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Explorer Division Column DEG By Francois Marechal

The DEG leadership unanimously endorsed EnergySource Minerals in San Diego to receive a DEG Corporate Award for their efforts to harness for lithium extraction the brine flow supplying the John L. Featherstone geothermal power plant in the Salton Sea region. EnergySource Chief Operating Officer Derek Benson shared with us that a proprietary process called “Integrated Lithium Adsorption Desorption,” or “ILiAD,” was demonstrated to be the key that unlocks Salton Sea lithium development. They have succeeded in producing battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide utilizing the brine flow as it exits the power generation.

Added on 01 June, 2020

Bulletin Article By Alexei Milkov,Jack Samis

Fluvial architecture and four-dimensional saturation modeling of a steam flood: Kern River field, California

A four-dimensional saturation model was created in the Kern River Field, California. This model allows for recognition and quantification of zones of drainage. Visualization of these results leads to improved reservoir management using salvage completions, new infill drilling, and horizontal wells.

Added on 24 April, 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 Article By Ken Milam

Emeritus Member Helen Foster Celebrates 100th Birthday

A few dates and names might be a little slower to come to mind, but at the age of 100, Helen Foster’s love for geology remains clear and strong. “You can learn and enjoy geology by observing the Earth around you … mountains, streams, you learn to enjoy and appreciate them more,” she said. Foster might be AAPG’s longest-tenured member, and one of its oldest, having recently celebrated her 100th birthday on Dec. 15.

Added on 01 February, 2020

Explorer Historical Highlights By Mike Nelson

The Hunt for California Oil

In the summer of 1865, Thomas Bard arrived in Ventura County, Calif., to begin exploration drilling on properties owned by his uncle, Thomas Scott, in the area of Sulphur Mountain. Scott had made a fortune investing in Pennsylvania railroads in the 1850s and in Titusville oil fields in the early 1860s. Scott undertook petroleum exploration in California on the basis of sensational reports of the oil potential there published by Yale professor Benjamin Silliman in 1864. Writing to Scott about the Sulphur Mountain area, Silliman said, 'Its great value is in its almost fabulous wealth in the best of oil.'

Added on 01 February, 2020

Bulletin Article By Adriana Potra,Bryan Bottoms,John R. Samuelsen,Stephen R. Schutter

Mississippian mud rocks of the eastern Great Basin: Stratigraphy, tectonic significance, and hydrocarbon potential

Evaluation of the Mississippian stratigraphy of the Great Basin region identifies the presence of two mud-rock formations, historically identified as the Chainman Shale. This work improves the understanding of this mud-rock stratigraphy, its tectonic significance, and its hydrocarbon potential.

Added on 27 January, 2020

Explorer Historical Highlights By Glen Penfield

Unlikely Impact

The Chixchulub crater on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula was long believed to be the result of volcanic activity, until one young geologist with a No. 2 pencil, some drafting triangles and a calculator made an earth-shattering discovery.

Added on 01 December, 2019

Explorer President’s Column By Mike Party

Making the Rounds to AAPG Section Meetings

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.

Added on 01 November, 2019

Explorer Historical Highlights By Alan Burnham

Livermore Oil Sees 150th Anniversary

When asked what they know about Livermore, Calif., most people think of the nuclear weapons laboratory with the largest lasers and computers, and some think of the oldest wine region in the state, but no one thinks of it as an oil producing region. Yet Livermore was the site of one of the earliest oil wells in California and still has a small, declining oil field just east of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Added on 01 September, 2019

Explorer Article By Barry Friedman

University of Houston Wins Imperial Barrel Award First Place Honors

For the second time since 2017, the University of Houston has won the coveted Imperial Barrel Award, an annual AAPG-sponsored prospective basin evaluation competition for geoscience graduate students from universities around the world.

Added on 01 September, 2019

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