The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) announced a joint venture to co-present oil and gas events around the world to provide their members and the oil and gas global industry with the highest level of geosciences information and data exchange opportunities.
Expanding on long-term collaboration efforts between the two societies on research projects, publications, distinguished lecturers and topical conferences and workshops, the joint venture will facilitate a series of international events under AAPG's proven "ICE" brand, beginning with the 2015 edition to be held 13-16 September in Melbourne, Australia. Subsequently, SEG will operate an ICE event in the first half of each year and AAPG in the second half of each year. The two societies will work closely together to ensure a seamless format and highest level of quality across the conferences.
"The distinction between geologists and geophysicists in the petroleum industry is no longer as well defined as it once was. Geophysics is an integral component of what all exploration and production geoscientists do on a daily basis,” says Randi Martinsen, 2014-15 AAPG president. “Having SEG join with AAPG in presenting our International Conference and Exhibition is a logical response to meeting our industry's needs as well as our members. The world is also a big place, and by joining our resources we will now be able to put on two ICE's a year in geographically disparate regions, which will also better serve our industry's and members needs."
The agreement signing is the result of several years of work by an AAPG-SEG Cooperation Committee, led by co-chairs Lee Billingsly and Bill Barkhouse. Combining the societies' global resources and expertise, new opportunities for knowledge and business growth will be provided to the AAPG/SEG collective membership of more than 80,000 geoscientists around the world, as well as the international oil and gas industry.
"Globally, this is the right time, right place. AAPG and SEG co-presenting of future ICE events propels the geosciences forward in an unparalleled and integrated inter-disciplinary fashion that is unprecedented," says Barkhouse.