Coming to Denver 26 September – 1 October 2021 2 20 1 aapg.org seg.org ANNUAL MEETINGS MERGE AHEAD The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) The two events will be fully integrated, online and in-person, and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) are excited with a comprehensive technical program featuring more than to announce plans for joint annual meetings beginning 26 September 20 concurrent technical sessions and a joint exhibition to 1 October 2021, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, featuring the latest geoscience products and technologies. Colorado. This event will mark the first time the two groups’ One registration will give delegates access to the core technical annual conventions have been held together since 1955. sessions and exhibition and access to several ticketed training and social events. Exhibitors and sponsors will benefit from The merger of ACE 2021 and SEG’s 2021 International Exhibition access to two audiences with a single engagement. and 91st Annual Meeting (SEG21) will result in one of the largest gatherings of earth scientists and energy professionals in the world. Watch for full program, exhibition and registration details coming soon. ACE.AAPG.org MAY 2021 EXPLORER.AAPG.org By RICK FRITZ 3 President’s Column Coming to Denver Innovation Causation ’ve always loved to hear and tell stories. worldwide. For example, the Latin America I come from a family of story tellers and and Caribbean Region has developed Imusicians. Not a lot of it transferred to business programs and essentially mini- me but I inherited a few slices of it from my Hedberg conferences with participation 26 September – 1 October 2021 Oklahoma and Arkansas roots. from top leaders and scientists. The Europe In the early 1900s my great grandfather Region developed several alternate-energy and grandmother on my dad’s maternal forums and now many of their virtual side lived in northern Arkansas along the programs are reaching new scientists in scenic Buffalo River. It was difficult to eastern Europe. Some of the face-to-face make a living in these rocky hills composed luncheon programs in the Southeast Asia mostly of Mississippian limestone cliffs. Region went virtual and viral to attract There were timber and sawmills, plus as many as 900 registrants worldwide. a little low-grade silver mining. Good You can see many of these programs on farmland was at a premium, but my great AAPG’s calendar at AAPG.org/events/ grandparents were fortunate to have about calendar. 20 good acres that formed a bar along the Buffalo River. They also owned a small ferry Don’t Get Stuck! at the only river crossing for miles. Between the land, ferry and local work they made Innovators are rarely stuck in a rut, just enough to raise their ten children. they are always willing to change and Those were still hard times and there were if the opportunity arises, change again. storms on the horizon. Bob Merrill, AAPG’s editor, is one of those Around 1917, just at the start of World innovators. He redefined the editor’s 2 20 War II and the so-called Spanish flu position to have oversight over most of 1 pandemic, my grandparents decided on a AAPG’s science output. He added special plan to migrate into Oklahoma to find better issues for the Bulletin and developed new aapg.org land and opportunity. It was a bold move emphasis on alternate energy and carbon – to pull up roots while the world was in It is said that “necessity is the mother capture, storage and utilization articles in turmoil. the EXPLORER. seg.org But off they went. They moved 100 of all invention.” If that’s the case, then Some of the Bulletin special issues miles west to a town called Skiatook due as a corollary I say that “failure is the are focused on “super basins” based on a north of Tulsa in Osage County, Okla. They new idea by Bob Fryklund and Pete Stark were able to lease and farm good land. father of most innovation.” with IHS. Charles Sternbach, Bob Merrill In addition, they found new income by and others have further developed this pooling their mules and using them to skid concept into forums and papers. This heavy oil-field equipment. Because of their Post COVID-19 reality has allowed AAPG Through new virtual technologies, staff innovation has provided us with new ways decision to move and innovate their work members to reach beyond their normal took these popular face-to-face lectures to understand the most productive basins they were able to buy their farmland and geographical areas of influence. It is worldwide and more than doubled in the world. build successful lives in farming and in the said that “necessity is the mother of all participation. It should be noted that both Speaking of Charles, I would be remiss oil fields. invention.” If that’s the case, then as a programs are supported by the AAPG if I did not note that another innovation, corollary I say that “failure is the father of Foundation. “Discovery Thinking,” is about to have its Good Stories most innovation.” The ability