17 Drilling Plan Basics – Building a Landing Section with Deep EM LWD 21 The Value of Borehole Image Logs – Part 2: Analysis of Structure and Fractures in Image Logs 29 Go Take a Hike 32 Geomodeling: A Team Effort to Better Understand Our Reservoirs
$10.00 FEBRUARY 2015 VOLUME 42, ISSUE 02 Canadian Publication Mail Contract – 40070050
FEBRUARY 2015 – VOLUME 42, ISSUE 02 ARTICLES
Drilling Plan Basics – Building a Landing Section with Deep EM LWD ...... 17
Photo of the Month ...... 20 CSPG OFFICE #110, 333 – 5th Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 3B6 The Value of Borehole Image Logs – Part 2: Analysis of Structure Tel: 403-264-5610 Web: www.cspg.org and Fractures in Image Logs ...... 21 Please visit our website for all tickets sales and event/course registrations Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Honorary Member – James D. (Jim) Reimer, P.Geol...... 26 The CSPG Office is Closed the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month.
OFFICE CONTACTS Go Take a Hike ...... 29 Membership Inquiries Tel: 403-264-5610 Email: [email protected] Geomodeling: A Team Effort to Better Understand Our Reservoirs ...... 32 Technical/Educational Events: Biljana Popovic Tel: 403-513-1225 Email: [email protected] The 5th Annual – Young Geoscientists ...... 34 Advertising Inquiries: Emma MacPherson Tel: 403-513-1230 Email: [email protected] Sponsorship Opportunities: Candace Seepersad DEPARTMENTS Tel: 403-513-1227 Email: [email protected] Conference Inquiries: Candace Seepersad Message from the Board ...... 5 Tel: 403-513-1233 Email: [email protected] CSPG Educational Trust Fund: Kasandra Amaro Technical Luncheons ...... 9 Tel: 403-513-1234 Email: [email protected] Accounting Inquiries: Eric Tang Division Talks ...... 12 Tel: 403-513-1232 Email: [email protected] Executive Director: Lis Bjeld Tel: 403-513-1235, Email: [email protected] Rock Shop ...... 9, 16
EDITORS/AUTHORS Please submit RESERVOIR articles to the CSPG office. Submission deadline is the 23rd day of the month, two months prior to issue 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.
Technical Editor Hugh S. Mosher Nunaga Resources Ltd. M.: 403-809-9997 Email: [email protected]
CSPG Coordinating Editor Emma MacPherson, Communications Coordinator, CSPG Tel: 403-513-1230, [email protected]
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 and August. The purpose of the RESERVOIR is to publicize the Society’s many activities and to promote the geosciences. We look for both technical and non-technical material to publish. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either in part or in full without the consent of the publisher. Additional copies of the RESERVOIR are available at the CSPG office. No official endorsement or sponsorship by the CSPG is implied for any advertisement, insert, or article that appears in the Reservoir unless otherwise noted. All submitted materials are reviewed by the editor. We reserve the right to edit all submissions, including letters to the Editor. Submissions must include your name, address, and membership number (if applicable). The material contained in this publication is intended for informational use only. While reasonable care has been taken, authors and the CSPG make no guarantees that any of the equations, schematics, or devices discussed will perform as expected or that they will give the desired results. Some information contained herein may be inaccurate or may vary FRONT COVER from standard measurements. The CSPG expressly disclaims any and all liability for the acts, The famous Hoodoos near East Coulee Alberta. A classic case where omissions, or conduct of any third-party user of information contained in this publication. stratigraphy and diagenisis meets erosion. The structures are formed by a clean Under no circumstances shall the CSPG and its officers, directors, employees, and agents be siderite cemented Cretaceous Horseshoe Canyon sandstone capping layer liable for any injury, loss, damage, or expense arising in any manner whatsoever from the acts, omissions, or conduct of any third-party user. providing a roof over the softer non cemented sands and mudstones. Natural fractures provide the start of the caprock erosion as the Red Deer river cuts Designed and Printed by The Data Group of Companies, Calgary, Alberta. through the valley. Photo by John P. Andersen.
RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 3
Message from the Board A message from 2015 President, Tony Cadrin
CSPG BOARD Happy New Year PRESIDENT Tony Cadrin • Journey Energy Inc. CSPG Members [email protected] Tel: 403.303.3493 What will 2015 bring the petroleum sector that are valuable regardless of where you and the Canadian Society of Petroleum are in your career. The CSPG services and PRESIDENT ELECT programs are a reflection of the society’s Greg Lynch • Shell Canada Ltd. Geologists members? This is an impactful [email protected] Tel: 403.384.7704 question on everyone’s mind with no goals and vision which is “to advance the shortage of pundits willing to give their professions of the energy geosciences – as PAST PRESIDENT opinions. As President of the CSPG, and it applies to geology; foster the scientific, Dale Leckie an employee of the petroleum sector, I am technical learning and professional [email protected] not going to wade in with my predictions development of its members; and promote for the future. The members of the CSPG the awareness of the profession to industry FINANCE DIRECTOR executive committee are more interested and the public”. Astrid Arts • Cenovus Energy with the germane question of what services [email protected] Tel: 403.766.5862 do we need to provide to our members for To accomplish this we provide and promote them to make the most of their careers a wide range of technical learning events FINANCE DIRECTOR ELECT during this time of uncertainty. as well as a focal point for networking Scott Leroux • Long Run Exploration and social activities. This year our three [email protected] 403.716.3205 Our committee feels that the theme for initiatives are: how our members manage this coming year DIRECTOR is through an attitude of PERSPECTIVE. 1. Strengthen our partnerships Mark Caplan • Athabasca Oil Corp. Looking to the past for answers is a long, through participation in the annual [email protected] Tel: 403.975.7701 time honored tradition in our field made GeoConvention. This started two famous by James Hutton, the father of years ago with the signing of the DIRECTOR geology and Charles Lyell through his GeoConvention partnership with our Milovan Fustic • Statoil Canada Ltd. Principles of Geology in the 1830’s. His affiliate societies, CSEG and CWLS, as [email protected] Tel: 403.724.3307 principle of Uniformitarianism states: well as with guest organizations. We DIRECTOR the Present is the key to the Past in continue to build this annual event into Michael LaBerge • Channel Energy Inc. understanding that Geological processes the pre-eminent geoscience meeting in [email protected] Tel: 403.301.3739 have been shaping our earth since the North America. Our goal is to provide beginning. Another way put: The past is a learning and networking experience DIRECTOR the key to the present and the saviour of for the benefit of our members. Ryan Lemiski • Nexen Energy ULC the future. [email protected] Tel: 403.699.4413 2. Enhance outreach to industry, The petroleum sector has gone through government, and academia through our DIRECTOR many commodity cycles in the past, will newly expanded Ambassador program Robert Mummery • Almandine Resources Inc. continue to in the future, and to be certain, via representatives who will deliver our [email protected] Tel: 403.651.4917 we are experiencing one now. Since the message across Canada. This initiative CSPG has been in existence (1927), it will expand our national presence DIRECTOR has survived 6 such cycles to date. Our across Canada, and encourage younger Darren Roblin • Kelt Exploration society currently has 3,332 Full, Associate, members from vibrant centers across [email protected] Tel: 587.233.0784 Emeritus, Honourary, and Student the country to join. This endeavor members ranging from 18-95 years old. As will strengthen the broader Canadian DIRECTOR a society, we have a wealth of knowledge geologic community. It is imperative Jen Russel-Houston • Osum Oil Sands Corp. regarding technical, career development, that we outline the benefits of being a [email protected] Tel: 403.270.4768 and past sector cycles available to pass CSPG member. We anticipate that this on within our membership. This collective program will inspire or renew interest DIRECTOR knowledge is our strength that will guide us amongst existing CSPG members Eric Street • Jupiter Resources [email protected] Tel: 587.747.2631 through this, and future cycles. outside of Calgary, government institutions, university faculty, and EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The 2015 Board of Directors is committed students from undergraduate and Lis Bjeld • CSPG to delivering services to our membership (Continued on page 7...) [email protected] Tel: 403.513.1235 RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 5 Welcome to your Professional Career Home
Membership has its Advantages!
