Table of Contents

 

Where’s the beef? Latin America’s new Vaca Muerta play has loads of potential – and it’s not the only area that’s making South America a hot target for today’s explorationists.

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It don’t come easy: The oil rich Monterey Shale has proved to be the biggest conventional resource provider in California, and it promises even more – but the formation’s complex geology is just as intimidating as its potential is huge.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
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Going deeper: EarthScope’s USArray project is doing just that, by taking a CAT scan of the earth’s subsurface – and providing a better look of the crust and upper mantle beneath the United States.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
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Information, please: The U.S. Geological Survey revamps its National Geologic Map Database – keeping the non-geologist in mind during the redesign process. But it’s good for geoscientists, too, because sometimes knowing where to look for data is the best first step a geologist can take.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
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Ready, set, drill. Oh, wait, not yet! Just when the United Kingdom’s ban on hydraulic fracturing was lifted, other obstacles arose, making key players have to wait their turn to tackle the country’s potentially inviting shale play.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
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A new study is providing data for the debate: Hydraulic fracturing versus surface coal mining – which one is safe for the enviornment?

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
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Newly named AAPG Honorary Member Abdulla Al Naim, vice president of exploration for Saudi Aramco and a towering figure in Middle East exploration and AAPG leadership activities in that region, died unexpectedly Dec. 31.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
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Ninth grade earth science teacher Chris Bolhuis has been named 2013 AAPG Earth Science Teacher of the Year.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
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AAPG's Distinguished Lecture program announces the Shell Distinguished Lecture tour. It's going to be a busy February.

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Standing Columns

“My concept of reservoirs has completely changed.”

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Hydraulic fracturing has captured the public’s attention, to the point where millions of people who have never been to a rig site now confidently offer opinions.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
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The AAPG Energy Minerals Division covers many scientific disciplines and interests – and because previous EXPLORER articles featured shale gas and oil shale, this quarter will focus on highlights from this year’s EMD November Mid-Year Meeting Commodity Reports.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
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Microseismic technology is crucial these days for understanding reservoirs and planning development programs.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its “Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources: Progress Report” in late December.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
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Beautiful Cartagena, the site of this year’s AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, is the city where Colombia’s bogotanos flock to enjoy themselves, to see and be seen.

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More than 1,000 delegates attended the most recent Annual Technical Conference (ATC), a joint venture of the Pakistan Association of Petroleum Geologists (PAPG) and the Society of Petroleum Engineers, which was held in early December at Islamabad, Pakistan.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
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Last year proved to be a banner year for the AAPG Foundation, as nearly $3 million was received in financial gifts.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
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