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IV Conference of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists

THE RESULTS OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE UAG FOR 10 YEARS, THE INDUSTRY PROBLEMS, ITS SOLUTIONS AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION. The report of the сhairman of the Board of All-Ukrainian Public Organization ‘Ukrainian Association of Geologists’ PAVLO ZAGORODNYUK, at the IV Conference of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists, 2010.

1. Historical background and attempts to create the first professional Association of geologists

In the first half of the 20th century, the Russian Empire, which included most of the Ukrainian lands, experienced a turbulent period of social upheaval and reform, which influenced all aspects of public life, including the geological science and practice. The economic depression of 1904–1908 was changed by a major industrial upturn of 1909–1913, which was interrupted by the First World War in 1914. In turn, the industrial rise needed geological support, and was accompanied by intensive development of geological works and organizations.

Ukraine had become one of the centres of economic growth in the Russian Empire. So in the early 20th century, only five of the largest metallurgical plants of South of Ukraine (Yuzivsky, Dniprovsky, Oleksandrivsky, Petrovsky and Donetsk-Yuriivsky) produced more than 25% of all-Russian iron. Along with this, sugar factories Tereshchenko, Kharytonenko, Yaroshinsky, Bobrinsky and Brodsky produced more than 60% of refined sugar in the Russian Empire.

The economic crisis (1904–1908) led to the closure of many factories, plants, mines and unemployment growth (out of 79 mines, Kryvbas only 41 operated). At the same time, against the background of the mass destruction of small enterprises (about 3000), the centralization of production increased, and the role of large enterprises was enhanced; there was a concentration of capital, human resources and production capacity. Large enterprises of Ukraine employed more than 44% of all workers, while in the US, only 33% was employed.

In a short time of economic recovery (1909–1913), Donbass became the general empire centre of the coal and metallurgical industry whereas Nikopol basin for manganese, Kriviy Rig for iron ore and metallurgical and Tavria and the left-bank and right-bank of Ukraine served as the base of cultivation of grain crops and sugar beet (which stimulated the development of the milling industry and sugar production).

All this was accompanied by intensive industrial and residential construction, roads construction, bridges, communications and railway transport networks and required the search and exploration of deposits of not only metal and energy minerals but also construction materials (including decorative-facing stone) and sufficient reserves of ground and groundwater as well as industrial wastewater treatment. The development of agriculture needed mineral fertilizers (including phosphorites) and soil quality research, which stimulated the development of the national school of glacial geology and soil sciences. In particular, by order of the Poltava district council, Volodymyr Vernadsky (under the leadership of Vasyl Dokuchaev) worked on the preparation of the soil map of the province during 1890–1891.

Thus, with regard to metallurgy, at the end of 1913, Ukraine accounted for 69% of the total Russian iron production, 57% of steel and 58% of rolled products. Compared with 1900, the production of iron in Ukraine has doubly increased, whereas coal 2.5 times; there was a significant increase in railway construction and productivity in heavy industry. Due to a significant increase in crop yields during 1910–1913, sugar, vodka and flour industries were intensified.

Behind all these economic successes was a powerful geological support, due to the significant achievements of the national school of geologists. At that time, geological science and practice developed mainly at higher educational institutions like universities (at the departments of geological direction at the natural departments of physics and mathematics faculties), mining and polytechnic institutes, as well as in the structure of the ‘Geological Committee’. In addition, geologists held an honorary place in the structure of the Imperial St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.

As for Ukraine, there were Kharkiv, Kyiv and Novorossiysk (in Odessa) universities, Ekaterynoslavsky (in present-day Dnipropetrovsky) Mining Institute and Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.

The ‘Geological Committee’ was the forerunner of the State Geological Service. It was founded in 1882 (on the initiative of O.P. Karpinsky, F.M. Chernyshov, G.P. Gelmerson, etc.) and united many outstanding geologists, in particular Ukrainians such as Mykola Andrusov (graduated from Novorossiysk University in Odessa in 1884), Oleksiy Borisyak (native of the city of Romny in Poltava region, now – Sumy region, graduated from St. Petersburg University in 1898), Volodymyr Vernadsky (graduated from St. Petersburg University in 1885), Georgy Vysotsky (native of the city of Glukhov in Chernigiv region, now – Sumy region, graduated from Petrovsk Agricultural Academy in Moscow in 1890), Afrikan Krishtofovych (graduated from Novorossiysk University in Odessa in 1908), Volodymyr Reznichenko (born near the city of Nizhyn in Chernigiv, graduated from Kharkiv University in 1896), Pavlo Tutkovsky (born in Kyiv province, now – Vinnitsya, graduated from Kyiv University of St. Volodymyr in 1882) and many others.

Later, in the time of the Ukrainian revolution (the Central Rada) and national-liberation competitions, ‘Ukrgeolcom’ was created (February 1, 1918), which was headed by the outstanding scientist-geologist Volodymyr Luchynsky.

Before the First World War, Ukraine had a powerful scientific and production geological potential. Therefore, it is not surprising that it was Ukrainian geologists who initiated the creation of the first professional Association of Geologists of the Russian Empire.

The initiator of the historical event was the famous Kharkiv geologist and editor of the ‘Yearbook of Geology and Mineralogy of Russia’ Mykola Krishtafovych, who worked at the Kharkiv Institute of Agriculture and Forestry. At that time (1916), the First World War continued which aggravated social contradictions in society and eventually led to a bloody Bolshevik revolution.

The need to create an association of geologists, which was proposed to be called ‘Russian Geological Society’, the scientist motivates the need to combine the efforts of geologists of the Russian empire to solve important scientific and industrial problems that have accumulated in connection with the challenges of World War II. Kryshtafovych developed the draft Statute of the Russian geological society, supplemented by Kharkiv Professor Sobolev and Kiyiv Professor Luchitsky.

The draft Statute was sent to geologists who were grouped mainly at the geological departments of the universities of Petrograd, Moscow, Odessa, Kazan, Ekaterynoslav, Warsaw, Kiev, and other major centres of the Russian empire. In the section for address of the author of the document, the following was noted: ‘By typing out the project that I worked out as the Statute of the Russian geological society, I sent it to all geologists, mineralogists, and petrography, soil scientists, paleontologists, and dynamgeologists, physiogeographics and hydrologists, Russian and working in Russia, where I was known, in a printed letter, dated February 1, 1916... All comments on the attached draft of the Russian geological society will be listed in the overall summary and provided to the Conference of authorized geologists. The time and place of the Conference of authorized geologists will be announced in addition to each geological institution and all scientific societies and organizations in which geologists participate. Please forward all correspondence in connection with the establishment of the Russian geological society and with the elaboration of its Statute, until further notice in my name in the city of Kharkiv, Kaplunovsky Street 7, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry. Please accept the assurances with full respect and consideration. Nikolai Krishtafovich.’

