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Rocky Mountain Section

Explorer Article By Ken Milam

ExxonMobil Releases Historic Treasure Trove of Core Data

The geoscience community at large now has access to a major trove of data gathered by ExxonMobil in the 1980s and ‘90s. ExxonMobil will share the results of its behind-the-outcrop coring program through a website created by the Society for Sedimentary Geology.

Added on 01 March, 2022

Explorer Division Column EMD By Justin Birdwell

What’s New in Energy Minerals

There are many potential changes coming to AAPG and, by association, the Energy Minerals Division, but that doesn’t mean we should be static or complacent. New efforts now will help lay the groundwork for whatever the future holds. Worried EMD won’t exist in the NewOrg? Don’t! Whatever form a combined AAPG-SPE might take, there will certainly be a place for energy geoscientists interested in and working on the energy resources and issues currently addressed under the EMD umbrella. We might be working under a different name, but the need for a forum to discuss the array of resources being studied and developed by energy geoscientists will remain.

Added on 01 November, 2021

Explorer Article By Phil Wannamaker,Virginie Maris

Casting Sunlight on the Deep Heat Sources with Magnetotelluric Geophysical Imaging

The eastern Great Basin of western Utah has long been known as a high heat flow region containing young volcanic rocks and several producing hydrothermal systems. The Utah FORGE Enhanced Geothermal Systems project seeks to advance technology to extract the heat in the huge volumes of hot rock underground, identified or strongly suspected, that do not currently possess adequate permeability. Resolving the underlying mechanisms that have heated such volumes should not only help characterize the magnitude of an individual resource but also create a pathfinder for discovering other systems, both EGS and hydrothermal.

Added on 01 November, 2021

Explorer President’s Column By Gretchen Gillis

On the Joining of Geoscientists and Engineers. And Dinosaurs

Listening to “Long Hard Night” as I write prompted me to think about the success of the inaugural IMAGE event in Denver last month. As usual, Dr. Lesli Wood, professor and Weimer chair at the Colorado School of Mines and 2002 J. C. 'Cam' Sproule Memorial Award recipient, contributed to the technical program as author and session co-chair. Also as usual, Lesli, her band, and members of the Jammin’ Geos Special Interest Group took to the stage and entertained a crowd of enthusiastic geoscientists, engineers and dinosaurs.

Added on 01 November, 2021

Explorer Emphasis Article By Heather Saucier

Battery Revolution, Renewable Energy Drives Critical Minerals Demand

As the United States and other developed countries embrace the prospect of transitioning to renewable energy, the need for critical minerals is skyrocketing. Solar plants, wind farms and electric vehicles require more minerals to build than their fossil fuel-based counterparts. For example, a typical electric car requires six times the mineral inputs of a conventional car, and an onshore wind plant requires nine times more mineral resources than a gas-fired plant, according to the International Energy Agency. Addressing the exploding need for critical minerals and how petroleum geoscientists can lead such efforts, members of AAPG’s Energy Minerals Division came together to discuss the future of critical minerals at the International Meeting for Applied Geoscience and Energy conference in Denver.

Added on 01 November, 2021

Explorer Emphasis Article By Heather Saucier

YPs See Bright Future in Transitioning Energy Industry

At a session entitled, “From Petroleum Industry to Energy Industry: Global Young Professionals’ Perspectives on a Sustainable Future,” at the International Meeting for Applied Geoscience and Energy conference recently held in Denver, speakers representing the World Petroleum Council’s Young Professionals Committee attributed their career decisions to the ongoing need for oil and gas, opportunities to help the industry decarbonize and a growing number of geoscience-related fields that are in need of their skillsets to thrive.

Added on 01 November, 2021

Explorer Article By Heather Saucier

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Energy Geoscientists

Emphasizing that the oil and gas industry will continue to play an important role in supplying energy to the world for years to come, past AAPG President Charles Sternbach shared what he called “Seven Habits of Highly Effective Energy Geoscientists” at the 20th Michel T. Halbouty Lecture at the International Meeting for Applied Geoscience and Energy conference in Denver recently. “We need to be proud of our profession and we need to be proud of what energy and oil and gas do to bring good things to humanity,” said Sternbach.

