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® IHS AccuMap ARTICLES Celebrate National Engineering and Geoscience Week...... 21 by Athea Adams, Apegga “AccuMap encompasses speed, stability, efficiency ConocoPhillips Glen Ruby Memorial Scholarship in Geoscience ...... 23 International Commission on Stratigraphy and accuracy. As an intuitive CSPG OFFICE #600, 640 - 8th Avenue SW ICS Stratigraphy Prizes...... 25 and easy-to-use product, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 1G7 Tel: 403-264-5610 Fax: 403-264-5898 Prospect Saskatchewan: The Mississippian AccuMap serves a broad Web: www.cspg.org audience, from field users Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:00pm Looking Beyond the subcrop plays...... 27 Business Manager: Tim Howard to the CEO.” Email: [email protected] Puskwaskau – Beaverhill Lake Sand Oil...... 33 Membership Services: Sarah Barton by Canadian Discovery Ltd. Email: [email protected] Communications & Public Affairs: Jaimè Croft Larsen Email: [email protected] CSPG New Members List...... 38 Corporate Relations: Kim MacLean Email: [email protected] Corporate Relations Assistant: Heather Tyminski Email: [email protected] DEPARTMENTS Conventions & Conferences: Shauna Carson Email: [email protected] Executive Comment...... 5 Conventions & Conferences Assistant: Tanya Santry Technical Luncheons...... 9 Darrel Saik Email: [email protected] EDITORS/AUTHORS Division Talks...... 15 Senior Geological Technologist Please submit RESERVOIR articles to the CSPG office. Submission Paramount Energy Trust deadline is the 23rd day of the month, two months prior to issue Rock Shop...... 32 date. (e.g., January 23 for the March issue). To publish an article, the CSPG requires digital copies of the document. Text should be in Microsoft Word format and illustrations should be in TIFF format at 300 dpi., at final size For additional information on manuscript preparation, refer to the Guidelines for AccuMap is the most widely Authors published in the CSPG Bulletin or contact the editor. Coordinating Editor & Operations used and highly trusted oil and Jaimè Croft Larsen, CSPG gas mapping software touching Tel: 403-513-1227 Fax: 403-264-5898 Email: [email protected] every segment of E&P, for every Technical Editor professional. Ben McKenzie Tarheel Exploration Tel: 403-277-4496, Email: [email protected] ADVERTISING Kim MacLean Corporate Relations, CSPG Tel: 403-513-1229, Email: [email protected] Advertising inquiries should be directed to Kim MacLean. The deadline to reserve advertising space is the 23rd day of the month, two months prior to issue date. All advertising artwork should be sent directly to Kim MacLean. The RESERVOIR is published 11 times per year by the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists. This includes a combined issue for the months of July/August. Advertisements, as well as inserts, mailed with the publication are paid advertisements. No endorsement or sponsorship by the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists is implied. FRONT COVER The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either in part Cypress Hills, Saskatchewan. The 40-165m thick Oligocene-aged conglomerate or in full without the consent of the publisher. caps the Cypress Hills of southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan. Photo by Robert Leonhardt. www.ihs.com/energy Design & Layout by Sundog Printing. Printed in Canada by Sundog Printing. Additional copies of the RESERVOIR are available at the CSPG Call toll free 1 877 495 4473 office for $3.00. RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 1st impressions are made in 3 seconds

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RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 I_dY['/(-$$$ EXECUTIVE COMMENT A message from the President, Colin Yeo

1st impressions Delivering are made in 3 seconds the

CSPG goods EXECUTIVE In this our Society’s 80th year, I am information, and material balance calculations honored to serve as your president. The is now critical. In addition, the petroleum President Colin Yeo • EnCana Corporation Society’s mission is to advance the science geologist must now have a strong grasp of [email protected] Tel: (403) 645-7724 of petroleum geology and the vision is economics and business. Multi-stakeholder to be the premier source of continuing issues are becoming increasing important Vice President professional development for our members. as companies send their technical teams to Lisa Griffith • Griffith Consulting Our Society is the repository of 80 years meet members of the public and present [email protected] Tel: (403) 669-7494 of scientific, observational, and experiential their plans to those most impacted by these literature, allowing petroleum geologists to developments. Today’s geologists must have Past President benefit from the collective wisdom of their a good understanding of the importance and Jim Reimer • Result Energy Inc. peers, past and present. An impressive contribution of other petroleum sciences [email protected] Tel: (403) 539-5207 array of technical luncheons, division if they strive to be project leaders, team presentations, conventions, conferences, leaders, or executives of companies. Finance Director field trips, and short courses makes us Peter Harrington • Northrock Resources Ltd. arguably the most active and dominant The CSPG must respond to these changes. [email protected] Tel: (403) 213-7665 technical society in the country. Our revitalized Continuing Education Assistant Finance Director Committee needs to assess which new James Donnelly • ConocoPhillips Canada During my term, my goals are to: courses should be developed so that our [email protected] Tel: (403) 260-8000 • Create a future direction for the Society, members are able to utilize new analytical building on our Strategic Plan; tools, providing guidance to their teams in Program Director • Drive for effectiveness and efficiency in gathering, analyzing, and integrating critical Nadya Sandy • Esso Imperial Oil Resources Limited the Society’s governance and operations; information in the quest to understand [email protected] Tel: (403) 237-3925 • Look after our volunteers; controls on oil and gas occurrence and • Participate fully with the Canadian production. Our Technical Luncheon BECAUSE WE TAKE TREMENDOUS PRIDE IN WHAT WE DO count on us ASSISTANT Program Director Federation of Earth Scientists. Committee is doing a great job bringing Randy Rice • Suncor Energy Inc. us new and innovative presentations. The [email protected] Tel: (403) 205-6723 The Future’s So Bright, annual convention has set aside sessions We Gotta Wear Shades focusing on new technological breakthroughs SERVICE DIRECTOR With a tight and expensive energy supply and case studies. Our Technical Divisions Dave Newman • McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. [email protected] Tel: (403) 218-1392 forecast and a shrinking labour pool, continue to present a wide variety and our younger members are becoming range of concepts on a regular basis. Assistant Service Director increasingly busy finding and developing new Jen Vezina • Devon Canada Corporation hydrocarbon supplies. However, classical The Society must continue to encourage [email protected] Tel: (403) 232-5079 exploration through new field wildcat drilling and enable its members to take a central is a diminishing opportunity as depletion role in leading exploration, exploitation, Outreach Director of existing pools in the WCSB becomes and development teams. We cannot sit David Middleton • Petro-Canada Oil & Gas a corporate strategy. Today a geologist’s back and let ourselves become limited, [email protected] Tel: (403) 296-4604 success may be measured, not so much by pigeon-holed, technical people with little successful wildcat wells, but by increased to offer, other than sticking red dots on ASSISTANT Outreach Director production volumes through the meter maps and speaking jargon that means little Greg Lynch • Shell Canada Limited station. High-grading new opportunities in a to other team members, and is dismissed [email protected] Tel: (403) 691-2052 SUNDOG PRINTING...SERVICES BEYOND PRINT developed oilfield or extending a productive as quaint ramblings. We are earth scientists trend through outpost drilling require an and must be able to simply and accurately VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.sundogprint.com Communications Director Ashton Embry • GSC - Calgary entirely different knowledge base and skill communicate with our teams and senior [email protected] Tel: (403) 292-7125 set. While “looking at the rocks” is still an management as we quantify those rocks that essential skill, an in-depth understanding of provide energy to people and profit to the A DIVISION OF THE Corporate Relations DIRECTOR well logs, seismic data, drilling and completion enterprises for which we work. DATA GROUP OF COMPANIES Monty Ravlich • GRGO Holdings Ltd. technology, decline analysis, pressure (Continued on page 7...) [email protected] Tel: (403) 560-1701

RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 Modern Terrigenous Clastic Depositional Systems Leader: Walter J. Sexton, Athena Technologies, Inc., Field Columbia, South Carolina Dates: April 13-20; May 12-19; September 22-29, 2007 Seminars Location: Begins in Columbia and ends in Charleston, South Carolina Tuition: $2,500 (increases to $2600 one month prior Clastic Reservoir Facies and Sequence Stratigraphic Analysis of to each start date), includes ground transportation to Alluvial Plain, Shoreface, Deltaic, and Shelf Depositional Systems Charleston, water transportation, guidebook, beach cookout, modern core workshop, lunch on the fluvial Leader: Thomas A. Ryer, The ARIES Group, LLC, Katy, TX day, and CD-ROM Date: April 22-28, 2007 Limit: 27 Location: Begins and ends in Salt Lake City, Utah Content: 5.6 CEU Tuition: $1,800 (increases to $1,900 after 3/23/07), includes field transportation, lunches in the field, guidebook Who Should Attend Limit: 15 Geoscientists and engineers who need to understand Content: 5.0 CEU the sedimentology, facies architecture, and sequence stratigraphy of modern terrigenous clastic depositional Who Should Attend systems in tidal estuarine, incised valley, shelf, Exploration and development geologists, geophysicists, reservoir engineers, log shoreface barrier island, fluvial and alluvial analysts, and managers of exploration and development programs who want a environments. better understanding of the facies variations that control the distribution of clastic reservoirs. April Education Opportunities with AAPG!!

