Explorer Historical Highlights

I was involved in the 2006 discovery of Parshall Oil Field in the Bakken reservoir of North Dakota, one of the largest oil fields in North America. My prospect idea was based on meager geologic data that included two key wells and used the potential of new horizontal drilling technology.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer President’s Column

AAPG functions because of you, the members, and there are many different ways for you to get involved in your organization. Some choose to start in their local affiliated society, working on committees and holding offices within them. Others get involved through leadership and organizing events within the sections and regions. These are the grassroots of our membership, and AAPG leadership is working to strengthen these roots.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Division Column DEG

In order to support our modern society in an ever- growing global population, energy supplies must converge to meet that growing demand.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

Pity the Permian Basin. Investors complain about disappointing returns from Permian production. Stockholders worry about the financial outlook for operators in the play. Lenders have started to cast a skeptical eye at the basin’s profit potential. So it’s surprising to find that a data-derived solution for addressing the Permian Basin’s current challenges might be readily available. And it’s somewhat startling to hear that, someday, unconventional resource plays in the United States could fly higher than ever.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer President’s Column

I received my 40-year certificate from AAPG. At the bottom it reads, “In Recognition and Appreciation of your Loyalty to AAPG,” but it is I who should be thanking AAPG for allowing me to be part of this great organization. AAPG allowed me to network and make contacts with smarter people than me and to learn and expand my knowledge base. This is a great profession, and I have found a career in the geological sciences to be extremely rewarding.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Division Column EMD

Buckminster Fuller, the American designer, inventor and visionary said, “We are called to be architects of the future, not its victims.” In the Energy Minerals Division of the AAPG, we hear that calling and embrace it. In our 2019-20 fiscal year, we welcome the return of longtime leaders as well as an influx of new ones to our design team.

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

Producers are feeling the pinch: they’ve got to drill ever more wells to stay ahead of their production declines. Increased production is weighing on crude oil prices – you get the benefit of this supply in resilient markets, but it is shrinking margins and available cashflow to fund this drilling. And at the same time, the financial community is pulling back, restricting access to capital. The industry is reshaping itself yet again in response to new market realities, looking for new ideas and better approaches and operating models.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Emphasis Article

“Undoubtedly, yes, the world must accelerate its transition to renewable energy. Cost is no longer a major barrier for renewables.” That’s Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, chairman of the United Nations Global Compact Foundation, an organization dedicated to finding what it calls “lasting solutions” to the world’s pressing global needs, including, for our purposes here, energy.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Emphasis Article

While many see the energy transition as the switch from carbon-based to non- carbon-based fuels, Scott Tinker sees a broader definition. Tinker, past AAPG president, director of the Bureau of Economic Geology and Texas state geologist, suggested the goal of a successful transition is lifting some 2.5 billion people out of poverty by addressing energy poverty, as well as by minimizing environmental impacts.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Emphasis Article

Wind, solar and biofuels have a long way to go before they’re sufficiently reliable to replace fossil fuels as the world’s primary energy source, but in the meantime, carbon capture and storage will play an integral role in the global transition to sustainable energy.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)

Hot Items

Explorer Director’s Corner

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.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

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

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

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

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Historical Highlights

The Paris Basin offers times of both discoveries and failures, from its first well drilled near Normandy in the 1920s to today. 

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)

Headquarters Contacts

Susan Nash
Susan Nash Director, Innovation and Emerging Science and Technology, AAPG +1 405 314 7730