ABSTRACT: Exploring for Oil on the Internet: Resources for the Petroleum Geologist

PAUSE, PAUL H.

As a vast resource for information and communication, the Internet has become a powerful and practical tool for petroleum geologists.

With e-mail, geologists can communicate with colleagues and coworkers almost instantaneously. Service companies are using the Internet to transmit real-time information from the wellsite and the lab. Mud logs and digital wireline logs can be sent via email and received in a matter of minutes. These can then be retransmitted to managers, investors, and working interest partners with a click of the mouse, and without any loss of data quality that would occur with a fax.

Using newsgroups, geologists can exchange messages and, ask questions of their peers anywhere in the world. Postings on "sci.geo.geology" and "sci.geo.petroleum" see contributions from students and the most highly-regarded professionals and professors alike.

From Exxon to independent consultants, companies are using the World Wide Web to post information regarding products, services, job opportunities, and resumes. Professional, organizations, such as AAPG and the West Texas Geological Society, have set up Web sites to communicate with members, sell publications, and provide access to their activities to a world-wide audience. Bulletins and newsletters are extremely, expensive to produce and distribute, so more and more publications are available on-line or sent by e-mail.

A growing number of companies are selling web space for geologists to advertise their services and sell their prospects. Companies of all sizes are setting up their own web sites to promote their exploration programs, sell leases, and attract investors from a far larger audience than ever before possible.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90947©1997 AAPG Southwest Section Meeting, San Angelo, Texas