february 2010, vol. 5 ... · aapg‐er newsletter – february 2010 1 february 2010, vol. 5 ...

AAPG‐ER Newsletter – February 2010

1

February 2010, Vol. 5 http://www.aapg.org/europe/newsletters/index.cfm

EDITORIAL BOARD

Hugo Matias, Chief Editor Claudia Bertoni, Coordinator James Bailey, Coordinator David Contreras, Coordinator Fadi Nader, Coordinator Francisco Porturas, Coordinator AAPG European Region Council David R. Cook, President Vlastimila Dvorakova, President-Elect Marek Hoffman, Vice-President Bert Clever, Secretary Knut Henrik Jakobbson, Treasurer Jean Gérard, AAPG Advisory Council Istvan Berczi, Past-President

The AAPG European Region Newsletter is published quarterly by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists - European Region, 1st Floor, 56 Brewer Street, London W1F 9TJ, Phone:+44 (0) 2074341399. The months of issue are March, June, September and December. Instructions to authors Editorial correspondence and material submitted for publication should be addressed to the Editor to [email protected]. All materials should be sent by the 15th of the month before issue publication. All submissions are subject to editorial review and revision. Subscriptions Subscription to this publication is included in the membership dues. Advertising pricing and size The Newsletter is printed digitally. Advertising is accepted on a space-available basis. Deadline for submitting material is 15th of the month before issue publication.

Dear Readers, I wish the membership a happy and prosperous 2010. It is perhaps a good time to reflect upon the health of the industry and AAPG’s role in it as we claw our way out of the recession. Financial

markets and commodity prices are generally improving. The current price of oil, at about $70 per barrel, is good by historical standards. Let us hope therefore that we are entering this year in a more optimistic mood and that we will experience increased interest in exploration and development projects in Europe. The AAPG certainly plans to play its part by providing conferences and education opportunities that are relevant to many of the opportunities Europe has to offer. One of the things that has disturbed me over the past couple of years, as the oil price fell from its unsustainable peak, is the attitude of many companies to the recruitment of geoscientists. Have we not learned from the mistakes of the past and have we forgotten about the demographics of our industry? We are facing the largest loss of experienced geoscientists in our history, yet some companies have significantly reduced their recruiting activities. We are fortunate in Europe to have universities that produce graduate and post‐graduate geoscientists of exceptional quality and I would have thought that the industry would be taking advantage of this, considering the inevitable demand in the future. So what is the AAPG doing to promote careers in the industry with European students? We have had a recent drive to increase the number of AAPG student chapters in universities. Currently we have 25 active Student Chapters, the highest number ever. These organisations give students the opportunity of learning more about the industry and petroleum geoscience and meeting experienced geoscientists to discuss career opportunities. We will be holding our Imperial Barrel Award Competition (IBA) again this year with 13 university teams taking part in the regional final in Prague at

the end of March. The IBA gives students the opportunity of taking part in a realistic exploration project and presenting results and forward plans to a panel of distinguished industry judges. This provides an excellent forum for students and career geoscientists to interact in both a formal and informal environment. It also provides the students an insight into the workings of the upstream oil and gas business.

Let’s move on to what is happening in the E&P scene in Europe. The North Sea is mature, over the past few years the majors have been moving out and the smaller independents moving in. Acquisition and divestment activity remains very high. There are still tremendous opportunities for low cost in‐field development and near‐field exploration and the pursuit of new concepts based upon improved geophysical techniques. In 2008 the AAPG held a conference in Oslo, the theme of which was 40 years of exploration and development in the North Sea. Delegates were presented with a programme of case studies covering the history of the basin and some of the new play concepts that are being pursued. In March this year we are presenting a symposium focussed on lessons learned from dry holes, which will be associated with APPEX, our forum for promoting worldwide E&P deals.

As the majors exit the North Sea eyes have been turned towards conventional exploration on the Atlantic margin, west Greenland and the Black Sea as well as unconventional exploration in eastern Europe. Papers on all these areas were presented during the European Region annual conference in Rueil Malmaison, Paris, last November. Recognising the shift in attention to unconventional resources, a Geoscience Technical Workshop (GTW) dealing exclusively with unconventional gas exploration and development was held in Istanbul in June last year. As a result of this workshop it has been decided to hold a further GTW on resource assessment in unconventional plays in Istanbul in May. Finally the European annual conference in Kiev this October will be devoted to exploration in basins in and around the Black Sea and Caspian Sea.

The point I am making is that the AAPG is making every effort to tailor its events to suit the needs of the membership. It is obviously very important for the European Council to keep abreast of current and possible future developments in the E&P scene, however we are always pleased to receive ideas for events from the membership. Please keep your eyes on the website for information about our 2010 activities.█

David R. Cook AAPG European Region President

TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Message 1 G&G Studies 2

Petroleum Prospects of Lebanon 2

R&D Projects 4

Dionisos 4 Oil and Gas Shale 6

Worldwide Geo Pictures 8 Conferences and Seminars 11 Student Chapter & IBA 17 AAPG‐ER News 21 Calendar 22 AAPG‐ER Structure 23

Advertisement Page Size

Actual size Front page cost

Random inside cost

Eighth 27.75 x 21.8 $50 $25 Quarter 55.5 x 43 $75 435 Half 111 x 87.5 Not applicable $75 Full 222 x 175 Not applicable $100

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE


2

G&G STUDIES coordinated by Hugo Matias

The Levant Offshore Basin and its Petroleum Perspectives: Petroleum Prospects of Lebanon

Fadi H. Nader

IFP, 1 & 4 Av. Bois-Préau, 92852 Rueil-Malmaison Cedex, France Website: www.ifp.fr; Email: [email protected]

INTRODUCTION

In the last couple of years, important discoveries of natural gas were reported from offshore Israel (Tamar and Dalit wells; total proved reserves of 273 Bcf according to Noble Energy – www.nobleenergyinc.com). Such events led some petroleum companies to re‐evaluate the prospects of the eastern Mediterranean region. This contribution revisits the subject of petroleum prospects of Lebanon. Data presented and discussed here, are based on excellent previous studies that benefited from lessons learnt during the actual onshore exploration work (e.g. Renouard, 1955; Beydoun, 1977 and 1981) and more recent studies involving regional correlation and diagenesis (Nader and Swennen, 2004). To these, the discussions on the recent offshore seismic surveys and their results (Roberts and Peace, 2007; Per Helge Semb, pers. comm., 2008) are added in order to update the working petroleum model earlier proposed by Nader and Swennen (2004). The tectono‐sedimentary history and related occurrence of interesting structures and diagenetic features were placed within the framework of the broader geological province of the Levant.

A quick overlook on the distribution of major oil and gas fields in the Eastern Mediterranean region highlights certain consistencies with respect to major source rocks (Fig. 1; May, 1991). With the exception of the Nile Delta and the Gulf of Suez, the main stratigraphic units hosting source rocks are Triassic, Jurassic, and Upper Cretaceous. Recent studies have confirmed that the Chekka Formation (Senonian, Late Cretaceous), which consists of organic‐ rich mudstone and is well exposed in southern Lebanon (Hasbaya), includes two types of asphalt: the first one is related to in situ maturation of organic matter in the rock matrix, and the second type is fracture‐related, and

attributed to another deeper source. Renouard (1955) and Beydoun (1977) had also discussed the same rock units and the latter even proposed probable Devonian/Silurian sources for the Hasbaya asphalts.

The presented conceptual petroleum model incorporates offshore, margin and onshore potential prospects. Offshore and margin prospects will be highlighted through the discussion of seismic profiles (after Roberts and Peace, 2007; and new PGS 3D seismic sections; courtesy of Per Helge Semb, 2008). Here, the focus will be chiefly dedicated to the Miocene rock units, underlying the Messinian salts. Insights into the prospectivity of Triassic potential reservoir units in onshore central‐northern Lebanon are presented, where the “Qartaba” structure has been investigated.

HYDROCARBON SHOWS

Based on recent seismic and satellite seep studies more than 200 seep features were identified offshore Lebanon; some of which were associated with clear migration pathways through deep‐seated faults on seismic sections (Roberts and Peace, 2007). This clearly shows that indications for Lebanese hydrocarbon prospects are not lacking.

The most important hydrocarbon surface indication in Lebanon is present in the region of Hasbaya (Fig. 2). There, asphalt has been exploited since the pre‐Christian times. It is found in Senonian rocks (the Chekka Formation), usually filling fractures. Renouard (1955) suggested that these asphalts are the shows of an active migration whose origin is deep, based on the nature of the hydrocarbon and that of the surrounding rocks. Viscous asphalt was

Figure 1. Simplified map showing the Eastern Mediterranean region and the extent of Triassic‐Jurassic basins with the major known oil fields (modified and updated from May, 1991).


3

G&G STUDIES coordinated by Hugo Matias

encountered at the top of the Chekka Formation in the Yohmor‐1 well (Fig. 2). Caves and old mining pits partially filled with recent (flowing) asphalt and tar are found in the vicinities of the Hasbaya, Sohmor and Yohmor villages. Gas was also found deeper in the Senonian strata, causing a blow out estimated to be in the order of 50m3/day during drilling and testing works. The composition of the gas was approximately 85% methane and 15% heavier fractions. Gas shows were also found in the nearby Paleocene limestones intruded by Sohmor‐1 (Beydoun, 1977). Some asphalts have also been located in a fault zone in Cenomanian rocks along Ouadi Challita (Metrit village; Fig. 2). These asphalts are found in marco‐vugs together with quartz cement in dolostones. Common oil traces occur in the Jurassic limestone and dolostone rocks of northern Lebanon. These are diffuse impregnations (soluble in chloroform), usually structurally controlled (occurring along faults, fractures; unpublished report – Renouard, 1967).

