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Astrogeology

Explorer Article By Doug Cook

On July 30, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory launched the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. Perseverance is destined to land at Jezero crater on Feb. 18, 2021, with the most sophisticated kit of geology tools ever assembled for an astrogeology mission. AAPG, as an institution dedicated to exploring for resource commodities, looks to our future in space through the Astrogeology Committee and the Energy Minerals Division. We emphasize the use of geosciences in the development of off-world exploration energy and other natural resources for development in the foreseeable future. Water resources in space, on the moon and on Mars, will become the energy commodity analog of oil on Earth.

Added on 01 October, 2020

Explorer President’s Column By Rick Fritz

Always Pay Attention to the Really Big Things

If you remember from my last column, this is a three-part series on my thoughts on science, membership and budget. I talked about budget last time … we are still working on it, so let’s talk science. The reason most professionals join AAPG is for access to science. That’s not just my opinion – it’s what members tell us. AAPG is very good about disseminating the work of our members and other professionals around the world. That’s our mission.

Added on 01 September, 2020

Explorer Emphasis Article By Heather Saucier

Watkins Launches Astrogeology Dream with HGS Scholarship

In a room of more than 150 geoscientists gathered to support scholarship recipients of the Houston Geological Society, the question was asked: “How many of you secretly want to be an astronaut?” Dozens of hands shot up. Yes, it is cool to study rocks on Earth, but with exploration in the DNA of scientists, the rocks on the moon and on Mars inevitably beckon. In a keynote address to recipients of $50,000 in scholarships from the HGS Scholarship Committee chaired by past AAPG President Charles Sternbach, Jessica Watkins – a newly graduated astronaut from NASA and planetary geologist – made the possibility of space exploration a little less out of reach for budding geoscientists.

Added on 01 May, 2020

Explorer Article By Ken Milam

'Producing the Future' in California and Beyond

Energy sustainability and environmental responsibility are major pillars for the future of the energy industry. They will also be important themes for the upcoming Pacific Section Annual Meeting April 4-8 in Oxnard, Calif. The meeting’s overall theme is “2020 Vision: Producing the Future.

Added on 01 March, 2020

Explorer Division Column EMD By Edith Newton Wilson

The Energy Revolution

What’s in a name? Should we call it a transition? A convergence? A transformation? A revolution? A tipping-point? A paradigm shift? Consider that perhaps the name is largely irrelevant, except to sell conference tickets. There’s a radical shift afoot that affects the business model for global energy delivery and consumption. And with it comes with a wealth of opportunities for energy geoscientists, as well as an obligation for every professional society to help its members prepare for the future.

Added on 01 February, 2020

Explorer Article By Ken Milam

First 'WinGS' Scholarship Awarded by West Texas Geology Foundation

As women continue to make inroads and contributions to the once male-dominated oil industry, the West Texas Geology Foundation has taken a new step to encourage more women to enter the field. The foundation established and awarded its first Women in Geoscience Studies scholarship to Alondra Soltero, a graduate student at the University of Texas at El Paso. The Women in Geoscience Studies, or “WinGS” scholarship, established in 2018, is a minimum of $5,000 given to a female candidate studying in a geoscience field from a school in or around the Permian Basin.

Added on 01 November, 2019

EMD Blog

Submit your abstract for an EMD session by September 26, 2019

EMD is mapping a path to the future in Houston. Submit your abstract for an EMD session by September 26 for ACE 2020.

Added on 13 August, 2019

Explorer Division Column EMD By Edith Newton Wilson

Exploring Energy Frontiers While Embracing Positive Change

Change is in the air. How will we choose to deal with it? We make choices every day, in our project work, our investments and our lifestyles. With so much in play, how do we select the right options? This challenge is particularly appropriate to discuss within the Energy Minerals Division, since our members are those in the AAPG who look beyond the conventional, the everyday and the familiar. We focus on opportunities outside of those in the traditional oil field to provide efficient and economic energy resources to the world.