Basic Petroleum Geology for the Non-Geologist Dates: April 24-26; August 28-30; September 18-20; December 4-6, 2007 Short Locations: Houston, TX (April, August and December), Denver, CO (September) Courses Tuition: $1195 (increases to $1295 one month prior to each course date), includes the textbook “Nontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, Exploration, Drilling and Production”, course notes, various maps and glossaries, and daily morning and afternoon refreshments. Basic Well Log Analysis Content: 2.1 CEU Instructor: Norman Hyne, The University of Tulsa, Dates: April 23-26; July 24-27, 2007 Tulsa, OK Locations: Denver, CO (April); Austin, TX (July) Tuition: $1095, AAPG members; $1,195, non-members (increases to Who Should Attend $1195/1295 after 3/26/07, for April course, and after 6/26/07, for July course); Train your staff! This course is for anyone who could includes course notes, refreshments, and a copy of Basic Well Log Analysis by benefit by an overall perspective of petroleum geology, George Asquith and Daniel Krygowski, with Neil Hurley and Steve Henderson exploration, drilling and production to be more productive Content: 2.8 CEU in their job. It is a non-technical course, so anyone can Instructors: George B. Asquith, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX; Daniel A. take this course. Krygowski, Chevron, Houston, TX This is a joint course with AAPG and The University of Who Should Attend Tulsa Continuing Engineering and Science Education Geologists, engineers, geophysicists, and other professionals with a need to Department understand the responses of common logging measurements to subsurface Please note – if paying with a check, please make conditions, and become familiar with basic openhole well log interpretation check payable to The University of Tulsa, CESE techniques. (applies to this course only)

For further information, please contact the AAPG Education Department Phone: 918-560-2650; Fax: 918-560-2678; e-mail: [email protected] Or log on to www.aapg.org/education/index.cfm I_dY['/(-$$$ (...Continued from page 5) been reorganized into functional areas. With my Executive team, my goal is to deliver Over the next year, they will be focused a plan to prepare the Society to develop its on increasing revenue, reducing cost or members for a bright future and enable providing more service for the Society. I have them to lead and direct programs that will asked our Business Manager, Tim Howard, benefit themselves and their companies. to work with the office staff to set targets and goals aligned with our Strategic and Doing the Right Thing and Business Plans. I have every confidence that Doing the Right Thing Well the office team will meet their objectives. Go back and read Past President (then I know I speak for all members when I say President) Jim Reimer’s column in January’s thank you to all of our office staff for their Reservoir. He identified a problem that has dedication and hard work in keeping the plagued many previous executives – the need Society running so well. to meddle in day-to-day office issues. We, the Executive, need to admit the obvious Volunteers, some 400 of them, are the CORPORATE – the Society is too large and too complex bedrock of the Society’s committees. MEMBERS to be run by a handful of members who do They do a superior job of providing the not have the time or the expertise to be programs and services that we have all effective. Jim Reimer goes on to say that come to expect. Their efforts involve a Abu Dhabi Oil Co., Ltd. (Japan) recent executives have used this meddling significant amount of personal time. In the APACHE CANADA LTD. to distract themselves from the real job that past, when upstream exploration moved BAKER ATLAS they have been appointed to do – plan for at a more leisurely pace and exploration BG Canada Exploration & Production, Inc. the future of the Society and deliver quality vice presidents understood the tremendous BP Canada Energy company programs to the membership. value of the Society’s activities, volunteers essentially managed all aspects of the CSPG. burlington resources canada ltd. During my year as President, I intend to That work environment has now changed. Canadian Forest Oil Ltd. move to a governance model that allows the Geologists are under continuous pressure canetic resources trust President, Vice President, Past President, to deliver ever more drilling locations with ConocoPhillips Canada Finance Director, Trust Chairman, and less preparation time, but the expectation Business Manager to focus solely on the that work quality remain high. With these Core Laboratories Canada Ltd. internal and external strategic direction demands placed on them, our members Devon Canada Corporation of the Society – where it should head to are simply running out of time to volunteer. Dominion Exploration Canada Ltd. best serve its members while advancing Additionally, our members do not have the Duvernay Oil Corp. the science of petroleum geology. An expertise to carry out some of the more Operating Committee comprised of the Vice complex or sophisticated activities that enerplus resources fund President, Finance Director and Assistant, are now part of our annual operations. geologic systems ltd. Program Director and Assistant, Services When I chaired the 1995 core conference, GRIZZLY RESOURCES Ltd. Director and Assistant, Outreach Director, the Core Meltdown was little more than Hunt Oil Company Of Canada, Inc. Communications Director, Corporate a few cases of beer and picnic tables out HUSKY ENERGY INC. Relations Director, and the Committee on behind the Core Research Centre. Now, Conventions Chairman will provide internal the Core Meltdown is fenced in, catered, IHS operational oversight. Their job will be to sound enhanced, police protected, and EMS Imperial Oil Resources Limited ensure committees are executing their plans supported. Our members do not have Lario Oil & Gas Company and delivering results to the membership, to the time or knowledge of all the contacts, MJ Systems report on activities under their jurisdiction, rules, and regulations required to execute and to secure the necessary resources such an elaborate function. And remember, Murphy Oil Company Ltd. to enable them to execute their plans. this is just one small piece of the much NCE Resources Group Inc. In many cases, small subcommittees will larger annual convention. This one example Nexen Inc. be formed to focus on a specific issue demonstrates that execution excellence Northrock Resources LTD. or problem. These subcommittees will and cost reduction, through continuous Penn West Petroleum Ltd. report back to the operating committee learning and economies of scale, can only be and decisions will be made. I intend to achieved if we provide specialized support Petro-Canada Oil And Gas stop Executive Meetings from becoming to our volunteer base. PETROCRAFT PRODUCTS LTD. problem solving sessions and, instead, focus PRIMEWEST ENERGY trust on discussing the recommendations of the The Volunteer Management Committee will provident energy ltd. subcommittees assigned tasks from previous continue to find the right volunteers for meetings. These changes will require major committee vacancies. However, the Society RPS Energy organizational adjustments, but we must now relies heavily on its excellent office staff Shell Canada Limited move with a sense of urgency in order to help guide and support its committees. Sproule Associates Limited to effect these changes in the Society’s The office staff will be taking a proactive Suncor Energy Inc. governance structure so that we can do the role in helping our Society’s committees, so right things well. that programs and services are delivered on Talisman Energy Inc. time, within budget and are of high quality. Total E&P Canada Limited During the last few years, our office has WEATHERFORD CANADA substantially increased in numbers and has (Continued on page 14...)

AS OF DECEMBER 24, 2006 RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 TECHNICAL LUNCHEONS FEBRUARY Luncheon sponsored by

Djadokhta Formation and its equivalents, for of Palaeontology and Adjunct Professor University Mongolian dinosaurs example, represent arid regions that produce of Calgary. He got his B.Sc. in Toronto, 1972 and his many skeletons, but of relatively low diversity. M.Sc. and Ph.D. at McGill in 1975 and 1981. He SPEAKER Nevertheless, the conditions were favourable is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1999) Philip J. Currie for the preservation of eggs, birds, mammals, and a member of the Explorers Club (2001). Professor and Canada Research Chair in lizards, and small dinosaurs. The somewhat As a researcher at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Dinosaur Paleobiology, Department of younger Nemegt Formation was laid down Palaeontology (Drumheller), he published more Biological Sciences, University of Alberta under more favourable conditions, and has than 100 scientific articles, 85 popular articles, yielded more than 35 species of dinosaurs. and twelve books, focussing on the growth and 11:30 am Although it has been heavily prospected, new variation of extinct reptiles, the anatomy and Thursday, February 8, 2007 discoveries are constantly being made. Over relationships of carnivorous dinosaurs, and the Telus Convention Centre the past ten years, our program has been origin of birds. Fieldwork connected with his Calgary, Alberta responsible for making many exciting new research has been concentrated in Alberta, discoveries in Mongolia. These include several Argentina, British Columbia, China, Mongolia, the Please note: The cut-off date for ticket new species of dinosaurs, one of the richest Arctic, and Antarctica. sales is 1:00 pm, Monday, February 5th. dinosaur footprint sites in Asia, and numerous Ticket price is $31.00 + GST. fine skeletons of rare and poorly known Dr. Currie is the recipient of the Sir Frederick dinosaurs. More importantly, however, the Haultain Award for significant contributions to In 1922, the first good dinosaur skeletons from data collected is shedding new light on the science in Alberta (1988), the American Association Mongolia were discovered by an expedition unusual taphonomic imprint that produces of Petroleum Geologists Michel T. Halbouty from the American Museum of Natural more carnivorous dinosaurs than herbivores. Human Needs Award (1999), the Michael History. The area soon became famous for In 2006, we merged into a larger multinational, Smith Award (2004), and the ASTech Award for its nests of dinosaur eggs, and the quality of multidisciplinary field party known as the outstanding leadership in Alberta Science (2006). preservation of its dinosaur skeletons. Russian- Korean International Dinosaur Project. Mongolian, Polish-Mongolian, and numerous Since 1986, he has supervised or co-supervised other expeditions have shown the Upper BIOGRAPHY 31 M.Sc. and Ph.D. students at the Universities of Cretaceous beds of Mongolia to be one of Philip J. Currie is currently Professor, Canada Alberta, Calgary, Copenhagen, and Saskatchewan. the richest sources of dinosaur remains. The Research Chair at The University of Alberta in He has given hundreds of popular and scientific palaeoenvironments represented are diverse, The Department of Biological Sciences, former lectures on dinosaurs all over the world, and is and each has its own characteristic fauna. The Curator of Dinosaurs at the Royal Tyrrell Museum often interviewed by the press.

RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 TECHNICAL LUNCHEONS FEBRUARY Luncheon sponsored by

Please note: The cut-off date for ticket Hurricane Katrine SPEAKER sales is 1:00 pm, Thursday, February 15th. Timothy Dixon Ticket price is $31.00 + GST. and New Orleans: University of Miami AAPG Distinguished Lecture It has long been recognized that New subsidence Orleans is subsiding, potentially leading to 11:30 am catastrophic flooding. A new subsidence map measurements Tuesday, February 20, 2007 for New Orleans derived from space-based Telus Convention Centre Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) shows high from space Calgary, Alberta subsidence rates in parts of New Orleans, including levees adjacent to the MRGO canal that failed during Hurricane Katrina. This gives clues to the failure process: these levees may have been overtopped during peak storm surge due to subsidence of ~ 1 meter or more since levee construction, or high subsidence rates may indicate a weak substrate beneath the levees

BIOGRAPHY Education: 1979, Ph.D. – Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego

1974, B.Sc. – University of Western Ontario, London, Canada

Experience: 1992 – Present Professor, University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. Director of Geodesy Laboratory Co-Director of Center for Southeastern Tropical Advanced Remote Sensing (CSTARS)

1979–92 NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California

Publications and Awards: 2001 – Fellow of the American Geophysical Union

Professional Interests: Research focuses on the application of space geodetic and remote sensing data for the study of the Earth’s surface and sub-surface processes, including earthquakes and volcanic deformation, crustal deformation and mountain building, and coastal subsidence.