Bitumen/coal shows are found in the Chekka area: commonly small (10s of cm long), isolated in the clay and generally surrounded by diffusion rings. In the El Qaa borehole (northern Bekaa), small amounts of bitumen were encountered at 1585m below surface (in Cenomanian strata). In the Terbol‐1 borehole (northern Lebanon), the Cenomanian rocks are characterized by bitumen (covering the whole rock‐unit), the Aptian strata include one bitumen show, and some Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) rocks include up to 10% of solid hydrocarbons (at 2170 and 2572m below ground level; Ukla, 1970).

CONCLUSION

A conceptual schematic model is presented and aims to offer the basis for future, serious investigations and exploration drilling in Lebanon. The model describes major types of offshore, margin and onshore plays:

Offshore and margin plays may consist of local reef platfrom structures of Miocene age, sandstone and turbidites (Cretaceous and Cenozoic). Such plays are sealed with the overlying Messinian salts. The timing of hydrocarbon migration should be constrained. If it can be demonstrated that the sealing occurred before migration, a “layered cake” stratigraphic pattern scenario may be met. Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene strata reservoirs will be isolated by the evaporites, volcanics, clays and marls, as well as the Messinian salts, which acts as a heat conductor and may save the underlying source rocks from over‐cooking.

The Qartaba Structure, situated in northern Mount Lebanon may constitute the best onshore play for Triassic (or pre‐Jurassic) prospects. The structure has a length that may reach 75km and a width ranging between 10 and 25km. It also provides optimal locations for exploration wells reaching the Carboniferous. The Ile du Palmier Structure, situated offshore Tripoli (northern Lebanon), where the continental shelf is the widest along the Lebanese coastline, may target the various formations classically known to produce and accumulate hydrocarbon. █

ACKNOWELEDGMENTS

Special thanks to Per Helge Semn (PGS) and his colleagues for very interesting discussions and help in improving this work.

REFERENCES Beydoun, Z. R., 1977, Petroleum prospects of Lebanon: Reevaluation: AAPG Bulletin, v. 61, no. 1, p. 43‐64. Beydoun, Z. R., 1981, Some open questions relating to the petroleum prospects of Lebanon: Journal of Petroleum Geology, v. 3, no. 3, p. 303‐314. Dubertret, L., 1955, Carte géologique du Liban au 1/200000 avec notice explicative: Beirut, République Libanaise, Ministère des Travaux Publiques, 74 p. May, P. R., 1991, The Eastern Mediterranean Mesozoic Basin: evolution and oil habitat: AAPG Bulletin, v. 75, p. 1215‐1232. Nader, F. H. and R. Swennen, 2004. The hydrocarbon potential of Lebanon: new insights from regional correlations and studies of Jurassic dolomitization: Journal of Petroleum Geology, v. 27, no. 3, p. 253‐275. Renouard, G., 1955, Oil Prospects of Lebanon: AAPG Bulletin, v. 39, no. 11, p. 2125‐2169. Renouard, G., 1967, Structural map of Qartaba horst and surrounding area: Unpublished report, 6 p., 12 plates. Roberts, G., and D. Peace, 2007. Hydrocarbon plays and prospectivity of the Levantine Basin, offshore Lebanon and Syria from seismic data: GeoArabia, v. 12, no. 3, p. 99‐124. Ukla, S., 1970, Subsurface geology and well correlation in north and central Lebanon: Master's thesis, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, 125 p.

Figure 3. A) Interpreted seismic line offshore Lebanon presenting some of the major types of offshore and margin plays (from Roberts and Peace, 2007). B) Proposed petroleum system model for onshore Lebanon (Nader and Swennen, 2004).

Figure 2. Simplified geological map of Lebanon showing the locations of the seven exploration wells and reported hydrocarbon shows (Dubertret, 1955; Ukla, 1970, Beydoun, 1977).


4

R&D PROJECTScoordinated by Fadi Nader

Dionisos - 3D Stratigraphic Modelling of Sedimentary Basins

Didier Granjeon IFP, 1 & 4 Av. Bois Préau, 92852 Rueil‐Malmaison, France

Website: www.ifp.fr; Email: [email protected]

INTRODUCTION

As oil becomes less and less accessible, one of the biggest challenges is to find new opportunities in frontier areas such as in pre‐salt carbonates or in deep sea clastic layers, which both are complex heterogeneous sedimentary systems. Sequence stratigraphic conceptual models (e.g. Catuneanu et al, 2009) are very helpful to analyze a sedimentary system, but they are usually limited to a few parameters such as accommodation and sediment supply, cannot provide quantitative evaluation of strata architecture and address uncertainties. Stratigraphic forward numerical models have been developed since the early 1960s. They represent the dynamics of sedimentary systems and simulate the filling of sedimentary basins. This project is based on Dionisos, a stratigraphic forward model developed at IFP since 1992 (Granjeon, 1996, Granjeon and Joseph, 1999, Granjeon, 2009).

METHODOLOGY

Dionisos is a process‐based modelling tool that accounts for accommodation, supply and transport. Accommodation is controlled by sea level variations, plus basin and strata deformation induced by compaction, vertical uplift and subsidence, thrusts and growth faults, salt and shale diapirs (Figure 1). Supply of sediment may correspond either to boundary condition (inflow / outflow of water and sediment into / out of the simulated area), basement erosion, carbonate production or evaporite precipitation. Short‐term transport

processes are lumped in two large‐scale processes: a slow hillslope creeping and a fast water‐driven overland sheet flow. The creeping of sediment is assumed to be proportional to the local slope of the landscape, while the sheet flow is defined using a non‐linear slope‐ and water discharge‐dependent law. Sedimentation and erosion at each point of the basin is defined from the mass conservation equation and these transport equations. Sedimentation occurs at a point of the basin if the transport capacity decreases. On the contrary, erosion occurs if the transport capacity increases. In such a case, the erosion rate predicted by the transport equation cannot exceed a maximum mechanical incision rate.

APPLICATIONS

To illustrate these principles, two nested Dionisos simulations of the Rhone system are presented (Figure 2): a first modeling was performed at a regional scale (300 x 450 km²), to capture the long‐term and large‐scale behavior of this sedimentary system, then a second modeling was performed at a more local scale (60 x 90 km²), to better study the impact of shelf dynamics on deep‐water turbiditic systems. To keep this project simple, accommodation was kept constant. Water and sediment were supplied through a narrow source located on the head of the Petit Rhone deep sea canyon. Fluxes of water and sediment were assumed to vary through time as in‐phase sinusoidal functions. Four climatic cycles were simulated with a period of

Figure 1. Dionisos simulation of the Mexican margin of the Gulf of Mexico during the Mio‐Pliocene (please note the interaction between structural and sedimentary processes).


5


120 ky (the simulated time span is 400 ky). During times of high water and sediment inflow, water velocity and sediment concentration at the head of the canyon were high enough to generate strong hyperpycnal flows, the strength of which increased progressively inside the canyon due to water incorporation. These fluxes generated detached lobes far away from the canyon mouth. On the opposite, during times of low water and sediment inflow, sediment concentration was not very high and weak hyperpycnal flows fed the turbiditic system, inducing a relative starvation of the system. Despite the simplicity of the parameters, this simulation provides insights into the distribution and morphology of the Petit‐Rhone deep‐sea fan, which can be applied to conceptual and quantitative models of large‐scale turbiditic system architecture.

CONCLUSION

Stratigraphic forward models such as Dionisos are powerful tools to simulate in three dimensions the interaction between climatic, tectonic and sedimentary processes. The evolution of sedimentary basins can now be investigated from source to sink, and a series of questions on complex sedimentary systems can be approached such as: how evaporite interfingers with carbonate to form seals and traps? Which is the role of shelf‐edge deltas as sand staging areas between fluvial sources and deep‐water sinks (e.g. Burgess and Steel, 2008, Somme et al, 2009)? Such a modeling allows us to test different sequence stratigraphic conceptual models, and thus to reduce uncertainties in the prediction of stratigraphic architecture and sedimentary facies distribution of frontier areas (e.g. Burgess et al, 2006, Alzaga‐Ruiz et al, 2009). █

REFERENCES

Alzaga‐Ruiz, H., Granjeon, D., Lopez, M., Seranne, M., Roure, F., 2009. Gravitational collapse and Neogene sediment transfert across the western margin of the Gulf of Mexico: insights from numerical models. Tectonophysics 470, n. 1‐2, 21‐41

Burgess, P.M., Lammers, H., Van Oosterhout, C., Granjeon, D, 2006. Multivariate sequence stratigraphy: tackling complexity and uncertainty with stratigraphic forward modeling, multiple scenarios and conditional frequency maps. AAPG Bulletin 90, 1883‐1901.

Burgess, P.M., and Steel, R., 2008, Stratigraphic forward modeling of basin margin clinoform systems: Implications for controls on topset and shelf width and timing of formation of shelf‐edge deltas: SEPM Sp. Pub., v. 90, p. 35–45.

Catuneanu, O., Abreu, V., Bhattacharya, J.P., Blum, M.D., Dalrymple, R.W., Eriksson, P.G., Fielding, C.R., Fisher, W.L., Galloway, W.E., Gibling, M.R., Giles, K.A., Holbrook, J.M., Jordan, R., Kendall, C.G.St.C., Macurda, B., Martinsen, O.J., Miall, A.D., Neal, J.E., Nummedal, D., Pomar, L., Posamentier, H.W., Pratt, B.R., Sarg, J.F., Shanley, K.W., Steel, R.J., Strasser, A., Tucker, M.E., and Winker, C., 2009, Toward the standardization of sequence stratigraphy: Earth‐Science Reviews, v. 92, p. 1–33.

Granjeon, D., 1996. Modelisation stratigraphique deterministe—conception et applications d’un modele diffusif 3D multilithologique. Memoires Geosciences Rennes, PhD Dissertation. Geosciences Rennes, Rennes, France, 189 pp.

