EXPLORER 2 OCTOBER 2015 WWW.AAPG.ORG Vol. 36, No. 10 October 2015 EXPLORER PRESIDENT’SCOLUMN Publication Model Challenged by Digital Access BY MIKE SWEET, AAPG ELECTED EDITOR (From AAPG President John Hogg: fields, where much of the research is Once again I’m offering my column funded by public money. space to a member of the AAPG The bottom line: In the world of This is aggravated more by reduced Executive Committee for a report on library budgets. activities and trends in their respective scientific publication, our model of selling While we have enacted an Open area. This month we turn the spotlight on papers to non-members is threatened by Access policy that is compliant with U.K. AAPG publications, with a message from law, most of our researchers are funded our Elected Editor, Mike Sweet.) the Open Access movement. with industry money, and few authors have used this option to date. GSA is cientific publishing is undergoing SWEET going completely Open Access with major changes driven by the shift to its journals, at significant cost to their Sdigital publication – and the digital – and selling papers to non-subscribers the Open Access movement. society. revolution will continue to change the way is a significant source of revenue for This publication model – where the It remains to be seen if the market that AAPG disseminates our science. AAPG publications, which helps to offset authors pay publication costs and the will force other journals, including the A look at the BULLETIN circa 2000 losses in other areas (such as books; publishers give digital contests away for BULLETIN, down this route. would show a scientific journal published more on that later). free – started in part as a reaction to the in a form and on a media (paper) The bottom line: In the world of large profits made by for-profit publishers * * * that was essentially identical to the scientific publication, our model of selling like Springer and Elsevier from selling first scientific journals of the mid-17th papers to non-members is threatened by subscription to journals in biomedical While the BULLETIN has benefited century. Move forward 15 years and the from digital technology and is reaching BULLETIN, for most of our members, is an ever-larger audience, books sales distributed and accessed online. were dropping even before the current oil Over the next three years we plan to price crash. upgrade this delivery system to use an While we have published over 200 app, which will allow subscribers to read books, CDs and map titles, most only the BULLETIN on their smartphones or sell 200-500 copies – and our total sales tablets. In a digital format we have the are dominated by a few very popular opportunity to publish more elaborate textbooks. For example, Basic Well Log color images at no cost to the author – Analysis has sold over 12,000 copies in and in the future we can include video the last 10 years alone. and animation. The technology exists to do small While digital delivery opens the door print runs and print additional books on to more interactive presentations of demand. Undoubtedly, more of our books geologic data, it also comes with new in the future will come out digitally or use challenges. As with other media (books, on-demand printing, which will allow us video and music) free sharing of content to break even on smaller print runs. becomes easy, and there is constant We also are starting to sell papers pressure from the consumers to receive from our books digitally through content for free or at a nominal cost. AAPG President John Hogg (center) and AAPG Executive Director David Curtiss (right) speak Geoscience World. However, given Of course, a significant portion of with a group of YPs at the recent International Conference and Exhibition (ICE) in Melbourne, current trends, it’s an open question if the cost of publication of any journal is Australia. A full report on ICE will be included in the November EXPLORER. there will continue to be a market for the related to the pre-print editing and layout Memoir series in the future. EXPLORER STAFF TABLEofCONTENTS REGULARDEPARTMENTS Managing Editor AAPG members Mark Zoback and An acquisition of some unfamiliar ProTracks ...................................................... 4 Vern Stefanic 06 F. Rall Walsh separate myth from fact 24 geology in the Woodforth SCOOP email: [email protected] regarding induced seismicity. shale play meant one exploration Historical Highlights ................................... 34 had to get creative in their use of Assistant Managing Editor Geophysical Corner ................................... 40 Brian Ervin Traditionally ignored, the azimuthal geosteering. dimension enables more information email: [email protected] 12 Historical Highlights ................................... 44 to be squeezed out of 3-D seismic. Going global: A recent Communications Project Specialist 26 multimillion-dollar purchase put Policy Watch ............................................... 46 Susie Moore No surprise: Experts weigh-in on email: [email protected] one geophysical company in 14 the current state of the industry, possession of one of the world’s Foundation Update ..................................... 