Dr. Timothy Dixon has been selected by the AAPG to perform a series of lectures throughout North America as a part of their distinguished lecturer program. The AAPG Distinguished Lecture Series was developed to offer outstanding speakers on current research and applicable geology.

10 RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 11 TECHNICAL LUNCHEONS MARCH Luncheon sponsored by

Seismic facies maps indicate that the 1986-91: Phillips Petroleum Company, Seismic Segitiga Platform originated as three smaller Denver, CO, Oklahoma City, OK, Houston, platforms on extensional fault block highs. TX. Development and Exploration stratigraphy of the Deep intraplatform seaways separated Geologist these platforms. Progradation of shallow- 1984-85: AGAT-Geochem Consultants, Miocene-Pliocene water carbonates filled the seaways during Denver, Colorado, Petrography, SEM/XRD a phase of coalescence and the three interpretation, core description, and regional Segitiga Platform, platforms were amalgamated to form a studies in carbonate and siliciclastic settings composite platform (1,400 km2; middle- East Natuna Sea, upper Miocene). A rapid relative rise in sea Publications and Awards: level at the end of Miocene time caused • Authored and Co-authored numerous Indonesia: The a major backstepping of the carbonate publications internal to ExxonMobil and margins (and a concomitant drowning of ConocoPhillips and external in AAPG, SEPM, origin, growth, the adjacent Natuna Field carbonates to the and JSR east) resulting in a platform of reduced size • Excellence in Instruction Award, ExxonMobil and demise of an (600 km2) during the lower Pliocene. Rapid Upstream Research Co. (2001, 2002, 2003) subsidence, combined with a eustatic rise at isolated carbonate the end of the early Pliocene caused terminal Professional Memberships: drowning of the Segitiga Platform. The • American Association Petroleum Geologists platform platform was buried by younger siliciclastics • Society Economic Paleontologists & of the Muda Formation. Mineralogists SPEAKER • Houston Flying Disc Society Steven L. Bachtel Eustatic sea-level change controlled the ConocoPhillips Co., Houston, Texas timing of sequence boundary formation, Professional Interests 2006-07 AAPG Distinguished Lecture but structural movements modified internal Involved in all aspects of carbonate reservoir sequence character and facies distribution. prediction and characterization, from global- 11:30 am Faulting created topography that acted as scale exploration to inter-well-scale production Tuesday, March 6, 2007 templates for the initiation of carbonate issues. Interests include integration of seismic Telus Convention Centre platform deposition, as well as providing interpretation, seismic and image attributes, well Calgary, Alberta pedestals for the localization of backstepped logs, petrography, and core in order to establish platforms. Cessation of faulting may more disciplined stratigraphic frameworks and Please note: The cut-off date for ticket have allowed progradation to occur due a better spatial understanding of reservoir sales is 1:00 pm, Thursday, February 1st. to a reduction in the rate of increasing properties that fill these frameworks. Outcrop Ticket price is $31.00 + GST. accommodation. Regional subsidence may analogs also allow direct observation of seismic- have controlled the location and extent scale geometries and the reservoir properties Seismic stratigraphy and seismic facies of platform backstepping. Geographic that fill these larger scale frameworks. Remote analysis provide a useful methodology for variability in sequence stacking of coeval sensing data (e.g., LANDSAT) allow a better the genetic understanding of carbonate platform margins is observed over relatively understanding of lateral facies distributions platform systems during exploration, initial short distances. Progradation is most between wells (development-scale) and the assessment, and early field development strongly developed on the leeward side of creation of potential multiple scenarios in sparse (e.g., sparse well data). A high-resolution the platform, but increased accommodation data regions (exploration-scale). Recent projects 2D seismic survey covering 7,500 square due to rapid local subsidence or changing have included stratigraphic investigations kilometers allows documentation of the oceanographic currents also influenced the in Russia, Turkey, West Africa, Abu Dhabi, evolution of a Miocene-Pliocene carbonate direction and magnitude of progradation. Indonesia, and the North Caspian (Tengiz). I platform in the East Natuna Sea, Indonesia. teach carbonate schools and lead field trips 2 The Segitiga Platform (1,400 km ) contains Biography to modern CO3 environments (Florida/Turks & Terumbu Formation carbonates up to 1,800 Education: Caicos) and to ancient outcrops (West Texas/ meters thick that were deposited in platform 1995: Ph.D., Texas A&M University, College New Mexico). interior, reef and shoal margin, and slope to Station, TX basin environments of an isolated carbonate 1984: M.Sc., University of Idaho, platform. Moscow, ID 1982: B.Sc., University of Idaho, The Segitiga Platform was subdivided into Moscow, ID twelve seismic sequences that demonstrate a history of: Experience: 2005-Present: ConocoPhillips Company, 1) initial isolation, Houston, TX, Carbonate Reservoir Specialist 2) progradation and coalescence, 1995-2005: ExxonMobil Exploration Company, 3) backstepping and shrinkage, and Houston, TX, Upstream Research, Carbonate 4) terminal drowning. Research Specialist

12 RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 TECHNICAL LUNCHEONS MARCH Luncheon sponsored by

volumetrically significant (even dominant) Survey Intrusion, phase should have an important role in 1992-93: Research Associate, Geological pressurization of the hydrothermal system Survey of Japan deformation, and may contribute to ongoing cycles of deformation within the caldera. The volatile Publications and Awards: and degassing at “signature” from Yellowstone strongly Authored or co-authored over 50 scientific suggests that gas discharge is controlled papers and over 50 abstracts. the Yellowstone not by the crustal granitic magma chamber 2000: Lindgren Award (Young Scientist) Society but by subjacent basaltic intrusions that of Economic Geologists Caldera provide both heat and mass to the overlying 1986-87: Fulbright Fellowship, Catania, Italy system. SPEAKER Research Interests: Jacob B. Lowenstern Biography Interaction between magmas and their overlying USGS Education: hydrothermal systems. Behavior of magmatic 2006-07 AAPG Distinguished Lecture 1992: Ph.D., Stanford University, Stanford, volatiles during magmagenesis, ascent, and California USA eruption. Geothermal systems and their role 11:30 am 1990: M.S., Stanford University, Stanford, in redistribution of heat and mass in the Tuesday, March 20, 2007 California USA upper crust. Gas geochemistry of magma- Telus Convention Centre 1985: B.A., Dartmouth College, Hanover, New hydrothermal systems – geochemical signals of Calgary, Alberta Hampshire, USA volcanic unrest.

Please note: The cut-off date for ticket Experience: sales is 1:00 pm, Thursday, March 15th. 2002-present: Scientist-in-Charge, Yellowstone Ticket price is $31.00 + GST. Volcano Observatory 1994: Research Geologist, U.S. Geological The Yellowstone caldera is well known Survey for its cycles of uplift and subsidence over 1993-94: Postdoctoral Fellow, U.S. Geological both historic and geologic timescales. Most models for deformation assume sources due to transport of magma or hydrothermal brine streaming through ruptured permeability barriers. Recent investigations of chemical mass balance at Yellowstone provide critical insights into potential sources of �� both deformation and heat. Volatile fluxes from the Yellowstone caldera have been �� calculated by summing the flux of Cl–, F, �� – – SO2 , and HCO3 through the major rivers leaving the Yellowstone Plateau. Long-term – studies show that Cl , the primary non- �� H2O component of geothermal brines has not changed appreciably in output during recent periods of subsidence and uplift. Instead, Cl– flux is dominated by recharge constraints, increasing during periods of greater precipitation. Carbon is much more abundant than sulfur in Yellowstone’s waters, but is even more dominant when combined with data on gas flux from fumaroles and diffuse degassing. In fact,

CO2 is about 300 times more abundant than Cl– on a molar basis as an effluent from the Yellowstone hydrothermal system. Similarly sulfur flux exceeds Cl– by about 25 times what one would expect from the concentrations in degassed volcanic rocks that could be leached. Phase equilibrium constraints imply that the shallow subsurface at Yellowstone (the upper two km) should be saturated with a CO -rich vapor phase 2 �� under most conceivable P-T conditions. This

RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 13 (...Continued from page 7) Part of a Larger Community The Canadian Federation of Earth Scientists has now been established as the collective national presence of geoscience in Canada and the CSPG is strongly committed to ensuring its success. One of our members, Ian Young, is the new president of the Federation. Six initiatives have been identified as high priority and present opportunities for the Federation to gain critical traction. The Society has appointed a past president to be its representative on the Federation. We all look forward to being part of the larger Earth Science community and working collaboratively with our sister societies across Canada.

My Commitment to Members I know I have set lofty goals for this year’s Executive, but the environment in which geologists work is rapidly changing, and we must move forward in a new and decisive direction, focused on tackling the most A BRILLIANT MOVE important issues with the support of an ININ INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONAL SEISMICSEISMIC ACQUISITIONACQUISITION effective and efficient office committed to helping the Society achieve its mission of advancing the science of petroleum geology. The future requires changes in our Society’s governance and work structure, but our future is bright!