Granjeon, D., Joseph, P., 1999. Concepts and applications of a 3‐D multiple lithology, diffusive model in stratigraphic modeling. Numerical experiments in stratigraphy: recent advances in stratigraphic and sedimentologic computer simulations. SEPM Spec. Publ. 62, 197– 210.

Granjeon, D., 2009. 3D stratigraphic modeling of sedimentary basins. AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90090©2009 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Denver, Colorado, June 7‐10, 2009.

Somme, T.O., Helland‐Hansen, W., Granjeon, D., 2009. Impact of eustatic amplitude variations on shelf morphology, sediment dispersal, and sequence stratigraphic interpretation: Icehouse versus greenhouse systems. Geology 37, 587‐590.

Figure 2. Dionisos nested simulations of the evolution of the Rhone system during the Neogene (T=400 ky): (a) source‐to‐sink modeling of the Rhone river and Gulf of Lions (300 x 450 km²), showing the morphology of the system during the last relative sea level fall (please note the shelf delta which makes the link between the Rhone and deep‐sea systems), (b) appraisal scale modeling of the Petit Rhone deep‐sea fan (60 x 90 km²), illustrating the complexity of the internal architecture of the simulated turbiditic system, with amalgamated channels near the mouth of the Petit Rhone canyon, evolving downstream to


6


Oil and Gas Shale : Can the Classical Basin Modelling be useful to Quantify Reserves ?

I. Moretti , F Lorant, D Jarvie, F Behar

IFP, 1 & 4 Av. Bois Préau, 92852 Rueil-Malmaison, France Website: www.ifp.fr; Email: [email protected]

In the last few years the so called unconventional reserves have become more crucial for the evaluation of the total world hydrocarbon (HC) reserves. With the dramatic increase in production from the gas shale, mainly in the North America, the resources of the HC trapped within the source rocks have been published in numerous papers. This announced revolution became real for everybody when at the end of 2009, the USA surpassed Russia and occupied the first place in gas reserves worldwide. The estimated resources grew very quickly and the threat of the lack of energy supply has been post‐dated for the next century. However, resources are far to be reserves, and still farther to be proven reserves.

One issue for explorationists in the HC industry has always been to predict the HC in place and the quantity that could be extracted from them. Petroleum system modelling is commonly used to predict occurrences of oil and gas accumulations. When this is completed, then trap sizes are assessed and reservoir modelling could be achieved, taking into account porosity and compartmentalization of the reservoir beds. The quantification of oil and gas in place within shaly source rocks required the development of a new methodology since the size of the plays are not simply related to geometrical characteristics (such as size of the traps, and thickness and porosity of the reservoirs). During the last decade, the lack of adequate methods was not fully appreciable since the gas shale industry has been driven by many rather small independent oil and gas companies focused on the economy of each individual well. The more recent involvement of the majors that now target such shale plays and the need of the decision makers to have more realistic numbers for reserves advocates for more accurate modelling of such reservoirs and the quantity of oil and gas that they hold.

IFP has fully understood the current situation and is actively working on the upgrade of its exploration workflow for oil and gas shale exploration. Exploration requires regional knowledge and, as such, IFP is part of the Gas Shales in Europe (GASH) consortium that started in 2009 (www.gas‐shales.org). This consortium, coordinated by B. Horsfield and M. Schulz from GFZ in Potsdam, Germany aims to combine the effort of numerous research centres in Europe to estimate the European shale gas potential and speed up

technological breakthrough in gas shale production, taking advantage of the experiences derived from North American basins (such as the Barnett and Marcellus shales). The consortium is funded by seven oil companies to date (Horsfield et al., 2010). The work program of GASH is shared among the construction of an European data base (under the responsibility of TNO), regional studies coordinated by IFP and reservoir scale study coordinated by C. Aplin from the Newcastle university.

In addition, IFP is working on an upgrade to its quantitative tools that encompass the various steps in an exploration workflow: restoration tools that allow up to 3D restoration with a link to a geomechanical model, sequence stratigraphy forward model, basin modelling and fracture network evaluation. Recent developments of the kinetics for a full compositional description of both primary and secondary craking enables computation of mass balances between expelled and retained hydrocarbons with increasing source rock maturity (Behar et al., 2008). Beyond the oil window, the retained compounds undergo secondary cracking and the mature kerogen generates a second pulse of dry gas.

Basin simulators were originally designed to account for the formation and the evolution in space and time of hydrocarbon systems. Some geologists may are contemplating the accuracy of these techniques to assess the occurrence of continuous, not structurally controlled, accumulations. Non‐expelled HC – and so retained HC within the source rocks – have always been quantified by these tools, and as a result secondary cracking of retained HC and late primary cracking of the kerogen have already been successfully modelled. Basin simulations can be achieved to better delineate thermal maturity levels reached by the source rock in a gas and oil shale play. Total generated HC mass can also be easily derived from predicted maturity maps. At a straightforward level, the current basin modelling tools have indeed been used in unconventional plays: for instance TEMIS has been successfully used a long time ago for the Williston basin (Burrus et al., 1995 and 1996) and has allowed the authors to solve some of the paradoxes of this oil system. More recently, Lorant et al. (2010) used them for the Barnett shale gas system to compute the sensitivity

Penn.

North South

Cretaceous

Cisco

Canyon

Strawn

Lower

Ellenberger

Viola Simpson

Barnett

mass of gas (kg/m2)

0 m

1000 m

2000 m

3000 m

Figure 1. Mass of gas within the Barnett Shale, North South section from Lorant et al. (2010).


7


response of the gas accumulation size to holistic petrophysical and geochemical factors.

However, improvements are still needed. For example, when working a conventional play, averaging the quality of the source rock and simplifying the expulsion to a threshold of water versus HC saturation within the porosity, have a low impact on the result of the modelling. Except in very mature exploration areas where the knowledge of the source rocks is sufficient to allow quantitative description of the HC using compositional kinetic parameters, simplification of the expulsion process is not an issue. Nor is the final decision of the exploration manager to drill neither the P50 of individual plays affected by the weakness of the expulsion model. Similarly, averaging the organic matter within the source rock does not influence the results considerably.

To help explorationists and economists to locate wells in a gas shale area and, subsequently, to have an accurate evaluation of the reserves, technological improvements are also needed. Since gas shale results from a balance between retention and expulsion processes, advanced fluid flow modelling is required, coupling both charging and discharging mechanisms within the source rock. To account precisely for the physics of gas displacement, storage and sorption within tight shales, improvement of the current tools are required and also the workflow itself has to be revised: fracture porosity has to be incorporated within the source rock description as well as the spatial variability. The current tools for restoration and fracture analyses and sequence stratigraphy allow such use but on high porosity beds of conventional reservoirs. New workflow and additional calibration will be done using a natural case study. In addition IFP is acquiring datasets characterizing gas sources by measurement of compositional kinetic parameters of the source rocks present within the gas shale provinces. Following, the recent kinetic scheme proposed by Behar et al., (2008, 2010), kerogen decomposes first into NSO compounds, which are the main source of gas and oil. Thus, expelled oil composition is controlled by the secondary cracking and the mobility of this polar fraction. In a second step, mature kerogen generates dry gas. Ongoing IFP research work (Jarvie et al., 2010) is to couple this integrated kinetic scheme for gas generation with an isotopic modelling of both methane and ethane generation in order to predict the isotopic composition of these two gas in geological conditions. We are also enhancing the numerical models

by taking into account additional physical processes such as the friction effects during gas migration in shale. Sensitivity analysis will be also done that will provide guidelines to the explorationist on key parameters that will lead to prediction of gas‐in‐place in the shale (source rock characteristics, shale characteristics, initial porosity, permeability, expulsion threshold, adsorption parameters, pressure regime...). Case studies area scheduled by the IFP team on the Paris and South‐east French basins where continuous reservoirs could be looked for; we are taking advantage of our proper geochemical data base containing more than 45000 Rock Eval analysis only for the national territories, from wells or outcrops. █

REFERENCES

Behar, F., Lorant, F., Lewan, M.D., 2008. Elaboration of a new compositional kinetic schema for oil cracking. Organic Geochemistry 39, 764‐782.

Behar, F., Lorant, F., Mazeas, L., 2008. Role of NSO compounds during primary cracking of a Type II kerogen and a Type III lignite. Organic Geochemistry 39, 1‐22.

Behar, F., Jarvie, D., Roy, S., 2010. Artificial maturation of a Type I kerogen in closed system: mass balances and kinetic modeling. Organic Geochemistry, submitted.

Burrus J. Osadetz K., Wolf S., Doligez, B., Visser K. and D Dearborn, 1995. Resolution of Williston Basin Oil system paradoxes Through Basin Modeling. Seventh International Williston Basin Symposium. Montana July 1995.

Burrus J. Osadetz K., Wolf S., Doligez, B., Visser K. and D Dearborn, 1996. A Two‐dimensional Regional Basin Model of Williston Basin Hydrocarbon Systems. AAPG Bulletin, V 80, N°2, 265‐291.

Jarvie D., Behar F., Roy S. (2010), Decomposition of Organic Matter and Impact on Shale Resource Play Assessments , AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, 11‐14 April 2010, New Orleans, LA (oral presentation);

Horsfield et coauthors, (2010) Shale gas research: the way forward for Europe. Oilfeild technology. March.

Lorant F., Jarvie D., Moretti I. (2010) Can conventional basin modelling predict gas shale occurrence? A case study from the Fort Worth Basin, TX (USA), EAGE, Shale workshop.

HOW TO RECEIVE THE AAPG-ER NEWSLETTER

AAPG members are automatically associated with the Region that corresponds with their mailing address. For example, Rio de Janeiro mailing address will be assigned for purposes of AAPG mailings, etc. with the Latin American Region. To change this designation, a member need only contact AAPG Headquarters by email and request their the Region assignment on their membership record be changed.

