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Explorer Director’s Corner By David Curtiss

If you’ve ever picked up a book on business – how to start a business, how to run a business, how to save a business – you typically don’t have to page too far before you run into a popular term: “value proposition.” The pandemic is causing us to reassess AAPG’s value proposition for our members and our customers. We must consider that what has worked in the past may not work in the future and that our members’ and the industry’s needs are experiencing fundamental change.

Added on 01 August, 2020

Explorer Article By Emily Llinás

Cancel, Postpone or Transform

AAPG’s Latin America and Caribbean Region started 2020 with a strong lineup of technical and business events. The year 2020 was the year of promise. The Hedberg Conference went well in February, but one of the participants from China canceled travel plans because of a coronavirus outbreak in the country. One month later, the world turned upside down. Countries closed their borders, companies sent workers home, and sponsors canceled support. In-person conferences were not just risky but prohibited in most cases. It was time to go back to the drawing board.

Added on 01 August, 2020

Explorer Article By Barry Friedman

Managing Business Risk through Social License to Operate

If recent events in the oil and gas sector, especially as it relates to the fallout and contraction from COVID-19, illustrate anything, it is the need for companies to create resilient businesses and business models. “That means having a business plan that anticipates and can adapt to changing conditions due to evolving environment, societal, and governmental pressures.” That’s Joseph R. Davis, independent direct at BKV Corp, an investment E&P firm. “You can’t separate ESG from sustainability,” he said, “for ESG is how business addresses sustainability.”

Added on 01 August, 2020

Explorer Article By David Brown

The Perils of Prediction in An Unprecedented Time

Exact predictions of the future have always been close to impossible. For the oil industry today, they might be even harder than that. Some oil companies are taking a wait- and-watch approach to planning, as multiple unknowns face the industry in a period of extreme uncertainty. Trying to predict a precise outlook right now isn’t just foolish, said Mark Finley. It could be dangerous.

Added on 01 August, 2020

Explorer Article By Ryan Lemiski

Brand Fatigue Hinders AAPG Sustainability

What is “brand”? The London-based Design Council notes that: “Brand is a set of associations that a person (or a group of people) makes with a company, product, service, individual or organization. These associations may be intentional – that is, they may be actively promoted by marketing and/or corporate identity – or they may be outside the control of the business.” For example, the growing belief among younger demographics that the fossil fuel industry represents the fuels of their parents.

Added on 01 July, 2020

Explorer President’s Column By Rick Fritz

A Changing World and a New AAPG

“The only certainty in geology is the unexpected will happen” is a bit of wisdom my friend and mentor John Shelton likes to quote. If anything, in this environment, it’s an understatement. AAPG, our members and industry were hit with the perfect storm: —COVID-19, geopolitics and commodity prices. Of course, I don’t need to tell you about it. We have all adjusted to a new world, which includes quarantines, masks, eating in, ordering out, Zoom, MS Teams, etc. The dogs love it, the cats hate it. It’s been tough on all of us and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your families, especially those who have lost loved ones. So … how does all this impact your society?

Added on 01 July, 2020

Explorer Division Column DPA By Meredith Faber

Crowdsourcing Compassion

To those of you I have yet to have the pleasure of meeting, my name is Meredith Faber and I’m honored to serve as your Division of Professional Affairs president for this coming year. Normally, this article would be a recap of all the exciting DPA events that took place during the annual meeting. However, this year has been far from normal to date and, in a sense, I don’t mind. “Normal” is relative and sometimes boring and our departure from it gives me an opportunity to speak to you about something else entirely.

Added on 01 July, 2020

Explorer Director’s Corner By David Curtiss

Expect a Slow Rebound In This Unprecedented Time

I know I’m not alone. Each day, as part of my morning routine, just as reliably as I brush my teeth and brew strong coffee, I check the price that oil is trading for on global markets. How do I know I’m not alone? Because my first calls of the day – usually with AAPG leaders – usually begin or end with a reference to oil prices. We all know that watching the price of oil does nothing to boost demand, but still we watch, ever hopeful that today will be a good day in the markets.

Added on 01 July, 2020

Explorer Historical Highlights By Martina Kölbl-Ebert

German Petroleum Geology from the Third Reich to the Iron Curtain

The German oil industry did not employ geologists until the 1920s. Instead, they relied on geological surveys and other resources from universities, predominantly from Jakob Stoller of the Prussian Geological Survey. After World War I, with the beginning of private motorization and the interest of the military, demand for oil began to increase. This led to the establishment of a separate department of petroleum geology and the employment of a young geologist, Alfred Bentz, as assistant to Stoller.

Added on 01 July, 2020

Explorer Article By David Brown

Gulf of Mexico Still a Standout for Super Basin Exploration

Super basins around the world offer plentiful opportunities for exploration and development, even with the temporarily reduced financial outlook of the oil industry. Ask explorationists to pick a favorite in today’s environment and the popular choice is almost a cheat. The Gulf of Mexico isn’t just a super basin. It’s a huge expanse of prospects and possibilities, of proven resources and potential reserves. An onshore, near-shore, offshore and deepwater exploration province that is really a vast collection of basins and geological features.

Added on 01 July, 2020

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Advertise With Us!

AAPG publications are widely read by geologists, geophysicists and reservoir engineers. Are they your target audience? Then take advantage of the many advertising opportunities available in AAPG’s news and journal magazines.

Added on 13 April, 2018

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AAPG 2022 Strategic Planning Survey Summary

Executive summary of the AAPG 2022 Member/Customer Planning Survey

Added on 05 April, 2023

wwwUpdate Blog By Grant Smith

Free Access to AAPG's Discovery Series 10 and 15 Full Data Set Tutorials

Courtesy of AAPG and AAPG Datapages, two Discovery Series data sets have been donated free of charge for use as online teaching materials. Discovery Series 10 – Sandstone Petrology: A Tutorial Petrographic Image Atlas 2nd Edition and Discovery Series 15 – Carbonate Petrology: Interactive Petrography Tutorial, both authored by Kitty Milliken, have been posted online for easy accessibility.

Added on 11 May, 2020