17 December, 2019

November 2019 AAPG Latin America and Caribbean Region report

 

AAPG President Mike Party visited the region and accompanied AAPG students and professionals at the AMGP Conference in Villahermosa.

Mike Party and Emily Smith Llinás meeting with student and YP chapter members in Villahermosa.

Mike Party and Emily Smith Llinás meeting with student and YP chapter members in Villahermosa.

Special Items
Distinguished Lecturer Program (DLP) Tour
  • Irene Arango, PhD of Chevron conducted an in-person Distinguished Lecturer (DL) in the Latin America & Caribbean Region and delivered the lecture “Understanding Expulsion Capacity and Organic Porosity in Unconventional Petroleum Systems”
  • Was the first DL tour in the region since 2017
  • The tour logistics was organized by LACR Delegate Silvia Santos (Mexico) and Student Chapters in the region in coordination with AAPG Headquarters
  • The tour schedule was as follows:
    1. 6 November – Lima, Peru. 30 students attended.
    2. 7 November – Piura, Peru. 65 students attended.
    3. 12 November – Bogota, Colombia. 10 students attended.
    4. 13 November – Medellin, Colombia. 7 students attended.
    5. 15 November – Mexico City, Mexico. 100 students attended.
Mexican Association of Petroleum Geologists (AMGP) 70th Anniversary Celebration
AAPG Mexico Delegate Silvia Santos recruiting volunteers at the AMGP Conference in Villahermosa
AAPG Mexico Delegate Silvia Santos recruiting volunteers at the AMGP Conference in Villahermosa
  • 21-23 November, Villahermosa, Mexico
  • Daniel Bello, Structural Geologist from Ecopetrol in Bogotá delivered a 2-day pre-conference short course, “Constructing 2D and 3D Models Using Geologic Sections Balanced in Compressive Systems.” He also delivered a talk on the same subject during the conference.
  • AAPG President Mike Party attended the conference, participated in the opening ceremony and delivered the inaugural lecture.
  • Mike Party represented AAPG throughout the week and met with students and Young Professional Chapters representing chapters in Mexico
  • AAPG had a stand at the event, and volunteers helped to promote membership and 2020 events.
AAPG President Mike Party and AAPG stand volunteers at the AMGP conference in Villahermosa
AAPG President Mike Party and AAPG stand volunteers at the AMGP conference in Villahermosa
Advance the science of geology
Visiting Geoscientist Program (VGP)
  • 6 November 2019 – Josue Alejandro Mora delivered the workshop “Sedimentary basins in northern Colombia with implications for energy resources” at the Fundación Universitaria del Area Andina, Valledupar, Colombia. 30 students attended.
  • 6 November 2019 – Vitor Abreu delivered the talk "Sequence stratigraphy: past, present and future" at the University of Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname. 20 students attended.
  • 8 November – Xavier Moonan delivered the talk "Unravelling the Jasmine complex, offshore gas prospect, SW Tobago” at the University of Suriname in Paramaribo. 8 students attended.
  • 6 November– Jhonny Casas delivered the talk “Sedimentary analogs in outcrops - Potential applications for the improvement of Geological Models in the Orinoco Oil Belt” at the Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela. 16 students attended. 8 November– Clemencia Gómez González delivered the talk “A geologist in every city” at the Univerity ESPOL, Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador. 40 students attended.
  • 8 November– Ivan Olaya delivered the talk “Seismic tour of Colombia: Guajira and Sinu Offshore” at the Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia. 44 students attended.
  • 19 November – Victor Vega delivered the talk “Offshore Projects: Experiences and Implications for Argentina” at the Universidad de Buenos Aires and Universidad de La Plata. 5 students and 5 Professionals attended.
  • 23 November – Jhonny Casas delivered the talk “Sedimentary analogs in outcrops - Potential applications for the improvement of Geological Models in the Orinoco Oil Belt” at the Universidad Los Andes, Merida, Venezuela. 13 students attended.
Earth Science Week

Brazil+

  • 14 November- UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil, held a class about paleontology for 4 children aged 8-10 at the Public School CEI Doutel de Andrade.
  • 28 November - UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil, held a class about Paleontology for 30 children aged 7-9 at Public School Dona Lula. +Activities developed in a partnership with SEG‐Geophysics, SEG‐Economic Geology Student Chapters and post‐graduate program in Geology‐UFPR for the "Scientist at School Project”, coordinates by the city hall. 4 student chapter members attended.