Requests for this change are directed to Linda Burris at [email protected]. █


8

WORLDWIDE GEO PICTUREScoordinated by Francisco Porturas

(As a part of the outreach program of the AAPG European Region, this section is dedicated to inform about geo‐activities from operators and academia and to build a Geo‐Catalogue of the most spectacular outcrops)

Photo 1. Students from the Norwegian Inter‐Academic Program also named “Floating University” (5 universities: NTNU, UiO, UiT, UiB and UiS), on a field trip to Medium Fjellet (Spitzbergen). Nicolai Lenning, a student from the University of Stavanger, hold the AAPG logo. (Photo: Prof. Helge Langeland, Norwegian University of Technology, 78 degrees North!!).

Photo 2 Geo‐view of Medium Fjellet, an outcrop of Permian age. The carbonate platform covered a large area of the Barents Sea and Spitzbergen region. Diabase intrusions are from Trias age. This outcrop is subject to geo‐mapping, interpretation, seismic response modeling and reservoir characterization as part of the integrated field trip for G&G and engineering students.


9


Photo 3. Location of Spitzbergern within the Arctic Ocean framework.

Festningen

Storvola

Akseløya

MediumfjelletStudentdalen

Billefjord

Longyearbyen

Festningen

Storvola

Akseløya

MediumfjelletStudentdalen

Billefjord

Longyearbyen

Photo 4. Geo‐site locations, for the Norwegian Inter_Academic field work


10


• Permian deposition from the carbonate platform which covered a large area of the Barents sea and Spitzbergen

• Diabase intrusions from Trias


11

CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS

APPEX 2010 – Online Registration NOW OPEN

Just a quick not to remind you about next years APPEX conference in London, which will again be held at the Design Centre, between Tuesday 2nd and Thursday 4th March 2010.

The following flyer will hopefully be of interest APPEX 2010 Flyer : http://www.appexlondon.com/documents/APPEX2010_BrochureDec0409use.pdf . REGISTRATION: Online delegate registration is now open and can accessed via the following link: www.appexlondon.com/Registration.cfm PROGRAMME: The speaker programme is also now coming together including some new themes and a new format for ‘keynote session’ which will open the programme. This will involve a ‘Global Panel Presentation & discussion. The following link should open the provisional programme as it currently stands, which will continue to evolve and be updated as invites are confirmed: http://www.appexlondon.com/documents/SpeakerScheduleDec1709.pdf EXHIBITION & SPONSORSHIP: Exhibition registration and sponsorship has already started add gathering pace with a range of new players already signed up for 2010 including those detailed on the new 2010 APPEX flyer and website. If sponsoring this event and getting in front of a large global A&D audience is something that might interest you please feel free to contact our

UK based sponsorship coordinator Jackie Banner (who can be contacted directly E: [email protected]).Minimum sponsorship is only £600 where ones logo is then added to the website, conference flyers and liberally brandished at the event itself. All queries regarding the exhibition should be directed to Steph Benton at the AAPG in Tulsa ([email protected]). See also the exhibition and sponsorship guide for the options from the following link: http://www.appexlondon.com/documents/APPEX2010ExhibitionSponsorshipDec4‐09.pdf For any additional information please feel free to explore the www.appexlondon.com website and I and/or the AAPG European office in London would be delighted to assist further if you ca no find what you need or if you have any queries at all. █

Mike Lakin APPEX 2010 Chairman

c/o Envoi Limited, 11 Cowper Road, London W7 1EL T: +44 (0)20 8566 1310

E: [email protected] For general APPEX queries and/or requests please also feel free to contact:

The AAPG European Region Office in London T: +44 (0)20 7434 1399 E: [email protected]

Seafloor Expression of Tectonic and Geomorphic Processes Vienna, Switzerland

2nd – 7th May 2010

Dear colleagues,

We would like to draw your attention to our session GM10.4/TS4.9 'Seafloor expression of tectonic and geomorphic processes' during the EGU 2010 meeting, that will be held in Vienna from 02‐07 May 2010.

We would like to bring together scientists from a variety of disciplines (e.g. geomorphology, marine geology and geophysics, modeling, geotechnics, geochemistry, geodynamics, volcanology) in order to examine the causes and consequences of the underwater landscape.

The deadline for abstract submission is January, 18th 2010. A short description of the session is given below.

We look forward to your participation and contribution Sebastian Krastel Neil Mitchell Colin Jacobs Dina Vachtman

The shape of the seafloor preserves a wealth of information reflecting the time‐integrated effects of tectonic, sedimentary and volcanic processes. Many such processes are hazards to coastal populations and offshore installations and thus key objectives of national research programmes and of the IODP expeditions. High quality bathymetry, especially when combined with sub‐seafloor and/or seabed measurements, provides an exciting opportunity to combine the approaches of geomorphology and geophysics and to extend quantitative geomorphology offshore. This interdisciplinary session aims to examine the causes and consequences of the underwater landscape. The goal is to bring together researchers who characterize the shapes of seafloor features, seek to understand the sub‐surface and surface processes at work and their impacts, or use bathymetry as a model input. Contributions to this session can include work from any depth or physiographic region, e.g. oceanic plateaux, abyssal hills, mid‐ocean ridges, accretionary wedges and continental margins from abyss to shelf seas. Datasets of any scale from satellite‐predicted depth to ultra high‐resolution swath are anticipated. We welcome any exciting submissions in the spirit of the session. █


12


AAPG-Europe Short Courses and Other Activities

Register now for… 'GEOLOGIC MAPPING & CROSS‐SECTION TECHNIQUES', BY JEWEL WELLBORN WITH HED INC. – SHORT COURSE FOR STUDENTS & PROFESSIONALS

Description: New computer training course for both students and professionals focusing on data management, computer mapping and cross‐section design, using the PETRA software program. This course has been designed with exercises that can be carried out in any of the available software currently on the market and is aimed at beginning to intermediate level users. Students participating in the AAPG IBA program and who will be using computer software for that competition are encouraged to participate.

Date: 7 – 11 June 2010 Location: AAPG European Technology Training Centre, Imperial College, London

For further details and to register for this course please visit the AAPG‐Europe website at http://europe.aapg.org/?page_id=73

'LESSONS LEARNED & TO BE LEARNED FROM AN INITIAL UNSUCCESSFUL DRILLING VENTURE'

Join us for....A new one day symposium focusing on case studies from around the World, which provide valuable insights into how oil & gas professionals have actually gained significant "value" from an initial unsuccessful drilling venture.

Date: 1 March 2010 Location: Islington Business Design Centre

Please check the AAPG‐Europe website for further details at http://europe.aapg.org 'PETROLEUM GEOLOGY FOR FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS' BY EDWARD BEAUMONT, CONSULTANT, TULSA, U.S.

New....A one day short course for financial professionals who evaluate the risk and value of oil and gas investments. The application of geologic principles to petroleum exploration and production projects lowers investment risk. The geology of an oil and gas field determines its financial performance. Understanding the role geology plays in the amount and rate of oil and gas production helps one to evaluate oil and gas plays more effectively.

Date: 5 March 2010 Location: Islington Business Design Centre

Please check the AAPG‐Europe website for further details at http://europe.aapg.org

EDUCATION WEEK

Introducing....The region's first Education Week. This exciting new event will be held in Aberdeen and will have an offering of five full days of three parallel Geoscience training sessions to choose from throughout the week.

Date: 26 ‐ 30 April 2010 Location: To Be Determined

Please check the AAPG‐Europe website for further details at http://europe.aapg.org AAPG-Europe Lunches Aberdeen Oil Finders Lunch An increasingly popular informal monthly lunch meeting held in Aberdeen, organized by the AAPG Aberdeen Committee to discuss current UK exploration business and related exploration topics Next Aberdeen Oil Finders Lunch: 4 March 2010 Topic: An Exploration Strategy in the UK, from Near Field Satellites Through to High Impact Company Makers Speaker: Justin Morrison, Valiant Petroleum plc. Future Aberdeen Oil Finders Lunches: 6 May 2010 Topic: NW Greenland Exploration Challenges Speaker: Dave Lewis, Chevron North Sea Limited For further details and to register for the Aberdeen Oil Finders Lunch please visit the AAPG‐Europe website at http://europe.aapg.org/?page_id=18 .█

77th Annual Meeting of the VSP‐ASP

19th-21st June 2010 at Stresa (Lago Maggiore, Italy)

The annual meeting 2010 between 19th and 21st June is taking place at Stresa (Italy) situated on the shores of beautiful Lago Maggiore. The convention is dedicated to the geology of the Southern Alps, particularly to the “Zone of Ivrea”. Highlight of the excursion is the visit to a worldwide unique location, where alpine movements expose a sequence from southern alpine sediments and volcanics, through the upper and lower earth crust into the upper mantle.

Leaders of the field trips will be Peter Brack and Peter Ulmer (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, ETHZ).

Stresa can easily be reached by rail or car by way of the Simplon route or via Locarno ‐ Ascona. The closest airport is “Milano Malpensa” (some 50 km to the south). Stresa presents itself as a suitable location for the meeting (and holidays), due to its numerous hotels, its situation at a lake shore, surrounded by south‐alpine mountains.

Saturday afternoon is reseved for presentations on the geology of the southern Alps and on hydrocarbon geology.

Sunday: Visit of “Val Sesia” west of Stresa. Starting with originally near‐surface magmatic rocks of Permian age (volcanic rocks: ignimbrites and rhyolites; plutonites: granite and diorite) we follow a series of gneiss and amphibolite of the upper crust (“Serie dei Laghi”) and the ‘stratigraphically’ deeper rocks of the lower crust (“Ivrea‐Verbano Zone”). The latter consist mainly of high‐grade metamorphic metapelites (kinzigite, stronalite) and basic magmatic rocks (diorite, gabbro). At the end of the day we shall see outcrops of peridodites from the sub‐continental upper mantle.