50 Graphics/Production and the geophysical business is largest multi-client seismic data Matt Randolph struggling just like everyone else. libraries. Professional News Briefs ............................ 52 email: [email protected] Mexico’s recent opening to foreign In Memory .................................................. 52 Advertising Coordinator In part 2 of our series on Mars oil investors has created a huge exploration, AAPG member and Steve Praytor 20 30 Classified Ads ............................................ 53 P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, Okla. 74101 demand for 2-D seismic data on the former NASA astronaut Jim Reilly regional geology. Phone: (918) 560-2647 – fax: (918) 560-2636 offers a down-to-Earth approach to Director’s Corner ........................................ 54 (U.S. and Canada only: 1-800-288-7636) reaching the Red Planet. (Note: The above number is for advertising purposes only.) Divisions Report (DPA) ............................... 54 email: [email protected] CORRESPONDENTS ON THE COVER: Castle Geyser at Yellowstone National David Brown Park in Wyoming. Geophysicists recently Louise S. Durham discovered an enormous reservoir of Kristi Eaton magma beneath Yellowstone, which is Barry Friedman somewhat symbolic of the enormous Ken Milam Heather Saucier reserves of invention and innovation within Scan this for the the geophysical industry. For the story on mobile version of the Yellowstone, see page 16. For the stories current web Explorer. Photo courtesy of PGS on geophysical innovation, look throughout. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia user “Flicka.” The AAPG EXPLORER (ISSN 0195-2986) is published monthly for members by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1444 S. Boulder Ave., P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, Okla. 74101-3604, Left: PGS’s Ramform Atlas shoots (918) 584-2555. e-mail address: [email protected]. Periodicals Postage Paid at Tulsa, OK and at additional mailing offices.POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to AAPG EXPLORER, P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, Okla. 74101. Canada Publication Agreement Number 40063731 Return undeliverable Canadian address to: Station A, P.O. Box 54 • Windsor, ON N9A 6J5 • E-mail: [email protected] offshore 3-D seismic using towed streamers. Advertising rates: Contact Steve Praytor, AAPG headquarters. Subscriptions: Contact Veta McCoy, AAPG headquarters. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and videos must be For an overview on the current state of the accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope to ensure return. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) does not endorse or recommend any products or services geophysical industry, see page 14. that may be cited, used or discussed in AAPG publications or in presentations at events associated with AAPG. Copyright 2015 by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved. Note to members: $6 of annual dues pays for one year’s subscription to the EXPLORER. Airmail service for members: $55. Subscription rates for non-members: $75 for 12 Vol. 36, No. 10 Vol. issues; add $72 for airmail service. WWW.AAPG.ORG OCTOBER 2015 3 EXPLORER PROTRACKS It’s the End of YPs as We Know It and We Feel Fine By JONATHAN ALLEN and MEREDITH FABER, AAPG Young Professionals Committee Co-Chairs he summer may be winding first AAPG SIG this August. We down, but things are just are looking forward to exploring Theating up for the AAPG “Now, all members this new avenue the association Young Professionals (YPs). has recently created. There is We had an awesome time at interested in the YP mission now a dedicated space within ACE in Denver this past June the Association from which with impressive turnouts at both and its initiatives have a to progress the mission and the YP Meet and Greet and venue in which to participate.” vision of the large and growing the YP networking reception in population of young professional downtown Denver. Both events ALLEN FABER AAPG Members. were graciously sponsored by The current Young Noble Energy and we thank them meeting came from the House of Delegates. The First SIG Professionals Membership for their ongoing support of YP initiatives! The HoD approved an amendment to the Committee will comprise the Feedback from attendees at both events AAPG Bylaws that formally adopted the The Young Professionals are very governing body of the new YP SIG was overwhelmingly positive. creation of special interest groups (SIGs) excited to share that the Executive with representatives from each Section The biggest YP-related news of the and technical interest groups (TIGs). Committee approved the YPs as the and Region. The goals of the YP SIG will also remain the same as the currently operating Young Professionals Membership Committee. The YP SIG will: u Foster a challenging and successful career in the energy industry for recent graduates and early-career earth scientists. u Build an understanding of the value of a lasting relationship between AAPG and young professional members.