Mexico

  • 5 to 8 November – YP and student chapters in Mexico organized “Geoscience Week.” Chapter members visited several basic education institutions with the purpose of bringing knowledge to as many children and young people as possible. 1500 students reached.
  • 8 November – Held a closing event of the Earth Science Week at the IPN campus in order to discuss the achievements of the ESW with the student community. 90 people attended.
  • 30 November – YP AAPG Mexico formed part of the “Night of the Stars” where they held a workshop to young people about the process of creation and extraction of oil and its uses. The event took place at Islas de Ciudad Universitaria CU UNAM facility. 150 people attended.

Trinidad & Tobago

  • 2 November – Presented the STEM Session: Earth Processes: Subsurface at St. Anthony's College, Trinidad, by Jochelle Fortune and Maryse Jackman. 19 students attended.
  • 9 November – Presented the STEM Session: Earth Processes: Subsurface at St. Stephen's College, Trinidad by Sabrina Sankar and Varesha Samlal. 21 students attended.
  • 16 November – Presented the STEM Session: Introduction to the Petroleum Industry at St. Anthony's College, Trinidad by Kiel Blondell and Jared Walker. 19 students attended.
  • 23 November – Presented the STEM Session: Introduction to the Petroleum Industry at St. Stephen's College, Trinidad, by Adele Harrypersad and Jenelle Edwards. 18 students attended.
  • 30 November – Presented the STEM Session: Earth Processes: Surface at St. Anthony's College, Trinidad, by Akshay Boland Singh Raihaan Ahamad Ali. 20 students attended.