Added on 01 August, 2019

Explorer Article By Bruce L. Cutright

AAPG and the Apollo 11 Golden Anniversary

On July 16, 1969, at 9:32 a.m. Eastern Daylight time, Apollo 11 launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Four days later, on July 20 at 4:17 p.m., the lunar module touched down on the moon. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins were the first – something to remember and to celebrate.

Added on 01 August, 2019

Learn! Blog By Susan Nash

Interview with Joel Núñez, Co-Founder of ExoEstrato, Andalusian Society of Astrogeology

Please meet Joel Núñez, one of the founders and promoters of ExoEstrato, a young association whose members are lovers of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences. ExoEstrato is supported by the Andalusian Society of Astrogeology in Granada in Andalusia, Spain. The founders explain the reasons for the ExoEstrato. 'Due to the scarcity of projects related to Planetary Geology in the spanish universities, we have decided to start this project, with the idea of disseminating, educating other people and research in the fascinating and transcendent field of Astrogeology. In spite of our short journey as an institution, we have already organized and carried out a significant number of activities, from public astronomical observations to conference cycles, including the organization of the I Course on Introduction to Astrogeology at the University of Granada, which will take place next month, or the upcoming launch of EXOJOURNAL, an astrogeological magazine. We also plan to organize this summer, with a view to develop it in the end of 2018, the I Andalusian Congress of Young Astrogeologists (CAJA, in spanish), proposing an attractive program of activities and inviting several speakers specialized in astrogeological issues.'

Added on 26 March, 2019

Workshop

Houston, Texas

Tuesday, 10 December – Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

AI, Machine Learning and Analytics for Subsurface Energy

Join us for an AI and analytics workshop that focuses specifically on subsurface energy, and provides the needed knowledge, tools, and insights. Opportunities are emerging, and those who have the tools, skills, and knowledge will be at the forefront Specifically, the conference will bring together AI and Machine Learning and a wide range of data issues in the form of technical presentations, probing panel discussions and poster sessions.

Added on 05 September, 2024

Online e-Symposium

Thursday, 20 August 2009, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

Geothermal Energy in the Oil Field: Developments and Opportunities

This e-symposium covers advances in geothermal energy, integration with petroleum operations, and lessons learned in recent cases.

Added on 02 December, 2013

Webinar

Virtual Webinar

Saturday, 3 October 2020, 8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m.

Sequence Stratigraphy – A Tool to Mitigate Risk in E&P Industry

Join us to hear KB Trivedi, Petroleum Geologist, discuss the paradigm of sequence stratigraphy has it enters a new phase. Webinar will be presented via Zoom on 03 October 2020, 8:00 am CST

Added on 17 September, 2020

Webinar

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Thursday, 1 February 2024, 7:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.

AI and Machine Learning for Successful Exploration Development

This webinar focuses on the practical application of AI and machine learning. We will walk through the exercise of creating an unsupervised SOM (self-organized map) in Paradise. It includes explaining the simple concepts of Principal Component Analysis - in order to go through data reduction and come up with a "recipe" of seismic attributes to be used in SOM, then go through harvest (learning process) to final analysis. After showing results in the 3-D viewer, the focus turns to creating geobodies out of key neurons and to show how to apply volumetric information to obtain estimated reserves. The presentation includes taking bits and pieces of data from projects to show the principles of Machine Learning and the results. This is a working presentation of the software and how to achieve the results shown in the case histories.

Added on 01 February, 2024

Online e-Symposium

Tuesday, 25 January 2011, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

Integrating Disciplines, Data and Workflows in Resource Plays

This esymposium takes a close look at workflows associated with resource plays, and analyzes where integration must occur between disciplines, data, and workflows at all phases of the process.

Added on 02 December, 2013

Online e-Symposium

Thursday, 29 October 2009, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

The Application of Thermal Maturation, Heat Flow, and Organic Facies for Unconventional Shale Gas Evaluation

Expanded package for CEU credit is $100 for AAPG members, and $145 for non-members. Special Student Pricing: $25 for Webinar only; $35 for Expanded package.

