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Explorer Geophysical Corner By Kenneth Bredesen,Kurt Marfurt,Ritesh Sharma,Satinder Chopra,Thang Ha

Unsupervised Machine Learning for Characterizing a Geothermal Sandstone Reservoir

The estimated hydrocarbon reserves around the world, when produced, can keep us going for the next several decades. But scientific records and our own experiences are enough evidence that climate change is indeed happening. Addressing it requires energy extraction from non-fossil fuels. One such resource is the natural heat of the Earth, or geothermal energy.

Added on 01 January, 2022

Explorer Historical Highlights By Henry S. Pettingill,Paul Weimer,Rocky Roden

Making It All Work

Before unconventional resources became prevalent in the global petroleum supply, deepwater exploration and development was a significant focus for many larger companies. For deepwater activities to succeed, the petroleum industry was forced to merge its above-ground concerns with the below-ground geoscience and engineering disciplines.

Added on 01 January, 2022

Explorer Article By David Brown

2021 Marked by Oil Price Recovery, Industry Transformation

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.

Added on 01 January, 2022

Explorer Article By Emily Llinás

A Source-to-Sink Project Boosts Colombia’s Subsurface Knowledge

While the COVID-19 pandemic ground the world to a halt in 2020, crisis led to creativity and opportunity in many parts of the world. For four geoscientists in Colombia, the pandemic became the perfect time to serve their country and their profession. In May 2020, two weeks after oil prices dropped below zero, Colombia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation launched a bidding contest allocating nearly $3 million to finance geoscience research projects for the hydrocarbon sector.

Added on 01 January, 2022

Explorer Article By David Brown

‘Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance’ Launches at COP26

One of the more provocative but less publicized initiatives introduced at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow is an international effort to end oil and gas exploration and production. The Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, created by Denmark and Costa Rica, officially launched its program at COP26.

Added on 01 January, 2022

Explorer Article By Heather Saucier

Geothermal Offers an Economical Alternative to Wind, Solar

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.

Added on 01 December, 2021

Explorer Article By Barry Friedman

What Role Will Super-Giant Fields Play in the World’s Future Energy Mix?

Super-giant oil fields, by definition, are those fields containing at least 5 billion barrels of known recoverable crude oil or gas. It is believed they account for up the 40 percent of the world’s petroleum reserves, so their collective health – how much energy is being created at present, as well as how much can be – will play an oversized role in meeting the world’s future energy needs. “The interest in future oil supply waxes and wanes depending on price and supply, and these days climate takes up all the discussion about energy supply,” said Richard S. Bishop, past AAPG president and currently an international oil and gas consultant based in Houston.

Added on 01 December, 2021

Explorer Emphasis Article By Heather Saucier

YPs See Bright Future in Transitioning Energy Industry

At a session entitled, “From Petroleum Industry to Energy Industry: Global Young Professionals’ Perspectives on a Sustainable Future,” at the International Meeting for Applied Geoscience and Energy conference recently held in Denver, speakers representing the World Petroleum Council’s Young Professionals Committee attributed their career decisions to the ongoing need for oil and gas, opportunities to help the industry decarbonize and a growing number of geoscience-related fields that are in need of their skillsets to thrive.

Added on 01 November, 2021

Explorer Article By Heather Saucier

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Energy Geoscientists

Emphasizing that the oil and gas industry will continue to play an important role in supplying energy to the world for years to come, past AAPG President Charles Sternbach shared what he called “Seven Habits of Highly Effective Energy Geoscientists” at the 20th Michel T. Halbouty Lecture at the International Meeting for Applied Geoscience and Energy conference in Denver recently. “We need to be proud of our profession and we need to be proud of what energy and oil and gas do to bring good things to humanity,” said Sternbach.

Added on 01 November, 2021

Explorer Emphasis Article By Barry Friedman

Is Biomass a Blessing or a Boondoggle?

When it comes to biomass – and, specifically, the burning of scrap lumber and forest debris – people on both sides of the debate agree that not only do trees release carbon dioxide when burned, but they are also the most effective tool we have at removing CO2 from the atmosphere. The question and disagreement, then, is what the net result is: do trees – the source of biomass for energy – capture the same amount of CO2 (through photosynthesis) while growing? “Almost half of the ‘renewable’ energy that Western Europe credits itself for is biomass of various kinds,” said Scott Tinker, director of the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin.

Added on 01 November, 2021

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Explorer Director’s Corner By David Curtiss

Introducing the New EXPLORER, New Digital Newsletters

Perhaps you did a double take pulling the April issue of EXPLORER from the mailbox. What is this? If you joined AAPG in the last 40 years, you’ve only known EXPLORER in its long-standing tabloid format. It worked well for many years as our advertisers – particularly seismic companies – loved the large format and the ability to display their data on a sweeping canvas. For readers, it was a little more awkward.

Added on 01 April, 2024

Explorer Article By David Brown

What Will it Take to Get CCUS Ready for Prime Time?

Nihal Darraj, carbon capture and storage researcher at Imperial College, London shares barriers to CCUS commercialization, including costs, technology, permitting and more.

Added on 01 March, 2024

Explorer Article By Barry Friedman

How the U Adds Value in CCUS

Carbon capture and sequestration reduces emissions, but it cannot work past cost barriers without the revenue opportunities provided by utilization and storage.

Added on 01 March, 2024