Vol. 28, No. 1 January 2007 www.veritasdgc.com JANUARY 2007 3 On the cover: What in the world is going on? This moth’s EXPLORER, our annual World Developments issue, provides a glimpse into the 2006 success stories that highlighted a year of several important finds – including those shown on the cover. See page 14. The two top photos are scenes from the Wenchang oil field in the South China Sea, and the larger image is the Jack Bates semi- Meetings Refreshing submersible rig used to drill the Clio-1 well in offshore northwestern Australia. Photos courtesy of Husky Energy (Wenchang) and Chevron (Clio-1). For Professionals By LEE T. BILLINGSLEY their strengths. The Aussies engineered This past fall I had the opportunity to one of the best technical programs we’ve attend a couple of enlightening ever enjoyed at an international conventions. conference, and AAPG provided superb A sinking feeling: A geoscientist makes his case that 4 organization that created the look and Louisiana is threatened by a subsidence, a crippling disease First, Buffalo, N.Y., provided my feel of an AAPG annual convention. that’s far more extreme and extensive than many think. inaugural trip to an AAPG Eastern Several Section meeting. Usually I work on representatives projects either along the Texas Gulf from various What makes a buyer fall in love with an exploration 8 Coast, in the Texas portion of the Permian countries were prospect? Don’t laugh: Appearances matter. basin or the Powder River Basin in anxious to host a Wyoming. I thought the only petroleum future ICE. geologists in the eastern United States Thankfully, the California dreaming on a winter’s day? The technical 10 either headed west soon after Drake’s Aussies provided program is set and registration is open for this year’s well declined, or they represented East their own flavor to Coast investments in oil and gas projects the meeting in the AAPG Annual Convention in Long Beach. generated by geologists from Texas. form of one of the Buffalo changed all that. most memorable Results from one of the year’s most important meetings – the 12 The meeting attracted a dedicated, convention events I Hedberg Research Conference on Understanding World Oil friendly, close-knit group of petroleum have ever attended. geologists that freely shared their Billingsley At the end of each Resources, are being prepared for a spring unveiling. research. Geologists from industry, state meeting they and federal government and universities traditionally have a “Sundowner,” Quantity, not quality: The past year saw only a few 14 all appeared to cooperate for the sake of scheduled on the last day after the last the science. The students were well- paper and after the exhibit hall closes. jaw-dropping discoveries, but some important world versed on the applications of geology to In Perth it had no format other than developments opened new areas, bolstered existing the search for elusive hydrocarbons. beer and wine served on a large patio, production and provided a solid foundation for the future. To further dispel my misconceptions, I which also happened to overlook a river – even met several geologists from Texas. but it provided a terrific opportunity to just They were in Buffalo because they were wind down and socialize. The Mighty Mungaroo: Chevron’s Clio-1 well offshore 16 either already working the eastern U.S. In Perth several hundred – if not a Western Australia is one of the year’s top success stories. basins or trying to get started there. thousand – attendees created a loud roar Thanks for the enlightenment. from excited conversations, which was a fitting testament to the success of the The party Down Under rises to the top: AAPG’s recent 21 Next, the AAPG International event and convention. International Conference and Exhibition in Perth proves Conference and Exhibition (ICE) in Perth, It felt like dessert after a fine meal. to be the largest international meeting in AAPG history. Australia, provided a lesson in cooperation on many levels. * * * The conference provided a welcome break from the partisan, self-serving The AAPG Executive Committee held posturing that dominates everyday news its own meeting in Perth, and we anywhere in the world. The ICE drew reviewed AAPG’s position papers, in Regions and Sections 20 Membership and Certification 35 2,626 participants from 65 countries, with general, and the Global Climate Change 283 registrants traveling there from the position, in particular. Washington Watch 26 Readers’ Forum 38 United States. We decided that some topics, such as As an international organization, global climate change, are not Professional News Briefs 28 Classified Ads 39 AAPG not only disseminates its technical appropriate for recommended government policies. Instead, AAPG Geophysical Corner 30 www.Update 40 knowledge base worldwide, but also facilitates international opportunities for should publish “Fact Sheets,” and Foundation Update 32 Director’s Corner 41 U.S.