September 2006 Explorer
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Vol. 27, No. 9 September 2006 revealing www.veritasdgc.com SEPTEMBER 2006 3 On the cover: Who said going to school had to be dull? These “students” were participating in an AAPG field seminar taught by Chuck Kluth and Ron Nelson on "Application of Structural Geology in Prospecting in Thrusted and Extended Terrains," held recently in Jackson Hole, Wyo.; the photo was taken in Grand Teton National Park It’s the Time by Debbi Boonstra, with the AAPG education department. AAPG offers a variety of exciting educational opportunties. For more information, see page 42, or go to the AAPG Web site at www.aapg.org. Of the Season … By LEE T. BILLINGSLEY opinions on global climate change within As the calendar turns to September I the debate on a proposed climate am struck by the similarity between the change card. Global media coverage Let the celebration begin – except, everyone’s too busy to 8 agricultural significance of this time of and political discourse are focused on a celebrate. Times are good and busy for the seismic industry. year and the careers for all “50- link between CO2 emissions from fossil somethings,” which would include the fuels and global climate change. The What’s next: The seismic industry, in trying to keep pace with largest single age group of AAPG resulting debate 10 members. eventually settles the marketplace’s demands, see the need for – and September for those in the Northern into two main development of – n ew technologies and approaches. Hemisphere (or in Rio Linda) is harvest questions: time; you finally get to reap what you A Gulf of Mexico project earns rave reviews for a deepwater 14 have sown and nurtured during the How much . spring and summer. So for 50- influence do CO2 nodal seismic survey somethings, at this stage of our careers emissions have on we have geologists younger than us – global climate? Going deep: A team of international scientists using manned 18 and if we still have bosses, they actually If your answer is submersibles got their first look at habitats and seeps depend on us. We initiate projects and “little or none,” no located on the lower continental slope of the Gulf of Mexico. manage people. Our decisions influence need to answer others in our companies. question number In agriculture, harvest is no time to rest two. But if you fall Back to school: Geoscience professors will be welcoming a 22 but rather a time to maximize Billingsley somewhere new breed of student to their classes this fall. How new? opportunities. Similarly, now is the time in between Technology is no longer just a tool. It’s a way of life. both my profession as a petroleum “Inconvenient Truth” and “I am not sure,” geologist and as president of AAPG that then the next question is: Helping hands? College geoscience departments and the 26 all these years of preparation can really How much are we willing to pay for bear fruit. reduced CO2 emissions? Department of Energy have discovered a beautiful research All you 50-somethings thinking about Answering this with a global relationship. early retirement, come join us in active consensus will be difficult, but no one service to your profession. wants to leave a perceived mess for Bayou battle: An effort is under way at Louisiana State 36 future generations. Most global climate University to phase out the venerable *** models predict conditions to about the Coastal Studies year 2100, but even models using Institute. Your Executive Committee has some reduced CO2 emissions are not sure what ambitious goals for this year, and fall is the effect on climate will be by then. AAPG’s popular and valuable Distinguished Lecture 40 the time for the busy meeting schedule. program is ready for a new season – and this year, featuring First, we will attend the Gulf Coast Fortunately, some CO2 reduction a new facet. Section meeting in Lafayette, La., Sept. strategies, such as conservation, higher 25-27, followed by the Eastern Section fuel mileage standards for U.S. vehicles, meeting in Buffalo, N.Y. Oct. 8-11. fuel switching and some CO2 capture Our last meeting of the calendar year techniques do not require large costs. will be the AAPG International Others, such as increased taxes and Conference and Exhibition in Perth, subsidies for alternative energy sources, Geophysical Corner 32 Professional News Briefs 48 Australia, Nov. 5-8. would have direct economic cost. As recent global demand for fossil Washington Watch 38 Membership and Certification 49 *** fuels has outstripped global deliverability, prices have risen. Even though fossil Spotlight on Education 42 Readers’ Forum 51 In the past several months much fuels are still the most abundant and cost media coverage has been dedicated to In Memory Classified Ads efficient forms of energy (I am omitting 42 52 human influence on global climate. I am nuclear), alternative fuels (whatever they Foundation Update 44 Director’s Corner 54 not an expert in climate change, although