Playing a game that is foreign to you can be Let’s go! tough at first. There are many different rules and tactics involved. CALENDAR OF EVENTS Twenty-seven years and some 38 countries later,

Boyd PetroSearch has developed extensive AAPG Annual Convention and seismic acquisition experience around the world. Exhibition April 1-4, 2007 Long Beach, California Trust us to manage your international seismic operation, and ensure www.aapg.org the highest degree of professionalism and quality. The next move is 15th Williston Basin Petroleum up to you… Conference and Prospect Expo April 29-May 1, 2007 • Program Design • Project Management & Hiring Delta Regina Hotel – Saskatchewan Trade & Convention Centre • Logistics • Quality and Cost Control www.wbpc.ca

• Risk Analysis & Mitigation • International Safety Compliance Geological Association of Canada / Mineralogical Association of Canada • Contract Negotiation Annual Meeting May 23-27, 2007 Yellowknife, NWT http://www.nwtgeoscience.ca/ Please call: yellowknife2007/index.html Kevin Bowman 403.543.5357 Boyd PetroSearch 2007 CSPG CSEG Annual Convention Larry Herd 403.543.5362 May 14-17, 2007 or visit www.boydpetro.com Boyd Exploration Consultants Ltd. Calgary, AB www.GEOconvention.org

14 RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 DIVISION TALKS STRUCTURAL DIVISION sponsored by

the canopy has yielded second-generation canopy on western Axel Heiberg Island The salt canopy- diapirs, now exhumed and exposed by remains a geologically dynamic feature of modest late Paleocene-Eocene shortening the central Sverdrup Basin. salt diapir- (Eurekan Orogeny). Local strata record minibasin evolution and diapirism since BIOGRAPHY minibasin complex at least the Late Triassic. Diapir-flanking Dr. Christopher Harrison has participated angular unconformities, involving proven in Arctic geological mapping and seismic on Axel Heiberg reservoir sandstones, are present at four interpretation projects with the Geological stratigraphic levels between the Jurassic and Survey of Canada since the early 1980s. Island, Arctic Paleocene. Most significant and widespread His work is aimed at regional tectonics and is the mid-Cretaceous event marking the resource potential of the Innuitian Orogen. Dr. Canada time of canopy emplacement and spreading. Martin Jackson is the director of the Applied Outcrops record the later fate of the Geodynamics Laboratory at the University of SPEAKER canopy, including its subaerial exposure, Texas at Austin and well known for his work on Christopher Harrison onlap of diapiric evaporite, and off-diapir salt tectonics in the Gulf of Mexico and around Geological Survey of Canada – Calgary debris flows. Extensional tectonics evidently the world. The present study is cooperative had a significant influence in the region from research that began with targeted field work Martin Jackson (co-author) the mid-Early Cretaceous (~125 Ma) to the on western Axel Heiberg Island in 2004. The University of Texas at Austin mid-Late Cretaceous (~90 Ma) as indicated intention was to examine the area as a possible by diabase dyke swarms emplaced in several onshore analog for Gulf of Mexico-type salt 12:00 Noon directions, extrusive basalt, and sills in most tectonics. The present talk is an expanded Thursday, February 1, 2007 Mesozoic strata but especially common in version of a co-authored paper first presented Petro-Canada the vicinity of some diapirs. A record of at an International Lithosphere Program (ILP) West Tower, room 17B/C (17th floor) hyperactive fluid circulation includes fossil workshop held in Quebec City in September 150 6th Avenue SW tufa deposits, migrated hydrocarbons, and 2006. Preliminary results are published in the Calgary, Alberta metal sulphide deposits in diapir aureoles. December 2006 issue of GEOLOGY. Saline springs, recently formed subaerial Axel Heiberg Island (Nunavut Territory) debris flows and geomorphically unstable contains the thickest Mesozoic section in diapir relief indicate that the evaporite the Sverdrup Basin, and the ~370-km-long island is second only to Iran in the number and concentration of exposed evaporite diapirs. However, local geology and tectonic history have hardly been studied. The polar desert provides excellent exposure of 46 diapirs of Carboniferous evaporites and associated minibasins. Paleogene (Eurekan) sinusoidal and box-fold anticlines trend roughly north on a regular ~20- km wavelength, and probably detach on autochthonous Carboniferous Otto Fiord evaporites. In contrast, a 60-km-wide area, known as the wall-and-basin-structure (WABS) province, has a characteristic wavelength of <10 km, irregular fold spacing, and bimodal fold trends. Crooked walls of diapiric anhydrite crop out in the cores of tight anticlines. Wider, open synclinal minibasins separate the diapir walls. We interpret the WABS province to detach on a shallow evaporite canopy. The only other known exposed evaporite canopy is in the Great Kavir of Iran.

The WABS evaporite canopy comprises an allochthonous coalescence of evaporite diapirs that spread during the Hauterivian (mid-Cretaceous, ~130 Ma), close to the onset of sea floor spreading in Canada Basin and plume-related flood basalt volcanism associated with Alpha Ridge. Since then,

RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 15 DIVISION TALKS SEDIMENTOLOGY DIVISION sponsored by

12:00 Noon shifts recorded on the basin margin, similar C-isotopes of P-T Monday February 5, 2007 to many records reported globally, the Nexen Annex Theatre basin centre section shows a gradual change transition in +15 Level, North of C-Train Platform associated with the End-Permian Extinction. 801-7th Avenue SE The Earth likely underwent a prolonged Sverdrup Basin, Calgary, Alberta period of increasing environmental stress leading up to the event. Arctic Canada: A major late Paleozoic depocentre, the Sverdrup Basin, Canadian High Arctic, BIOGRAPHY Evidence has been excluded from the end-Permian Dr. Grasby completed a B.Sc. at the University extinction debate as early workers presumed of Calgary in 1989. He continued with a for gradual Middle to Late Permian strata were absent. M.Sc. in structural geology at McGill University, Basin-scale sequence-stratigraphic and finishing in 1991. He then switched to a career environmental chemostratigraphic correlations indicate in aqueous geochemistry, completing his Ph.D. Late Permian strata are only missing on the at the University of Calgary in 1997. Since that deterioration basin margins, associated with sub-Triassic time he has been working with the Geological erosion, whereas continuous deposition is Survey of Canada. He currently leads a project leading to recorded in the basin centre. The varying on groundwater related to energy development. degree of sub-Triassic erosion has significant He has also been working in the High Arctic for End-Permian impact of the carbon isotope record across over six years on chemostratigraphic records of the End-Permian extinction event, where the Permian/Triassic extinction event. extinction both the apparent rate and magnitude of carbon isotope shift vary as a function of SPEAKER basin position. The intra-basin variability 13 Stephen Grasby* and in apparent d Corg shift across the event Benoit Beauchamp is equivalent to that observed globally. In Geological Survey of Canada contrast to the abrupt and rapid isotope

DIVISION TALKS GEOFLUIDS DIVISION sponsored by

hydrocarbon deposits that have produced indicate variable flow pathways within the Fluid flow and over 1,500 MMBO during the last fifty aquifer; years. The Williston Basin contains an active iii) some parts of the aquifer host formation geochemistry of groundwater flow system and previous waters with a composition very similar research has shown that geochemistry (e.g., to original Mississippian seawater. We the Mississippian O & D isotopes, Br) of formation waters is interpret the variations in geochemistry useful for tracing fluid flow across the basin. to reflect a history of widely variable aquifers Williston To date, there has not been a systematic flow rates in the aquifer, over time. study of the geochemistry of formation These new geochemical data indicate the Basin, Canada- waters in the main oil-producing zone Mississippian flow system is not a simple (Mississippian) in the basin. Problems with regional groundwater flow system. Rather, USA aquifer correlation across an international a highly-variable flow system across the boundary combined with a vast number of basin, thus impacting petroleum migration SPEAKER producing wells have restricted a regional- and emplacement in this important Gavin Jensen and Ben Rostron scale analysis of this zone. hydrocarbon-producing zone. Earth and Atmospheric Sciences University of Alberta Water and oil samples were collected from more than 150 producing wells from the Midale CORRECTION 12:00 Noon Beds (Charles Formation) across the Williston Thursday, February 15, 2007 Basin. Mapped results reveal large variations in Due to technical issues, ConocoPhillips Auditorium geochemical and isotopic compositions across a number of the days of the week 3rd Floor (above +15 Level) the basin. These results show: 401 – 9th Avenue SW were incorrect for Technical Luncheons Calgary, Alberta i) formation waters have distinct chemical and Division Talks in the January issue. fingerprints which can be applied in various Our apologies to the committess Mississippian-aged strata (in particular petroleum exploration and production involved and for any inconvenience this the Madison Group) in the Williston activities; may have caused. Basin (Canada-USA) contain abundant ii) large variations in isotopic compositions

16 RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 DIVISION TALKS palaeontology DIVISION sponsored by

happens when a mangrove is savaged by a hurricane, and what this can teach us about mangrove preservation.

Biography Jon Noad as a child was a mad keen palaeontologist, and has retained this interest while working as a mine geologist (five years in South Africa), and a marine geologist assessing undersea cable routes. He has spent the last eight years with Shell in the Netherlands, working as a production and latterly an exploration geologist. In between times he completed an M.Sc. in Sedimentology, and a Ph.D. investigating the Tertiary evolution of eastern Borneo. He has also taught half-time at Delft University for the last two years, before Jon undertaking some stressful fieldwork on modern mangroves in the Florida Keys. moving to Shell Canada in June 2006.

The morphology of the mangroves depends Information As clear as mud: to a large extent on the dominant sediment This event is jointly presented by the Alberta type, which itself relates to the climate. Palaeontological Society, Mount Royal College exploring ancient Channel sizes and abundance are controlled and the CSPG Palaeontology Division. For by root density, and therefore are far more information or to present a talk in the future mangroves and common in clastic mangrove systems. please contact CSPG Paleo Division Chair Philip Evidence will be presented showing the Benham at 403-691-3343 or programs@ their inhabitants similarities between the morphology of albertapaleo.org. Visit the APS website for mangroves in modern Florida and Miocene confirmation of event times and upcoming SPEAKER Borneo.UEN16214_MDP_Feb_CSPG Finally you will get to 12/15/06witness what 10:02 speakers: AM Page http://www.albertapaleo.org/ 1 Dr. Jon Noad Shell Canada Limited

7:30 PM The University of Calgary is pleased to Friday, February 16, 2007 announce the implementation of a new Mount Royal College graduate program entitled Room B108 l

4825 Mount Royal Gate SW m t

h Master’s Specialization in

Calgary, Alberta . x l i e a a s d Reservoir Characterization c e

Despite the abundance of mangroves in n m . a t I y e i / c r tropical regions of the globe today, relatively l , . s a a y s b r a g c

little research has been undertaken on their n e l i a c o . a i g This innovative course-based Master’s degree, open to graduate w fossil counterparts. In this presentation I m y t l c r e r a a u engineers, geologists and geophysicists, is offered jointly by the plan to take you wading knee deep into a h u c c i g c o @ u l l the muddy Miocene mangroves of eastern / Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering and the t d p a a i @ a p c s

c Department of Geology and Geophysics.