A constructive discussion of the draft Statute began, and on March 15, 1916, a group of Kharkiv geologists (23 people in total, including Mykola Kryshtafovych himself and Professor D.M. Sobolev, A.V. Gurov, P.F. Barakov, S.P. Popov, P.P. P’yatnytsky and V.P. Smirnov) developed a new version of the Statute and called it ‘Kharkiv’.

In the address to colleagues, the following was noted: ‘Currently located in Kharkov, the geologists and persons adjacent to the geology of specialties, discussing sent by N. I. Krishtafovich, the draft Statute of the Russian geological society, recognized the formation of such a society to be highly desirable, and the basic principle of the project (the autonomy of local departments and their Association by type of Association) to be absolutely correct. Contributed to the project some partial amendments, the meeting agreed to share them with foreign geologists. The Kharkiv version of the project is attached.’ It was proposed to change the name of the organization to Society of Russian Geologists.

Kryshtafovych continued to receive comments and additions to the draft Statute prepared by geologists of Odessa (February 19, 1916, four names, including V. Laskarev and V. Krokos), Petrograd (March 16, 19 surnames, including. O. Andrusov, O. Borisyak, O. Archangelsky, F. Levinson-Lessing et al.), Moscow (March 28, 21 surnames headed by the Professor of the University, сhairman of the Geological Department of the Imperial Society of Non-Professionals of Natural Science, Anthropology and Ethnography, Pavlov), Kazan (not dated, eight surnames), Warsaw (May 14, from the Geological-Paleontological Office of the local university, two surnames) and Katerynoslav (from the Director of the Mining Institute Lebedev, May 17).

In addition, on March 21, 1916, in Petrograd, in the premises of the Geological Committee, chaired by F.Y. Levinson-Lessing, a crowded meeting of the capital’s geologists (70 names, including such authorities as O.O. Borisyak, V.I. Vernadsky, O.P. Karpinsky, D.I. Mushketov, E.S. Fedorov, O.E. Fersman et al.) was held. The representative forum specially from Kharkiv arrived such specialists as Mykola Kryshtafovych. The initiator of the meeting was a member of the academy O.P. Karpinsky, who opened it. Then, a report was made by M.Y. Kryshtafovych, outlining his idea of creating a ‘Society of Russian geologists’.

The meeting adopted the following historic decisions:

  1. The need to unite geologists is recognized unanimously.
  2. It is considered desirable to create a special organization for the Association of Geologists through the device of periodic congresses for joint scientific geological excursions, for cooperation in the scientific work of geologists, to promote and assist the scientific work of local provincial organizations, etc.
  3. To develop the project of such organization according to the requests of all Russian geologists, it is recognized necessary to convene the all-Russian conference of geologists.
  4. It was decided to appeal to geologists-academicians with a request to raise the issue of convening the named Conference at the Imperial Academy of Sciences. In case of realization impossibility of numerous Conference in the near future, it is recognized possible to agree to Conference from separate local geological groups and the organizations. These groups and organizations will have to develop preliminary the projects of the organizations and to elect delegates for the Conference.
  5. The Organizing Committee of the Conference composed of academy members Andrusov, Vernadsky, the Prince Golitsyn, Karpinsky and Pavlov with the right to co-opt persons necessary for the work of the Committee.

It seemed that before the creation of the ‘Society of Russian Geologists,’ only one step was left, but the ruthless Moloch of the World War II made its own corrections. Economic problems, and then the revolutionary unrest of 1917, the abdication of the king, the growing public disorder, and lesions on the fronts foiled the plans of geologists. Many of them were mobilized to the front, where they used their knowledge to solve the problems of the army (search for construction materials for front-line needs, engineering and geological support for the construction of bridges, crossings, military facilities, exploration of drinking water, etc.).

Many geologists worked in the Commission for the study of natural production forces of Russia (KEPS), organized in 1915 on the initiative of academy member V.I. Vernadsky (led the Commission till 1930).

As for Ukraine, the centre of consolidation efforts of Ukrainian geologists were newly created in the era of the Central Rada as the Ukrainian Geological Committee (first head being Professor V.I. Luchytsky) and was founded by P.P. Skoropadsky, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences (UAS, later AUAS, the first President of which was academy member V.I. Vernadsky.)

The forerunner of the UAS was the Ukrainian Science Society (USS) in Kyiv, called to life by the revolutionary events of 1905–1907. The Statute of USS was approved in 1906, and on April 21, 1907, the first meeting was held, at which the leadership of the three newly created sections – philological, historical and mathematical-natural – were selected. Geologists played a significant role in the composition of the latter. Later, at the beginning of 1918, the Regional Committee of Nature Protection (headed by P.A. Tutkovsky) was organized in Kyiv and in Poltava – Society of Nature non-professionals (headed by V.I. Vernadsky).

Elected first on the list, the academy member Tutkovsky was the founder of the first Ukrainian Scientific-Research Geological Institute in 1926 (the present name is the Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine). As for the Ukrainian Science Society, over time, the society became part of the UAS, so the academy changed its name to AUAS (now the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine).

The dream of the Kharkiv geologist Mykola Kryshtafovych and his colleagues about creating the association of geologists found its embodiment in the conditions of independent Ukraine when in 2000, the Ukrainian Association of Geologists, which united thousands of geologists-professionals of modern Ukraine, was founded.

While working on the creation of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists, its initiators worked thoroughly with historical materials and archive documents. The text of the Statute of the ‘Society of Russian Geologists’ was slightly corrected and adapted to new conditions and is taken as a basis for writing the Statute of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists. All the work of the modern Ukrainian Association of Geologists since its foundation is the embodiment of the ideas of domestic geologists, who in 1916, were ready to create a public professional association. That is why on the logo of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists is the engraved date of 1916.

2. Organization and structure

At the beginning of 2000, on the initiative of a group of geologists, who relied on domestic historical traditions and international experience, an all-Ukrainian public organization ‘Ukrainian Association of Geologists’ was created, designed to support geological science and education, to increase the prestige of the profession of geologist and to strongly promote the study and development of mineral resources of our state and the rational use of mineral resources and the preservation of geological heritage.

The main activity of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists is to promote the development of mineral resources and strengthen the material and technical and legislative support of geological-prospecting in Ukraine, namely:

  • To introduce new technologies in particular, advanced foreign achievements;
  • The geological organization of scientific forums, international conferences, participation in the work of the geological associations and committees;
  • The development and implementation of science programs (organization of geological schools, seminars, excursions, field expeditions, publication of monographs, collection of scientific works, geological maps and other publications, study and protection of geological monuments, creation of popular science films, support of geological museums, etc.) and
  • The preparation and submission of proposals to public authorities to optimize the geological prospecting and exploration process and examination of promising areas of mineral exploration.

