Vol. 29, No. 5 May 2008 MAY 2008 3 On the cover: One of AAPG’s most popular field trips is the Lewis & Clark Geotour: “Marias River to Gates of the Mountains, Montana,” an adventure that takes place July 12-17 and offers participants whitewater float trips, canoe trips and other excursions on and around the Missouri River in a geology-oriented journey that is scientific, historical and fun. Feeling adventuresome? There’s still time to get your feet wet – contact the AAPG education department, or go online to www.aapg.org, for more details. Photo by AAPG member Denise Stone. Want your voice to be heard? Time is running out on your 4 chance to vote for this year’s AAPG officer candidates: The voting deadline is May 15. Myth busting: Conventional wisdom may suggest that the 8 Gulf of Mexico has seen its best days, but some geologists believe the region’s best days lie ahead. Photo by Sam Samford Honored recently by the Roswell Geological Society were (from left) AAPG President It’s a mystery – but maybe not for much longer. The 12 Willard “Will” Green, Carl A. Shellinger, Edward K. “Eddie” David, George M.Yates, Blackbeard West well, a tight hole that’s been on hold since Patrick J. F.“Pat” Gratton, A. T. “Toby” Carlton, Phelps Anderson and H. Lee Harvard. 2006, has a new operator who is excited about its future. Let the exploration begin: Libya, a country for years off-limits 16 to U.S. investment and operations, is finally on the menu. Have You Considered Happy birthday to them! Saudi Aramco celebrates its 75th 19 anniversary this month, and we take a look back at its creation – an event that took place even though no one knew if Saudi Submitting a Paper? Arabia had any oil potential at all. By WILLARD ‘Will’ GREEN APPEX and Aberdeen AAPG relies on the significant In early March I traveled to London for contributions of members to make our APPEX (AAPG Prospect and Property Dr. T and the Women (no, not the movie): AAPG President- 21 publications the best. We actively seek Expo), which was the best-attended Expo Elect Scott Tinker, speaking in Bahrain, discusses the manuscripts for the AAPG BULLETIN and to date with over 450 registrants. proposals for Special Publications. South Africa, host country for this importance of attracting women to the geoscience work force – Consider these observations: year’s AAPG International Conference and how to anticipate and overcome the challenges ahead. E&P Notes are very popular with and Exhibition in Cape Town, had a large BULLETIN readers. If you are working on booth in the exhibit hall, and Iceland had an interesting exploration play or have a a booth to give notice The Good, the Bad and the (Possibly) Ugly: An AAPG 22 useful field description, consider of the country’s first- member assesses Iraq and the Middle East in terms of submitting a manuscript. ever licensing round in Geohorizons BULLETIN papers early 2009. General hydrocarbon potential, probabilities and possible consequences. focus on current technical methods. If Chair Mike Lakin and you have a unique way to solve a committee did a fine geotechnical problem, a brief job of organizing the Geohorizons manuscript will spread the Expo. word. From London I flew Discussions and Replies in the to Aberdeen to visit the Geophysical Corner 32 Membership and Certification 48 BULLETIN allow you to expand on a University of Aberdeen Washington Watch 34 Readers’ Forum 52 published paper. While many readers Green and the Aberdeen think “Discussions” primarily serves to Explorer’s Club. My Spotlight On … 36 In Memory 52 correct a published paper, Discussions schedule included meetings with the Professional News Briefs 38 Classified Ads 56 also can be used to extend good work. university principal and vice principal, If you have more to share than a single and sessions with a third year geology Foundation Update 42 Director’s Corner 58 paper, consider submitting a proposal for class and the integrated petroleum a Special Publication. The AAPG geology MSc class. Many of these Regions and Sections 44 EMD Column 58 BULLETIN and Special Publications are graduate students already have www.Update 46 among the most highly valued member accepted jobs in the petroleum industry. services. Many thanks to Colin North, David Like just about everything else in life, Macdonald, Andrew Hurst and Ali advances in the electronic world are MacLeod for arranging my visit. It has AAPG Headquarters – 1-800-364-2274 (U.S. & Canada only), others 1-918-584-2555 changing the way AAPG publishes. For become traditional for AAPG presidents Communications Director Correspondents Advertising Coordinator example: to visit the University of Aberdeen – and Larry Nation David Brown Brenda