WATCHING THE WORLD THE SOVIETS' AAPG

With Roger Vielvoye from London The Soviet version of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists made its first international appearance in London last week. Fittingly, it chose AAPG's international conference and exhibition for the first official overseas outing by its new president, Mikhail K. Kalinko. It was appropriate because the new organization is modeling itself on some of the AAPG principles, notably freedom from government control and open membership to any qualified

Oct. 7, 1991

3 min read

The Soviet version of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists made its first international appearance in London last week.

Fittingly, it chose AAPG's international conference and exhibition for the first official overseas outing by its new president, Mikhail K. Kalinko.

It was appropriate because the new organization is modeling itself on some of the AAPG principles, notably freedom from government control and open membership to any qualified geologist.

The inaugural meeting was held last February when representatives from all the republics agreed to form the All-Union Association of Petroleum Geologists.

CHOOSING A NAME

In London, Kalinko said since February the association had been going through procedures needed to establish itself formally.

Only one outstanding issue remains to be settled-the official name of the organization. All-Union may no longer be appropriate. While the newly independent Soviet republics want to remain members, they are searching for a better description of what was the Soviet Union.

The new Soviet association will certainly have a wider role to play than its AAPG counterpart. As well as scientific and technical functions, it may have to take over some of the advisory work of the unlamented central Soviet ministries, although without the bureaucratic inertia that was their hallmark.

Kalinko said members of the new organization know the problems faced by the emerging oil industry bodies in all the republics. They also know the strengths and specialties of foreign oil companies.

For example, if a local association needs deepwater drilling and production technology or has environmental problems, the geologists' organization could introduce it to a western company with skills in those sectors.

Like all new organizations in the former Soviet Union, petroleum geologists have a cash problem AAPG is helping to solve. So far about 100 AAPG members have agreed to join their counterparts in the East for charter member fee of $25 plus annual membership fees. In cash terms the contribution is small but valuable because it is hard currency that can be used to support overseas activities.

The AAPG was meeting in London's Queen Elizabeth 11 conference center in the shadow of Westminster Abbey and Parliament. While it might not have been the ideal location for companies patronizing the associated exhibition, for delegates was probably it the best site in town.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The London meeting was the first of what will be annual international conferences. AAPG previously called its full international session only once every 4 years.

But with an expanding international membership-one in five members has a non-U.S. address, compared with one in 10 a few years ago-and more interest than ever in exploration outside North America, the decision was made to drop the 4 year interval in favor of annual meetings.

From now on AAPG's international meeting site will alternate between a European location and a center on the Pacific Rim. Next year members will meet in Sydney, then Holland in 1993, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1994.