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Oil Near Flat After Choppy Trade; U.S. Says Export Ban Not Ruled Out - 25 May, 2022 07:30 AM

Indian Oil Minister Says Oil at $110/Barrel Not Sustainable - 25 May, 2022 07:30 AM

Natural Gas Market Is Hurtling Toward Historic Winter Shortages - 25 May, 2022 07:30 AM

Bakken Formation Reaches 'Maturity' According to Report - 25 May, 2022 07:30 AM

Summer Demand Could Send Oil Prices Spiking and Trigger a Global Recession, IEA Chief Warns - 24 May, 2022 07:30 AM

News in Review ...

31 May

Exploration and Production in the Black Sea Region and Super-Basin Thinking Call for Abstracts Expires in 6 days

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Explorer Article By Nicole Wagoner

AAPG Women’s Network Accepting 2022-24 Officer Nominations

I have had the privilege of serving as one of the AAPG Women’s Network co-chairs since 2020 and it has been a pleasure to watch the network grow over these last two years. In that time, our membership has grown from fewer than 100 to nearly 800 members. This growth can be attributed to the numerous opportunities our team has developed for the AAPG community, including technical training, career development, mentoring, networking and much more.

Added on 01 April, 2022

Explorer Article By Charles Sternbach,John Casiano,Kristie Luchtel-Ferguson,William D. DeMis

Beware the False Promise of Low-Density Energy Machines

The energy transition has been getting so much press that a hypothetical visitor from Mars could be forgiven for believing it will be completed “by next Tuesday.” Some universities and organizations are dropping any mention of petroleum in the interest of appearing forward-looking. We see this as timely folly based on a lack of historical perspective. History shows that energy transitions are lengthy and complicated. They never follow a prescribed path; they wander down dead-ends and evolve with pragmatic solutions unforeseen today.

Added on 01 March, 2022

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 Historical Highlights By Raymond Pierson

The San Juan Basin at 100 Years

Natural gas was first commercially discovered in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico in 1921, making this year the Basin’s centennial. The first San Juan Basin natural gas strike occurred one mile south of Aztec, N.M., when the Aztec Oil Syndicate completed their No. 1 State. Production was found at a depth of about 1,000 feet. The gas discovered south of Aztec was piped into town and used domestically throughout most of the 1920s. This was the first commercial use of natural gas in New Mexico or the San Juan Basin. Located in northwest New Mexico and southwest Colorado, the San Juan is one of the largest gas basins in the United States, along with the Marcellus in the Appalachian Basin and the greater Hugoton Field of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Added on 01 December, 2021

Explorer Article By Heather Saucier

Geothermal Offers an Economical Alternative to Wind, Solar

Considering that geothermal energy can supply power 24/7 for hundreds of years, it can use existing infrastructure from retired coal and nuclear plants, it is extremely attractive to investors, and that it creates more jobs than wind and solar energy, the question arises: Why does so much of this clean, natural resource remain in the ground? That was the topic of discussion at the “Geothermal 101” Geosciences Technology Workshop, hosted recently by AAPG and Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin.

Added on 01 December, 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

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

Explorer President’s Column By Gretchen Gillis

AAPG Will Survive and Thrive

Listening to “Will the Wolf Survive” as I write got me thinking about the one thing we must keep alive – the core purposes of our Association. These include advancing geoscience, promoting relevant technology, disseminating information, inspiring high professional standards and advancing the professional well-being of members.

Added on 01 August, 2021

Explorer Regions and Sections By Linda Sternbach

Geoscientists ‘Awaken to a New Era’ at Southwest Section Meeting

The Southwest Section Convention sizzled in the Fort Worth heat in late June, marking the first in-person section convention since the pandemic, and attracting a larger than anticipated number of geologists and geophysicists. Southwest Section organizers were thrilled with the large number of on-site registrations resulting in sellout ticketed events at the Radisson Fort Worth meeting site.