Borneo, before sunning ourselves on r d . i a u g y . a v r Bahamas-like beaches in the Pliocene of r g o d , a g Program Highlights n e n e g r Mallorca. We will be looking at ancient e e g a l . t o

c The program integrates reservoir engineering, geology and a s mangrove systems and their inhabitants e n w c M e p geophysics. Students will have the opportunity to take courses e i u i t d w

from around the world, using data from r . i c u

n outside their main discipline, study geostatistics and reservoir h w s u

recent mangroves as analogues. a c O o q i simulation together and undertake a field development planning l m d e n u e n g e exercise in multidisciplinary teams. A team-building course is also i h h

Often the fossils provide key information r F c c offered as part of the program. o s . in helping to identify ancient mangrove F deposits. They include footprints, a wide w Program Benefits variety of invertebrates including mangrove w Graduates will have the expertise to work effectively on w lobsters and gastropods, and fossil trees and multidisciplinary teams to address the diverse challenges other plants. Sand-dominated (clastic) and involved in the exploration, development and production of lime mud-dominated (carbonate) mangroves petroleum resources. feature very different (and sometimes spectacular) faunas, both in ancient and APPLY BY April 1, 2007 for September 2007 Admission modern settings.

RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 17 DIVISION TALKS GEOMODELING DIVISION sponsored by

Geomodeling technology is readily available Biography Strategies to G&G teams. The workflows to build David Garner is a Professional Geophysicist geological models are largely dictated by who received his B.Sc. from Washington and for effective the software capabilities and by industry Lee University in 1980 and M.Sc. from Cornell experiences from large conventional University in 1983. He is currently working geomodeling for reservoirs. Thermal recovery, using SAGD on Chevron’s Ells River oilsands development and associated development issues, requires project. David started his industry career with thermal recovery attention to specific details which can make Chevron and left there in 1995. Through a difference to the results we want from Terramod Consulting Inc. he provided service in oilsands our models. Let us emphasize that the in geostatistics and modeling mainly for practitioner’s objective is to build geological international field studies until 2002. He has SPEAKER models as is fit for understanding the physical worked on four oilsands projects including a span David Garner process. In this presentation, techniques and of six years on Surmont for ConocoPhillips. Chevron Canada Resources steps from enhanced modeling workflows will be presented with some concepts Information 12:00 Noon identifying why this matters for horizontal There is no charge. Non-members of the CSPG are Wednesday, February 21, 2007 well placement strategy, thermal simulation, also welcome. Please bring your lunch. For details or ConocoPhillips Auditorium and performance prediction. The target to present a talk in the future, please contact David 3rd Floor- above Plus 15+ level audience is the integrated subsurface team. Garner at 403-234-5875, e-mail: DavidGarner@ 401 9th Avenue SW Most of this talk was presented to the Chevron.com or Rob Chelak at 403-290-0551, Calgary, Alberta CHOA in October. email: [email protected].

DIVISION TALKS BASIN ANALYSIS DIVISION sponsored by

regional salt-dissolution front mainly affected BIOGRAPHY The Great Athabasca and Cold Lake, whereas controls Fran Hein received her B.Sc. from the University at Peace River relate to the sub-Cretaceous of Illinois at Chicago (1972), her M.Sc. from Canadian Oil unconformity. Influences of the salt-dissolution McMaster University (1974), and her Ph.D. also front included creation of extensive N-NW from McMaster (1979). She taught for 20 years Sands: regional valley systems for the main Athabasca; E-W (1980-2000) (full and part-time) at various for eastern and southern Athabasca; and universities, including the University of Southern geologic framework two superimposed N-S and NW-SE incised California in Los Angeles, the University of valley systems for Cold Lake. Other salt- Alberta, Dalhousie University in Halifax, and and influence of dissolution effects in Athabasca and Cold Lake the University of Calgary. She also did contract relate to the development of more regional work during that time, mainly for the Geological salt-dissolution bay-fill deposits outside of the main incised Survey of Canada (Ottawa, Dartmouth, Calgary, valleys; local karstification and development and St.-Foy offices). Fran has authored over 100 effects of thick organic and deltaic successions. At publications. In 1997 she joined the Alberta Peace River, controls on the NE-SW incised Energy and Utilities Board/Alberta Geological SPEAKER valleys relate to paleotopographic effects, Survey in Edmonton; in 2006 she transferred Fran Hein largely due to erosion on the sub-Cretaceous full time to the Alberta Energy and Utilities Alberta Energy and Utilities Board unconformity. Other post-depositional Board Calgary Office. Fran has served as Senior effects for oil sands include: development Geologist in Oil Sands for the Survey and the 12:00 Noon of salt ‘roll-over’ and anticlinal structures, Board, and has participated in Gas over Bitumen Wednesday, February 28, 2007 younger paleokarst, and local faulting, all of Hearings at the Board. EnCana Amphitheatre which resulted in combined stratigraphic- 2nd Floor, East end of the structural traps for much of the bitumen and INFORMATION Calgary Tower Complex associated water and gas reservoirs. Enhanced BASS Division talks are free. Please bring your 1st Street and 9th Avenue SE accommodation at Peace River allowed for the lunch. For further information about the division, Calgary, Alberta vertical and lateral separation of reservoirs, joining our mailing list, a list of upcoming talks, whereas more reduced accommodation or if you wish to present a talk or lead a field Canadian oil sands cover an area >140,000 at Athabasca and Cold Lake resulted in trip, please contact either Steve Donaldson at km2 in northeastern Alberta. The Cretaceous superimposed, inherently complex reservoir 403-645-5534, email: Steve.Donaldson@ Lower Mannville Group host sediments include: interconnections. Integration of regional encana.com or Mark Caplan at 403-691-3843, the Wabiskaw-McMurray for Athabasca; geologic frameworks with local depositional email: [email protected] or visit our web the Bluesky-Gething for Peace River; and features of the different oil sands deposits page at www.cspg.org/events/divisions/basin- the younger, Grand Rapids-Clearwater for allows for efficient development of these vast analysis-sequence-strat.cfm. Cold Lake. Structure associated with the resources.

18 RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 DIVISION TALKS BASIN ANALYSIS DIVISION sponsored by

along the eastern edge of the WCSB. This systems of the Western Canada Sedimentary Origin of the new work suggests a much larger extent Basin during her tenure at the University of of the presumed Exshaw Formation “oil Calgary. She is grateful for many years of bitumen in kitchen” at the time of oil generation fruitful collaboration with researchers from and migration than has previously been the Geological Survey of Canada, and more Alberta Oil considered. The new data, therefore, have recently, just prior to joining Shell Canada, important implications for basin analysis with collaborators from Statoil, Dartmouth Sands deposits: studies, which must consider the geological College, and the Macaulay Institute. evolution of sedimentary accumulations Previous work + and their controls on petroleum systems. INFORMATION BASS Division talks are free. Please bring new data = some BIOGRAPHY your lunch. For further information about Cindy Riediger received her B.Sc. from the the division, joining our mailing list, a list of new ideas University of Waterloo (1981), M.Sc. from upcoming talks, or if you wish to present a talk the University of British Columbia (1985) or lead a field trip, please contact either Steve SPEAKER and Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo Donaldson at 403-645-5534, email: Steve. Cindy Riediger (1991). Following post-doctoral fellowships at [email protected] or Mark Caplan University of Calgary, Calgary the University of Calgary and the Geological at 403-691-3843, email: Mark.Caplan@ Survey of Canada, she joined the University of shell.com or visit our web page at www.cspg. 12:00 Noon Calgary in 1994, where she was most recently org/events/divisions/basin-analysis-sequence- Thursday, March 15, 2007 appointed as Professor in the Department strat.cfm. EnCana Amphitheatre, 2nd Floor of Geology and Geophysics. In 2005, she East end of the Calgary Tower Complex took a leave of absence to join the Frontier 1st Street and 9th Avenue SE Exploration team at Shell Canada, where Calgary, Alberta she is currently working. Her interest in the origin of the Alberta oil sands deposits stems Lower Cretaceous sandstones in the from her many years of research on source Western Canada Sedimentary Basin rock and oil geochemistry and petroleum (WCSB) contain enormous reserves of conventional crude oil, heavy oil and bitumen, with estimates as high as 1.3 trillion barrels of oil in place, much of Western Canada HUGH REID’S this being contained in the Athabasca and Geological Edge Set Wabasca oil sands deposits. Numerous SPRING geochemical studies have characterized 2006 Version COURSES these oils and bitumens, and the view here Now available for import into ACCUMAP, is that these oils were generated from a GEOSCOUT, and other applications PRACTICAL DST CHART single source rock interval, the Devonian- INTERPRETATION Mississippian Exshaw Formation. Previous 1) Mississippian Subcrops and Devonian 1D modelling studies, geological evidence Reef Edges - AB, NE BC, NT and SK (Thorough Basic Course) as well as Re-Os dating of the oil sands 2) Triassic Halfway, Doig, Charlie Lake Jan. 29-Feb. 2 & Apr. 16-20, 2007 bitumens, support the suggestion that oil - Peace River Arch, Alberta, NE BC arrived in the traps in eastern Alberta 3) Rock Creek Subcrop Edge - Alberta 16 WAYS TO IDENTIFY during and/or shortly after deposition of 4) Glauconitic Channel Trends - AB & SK BYPASSED PAY FROM the host sandstones, about 115 to 110 Ma. 5) Colony/Sparky/Lloydminster Reservoir DST DATA Trends - East-central Alberta (More advanced, for those This presentation will examine these 6) Bluesky-Dunlevy Reservoir Trends “comfortable” with DST charts) previous studies in light of new results from - NE BC measurements of the age of illitization in K- Apr. 26-27, 2007 7) Viking Fm. - Alberta bentonites from the Devonian-Mississippian Exshaw Formation and the Jurassic Fernie 8) CBM - Horseshoe Canyon, Mannville HYDRODYNAMICS Group, from several outcrop localities All edges are formatted as map SEMINAR in the Rocky Mountain Fold and Thrust features for use in Accumap and (Oil & Gas Finding Aspects) Belt in southern Alberta. Our results ESRI Shape ﬁ les for other programs. May 7-11, 2007 suggest that Exshaw source beds currently For more information contact: exposed at the surface in the Fold and Thrust Belt were unfaulted and laterally Mike Sherwin In-house courses available. continuous within an undeformed portion 403-263-0594 For course outline visit: of the WCSB at the time of hydrocarbon email: [email protected] www.hughwreid.com generation, and could thus have contributed www.sherwingeological.com to the giant accumulations of hydrocarbons 262-1261

RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 19 Focusing on Gas?