Venezuela

  • 23 October – Jhonny Casas delivered a talk about General Geology and Petroleum Geology to 48 girls in their 5th year of high school and 3 teachers, from Merici Academy in Caracas, Venezuela.
Promote geoscience and technology
GTW Suriname 2019: Recent Discoveries and Exploration and Development Opportunities in the Guiana Basin
  • First AAPG workshop in Suriname was held in Paramaribo, 5-7 November 2019
  • Special guests included the Minister of Natural Resources, Staatsolie CEO and Vice Chair of the Surinamese Parliament
  • Workshop statistics:
    • 145 participants representing 51 companies, 3 associations, 5 government entities and 16 countries
    • 18 oral and 7 posters presentations from 19 organizations
    • Technical themes included: Tectonostratigraphic Setting and Petroleum Systems of the Guiana Basin; Maximizing Resource Potential in Emerging Basins; Enhancing Exploration and Development through Integration and Data Management; Beyond Guiana: Emerging Plays, Prospects and Discoveries throughout the Caribbean and Atlantic Margin
  • Event included the panel discussion: Government-Industry-Community: Strategies for Emerging Hydrocarbon Economies with participation from 3 organizations and 2 government entities
  • Sponsors: Staatsolie, Apache, Petronas, Kosmos, ExxonMobil, Seismic Company Services, Tullow, Equinor, Halliburton, Cairn Energy
  • Overall feedback was positive; many participants were satisfied with the program and expressed interest in attending a future event/workshop in Paramaribo or in the Caribbean
  • University of Suriname students were invited to the networking reception held during the event. Students also were invited to talks by VGs Vitor Abreu and Xavier Moonan. (See VG section)
Geology and Hydrocarbon Potential of the Circum-Gulf of Mexico Pre-salt Section
  • Mexico City, 4-6 February 2020
  • Online registration launched
  • Committee members finalized the technical program and published it on the event website
  • Confirmed sponsors to-date: Shell, Equinor, TGS, C&C Reservoirs and Teyra Geoconsulting
  • Promoted the conference at Association of Mexican Petroleum Geologist (AMGP) conference in Villahermosa in November
GTW Colombia 2019: Exploration and Development in Southern Caribbean Basins
  • Barranquilla, 26-27 March 2020
  • Forming organizing committee and finalizing venue
  • Confirmed sponsorships from Shell, Noble Energy and TGS; confirming sponsorships amounts from ANH and Ecopetrol
  • Session Themes:
    • Tectonic Setting and Petroleum Systems
    • Recent Discoveries and New Plays
    • Enhanced Imaging and AVO/DHI
    • Risk Reduction and Drilling Optimization
    • Special Session: Potential for Development of Unconventional Resources in Colombia
    • Special Session: Government Strategies to Support Colombia’s Energy Sector
Energy Opportunities Conference, Exhibition and B2B Session
  • Camino Real Polanco, Mexico City, 23-24 September 2020
  • Conference Sessions:
  • Maximizing the Region’s Energy Matrix
  • Results from Recent Offshore Exploration Campaigns
  • Investment Outlook and Legal Framework for Energy Projects
  • Connecting Industry, Government and Regulators
  • Disruptive Technologies and their Impact on the Energy Sector
  • Sustainable Development and Social License to Operate
  • Reducing Risk and Optimizing Costs in the New Energy Era
  • Other event features:
    • Country Snapshots: open acreage, licensing and bid rounds throughout the region
    • Business-to-business session: one-on-one meetings with current and future partners in private conference rooms
    • U-Pitch Technology Showcase: shark tank-style session connecting entrepreneurs with investors
    • 700 m2 exhibition featuring individual stands and country pavilions
  • Promoted the conference at Association of Mexican Petroleum Geologist (AMGP) conference in Villahermosa in November
  • Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (URTeC) Argentina
    • Buenos Aires, 16-18 November 2019
    • URTeC Management Committee, comprised of leadership from SPE, AAPG and SEG, approved holding the first ever URTeC in Buenos Aires
    • URTeC is a partnership between all three societies, but AAPG manages the event
    • Argentine Association of Petroleum Geologists and Geophysicists (AAGGP) and the Argentina and Patagonia SPE sections will provide support locally
    • Contracted with Buenos Aires-based Unline Exhibitions, which will provide local logistical support and assist with sponsorship and exhibition sales in Argentina and Latin America
    • Currently forming technical program committee
    Serve AAPG members throughout the Region
    Region website & social media as of 4 December 2019
    • Facebook page has 1982 followers (increased 1.1%)
    • Twitter account has 713 followers (increased 1.3%)
    • LinkedIn account has 1571 followers (increased 7.8%)
    Develop the next generation of geoscientists
    Imperial Barrel Award (IBA)
    • Registration for the IBA 2020 closed on November 29. By the deadline, 32 teams have registered from 9 different countries.
    • Eight teams are participating for the first time (*)
    • IBA Coordinators and region leaders are seeking for sponsorships to cover participant travel and expenses to held and in-person Regional Semifinal
    Participating Teams:

    Argentina

    • National University of Cordoba (UNC)
    • Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)

    Bolivia

    • Universidad Técnica de Oruro*
    • Universidad Autónoma Tomás Frías*
    • Universidad Mayor de San Andres

    Brazil

    • Federal University of Pampa
    • Universidade Federal do Amazonas*
    • State University of Rio de Janeiro
    • Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
    • Federal University of Sergipe
    • Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte*
    • Universidad Federal de Paraná
    • Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

    Colombia

    • Universidad de Caldas
    • Universidad Industrial de Santander
    • Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia
    • Universidad del Norte*
    • EAFIT University
    • Universidad Nacional de Colombia – Bogotá
    • Universidad de Pamplona

    Guyana

    • University of Guyana*

    Mexico

    • Instituto Politécnico Nacional
    • Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico

    Peru

    • Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos
    • Universidad Nacional de Piura*
    • National University of San Antonio Abad of Cusco
    • National University of San Agustin

    Suriname

    • Anton de Kom University of Suriname

    Trinidad and Tobago

    • University of the West Indies

    Venezuela

    • Universidad Central de Venezuela
    • Universidad Simón Bolivar
    • University of Los Andes*
    2020 LACR IBA Competition timeline:
    • Dataset release: 10 January 2020
    • Virtual Round (via WebEx): 06 March 2020
    • Semifinal LACR (Location TBD): 17 April 2020
    • Global Finals (Houston, TX): 06 June 2020
    Student Chapters
    • 5 November – UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil, held the activity "I graduated; now what? Practical tips for entering the geology job market based on personal experience". 18 students attended.
    • 5 - 8 November – UNMSM, Lima, Peru, held the workshop "Oil and Gas Deposits of Peru" by Ing. Kiko Valencia. 15 students attended.
    • 6 November – UVS, Paramaribo, Suriname, held the activity " Sequence Strathigraphy: Past, Present and Future" by Vitor Abreu. 20 students attended.
    • 6 November – UNIPAMPA, São Leopoldo, Brazil, held the lecture "Stratigraphy of the Pedra do Segredo Formation: an exercise based on high resolution remote sensing" by undergraduate student Adriano Gomes Morais de Oliveira. 20 students attended.
    • 6 November – UCV, Caracas, Venezuela, participated in the meeting of the Second Venezuelan Congress of Geosciences organizing committee. 1 student attended.
    • 6-11 November – UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil, held the IAS Special Lecture Tour short-course in partnership with post-graduate program in Geology-UFPR. 20 students and 3 professors attended.
    • 7 November – UVS, Paramaribo, Suriname, attended the GTW Suriname 2019 Exhibition and Closing Ceremony. 15 students attended.
    • 7 November – UCV, Caracas, Venezuela, held the talk "Seismic Inversion for reduce risks, operational costs and increase hydrocarbon production", together with YP Venezuela, by MsC César Vázquez. 16 students attended.
    • 8 November – UPAMPLONA, Cúcuta, Colombia, Held the courses "Basic principles of Photogeology” and “Geomorphology, last session” by Laura Carrero. 12 students attended.
    • 8 November – UVS, Paramaribo, Suriname, held the activity "Unravelling the Jasmine complex, offshore gas prospect, SW Tobago! by Mr. Xavier Moonan. 8 students attended.
    • 8 November – UVS, Paramaribo, Suriname, held the talk "The Rimthan Arch, basin architecture, and stratigraphic trap potential - S. R. Wharton by Mr. Stanley Wharton". 8 students attended.
    • 11 November – UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil, held the lecture "Pre-Salt in Global Geopolitics" presented by Ana Patrícia Laier. 22 students and 7 professors attended.
    • 11-13 November – UNISINOS, São Leopoldo, Brazil, held the short course “The Magnetoteluric method: theory and practical examples" by Patrícia Lugão. 10 people attended.
    • 11-15 November – UFS, São Cristovão, Brazil, participated in "28th Northeast Geology Symposium and 4th Symposium on the São Francisco Craton and Marginal Orogens in Aracaju/SE". 4 chapter members attended.
    • 12-14 November – IPN, Mexico City, Mexico, participated in the "Second Polytechnic Petroleum Summit". 300 students attended.
    • 12 November – UFS, São Cristovão, Brazil, participated in the "28th Northeast Geology Symposium and 4th Symposium on the São Francisco Craton and Marginal Orogens in Aracaju” presenting a digital poster about “Student Chapters in Geosciences and their academic and social importance: Development in the learning of geology and related areas, promoted by chapter AAPG UFS" by Fernando Xerxes. One student chapter member and 40 other people attended.
    • 13 November – UNIPAMPA, Caçapava do Sul, Brazil, held the lecture "Contribution of geophysical data of electroresistivity in the delimitation of coal bearing layers in Candiota -RS" by undergraduate student Welynton Araujo Ramos. 25 students attended.
    • 13 November – UCV, Caracas, Venezuela, participated of "GIS day" conference by Esri Venezuela. 1 student attended.
