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American Association of Petroleum Geologists

 

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists



 
 
The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (or AAPG) is one of the world's largest professional geological societies with over 31,000 members as of 2007. The AAPG works to advance the science of geology
Geology

Geology is the science and study of the solid and liquid matter that constitute the Earth. The field of geology encompasses the study of the composition, structural geology, physical properties, dynamics, and History of the Earth of Earth materials, and the processes by which they are formed, moved, and changed....
 (especially in regard to exploration for and production of petroleum
Petroleum

Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid found in rock formations in the Earth consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights, plus other organic compounds....
), to promote technology, and to inspire high professional conduct. AAPG was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and List of United States cities by population in the United States. With an estimated population of 384,037 in 2007, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 905,755 residents projected to reach one million between 2010 and 2012....
. Currently almost 1/3 of its members live outside the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
.

AAPG publishes the AAPG Explorer magazine and AAPG Bulletin scientific journal, holds an annual meeting including a technical conference and exhibition, sponsors other conferences and continuing education for members around the world, promotes student involvement in the profession, and provides various other services to its members.

AAPG also includes divisions focused on particular aspects of the profession.






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The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (or AAPG) is one of the world's largest professional geological societies with over 31,000 members as of 2007. The AAPG works to advance the science of geology
Geology

Geology is the science and study of the solid and liquid matter that constitute the Earth. The field of geology encompasses the study of the composition, structural geology, physical properties, dynamics, and History of the Earth of Earth materials, and the processes by which they are formed, moved, and changed....
 (especially in regard to exploration for and production of petroleum
Petroleum

Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid found in rock formations in the Earth consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights, plus other organic compounds....
), to promote technology, and to inspire high professional conduct. AAPG was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and List of United States cities by population in the United States. With an estimated population of 384,037 in 2007, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 905,755 residents projected to reach one million between 2010 and 2012....
. Currently almost 1/3 of its members live outside the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
.

AAPG publishes the AAPG Explorer magazine and AAPG Bulletin scientific journal, holds an annual meeting including a technical conference and exhibition, sponsors other conferences and continuing education for members around the world, promotes student involvement in the profession, and provides various other services to its members.

AAPG also includes divisions focused on particular aspects of the profession. These include the Division of Environmental Geosciences, Division of Professional Affairs, and the Energy and Minerals Division.

The association membership has included Harrison Schmitt
Harrison Schmitt

Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt is an United States geologist, a former NASA astronaut, University Professor and a United States Senate for one term....
, a U.S. astronaut who walked on the moon.

Global warming controversy


In 2006 the AAPG was criticized for selecting Michael Crichton
Michael Crichton

John Michael Crichton, Doctor of Medicine , was an United States author, film producer, film director, and physician, best known for his work in the science fiction, medical fiction, and techno-thriller genres....
 for their Journalism Award "for his recent science-based thriller State of Fear
State of Fear

State of Fear is a 2004 techno-thriller novel by Michael Crichton concerning eco-terrorism who attempt mass murder to support their views. The novel had an initial print run of 1.5 million copies and reached the #1 bestseller position at Amazon.com and #2 on the New York Times Best Seller list for one week in January 2005....
", in which Crichton espoused his skeptical view of global warming
Global warming

Global warming is the increase in the Instrumental temperature record of the Earth's near-surface air and the oceans since the mid-twentieth century and its projected continuation....
, and for Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park is a 1990 science fiction novel written by Michael Crichton. Often considered a cautionary tale on unconsidered biological tinkering in the same spirit as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, it uses the mathematical concept of chaos theory and its philosophical implications to explain the collapse of an amusement park showcasin...
. Daniel P. Schrag, a geochemist who directs the Harvard University
Harvard University

Harvard University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Massachusetts, United States, and a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1636 by the colonial Massachusetts legislature, Harvard is the Colonial Colleges institution of higher learning in the United States....
 Center for the Environment, called the award "a total embarrassment" that he said "reflects the politics of the oil industry and a lack of professionalism" on the association's part. The award has since been renamed the "Geosciences in the Media" Award.

The criticism drew attention to the AAPG's 1999 position statement formally rejecting the likelihood of human influence on recent climate. The Council of the American Quaternary Association wrote in a criticism of the award that the "AAPG stands alone among scientific societies in its denial of human-induced effects on global warming."

As recently as March 2007, articles in the newsletter of the AAPG Division of Professional Affairs stated that "the data does not support human activity as the cause of global warming" and characterize the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a scientific intergovernmental body tasked to risk management of climate change caused by human activity....
 reports as "wildly distorted and politicized."

2007 AAPG revised position


Acknowledging that the association's previous policy statement on Climate Change was "not supported by a significant number of our members and prospective members", AAPG's formal stance was reviewed and changed in July of 2007.

The new statement formally accepts human activity as at least one contributor to carbon dioxide increase, but does not confirm its link to climate change, saying its members are "divided on the degree of influence that anthropogenic CO2 has" on climate. AAPG also stated support for "research to narrow probabilistic ranges on the effect of anthropogenic CO2 on global climate."

AAPG also withdrew its earlier criticism of other scientific organizations and research, stating that "Certain climate simulation models predict that the warming trend will continue, as reported through NAS
United States National Academy of Sciences

The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine."...
, AGU
American Geophysical Union

The American Geophysical Union is a nonprofit organization of geophysicists, consisting of over 50,000 members from over 135 countries. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international field of geophysics....
, AAAS
American Association for the Advancement of Science

The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation between scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting science education and science outreach for the betterment of all humanity....
, and AMS
American Meteorological Society

The American Meteorological Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the Atmospheric sciences and related Oceanography and Hydrology and the advancement of their professional applications....
. AAPG respects these scientific opinions but wants to add that the current climate warming projections could fall within well-documented natural variations in past climate and observed temperature data. These data do not necessarily support the maximum case scenarios forecast in some models."

See also

  • Society of Exploration Geophysicists
    Society of Exploration Geophysicists

    The Society of Exploration Geophysicists is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the science of geophysics and the education of exploration geophysicists....
  • List of geoscience organizations
    List of geoscience organizations

    This is a list of organizations dealing with the various geosciences, including geology, geophysics, oceanography, and related fields.*American Association of Petroleum Geologists ...
  • Society of Petroleum Engineers
    Society of Petroleum Engineers

    The Society of Petroleum Engineers is a professional organization whose mission is to collect, disseminate, and exchange technical knowledge concerning the oil exploration, development and production of oil and gas resources and related technologies for the public benefit and to provide opportunities for professionals to enhance their techni...
  • Petroleum Technology Transfer Council
    Petroleum Technology Transfer Council

    The Petroleum Technology Transfer Council is an American national not-for-profit organization established in 1994 by producers, state organizations and the United States Department of Energy ....
  • Fred Meissner
    Fred Meissner

    Fred F. Meissner, PE was an American Geologist and Engineer who contributed to the fields of Geology, Geophysics, Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Physics, Mining, Economic Geology, and Fishing....


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