Explorer Historical Highlights

The Chixchulub crater on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula was long believed to be the result of volcanic activity, until one young geologist with a No. 2 pencil, some drafting triangles and a calculator made an earth-shattering discovery.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Emphasis Article

When new technology enters the oil and gas scene, talk of layoffs can creep into water-cooler conversations. Will better software and computers replace people, or will they push the industry forward, creating the need for additional staff? These questions are especially pertinent for geophysicists today, as artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies are processing and interpreting seismic data at record speeds, often delivering results that rival, if not surpass, that of humans. With some software companies calling their platforms a “seismic revolution” by offering real-time data interpretation, geophysicists might question how they will fit into this new, seemingly supersonic world.

Show more
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

Congratulations to Paul Weimer, Martha Lou Broussard, Fred Schroeder, Margot and Ned Timbel and the many other AAPG Award Winners who will be recognized at the 2020 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition in Houston, June 7-10. Paul Weimer is the recipient of the Association’s highest honor, the AAPG Sidney Powers Memorial Award. Martha Lou Broussard joins him at the top of the awardees list as this year’s Michel T. Halbouty Outstanding Leadership Award recipient.

Show more
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer President’s Column

I received my 40-year certificate from AAPG. At the bottom it reads, “In Recognition and Appreciation of your Loyalty to AAPG,” but it is I who should be thanking AAPG for allowing me to be part of this great organization. AAPG allowed me to network and make contacts with smarter people than me and to learn and expand my knowledge base. This is a great profession, and I have found a career in the geological sciences to be extremely rewarding.

Show more
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Regions and Sections

I am super-thrilled to be starting a two-year term as AAPG Europe Region president. The AAPG is a global force for good in our industry, and frankly, after 35 years exploring for oil and gas around the world, I needed to stop taking AAPG for granted. There’s a lot to be done, but we have a great team and are looking forward to some cracking events and activities this year.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Geophysical Corner

For implementation, there remains a sometimes difficult phase of negotiation that is an essential part of the “Art of Exploration.” The following real life cases give a frontal view of the action of this particular stage of the exploration process.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Historical Highlights

Most contributions to the exploration community that get attention in articles and conventions concern the essential technical issues: petroleum geology, prospect/play risk analysis and volume expectation, economics, etc. However, once the prospect has been evaluated and the project is validated

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

As the global energy sector gains momentum and companies enter licensing rounds, the need for quick access to data holds fundamental importance. Increasingly, operators large and small are turning to multiclient companies who have the information and images that help them make decisions about entering a new area.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Emphasis Article

Wind, solar and biofuels have a long way to go before they’re sufficiently reliable to replace fossil fuels as the world’s primary energy source, but in the meantime, carbon capture and storage will play an integral role in the global transition to sustainable energy.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Geophysical Corner

These days acoustic and elastic impedance are commonly derived from 3-D seismic data, which help us compute porosity and reservoir fluid estimates. Somewhat less commonly, vertical fracture density and fracture orientation in the reservoir rocks are derived from seismic data, enhancing our ability for optimum placement of horizontal wells and optimal recovery. To achieve the latter objective, good quality seismic data are required, which might be acquired not only with such objectives in mind, but also to yield data with good signal-to-noise ratio.

Show more
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Workshop
Muscat, Oman
Monday, 6 April Wednesday, 8 April 2026, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Experience the intrigue and complexity of the Middle East's structural styles at this highly anticipated workshop taking place from 6-8 April 2026 in Muscat, Oman. Join us for an immersive journey as we delve into the fascinating interplay of tectonic phases and other key factors shaping the region's geological formations. Don't miss this unparalleled opportunity to gain cutting-edge insights and network with industry professionals at the forefront of structural geology.

Show more
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Online e-Symposium
Tuesday, 2 December 2014, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

The gas transport in organic-rich shales involves different length-scales, from organic and inorganic pores to macro- and macrofractures. In order to upscale the fluid transport from nanoscale (flow through nanopores) to larger scales (to micro- and macrofractures), multicontinuum methodology is planned to be used.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Webinar
Virtual Webinar
Thursday, 12 November 2020, 5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

Contourites have come of age – both scientifically and economically. These deepwater sedimentary systems, driven by long-slope bottom-current processes, are a fundamental component of many continental margin successions. They are inter-bedded with and interact with down-slope systems, pelagic systems, and deep tidal processes. The contourite play clearly works – now we need to make it a primary target in future deepwater exploration.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Webinar
Virtual Webinar
Thursday, 2 July 2020, 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.

Presented by Kevin C. Hill, Associate Professor, University of Melbourne Gravity modelling of Australia's southern margin reveals that the initial rift with Antarctica was beneath the current Ceduna Delta. A regional, high-quality seismic traverse from the coast to oceanic crust across the Bight Basin has been assembled and interpreted in detail, then balanced, restored, decompacted, and replaced at paleo-water depths. The Late Cretaceous Ceduna Delta developed above a Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous rift basin in three stages punctuated by significant pulses of uplift and erosion across areas >100 km wide and with up to 1 km of erosion. The Cenomanian White Pointer delta prograded into deepening water and hence underwent gravitational collapse. This was terminated in the Santonian when the Antarctic margin was pulled out from below, thus supplying heat to a remnant thicker outer margin crust, causing doming and erosion. Importantly, this established the saucer-shaped geometry of the Ceduna Delta that persisted throughout its development, so that any hydrocarbons generated in the southern half of the basin would have migrated towards this outer margin high. The Tiger Formation was deposited in shallow water in a full rift basin prior to breakup, which was followed by regional thermal subsidence. The Hammerhead delta developed on the newly formed passive margin but was terminated by another pulse of uplift and erosion, perhaps associated with a change in plate motion at the end of the Cretaceous. The finite element modelling of this proposed tectonic evolution will test its validity and predict hydrocarbon generation and migration through time.