Monday provides another opportunity to study south‐alpine upper and lower crustal rocks, now in the section of “Val d’Ossola”. Of special interest is a visit to the marble quarry of Candoglia. For centuries this has been used exclusively to provide building materials for the Dome of Milan. Access to this quarry requires a special permit from the offices of the archbishop of Milan. In addition, one gets an impressive view of the course of the “Insubric Line”, marking the border between the Southern Alps to the northwest, and the Central Alps.

The final programme of the Annual Meeting and documents for the registration will be published on the Web Site http://www.vsp‐asp.ch. Participants of AAPG are welcome. █


13


Deep-Water Circulation: Processes & Products Pontevedra, Spain

16th – 18th June 2010

An international congress "Deep‐water Circulation: Processes & Products" is being organized in Baiona (Pontevedra, Spain) on 16, 17 and 18 June, 2010. You are cordially invited to participate in this exciting congress.

Since we started to distribute the first circular of this event with the official publication of the Web Page last March 2009, many people have expressed their interest on the topics of the Congress and sent suggestions. The Organizing Committee would like to thank all concerned for the really positive feedback to the First Circular, much of which has been incorporated into our planning.

The main aim of this Congress will be integrating deep‐bottom current circulation, sedimentary processes, deposits and their implication for palaeoceanographic reconstructions. This will lead to better understanding the oceans’ role in the global climate system; recognising contourites as a new target for economic resources; and consideration of specific biota and deep‐water ecosystems related to bottom current circulation. This has become a truly multidisciplinary meeting. We have now updated the Web Page and hereby distribute the attached Second Circular.

We aim to provide a scientifically stimulating and socially enjoyable forum to meet and discuss results and ideas related to the conference theme. The meeting should be of interest to both academic and industrial participants, and although it is focused on Deep Water Circulation: Processes & Products, the congress is open to discussion of shallow water and even lacustrine drifts.

We identify five major goals and a number of related topics are defined:

‐ Characterization of the depositional and erosional elements associated with individual contourite drifts, hiatuses, and with more complex Contourite Depositional Systems (CDSs).

‐ Detailed understanding of deep‐water‐mass circulation, including the flow of bottom currents around submarine obstacles, their behaviour and variability in response to tides and benthic storms, and their role in the construction of drifts and bedforms.

‐ Comparisons between bottom current and gravity flow processes and products, including hemipelagic/pelagic sedimentation.

‐ Careful review of existing facies models (on outcropping ancient deposits and present marine basins), including their association with other deep‐water sediment facies, their occurrence and recognition in both modern and ancient series, and their understanding in terms of bottom current process and variability, for both local and global circulation.

‐ Economic relevance of contourite deposits in the future, especially for oil/gas exploration.

MAIN TOPICS OF THE CONGRESS:

Geostrophic/thermohaline circulation and bottom currents

Modern contourite deposits

Ancient contourite examples

Internal‐waves and internal‐tide deposits

Palaeoceanographic significance

Slope stability significance

Relationship between deep‐water circulation, gravity flows and submarine slope stability

Deep‐bottom current measurements and sediment traps: current state‐of‐the‐art.

Numerical and physical modelling of processes

Environmental, tectonic and other controlling factors on process and deposits

Innovation and new technologies and methods

Driver of deep‐water ecosystems

Benthic communities associated with hard grounds and cold‐water coral ecosystems

Geological risk on submarine cables, pipelines, etc.

Economic importance: fishing, mineral (Fe‐Mn nodules, crusts) and energy (oil, gas, shallow gas, hydrates, etc) resources.

More detailed information in the attached 2nd Circular and the updated Web page at: http://www.facultadeccdomar.es/contourites. █

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

F. J. Hernández‐Molina (Univ. Vigo, Spain)

D. A. V. Stow (Heriot‐Watt Univ., UK)

M. Rebesco (OGS, Italy)

E. Llave (IGME, Spain)

D. Van Rooij (RCMG, Belgium)

J. T. Vázquez (IEO, Spain)

G. Ercilla (ICM‐CSIC, Spain)

A. Voelker (LNEG, Portugal)

A. Mena (Univ. Vigo, Spain)


14


American Association of Petroleum Geologists Europe Region Annual Conference & Exhibition

The Ukrainian House • Kiev, Ukraine 17th – 19th October 2010

Industry and academia professionals and students are invited to submit abstracts for the AAPG Europe Region Annual Conference & Exhibition. The technical program committee encourages abstracts that relate to any of the topics listed below but with special emphasis on the Black Sea and Caspian region. The planned sessions and formats (oral or poster) may be modified depending on actual submittals. Visit www.AAPG.org/Kiev for abstract submittal updates and additional information.

Planned technical sessions for the AAPG Europe Region 2010 Annual Conference Technical Program include:

• Ukrainian Black Sea — Regional and

Petroleum Geology • Romanian and Bulgarian Black Sea —

Regional and Petroleum Geology • Turkish Black Sea — Regional and Petroleum

Geology • Georgian and Russian Black Sea — Regional

and Petroleum Geology • The Pre‐Caspian Basin of Russia and

Kazakhstan — Regional and Petroleum Geology

• The North Caspian of Azerbaijan, Russia and Kazakhstan — Regional and Petroleum Geology

• The South Caspian of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan — Regional and Petroleum Geology

• The South Caspian of Iran — Regional and Petroleum Geology

• Formation of the Black Sea and Caspian Basins and the Paleogeography of Pre‐, Syn‐ and Post‐Rift Stages

• Paratethyan Correlation Challenges and Sequence Stratigraphy

• Source‐to‐Sink Project: Quantification of Mass Transfer from Mountain Ranges to Sedimentary Basins in the Danube — Black Sea System

• Basin Modelling — Models and Applications in the Circum‐Black Sea/Caspian Region

• Game‐changing Discoveries in the Black Sea and Caspian Region

• Geophysics of the Black Sea and Caspian Region • Resource Assessment — Theory and Practice in

the Broader Black Sea and Caspian Region • Unconventional Exploration • Geochemistry — Constraints on Source,

Generation and Expulsion

• Traditional, Evolving and Untested Plays in the Black Sea and Caspian Region

• The DARIUS Project in the Broader Black Sea and Caspian Region

• Mud Volcanoes and Gas Hydrates — Implications for Exploration

• Non‐seismic Exploration Methods — How New Technology Could Help?

• Structural Geology from Outcrops to Regional Transects

• Folded Belts and Forelands in the Black Sea and Caspian Region

• The Challenge of Exploration in Carbonates — Models and Applications in the Black Sea and Caspian Region

• Student Poster Session with Black Sea and Caspian Region Topics

Signing of the agreement for Kiev 2010

An agreement was signed at the AAPG European Regional Annual Conference in Malmaison, Paris, France at the end of November between the Ukrainian Association of Geologists (UAG) and the AAPG Europe Region.

The Exploration in the Black Sea and Caspian Regions Conference and Exhibition will be held in Kiev from the 17 to 19 October 2010 at the Ukrainian House Conference Centre. Signing took place between the AAPG European Regional President Dr Dave Cook (on the left) and Dr Pavlo Zagorodnyuk, Chairman of the UAG and Chairman of the Nadra Group.

The primary purpose of the Exploration in Black Sea and Caspian regions conference is to provide a venue for the dissemination of scientific and technical knowledge via the delivery of a world‐class conference program with participation of global specialists presenting information regarding relevant achievements, exhibited products and services, to energy industry professionals.

For further details contact the AAPG Europe Region at [email protected]. █

Deadline for submitting abstracts is

15 March 2010.

Abstracts site is now

open


15


II Central & North Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference Lisbon, Portugal

29th September – 1st October 2010

On 29th September to 1st October 2010, an international conference will be convened in Lisbon, Portugal, devoted to addressing issues directly related to basin evolution and petroleum exploration.

Lisbon 2010 – II Central & North Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference – builds on the success of the seminal Halifax 2008 Conference that had over two hundred delegates from 48 companies and 26 government and academic institutions attending from around the world. The goal of the Lisbon 2010 Conference is to again bring together industry and academic geoscientists working in the basins of the Central & North Atlantic and similar passive margin settings, along with their ideas, data and imaginations.

We believe that our Conference, promoted under the theme “Re‐discovering the Atlantic ‐ New winds for an old sea", will act as a catalyst to advance our knowledge on these basins that in turn should improve their prospectivity and enhance industry opportunities. The Conference will include three days of oral and poster presentations, along short courses, a core workshop, field trips and, of course, social events in the beautiful city of Lisbon.

The short‐courses will be offered by two internationally renowned specialists in their fields. Dr. Octavian Catuneanu (University of Alberta, Canada) will present his important contributions to Sequence Stratigraphy and its application to petroleum exploration and production. Dr. Mateu Estebán (Carbonates International, Spain) will offer a course focusing on a multi‐scale approach to understanding Carbonate Reservoirs and related play types.

Two unique four‐day Field Trips are aimed to give overviews of two excellently exposed Atlantic rift‐basins that have many similarities with oil and gas producing Atlantic basins offshore Canada. In Portugal, a complete Late Triassic to Late Cretaceous sequence is exposed in the Lusitanian Basin, recording Mesozoic rift events, resultant sedimentation and final inversion, as well as having excellent exposures of source‐rocks,

reservoirs and petroleum seeps. In Northwest Africa, conjugate to the Nova Scotia margin, this field trip will provide a similar broad view of Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous stratigraphic succession in Morocco, focusing the important petroleum system elements of the Agadir–Essaouira Basin.

The Core Workshop will present and showcase rocks and facies of the main formations of the Portuguese Lusitanian Basin’s evolution within its basinal framework, as well as a detailed case‐study of an active petroleum system on the basin’s onshore.

Keynote speakers will present their interpretations of different important issues, such as geodynamic models for rift‐formation (S. Cloetingh), the evolution of the conjugated Iberia‐Newfoundland margins (G. Manatchal), and the importance of Sequence Stratigraphy for E&P (O. Catuneanu). An opening Round Table discussion, with participation from high‐ranking industry representatives, is also being arranged to give delegates an updated understanding and appreciation of the “Atlantic Issue” from industry’s and each company’s perspectives.