Now, the organization has 24 territorial cells located in the regional centers (Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne, Khmelnytsky, Chernivtsi, Transcarpathian, Volyn, Lugansk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernigiv, Zaporizhzhya, Odessa, Cherkassy, Kirovograd, Poltava, Kyiv region), the cities of Kyiv and Sevastopol and in the Republic of Crimea. During the organization of the Association, its collective members included 47 geological societies, associations and enterprises in particular, the State Geological Service of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Mineralogical Society, the Ukrainian Paleontological Society, the State Commission of Ukraine on mineral reserves, the National Academy of Mining Sciences of Ukraine, the Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Institute of Geology and Geochemistry of Combustible Minerals of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the State Science and Technology Enterprise ‘State Geological Information Fund of Ukraine’ (SRDE ‘Geoinform of Ukraine’), State Geological Exploration Enterprise ‘Donetskgeologiya’, Centre for Aerospace Research of the Earth of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, SE ‘Pivdenukrgeologia’, PJSC ‘Pivnichukrgeologia’, SE ‘Kirovgeologia’, State Geophysical Enterprise ‘Ukrheofizyka’, PJSC ‘Chprnomornaftogaz’, OJSC ‘Ukrnafta’, JSC ‘Concern Nadra’, Kyiv College of Exploration Technology, Drohobych College of Oil and Gas, etc. The number of individual members of the Association has increased to 4000, and their number is constantly increasing.

The higher authority of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists is the Conference, which elects the Board and its chairman.

The Association has a registered logo, as well as lapel badges and certificates, which are received by each individual member of the organization. Silver and gold lapel badges, medal ‘For Merit’ I, II and III degrees, geological hammer engraved with the awardee’s name were designed and manufactured and awarded by the Ukrainian Association of Geologists. On the anniversary of academy member Yeuhen Lazarenko, the medal ‘For Contribution to Mineralogy’, which the Ukrainian Association of Geologists awards on the proposal of the Ukrainian mineralogical society, was introduced.

The Ukrainian Association of Geologists is not for profit. According to the Statute, its financing is mainly due to entrance and membership fees, charitable contributions of citizens, enterprises, institutions and organizations, income from economic and commercial and other activities of enterprises and organizations established by the Association. Therefore, the Expert Council of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists was created to provide certain types of services in particular, expertise provision.

However, the main burden of financial support for the UAG activities (congresses and conferences provision, publishing costs for the journal ‘Ukrainian Geologist’, salaries, office maintenance, rent, furniture, office equipment, telephone and postal expenses) is borne by the general sponsor of the Association – JSC Concern Nadra.

3. ‘The concept of reforming the geological industry’ – I Conference of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists

The I Conference of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists was held in May 2000 on the initiative of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists. It has played an important role in the life of the state, because the delegates reviewed the concept of reforming the geological industry to the conditions of the market economy. The document was developed based on the experience of geological services in developed countries of Western Europe and North America. In the Soviet Union, there was a system according to which the enterprise that extracted minerals paid to the budget for geological prospecting and exploration, and these funds were returned to the enterprises that performed geological exploration from the budget. The explored deposits were transferred to miners from balance to balance. The funds that the mining companies sent to the budget, to the geological prospecting and exploration enterprises stopped coming because the state used them for other more urgent needs. The system began to work inefficiently. The free transfer of the fully explored deposit to other business entities was contrary to the laws of the market economy.

Developed countries have a different system. Their geological services have the opportunity to influence the principles of state policy in the field of natural resources management and conduct only regional studies. Mining companies, at its expense, perform search operations and scout fields, taking care of all financial costs and risks.

On May 25, 2000, a Ukrainian house in Kyiv became the arena of discussion on ways to reform and to further develop Ukrainian geology. In the discussion of the urgent questions, MPs, representatives of government circles, production organizations, academic sciences, universities and trade unions took part.

As a result, after a lively discussion, the I Conference generally approved the concept of reorganization of the industry ‘Geology and Exploration Survey’ developed on the basis of foreign experience. The approved and published the document including the prerequisites and principles for the reorganization of the industry management. In addition, it also provided specific directions and activities for the restructuring of geological enterprises during 2000–2005. In particular, the document emphasized the systemic crisis of geological production in the country, the decline in the effectiveness and efficiency of geological research, the fall in the competitiveness of geological enterprises, the catastrophic state of the material and technical base and significant moral and physical deterioration of fixed assets. This situation has led to a sharp decrease in geological prospecting and exploration volume, persistent non-payment of wages, outflow of specialists and loss of prestige of geology as a profession. All this has led to a decrease in the growth of a proven number of reserves for the functioning of the economy of the state minerals, causing a drop in their production.

The concept noted that the archaic geological production and the management structure of the industry, as well as the governing geological structures inherited from the planned economy, are not adapted to the new market economy.

To overcome the crisis and to remove contradictions between market requirements and outdated principles of enterprises, the concept provided for the functioning of the State Geological Service of Ukraine as an effective system of management of the geological sector and to control the processes of subsoil use and the formation of national policy in providing its own energy and mineral resources. According to the authors of the document, in the course of reforming the industry, the state share of the geological service with its own production should be left, while providing it with appropriate budget funding. The State Geological Service within the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources implements the state policy on the use of subsoil protection, grants licenses for the development of minerals and controls their extraction. Based on the analysis of the activities of enterprises included in the management system of the State Committee of Geology, the Concept provided the division of enterprises into two groups. The first would include enterprises that, as before, were subject to the State Geological Service and financed from the budget in particular, SRDE Geoinform of Ukraine that collects, stores and processes geological information, research institutes, several regional geological and state enterprises.

But the companies that carry out geological prospecting and exploration service for companies extracting minerals have become independent units and are mostly privatized. This group of enterprises should be separated from the State Geological Service, but they can and should carry out state orders, for example, for regional works under separate agreements with the mandatory holding of tenders. The economic freedom granted to such enterprises gives them the opportunity to show great initiative, ingenuity to adapt more quickly to the market economy and to create a worthy competition to foreign companies in Ukraine. Moreover, in Ukraine, despite the deep crisis in the geological industry, highly qualified specialists are preserved which is the main asset of our geology.

The concept also provided for effective functioning in market conditions for the enterprises which carried out geological prospecting and exploration service in particular, geological exploration with the aim of identifying promising areas, seismic exploration, exploration and production drilling, complex well looging in exploration and production wells, monitoring fields, workover etc.

The experience of other countries shows that the oil and gas industry is intensively developing where the mining companies themselves are engaged in increasing reserves, investing part of their own profits in the search and exploration of oil and gas fields. The concept proposed the creation of a licensing chamber within the Ministry of Environmental Protection which not only issued permits to natural resources but also determined the feasibility of the development of certain natural resources. It is extremely important that the development of mineral deposits takes into account not only the economic but also the environmental effect.

The decisions of the conference and the provisions of the adopted concept were only partially implemented. In particular, the functions of the State Geological Service as a government body of State Administration within the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Ukraine includes the implementation of strategic planning and geological study of subsoil and the consequences of subsoil use, taking into account the needs of society. Unfortunately, there is still no state policy on the development of geological and oil and gas industries, developed by Ukrainian geologists and supported by the I Conference of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists.

