AAPG and SPE exploring merger to create new, future-focused organization 5/25/2021 TULSA - The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) announce an exploration of the benefits and opportunities of a merger creating the energy professionals' organization for the future. With unanimous consent from the AAPG Executive Committee and the SPE Board of Directors, a steering committee was created to explore opportunities to form a new combined organization in response to an evolving energy sector and challenging COVID-impacted market environment. âOur two organizations have worked together side by side for many years on numerous initiatives and global events, notably the Offshore Technology Conference, International Petroleum Technology Conference, Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, and the Petroleum Resources Management System. Joining forces would bring the best of both organizations together and provide additional value to engineers, geoscientists, and the broader energy sector,â said Rick Fritz, AAPG president.