Energy Minerals Division members will find much of interest within the 11 themes that form the technical program at the 2005 AAPG Annual Convention in Calgary.
In particular, theme 7 on "Unconventional Resources and Innovative Techniques" has EMD sponsoring or co-sponsoring sessions on:
- Oil Sands and Heavy Oil (posters Monday afternoon; oral sessions both Tuesday morning and afternoon).
- Natural Gas from Coal and Shale (posters Monday afternoon; oral sessions both Tuesday morning and afternoon).
- Gas Hydrates (two poster sessions Monday afternoon).
- Advances and Applications in Non-Seismic Methods: Remote Sensing, GIS, GPS and GPR (posters Monday morning).
Within theme 10 (Hydrocarbons, Environment and Society), the EMD and DEG are co-sponsoring three sessions. They are:
- Carbon Management and Acid Gas Sequestration (posters Tuesday morning and oral sessions Wednesday morning).
- Environmental Issues Related to Unconventional Resources (oral session Wednesday afternoon).
A joint DEG-EMD luncheon on Wednesday will feature EMD and DEG division awards and a talk by Jim Dinning, chairman of the Canadian Clean Power Coalition, on "Marginal Carbon Fuels: The Key to Prosperity." Dinning will speak about clean coal technology, particularly as it applies to providing energy and feedstock to Alberta's expanding oil sands and petrochemical industries. ([PFItemLinkShortcode|id:41462|type:standard|anchorText:See related story|cssClass:asshref|title:|PFItemLinkShortcode]See related story)
The luncheon is sponsored by the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta.
EMD offers two pre-meeting field trips. Trip 8 is on "Coalbed Methane Potential of the Horseshoe Canyon Formation in Southern Alberta." The Horseshoe Canyon Formation hosts Canada's first commercial coalbed methane play with in excess of 1,500 wells each producing on average 75-125 mcf/d.
As a special feature of this trip, participants also will have an opportunity to "go behind the scenes" at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller -- and EMD members receive a benefit of reduced trip fees.
The field trip is being co-organized with the Canadian Society for Unconventional Gas (CSUG), which supports the exploration and development of Canadian unconventional gas resources. Their field trips have been a must for anyone interested in unconventional resources in Canada.
Also pre-meeting is a joint DEG/EMD field trip (trip 6) on "Sour Gas Production and Acid Gas Injection in the Rocky Mountain Foothills and Alberta Plains -- Source to Sink." Of interest to EMD members, participants will study outcrops of coals in the Rocky Mountain Foothills, which are the subject of current research in both coalbed methane exploration and CO2 injection.
This field trip is an excellent opportunity to learn of the geology of Alberta in the plains, foothills and Canadian Rocky Mountains settings.
The EMD leadership/business meeting will be held from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, at the Hyatt Regency Calgary Hotel.
Finally, EMD is offering a post-meeting short course (course 14) on "Application of an Integrated Coalbed Methane Exploration Model to Delineate Coalbed Methane Opportunities in Canada: Overview of an Emerging Coalbed Methane Play." This course provides an opportunity to learn about CBM exploration and development in general and aspects specific to the Canadian scene.
EMD members receive a benefit of reduced course fees.
The 2005 AAPG Annual Convention in Calgary is positioned to become one of the largest and more significant geoscience meetings ever held in Canada. I encourage all EMD members to attend and participate in an excellent program.
See you in Calgary.