4. ‘We will save and increase the heritage of generations of Ukrainian geologist!’ – II Conference of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists

The basis for further development of the geological industry was determined at the II Conference of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists (October 2003). It included the rational use of mineral resources and preservation of geological heritage. Our country treasure is a significant number (about a thousand) of unique natural objects, i.e. geological monuments having scientific, cognitive and mystical value. They are material and spiritual witnesses of the ancient epochs, and in case of destruction, they are not subject to restoration, thereby requiring special treatment and preservation.

As noted earlier, the creation of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists was caused by the need to unite geologists in a single community for the formation of the geological community, the opinion of which should be taken into account by officials from geology. As the further decline of the industry continues, there is no specific vision and a clear understanding of its future, so the role of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists and other public professional organizations in the important preservation of geological heritage becomes undeniable. It is no secret that during the privatization of the land, many geological monuments and unique natural objects being in private areas have become almost inaccessible to study.

Well-known scientists and production workers took part in the discussion of the problems of geology raised at the Conference such as Petro Demchenko (сhairman, Board of NJSC Nadra of Ukraine), Mykola Kravchuk (сhairman, Union of Geology, II Conference of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists of Geodesy and Cartography of Ukraine), Mykhailo Kovalko (President, Ukrainian Oil and Gas Academy), Volodymyr Pavlyshyn (сhairman, Mineralogical Society of Ukraine), Victor Metalidi (Executive Director, Regional Geological Enterprise Pivnichgeologiya), Yeuhen Yakovlev (Chief, Department of Natural Resources of the Ukrainian Institute of Environmental and Resource Studies at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine of Ukraine), etc.

Because of the destructive processes in expeditions, unique geological materials such as primary geological information, geophysical data, and mineralogical, petrographic and paleontological collections vanish and disappear. Of particular concern is the situation with the core important primary factual material which is used to determine the age and material composition of rocks and minerals, as well as their petrophysical, physical, physical and chemical characteristics.

The reports expressed concern about the state of affairs in the energy sector. Since only part of the needs of the national economy is met by its own hydrocarbon production, the oil and gas complex of Ukraine largely depends on global political and economic trends in the energy sector. Building up our own hydrocarbon production and achieving the highest possible level of supply with our own fuel and energy resources is a fundamental task of our national economy. Imperfect laws on natural resources management, tax pressure, moral and physical deterioration of equipment, unstable and insufficient financing, outflow of personnel – all this exacerbates the crisis and leads to a lack of growth of proven hydrocarbon reserves and, as a result, entails a drop in their production.

Considerable attention was paid to environmental issues in the statements of the delegates. The agrarian and raw material nature of the Ukraine economy, which developed during the Soviet Union, caused a number of environmental problems. There is an increase in the level of anthropogenic pressure on landscapes and geological environment, which is manifested in the ploughing of up to 70% of the territory of Ukraine, the presence of up to 400 mining enterprises, violations of the subsoil to a depth of 1 km or more in the square in the tens of thousands of square kilometers, with a total development of about 10% of the mineral resources. Against this background, the reduction of the staff in the geological industry by almost five times and the non-rhythmic financing of the work on the study of the resource and geological prospects of the subsoil and their regional environmental condition is of serious concern. The decline of the geological industry hinders the development of the mineral resource base of our state, forms the prerequisites for limiting its own production of mineral resources and the growth of their imports.

Delegates noted with concern that the lack of attention of authorities to the problems of the industry can lead to a critical stage, which will begin irreversible processes of reduction of areas of geological research, violation of their complexity and the destruction of geological schools created over the decades.

Chairman of the State Geological Service Dmytro Gursky noted that the industry reorganization should be performed in accordance with the Decree of the President of Ukraine ‘On Measures to Improve the Management Efficiency of the Enterprises in the Field of Geology and Subsoil Exploration Survey’. The Conference adopted the ‘Strategy of Development and Reform of the Geological Industry of Ukraine for 2003–2010’ presented by Dmytro Gursky. Commenting on the document, Dmytro Gursky stressed that the implementation of the strategy should be based on European standards for the organization of geological exploration enterprises and should take into account the experience of geological departments and organizations in countries with market economies. Also, the work of the conference on the preservation of geological heritage, the formation of public opinion on the directions of reforming the geological industry, geological study and use of subsoil was approved, and a decision was made on the systematic publication of relevant materials in the journal ‘Ukrainian Geologist’.

5. ‘Deepening cooperation with international organizations and increasing the role of the Association cells’ – Reporting and Election Conference of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists

From the founding of the Association, there was a question of active cooperation with the world geological community. A number of events were held, as a result of which the activities of the Association of Geologists are now not limited to Ukraine. The Association is an associate member of the EAGE and the AAPG – the most influential geological public organization that publishes a scientific journal, newsletters, holds international conferences and is engaged in the education of young people.

In 2001, the members of the Association held a meeting in Kyiv with the head of the AAPG Robbie Rice Gries. Then, in Ukraine, for the first time among the CIS countries, the presentation of the organization headed by it took place.

Integration into the world geological community will continue to be one of the main priorities of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists.

In his introduction, Mykola Gavrylenko, the Deputy General Director of LLC Gals Ltd, noted that the reorganization of geology would be advisable to carry out only after the reorganization of the extractive industry of the country. He called for the work activation of the regional cells of the Association and providing them with broader powers and offered to address the President and Prime Minister of Ukraine with letters-proposals for the reorganization of the geological industry.

Yeuhen Yakovlev, chief researcher of the Institute of National Security Problems at the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, noted an interesting trend in the geological community of Ukraine – with the decline of the State Geological Service, there was the formation and rapid development of the public association of specialists-geologists. In terms of the United States, he showed how the attention of developed foreign countries is drawn to mineral resources. In particular, under the President of the United States for more than 20 years, a Council of Mineral Raw Materials has been working.

The spokesman appreciated the strengthening of the role of regional organizations and its influence on local authorities and supported the idea of the spokesman to invite authorities to take into account the opinion of the public when appointing industry leaders.

Mykola Zhykalyak, General Director of State Regional Geological Enterprise Donetskgeologiya, noted that the company, which he manages, became a collective member of the Association even when that Association was in its formative stages and because the decision was unpopular. The Ukrainian Association of Geologists, or rather the Guild of Geologists, protects professional interests and fights for the preservation of the geologist status. One of the main tasks of the Association is to promote its activities and create a brand. According to the spokesman, the Association is obliged to support the full range of geological studies without bias towards oil and gas geologists. It should participate in the creation of the legislative field of the industry and objectively, reasonably and systematically convey the views of the geological community to the authorities.

The delegates of the Conference elected the new Board by open vote. Pavlo Zagorodnuyk was re-elected as the сhairman of the Board of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists.

