13 February, 2020

AAPG Latin America & Caribbean Region Report January 2020

By Emily Llinás
 

AAPG LACR members hit the ground running in January, conducting activities throughout the region and launching AAPG’s first Sustainable Development in Energy Projects Contest for students and young professionals

Above photo: Xavier Moonan's Visiting Geoscientist talk at the University of Suriname in Paramaribo

Special Items
Student/Young Professional Sustainable Development in Energy Projects Contest
  • AAPG Latin America & Caribbean launched a contest to highlight energy projects promoting sustainable development with social, environmental and economic impacts
  • Sponsors: ACGGP, NEOIL Exploration, Rock Whisperer LLC
  • Contest winners will receive cash to fund their projects
    • First place: $2,000
    • Second place: $1,000
    • Third place: $500
  • Contest timeline:
    • Contest opens   1 February 2020
    • Proposals due    31 March 2020
    • Results   30 April 2020
Advance the science of geology
Visiting Geoscientist Program (VGP)
  • 13 January – Xavier Moonan delivered the talk “Onshore Exploration Drilling Success in Southern Basin Trinidad” in Anton de Kom Universiteit van Suriname, Suriname. 30 students attended.
  • 30 January - Jhonny Casas, AAPG Delegate, delivered the technical lecture “Sedimentary Analogs in Outcrops: Potential Applications for the Improvement of Geological Models in The Orinoco Oil Belt” in Central University of Venezuela, Caracas. 13 people attended.
Earth Science Week
  • No activities reported in January
Promote geoscience and technology
Geology and Hydrocarbon Potential of the Circum-Gulf of Mexico Pre-salt Section
  • Hotel Marquis Reforma, Mexico City, 4-6 February 2020
  • 3-day program features 28 oral and 10 poster presentations
  • Hedberg speaker Jim Pindell will deliver a talk to Mexico City student and young professional chapter members after the final day of the conference
  • Confirmed sponsors to-date: Shell, Equinor, TGS, C&C Reservoirs and Teyra Geoconsulting
GTW Colombia 2019: Exploration and Development in Southern Caribbean Basins
  • Hotel Dann Carlton, Barranquilla, 24-25 March 2020
  • Forming organizing committee and finalizing venue
  • Confirmed sponsorships from Shell, Noble Energy, TGS and Petrobras Colombia; confirming sponsorships amounts from ANH and Ecopetrol
  • Call for abstracts for oral and poster sessions closed on 31 January
  • Session Themes:
    • Tectonic Setting and Petroleum Systems
    • Recent Discoveries and New Plays
    • Enhanced Imaging and AVO/DHI
    • Seismic Acquisition, Risk Reduction and Drilling Optimization
    • Special Sessions: 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 Mix
    • Recent Experiences in 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 
    • Technical, Financial and Social Aspects of Sustainable Development 
    • 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
  • Confirmed sponsors to-date: Chevron, Shell 
Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (URTeC) Argentina
  • Hilton Buenos Aires, Argentina, 16-18 November 2020
  • Launched event website, https://urtec.org/latinamerica/2020
  • Call for Abstracts released on 10 January; open through 27 March 2020
  • Currently seeking abstract reviewers for all URTeC Session Themes:
    • Potential for New Unconventional Exploration and Development Plays
    • Integrated Reservoir and Play Characterization
    • Reserves Estimation and Production Forecasting
    • Geomechanics and Rock Physics
    • Well Construction and Design
    • Completions, Stimulation, and Implementation
    • Production, Operation, and Facilities
    • Seismic Applications for Unconventional Developments
    • Novel Technologies, R&D, and the Digital Oilfield
    • Social Performance and Stakeholder Management
Serve AAPG members throughout the Region
Region website & social media as of 1 February 2020
  • Facebook page has 2015 followers (increased 1.1%)
  • Twitter account has 742 followers (increased 1.9%)
  • LinkedIn account has 1645 followers (increased 2.7%)
Develop the next generation of geoscientists
Imperial Barrel Award (IBA)
  • The Latin America & Caribbean Region competition includes 31 teams representing nine countries
  • Seven 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

