Explorer Article

Producers finally got some relief in 2021. Oil and gas prices recovered from their pandemic lows and remained at high levels through most of the year, as increased production could not keep pace with a global demand recovery. It was a year when higher prices helped energy producers strengthen their balance sheets and improve their bottom lines.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

Technological advances in the geothermal energy sector are making some geoscientists hopeful about the potential to deliver its energy resources almost anywhere on the planet. The growing need for clean, resilient, baseload energy coupled with recent advancements in oil and gas technology have prompted geoscientists to push the boundaries of geothermal resources. Looking beyond the natural settings of the resource, geoscientists are working to bypass geographic and geologic limits so that geothermal energy can be used around the world.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

The geologist who helped lead the historical discovery of the Prudhoe Bay oilfield in 1968 and who carved a path for later discoveries that provided invaluable resources for the United States has passed. Charles “Gil” G. Mull, died at age 86 from complications of Parkinson’s Disease in Salt Lake City on Oct. 3.

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

The Tulsa Geological Society and the AAPG Mid-Continent Section enthusiastically celebrates the success of its annual convention in Tulsa. The Mid-Continent Section meeting showcased what Oklahoma geologists like: oil field history and local lore, Native American culture, combined with their beloved Pennsylvanian subsurface plays. The winning formula attracted attendance beyond post- pandemic expectations; more than 400 in-person attendees.

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

What is “unconventional wisdom?” It’s the wisdom obtained from half a century of important conferences organized by the AAPG Eastern Section, founded in 1971, which recently celebrated at its 50th annual conference in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Geological Society, founded in 1945, co-hosted the conference with the Pittsburgh Association of Petroleum Geologists, created in 1984. “The theme ‘Unconventional Wisdom’ is intended to reflect not only the unconventional resources and reservoirs that have brought life to the Appalachian basin, but also to appreciate the broad heritage of our science and vocation,” said conference General Chair John Corbett.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Historical Highlights

Natural gas was first commercially discovered in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico in 1921, making this year the Basin’s centennial. The first San Juan Basin natural gas strike occurred one mile south of Aztec, N.M., when the Aztec Oil Syndicate completed their No. 1 State. Production was found at a depth of about 1,000 feet. The gas discovered south of Aztec was piped into town and used domestically throughout most of the 1920s. This was the first commercial use of natural gas in New Mexico or the San Juan Basin. Located in northwest New Mexico and southwest Colorado, the San Juan is one of the largest gas basins in the United States, along with the Marcellus in the Appalachian Basin and the greater Hugoton Field of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

Considering that geothermal energy can supply power 24/7 for hundreds of years, it can use existing infrastructure from retired coal and nuclear plants, it is extremely attractive to investors, and that it creates more jobs than wind and solar energy, the question arises: Why does so much of this clean, natural resource remain in the ground? That was the topic of discussion at the “Geothermal 101” Geosciences Technology Workshop, hosted recently by AAPG and Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin.

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

There are many potential changes coming to AAPG and, by association, the Energy Minerals Division, but that doesn’t mean we should be static or complacent. New efforts now will help lay the groundwork for whatever the future holds. Worried EMD won’t exist in the NewOrg? Don’t! Whatever form a combined AAPG-SPE might take, there will certainly be a place for energy geoscientists interested in and working on the energy resources and issues currently addressed under the EMD umbrella. We might be working under a different name, but the need for a forum to discuss the array of resources being studied and developed by energy geoscientists will remain.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

The eastern Great Basin of western Utah has long been known as a high heat flow region containing young volcanic rocks and several producing hydrothermal systems. The Utah FORGE Enhanced Geothermal Systems project seeks to advance technology to extract the heat in the huge volumes of hot rock underground, identified or strongly suspected, that do not currently possess adequate permeability. Resolving the underlying mechanisms that have heated such volumes should not only help characterize the magnitude of an individual resource but also create a pathfinder for discovering other systems, both EGS and hydrothermal.

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

Listening to “Long Hard Night” as I write prompted me to think about the success of the inaugural IMAGE event in Denver last month. As usual, Dr. Lesli Wood, professor and Weimer chair at the Colorado School of Mines and 2002 J. C. 'Cam' Sproule Memorial Award recipient, contributed to the technical program as author and session co-chair. Also as usual, Lesli, her band, and members of the Jammin’ Geos Special Interest Group took to the stage and entertained a crowd of enthusiastic geoscientists, engineers and dinosaurs.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Short Course
Houston, Texas
Sunday, 16 June 2024, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

In Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), hydraulic stimulation is used to increase the flow rate achievable during circulation between geothermal wells. This course will cover key concepts related to hydraulic fracturing and reservoir engineering in EGS.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Short Course
Houston, Texas
Sunday, 16 June 2024, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

This course provides a comprehensive methodology for the diagnosis, analysis, and forecasting of well production data in unconventional resources.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Short Course
Houston, Texas
Saturday, 15 June Sunday, 16 June 2024, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

This two-day course introduces a workflow and reviews methods for performing quantitative rate-transient analysis of fractured vertical and multi-fractured horizontal wells (MFHWs), produced from unconventional (low-permeability) gas and light oil reservoirs, including shales.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Short Course
Houston, Texas
Sunday, 16 June 2024, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Short Course
Houston, Texas
Sunday, 16 June 2024, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Learn how to prepare for, conduct, and document safe and effective field activities involving students (field camps) and/or local inhabitants (Geoscientists without Borders) by following generally accepted health, safety, security, and environmental (HSSE) practices.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Workshop
Houston, Texas
Tuesday, 21 May Wednesday, 22 May 2024, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

As the world heads toward what could be a significant shortfall in energy supply relative to demand, it is more important than ever for our industry to help stakeholders understand the contribution of the hydrocarbon sector in balancing that energy equation. To do that, the industry needs individuals who can find, exploit, and appropriately assess reserves and resources. The AAPG DPA – SPE OGRC Petroleum Reserves and Resources Forum will help decision makers better understand the energy resource picture, and help interpreters and investors make more accurate reserve and resource assessments.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Short Course
Houston, Texas
Sunday, 16 June 2024, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

This one-day course familiarizes attendees with the issues in the discipline of geohazards assessment. Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to identify, select, and interpret the appropriate geohazards data, understand different types of geohazards documents, and engage the full-time geohazards specialist to complete a thorough assessment.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)

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