    • 14 November – UFS, Brazil, held the activity "Visit of the representatives of the AAPG student chapters of the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) and the University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley (UNISINOS) at the facilities of the PROGEOLOGIA / UFS Laboratory" by Arilton Ferreira, Greice Hellen, Isabela Pires and Felipe Santos. 4 chapter members, 1 sponsor and 6 students attended.
    • 14 November – UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil, held the lecture "News about Ediacaran" presented by PhD Lucas Warren as a part of the short-course "AAPG Talks - Carbonates". 14 students and 4 professors attended.
    • 14-28 November – UPAMPLONA, Cúcuta, Colombia, held morning and afternoon courses "Basic English focused on geology" by Diana Pacheco - SENA. 35 Students attended.
    • 15 November – UNC, Córdoba, Argentina, held the activity "Spatial Analysis and Modelling of Terrestrial Relief Using Geomatic Techniques" by the Dr. Ggo. Claudio Carignano.
    • 19 November – UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil, held lecture "The odyssey of ocean research drilling: celebrating of 50 years of discovery" presented by PhD Judith McKenzie as part of the short-course "AAPG Talks - Carbonates". 18 students and 5 professors attended.
    • 19-20 November – EAFIT, Medellín, Colombia, held the course "Clay's Mineralogy: principles and applications" by the MSc. Geologist Germán Bonilla. 18 students attended.
    • 20 November – UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil, held lecture "Influence of climatic and oceanographic conditions on bio-mineralization processes in hypersaline coastal lagoons (Rio de Janeiro - Brazil)" presented by PhD Crisógono Vasconcelos as part of the short-course "AAPG Talks - Carbonates". 14 students and 3 professors attended.
    • 21 November – UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, partnered with the YP TRINIDAD and Tobago Chapter to host a Career Day Luncheon. Speakers included: Aaron Santana (BPTT), Richard Burgess (Heritage Petroleum Company), Ron Samuel (BakerHughes), Keshan Basdeo (BakerHughes), Nwoma Grant (BakerHughes), Stephon Harrypersad (Touchstone Exploration), Ryan Ramsook (PGSC at the UWI), Jason Kanhai (ShellTT), Karuna Moonan (Caribbean Lifestyle Communications). 35 persons attended.
    • 21-23 November – Students from the Olmeca Student Chapter participated in the 70th Anniversary Conference of the Mexican Association of Petroleum Geologists (AMGP) in Villahermosa. Students helped to recruit new chapter members and met with AAPG president Mike Party. Two chapter members worked in the AAPG stand.
    • 22 November – UTO, Oruro, Bolivia, participated in, “Student Center, Career Direction, Scientific Society and the Student Chapter meeting, for the Career Anniversary”. 15 students and 2 professors attended.
    • 25 November – UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil, held lecture "Modern microbialites in central Andes westlands, Argentina and Chile" presented by PhD Maria Eugenia Farias as part of the short-course "AAPG Talks - Carbonates". 14 students and 3 professors attended.
    • 25 and 29 November – UNMSM, Lima, Peru, held the workshop "Saga Gis - QGis Geographic Information System" by Eng. Wilson Lopez and Jorge Gonzales. 15 students attended.
    • 25 November – ESPOL, Guayaquil, Ecuador, participated of a meeting at PDVSA-Intevep with Field Studies Manager Oswaldo Zamora for planning technical visits in 2020, together with YP Venezuela, AAPG USB and SPE UCV. 5 students attended.
    • 25-31 November – UNIPAMPA, Caçapava do Sul, Brazil, held the activity " I Workshop on Geoscience Modeling". 40 students attended.
    • 26 November – UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil, held lecture "Corals on acid: the impacts of ocean acidification on coral reefs" presented by PhD Adina Paytan as part of the short-course "AAPG Talks - Carbonates". 16 students and 3 professors attended.
    • 27 November – UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil, held the activity "Moral and Ethics in the career" by Nelson Choueri Junior. 9 people attended.
    • 30 November – UFS, São Cristovão, Brazil, held the activity "Beginning of the Campaign - Solidarity Christmas of Geology 2019" by the AAPG UFS Student Chapter, Academic Center of Geology (CAGEOL) and Junior Company Terra Rara.
    • 30 November – UNI, Lima, Peru, held the talk "Administration of geodatabase and representation of geological works in GIS" by Yosimar Cartagena. 15 students participated.
    YP Chapters