Added on 01 August, 2021

Explorer Article By Heather Saucier

World’s First Fully-Renewable Nat’l Gas-to-Gasoline Plant Planned in Permian Region

Energy developer Nacero Inc. recently announced plans to build the world’s first natural gas-to-gasoline plant that will operate entirely on renewable energy. The approximately $7 billion plant, which will be located just outside of Odessa, Texas, will use the abundant natural gas resources in the Permian Basin and ultimately produce 115,000 barrels of gasoline a day for markets in Texas and the Southwest. It will be the nation’s first natural gas-to-gasoline manufacturing facility, according to Nacero, with two others planned by the company in Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Added on 01 August, 2021

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Thursday, 23 June – Friday, 24 June 2022, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

SC09 Unconventional Reservoir Production (Rate-Transient) Analysis

Unconventional gas reserves are transforming energy outlooks around the world. This course is a must for those who require background in the latest techniques.

Added on 27 April, 2022

Short Course

Virtual Short Course

Thursday, 23 June – Friday, 24 June 2022, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

SC10 Microseismic Monitoring in Oil or Gas Reservoirs

Why do we perform microseismic monitoring? Definition of microseismicity, induced/triggered seismicity, a brief review of microseismicity outside of oil industry: water reservoirs, mining, geothermal. Oil reservoir production induced seismicity. Historical review of microseismicity in oil industry with focus on hydraulic fracturing (M-site, Cotton Valley, Barnett, etc.). Principles of the hydraulic fracturing and geomechanics.

Added on 27 April, 2022

Short Course

Virtual Short Course

Thursday, 23 June – Friday, 24 June 2022, 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

SC11 Seismic Anisotropy: Basic Theory and Applications in Exploration and Reservoir Characterization

Elastic anisotropy, widely recognized as a typical feature of sedimentary formations, has a strong influence on seismic velocities and amplitudes. For example, the difference between stacking and vertical velocity in anisotropic media most commonly is the reason for misties in time-to-depth conversion. This course provides the necessary background information regarding anisotropic wave propagation and discusses modeling, inversion, and processing of seismic reflection data in the presence of anisotropy.

Added on 27 April, 2022

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Sunday, 19 June 2022, 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.

SC08 Building A Business, Raising The Capital: Petroleum Geologists Who Have Done It And Will Tell You How

AAPG’s DPA (Division of Professional Affairs) has brought together 8 petroleum geologists who have found a way to thrive despite all the hardships of the current financial climate. This special conference provides the attendees a unique opportunity to hear the back stories and struggles faced by companies led by geologists.

Added on 27 April, 2022

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Sunday, 19 June 2022, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

SC07 Gas EOR in Tight Unconventionals

Be sure to attend this short course to learn about and share experiences in gas EOR in tight unconventionals. The course lectures and visual presentations are video recorded and made available to course participants. The instructor has worked on a number of commercial gas EOR projects in tight unconventionals

Added on 27 April, 2022

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Sunday, 19 June 2022, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

SC06 Methane Emission Measurement & Mitigation (MEMM)

This course is important so that the senior leaders and technical practitioners can be informed of the immediate actions required, and solutions available, to manage methane emissions. After taking the class you should be able to promote currently available technologies to achieve practical and cost-effective methane mitigation solutions as well as basic Carbon accounting which satisfies the needs of investors or bankers.

Added on 27 April, 2022

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Sunday, 19 June 2022, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

SC05 Mini Frac (DFIT) Applications for the Unconventional

This course offers an overview of diagnostic fracture injection DFIT test analysis techniques and what reservoir and rock mechanic parameters could be obtained.

Added on 25 April, 2022

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Sunday, 19 June 2022, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

SC04 Reservoir Engineering Applications of Advanced Data Analytics and Machine Learning Algorithms

The course will discuss the Huff-n-Puff gas EOR process specifically, but will also address relevant fundamentals of displacement-based gas EOR methods (miscibility, vaporization, and displacement) in tight unconventionals.