Show more
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Webinar
Virtual Webinar
Friday, 11 December 2020, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

In a world moving to net-zero emissions during the COVID-driven oil price collapse, there remain important scientific and business opportunities for geoscientists, particularly those with expertise in stratigraphy, sedimentology, reservoir geology and hydrocarbon production. In this webinar, Dr. Julio Friedmann, senior research scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University discusses the challenges this community faces which are not scientific or technical, but rather involve shifts in business model, policy and global market trends. Webinar presented via Zoom on 11 December 2020 at 11:30 am CST (UTC-6).

Show more
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Webinar
London, England
Wednesday, 24 February 2021, 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.

Since the first explorationists discovered the subsurface potential in Tunisia, the country’s institutions took the role of a partner rather than only a regulator. Today, one of ETAP missions is promoting exploration opportunities in Tunisia through both regional and targeted approaches, including sharing knowledge, high-quality data and best practices. ETAP commits to supporting continued drilling activity in mature areas and encouraging/incentivizing exploitation of new and emerging plays.

Show more
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Webinar
Virtual Webinar
Thursday, 9 November 2023, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

Geoscientists are playing an active role in addressing sustainable development through ethical considerations as we navigate the energy transition. As the energy landscape evolves, it is critical to include all perspectives and background while listening and including the Indigenous voices from these communities as we navigate this landscape. Our speakers will highlight how they are using geoscience to advance sustainability within their respective fields, in addition to the ethical considerations for their projects.

Show more
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Webinar
Virtual Webinar
Thursday, 13 August 2020, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Geologic interpretations are the basis of most exploration workflows, whether building a 3-D framework, a geocellular model, or modeling HC basins and estimating HC reserves. All these workflows rely on the most realistic and accurate interpretation in order to produce high-confidence results. Join us to hear from Catalina Luneburg, founder and director of TerraEx Group and specialist in the validation of HC basins and structural geology modeling.

Show more
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Online e-Symposium
Thursday, 21 August 2014, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

The goal of this e-symposium is to review the status of the Mexican upstream sector, and to provide a review of the most prolific and prospective areas in Mexico, with a focus on opportunities for international participation, given the upcoming energy reform in Mexico.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Webinar
Virtual Webinar
Wednesday, 3 June 2020, 7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m.

Join us for 'Analytics-Based Opportunities in Double Black Swan Times' where we will discuss the steps companies are taking, business considerations in cross-industry analytics -start-ups to majors, analytics agility in a double black swan world, enabling the workforce to utilize and exploit data remotely using the cloud and machine learning. Webinar will be presented via Zoom 7pm - 8:30pm CDT, 3 June 2020.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Online e-Symposium
Thursday, 7 June 2012, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

Unger Field, discovered in1955, has produced 8.6 million barrels of oil from a thinly (several ft) bedded, locally cherty dolomite containing vuggy and intercrystalline porosity.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
DL Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) seismic-reflection surveys provide one of the most important data types for understanding subsurface depositional systems. Quantitative analysis is commonly restricted to geophysical interpretation of elastic properties of rocks in the subsurface. Wide availability of 3D seismic-reflection data and integration provide opportunities for quantitative analysis of subsurface stratigraphic sequences. Here, we integrate traditional seismic-stratigraphic interpretation with quantitative geomorphologic analysis and numerical modeling to explore new insights into submarine-channel evolution.

Show more

Request a visit from Jacob Covault!

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
DL Abstract

Around 170 million years ago, the Gulf of Mexico basin flooded catastrophically, and the pre-existing landscape, which had been a very rugged, arid, semi-desert world, was drowned beneath an inland sea of salt water. The drowned landscape was then buried under kilometers of salt, perfectly preserving the older topography. Now, with high-quality 3D seismic data, the salt appears as a transparent layer, and the details of the drowned world can be seen in exquisite detail, providing a unique snapshot of the world on the eve of the flooding event. We can map out hills and valleys, and a system of river gullies and a large, meandering river system. These rivers in turn fed into a deep central lake, whose surface was about 750m below global sea level. This new knowledge also reveals how the Louann Salt was deposited. In contrast to published models, the salt was deposited in a deep water, hypersaline sea. We can estimate the rate of deposition, and it was very fast; we believe that the entire thickness of several kilometers of salt was laid down in a few tens of thousands of years, making it possibly the fastest sustained deposition seen so far in the geological record.

Show more

Request a visit from Frank Peel!

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
DL Abstract

Physics is an essential component of geophysics but there is much that physics cannot know or address. 

Request a visit from John Castagna!

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
VG Abstract

In comparison with the known boundary conditions that promote salt deformation and flow in sedimentary basins, the processes involved with the mobilization of clay-rich detrital sediments are far less well established. This talk will use seismic examples in different tectonic settings to document the variety of shale geometries that can be formed under brittle and ductile deformations.

Request a visit from Juan I. Soto!

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)

Related Interests

See Also ...