For anyone looking to learn from the best oil finders in the business and to interact with successful explorers as they share accounts of their greatest discoveries, that opportunity is at hand.
Get ready for this year’s editions of the Division of Professional Affairs (DPA) Playmaker Forums.
“From prospects to discoveries, professionalism leads the way,” is the motto for the forums, a concept that is now entering its third year.
A “Playmaker” is a networking workshop in which geoscientists share professional insights and case histories with fellow geoscientists describing how they achieved both technical and business success in their search for new energy resources, according to AAPG Honorary member Charles Sternbach, past DPA president and chair of the DPA Playmaker Committee.
The forum is typically a one-day event with four main parts:
- The Art of Exploration and Professionalism.
- Prospecting Workflows – Understanding and Promoting Prospects.
- Recent Discoveries – Case Histories and Lessons Learned.
- Emerging Plays and Technology Advancements – The Future.
Each event also includes a luncheon with an inspirational keynote speaker, opportunities to network and an end-of-day reception to discuss all that will have been learned, to which young professionals are invited and encouraged to participate.
“Most exploration is based on analogs,” Sternbach said, “so it is informative and inspirational to see how exemplary geoscientists succeed in exploration and business.”
After the popularity and success of the Playmaker Forum in Houston over the past two years, the workshops are now expanding to other AAPG Sections and Regions, giving AAPG members from all over world different chances to learn from the industry’s best.
This year’s Playmakers are set for Midland, Texas; Calgary, Canada and London.
Sternbach also hinted at other possible future locations, including Oklahoma, Colorado, Pennsylvania and South America.
Highlighting the ‘Intersection’
Sternbach seems most excited about this year’s luncheon speakers, but specifically he is looking forward to the opportunity in Calgary to hear fellow geologist Clay Riddell “tell how he built Paramount Resources into a petroleum powerhouse,” and in Midland, he said he’s sure the talks about new and very high interest plays of Wolfcamp Spraberry, Clearfork and Atoka Formations will “pack the house.”
He assures that the talks are practical, too, with information Sternbach believes many can apply right away.
He gave the following examples of past talks (many of which are posted on the DPA Web page: dpa.aapg.org):
♦ Steve Brachman spoke on how to sell a prospect: “A prospect is not a science project. It is important to have a 30-second, five-minute and full-blown presentation, and to know when to use each.”
♦ Paul Basinki’s talk, “The Golden Age of Shale,” focused on the ACB innovative prospecting approach, starting with the desired result (C), and figuring out the necessary processes (B) and the engineering needed to make the result happen.
♦ Richard K. Stoneburner discussed how the Eagle Ford play was developed using new workflows for unconventional reservoirs, beginning with core work and a basin wide view.
“AAPG is very fortunate to have leaders within the exploration community who are also AAPG leaders organizing these events,” Sternbach said.
He referenced AAPG Honorary members Mike Party and John Hogg and DPA President Rick Fritz as the masterminds behind this year’s upcoming forums.
“Mike, John and Rick know the plays that explorers want to hear, and are well respected within industry and AAPG for outstanding professionalism and leadership,” he said.
Sternbach also emphasized how historic it is that the AAPG/ DPA is holding a Playmaker Forum with the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (CSPG), which is “a great opportunity to build bridges with oil finders around the globe.”
The past and expected future success of these events is the result of the intersection of a few different key focuses, Sternbach noted: “Excellence occurs at the intersection of talent, passion and economic rewards. Playmaker events focus intently on this intersection,” he said, referencing Jim Collins’ book, “Good to Great.”
“AAPG members are among the best oil finders in the world,” he said. “DPA members excel at professional skills that turn technical discoveries into business success. Attendees are passionate about finding energy. Participants desire to fuel business engines of stakeholders, investors, companies, personal fortunes and AAPG.”