Europe Blog

Join the AAPG Europe Region and the AAPG Africa Region together with Conference Chair Mike Lakin, for the next APPEX Regional which will be held in Nice, France. This year, APPEX Regional will focus on exploration and production opportunities spanning the Atlantic Margin, from South America to Northern Europe - from 'Pole to Pole'.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Energy Policy Blog

As key Senators continue their push for energy exports, Senator Barrasso (R-WY) recently held Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing to discuss the economic and geopolitical benefits of exporting domestic crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Policy Watch

Congress is talking about science now more than ever – and some of the dialogue is unfavorable. However, attacking science may be a surrogate for opposition to federal regulations, which seem to be appearing at a faster rate than in the past.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Division Column DPA

Over the past year as DPA president-elect I considered choosing a theme for my term in office. As I spoke with active and associate AAPG members, I realized very few of them knew of all the great programs DPA offers.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Emphasis Article

After the city of Denton, Texas, in the Barnett Shale voted to ban hydraulic fracturing last November, the Texas legislature shifted into high gear to ensure no other Texas town would follow Denton’s renegade move.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Emphasis Article

Unconventional resources have propelled the United States to the top of the world’s energy producers, and the downturn is just another opportunity to figure out how to keep getting better.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

The chief geologist for a Canadian regulatory agency says the group is working to assess potential risks by better understanding the full geologic framework in the development of oil sands and heavy oil in the province of Alberta.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Energy Policy Blog

The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, chaired by Representative Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) recently held a hearing that investigated the environmental risks and economic benefits of Alaska offshore Arctic drilling. Two of the new Arctic offshore regulations attracted the most controversy: the requirement for a standby rig in case of a blowout, and the shortened drilling season. This hearing comes at the same time as Shell mobilizes its equipment for drilling in the Chukchi Sea later this summer. Groups opposed to Arctic drilling recently protested the Polar Pioneer drilling rig’s departure from the Port of Seattle.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Energy Policy Blog

Last week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on 42 legislative proposals that are geared toward promoting accountability and reform in current U.S. energy policies. The hearing touched on a broad array of topics, including energy exports, state versus federal authority in energy development, reliability of the electric grid, cybersecurity, as well as reform of federal programs such as the Department of Energy’s (DOE) loan guarantee program and the mission of DOE’s National Labs.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Policy Watch

Concerns over aging or inadequate infrastructure and changes in the energy mix led the Obama administration to focus the first Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) on transmission, storage and distribution infrastructure.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)

Hot Items

Explorer Article

It isn’t news to anyone that prediction is difficult, especially when it’s the future (as a great man once said). Uncertainty and unpredictability are just a part of the job of tracking and predicting the future supply and demand of energy. That being the case, when energy analysts say that the current level of uncertainty is particularly high, it might be easy to dismiss it as a “dog bites man” story. It isn’t.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Geophysical Corner

Advancements in processing and imaging techniques have continued over the last several decades, which have gradually improved the quality of the processed surface seismic data. When the quality of the existing seismic data is not adequate to perform an interpretation task reasonably, then the interpreter looks for other options. Is it feasible to acquire a new survey? In the absence of an improved survey, will reprocessing of seismic data be a good option?

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Article

A new type of buoyancy model can be used to understand the source of residual oil zones, both thick and thin, to help determine the likelihood that economically viable recoverable oil resides in transition zones of imbibition reservoirs. Application of a buoyancy and breech model will fill a void in reservoir characterization. It will help distinguish between TZs and ROZs, the first of which allows application of primary and secondary (waterflooding) oil recovery methods and the second of which requires more difficult CO2-enhanced oil recovery projects.

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Historical Highlights

The Casablanca oil field, discovered in 1975 and located on the Mediterranean shelf edge, has been greatly significant in the world’s offshore oil industry activity, besides being by far the biggest oil field in Spain.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Explorer Director’s Corner

Perhaps you did a double take pulling the April issue of EXPLORER from the mailbox. What is this? If you joined AAPG in the last 40 years, you’ve only known EXPLORER in its long-standing tabloid format. It worked well for many years as our advertisers – particularly seismic companies – loved the large format and the ability to display their data on a sweeping canvas. For readers, it was a little more awkward.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)

Headquarters Contacts

Susan Nash
Susan Nash Director, Innovation and Emerging Science and Technology, AAPG +1 405 314 7730