On April 16, 2025, the University of Houston’s American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Wildcatters student chapter hosted a four-hour short course titled “Charge-Access: Moving the Phases in the Petroleum System.” The course was led by Andrew Pepper, an adjunct professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS) and a globally recognized expert in basin modeling and petroleum systems.
The session was held in person at the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and was attended by 18 participants, that included undergraduate, MS, and PhD students, as well as postdoctoral researchers who are all working in the EAS Department on geoscience and energy-related fields.
Pepper brings more than 35 years of experience in exploration and production (E&P) geoscience. A graduate of the University of Leeds, he began his career at BP, where he played a key role in developing methods for evaluating sources as an explorationist at BP in the 1980s and 90s that are widely used in the oil industry today. Following his years with BP, he became Director of New Ventures at Hess and Vice President of Geoscience at BHP Billiton. Currently, he leads his own consultancy, Petroleum Systems LLC (TIPS), while actively contributing to graduate student supervision as a faculty adjunct in the EAS Department.
This short course focused on the governing principles of charge-access, or how different phases of hydrocarbons migrate at small- and large-scale through basinal settings. Many practical examples from global examples were provided for these charge-related processes.
The University of Houston’s AAPG Student Chapter aims to bridge the gap between professionals and UH geoscience students interested in careers in oil and gas exploration. UH AAPG hosts monthly meetings, guest lecturers from academia and industry, field trips, and other social activities that are geared toward promoting student involvement in petroleum geology. Meetings are held on campus and are open to students, faculty, and industry professionals to attend.
To learn more about the Wildcatters, visit the Student Organization page on the EAS website.