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):     6 March 2020
  • Semifinal LACR (Location TBD):     17 April 2020
  • Global Finals (Houston, TX):     6 June 2020
Student Chapters
  • 6-7 January - IPN, Mexico City, Mexico, held the activity "Presentation of the AAPG Student Chapter", during the induction course for new students in ESIA TICOMAN-IPN. 60 students attended.
  • 9 January - ESPOL, Guayaquil, Ecuador, held the activity “Ceremony of Inauguration of New Directive Committee”. 15 students attended.
  • 10 January - ESPOL, Guayaquil, Ecuador, held the activity “Christmas Social Activity: Christmas is Sharing”. 5 students attended.
  • 10 January – UTO, Oruro, Bolivia, held the webinar “Introduction to Geophysical Methods” by Angelvis Gustavo Tovar as a preparatory activity for the IBA. 5 students attended.
  • 13 January - UVS student chapter held a Visiting Geoscientist Program lecture by Xavier Moonan. See VGP Section.
  • 16 January - UDELAR, Montevideo, Uruguay, held an event to design a project to participate in the Sustainable Development in Energy Projects contest. 4 students attended.
  • 18 January – UTO, Oruro, Bolivia, held the webinar “Introduction to Petrel” by Andrea López Vega as a preparatory activity for the IBA. 5 students attended. 
  • 22 January – UTO, Oruro, Bolivia, held the webinar “Short Course of Geophysics” by Jhimmy Delgado as a preparatory activity for the IBA. 5 students attended.
  • 30 January - UMSA, La Paz, Bolivia, held the event "Member Registration". 22 students attended.
  • 30 January - YP and AAPG UCV student chapters held a Visiting Geoscientist Program lecture by Jhonny Casas, AAPG Delegate. See VGP Section.
  • 30 January - UCV, Caracas, Venezuela, participated in the virtual conference “Geoenergy and Society: Theory and Practice” organized by University of Plymouth, Plymouth, England.
  • 31 January - UNAM, Mexico City, México, held the activity "Environmental Awareness Campaign: Waste Management". 8 students attended. 
YP Chapters

Argentina

  • 18 January - Gabriela Marinho met University of Buenos Aires IBA team to provide guidance on technical support and software licenses
  • 20 January - Victoria Ferreira met National University of Cordoba IBA team to provide guidance on technical support and software licenses
  • 25 January - Started working on Ready to Work program to be held in Argentina in 2020. Planning the program and talking with industry professionals.

Bolivia

  • January - Planning field trip to be held on March 7-8 to “La Angostura – Samaipata Section” guided by Jaime Oller, Senior Geologist, Petrobras Bolivia. Preparation: bus, hotel, booklet.

Brazil

  • 27 January - Brazil, published on its social networks the 2nd bulletin of activities developed in the first semester of 2019. Link: https://www.aapgypbrasil.com/news.

Colombia

  • 15 January - Committee meeting to discuss the possible request of a Distinguished Lecturer for Colombia and other activities. Bogotá, Colombia.

Mexico

  • 16 January - Meeting to discuss possible activities for 2020, which include waste management for students of 1st semester, in charge of YP Mexico and student chapters. Meeting held in Villahermosa, Tabasco. 6 people attended.

Peru

  • No activities reported in January

Suriname (New YP Chapter)

  • 6 and 20 January – Committee meetings to prepare for the “Introduction Meeting” with the YP chapter members.
  • 23 January – Introduction Meeting with the YP chapter members to present the goals of the chapter and share ideas. The meeting was held at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo. 11 people attended, including 2 student chapter members

Trinidad and Tobago

  • 21 January - John Weber presented the technical talk "Unraveling the Northern Range's geological history: Recent research snapshots" at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus and via Skype. 23 people attended and 6 viewed via Skype.  
  • 29 January - Christy Nandlal presented the technical talk "From Data Acquisition to Final Deliverables for a Towed Marine Seismic Survey" at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. 15 people attended.

Venezuela

  • 22 January – Meeting to prepare the “2020 Geoscientific Event” held at the Central University of Venezuela, Caracas. 9 professional and 1 YP leader attended.
  • 23 January - Meeting to prepare the Ready to Work program to be held in Venezuela in 2020. With 5 YP chapter members attended.
  • 30 January - YP and AAPG UCV student chapters held a Visiting Geoscientist Program lecture by Jhonny Casas, AAPG Delegate. See VGP Section.
Upcoming Meetings
  • AAPGLAC Leadership Team Meeting: Thursday, 20 February, 15:00 Mexico/Houston; 16:00 Bogota/Lima; 17:00 La Paz/Port of Spain/Venezuela; 18:00 Rio de Janeiro/Buenos Aires/Paramaribo