Added on 02 December, 2013

Webinar

Virtual Webinar

Wednesday, 14 February 2024, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

Energy Industry Outlook 2024: What to Expect and Why Reports Often Underestimate U.S. Output

This 2024 energy sector outlook will feature three discussions led by industry experts. Join us for a webinar where industry experts will discuss annual forecasts of global upstream markets, well quality and activite levels, and why US oil output may be more favorable than current reports suggest.

Added on 13 February, 2024

Online e-Symposium

Tuesday, 1 January 2013, 12:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.

Wind Farm Operations: Current Practices and Future Trends

The presenters will discuss effective management of wind farm operations and the challenges often encountered.

Added on 21 November, 2013

Online e-Symposium

Thursday, 28 January 2010, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

Complex Well Guidance for G&G Asset Team Professionals

This 1-hour web-cast will arm the G&G asset team professionals with a core-competency understanding of these critical field realities, with direct reference to recent documented field experience and learnings

Added on 02 December, 2013

Webinar

Virtual Webinar

Wednesday, 29 November 2023, 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.

Applied Biostratigraphy: An Introduction to the Ecology and Application of the Major Fossil Groups Used in the Petroleum Industry

Join us for November’s AAPG Women's Network 2023 Short-Short Course Series on Wednesday, November 29th from 9-11 am (CT) with Dr. Alicia Kahn to discuss biostratigraphy and micropaleontology, largely as it pertains to oil and gas exploration.

Added on 15 November, 2023

Webinar By Vitor Abreu

Virtual Webinar

Tuesday, 5 May 2020, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

Sequence Stratigraphy: Past, Present and Future

Sequence stratigraphy is a method for stratigraphic interpretation, pioneered by Vail and colleagues in the mid 70’s, which explains the complex geometries that sediments create as they fill accommodation in response to changes in rates of sedimentation, subsidence, uplift and eustasy. This method was developed based on observations and concepts developed as early as in the 1800’s. Based on this strong scientific foundation, pioneer work from Caster, Sloss, Wheeler, Campbell, and Asquith established the basis for the methodology. These researchers established a new way to correlate stratigraphic units, demonstrating the time-transgressive nature of lithostratigraphic formations.

Added on 05 May, 2020

DL Abstract By Sherilyn Williams-Stroud

Atmospheric and Social Climate Change: Implications for the Future Geoscience Workforce

Climate change is not only happening in the atmosphere but also in the anthroposphere; in some ways the former could drive or exacerbate the latter, with extreme weather excursions and extreme excursions from societal norms occurring all over the earth. Accomplishing geoscience for a common goal – whether that is for successful business activities, resource assessment for public planning, mitigating the impacts of geological hazards, or for the sheer love of furthering knowledge and understanding – can and should be done by a workforce that is equitably developed and supported. Difficulty arises when the value of institutional programs to increase equity and diversity is not realized.

Request a visit from Sherilyn Williams-Stroud!

Added on 14 September, 2023

DL Abstract By John Castagna

Beyond Physics in Geophysics

Physics is an essential component of geophysics but there is much that physics cannot know or address.

Request a visit from John Castagna!

Added on 14 September, 2023

DL Abstract By Alex Simms

Interactions Between Ice Sheets and Relative Sea Levels: Lessons From Antarctica and NW Scotland

Local sea-level changes are not simply a function of global ocean volumes but also the interactions between the solid Earth, the Earth’s gravitational field and the loading and unloading of ice sheets. Contrasting behaviors between Antarctica and Scotland highlight how important the geologic structure beneath the former ice sheets is in determining the interactions between ice sheets and relative sea levels.

Request a visit from Alex Simms!

Added on 21 July, 2022

DL Abstract By John Suppe

Probing What Makes the Crust Strong (or Weak): Insight from Boreholes, Earthquakes, Active Fault Systems, and Toy Models

For well over a century there have been conflicting indications of the strength of the crust and of faults and what controls them. Much of our ignorance comes quite naturally from the general inaccessibility of the crust to measurement--in contrast with our understanding of the atmosphere, which is much more accessible to observation as well as more rapidly changing. Crustal strength is best understood in deforming sedimentary basins where the petroleum industry has made great contributions, particularly in deforming petroleum basins because of the practical need to predict. In this talk we take a broad look at key issues in crustal strength and deformation and what we can learn from boreholes, earthquakes, active fault systems, and toy models.

