2004 AAPG/SEG Spring Student Expo: another success!!
Dr. Roger Slatt
Director - School of Geology and Geophysics
University of Oklahoma
On April 22-24, the 4th annual AAPG/SEG Spring Student Expo was held on the University of Oklahoma campus. It was hosted jointly by the School of Geology and Geophysics and the Oklahoma Geological Survey. For the past four years, this event has served to bring petroleum industry recruiters in contact with students from across the U.S. (and internationally) to interview for internships and full-time employment. This year’s Expo, held immediately following the AAPG Annual Convention in Dallas, attracted 125 students.
The Expo began on the afternoon of Thursday, April 22, with two short courses: Petroleum Geology of Deepwater Depositional Systems by Dr. Roger Slatt, and Computer Graphics and Imaging for Geophysicists by Dr. Allen Witten. These 1.5 day courses concluded in time for the 5 p.m. icebreaker on Friday, April 23. That same day a field trip to the Arbuckle Mountains was led by Mr. Galen Miller and other geologists with the Oklahoma Geological Survey. The icebreaker allowed company recruiters and students an opportunity to make preliminary contact, as well as to eat some good Okla-Mex food and listen to fine music.
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The following 13 companies held formal interviews with these students: AEXCO Petroleum, Inc., CDX Gas, Chesapeake Energy Corp., Devon Energy Corp., Dominion E & P, inc., geoPLUS Corp., Geosearch Logging, Inc., Kerr-McGee Oil and Gas Corp., Map Exploration Inc., Pioneer Natural Resources, Precision Drilling Services, Questar Exploration & Production, and Vintage Petroleum, Inc. Eight additional companies and organizations networked informally: AAPG, AIPG (Oklahoma Section); EOG Resources, ExxonMobil Corp., Minerals Management Services, PTTC, SEG, and UNOCAL Corp. |
Interviews were held on Saturday, April 24. As has been the case every year, several employment offers were made and accepted as a result of these interviews.
A highlight of each year’s Expo is the student poster session, held on Saturday. This year, there were 44 posters presented. Cash awards went to students presenting the best three posters in geophysics and the best three posters in geology. Judges stated that the posters were all first rate, and their final selections were difficult to make.
This year’s closing session featured a reception, during which AAPG Past-President Marlan Downey presented a thought-provoking perspective on the future of the petroleum industry and petroleum professionals (a good future is predicted) as they relate to global economic, political, and technical issues. The session closed with announcement of the six poster winners.
This year, both AAPG and SEG provided financial support for this event. The organizing committee is appreciative and hopeful of continued support.
The following companies and individuals also provided funds for this year’s Expo:
- Major Event Sponsor:
- Chesapeake Energy Corp., Pioneer Natural Resources, Questar Exploration and Production;
- Platinum Level Sponsor:
- Devon Energy Corp., Kerr-McGee Oil and Gas Corp., Precision Drilling, Vintage Petroleum Corp.;
- Gold Level Sponsors:
- AEXCO Petroleum, Inc., AIPG (Oklahoma Section), CDX Gas, LLC, Dominion E & P, Inc., EOG Resources, Inc., Exxon-Mobil Corp., geoPLUS Corp., Geosearch Logging, Inc., Map Exploration Inc., Marlan Downey, Minerals Management Service, Panhandle Royalty Co., Rite in the Rain, UNOCAL Corporation, Wagner & Brown, Ltd.;
- Silver Level Sponsors:
- Robert W. Allen, David G. Campbell, Chuck Noll, Halliburton Inc., Laurel Petroleum Inc., McKenny Energy Col, PTTC, Reeves Wireline Services Inc., Schlumberger Inc.
The organizing committee, as well as the company and student participants, sincerely thank these organizations and individuals for providing the support necessary to hold this important event. In particular, the Expo sends a clear message to students that the petroleum industry is active and in need of young professionals!!