Added on 01 November, 2021

Explorer Director’s Corner By David Curtiss

IMAGE ’21: A Hard-Won But Rewarding Summit

Lift foot, step. Lift foot, step. Lift foot, step, panting to catch my breath at high altitude under the midday sun. I’d been at this for nearly 12 miles already, one increasingly unsteady foot in front of the other, the pressure of a headache building. Sweat ran into my eyes as I lifted my head searching for the end of this path. The unending series of switchbacks winding their way up a steep scree slope was not spirit-lifting. Somewhere up there was the summit of Pikes Peak.

Added on 01 October, 2021

Explorer President’s Column By Gretchen Gillis

Embracing the Stuff of Life

Listening to “A Change Is Gonna Come” as I write prompted me to think about change. For some of us, change is not a comfortable thought because we focus on how change affects our sense of self, or we fixate on the potential loss of comfortable routines and familiar circumstances. For others, change is the stuff of life because it promises something new and exciting. For AAPG, change is inevitable as we prepare to serve future generations of petroleum geologists and geoscientists in closely related fields like environmental geology, geothermal energy and the burgeoning hydrogen industry.

Added on 01 October, 2021

Explorer President’s Column By Gretchen Gillis

Achieving Harmony Amid Change and Uncertainty

Listening to “Togetherness (K’a jo se)” as I write prompted me to think about community. AAPG has been a pillar of the scientific community for more than 100 years, with a lengthy history of collaboration and rewarding relationships that extend beyond the Association. Like the rise to international success of Nigerian musician King Sunny Adé, AAPG has grown beyond its American roots to serve a global community of energy geoscientists as well as professionals working in adjacent functions like data science, carbon capture, use and sequestration, and various engineering disciplines.

Added on 01 September, 2021

Workshop

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tuesday, 18 February – Wednesday, 19 February 2025, 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

AAPG Orphan, Abandoned, Idle, and Marginal Wells Conference

Join us for AAPG Orphan, Abandoned, Idle and Marginal Wells Conference 2025. This workshop will focus on orphan, abandoned, idle, and marginal wells and the business opportunities and technology associated with plugging and repurposing wells, reducing methane emissions, protecting water supplies, and extending the lives of marginal wells.

Added on 16 October, 2024

Workshop

Houston, Texas

Tuesday, 10 December 2024, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Generative AI, Machine Learning and Analytics for Subsurface Energy

Join us for an AI and analytics workshop that focuses specifically on subsurface energy, and provides the needed knowledge, tools, and insights. Opportunities are emerging, and those who have the tools, skills, and knowledge will be at the forefront. Specifically, the conference will bring together AI and Machine Learning and a wide range of data issues in the form of technical presentations, probing panel discussions and poster sessions.

Added on 05 September, 2024

Field Seminar

Houston, Texas

Saturday, 1 February 2025, 8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Buffalo Bayou K-12 Educators Hurricane Hike

Everyone in Houston lives within a few miles of a bayou. Some people think of them as permanent, but the bayous are constantly changing, especially during high water events like Hurricane Harvey. This trip is a 2.5 mile walk down a section of Buffalo Bayou where we will look at the archives of past storms and discuss what to do for future storms.

Added on 05 December, 2023

Short Course

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Thursday, 20 February 2025, 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Methane Monitoring Associated with Well Plugging & Abandonment for Active, Marginal, Idle, and Orphan Wells

This introduction to methane monitoring, measurement, and quantification is for all those who would like to understand the requirements and regulations regarding methane emissions and to be able to design a measurement and monitoring solution, complete with the appropriate types of technologies, techniques, and safety protocols.

Added on 05 December, 2023

Webinar By Alexander Rozenfeld,John Hofmeister,Larry R. Davis

Virtual Webinar

Wednesday, 17 June 2020, 7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m.

Pivoting Week 7: Opportunties with Sustainability

Join us for 'Sustainability-Focused Opportunities'. A webinar to explore investment trends, new opportunities, and strategies for pivoting for new revenue and diversification in today's times. Webinar will be presented via Zoom 7:00pm - 8:30pm CDT 17 June 2020.

