Fellow AAPG/DPA members, Happy New Year to all!
In the interest of continuing my theme of “Spreading the Word” about AAPG’s Division of Professional Affairs, here’s an update on some exciting events organized by DPA members for the spring of 2016.
Now is the time to plan to attend these educational and networking forums on discoveries and new plays.
Many of you may be familiar with the Playmaker concept, as we have previously held five very successful events. A great example of this program was held last Jan. 14, 2015 in Midland, Texas.
Kudos to Mike Party for a great Playmaker on prospecting skills and discoveries that packed the Midland convention center with 300 attendees.
These and other past Playmaker videos are available online at the following link: http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/specialcollections/pm.htm
A Playmaker is a one-day forum where geoscientists share with fellow geoscientists technical and professional paths to business success. The fraternity of geoscientists is an essential element and the one-day time frame fits nicely into busy schedules.
Forums feature:
- Educational talks (skill sets, workflows and resources).
- A headliner luncheon with a broad vision and case study of success.
- Analog discoveries in proven and emerging plays.
- Networking breaks and an ice-breaker reception where participants, speakers and young professionals can exchange business cards and ideas.
The Playmaker Forum series continues on its successful march around the globe. DPA is currently planning Playmaker forums in Denver, Pittsburgh and Bakersfield, Calif. We are scouting the possibility of an event in AAPG Regions and other U.S. cities.
If you would like to serve as a general chair or if your section or region would like to host a Playmaker event in partnership with AAPG Education and DPA, please contact [email protected].
Here are upcoming spring 2016 events. Additional details will be forthcoming:
♦ The Rockies Playmaker Discovery is planned for March 24, 2016 at the Marriot Denver City Center. Chair Steve Sonnenberg and his team have assembled 10 exciting talks on Rocky Mountain plays. These include Peter Dea as the luncheon speaker on the topic “Plays that worked and didn’t work.” This event is co-hosted by the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists (RMAG).
♦ The Playmaker Forum Bakersfield, Calif. is planned for May 13, 2016, at the AERA conference center. Chair Kurt Neher and team report that spring will be a particularly good time to hold a conference dedicated to new concepts in exploration and production. The usual PSAAPG section meeting will be held jointly with RMAG, Oct. 2-5, 2016 in Las Vegas.
♦ The Playmaker Forum Pittsburgh is planned for April 13, 2016 at the Sheraton Pittsburgh, near the Pittsburgh airport for easy access and parking for all attendees. Chairs Michael Canich and Dan Billman report that the forum is sponsored by the DPA in conjunction with two local societies, the Pittsburgh Geological Society (PGS) and the Pittsburgh Association of Petroleum Geologists (PAPG).
This one-day event will be preceded with a PAPG monthly dinner meeting on the evening of April 12, 2016, providing an opportunity to come to Pittsburgh the day prior to the forum, network with local geoscientists and enjoy an Appalachian Basin technical talk.
Subjects range from creative and entrepreneurial thinking to technical talks covering Appalachian Basin shale plays (Marcellus, Utica, Upper Devonian and Rogersville) and new discoveries in the Michigan Basin.
The keynote speaker from Rice Energy will provide insight to the strategy and tactics used to propel a company from a startup into a successful player and ultimately through an initial public offering, in an area of the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays dominated by large independent exploration and production companies. Networking opportunities will be available throughout the day including a mixer after the forum.
These programs are available to all AAPG members and Young Professionals. We invite eligible professional geologists to apply for membership in DPA.