Thus, in a difficult period of development of the Ukrainian state and the formation of the market economy, the Ukrainian Association of Geologists has directed its activities to the further development of the geological industry, becoming an influential professional public organization and the spokesman of a wide range of ideas by geologists and geological organizations.

Let us outline the most important activities of the Association in 2000–2010.

  1. Development of ways to reform the geological industry

    The general geological community was informed about the ‘Concept of Reforming the Geological Industry’, developed with the active participation of the Association and adopted by the participants of the First Conference as well as the ‘Strategy of Development and Reform of the Geological Industry of Ukraine for 2003–2010’, adopted by the Second Conference of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists. Undoubtedly, the idea of a united geological community had a significant impact on subsequent government decisions in the field of geology and natural resources management. The Ukrainian Association of Geologists will continue to actively speak on behalf of the cohesive geological community to the governing structures of the government with specific proposals for the industry to move out of the crisis. In order to form a civilized relationship between the public and the government, based on international experience, the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Ukraine established a Public Council, which included the Ukrainian Association of Geologists.

    The Ukrainian Association of Geologists, as a public organization, was represented in a number of influential commissions in particular, in the interdepartmental working group on natural resources management. But since the second half of 2010, the representation of the Association of Geologists in it is absent.

  2. Participation in the geological life of the country

    As the spokesman and defender of the interests of a wide range of geologists, the Association tried to respond to all appeals and proposals that came to its address. In addition to congresses and conferences where geologists were able to communicate with each other in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, the Association organized the annual celebration of the professional holiday of geologists, significant for the national geological organizations of the dates of anniversaries of famous contemporaries and the great men of the past. Relevant information was systematically placed on the pages of the journal ‘Ukrainian Geologist’.

    For devotion to geology and for a significant contribution to its development, 232 geologists were marked with a silver awards and 209 with gold. 93 geologists were awarded the medal ‘For Merit’. Geological hammers engraved with the awardees’ names were given to honour 167 geologists. According to the Ukrainian Mineralogical Society, four geologists were awarded with the medal ‘For contribution to Mineralogy’.

  3. Work with veterans

    On the initiative of the Minister of Geology of the USSR (1967–1982), adviser to the President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Honorary President of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists Petro Shpak, in March 2001, established the Council of Veterans of Geology to pay tribute to the honoured people of the industry.

    The main purpose of the Council is to unite experts – veterans of geology – for the sake of preserving the connection of generations. We are interested in the veterans to pass their invaluable scientific, production and management experience to the youth in order to raise the geological industry of Ukraine.

  4. Work with youth

    Work with school and student youth is a priority direction in the work of the Association. As noted at the reporting election Conference in 2005, geology is an art that is passed down from generation to generation and cannot be taught only by textbook. And though the present problem is the ‘aging’ of staff, among modern ‘geological’ youth, there are many who can become worthy successors of traditions of the Ukrainian geologists.

    The movement of young geologists began in the former Soviet Union in the late 1950s. After the collapse of the USSR, children’s geological movement in Ukraine was not paid attention to, and only a few schools were circles of young geologists. From 2001, the Ukrainian Association of Geologists began to revive the country children’s and youth geological movement, to hold competitions of young geologists, to sponsor geological museums at technical schools and higher educational institutions, which train specialists for the geological industry.

    In modern Russia, where the children’s and youth geological movements continue to develop actively, seven all-Russian gatherings of young geologists were held. In August 2009, at the initiative of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists and at the invitation of the Russian geological society, a team of young geologists from Rivne region took part in the VII open all-Russian Olympiad of young geologists in Taganrog for the first time and showed good results.

    The Association plans to organize the participation of a team of young geologists from Ukraine in the next Olympiad, which will be held in 2011 in the Tomsk region. Organizational work has already begun on the first all-Ukrainian gathering of young geologists.

    The Ukrainian Association of Geologists began to carry out educational work in boarding schools for children with hearing impairments. Members of the organization support and take an active part in the annual competitions of young geologists in Kharkiv, Rivne and other cities.

    Many students of geological specialties, members of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists, are winners of all-Ukrainian student competitions in geology and participants of international geological competitions organized by AAPG and EAGE. Several inter-university scientific and practical conferences were held.

  5. International activities

    In order to expand geological contacts, the Ukrainian Association of Geologists became a member of international public geological organizations such as AAPG, EAGE, SEG and other influential professional organizations.

    Representatives of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists became frequent guests of the EAGE conferences such as the 63rd (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 66th (Paris, France), 67th (Madrid, Spain), 68th (Vienna, Austria), 69th (London, UK), 70th (Rome, Italy), 71st (Amsterdam, Netherlands) and 72nd (Barcelona, Spain).

    Within the framework of the 68th Paris EAGE Conference, representatives of the Association participated in business meetings on infrastructure development and expansion of the range of EAGE services and its grant policy. For assistance in establishing cooperation between EAGE and Ukrainian geological community, a golden badge from the UAG was awarded to the EAGE Board member Dr. Helmut Gartner and a silver badge to Mr. Gerard Wieggerink.

    The Association also participated in the annual AARG Conferences (Denver, Colorado), the ААРG REGIONAL conferences in Prague (October 2004) and Athens (November 2007).

    In November 2005, the Ukrainian Association of Geologists hosted representatives of the AAPG. Dr. Pete Rose, President of AAPG, and Dr. John Brooks, President of the European region, paid an official visit to Kyiv.

    On November 14, Dr. Rose gave a lecture in the auditorium of the Teacher’s House titled ‘Reducing the Risk of Oil and Gas Producing Works through the Introduction of Systematic Risk Analysis (on the Example of the Experience of International Corporations in the 1900s)’. The lecture was attended by about 120 employees of the oil and gas industry of Ukraine. A lively discussion ensued as the problem of risks in the exploration and development of oil and gas is very relevant in Ukraine.

    On November 15, American guests met with students of the geological faculty of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. During the meeting, Dr. Rose noted that the development of society and integration into the international economic space requires modern specialist skills in joint research and business projects with foreign colleagues.

    A new interesting activity of the Association is the participation with the Tutkovsky Institute in the implementation of the joint program ‘Professional Development of Specialists of the Oil and Gas industry of Ukraine for International Cooperation and Work in Western Companies’. Within the framework of this program, on November 11 and 12, 2009, at the Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and at the Tutkovsky Institute, AAPG representative Frans van Bahem gave lectures on the problem of oil-source rocks. This is only the start of the program, which has great prospects for domestic specialists and foreign partners.

    Under the sponsorship of the companies Shell and RUDIS, the Association, in the framework of the mentioned program, conducted a series of lectures such as ‘Application of Seismic Anisotropy in the Oil and Gas Industry’.