We are excited with the response to date for Lisbon 2010 and we warmly invite you, your professional and academic colleagues and students to join us this autumn, to participate and learn at this important technical gathering. Should you require more information or have questions not addressed here, we would be delighted to have you contact us at your earliest convenience. █

Lisbon is waiting for you!

Nuno Pimentel & Rui Pena dos Reis Co‐Chairs, Lisbon 2010

http://www.conjugatemargins.com.pt

[email protected]

HALIFAX 2008 – http://www.conjugatemargins.com.pt


16


News from ILP Task Force on Sedimentary Basins François Roure

The 2009 workshop of the Task Force 6 of the International Lithosphere Programme (ILP) was held in Abu Dhabi from December 6 to 11th, 2009, being hosted by the Polytecthe Ministry of Energy of the Emirates. Topics discussed during the workshop focused on "Lithosphere dynamics and sedimentary basins: the Arabian plate and analogues".

About 170 participants could join the conference, with 60% of them coming from 10 Middle East countries (Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Koweit, Iran, Irak, Libanon, Syria, Jordan), and 40% from mostly Europe, but also the USA and Canada, whereas 60 people could attend the pre‐ and post‐conference field trips to Al Aïn and the Dibba Zone (see picture).

Proceedings will be available by the end of 2010 in a special issue of the Arabian Journal of Geosciences, and a companion volume to be published by Springer in the Frontiers in Earth Sciences series.

In 2010, the yearly workshop of the Task Force will be held in Tirana, Albania, from November 7 to 12th, being hosted by the Polytechnic University of Tirana (UPTirana), with a pre‐conference field trip to the Kruja Platform and the ophiolites on November 7th, and a post‐conference field trip to Vlora‐Saranda‐Girokastra and Kremenara, across the Ionian Basin, on November 11 and 12th. This ILP workshop will focus on "Dynamics and active processes: the Albanian natural laboratory and analogues", aiming at discussing the following topics/sessions:

• Circum‐Mediterranean, Alpine and Carpathians foreland and thrust belt systems

• Post‐orogenic extension • Paleofluids, petroleum systems and reservoir appraisal • Paleothermometers and unroofing processes • Vertical movements, topography and GPS data • Passive seismic, deep seismic and foothills imagery • Seismicity, plastic versus brittle deformation, natural hazards

(earthquakes, landslides) • Mantle tomography, lithospheric and crustal architecture • Albanides, Dinarides, Hellenides • Adriatic Sea and Apennines, Calabrian and Aegean arcs,

Tyrrhenian and Aegean back‐arcs Dead line for abstract submission (A4 format to [email protected]) is June 15th, 2010. █

Take a Tour of European Resources: Current Status and Perspectives

AAPG European Annual Conference Rueil Malmaison, Paris

23rd - 24th November 2009 The AAPG European Region Annual Conference took place at the IFP in Rueil Malmaison, just outside Paris on 23rd and 24th November last year. Over 270 delegates assembled for a series of oral and poster presentations on all aspects of exploration and development in Europe. Sessions covered the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Atlantic margins, Central and Eastern Europe and also recent technological developments including unconventional resources. The Region was honoured to have opening presentations from David Rensink, the AAPG President‐Elect and Remi Eschard, Director of the Geology, Geochemistry and Geophysics Division of the IFP.

The objective of the conference was to promote interest in exploration in parts of Europe that have not received much attention in the recent past. We believe, from the very positive comments that we received from the delegates, that we have gone a long way to achieving this goal.

In addition to the conference, on 21st November, a number of short courses were held at Paris VI University. Over 50 students and professionals attended courses on geodynamic evolution, structural analysis, CO2 atmospheric change and 3D modelling.

The AAPG European Region would like to thank Francois Roure, the General Chair, the IFP and Paris VI for providing facilities and the many companies that sponsored the event. Last but by no means least we would also like to thank the presenters and the attendees, without whose enthusiastic support the conference would not have been such a success. █

David R. Cook President, AAPG European Region


17

STUDENT CHAPTER & IBAcoordinated by David Contreras

Edinburgh Student Chapter James Bowkett

President of SC

It is all too easy as a student, more perhaps than at other times, to lose contact with the outside world and only to notice the passage of days by the regular pattern of ones lectures. The old routine of '9 til 5' can even grow to look attractive when deadlines come round, it is in the interest of staving of some of this malaise that the Edinburgh Student Chapter are starting a routine of monthly meetings, to complement the meetings of the Geological Society of Edinburgh and the Scottish Oil Club. It is hoped the lecture & workshop series will prove attractive to students, academics and industry professionals by welcoming speakers on a breadth of topics to talk in a relaxed and informal environment.

The committee for 2009/2010 are:

• James Bowkett. James completed an Msci Geoscience from the University of London in 2007 and worked as an Exploration Geologist with Tethys Petroleum Ltd before taking a place on the Geology of Subsurface Exploration, Appraisal and Development course at IPE, Heriot‐Watt.

• Magnus Amaefuna. Magnus is Vice‐President of the Edinburgh Student Chapter. He holds Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and worked for Shell in Nigeria before starting the Reservoir Evaluation and Management MSc at Heriot‐Watt. Magnus’ experience includes Asset Management, Field Development planning and execution, Strategy and Planning and technical business improvement. Magnus is also an active member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and his intellectual interests include hydrocarbon brown field management and geo‐engineering.

• Claire Pierard. Claire graduated from the School of Engineering Geophysics of Strasbourg (EOST) in 2009 before joining the GeoSEAD course at the IPE Heriot‐Watt. Claire is interested in any field of application involving Geology and Geophysics, especially seismic interpretation which was the specific area of her internships in Total and CEPSA.

• Olivier Bouvet. Olivier is French, he recently graduated from Nancy

School of Geology (ENSG) and is now studying for an MSc at IPE, Heriot‐Watt. He discovered the AAPG in 2008, when he became a fervent reader of the Explorer! He was the first President of the ENSG‐AAPG Student Chapter. He enjoyed his first contact with the AAPG and setting up the ENSG Student Chapter. He is Secretary of the Edinburgh AAPG Student Chapter.

Faculty Representatives:

• Helen Lewis.

• Rachel Wood.

Talks:

10th February 2010 ‐ The Freyja Project: uncertainty analysis of geological interpretations. Euan Macrae.

10th March 2010 ‐ Brazilian Salt Tectonics and the Super‐Giant New Oil Discoveries below the salt. Ian Davison.

April 2010 ‐

May 2010 ‐

June 2010 ‐

14th July 2010 ‐ Managing the start‐up of a fractured oil reservoir: Development of the Clair Field West of Shetland. Andrew Witt.

August 2010 ‐

September 2010 ‐

October 2010 ‐

November 2010 ‐

December 2010 ‐ Committee 2008/2009; Salako Olarinre, Matthew Dougherty, Ibimina Pepple Esentia and Rachel Brackenridge.

OPEN POSITION / JOB - Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico The Centro de Geociencias of Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (CGEO‐UNAM) is seeking a researcher to fill a permanent position in the area of Sedimentology and Diagenesis.

The CGEO‐UNAM (www.geociencias.unam.mx) is one of the leading Geoscience research center in Latin America, with high number of publications in high standard peer reviewed journals, state of the art analytical facilities and worldwide collaboration with the academia and the industry.

The CGEO‐UNAM is a multi‐disciplinary geological, geochemistry and geophysical research centre with a staff of 39 researcher and postgraduate fellows, 14 postgraduate technicians, and approximately 75 graduate students.

The analytical facilities include MC‐LA‐ICPMS, SEM, DRX, CL, HPLC, FTIR‐microspectrometer, optical and UV microscopes, Multiphotonic confocal laser microscope, and supercomputing facilities.

Applicants should have a PhD, post doctoral experience and a good scholar record. Specific areas of expertise might include, but are not limited to carbonate and/or silicoclastic diagenesis, sedimentology, instrumentation skills. Creative, open minded individuals with wide scientific interest are preferred. The successful candidate should also have an established record in obtaining research funds, teaching, publishing and working in a collaborative multi‐disciplinary environment.

The chosen candidate is expected to participate with various academic and industry projects, and to develop a successful research program in short time.

We offer attractive salary (amount depending on qualification) and a high quality of life in Queretaro, recently ranked as the top city for quality of life in Mexico. UNAM is committed to equity in employment and diversity, but a Spanish speaking person will be preferred.

Applications should consist of a PDF file containing a letter outlining current and future research interests, CV, and the names and addresses of three references.

Completed PDF files should be addressed to Dr. Luca Ferrari, Director of CGEO ([email protected]). Applications will be evaluated as they are received. Our time frame is relatively short: We will begin reviewing applications by early February and will continue until April or the position is filled. █


18


AAPG Student Chapter Amsterdam Excursion ‘09 Pricaspian Basin Carbonate Analogs in the Pensylnanian of Northern Spain

Quinten van der Meer1 and Thomas Klootwijk2

1 Vicepresident First Board Student Chapter Amsterdam & 2 President First Board Student Chapter Amsterdam

The first field trip organised by the AAPG student chapter Amsterdam took place from the 21st to the 25th of July 2009. This trip was organised as a European exchange fieldtrip to get field experience in specialised carbonate sedimentology and to meet the chapters from Lisbon Portugal, and Aberdeen Scotland. The trip took us to Cantabrian Mountains in the Asturias region in Northern Spain. Seismic‐scale, carbonate platforms of Serpukhovian to Moscovian age closely resemble similar age platforms in the subsurface of the Pricaspian Basin, especially the Tengiz Platform, in Kazakhstan, in size, anatomy, relief, and lithofacies distribution. Outcrops in Asturias provide unique "laboratories" that are used as analogs for subsurface buildups in the Pricaspian Basin.

