Just
as its originators predicted at its inception four years ago, APPEX
grew bigger and better each year.
In fact
the 2004 show in September maxed out with record numbers of 2,012
attendees and 289 booths, according to Rick Fritz, AAPG executive
director.
A cadre
of participants from both the viewing and the booth-holder side
gave the latest by-geologists/for-geologists expo a thumbs-up —
for both the schmooze factor and the deal-cutting opportunities.
"There
were not many people looking around just kicking tires to see what's
going on," said Robert Pledger, president of Benchmark Oil &
Gas. "Those who came through our booth were definitely interested
in participating in outside drilling deals."
The opportunity
to just see and be seen in today's competitive business environment
has its own element of value.
"APPEX
is a good meeting for us as a matter of friends re-establishing
contacts, more than specific sales," said James Gibbs, a former
AAPG president and chairman of Five States Energy Co., Dallas. "For
us, it's a matter of showing the flag."
Something
New
Come next
year, however, the flag will be fluttering with a far larger gathering
when APPEX joins forces with the long-standing, landman-sponsored
NAPE event.
Here's
the game plan, according to Fritz: The London-based APPEX show will
continue as is, and the usual early spring NAPE show will be followed
by a NAPE-hosted event in the fall. Participating board members
will include AAPL, AAPG, IPAA, and SEG. SIPES and the Houston Geological
Society will endorse the meeting.
(APPEX-London
is set for March 1-3, 2005 at the IBIS Hotel, Earl's Court. For
more information go to www.aapg.org.)
The huge
volunteer effort required to produce APPEX will be supplanted in
large part by a professional staff skilled in expo production.
Given that
the industry has contracted immensely since the heyday of 20-something
years ago, many participants say the element of non-competition
is a good thing.
"It's always
been my view that professional societies should get together and
cooperate on services to members," said Dan Smith, former AAPG president,
"and this is a good opportunity.
"Besides
being very supportive of our domestic members' development projects,
we can use our international APPEX expertise to help expand that
of NAPE," Fritz added.
The desire
to continue with two events annually has strong support among many
of the rank-and-file.
"One in
the spring and one in the fall makes a lot of sense," Gibbs said.
"In the spring there will be people coming to look for plays they
can take and do seismic on through the year; in the fall, they'll
come looking for drilling prospects to participate in before the
end of the year."
While some
oil and gas folks are concerned about the potential loss of the
personal appeal indigenous to a smaller show like APPEX, others
take a more pragmatic view.
"I like
APPEX because it's a geology-driven show," said Dan Morris, president
of Viking International Petroleum, Houston, "but a lot of deals
are made by landmen."