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20 RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 CELEBRATE NATIONAL ENGINEERING & GEOSCIENCE WEEK February 22 – March 3, 2007 | by Althea Adams, Apegga

Professionals across Alberta are “Building the Future” as part of The Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA) celebration of the fifteenth annual National Engineering & Geoscience Week (NEGW), February 22 - March 3, 2007.

NEGW is an annual opportunity to increase public awareness about the important role that geologists, geophysicists, and engineers play in the everyday lives of Canadians. “The celebration of National Engineering & Geoscience Week continues to grow throughout Alberta,” says David Chalcroft, P.Eng., APEGGA President. “It is a great way to celebrate the professions.” This year’s theme, Building the Future, will highlight the significant contributions geologists, geophysicists, and engineers have made to building Alberta’s future through industry and innovations.

As part of the celebrations, APEGGA has several activities planned for NEGW 2007. To launch the week, APEGGA will be organizing kickoff events on February 22 in Calgary, hosted by Bantrel, and in Edmonton at ATCO Electric. The kickoff event is a great opportunity for organizations to submit a team to compete in a mystery challenge to show-off their amazing science skills.

APEGGA will continue the tradition of science olympics for 2007. This year the science olympics will take place in Calgary on February 24 at the Stampede Grounds and March 3 in Edmonton at the Shaw Conference Centre. APEGGA will also sponsor science olympics in Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, and Red Deer. APEGGA members also volunteer for the Fort McMurray science olympics. Students in each city will be competing in a variety of team challenges that tests their knowledge of science and math in a fun and entertaining way.

Elementary science nights have become an integral part of APEGGA’s celebrations in Calgary and Edmonton. APEGGA organizes evenings from across the province and highlights their sculptures will be judged, put on public display at elementary schools throughout the week contribution to building the future in Alberta. and then “de-canstructed.” All of the food will be for a fun night of hands-on science and science given to the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank. This demonstrations. APEGGA is expanding this Other organizations are also planning activities in event requires creative designs with structural program beyond NEGW specifically for schools celebration of NEGW. Fluor Canada in Calgary, integrity, and an eye for picking the right cans to with large Aboriginal populations. for example, will be hosting its second annual match the design. “It’s like a little project that Canstruction® Calgary. This event brings together requires team work, project management, and For the twelfth year in a row, an NEGW special geoscientists, engineers, architects, designers, creativity, and it’s all for a great cause,” says Dan supplement will be published in both the Calgary and others from the geoscience, engineering, Burns, P.Eng., Canstruction® Calgary co-chair. Herald and Edmonton Journal on February 22. and construction communities. They will work as This insert features geoscientists and engineers teams to build structures using canned food. The If your organization plans to host an event during (Continued on page 22...)

RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 21 (...Continued from page 21...) NEGW, please feel free to contact APEGGA and have it added to the events list on the APEGGA website.

There are many ways to celebrate NEGW. You can: • plan a challenge between departments within your organization, or with other companies or technical societies, • host a coffee session for other employees and tell them about NEGW, • visit a school in your area to talk with students about your profession.

For more information on what’s happening throughout Alberta during NEGW and to get involved, visit the APEGGA website at www. apegga.org/NEGW. For more information about NEGW, please contact APEGGA Calgary Public Relations Coordinator Althea Adams at (403) 262-7714, [email protected] or APEGGA Outreach Supervisor Jeanne Keaschuk in Edmonton at (780) 426-3990, 1-800-661-7020, [email protected].

CORRECTION

At the end of the January article “The Devil is in the details,” the Canadian Gas Potential Committee’s email address was given instead of its website address. The CGPC’s website is www.canadiangaspotential.com

22 RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 ConocoPhillips Glen Ruby Memorial Scholarships in Geoscience

ConocoPhillips is pleased to announce the recipients of the ConocoPhillips Glen Ruby Memorial Scholarships in Geoscience for 2006. Trevor Faunt Tara Muth Ryan Noftall

ConocoPhillips would like to wish all applicants the best of luck in their studies and future endeavors.

Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists & 13th Annual Denver Geophysical Society 3-D Seismic “Peak Action” Oil & Gas Trends in Symposium the Rockies

* 3-D seismic Case Histories DENVER * Rockies Basin Plays * Reservoirs Defined Tuesday, March 6 * Shale Gas 2007 Keynote: Colin Bruce, BP North American Gas and Jim Hollis, I/O, Inc. * Plan your next Giant Field! “BP’s World-Record Seismic Program near Wamsutter, Wyoming” * Network with the Best in the Rockies

Kickoff: Bob A. Hardage – Texas BEG www.rmag.org “Seismic for Independents Exploring Unconventional Resources” Registration begins January 2007

RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 23 24 RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON STRATIGRAPHY ICS Stratigraphy Prizes

The International Commission on educational material or resources). It into English of at least abstracts of this Stratigraphy (ICS) is a leading entity of the is expected that a major proportion of material so that independent judgement International Union of Geological Sciences this work will have been published in can be made. (IUGS) with responsibility for establishing an international language. The medal international standards in stratigraphy, is named in honour of the Canadian The ICS has established a committee to such as the Geological Time Scale and the geologist Digby McLaren who was so elicit and evaluate nominations for the International Chronostratigraphical Scale, influential in developing the key “golden two Prizes, and afterwards to make defined by boundary stratotypes (GSSPs). spike” concept of a Global Stratotype recommendations to all members of ICS, Section and Point (GSSP) with reference who must then approve the nominations Stratigraphy is the core discipline of the to the Silurian - Devonian boundary, and by a clear majority vote. The committee geological sciences, concerned with the a major force behind the International includes Stan Finney (Vice-Chair of ICS, relationships in time and space of rocks Geological Correlation Programme California State University at Long Beach), (not just sedimentary, but also igneous (IGCP) of UNESCO. Brian Pratt (University of Saskatchewan, and metamorphic rocks) and the varied Canada), André Strasser (University of processes that have formed and affected 2. The ICS Medal is awarded to honour Fribourg, Switzerland) and Finn Surlyk them. Results and interpretations deriving high-quality research in stratigraphy by (University of Copenhagen, Denmark), any from other disciplines can only be recognizing a single major achievement of whom can be contacted for further integrated into a coherent all-embracing in advancing stratigraphical knowledge. information. geological history if they are based on The research can be either in the sound stratigraphy. development of new methods of analysis Nomination documents should be or in the presentation of new data submitted by October 1, 2007 to: To emphasise this key role of stratigraphy, and/or interpretation of the geological the International Commission on history of a particular area or time Prof. Stan Finney Stratigraphy awards two ICS Prizes to interval. There are no limitations to Chair of ICS Stratigraphy Prizes outstanding geoscientists every four the size or scale of the subject matter. Committee years during an International Geological The geographical scope of the work Dept. of Geological Sciences Congress. The first awards were made need not be international, but the work California State University at Long Beach at the 32nd IGC in Florence, 2004; the should be of an international scientific Long Beach, CA 90840 second will be made at the 33rd IGC in caliber. The language of publication of USA Oslo, 2008. the work is not a criterion, and it may Tel.: 562 985 8637 comprise a single paper of distinction or email: [email protected] The awards are made at two levels: a series of papers over a short period of time that have similar impact. 1. The Digby McLaren Medal is awarded to honour a significant body of Nominations for either of the Awards are internationally important contributions solicited from any source, not just members to stratigraphy sustained over a number of the Commission or other entities within of years. The contributions can be in IUGS. Nominations should include a brief research (through publication of papers, biographical background of the Nominee, monographs or books) or in education a reasoned case based on the Nominee’s (through development of influential contributions, and, if necessary, translation

KEEPING TRACK

Kent Barrett to Senor Geologist ExAlta Energy previously Senior Geologist Anadarko

RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 25 CSPG_1pgad_feb07.qxd 1/3/07 11:56 AM Page 1

2007 CSPG CSEG Convention May 14 – 17, 2007 Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The concept of ‘flow’ is fundamental to our industry. In the search for, and development of, hydrocarbon reservoirs we need to respond flexibly to evolving markets, changing corporate strategies and innovations in geoscience and technology. The knowledge and capabilities to do so reside in the communities of survey and research geoscientists, data and technology providers, and of course, the exploration and production geologists, geophysicists and business analysts.

These communities will be brought together this May at the Roundup Centre, Stampede Park as the 2007 CSPG CSEG Convention delivers a four day experience featuring innovations such as a revamped Technical Programme that will include morning and afternoon Poster Showcases and an enlarged Core Conference that now encompasses two full days at the EUB Core Research Centre. In addition to all this, Special Events such as the Flowdown Reception on Monday evening and a new Beer & Bull on Tuesday evening will maximize your networking possibilities and allow for more time to explore the Exhibit Floor.

We are looking forward to a successful 2007 Convention, and beginning the flow!

