Explorer Article

Joshua Rosenfeld’s article in the April EXPLORER issue’s Historical Highlights provides an interesting compilation of observations selected to support an unproven hypothesis: that the large influx of Paleogene Wilcox sandstones in the Gulf of Mexico can be linked to a major evaporative drawdown of the basin, loosely aligned with and possibly triggering the Paleocene-Eocene thermal event. We offer our observations based on decades of oil industry experience working the Wilcox play, more than 55 peer- reviewed academic papers and one book on Gulf of Mexico sedimentary basin.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Historical Highlights

It all started in 2002, when Unocal revealed that its Trident-1 well had found 400 meters of 70-percent net Lower Wilcox Formation sand in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, about 400 kilometers beyond the contemporaneous shelf break offshore south Texas. Art Berman and I gazed at a GOM activity map and pondered how that amount of sand could have been deposited so far out into the basin. Our working hypothesis was that this sand deposit was due to a drop in base level, but we also knew that the worldwide sea level was not in decline at that time. A log of the nearby Shell Great White well shows that this sand deposition began suddenly and ended suddenly. This was also puzzling, since we were trained to expect gradational coarsening-upward bedding during regression and fining-upward during transgression, rather than the sharp contacts we were seeing. Sudden avulsion of a major river in a deltaic environment could produce something like this, but how could it happen far beyond the shelf edge?

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

The U.S. Gulf of Mexico often receives attention for its hydrocarbon potential in the Upper Jurassic and younger rocks in deep and shallow water. Increasingly more people are looking to another potential habitat for hydrocarbons, the syn-rift and associated sections, also known as the Gulf of Mexico pre-salt.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

Some of the world’s largest oil companies have pumped up their shale investments recently, targeting increased future production from shale oil plays. At the same time, some independents have been cutting back on shale spending, in part because of lower oil and gas prices and shareholder demands for improved returns. The result is a not-so-subtle shift toward shale dominance by Big Oil.

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

In early August, we learned that a Texas Sunset Review Board had recommended the elimination of the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists. Our local AAPG-affiliated societies quickly organized an information campaign and defense for the TBPG. This shows the importance of strong, well organized local affiliates. This situation also raises several questions about the professional status of geologists in our society and how we view ourselves.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

The coastal region of the Mississippi River Delta is rapidly deteriorating, but the Louisiana State University Coastal Studies Institute is working to reverse the trend.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

Expect a boom in upstream oil and gas mergers and acquisitions activity in the coming months. More than $50 billion in deals are now in play in the upstream sector in the United States alone.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Emphasis Article

Described as a “hidden gem,” Guyana’s deepwater potential is a winning “lottery ticket” that could transform the nation.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Emphasis Article

If offshore drilling is depressed right now, why is so much of it going on? The offshore sector took a serious hit during the industry downturn as spending cuts limited project sanctions. But international research and consulting firm Wood Mackenzie expects 30 major offshore projects to win approval in 2018, and that’s only part of the story.

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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