    The workshop was attended by 42 representatives of SE Naukanaftogaz, Institute of Geological Sciences, LLC Cadogan Ukraine, UKRSGRI, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, SE Ukrgazvydobuvannya, JV Poltava Petroleum Company, etc. Dr. Volodymyr Grechka (Shell Exploration and Production) was the speaker.

  6. Professional work

    The mouthpiece of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists is the journal ‘Ukrainian Geologist’. Its first issue, the decoration of which was the material I. Vasylyshyn ‘Volyn gems’, was published in early 2003. In the following issues, readers continued to get acquainted with the fabulous mineral kingdom of the planet. Its active correspondents were and are Svitlana Machulina, Victor Matsui, Victor Kvasnitsa, Valentyn Prokopets, Stella Shekhunova, etc.

    The preservation of geological heritage is one of the priorities of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists. Therefore, the journal staff pays special attention to the history of geological knowledge in Ukraine. Our authors wrote about the tragic and heroic pages of the history of geology in Ukraine and about the outstanding famous and half-forgotten repressed geologists. Among the authors of historical studies, we will note Dmytro Makarenko, Stanislav Buchaka, Volodymyr Kozansky, Rostyslav Furduya, Volodymyr Entin, Lev Monchaka, Volodymyr Pavlyshyn, Vasyl Zagorodnyuk and others. The first such material was the article ‘V.I. Vernadsky in the Poltava Region’ which was a fragment of manuscript from the book of Stanislav Bushaka ‘The Member Academy V. I. Vernadsky and Ukraine’, published on the 140th anniversary of the birth of an outstanding scientist.

    Ukraine is a country with a long tradition of oil production. This topic is given considerable attention in our publications, in particular, the birth of the oil industry of the Carpathian region, the invention of the kerosene lamp in Lviv, as well as individuals involved in oil and gas production in Ukraine.

    An independent column, which readers are very interested in, is the impression of our colleagues-geologists from foreign trips. Geologists not only take an active part in forums, seminars and conferences but also pay close attention to the unique geological sites of the countries where such events take place. Victor Mershiy, Oleksandr Kychka, Vasil Guliy, Volodymyr Myhailov are the main storytellers on the pages of our magazine about their adventures while traveling to distant countries.

    Geology as a science of the earth is closely connected with the land where we all live. Therefore, cultural, historical and ethnographic essays about Ukraine, which help in readers’ immersion in the rituals and traditions of Ukrainians garner a lot of interest. Talented, poetic soul of Ukrainians gave the world beautiful examples of folklore associated with the life of the people, ideas about nature, space and time and the relationship between people and space. Volodymyr Nerodenko was an unsurpassed expert on the history and ethnography of his native land.

    Youth geological movement, work with young people, which is carried out by the Association is also covered by the journal. The journal has covered and will continue to do so such cells and their leaders and conductors.

    The Ukrainian Association of Geologists also pays sincere respect to the veterans of geology, whose invaluable life and professional experience helps in continuing our common professional work.

    Determining for the development and improvement of the scientific level of the journal was the inclusion of it in 2005 on the supplementary list of publications that their Higher Attestation Commission of Ukraine recognizes as professional. This was made possible with the support of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Director of the Institute, the academy member, P.F. Gozhyk and Scientific Secretary Stella Shekhunova. The journal publishes original scientific articles by such authors as I. Bagriy, V. Guliy, L. Galetsky, V. Ivanyshyn, V. Kvasnytsya, M. Lebid’, O. Lukin, O. Lukienko, S. Machulina, V. Mischenko, I. Oryschenko, E. Patalakha, B. Panov, A. Radziwill, G. Rudko, V. Tregubenko, V. Shestopalov, S. Shekhunova, V. Shumlyansky and others. The results of scientific research of our foreign colleagues are also presented, although not in a significant amount.

    Ukrainian Geologist is a constant participant and information sponsor of the international forums such as ‘Oil and Gas’, ‘High Technologies’, international specialized exhibitions such as ‘Subsoil’, ‘Minerals’ and ‘Labcomplex’. News about these events, interviews with the organizers and exhibitors, photo reports are placed in the ‘Information’ section.

    High-quality printing makes it possible to publish unique photographs. We strive to take into account the wishes of authors and readers, keeping a balance between the content of materials and the interesting form of their submission. The journal is constantly developing and improving, and in 2010, it was included in the list of professional publications.

  7. Scientific Conferences

    Activities of foreign organizations show that the priority of their work is the creation of conditions for exchange of experience between professional geologists of different countries, the promotion of new scientific and technical developments and to learn about the latest technologies from leading companies in the world.

    In turn, the Ukrainian Association of Geologists considers the organization of scientific conferences and wide coverage of the results of important international geological forums in the journal ‘Ukrainian Geologist’ as an integral part of its activities.

    From the time of creation, the Ukrainian Association of Geologists took part in organizing 64 scientific conferences. The most significant among them are the following:

    • ‘Genesis of Oil and Gas and Formation of Their Deposits in Ukraine as a Scientific Basis for Prediction and Search for New Accumulations’ (Chernigiv) (International Scientific and Practical Conference)
    • ‘Actual Problems of Oil and Gas Geology’ (Kyiv) (Scientific Conference)
    • Celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Institute of Geological Sciences and the 50th anniversary of the Institute of Geology and Geochemistry of fossil fuels of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
    • VI Congress of the Ukrainian Mineralogical Society (Kyiv, 2nd–4th October, 2001)
    • ‘Geodynamics and Oil and Gas Structures of the Black Sea-Caspian Region’ (Crimea, 9th–14th September, 2002) (IV International Conference)
    • Scientific conference on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Ukrainian Oil and Gas Academy (Kyiv, 20th May, 2003)
    • ‘Noble and Rare Metals’ (Donetsk, 22nd–26th September, 2003) (IV International Conference)
    • Inter-university cooperation with the State Geological Service and the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Scientific and Practical Conference ‘Metal and Predictive Assessment of the Zones of Tectonic-Magmatic Activity of the Precambrian of the Ukrainian Shield’ (Kyiv, 16th–18th December, 2003)
    • ‘Geological Science and Education in Ukraine’ (Kyiv, 1st–2nd April, 2004) (Scientific-Methodical Conference)
    • ‘Modern Economic Opportunities for Development and Implementation of Mineral Resources of Ukraine and Russia in the Context of Globalization of the Mineral Base Market’ (Kyiv, 20th–23rd June, 2005) (International Scientific and Practical Conference)
    • ‘Geodynamics, Seismic Intensity and Oil and Gas Potential of the Black Sea-Caspian Region’ (Crimea, 12th–16th September, 2005) (VI InternationalConference)
    • ‘Prospects of Oil and Gas Potential of Deeply Immersed Horizons of Sedimentary Basins of Ukraine’ (Yaremcha, Ivano-Frankivsk region, 20th–23rd September, 2005) (Scientific and Technical Conference)
    • ‘Geological Education and Science in the XXI Century. Problems of Teaching of Geological Disciplines’ (Kyiv, 17th–19th May, 2006) (International Scientific and Pedagogical Conference)
    • ‘Secondary Natural Reservoirs and Non-Structural Traps as Objects of Significant Growth of Hydrocarbon Reserves in Ukraine’ (Kyiv, 24th–26th May, 2006) (Scientific Conference)
    • International session and the geological excursion of the European Association for the protection of the geological heritage (3rd–9th September, 2006)
    • International scientific conference dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Department of Geology and 55th anniversary of the Department of Minerals and Environmental Geology of Donetsk National University (Donetsk, 27th–30th September, 2006)
    • Scientific conference dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the geological faculty of Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas (Ivano-Frankivsk, 3rd–9th December, 2006)
    • ‘Ukrainian Amber World’ (Kyiv, 17th–20th October, 2007) (Scientific-Practical Conference)
    • ‘Problems of Mineralogical Crystallography’ (Lviv, 13th–14th December, 2007) (V scientific readings named after academician Yevgen Lazarenko)
    • IV session of the International School of Earth Sciences (Odessa, 2nd September, 2008)
    • ‘Modern Problems of Lithology and Mineralogy of Sedimentary Basins of Ukraine and Adjacent Territories’ (Odessa, 2nd September, 2008) (International Conference)
    • ‘Production and Use of Methane Gas: Attracting Investments’ (Donetsk, 18th–19th September, 2009) (International Sscientific and Technical conference)

