Collaboration brings together geoscience community

Driven by pandemic challenges and with meeting the world’s energy needs and changing expectations, three great geoscience organizations joined forces in Denver, Colorado, and online for the first International Meeting for Applied Geoscience & Energy, September 26-October 1.

The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), and the Society of Sedimentary Geology (SEPM) presented an integrated, collaborative format, furthering the image of geoscience professionals in their quest to bring new possibilities to energy challenges.

Recognizing Aramco Leadership

Aramco’s geosciences leadership was recognized during the awards ceremony. Aramco’s retired upstream exploration executive Mahmoud Abdulbaqi received the prestigious AAPG Michel T. Halbouty Outstanding Leadership Award and Misfir AzZahrani, Vice President of Exploration, named Honorary Member for his distinguished service to the science and profession of petroleum geology.

The week-long event did not disappoint with more than 1,200 technical presentations in 200 sessions, a dozen post- convention workshops, nine short courses, five field trips and numerous networking events.

“It is indeed a historic moment in time, and a chance for us all to refresh, reenergize, and rededicate to improving ourselves and our diverse world,” said Gretchen Gillis, Aramco Americas, Senior Geological Consultant, Research and Development and AAPG President 2021-2022, in welcoming remarks. “The world depends on energy, and we are the people who work in the organizations that help provide it, even as society’s expectations about the world’s energy mix changes.” 

Gillis pointed to changes taking place within professional organizations, companies, countries, and other entities to adopt sustainability targets. She noted AAPG’s Sustainable Development Committee and the work of its members worldwide to support the implementation of technologies that provide cleaner energy.

SEG members have developed a Geophysical Sustainability Atlas, mapping geophysical applications and practices to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to illustrate the value geophysics brings to achieving these goals. AAPG plans a follow up to its highly successful 2021 Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage Conference next year in Houston.

Aramco scientists lead the way

Aramco was a Diamond Level sponsor contributing 25 technical papers and supporting three STEM and community programs: SEG’s EVOLVE, a virtual internship for geoscience students; Geoscientists Without Borders, highlighting humanitarian applications of geoscience to help communities around the world; and AAPG’s Applied Science Education, a program inviting local high school students and teachers to excite them about the earth sciences.

Researchers from the Aramco Research Center-Houston gave daily presentations on topics such as fault stress analyses, natural fracture predictions, and machine learning.

The conference attracted nearly 6,000 attendees, participating in-person or virtually.