East Sees Major Growth in Natural Gas Development

Mention energy from the Middle East and most people automatically think of crude oil production. But today, geopolitics and supply challenges have put an increased focus on global natural gas resources. Consequently, energy developments in the Middle East are shifting toward natural gas production and export, driven by an increasing international appetite for gas supply and questions about longer-term oil demand. Right now, the bottom line is that natural gas looks like a long-term growth industry and crude oil doesn’t.

Added on 01 September, 2022

Explorer Article By Heather Saucier

GeoNetZero Offers a Bridge to the Future for Energy Geoscientists

As geoscientists try to determine their future roles in the oil and gas industry as well as in the energy transition, some discover that there is a solid bridge between the two in a doctoral research and training program in the United Kingdom. GeoNetZero is part of the UK’s Centre for Doctoral Training program, led by professor John Underhill and established in 2014 to help train geoscientists through a partnership of universities and industry for today’s energy challenges.

Added on 01 September, 2022

Learn! Blog By Susan Nash

Business Accelerators Are More Agile than Ever

Technology moves quickly, and so accelerators have to be nimble, quick and agile to provide services, space, and guidance for startups and innovation to prosper. Welcome to an interview with Angel Garcia, B²Hub Accelerator (BAM BizHUB), who is a participant and moderator for AAPG’s U-Pitch New Technology Showcase.

Added on 19 August, 2022

Explorer Article By Andy Davies,Mike Simmons

The Role of Hydrocarbons in the Energy Transition

Approximately 80 percent of today’s global energy supply comes from fossils fuels, 54 percent of which is supplied by oil and gas. Global society’s goal for the near future is to enjoy the same or better quality of life, but with zero carbon emitted. This presents a set of challenging questions of particular relevance to AAPG members. How will energy demand evolve? How difficult is it to remove oil and gas from the global energy mix? And if they remain part of the mix, what kind of hydrocarbons are we looking for? How important will geological carbon storage be in assisting efforts to reach net zero? These questions were investigated in a recent paper by the authors entitled, “Demand for ‘advantaged’ hydrocarbons during the 21st century energy transition,” and published in the journal Energy Reports. The results are summarized here.

Added on 01 August, 2022

Explorer Division Column EMD By Mike Bingle-Davis

Uncertainty is the Only Certainty

On June 30, the official transfer of power from the Energy Minerals Division’s now past President Justin Birdwell to myself occurred. I find myself slowly acclimating to the new position and finding our path forward. One would think that, having experienced the past three years, we have achieved a degree of acclimation to tumultuous events. Unfortunately, this is not the case and, despite the threat of the pandemic having passed, we still find ourselves on unsure footing.

Added on 01 August, 2022

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Explorer Director’s Corner By David Curtiss

Introducing the New EXPLORER, New Digital Newsletters

Perhaps you did a double take pulling the April issue of EXPLORER from the mailbox. What is this? If you joined AAPG in the last 40 years, you’ve only known EXPLORER in its long-standing tabloid format. It worked well for many years as our advertisers – particularly seismic companies – loved the large format and the ability to display their data on a sweeping canvas. For readers, it was a little more awkward.

Added on 01 April, 2024

Explorer Article By Barry Friedman

How the U Adds Value in CCUS

Carbon capture and sequestration reduces emissions, but it cannot work past cost barriers without the revenue opportunities provided by utilization and storage.

Added on 01 March, 2024

Explorer Article By David Brown

What Will it Take to Get CCUS Ready for Prime Time?

Nihal Darraj, carbon capture and storage researcher at Imperial College, London shares barriers to CCUS commercialization, including costs, technology, permitting and more.

Added on 01 March, 2024