Added on 25 April, 2022

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Sunday, 19 June 2022, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

SC03 Exploration and Development Aspects of Geothermal Energy in Sedimentary Basins

Mark your calendar to attend "Exploration and Development Aspects of Geothermal Energy in Sedimentary Basins". This course provides attendees with a comprehensive methodology for well performance analysis with specific focus on unconventional oil and gas. The approach combines the use of several powerful techniques and will illustrate the practical aspects of production data analysis.

Added on 25 April, 2022

Short Course

Virtual Short Course

Saturday, 18 June – Sunday, 19 June 2022, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

SC02 Production Forecasts and Reserves Estimates in Unconventional Resources

This course will provide training in production forecasting and reserves estimation for low-permeability resource plays (such as shales) using simple, rapidly applied decline models favored by the industry for routine forecasting.

Added on 25 April, 2022

Short Course

Virtual Short Course

Friday, 17 June – Saturday, 18 June 2022, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

SC01 Machine Learning Techniques for Engineering and Characterization

Machine Learning Techniques for Engineering and Characterization

Added on 19 April, 2022

Webinar

Virtual Webinar

Wednesday, 8 June 2022, 8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m.

Using Geochemistry to Understand Production GOR in Unconventional Reservoirs

Join the Petroleum Systems Technical Interest Group (TIG) for the next session of the AAPG Petroleum Systems Webinar Series, "Using Geochemistry to Understand Production GOR in Unconventional Reservoirs", on Wednesday, 8 June 2022, 8:00 AM (CST). A common question in appraisal or development of either conventional or unconventional reservoirs is understanding the control on production yield (stb/mmscf) or GOR (stb/scf). Fluid and/or rock-based geochemistry is a useful tool in conjunction with engineering principles to understand what the primary mechanism(s) are controlling production yield. Here we will look at the use of geochemistry to access yield for tight reservoirs.

Added on 19 April, 2022

Online e-Symposium

Thursday, 2 October 2014, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

Concepts of Scale: Horizontal Development of Wolfcamp Shale Oil of the Southern Midland Basin

This course is ideal for individuals involved in Midland Basin exploration and development. Successful development of Wolfcamp shale oil relies on complex inter-relationships (ultimately interdependencies) within and between a wide variety of scientific disciplines, financial entities, and company partnerships.

Added on 20 June, 2014

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VG Abstract By Noelle Joy Purcell

Confounding Carbonates: The Reservoir Rocks that Won't Play Nice

This lecture will discuss the differences between carbonates and siliciclastics from their chemical composition through their distributions in time and space. Building on these fundamental differences, we will explore the challenges carbonates pose to petroleum geologists in terms of seismic interpretation, reservoir quality prediction, field development, etc. Peppered with humorous personal stories, still raging academic debates, and the heartfelt frustrations of real industry professionals, the aim is to inspire students and young professionals to rise to the occasion and embrace the reservoir rocks that petroleum geologists love to hate.

Request a visit from Noelle Joy Purcell!

Added on 17 March, 2015

VG Abstract By Fred Schroeder

The Use of Seismic Data in Industry

The following short course option was developed for geology and geophysics students that have not had much exposure to how geoscience is applied in industry. It can be tailored for undergraduate juniors and seniors or graduate students. The agenda can be modified to meet specific needs and time constraints.

Request a visit from Fred Schroeder!

Added on 08 January, 2014

VG Abstract By Fred Schroeder

Basic Stratigraphic Interpretation

Request a visit from Fred Schroeder!

Added on 08 January, 2014

VG Abstract By Fred Schroeder

Basic Structural Interpretation

Request a visit from Fred Schroeder!

Added on 08 January, 2014

VG Abstract By David Weinberg

Fracking - A Curse or a Blessing?

This is a less-technical education topic. It can be condensed to an hour or given as 2 two-hour sessions. It stresses selected controversial aspects of fracking that touch some combination of environment and economics and includes a short video of how fracking is done.

Request a visit from David Weinberg!

Added on 19 March, 2015