    In 2003, the world community celebrated 150 years of the world oil and gas industry, the origins of which are connected with Ukraine.

    Few people know that in Lviv in 1853, Jan Zeg, for the first time in the world, carried out the distillation of oil, receiving kerosene, and that it was here that the first kerosene lamp (Betty lamp) was created. Then, mass production of kerosene from oil began, but after a personal life tragedy, Jan Zeg retired, and his colleague Ignatiy Lukashevych more successfully engaged in the production of kerosene. Having launched a dynamic activity, he transferred the main part of production to the territory of Krosno (Poland), and later, the streets of Vienna were lit with kerosene lamps. However, Ukraine is the centre of the world’s oil and gas industry.

    In Poland, 2003 was declared as the year of Lukashevych, because the Poles interpreted the events associated with the discovery of the kerosene lamp as exclusively their achievement. The Ukrainian Association of eologists restored historical justice by holding a scientific conference ‘History, Current State and Prospects of Development of the Oil and Gas Industry of Ukraine in the Context of International Integration’ in Lviv and installed a bronze plaque made by the Association. Unfortunately, all proposals and requests for help to organizations, in particular, to NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine, remained unanswered. The idea of creating a museum of the oil and gas industry of Ukraine in Lviv was not supported either. And although historians have not agreed on the authorship of the inventions, it is known that Lviv is the birthplace of the first lighting device of this type (based on oil distillation), and the Association considers itself involved in the sound coverage of this topic. In a pharmacy on Kopernyk Street, in the centre of the city of Lev, in 1853, the first kerosene lamp was lit. It is interesting that now, in Lviv, a Restaurant-Museum ‘Gasova lampa’ has been opened, where about 200 kerosene lamps were created in different years of the 19th and 20th centuries. A lot of photo reprints of these ‘fireflies’ and short information about them have also been printed. Bronze ‘parents’ of the kerosene lamp (its inventors) meet visitors at the entrance to the restaurant – Jan Zeg at the table, at the entrance to the institution, and Ignatiy Lukashevych looking out of the window of the third floor.

    On April 16th and 17th, 2008, the International Conference ‘Problems of the Stratigraphy of the Carbonous System’, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birthday of the outstanding geologist, stratigrapher, palaeontologist and professor of Kyiv Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Olgerd Leonidovych Einor was held. Participants of the conference, most of whom were students or colleagues of Einor, shared memories about their mentor, new ideas on issues of biostratigraphy and regional problems of oil and gas potential of the carbon. Foreign guests were pleasantly surprised by the hospitality and cordiality of the organizers from the Ukrainain Association of Geologists. All participants received a collection of scientific papers ‘Problems of the Stratigraphy of the Carbonic Rocks System’ and a biography of Einor specially published for the Conference.

    The international scientific and practical conference ‘210th Anniversary of the Beginning of Systematic Geological Research of Donbass’, which worked on the basis of the East State Regional Geological Enterprise, was held in Luhansk on October 7th–9th, 2008, and was devoted to the history of exploration and mining in the territory of modern Luhansk region.

    On October 16th–17th, 2008, the conference ‘Ukrainian Amber World’ was held in Kyiv, which was joined by ‘Ukrainian Geologist’, a participant of international exhibitions and the Association. The conference was devoted to the in-depth study of the raw material base of amber in Ukraine and adjacent areas, geological research of amber-containing areas, prospects of search and production and processing of amber in Ukraine.

    The Ukrainain Association of Geologists has not remained aside from such an urgent problem for Ukraine as the extraction of methane from coal deposits. Ukrainain Association of Geologists co-organized the conference ‘Production and Use of Gas-Methane: Attracting Investments’, held in Donetsk on September 17th–19th, 2009. The materials of the conference were compiled and published in a special issue of the journal ‘Ukrainian Geologist’.

  8. Geological heritage preservation

    The Association pays great attention to the preservation of geological monuments of Ukraine. For its cataloguing, promotion and protection in October 2004 along with State Committee on Natural Resources of Ukraine, a scientific-methodical seminar ‘Geological Monuments of Ukraine’ was held.

    The Ukrainain Association of Geologists informed the public about the V International Symposium of the European Association for the Preservation of Geological Heritage (ProGeo), which was held at the initiative of the Ukrainian members of the organization in Kyiv and Kamyanets-Podilsk in September 2006. The destruction of geological monuments is an irreversible process, so disturbing trends in the development of modern civilization make us think about what will remain after us for future generations.

    ‘Essays on the History of Geological Research at Kyiv University’ was a sign of moral support for all who had consciously chosen geology as their main profession.

    It is undeniable that the Association rests on the enthusiasm of people who are not indifferent to the fate of Ukrainian geology, different in specialty, age and preferences. It is thanks to their support that the 10th anniversary of its founding is met by the Ukrainain Association of Geologists with important achievements in all spheres of activity, new prospects and bold plans for the future.

6. Future plans

Today, Ukraine is integrating into the world economic space, becoming an open state, and its economy is transforming from a planned-administrative to a market economy. The path to real European integration and entry into the European Union continues, because in May 2008, Ukraine has become a full member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This step leads to a reduction of restrictions on access of Ukrainian goods and services to the markets of WTO member states and has allowed the creation of free trade zones with the EU.

Mining and service companies with foreign capital tend to work in Ukraine and attract local geologists. These are large and small companies participating in global tenders, providing quality services. The qualification level of their employees in such companies are very high.