-based members. It is refreshing that individual members can use the Fact AAPG provides a forum and mechanism Sheets to influence government policies Spotlight on Education 33 DPA Column 41 for people from all over the world to share as they wish. and learn. For more information on AAPG’s In Memory 33 Although in many aspects the field of position on global climate change and a petroleum geology is very competitive, previously submitted Global Climate the outcome from our work – namely Change Card, see pages 37 and 37. finding energy – is very additive to the world. When we find a new field it creates * * * AAPG Headquarters – 1-800-364-2274 (U.S. & Canada only), others 1-918-584-2555 new wealth for individuals, companies, Communications Director Correspondents Advertising Coordinator governments and service companies. I hope everyone had a restful holiday, Larry Nation David Brown Brenda Merideth Maybe that is why geologists enjoy because now is about time to plan to e-mail: [email protected] Louise S. Durham P.O. Box 979 talking to each other about their work; attend London APPEX March 20-22 and Tulsa, Okla. 74101 talking about new fields is almost like AAPG’s Annual Convention in Long Managing Editor Graphics/Production telephone: (918) 560-2647 talking about our children or Beach, Calif. April 1-4. Vern Stefanic Rusty Johnson (U.S. and Canada only: grandchildren. e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] 1-800-288-7636) The Perth meeting was particularly ‘Til next month, (Note: The above number is successful because the local organizing Editorial Assistant for advertising purposes only.) committee/host society (Petroleum Susie Moore fax: (918) 560-2636 Exploration Society of Australia) and e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] AAPG staff/members each contributed Vol. 28, No. 1 The AAPG EXPLORER (ISSN 0195-2986) is published monthly for members. Published at AAPG headquarters, 1444 S. Candidate Data Included This Month Boulder Ave., P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, Okla. 74101, (918) 584-2555. e-mail address: [email protected] Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa, Okla., and at additional mailing offices. Printed in the U.S.A. Note to members: $6 of annual dues pays for one year’s subscription to the EXPLORER. Airmail service for members: Biographies, pictures and subject: “Why I Accepted the Invitation $45. Subscription rates for non-members: $63 for 12 issues; add $67 for airmail service. Advertising rates: Contact Brenda Merideth, AAPG headquarters. Subscriptions: Contact Veta McCoy, AAPG headquarters. Unsolicited statements from all candidates for to be a Candidate for an AAPG Office.” manuscripts, photographs and videos must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope to ensure return. AAPG office are available in this Responses and biographical The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) does not endorse or recommend any products or services EXPLORER as an insert on page 38. information were provided by each that may be cited, used or discussed in AAPG publications or in presentations at events associated with AAPG. The information also is available candidate and edited only for grammar, Copyright 2006 by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved. online on the AAPG Web site, spelling and format. www.aapg.org, and will remain there Online balloting will be made POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to AAPG EXPLORER, P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, Okla. 74101. through the election period. available in the spring of 2007. Ballots Canada Publication Number 40046336. J Canadian returns to: Station A, P.O. Box 54, Windsor, Ontario N9A 6J5 The candidates were given the will be counted on May 16. e-mail: [email protected] opportunity to respond briefly to the JANUARY 2007 4 Levees vs. Wetlands Get Spotlight Subsidence a Lurking Villain By LOUISE S. DURHAM have to understand the geology,” Dokka EXPLORER Correspondent noted. “The group that understands the In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, geology of the area best is the oil the rhetoric about the pressing need to industry, because what you see in the save Louisiana’s rapidly disappearing subsurface is exactly what’s going on wetlands escalated considerably. After today. all, one of the many valuable roles the “But the average coastal scientist wetlands play is to help protect low-lying doesn’t know what the global oil industry population centers from some of the knows about the evolution of the Gulf of ravages of hurricanes. Mexico.” Vanishing wetlands, however, are just a symptom of a far bigger disease The Big Picture crippling the coast, according to Roy Dokka, Fruehan endowed professor of In fact, Dokka asserts that key aspects engineering at Lousiana State University of the coastal work that has been done in and former Adolphe G. Gueymard the region is flawed because it has failed professor of geology.