REGISTRATION OPENS MONDAY MARCH 19, 2007

Registration fees for this year’s convention are as follows: (Please note prices do not include GST)

Early Bird Registration Regular Registration On-Site Registration Deadline: April 13, 2007 Deadline: April 27, 2007 May 14 – 17, 2007 (cutoff time is midnight MST) (cutoff time is midnight MST) Member $285 $385 $485 (CSPG/CSEG/CWLS) Non-Member $385 $485 $585 Retired Members (CSPG/CSEG/CWLS) $150 $150 $150 Student $75 $75 $75 Day Pass – Exhibition Hall Only $50/day Luncheon Tickets $50 each Additional Flowdown Reception Tickets $35 each Core Meltdown Tickets $15 each

Avoid the Monday morning on-site registration rush….REGISTER EARLY!

On-line registration will be available through www.GEOconvention.org using VISA or MC.

Please make cheques or money orders payable to 2007 CSPG CSEG Convention. Registration forms with payments may be mailed or dropped off to:

Let it Flow: The Flow of Ideas, Hydrocarbons and Business c/o CSPG Office #600, 640 8th Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 1G7 Fax: (403) 264-5898

Registrations received after MIDNIGHT (MST) Friday April 27, 2007 will be held and processed on-site. On-site registration fees will be applied. 26 RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 PROSPECT SASKATCHEWAN: The Mississippian Looking beyond the subcrop plays | by Staff Geologists, Petroleum Branch, Saskatchewan Industry and Resources

years, and has yielded abundant reserves in southeastern Saskatchewan. Although this proven concept may result in further incremental production in some fields, new Mississippian targets are more subtle, and require detailed knowledge of the interplay between facies and structure.

This issue of Prospect Saskatchewan familiarizes the reader with facies, structures, and trapping mechanisms that should be considered when embarking upon Mississippian exploration in Saskatchewan.

STUDY AREA AND INTERVAL The sequences studied here are the Frobisher Beds, (uppermost Mission Canyon Formation), and the Midale Beds Figure 1. Stratigraphic chart of Mississippian units in southeastern Saskatchewan. at the base of the Charles Formation (Figure 1). This article is reprinted with permission from the INTRODUCTION Prospect Saskatchewan Informational Brochure Throughout the history of Mississippian One useful area in which to examine series. The series is intended to highlight exploration in Saskatchewan, plays trapping mechanisms in Mississippian strata prospective areas in order to further develop the have been focused on exploiting oil down-dip from the subcrop lies within oil and natural gas resources of Saskatchewan. stratigraphically trapped against the regional Townships 3 to 5, Ranges 7 to 13 W2M Further information may be obtained by emailing: Sub-Mesozoic Unconformity (Kent, 1987). and encompasses the West Kingsford, [email protected]. This strategy has been effective for many (Continued on page 28...)

Figure 2. Location map for study area shown in red. Major Mississippian oilfields are labeled. Green and purple lines indicate fault zones identified using high resolution aeromagnetics (courtesy Gedco). The subcrop edges of various Mississippian strata are shown by thin coloured lines.

RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 27 (...Continued from page 27) Macoun, Elswick, and Bromhead oilfields (Figure 2). Here, the effect of underlying structure influencing facies distribution and ultimately hydrocarbon accumulation in the Frobisher and Midale Beds can be demonstrated.

MAPPING An isopach map of the Frobisher Beds (Figure 3) shows the unit thickness to be highly variable; this is due largely to the presence of shoals commonly developed in this package. The isopach map of the lower Midale or “Vuggy” Beds in the same area also shows anomalous “thicks” that reflect oolitic shoals. Oolitic shoals in the younger Midale strata tend to be found farther south than the shoals in the Frobisher Beds, suggesting the distribution of this facies migrated progressively basinward with continued basin-filling. To illustrate the relationship of structure on sedimentation patterns, regional basement faults identified by high-resolution aeromagnetic data are displayed on the structure map of the Frobisher Beds in Figure 3. A close spatial correspondence of the east-west fault trend and shoal development is evident.

FACIES The multi-layer shoal pattern developed in the Frobisher-Midale sequence (Figure 4, page 30), has led to a configuration wherein specific facies serve as reservoirs, whereas others act as cap rocks. Potential reservoirs can, for example, occur in the ‘washover facies’ consisting of reworked crinoidal and oolitic grainstones (Figure 5A, page 31) deposited in a high-energy environment proximal to shoal developments. Shoals also may have well-developed vuggy and interparticle porosity (Figure 5B, page 31). Cap rocks are generally formed by lower energy, landward, lagoonal or intershoal facies mudstones with little porosity or permeability. The seaward edges of evaporites may also act as sealing units.

PREDICTIVE MODELING Traps resulting from favourable spatial distribution of appropriate facies likely developed associated with underlying paleotopography. Paleotopography in southern Saskatchewan is usually controlled by either (a) dissolution along the edge and within the underlying Prairie Evaporite and other Devonian salts, or (b) movement along regional linear fault zones in underlying Figure 3. The upper two isopach maps of the Lower Midale and Frobisher Beds are coloured to indicate regions of strata. Two such fault zones are shown on potential oolitic shoal development. The lower structure map of the Frobisher Beds includes the location of regional the Frobisher structure map of Figure 3. basement faults identified by high-resolution aeromagnetic data (courtesy Gedco) and superimposed Frobisher Many other regional fault zones (Figure 2) (blue) and Midale (green) shoals. Cross-section A-A’ is shown on the isopach maps. may have impacted depositional history,

28 RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 resulting in the development of potential Mississippian traps.

Inverse thickness relationships of overlying beds may be a predictor of the location of Mississippian shoal developments. For example, the overlying Poplar and Ratcliffe Beds ‘thin’ above Frobisher shoals as shown in well 13-09-04-08W2 and 11- 21-4-8W2 of Figure 4. This correlation occurs in many areas, and can be used as a predictive tool for Mississippian exploration.

CONCLUSIONS - Mississippian exploration in Saskatchewan should no longer focus solely on structure and unconformity trapping. Integrated structure and facies Greater analysis will be useful toward finding new Mississippian pools. confidence. - Predictive facies analysis is possible considering that deposition of facies having reservoir potential in Better results. Mississippian strata is often controlled by underlying structure, and is reflected in overlying strata. Faster.

- The example provided here can be used to assist in exploring similarly faulted areas, but with less well control.

SUMMARY Petrel Geology Analogs: West Kingsford, View Hill, and Petrel* workflow tools provide a complete seismic-to-simulation toolkit— Macoun Pools. one solution uniting the subsurface domains of geophysics, geology, and Trap: reservoir engineering. Stratigraphic with facies distribution partially influenced by underlying Geologists can use new modeling capabilities to better predict facies distribu- structure tions, work with geophysicists to analyze structural uncertainties, and work with reservoir engineers to define a well placement strategy. Reservoir: Skeletal/oolitic/crinoidal grainstones “It is like having an extra geologist sitting there, it’s telling you things that you and vuggy oolitic wacke/packstones didn’t know, it’s testing your theories like you never saw before and helping you Seal: come up with new ideas.” David Hamilton, CEO, Subsurface Computer Modeling Lagoonal mudstones and sabkha/salina With Petrel software, all work processes lead to one shared earth model, evaporites resulting in faster, better decisions. Oil Source: Lodgepole Formation [email protected] www.slb.com/petrel

References: Kent, D.M., 1987, Mississippian facies, depositional history, and oil occurrences in Williston Basin, Manitoba and Saskatchewan: Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

(Continued on page 31...)

RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 29 Figure 4. Cross-section A-A’ through the West Kingsford Pool showing bank/washover relationships in the Frobisher and Midale Beds. Below this is a schematic interpretation of the facies relationships and oil traps in the study area.

30 RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 (...Continued from page 29) To download these and other documents Nimegeers, A.R. and Nickel, E. (2005): related to hydrocarbon resources of Hydrocarbon trapping in the Mississippian Saskatchewan, visit: http://www.ir.gov.sk.ca/ Midale and Frobisher Beds, southeastern prospectsask or email: [email protected]. Saskatchewan: Looking away from the sk.ca subcrop edge; in Summary of Investigations 2005, Volume 1, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Sask. Industry Resources, Misc. Rep. 2005-4.1, CD-ROM, Paper A-13, 16p.

Although the Department of Industry and Resources has exercised all reasonable care in the compilation, interpretation, and production of this article, it is not possible to ensure total accuracy, and all persons who rely on the information contained herein do so at their own risk. The Department of Industry and Resources and the Government of Saskatchewan do not accept liability for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies that may be included in, or derived from, this article.

This is the fourth in a series of informational brochures released by the Petroleum Geology Branch of Saskatchewan Industry and Resources. These brochures are intended to highlight prospective areas in the province as identified by staff geologists. It is hoped these will be useful introductions to regions and concepts for explorationists to further Figure 5. A) Coated-grain intraclastic packstone reservoir in the Frobisher Beds of the Elswick Pool. This is develop the oil and natural gas resources of interpreted to be a “washover” facies. 5-6-5-12W2 (1540.8m), B) Lower Midale shoal facies oolitic grainstone Saskatchewan. reservoir in 15-20-4-7W2 (1496.3m) in the West Kingsford area.

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RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 31 ROCK SHOP

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32 RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 PUSKWASKAU – BEAVERHILL LAKE SAND OIL Alberta T71, R26W5 | by Canadian Discovery Ltd.

Operator of at restricted rates of 500 to 1,000 boe/d at NPW 13-11-72-26W5. That well is listed Galleon Energy Note: until a planned crude oil battery is fully as an oil discovery and was drilled to operational at the end of 2006 (as of 3,150m in the Precambrian, and flow tested Play: Devonian Beaverhill January 2007, the 16-32 had reported 2.7 mmcf/d of sweet gas and 75 bopd of Lake Sand Oil production from March to October 2006 NGLs from the Granite Wash. The BHL in Test of Note: Galleon announced in of 65mmcf gas and 79,000 bbls oil – ed.). 13-11 has not been tested but an offset at March an important Natural gas and NGL production, such as 12-11 was licensed by Galleon in 2Q 2006 Middle Devonian that anticipated from Granite Wash, will (Figure 1). Beaverhill Lake sand have to wait until a gas plant is built in discovery at Kleskun mid-2006. The significant BHL discovery likely keyed 16-32-71-36W5, where off another recent well located less than a the 3,000m+ reservoir In the latter half of 2005, Galleon drilled section away. NPW Kleskun 6-32-71-26W5 tested 2,559 boe/d, another successful 100% well, about five was drilled to 3,171m in the Precambrian mostly sweet 38°API oil. kilometers northeast of the BHL discovery, (Continued on page 34...)