    Argentina

    • 17 October – Held the activity “New modeling techniques”. 12 people attended.
    • 14 November – Held the talk “Big Data Analytics to improve production”. 20 people attended.
    • 19 November – Held the talk “Offshore projects: Experiences and implications for Argentina”. 12 people attended.

    Bolivia

    • 10 November – Deadline of the contest “CaptureGeo Bolivia 2019” for the 2020 AAPG YP Bolivia calendar and agenda.
    • 23 November – First Session of tree planting in Santa Cruz. 15 YPs attended.

    Brazil

    • 29 November - Held a meeting to discuss the activities organized during the year and to outline strategies for 2020. The meeting was followed by a social meeting. 10 YP members attended.

    Colombia

    • ovember 13 – Held the talk “Do you imagine a planet without glaciers?” by Jorge Luis Ceballos and Heïdi Sevestre in the Colombian Geological Survey, Bogotá. 10 professionals attended.

    Mexico

    • 21-23 November – Villahermosa, Mexico. Chapter members articipated in the AAPG stand at the 70th Anniversary Conference of the Mexican Association of Petroleum Geologists (AMGP) in the city of Villahermosa. Volunteers represented the Olmeca Student Chapter and Young Professionals Mexico. More than 200 people visited the stand.
    • 28 November – Participated in the 25th anniversary event of SAIPEM in Mexico. 20 guests attended.

    Peru

    • 6 November – Faculty of Geology, Mines and Metallurgy of the National University of Engineering (UNI), Lima, Peru hosted Distinguished Lecturer Irene Arango. (See DL section.) Approximately 30 people attended, including members of AAPG YP, students and professors.
    • 19, 21-23 November –Held the course "Well Logs Evaluation" by Ing. Angel Meso Pastors. The course was held at the Repsol Auditorium in Lima, and participants included students and professionals from the petroleum sector.

    Trinidad & Tobago

    • 6 November – Professor John Kaldi presented "Establishing and Managing Your Career in the Oil & Gas industry" via Skype.
    • 21 November - Participated at a Career Day Luncheon hosted by the AAPG YPTT and the AAPG Student Chapter, with presentations from: Richard Burgess, Aaron Santana, Jason Kanhai, Ron Samuel, Keshan Basdeo, Nwoma Grant, Karuna Moonan, Stefon Harrypersad and Dr. Ryan Ramsook. 25 Petroleum Geoscience students attended.

    Venezuela

    • 6 November –Held the talk "Sedimentary analogs in outcrops: possible applications for the improvement of geological models in the Orinoco Belt” by Msc. César Vásquez. 16 people attended.
    • 7 November –Held the technical lecture “Seismic investment to reduce operational risks and costs and increase hydrocarbon production,” by MSc César Vázquez. 15 people attended.
    • November – During the month the chapter held several meetings between professionals and YP Venezuela members to prepare 2020 events, including the Ready to Work Program, visit to INTEVEP-PDVSA, Los Teques, El Tambor, and short courses related to petroleum geosciences.
    Upcoming Meetings
    • AAPGLAC Leadership Team Meeting: Wednesday, 18 November, 15:00 Mexico/Houston; 16:00 Bogota/Lima; 17:00 La Paz/Port of Spain/Venezuela; 18:00 Rio de Janeiro/Buenos Aires/Paramaribo