to change direction is at the 25-year anniversary at the next annual When AAPG’s face-to-face meetings heart of innovation. When the economy and meeting. Congratulations to Charles and all It is sometimes said that every good failed, we looked for members and staff pandemic began hurting programs in the those who have made Discovery Thinking idea and every innovation needs a good to develop new ideas. The first programs AAPG regions, they pivoted and developed a great program for us to look forward to story. After 2020 we are now re-writing impacted were AAPG’s Distinguished new fascinating programs to attract young every year! our individual and collective stories. Lecturer and Visiting Geoscientists. people and reach a broader audience ANNUAL MEETINGS Latest Innovation Thinking STAFF TABLE OF CONTENTS REGULAR DEPARTMENTS This year AAPG, under the leadership of Managing Editor When the Keystone XL Pipeline was Historical Highlights ................................. 14 past AAPG President Mike Party, Autumn MERGE AHEAD Brian Ervin canceled earlier this year, it was hailed Haagsma and Jack Pashin, developed a 06 Geophysical Corner .................................. 16 [email protected] by activists as a major win for the major CCUS conference with an incredible environment. But was it really? YP Connect ................................................ 19 list of speakers. It attracted significant industry attention and sponsorship plus Art Direction/Production Global Energy Outlook: As the world Women’s Network .................................... 21 Matt Randolph more than 500 participants from around 08 economy recovers from the pandemic and Foundation Update ................................... 22 the world. This CCUS program also [email protected] oil is poised for years of growth, the provided AAPG with the first significant energy transition and the quest for Regions and Sections .............................. 24 revenue from a conference in 2021. Advertising Contact net-zero emissions loom large in oil majors’ Classified Ads ............................................ 25 long-term plans. AAPG’s Director of Innovation and Tracy Thompson Director’s Corner ....................................... 26 Emerging Science and Technology Susan 1-918-560-9414 [email protected] The Nuclear Option: Net-zero carbon Divisions Report (EMD) ........................... 26 Nash’s “Pivoting” series has attracted 10 emissions by 2050 is possible, according to at numerous members and non-members least one notable expert within AAPG, but not Prelude, Shell’s first floating liquified natural to think about new opportunities, without a strong reliance on nuclear energy. gas facility is expected to produce 3.6 million especially in the energy transition and in CORRESPONDENTS tonnes per annum of LNG, once operational. new technologies that can be applied to Eliminating fossil fuels anytime soon is Shell’s new energy transition strategy includes traditional and transitional activities. In David Brown “aspirational, not practical,” according to The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) The two events will be fully integrated, online and in-person, 18 a plan to shift the company toward gas addition, Susan worked with Doug Cook, Barry Friedman Sen. Joe Manchin, D – W. Va., chairman of production by increasing its natural gas share Bill Ambrose and Bruce Cutright of the and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) are excited with a comprehensive technical program featuring more than Emily Smith Llinás the Senate Energy and Natural Resource of total hydrocarbon output to 55 percent, Astrogeology Committee to develop the Heather Saucier Committee, who participated in a climate to announce plans for joint annual meetings beginning 26 September 20 concurrent technical sessions and a joint exhibition with up to a 2-percent annual decline in its very popular Mars programs with Kirsten summit with industry leaders recently on ON THE COVER: crude oil production. See Page 8. to 1 October 2021, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, featuring the latest geoscience products and technologies. Earth Day. Siebach and Michael Thorpe. Our last Colorado. This event will mark the first time the two groups’ One registration will give delegates access to the core technical program, called “My Favorite Martian Outcrop” on April 22, had more than 600 annual conventions have been held together since 1955. sessions and exhibition and access to several ticketed training participants. and social events. Exhibitors and sponsors will benefit from Right now, AAPG’s Executive Director The merger of ACE 2021 and SEG’s 2021 International Exhibition access to two audiences with a single engagement. David Curtiss and Managing Director of EXPLORER.AAPG.org Global Business Alan Wegener are putting and 91st Annual Meeting (SEG21) will result in one of the largest The AAPG EXPLORER (ISSN 0195-2986) is published monthly for Members by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1444 S.