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August 2006

AAPG members overwhelmingly approved a constitution change that creates an additional vice president seat on the Executive Committee, effective with the 2007-08 term. The additional vice presidential position allows for one to be designated as a vice president-Sections (U.S.) and the other vice president-Regions (non-U.S.).

Candidates Named for 2007 Ballot

The slate of candidates who will stand for AAPG election for 2007 balloting has been announced. The president-elect winner will serve as AAPG president in 2008-09. This is the first ballot that will carry candidates for two vice president positions -- one for U.S. Sections and one for International Regions. All eligible voters may cast ballots for all offices and are not limited to voting for just one of the VP positions.

Belize Oil: Stuff Dreams Are Made Of

Oil in Belize. It could be an epic poem written by Byron, or a knowing verse by Rudyard Kipling. It’s also a ripping adventure, with a small band of True Believers finding victory on a remote frontier.

Talk Seeks Geohazard Awareness

Even the bravest of souls are known to fear Mother Nature’s wrath, which can be mighty scary, unpredictable and often fatal. In the case of potentially devastating events like slow-moving hurricanes, there’s time to prepare to ride it out and take your chances -- or else “get out of Dodge.”

L.A. Quake Predictions Get Yawns

Like Estragon and Vladimir, who are waiting for the inevitable in Waiting for Godot, geologists, too, are waiting for an earthquake to come to Los Angeles and its surrounding communities. And like the two protagonists in Beckett’s masterpiece, they also don’t know when it will come, where it will appear or the extent of its impact.

Seeks 'Citizen' Scientists

This issue of the EXPLORER carries a poster for Earth Science Week, promoting a series of events Oct. 8-14 engaging students and the public in an effort to spread earth science literacy. With a theme of “Be A Citizen Scientist,” Earth Science Week 2006 marks the ninth year AGI has sponsored this international event. Each year, local groups, educators and interested individuals organize activities to discover the Earth sciences and promote responsible stewardship of the Earth.

Emphasis: Gulf Coast

Transition Zone Getting Deep Look

Unconventional hydrocarbons are so like, well, in these days. Indeed, coalbed methane, shale gas, oil sands and such have quickly become the darlings of many operators and financial analysts alike. But there are other things to be excited about as well.

Gulf Has Many Storms to Weather

Verbal write-offs of the Gulf of Mexico are nothing new; it wasn’t all that long ago that the region was derisively referred to as The Dead Sea. To the surprise of many industry watchers, however, the “dead” region came roaring back to life -- rather quickly -- becoming the locus of an unprecedented level of E&P activity.

Explorers to Get 3-D View to a Thrill

This year’s Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies (GCAGS) annual meeting, set Sept. 25-27 in Lafayette, La., is being called “Visualize the Possibilities” -- with good reason. Convention organizers promise to “Wow!” audiences with 3-D simulations that are built on visually immersive technology.

Tuscaloosa Maturing Gracefully

You ain’t seen nuthin ‘til you’ve seen the Tuscaloosa! Sound familiar? If so, it’s because this was probably the most popular talk making the rounds of the professional meeting circuit in the late 1970s.

Standing Columns

President’s Column

Berg's Inspirations Serve as Model

This month I begin my writing to you with mixed emotions, concerning the passing of Sidney Powers medalist Robert R. Berg on June 13.

I am sad because I will really miss him; but I am very pleased to tell you about him in hopes of inspiring you, as he inspired many of us who knew him.

Director’s Corner

Work Force Must Come to Forefront

Manpower is the buzzword in our profession today -- it’s a hot topic in the petroleum industry worldwide, and in the United States it is a very hot topic in Washington, D.C. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) there is a projected shortage of professionals in numerous disciplines due to the retirement of post-World War II “baby boomers” during the next 10 years.

Division Column EMD

'FutureGen' Holds Promise for Coal

“Clean coal” is rapidly becoming more important as energy demands continue to rise. Clean coal is coal that has been stripped of minerals and other impurities. It is then gasified and burned, and resulting flue gases can be treated with steam and re-burned to make CO2 in the flue gas economically recoverable.

Geophysical Corner

P-SV Data Most Impressive Image

In last month’s Geophysical Corner we considered how to improve the seismic resolution of deepwater, near-seafloor geology using P-P data acquired with seafloor-positioned multicomponent sensors. This month we move to part two: We show how P-SV (converted-shear) data acquired with these same sensors provide even greater resolution of deepwater, near-seafloor strata.

Policy Watch

House, Senate Appropriations Committees' Recommendations

June was an extraordinary month from the legislative perspective: Both the House and Senate Appropriations committees acted with unexpected alacrity and completed their work on DOE’s oil and natural gas budget activities. While both houses of Congress restored funding to the program in several areas, very little of the funding is targeted for the historical oil and natural gas programs.

Regions and Sections

McGowen Named to New R&S Liaison Position

Carol Cain McGowen has joined the AAPG staff in the new position of Regions and Sections manager. As such, McGowen will serve as the primary liaison between AAPG headquarters and the six U.S. Sections and six international Regions of AAPG.

August 2006

Table of Contents

Emphasis: Gulf Coast

Standing Columns

News & Features

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