This article is reprinted with permission from Canadian Discovery’s CEO map series (2ndQ 2006). For information on products offered by CDL, please visit www.canadiandiscovery.com or call 269-3644.

Significant Discovery On March 9, 2006, Galleon Energy, a Calgary-based, technically-oriented junior oil and gas company, announced a significant light sweet oil discovery at wholly-owned NPW Kleskun 16-32-71-26W5. That well, which was drilled to 3,220m in the Precambrian in February, encountered 10m of Middle Devonian Beaverhill Lake (BHL) sand oil pay with an average porosity of 14%, based on well logs. Flow testing yielded a rate of 2,559 boe/d of 38°API oil with gas (90% oil/10% gas) on a 10.32 mm choke. Reservoir drawdown was 10%. These test results represent some of the best initial rates of any Western Canadian oil well in the last decade. Three additional zones including the Lower Devonian Granite Wash Formation were not tested but appear to be gas-bearing.

Galleon started up in October 2003 and today has a dominant land position (recently boosted to 342,000 gross hectares) and control of infrastructure in its sole core area at present, the Peace River Arch. Based on a CAPEX of $150 million, the company plans on drilling 120 to 130 wells. In the six-by-four-township area of the significant oil discovery alone, Galleon has identified 28 drill locations through 3D seismic and geological mapping. At least 10 to 12 wells will be drilled in 2006 to delineate the newly discovered BHL pool. The company expects the 16-32 discovery to be on stream by the end of June 2006, Figure 1. Activity map.

RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 33 Figure 2. 6-32-71-26W5 logs.

(...Continued from page 33) Recent and Future drilled on a 1,536 ha (six sections) licence by Devon Canada during the later half of Drilling Activity purchased through Lende Investments, a 2002 and is now operated by Galleon. That To date in 2006 (mid-May) Galleon has land agent, for $28/ha in October 2001, well flowed 3,609 barrels of oil and 2.5 licensed three Outposts and three NPWs which includes deep P&NG rights below mmcf of gas from a BHL A pool at sporadic in the vicinity of the 16-32 discovery. All are the Jurassic Nordegg. In contrast, an rates as high as 79 bopd for the first three- planned to drill to the Precambrian, at depth adjacent undrilled three-section (744 ha) quarters of 2003 before being abandoned. averaging 3,250m (Figure 1). licence (sections 6, 7, and 8-72-26W5) was It is apparent that water influx killed the oil purchased by Rockford Land on January flow. This is a consequence of the reservoir Other operators are apparently pursuing 25 for a top price of $4,259/ha. That land configuration, where about 2.5m of oil similar targets in the same area. Hunt Oil flanks the 16-32 discovery and Hunt’s 13- sand pay sits on top of 9.0m of water-filled drilled NFW Kleskun 13-33-71-26W5 to 33 oil well. Duvernay Oil, a Calgary-based sand (Figure 2). It is very likely that the 3,216m in the Precambrian in July/August company focused on northwestern Alberta/ 16-32 discovery (10m according to Galleon 2005. That suspended well is flowing oil northeastern British Columbia, drilled information, listed above) intersected the from an unspecified zone, but produced two deep wells in the area and licensed same thick sand as in 6-32, only structurally 2,676 bbls of oil, in November 2005. Hunt another during 1Q 2006. NFW Smoky higher. Also perforation-tested in 6-32 was also drilled NPW Puskwaskau 11-3-72-26W5 14-30-72-26W5 was drilled to 3,122m in the basal Devonian Granite Wash; that in February/March 2006, to 3,173m in the the Precambrian, and completed in the interval was abandoned. Precambrian. That potential oil well was (Continued on page 36...)

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RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 35 (...Continued from page 34) punctuated with reports of discoveries River sands, and the Gilwood Member Slave Point and BHL sand during 1Q 2003. over the last half-century in a wide swath of the Watt Mountain Formation. The Two Slave Point/BHL production events along the southeastern flank of the Peace BHL sand play is slowly extending on are listed for that well, which together have River Arch that constitutes the play strike with the Waterways shoreline flowed 9,438 barrels of oil and 10.7 mmcf fairway. In all, about 23 pools have so far along the southeastern flank of the Peace of gas between March 2003 and November been discovered. Most prominent among River Arch and has important remaining 2005. More recently, in October 2005, these are the very significant late ‘90s/early potential (see www.canadiandiscovery.com Duvernay drilled and completed NPW 2- ‘00s oil discoveries at Girouxville East and for information on Canadian Discovery’s 21-72-26W5 to 3,165m in the Precambrian. Normandville, located ~50 km northeast latest report which examines in detail the That well has flowed 3,610 barrels of oil of Puskwaskau/Kleskun. Since discovery Beaverhill Lake Sand Oil Play). from an undisclosed interval to March 2006. of the Girouxville East BHL B pool in Finally, Duvernay licensed NPW 14-18-72- 1998 (1.3 million barrels oil produced to Although the highlight in this region during 26W5 3,228m in the Precambrian in January date, commingled with Gilwood D), the this quarter is the significant BHL sand 2006, offsetting undrilled deep rights land Girouxville East/Normandville BHL pools discovery, much potential remains for purchased on January 26, for $678/ha by have produced over 5.6 mmbbls of oil other deep, stacked reservoirs in this an agent. from about 65 wells, with approximately underexplored region of the Peace River 2.5 bcf of solution gas. The often thin Arch, including Granite Wash, Keg River, A little further afield and more on the BHL sands are encased in the open-marine and Gilwood sands of the Elk Point Group, rank exploration side, Galleon licensed and transgressive shales and argillaceous Slave Point carbonate banks in the BHL drilled NPW 9-12-74-25W5 to 3,007m in carbonates of the Waterways Formation. Group, and numerous other Paleozoic the Precambrian in February/March 2006, During the Devonian Period, coarse reservoirs. in a very sparsely drilled area. That well, siliciclastics were shed off the Peace River currently standing, offsets four, all P&NG, Arch of western Alberta and northeastern one-section licenses offered for the June 14, British Columbia, some extending far into 2006 sale. the basin, indicating prolonged periods of lowstand. The BHL is only one of these An Expanding Play sand bodies (Figure 3), the others being The BHL sand play is not new, having been the Granite Wash Formation, the Keg

Figure 3. Beaverhill Lake Sand Play.

36 RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 April 29 - May 1, 2007 Registration begins Delta Regina, Regina, SK Canada February 1, 2007!

� Prospect Expo � Workshops 15th Williston Basin � Technical Talks � Activity Updates “Hot Plays” Petroleum Conference & Prospect Expo

Registration information will be available after February 1, 2007 at www.wbpc.ca

Have questions? Call 306-787-0169, email [email protected], or write to WBPC, 201 Dewdney Ave. East, Regina, SK S4N 4G3

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RESERVOIR ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2007 37 CSPG New Member List

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Name Company City, Province William T. Birch Birch Oilfield Consulting Ltd. Grand Prairie, AB Douglas S. Gowland Acumen Capital Partners Calgary, AB Bruce J. Keen Recon Petrotechnologies Calgary, AB Ms. Andrea Reiserer geoLOGIC systems ltd. Calgary, AB Corinne Riley Simpson & Associates Calgary, AB

REGULAR MEMBERS Name Company City, Province Jawwad Ahmad Vigilant Exploration Inc. Calgary, AB Eva M. Armeneau Alberta Energy And Utilities Board Calgary, AB Megan D. Barefoot Angle Energy Calgary, AB Michael Benrud South Bay Resources LLC Houston, TX Sean M. Brady Encana Corporation Calgary, AB Raegan K. Brown UTS Energy Corporation Calgary, AB Zhihong Cao Imperial Oil Resources Calgary, AB Ramona D. Ciobanu RPS Energy Canada Ltd. Calgary, AB John R. Cockrill Trident Exploration Corp. Calgary, AB Lona-Kate Dekeyser Husky Energy Inc. Calgary, AB Natalie Dobie Bonavista Energy Trust Calgary, AB Laura Faulkenberry ConocoPhillips Canada Limited Calgary, AB Michael E. Freeman Belloy Petroleum Consulting Calgary, AB Robert M. Gerhardt Canetic Resources Inc. Calgary, AB Deborah Glover Petro-Canada Oil And Gas Calgary, AB Anthony L. Graup Angle Energy Inc. Calgary, AB Neil J. Guenter Birchcliff Energy Ltd. Calgary, AB Memet Metin Hagi Encana Corporation Calgary, AB Susan L. Harbidge Alberta Energy And Utilities Board Calgary, AB Benjamin Hollands Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. Calgary, AB Michael R. Lazorek Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum Resources Centre London, ON Shaohua Li Petrobank Energy and Resources Ltd. Calgary, AB Tim R. Mack Alberta Energy And Utilities Board Calgary, AB Terry L. Mah Norse Horse Enterprises Ltd. Calgary, AB Jessica M. McPherson Encana Corporation Calgary, AB Andrew J. Mumpy University Of Alberta Edmonton, AB Brian Parsons Vision 2000 Exploration Ltd. Calgary, AB Michelle F. Prochotsky Husky Energy Inc. Calgary, AB Bernard G. Scheck Telluric Consulting Ltd. Provost, AB Nichole L. Scott Total E&P Canada Ltd. Calgary, AB Galal G.B. Soliman Zaki Geological Consulting Calgary, AB Jeff L. Taylor ConocoPhillips Canada Ltd. Calgary, AB Yangfa (Thomas) Tu Baker Atlas Calgary, AB Alexandru Vant Enervant Consulting Ltd. Calgary, AB Aaron D. Vaughan Aaron Vaughan Consulting Inc. Calgary, AB Tom Wang Edmonton, AB Angie K. Webster GR Petrology Consultants Inc. Calgary, AB

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