The primary goal of this fieldtrip is to familiarize the participants with the lithofacies types that form major building blocks of the Pricaspian subsurface platforms. Secondly, to illustrate that lithofacies types are intimately linked to depositional architecture and visa versa and change through time, in part, as a function of relative sea level fluctuations. Only through understanding these fundamental properties and relationships, seismic facies and – anatomy can be successfully interpreted and (seismic) sequence stratigraphic ‐ and reservoir models developed and applied.

The excursion has been very successful. The geology was spectacular and a lot of interesting information and field examples of carbonate mud reefs and their properties was tought. Interest was taken in how they differ from

present day reef systems and why that is important for petroleum exploration and the understanding of climate change and the role of carbonate precipitation therein.

The accommodation and logistics were excellent thanks to good communication with the guides; Juan Bahamonde and Giovanna della Porta. The group of attendants was diverse and interesting. Among the attendants were students from student chapters in Aberdeen, Amsterdam and Lisbon as well as employees from TengizChevroil from Kazakhstan and the United States of America. A diverse mixture of nationalities which together made an interested group of enthusiastic geologists. A group with a common interest in carbonate platforms and the local specialities in Asturias: lots of cider and little bits of goat cheese. Bearing all these in mind, even the bad weather didn’t really mess the trip up.

We were able to keep costs low for all attending students because of sponsorship, mainly by TengizChevroil and the AAPG. Our greatest Thanks goes to them and our other sponsors, to the magnificent guides, Juan Bahamonde and Giovanna della Porta. and to all the attendants. The trip was great! █


19


The Origin of the Barrel Award Dick Selley

In 1975 Dick Selley returned to the Geology Department of Imperial College after years working for oil companies in North Africa and the North Sea. He set about re‐organising the Masters programme in petroleum geology. His oil industry experience had taught him that exploration success depended not only on technical know how, but also on professional skills that were the antithesis of those of academe, particularly the ability to work to a

deadline, to work in a team, to make decisions on inadequate data and to give lucid oral presentations. Accordingly he restructured the Masters programme around a series of solo and team projects. Foremost of these was the ‘Barrel Award’. The class was divided into teams that were carefully constructed with respect to gender, ethnicity, and experience (the class normally consisted of a mix of raw graduates and geologists with several years petroleum industry experience, principally in mud‐logging). The project lasted for some two months, at the conclusion of which the teams had to present and defend their recommended blocks for exploration in the North Sea before a panel of North Sea Exploration Managers. The winning team was awarded the barrel, not of oil, but of beer. This was enjoyed, along with several others, by students, staff and panellists in a modest fiesta at the conclusion of the day.

The first Barrel Award project was in 1976 when there was no publicly available seismic or well data of the North Sea. Each team was given a different geological system to evaluate. In subsequent years, however, as more data became available, the projects assessed successive rounds of UK Continental Shelf licensing. Teams were required to identify 3 blocks

that they considered the most prospective, in terms of reservoir, source rock, burial history and seal, assuming a trap being present, as they had no access to seismic data. Each team had its own office and lockable filing cabinet. Competition for data was fierce and industrial espionage between teams common. Ex oil industry students would use their contacts to swab information. Staff of the petroleum geology group, most of whom were actively consulting for North Sea oil companies, were on hand to offer circumspect advice and support, and to monitor a dress rehearsal of the presentations.

The examining panel of North Sea Exploration Managers were consistently amazed, not only at the professional expertise of the students, but also their acumen. One year a panellist remarked “How come these guys zeroed in on the same blocks as my company, with only their limited data?” The high point of the Barrel Award, however, came when one team identified the Beatrice Field in the Moray Firth as their hottest prospect. Though earlier wells in the area were dry, the British Geological Survey had made public seismic maps that delineated the trap and Dick Selley had pontificated in lectures on how the adjacent onshore Upper Jurassic submarine fan outcrops in Scotland provided a paradigm for offshore plays. All 4 oil company Exploration Managers in the panel had rejected farm‐in offers on the block.

Over the last 30 years the Barrel Award has evolved dramatically. No longer do students stay up into the small hours hand colouring dyeline prints of their montages. Seismic data are more readily available and accessible in workstations. Seismic surveys can be integrated with logs and incorporated into Powerpoint presentations. Thus the technology of the Barrel Award keeps pace with the industry. Nonetheless the intellectual challenges remain the same as students manipulate their data, develop play concepts, learn teamwork, meet deadlines and present to expert panels.

A new AAPG Student Chapter, French, motivated and active

Ophélie Durand In charge of the "LaSalle Beauvais Student Chapter of the AAPG

Located in Beauvais, France, one hour north of Paris, the association "LaSalle Beauvais Student Chapter of the AAPG" was created in March 2009 and it already has 31 members. In its aim to increase awareness of the oil industry amongst students and also enrich its members’ knowledge in this sector, on November 18th 2009, our

Student Chapter organized a day of conferences on the theme of non‐conventional gas reserves. Visiting lecturers included Mr LORANT (IFP) and Mr ESPERNE (TOTAL Teachers and Associates). Mr LORANT made a presentation about gas shales, and Mr ESPERNE made a presentation about the economics of tight gas fields. These two interesting presentations allowed the people who attended (mostly students) to improve their understanding of these type of reservoirs and their importance in the future gas production.

The activity of this French Student Chapter also encouraged seven student members into volunteering for the AAPG European Region Annual Conference held on November the 23rd and 24th 2009 in Rueil‐Malmaison, near Paris. During the two days of the conference, the students showed their motivation and ambition by helping the organizers to arrange a highly successful European congress.

The main objectives of the Student Chapter in 2010 are to organize a day of conferences about CO2 on February 25th, a fieldtrip to the Lodève Sedimentary Basin in the South of France, during the last week of June 2010, and launching a newsletter which will allow students of the school to keep up‐to‐date with the latest happenings in the petroleum world. █

Picture, at the AAPG European Region Annual Conference 2009, of 6 members of the LaSalle Beauvais Student Chapter of the AAPG with 4 members of the Europe AAPG . People on this picture (from the left to the right) : Sophie Lafon, AAPG representative, Vlastimila Dvorakova, David R. Cook, Ophélie Durand, Sophie Jannin, AAPG representative, Benjamin Poustoly, Marjolaine Lahmi and Raphaël Maillard.


20


1st International Geosciences Student Conference World Trade Center Bucharest – Romania

22nd – 24th April 2010

ABSTRACTS

Abstracts are accepted due to 15 March 2010, 23:00 hours EET

Results for the accepted abstracts will be given no later than the end of March 2010.

Submission: For submitting an expanded abstract, please fill in the Abstract Submission Form on the web and send it with the abstract as attachments via e‐mail to [email protected] as a Microsoft Word document (2003 version).

To properly complete the Abstract Submission Form, please use the following guidelines:

• Forms must be filled in using the Times New Roman font.

• The title must be written using a font size of 14 and bold letters.

• The authors and affiliations must be written using a font size of 12 and italic letters.

o Authors must be written in the order as they appear in the abstract. The presenting author will be marked using an asterisk (*). The affiliation will be written after the name, separated by a comma. If multiple consecutively authors have the same affiliation, it will be mentioned only after the last of them. The affiliation will be represented only by the institution represented by the author (university, institute, etc.) and not internal divisions of it (faculty, department, etc.)

• The New aspects covered, Summary, and Topic sections be written using a font size of 12.

• The Summary must have no more than 200 words and must consist of a single paragraph.

• The Presentation type section must be filled in with an "X" which will mark the Poster or Oral presentation types.

• The topic will be chosen according to the specific of the paper. The available topics are:

o Applied geophysics, Earth physics

o Petroleum geology, Structural geology, Tectonics

o Mineralogy, Petrology, Geochemistry, Crystallography, Ore deposits

o Paleontology, Sedimentology, Stratigraphy

o Geological engineering, Geotechnics, Hydrogeology, Environmental engineering

The Abstract must follow the guidelines above. For a full submission the following documents are required: Abstract Submission Form and the Abstract. Documents must be saved as Microsoft Word Documents (2003 version) and sent as attachments to [email protected].

The IGSC Committee will consider only abstracts submitted before 15 March 2010, 23:00 hours EET (21:00 GMT).

THEMATIC SECTIONS

The thematic sections where abstracts can frame are the following: • Applied geophysics, Earth physics • Petroleum geology, Structural geology, Tectonics • Mineralogy, Petrology, Geochemistry, Crystallography, Ore

deposits • Palaeontology, Sedimentology, Stratigraphy • Geological engineering, Geotechnics, Hydrogeology,

Environmental engineering EVENTS FOR STUDENTS

• 11st Symposium of Romanian Student Geologists • 1st International Geosciences Student Symposium • 1st International Geosciences Job Fair • Short courses and lectures • SEG / Exxon Mobile Student Education Program • Challenge Bowl Competition • Ice‐Breaker and Final Gala • Field Trip

More details at: http://studentexpo.info/Bucharest/abstracts_Bucharest.shtml Registration for the Conference will open 3 January 2010


21

AAPG-ER News

Changing Faces in AAPG Regional Offices Carol Cain McGowen

AAPG - U.S. Sections & International Regions Manager The third quarter of 2009 brought several staffing transitions as AAPG continues its global outreach to geoscientists around the world. We say farewell to Steve Veal and welcome to Adrienne Pereira and Jeremy Richardson. FAREWELL STEVE VEAL