Added on 15 June, 2020

Online e-Symposium

Thursday, 3 June 2010, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

Marcellus & Utica in the Field: Northern Appalachian Basin

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to describe faults and fractures in carbonates, black shales, and coarser clastics as they occur in the northern Appalachian Basin.

Added on 02 December, 2013

Webinar By Arash Nazhad,Larry R. Davis,Sudhir Pai,Sunil Garg,Susan Nash

Virtual Webinar

Wednesday, 26 May 2021, 7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m.

Imaging Technologies

Join us for 'Pivoting 2021: Imaging Technologies'. Panelists will discuss new ways to acquire data that is then processed into interpretable images, and they will discuss the technologies as well as the techniques. Webinar will be presented via Zoom 7pm - 8:30pm CDT, 26 May 2021.

Added on 03 June, 2020

Online e-Symposium

Thursday, 28 April 2011, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

The Niobrara Petroleum System, a Major Tight Resource Play in the Rocky Mountain Region

The Niobrara Petroleum System of the U.S. Rocky Mountain Region is a major tight petroleum resource play.

Added on 02 December, 2013

Webinar By Andy Pepper

Virtual Webinar

Wednesday, 12 January 2022, 8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m.

Seven Principles that hold back Geologists from Discovery Thinking: Seven Habits of the Effective Petroleum Systems Analyst

Using global examples and based on 40 years’ experience in mainstream geology and in Petroleum Systems Analysis, Andrew Pepper will discuss how re-thinking some of our paradigms can open up our minds to new Discovery Thinking in any old or new basin.

Added on 04 January, 2022

Webinar By Edith Newton Wilson,Paul Thomas

Virtual Webinar

Wednesday, 19 August 2020, 7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m.

Pivoting During the Pandemic: Battery Tech and Critical Minerals

Join us for 'Batter Tech and Critical Minerals' where we will discuss an overview of battery tech and critical materials, new trends in energy storage, new opportunities in local energy generation and storage, lithium, rare earths and more. Webinar will be presented via Zoom 7pm -8:30pm CDT, 19 August 2020.

Added on 16 June, 2020

Online e-Symposium

Thursday, 23 July 2009, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

3D Seismic Profiles of U.S. Shale Plays

As commodity prices have dropped, many shale plays have become uneconomical as statistical plays and have increasingly become recognized as geological plays demanding new insights from data.

Added on 02 December, 2013

Webinar By Brent Kisling,Larry R. Davis,Susan Nash

Virtual Webinar

Wednesday, 15 July 2020, 7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m.

Pivoting Week 11: New Subsurface Tools and Techniques

Join us for 'New Subsurface Tools and Techniques'. New Subsurface Tools and Techniques and strategies for pivoting for new revenue and diversification in today's times. This webinar will be presented via Zoom 7pm - 8:30pm CDT, 15 July 2020.

Added on 15 June, 2020

Online e-Symposium

Thursday, 12 July 2012, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

Shale Wells: Making the Engineering Fit What Geology Offers

This presentation will look at well placement vertically in the pay, well azimuth and well trajectory with explanations of how geology and post-depositional effects can make the difference between a successful well and a failure.

Added on 11 December, 2013

Online e-Symposium

Tuesday, 16 August 2011, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

Green River Shales: Geochemical Basin Study

The geochemistry of formation fluids (water and hydrocarbon gases) in the Uinta Basin, Utah, is evaluated at the regional scale based on fluid sampling and compilation of past records.

Added on 02 December, 2013

Clayton Schultz President (2024-2025) SM Energy

Alonzo Riley Brinkerhoff Past President (2024-2025) Duchesne River Resources 14068391375

The House of Delegates of the AAPG is made up of delegates from affiliated societies and international regions throughout the world. They are selected by popular vote from within their respective areas and serve a three year term.

Who Is My Delegate?

NOTE: Membership in an affiliated society does not necessarily constitute membership in the AAPG and vice versa.

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