Merideth The electronic BULLETIN allows us I’m glad I did! e-mail: [email protected] Louise S. Durham P.O. Box 979 to do more with color, oversize images Barry Friedman Tulsa, Okla. 74101 and data archiving. Middle East Region Managing Editor Kathy Shirley telephone: (918) 560-2647 Special Publications now come in a The Middle East Region is taking giant Vern Stefanic (U.S. and Canada only: variety of formats – from all print to all steps forward. GEO 2008 in Bahrain e-mail: [email protected] Graphics/Production 1-800-288-7636) electronic – to best deliver timely (held the same week as APPEX), Rusty Johnson (Note: The above number is for technical information. attended by Rick Fritz and President- Editorial Assistant e-mail: [email protected] advertising purposes only.) The “Getting Started …” series, Elect Scott Tinker, was a great success Susie Moore fax: (918) 560-2636 championed by the AAPG Publications with over 4,400 participants. e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Committee and Vice Chair Terri Olson, Our new director of the AAPG Middle recently delivered its tenth CD, “Getting East office planned in Bahrain, Abeer Al Started in 3-D Seismic Technology,” by Zubaidi, is on board and attended the Vol. 29, No. 5 The AAPG EXPLORER (ISSN 0195-2986) is published monthly for members. Published at AAPG headquarters, 1444 S. Bruce Hart. In fact, we also will have the AAPG Convention in San Antonio. 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. eleventh volume out by May, “Getting And more recently, the process of Note to members: $6 of annual dues pays for one year’s subscription to the EXPLORER. Airmail service for members: $45. Started in Sequence Stratigraphy,” by organizing a Student Chapter at the 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 manuscripts, Shuji Yoshida. University of Kuwait has begun. photographs and videos must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope to ensure return. High-quality science publications like The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) does not endorse or recommend any products or services that these help AAPG members find and Roswell Geological Society may be cited, used or discussed in AAPG publications or in presentations at events associated with AAPG. produce oil and gas. March 18 was a memorable day: I Copyright 2008 by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved. Consider sharing your work with attended and presented a program at the POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to AAPG EXPLORER, P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, Okla. 74101. others. For more information, contact Roswell (N.M.) Geological Society’s Canada Publication Number 40046336. AAPG Editor Gretchen Gillis at “Local National Leaders Recognition Return undeliverable Canadian address to: P.O. Box 503 • RPO West Beaver Creek • Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4R6 [email protected]. See President, next page MAY 2008 4 Balloting deadline is May 15 The Time to Cast Your Vote is Now There’s still time to vote in this year’s assigned code, referred to as an ballots for offices with more than two will be deemed those voters’ first AAPG officer election, but time is “E-Signature.” Both numbers have been candidates provide voting in order of choice. The process is repeated until a running out. provided in your e-mail notification or on preference; the candidate receiving a candidate receives a majority vote. Members can vote online by the paper ballot, and can be used only majority of the “first choice” votes is Also on the ballot are candidates for accessing the AAPG Officer Election one time. elected. vice president-Sections and treasurer. icon on www.aapg.org through May 15 Those who receive a paper ballot can Previously, the candidate with the Races for secretary and vice president- noon CDT. instead to choose to vote online; most votes was declared the winner Regions will be on next year’s ballot. Members should cast their ballot however, do not also return the paper without regard to a majority tally. Voting results will be announced online if possible; AAPG has switched to ballot. The new process allows for online and in the June EXPLORER. the electronic voting method to reduce User support is available online. determination of a majority without a The candidate slate is: election costs, especially postage. In the president-elect election costly and time-consuming run-off. This year, AAPG mailed paper ballots members will chose from three If no candidate receives a majority of President-Elect to those members who do NOT have a candidates – two nominated by the the “first choice” votes cast, then the Ë John C.