It takes a certain kind of person to take the first step to prove a new idea. That kind of entrepreneur is Steve Veal, who in 2006, became the Director of AAPG’s first international office in London. Now, after three‐and‐one‐half years of firmly establishing AAPG’s presence in the European Region, Veal is moving on to focus full time on his own company, DCX Resources. We thank Steve for his contribution to the globalization of AAPG. Heading the first international office meant Veal carried responsibility for many “firsts”, such as securing office space, hiring office staff, building relationships in the UK and with AAPG’s affiliated societies and international sister organizations. During his tenure as European Office Director, Veal initiated local events providing essential services to European Region geoscientists, while also ensuring a financially stable office. Veal’s qualifications proved indispensable for navigating the uncharted waters associated conducting AAPG business outside the U.S. and registering to do business within the U.K. Having previously served as AAPG Vice President, Veal understood the timing and process followed by AAPG’s Executive Committee to make decisions and approve budget proposals, and enjoyed good working relationships with AAPG headquarters. But Veal’s forte and passion was to organize small‐scale local events that helped to bring AAPG science to the doorstep of European Region geoscientists. As a seasoned geoscientist, identifying relevant, timely subject matter for conferences and luncheon speakers was already part of his lexicon. Veal initiated geoscience luncheons in Aberdeen and short courses in London. His talent for making AAPG’s services accessible throughout the Region was evidenced by offering low‐cost, regional scale conferences, such as the AAPG European Region Conference in Oslo for 2008 and Paris for 2009. During his tenure, Veal served three European Region Presidents: Past President, John Brooks, Immediate Past President, Istvan Berczi, and current President, David Cook. Berczi worked with Veal for two years and praised his work to establish the first non‐U.S. AAPG office as, “contributing greatly to the internationalisation of the AAPG”. Berczi cites other laudable achievements by Veal including, promotion of the Imperial Barrel Award Program in the region. Says Berczi, “Thanks to Steve, the IBA in Europe has become what is really a success story when universities with non‐English language training go on to become global winners.”, referring to the Moscow State University team taking first place in the 2009 global IBA competition. Current European Region President, David Cook, expressed his appreciation for Veal’s service in this way, ”The Region has benefited enormously from Steve’s creativity and enthusiasm in his position as London Office Director over the past few years. Many of the new initiatives in Europe were Steve’s ideas, and on behalf of the AAPG European Region Council, I would like to thank him for his contributions.”

Considering that Veal worked part time for AAPG while maintaining his own company makes his achievements in the European Regin all the more significant. By building on Veal’s achievements and development of the Region office, Cook, sees a bright future for the Region that has matured its programs and services to a level requiring a full‐time staff of professionals.

WELCOME ADRIENNE PEREIRA Effective September 14, AAPG engaged Ms. Adrienne Pereira to work with the Association in the Asia Pacific Region as an independent contractor. Adrienne will continue in this capacity while AAPG incorporates as a

charitable organization in Singapore. Adrienne brings a wealth of experiences from conference marketing, logistics and management to government protocol and staff development. Alan Wegener, AAPG Global Development & Conventions Director, views Adrienne’s position strategically. According to Wegener, “With Asia’s robust growth and a diverse and motivated Region leadership, AAPG has incredible opportunities in Asia. Adrienne has the drive and expertise to help cultivate the contacts and relationships we’ll need to build membership and develop new programs. With more than 24 years experience building and planning events in Singapore, she’s traveled and worked with professionals from most countries. That’s extremely important because she understands the cultural nuances and how business gets done.” Working closely with Asia Pacific Region officers, AAPG Regions management, AAPG affiliated societies and other interested parties, Adrienne will help develop and deliver new programs and services to members and other geosciences professionals of the Region. Plans are already underway for offering Geosciences Technology Workshops (GTWs), short courses, topical conferences and symposia in the coming year. Singapore based, Adrienne will also enable AAPG to build closer relationships with the key NOCs, IOCs and services companies in the area. Asia Pacific Region President, Joe Lambiase, sees Adrienne as a welcome addition to the regional team. And on behalf of the Region Council, he said, "AAPG membership has been expanding rapidly in our geographically and culturally diverse region, and we feel fortunate to have someone as capable as Adrienne to maintain effective communication, coordinate activities and organize events. The expertise and experience that Adrienne brings to the new Regional Office in Singapore will be a catalyst for accelerating AAPG's already strong growth rate in Asia‐Pacific." WELCOME JEREMY RICHARDSON October 19 marked a new beginning for the European Region when Jeremy Richardson joined AAPG as full‐time London Office Director. Richardson brings years of experience from Pennwell Corporation where he ran the UK‐based international office and was responsible for various events in Europe. Richardson is the latest full‐time regional office personnel hired under the AAPG Global Development & Conventions Directorate of Alan Wegener. According to Wegener, “Jeremy is a tremendous addition to the London office and our global development team. His extensive experience running energy‐related events and publications, coupled with proven entrepreneurial skills, fits well with our strategic plans and initiatives in Europe. He’s going to compliment our strong group of Region leaders and existing staff and quickly bring new ideas and programs for members.” European Region President, Dave Cook, is pleased to have hired Richardson, a fellow UK native, with a considerable overseas track record. Says Cook, “Jeremy brings to the organization strong skills in office management, publication sales, marketing, communication and events. One of his first tasks will be to improve web‐based communications between the European Region and the membership.” For 10 days in late October – early November, Richardson and Pereira travelled to AAPG Headquarters in Tulsa for non‐stop orientation and training. They emerged from the training newly equipped and knowledgeable in AAPG’s education and training programs, member services, and global marketing capacity. And with the full weight of Headquarters’ Region management, IT, and marketing staff on their side, Richardson and Pereira are ready to go and ready to serve you, the members of AAPG. █ “Please join me in welcoming Adrienne and Jeremy to AAPG. I ask that you extend them both all courtesies in their efforts to support and grow our organization and share any ideas you may have for AAPG’s development in the Regions.” – John Lorenz, AAPG President.

AAPG‐ER Newsletter – February 2010 22

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

9th Middle East Geoscience Conference and Exhibition (BANAMA, BARHAIN)

2010

March APPEX 2010 (LONDON, ENGLAND, UK)

AAPG 2010 Annual Convention and Exhibition (NEW ORLEANS, LA, USA)

May

April

JuneDeep‐Water Circulation: Processes & Products

(BAIONA, PONTEVEDRA, SPAIN)

77th Annual Meeting of the VSP‐ASP (STRESA, ITALY)

July

August

SeptemberII Central & North Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference

(LISBON, PORTUGAL)

II Central & North Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference

(LISBON, PORTUGAL)

November

October

ILP Workshop (TIRANA, ALBANIA)

Take a tour of European Resources

(RUEIL‐MALMAISON,

FRANCE)

Conferences Course

AAPG‐ER Newsletter – February 2010 23

AAPG – ER STRUCTURE

AREA COUNCIL President: David R. Cook [email protected] Phone: +44 (0) 1428 645060 Mobile: +44 (0) 7515 506439

President‐Elect: Vlastimila Dvorakova Czech Geological Survey [email protected] Phone : +42‐0543429253 fax : +42‐0543212370

Vice‐President: Marek Hoffman PGNIG Norway AS [email protected] Phone: +47 51 95 07 59 Fax: +47 51 95 07 91

Secretary: Bert Clever Nuon Energy BV [email protected] Phone: +31 6 11514818 Treasurer: Knut‐Henrik Jakobsson The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate [email protected] Phone: +47 94521894 European Representative in the AAPG Advisory Council: Jean Gérard REPSOL [email protected] Phone: +44.7825.187555

Past‐President: Istvan Berczi MOL Hungarian Oil & Gas plc [email protected] Phone: +36.1.4644653 Fax: +36.1.8877579 OFFICE (LONDON)

Director: Jeremy Richardson 1st Floor 56 Brewer Street London W1F 9TJ Phone:+44(0)2074341399 (voice) +44(0)2074341386 (fax) http://europe.aapg.org/ [email protected]

INTERNATIONAL DISTINGUISHED LECTURER Manager: Herman Darman Shell International Exploration and Production B.V. [email protected] Mobile: +31(0) 61097 2827 Office: +31(0) 70447 5340 Postal: SIEP B.V, Kessler Park 1, S‐2100, 2288 GS Rijswijk, The Netherlands http://www.aapg.org/europe/

STUDENTS & YOUNG PROFESSIONALS Nick Lagrilliere CORPORATE LIASON & SPONSORSHIP John Brooks NEWSLETTER & PUBLICATIONS Hugo Matias IBA COMMITTEE Charlotte Hamilton

AFFILIATED SOCIETIES Asociación de Geólogos y Geofísicos Españoles del Petróleo (AGGEP) ‐ SPAIN Webpage: www.aggep.com President: Aurelio J. Jiménez Fernández

Association of Petroleum Technicians and Professionals (AFTP) ‐ FRANCE Webpage: www.aftp.net President: Isabelle Le Nir

Austrian Geological Society Webpage: www.geol‐ges.at President: Christoph Spötl

Azerbeijan Association of Petroleum Geologists No current information

Berufsverb and Deutscher Geologen, Geophysiker und Mineralogen e. V. Webpage: www.geoberuf.de e‐mail: BDGBBonn@t‐online.de

Bulgarian Geological Society Webpage : http://www.bgd.bg/frames_home_EN.html

Czech Geological Society Webpage: www.geolgickaspolecnostl.cz e‐mail: [email protected] President: Dr. Budil

Energy Institute Webpage: www.energyinst.org.uk

Norwegian Association of Petroleum Geologists Webpage: www.scanviz.org e‐mail: fr‐[email protected] President: Francisco Porturas Tel.: +47 51552566 Mobil: +47 45200830

Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain Webpage: www.pesgb.org.uk e‐mail: [email protected] President: Henry Allen Tel.: +44 (0) 1224 213440 Mobil: ++44 (0) 1224 213453 Polish Geological Society No current information

Romanian Association of Petroleum Geologists No current information

Royal Geological and Mining Society of the Netherlands Webpage: www.kngmg.nl President: P. A. C de Ruiter

Scientific Council for Petroleum (Croatia) No current information

Swiss Association of Petroleum Geologists and Engineers Webpage: www.vsp‐asp.ch e‐mail: [email protected] President: Peter Burri

Turkish Association of Petroleum Geologists Webpage: www.tpdj.org.tr

Association of Ukrainian Geologists No current information