might be) are becoming more cost I have read enough on the topic to competitive. Regions and Sections 46 DEG Column 54 consider myself “informed.” The AAPG According to Edwards’ 2006 graph Members’ Only section of the www.Update 47 association’s Web site offers numerous See President, next page Abstracts Deadline Looming AAPG Headquarters – 1-800-364-2274 (U.S. & Canada only), others 1-918-584-2555 Communications Director Correspondents Advertising Coordinator For Long Beach Convention Larry Nation David Brown Brenda Merideth e-mail: [email protected] Louise S. Durham P.O. Box 979 An important Maximizing Our Barry Friedman Tulsa, Okla. 74101 deadline is looming Potential: Reservoir Managing Editor Ken Milam telephone: (918) 560-2647 for those who want to Characterization and Vern Stefanic (U.S. and Canada only: submit an abstract for Modeling. e-mail: [email protected] Graphics/Production 1-800-288-7636) the next AAPG Geoscience Rusty Johnson (Note: The above number is for Annual Convention. Tools. Editorial Assistant e-mail: [email protected] advertising purposes only.) Abstracts can be Unconventional Susie Moore fax: (918) 560-2636 submitted through Reservoirs and e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Sept. 27 for the AAPG Resources. Annual Convention, to Hydrocarbon Vol. 27, No. 9 be held April 1-4 in Systems and Basin The AAPG EXPLORER (ISSN 0195-2986) is published monthly for members. Published at AAPG headquarters, 1444 S. Boulder Ave., P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, Okla. 74101, (918) 584-2555. e-mail address: [email protected] Long Beach, Calif. Analysis. Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa, Okla., and at additional mailing offices. Printed in the U.S.A. The theme is “Understanding Earth The New Oil Business. Note to members: $6 of annual dues pays for one year’s subscription to the EXPLORER. Airmail service for members: $45. Subscription rates for non-members: $63 for 12 issues; add $67 for airmail service. Advertising rates: Contact Systems – Pursuing the Checkered Astrogeology and the “Bigger” Brenda Merideth, AAPG headquarters. Subscriptions: Contact Veta McCoy, AAPG headquarters. Unsolicited Flag.” Picture. manuscripts, photographs and videos must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope to ensure return. The Long Beach technical Geoscience and Public Policy. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) does not endorse or recommend any products or services program’s themes are: Student Sessions. that may be cited, used or discussed in AAPG publications or in presentations at events associated with AAPG. Deepwater Reservoirs. More information on the meeting Copyright 2006 by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved. Stratigraphy and Sedimentology. and technical program – including Structural Innovations and instructions for submitting abstracts – POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to AAPG EXPLORER, P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, Okla. 74101. Canada Publication Number 40046336. Applications. can be found on the AAPG Web site, at Canadian returns to: Station A, P.O. Box 54, Windsor, Ontario N9A 6J5 Global Exploration Portfolio. www.aapg.org. J e-mail: [email protected] SEPTEMBER 2006 4 To students and faculty: Geologists President are vital catalysts to providing global energy supplies, and if projections on the from previous page enclosed chart are correct they will be needed well into the next century. And beyond fuel use, in the United (left), fossil fuels should plateau in about States about one-third of oil and natural 2050 at about 70 percent of global gas is used for non-fuel purposes. energy supplies, and decline by 2100 to Humans have found hydrocarbons to be about 30 percent. Alternative energy extremely useful molecules, and they are must comprise about 60 percent by all-natural, certified organic and 2100. biodegradable. The point is that fossil fuel use will AAPG has a mission to inform decline due to purely economic students and their faculty about the need considerations – or the public may for geologists, especially petroleum choose to shorten the fossil fuel energy geologists. Our variety of student- cycle by raising taxes. focused committees and programs I did not really intend to get in the attempt to accomplish this goal. The middle of the climate change debate, but committees include: my fear is that students will wrongly view ✓ Academic Liaison. geology as a profession that contributes ✓ Grants-in-Aid. to global warming. Thus, they will avoid ✓ Student Chapters. studying geology in general and ✓ Student Expo. petroleum geology in particular. ✓ Visiting Geologist Program. To our academic members, I sincerely appreciate your dedication and service. We need more of you involved in AAPG. Global citizens are depending on you to train and influence our next generation of energy suppliers, and we need you to be active in the best worldwide organization for petroleum geologists.