Penn State wins 2020 Eastern Section IBA
The 2020 Eastern Section IBA regional finals were completed on May 2nd, 2020. This years was uniquely challenging, however the cooperation and efforts by many volunteers and team members made it quite successful. On March 16th, we paused the competition for two weeks while everyone was reacting and adjusting to the pandemic crisis. Teams were given three weeks to finish their work and submit a presentation. Unfortunately, three teams had to withdraw as they were unable to gain access to university servers.
Five teams competed in the finals with pre-recorded 25 minute presentations followed by live Q&A sessions with three judges on video call. Four different datasets were used that allowed students to showcase their technical and creative geologist proficiency in regional settings, seismic analysis, geochemistry, basin modeling, petrophysics, propsect volumetrics, and risk evaluation among other topics.
The results are: Penn State University (1st Place), Binghamton University (2nd Place), West Virginina University (3rd Place), as well as Southern Illinois University and Ball State University participating.
Additionally, upon recognition from ESAAPG and IBA global leaders, we have honored Lee Avery with the naming of the Eastern Section IBA 1st Place Lee Avery Award. The AAPG adopted the IBA global competition in 2007 and in 2008 Lee initiated and organized the first Eastern Section IBA competition. She was the primary coordinator for the next 12 years, leading over 74 teams in the competition process. This year was the first year without her full coordination but it benefited from her generous advice and the foundation of strong relationships with all 24 Eastern Section universities.
Special Thanks to Dan Billman for presenting this award and Lee Avery for joining to congratulate the students on their hard work and accomplishments. Brooke Carson and Ryan Weller (Chevron) were co-coordinators, with judges Gregory Bank (Seneca Resources), Sam Ely (Cabot), and John Taylor (Chevron) who provided exceptional guidance and constructive feedback to our teams.
Penn State went go on to represent the Eastern Section in the global finals in June, and recieved an Honorable Mention by the committee. Congratulations!
University of Georgia Wins Eastern Section IBA
Five participating teams competed in the Eastern Section for the IBA, April 12-13th in Pittsburgh, PA. University of Georgia won 1st place in the SemiFinals and went on to represent our section at the ACE Finals on May 18th, receiving an honorable mention in the Finals. West Virginia was awarded 2nd place in the SemiFinals, and Binghamton University’s team taking 3rd place. Also participating in 2019 were Western Kentucky University and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Thank you to all of our judges and sponsors!
Top 3 Teams in the Eastern Section IBA.
Penn State University Team Captures the Coveted Stoneley Medal in 2018 AAPG Imperial Barrel World Finals Competition
Salt Lake City, Utah, May 20, 2018. (AAPG) – Penn State University (PSU) placed 3rd among the 11 other section and region finalists to capture the coveted Stoneley Medal in the 2018 Worldwide Finals of the AAPG Imperial Barrel Award Competition (IBA). This year’s finals competition was held at the Salt Lake City Convention Center, in conjunction with the 101st Annual Convention and Exhibition of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. In addition to being awarded the prestigious Stoneley Medal, the PSU team received a $5000 cash award for their outstanding performance. The PSU “Wisakedjak Exploration Group” team consists of Haley Ramirez, David Soto, Tim Witham, Brandon Clark, Safiya Alpheus and their Faculty Advisor Dr. Elizabeth Hajek. This marks the fifth appearance of PSU as the Eastern Section AAPG representative in the IBA Worldwide Competition, including this year’s 3rd Place finish, and two consecutive 2nd Place finishes in 2015 and 2016.
Penn State University Team Wins 2018 Eastern Section AAPG Imperial Barrel Competition
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 7, 2018. (ES-AAPG) – Penn State University (PSU) won the top spot among nine teams participating in the two-day Eastern Section AAPG Imperial Barrel Award Competition (IBA), held at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel. The top placing PSU “Wisakedjak Exploration Group” team consists of Haley Ramirez, David Soto, Tim Witham, Brandon Clark, Safiya Alpheus and their Faculty Advisor Dr. Elizabeth Hajek. PSU will now move on to compete in the 2018 IBA Worldwide Competition in Salt Lake City, UT, held in conjunction with the Annual Convention and Exhibition of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. In this final round, to be held May 19, 2018, they will go up against winners from the five other US Sections and six International Regions. This will mark the fifth appearance of PSU in the IBA Worldwide Competition; twice coming away with consecutive 2 nd Place finishes in 2015 and 2016. The PSU team takes home Eastern Section 1st place medals, a cash donation to their department, and an all-expense paid trip to the AAPG meeting.
About Imperial Barrel Award
The ES IBA Committee is responsible for holding a competition each spring (beginning in 2008) to select a university team to represent the section at the IBA finals held at the AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition. The ES IBA Committee, in addition to encouraging universities to participate, arranges a venue for the competition, obtains sponsorships to cover costs associated with the competition, recruits judges for the competition, and maintains contact with the teams to ensure that all team members have registered and filed the required waiver and indemnity form, that the teams have the software needed, data downloaded, and travel plans made. The ES IBA Committee Chair participates in teleconferences with other section and region chairs, prepares a budget for the section competition, orders medals, prepares sponsor posters, prints nametags and certificates for the participants, schedules the team presentations to fit with travel schedules, arranges for team photographs, and works with the venue to ensure that all arrangements are made for the competition.
IBA Team Photos
IBA 2020
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IBA 2018
IBA 2017
IBA 2016
IBA 2015
IBA 2014
IBA 2013
IBA 2012
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