Request a visit from John Suppe!

Added on 14 September, 2023

DL Abstract By Kurt W. Rudolph

The Assembly of Pangea, a View from Laurentia: Paleozoic Orogenies and their Impact on Basin Evolution and Petroleum Systems

Paleozoic North America has experienced multiple mountain building events, from Ordovician to Permian, on all margins of the continent. These have had a profound effect on the resulting complex basins and their associated petroleum systems. Subsequent uplift, erosion and overprinting of these ancient systems impedes the direct observation of their tectonic history. However, the basin sedimentary records are more complete, and provide additional insights into the timing and style of the mountain building events. In this study, we employ ~90 1D basin models, ~30 inverse flexural models, isopachs, and paleogeographic maps to better understand the Paleozoic history of North America.

Request a visit from Kurt W. Rudolph!

Added on 14 September, 2023

DL Abstract By Tao Sun

Integrated Reservoir Characterization and Modeling with Computational Stratigraphy

As oil and gas exploration and production occur in deeper basins and more complex geologic settings, accurate characterization and modeling of reservoirs to improve estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) prediction, optimize well placement and maximize recovery become paramount. Existing technologies for reservoir characterization and modeling have proven inadequate for delivering detailed 3D predictions of reservoir architecture, connectivity and rock quality at scales that impact subsurface flow patterns and reservoir performance. Because of the gap between the geophysical and geologic data available (seismic, well logs, cores) and the data needed to model rock heterogeneities at the reservoir scale, constraints from external analog systems are needed. Existing stratigraphic concepts and deposition models are mostly empirical and seldom provide quantitative constraints on fine-scale reservoir heterogeneity. Current reservoir modeling tools are challenged to accurately replicate complex, nonstationary, rock heterogeneity patterns that control connectivity, such as shale layers that serve as flow baffles and barriers.

Request a visit from Tao Sun!

Added on 20 July, 2022

VG Abstract By Juan I. Soto

How Orogens Could Collapse Forming Sedimentary Basins: The Case of the Betic-Rif Orogen

The Betic hinterland, in the westernmost Mediterranean, constitutes a unique example of a stack of metamorphic units. Using a three-dimensional model for the crustal structure of the Betics-Rif area this talk will address the role of crustal flow simultaneously to upper-crustal low-angle faulting in the origin and evolution of the topography.

Request a visit from Juan I. Soto!

Added on 26 June, 2019

DL Abstract By Lesli Wood

The Future of Geoscience: Your role in saving the Earth

The Earth is not a fragile place, but our place on the Earth is very fragile. Geoscience offers a pathway to understand how the Earth has evolved and the role of biological life forms in that evolution.

Request a visit from Lesli Wood!

Added on 19 August, 2024

DL Abstract By Isabelle Moretti

The Natural H₂ Exploration Started: Why, Where and by Who?

Why H₂ is generated in subsurface? Which are the reactions and the promising geological setting? Example in countries where H₂ have already been found: Australia, Brazil. Kinetic reactions: i.e., Is the natural H₂ renewable? What we don't know yet about this resource and about the H₂ systems (generation/transport/accumulation). Overview of the current landscape (subsurface law, permitting, E&P activity)

Request a visit from Isabelle Moretti!

Added on 13 September, 2023

DL Abstract By Fernanda Raggio

Shaping New Leadership in an Evolving Energy Business

The Energy sector is a changing business environment. Throughout the 20th century fluctuations of oil supply and demand produced changes in the barrel price that pushed the growth or shrinkage of the industry. In this 21st century, new challenges such as diversification of the energy mix, boosting gas demand, require the exploration of critical minerals and development of new technologies as well.

Request a visit from Fernanda Raggio!

Added on 19 August, 2024

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