CPG Professional Standards & Competencies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CPG is asked by a client to certify reserves for a prospect that lacks sufficient well control. What is the appropriate response?
- Certify the reserves using analogous field data without disclosure
- Decline to certify and explain that the data is insufficient (Correct answer)
- Provide a certification with an optimistic case only
- Delegate the certification to a junior geologist
Correct answer: Decline to certify and explain that the data is insufficient
CPGs must decline to certify reserves when data is insufficient to meet professional standards, and should explain the deficiency to the client.
Question 2: Which AAPG Code of Ethics principle addresses a geologist's responsibility to protect public safety?
- Duty to the profession
- Duty to the employer
- Duty to society (Correct answer)
- Duty to self-advancement
Correct answer: Duty to society
The duty to society obligates geologists to consider public health, safety, and welfare in their professional work.
Question 3: A CPG discovers mid-project that a colleague fabricated well log data. What is the primary professional obligation?
- Keep silent to protect the colleague's career
- Report the misconduct to appropriate authorities (Correct answer)
- Independently verify and correct the data quietly
- Complete the project using the fabricated data
Correct answer: Report the misconduct to appropriate authorities
CPGs have an ethical duty to report scientific misconduct, including data fabrication, to appropriate professional or regulatory authorities.
Question 4: Under the SPE-PRMS framework, what distinguishes Contingent Resources from Reserves?
- Contingent Resources have not yet been discovered
- Contingent Resources lack commercial maturity at the time of reporting (Correct answer)
- Contingent Resources require government approval to extract
- Contingent Resources are limited to offshore fields
Correct answer: Contingent Resources lack commercial maturity at the time of reporting
Contingent Resources are discovered quantities that are not yet commercially mature due to one or more contingencies such as market access or regulatory approval.
Question 5: A CPG working as an independent consultant is offered stock in a company whose reserves he is evaluating. When must this conflict be disclosed?
- Only if the stock value exceeds $10,000
- Before accepting the engagement (Correct answer)
- At the time the final report is issued
- Only if required by state law
Correct answer: Before accepting the engagement
Conflicts of interest must be disclosed to all relevant parties before accepting any engagement, not after work has begun.
Question 6: Which of the following best characterizes 'competency' as defined in CPG professional standards?
- Holding an advanced degree in geoscience
- Demonstrated ability to perform tasks within one's area of expertise (Correct answer)
- Having more than 10 years of industry experience
- Membership in multiple professional organizations
Correct answer: Demonstrated ability to perform tasks within one's area of expertise
Competency is defined as the demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skills to perform specific tasks to required standards.
Question 7: A CPG is hired to evaluate a prospect in a region where environmental regulations are less stringent than in the US. Which standard applies?
- The lower standard of the host country only
- The higher of the applicable US or host country standards (Correct answer)
- Only the host country's regulations
- Whichever standard the client prefers
Correct answer: The higher of the applicable US or host country standards
Professional ethics require applying the higher applicable standard, reflecting a CPG's duty to society even when local regulations permit less rigorous practices.
CPG Professional Standards & Competencies 2
A CPG is asked by a client to certify reserves for a prospect that lacks sufficient well control.
What is the appropriate response?