--> ABSTRACT: SEG and AAPG: Common Background, Common Problems, Common Future, by Ken Larner; #91022 (1989)

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SEG and AAPG: Common Background, Common Problems, Common Future

Ken Larner

The "Best of SEG" and "Best of AAPG" sessions held at the annual meeting of the two societies are natural outgrowths that have much in common and, at the same time, much that makes each session unique. Once a part of AAPG, SEG went its separate way in 1930. This separation logically followed from sizeable differences in outlooks and interests of those in the many geologic disciplines on the one hand, and those, on the other, who sought to develop and exercise experiments at the earth's surface from which one might infer geologic information and geological processes. Certainly, the literature from SEG's early years showed preoccupation with geophysical methodology, the stuff of physicists and engineers rather than of geologists.

Today, products of the geophysical method are considered indispensable for geologic interpretation in petroleum exploration. Few exploration case histories today lack the evidence of seismic data upon which structural and stratigraphic interpretations have been constrained. Likewise, during the deep recession that exploration has been experiencing, exploration geophysicists are increasingly realizing that their tools have value only to the extent that they can yield geological and reservoir information that is more directly relevant to oil finding and field development than in the past. Geophysicists are now preoccupied with more than just their wavelets, static correction, and migration. As the papers in this session indicate, geophysicists are extending their technology to estimate ithology, fluid content, monitoring of EOR efforts, and characterization and development of reservoirs. The three-dimensional seismic method, for example, is being brought right to the borehole with the use of the drill bit as the energy source.

The futures of our two societies and their members are fully intertwined. Geologists and petroleum engineers who wish to gain considerably more information, cost-effectively, about their prospects, fields, and reservoirs must stay in touch with the exciting new developments from the geophysical community. Equally, geophysicists can maintain their relevance to oil finding only by staying closely in touch with developments in understanding of geology and the reservoir, and with the working interests and needs of geologists and petroleum engineers. Sessions such as this one are helpful. So are the growing interactions between our two societies and others in the form of joint workshops and symposia, joint continuing education and lecture programs, and joint efforts in technical publicatio . We split apart many years ago and differences in the day-to-day interests of our members will continue to argue for uniqueness of our professional societies, but the efficiency and resourcefulness demanded by future exploration and development efforts make increased cooperation between our two societies essential.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91022©1989 AAPG Annual Convention, April 23-26, 1989, San Antonio, Texas.