Our specialists who go to work on contract terms abroad also have high requirements for professional training, knowledge of foreign languages and compliance with international quality standards. Ukrainian mining companies and service structures, working on the order of foreign firms, introduce international standards of work, work on high-tech equipment and actively use advanced technologies.

The purpose of the Ukrainain Association of Geologists in the outlined direction is to consolidate the efforts and experience of the best specialists of different generations for the development of geological science and professional development of domestic specialists. We will deepen international cooperation so that Ukrainian specialists are not inferior to their foreign counterparts and are competitive in the global labour market.

Our near plans include cooperation with government agencies in order to jointly participate in the development and implementation of educational programs for geologists and miners. Teachers of the leading educational institutions of the country such as lecturers of the AAPG and EAGE are involved in cooperation.

In autumn 2009, the joint program together with Tutkovsky Institute ‘Professional Development of Specialists of Oil and Gas Industry of Ukraine for International Cooperation and Work in Western Companies’ was begun.

The educational process is carried out by involving leading Ukrainian and foreign specialists in lectures and specialized courses. Lecturers from the UAG, AAPG, SEG and EAGE are invited for cooperation. Such courses are organized on the basis of the Tutkovsky Institute, Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Ukraine and other institutions. They are funded by sponsors, which means that training is free for participants. After completing the course, participants receive a certificate of the state sample on improvement of professional development.

Training courses are carried out in the following areas:

  • Professional English
  • HSE
    • Basic principles of HSE management
    • Principles of organization and implementation of HSE-management in the enterprise
    • Organization and implementation of the HSE system in seismic exploration
    • Basic principles of the international safety management system of enterprises of the geological prospecting and exploration industry
  • Economics
    • Risks of oil and gas project and analysis of possible solutions
    • Producing enterprises economics and modelling portfolios
    • Investment analysis and the assessment of geological, commercial and economic risks
    • Oil and gas business basics
  • Law
    • Licensing of oil and gas production activities
    • Analysis of legislative acts on natural resources management
  • Geology
    • Modelling of oil and gas basin and integrating achievements
    • Data integration from various studies for the analysis of oil and gas prospective objects
    • Identification and evaluation of hydrocarbon deposits in carbonate rocks
    • Management of geotechnical problems of field development
    • Deposits with fractured reservoirs
    • Combined analysis of geological and geophysical information and development data
  • Geophysics
    • Geological interpretation of seismic survey materials
    • Seismic reflection of deep structures and its challenges
    • Prediction of reservoir parameters from the seismic data
    • AVO-inversion and attribute analysis
    • Principles of application and achievements
    • Volumetric seismic technologies for the study of complex geological objects
  • Logging
    • Complex interpretation of the materials of geophysical exploration of open-hole well bores and its principles and achievements
    • Integrated reservoir assessment from core data, well logging and testing
    • New technologies of geotechnical studies
    • Geophysical exploration in cased column and operating well bores
    • Petrophysical bases of application of methods of geophysical well logging
  • Drilling
    • Drilling on the balance and wells control
    • Construction design of well bores, columns and tubing string and modern achievements
    • New technologies of drilling fluids preparation
    • New equipment and technologies of casing cementing
    • Information support of the construction process and workover
  • Bore wells development
    • Horizontal and directional wells
    • Drilling and design feasibility analysis
    • Hydraulic modelling of deposits and data integration
    • Evaluation and analysis of mining reserves
    • Program of experimental-industrial development and reserves commercial exploitation
  • Extraction
    • Intensification technologies of well production rates and its principles of application and modern achievements
    • Technology to improve oil extraction in old fields. Methods and principles of application
    • Cycling process and its range of application, working technologies and practical achievements analysis
    • Reservoir fracturing and modern achievements
    • Hydrochloric treatments. Methods and principles of application
    • Control over the development using geophysical well loggingand monitoring well bores work

The Ukrainian Association of Geologists is ready to participate in the organization and execution of international conferences in order to bring Ukrainian enterprises to the international market, as well as to continue to acquaint Ukrainian specialists with the achievements of the geological industry.

A new aspect of the Association’s international activities is to attract foreign investment into the Ukrainian economy, in particular, in the geological prospecting and exploration and oil and gas extraction industry, to the joint development of the Azov-Chornomorsk Sea shelf. The first real step in this work is the conference ‘Geology and Oil and Gas Potential of the Black and Caspian Sea Region: Historic Past, Promising Future’.

The Association’s meticulous and systematic work in this direction has been successful. On October 17th–19th, 2010, the most large-scale event for geology in Ukraine was held, i.e. the 2010 European Region Annual Conference “Exploration in the Black Sea and Caspian Regions”. This was preceded by almost a year of preparations. As a result of substantial correspondence and exchange visits of representatives of the Association Board and the leadership of AAPG between the European representation of AAPG and the Ukrainian Association of Geologists, a partnership agreement on the cooperation of the organization and holding of the conference was concluded in the capital of Ukraine.

It is safe to say that the diversity and relevance of the announced topics for this event had no analogues in independent Ukraine.

502 delegates from 212 organizations and companies came from 28 countries. In total, about 600 people took part in the organization and work of the conference. The conference consisted of 229 oral and poster presentations.

Most of the materials announced at the Kyiv conference were prepared which were new by nature and original in content. Participation in the conference is also an opportunity for specialists to discuss the prospects of potential cooperation and determine their own professional level. The best student works were mentioned at a youth party sponsored by the Tutkovsky Institute.

It is symbolic that by holding such a large-scale international event, the Association confirmed its own uniqueness, consolidated the success of all its ten-year work and proved that it has a strong potential to carry out the most serious projects.

For Ukraine, it is important to hold a conference of this level with a rich and diverse scientific program, which had the participation of leading service companies in the world, interesting geological excursions and new opportunities for establishing business ties.

The revival of the industry is certainly impossible without the participation of young people in this process. Therefore, we will continue to pay special attention to work with students and graduate students and those who seek to be the best in their chosen profession using their creativity and self-confidence. We analyse the foreign experience in providing grants to the best young scientists and plan to sponsor talented, gifted and promising young people.

Veterans of the industry and experienced and highly qualified specialists with invaluable experience in different regions of the former Soviet Union and a broad outlook will not remain out of our attention. They are active popularisers of geological knowledge, correspondents of scientific and popular science magazines, authors of interesting books and experts. Among them, there are many who are willing to share knowledge and experience with the younger generation. Furduya’s book ‘The Brother of the Sun and Wind’, which showcases the profession of geology as one of the best, is ready for publication.

All the issues outlined above are covered in detail in the journal ‘Ukrainian Geologist’, which is a constant chronographer of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists. The fact that it was recognized as a professional publication not only gave the journal a higher status but also increased its responsibility to the scientific community.

Thus, the Ukrainian Association of Geologists has specific plans for the revival of the state geological sector and will continue to protect the professional interests of our geologists, speaking on behalf of the geological society with effective proposals to the authorities and actively participating in the process of forming the European image of our country.