Go where the passionate geoscientists are Discuss the science Socialize within a like-minded community Grow your specialty by attending our conferences Distinguished Lecturer Series Engage in qualified professional development (PDH accredited) Meet industry Volunteer and be on a team Develop leadership skills Get introduced to geoscience software tools Access to technical journals on AAPGDatapages Go Take a Hike and GeoScienceWorld Leave your legacy where you are most passionate Join us and be part of the team that advances the professions of the energy geosciences – as it applies to geology
Mixed Golf Tournament
JOIN TODAY
VISIT WWW.CSPG.ORG TO BECOME A MEMBER TODAY Student Industry Field Trip (...Continued from page 5) In conclusion I would like to leave you graduate programs. To accomplish this with our over-arching goal. We want you goal we have recruited Ian Hutcheon to feel that the CSPG is your source - Pacific Region; Brad Hayes and Ian for continuing education, networking, McIlreath - Prairies; Darren Singleton and career development. We are near - Northern Ontario and Ottawa the bottom of another petroleum sector region; and Colin Yeo - Southern commodity cycle and we want you to be Ontario. Dale Leckie is confirmed as prepared for the next wave up. Now is the an Ambassador at large. The candidates time to prepare you for the next growth for the Atlantic and Quebec regions phase. Ask yourself, what can the CSPG do CORPORATE are yet to be filled. We also have two for you and what can you do for the CSPG? SPONSORS new CSPG members, Ryan Brenner and SAMARIUM Katherine Romansky who are assisting I personally have volunteered for the geoLOGIC systems ltd. Ian McIlreath (Chairman) and Colin Yeo CSPG in many capacities over the past 23 DIAMOND (Vice Chairman) on the Ambassador years. My history of volunteerism expands AGAT Laboratories Program Committee. involvement as a committee member; The CSPG Educational Trust Fund committee chair; CSPG Board, as a director; TITANIUM 3. Develop mentorship platforms utilizing Chair of GeoConvention Partnership; Tourmaline Oil Corp. the wisdom of the past presidents of Present-Elect; and now as 2015 CSPG ConocoPhillips Canada Limited the CSPG. This is a defining initiative President. Some of the highlights for me APEGA Nexen ULC for providing PERSPECTIVE to the over the past years include; the formation Cenovus Energy CSPG members. I would like to take of the GeoConvention Limited partnership Imperial Oil Resources the time to honor the contributions of and serving on the first Board; fulfilling the PLATINUM the Past Presidents, who continue to role as the first CSPG Ambassador in our Devon Canada Corporation contribute in meaningful ways, to the initial foray to the Atlantic Universities, Schlumberger Canada Limited CSPG. In order, from most recent is: Petroleum companies, and Government IHS Global Canada Limited bodies.; and as President Elect participating Baker Hughes Shell Canada Limited • Dale Leckie: Ambassador at large in our initial young professionals networking • Paul MaKay: Board member on events. GOLD CSPG Educational Trust Fund and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd MEG Energy Corp. standing for CSPG Chair of ACE 2016 Over the next year I look forward to Suncor Energy • Kirk Osadetz: Board member on hearing your ideas and stories of how Seitel Canada Ltd. CSPG Educational Trust Fund this community has made a difference in Husky Energy Inc. • John Varsek: Past Presidents your career. Volunteer and help build a SILVER advisory council stronger society for your peer group and Chinook Consulting • Graham Bloy: Hunter Award the one coming after you. As an active MJ Systems Committee member, CSPG is one of your best career Cabra Consulting Inc. • Ambassador Vice Chair development resources! Plan to attend CSEG Colin Yeo: Arcis Seismic Solutions and active Ambassador, CSPG Awards our upcoming conferences: Playmaker Emerson Process Management review Task Force Forum (March 31st), GeoConvention Enerplus • John Hogg: (AAPG President 2015- 2015- GEOSCIENCE: New Horizons (May EOG Resources Canada Inc. 16)-Past Presidents advisory council 4-6th), and the Eric Mountjoy Carbonates • Brad Hayes: Ambassador Conference (August 23-28th) to hear BRONZE • Ian Hutcheon: Ambassador and see the top minds in the Canadian SeisWare • Ed Klovan: Bob McCrossan/Perry Petroleum sector give talks, posters, field Halliburton Osum Oil Sands Corp. Glaister (Original Editors of the trips, and courses on topics that matter to AAPG - Canada region first Atlas of the Western Canada you right here in Calgary. Pro Geo Consultants Sedimentary Basin, 1964) Presidents Qatar Shell GTL Limited Special Award Committee Please join us, your 2015 executive, in Roke Technologies Ltd. making our society better for you and the Ikon Science Ltd. • Ian McIlreath: Medal of Merit, Pengrowth Corporation Hunter, and Douglas medal award membership as a whole. Crescent Point Energy Trust committees, Awards review Task Geovariances Force Chair, Ambassador Chair and Paradigm Ambassador Talisman Energy Geomodeling Technology Corp. • Gordon Williams: Awards review Canadian Discovery Ltd. Task Force (young members assisting Painted Pony Petroleum Ltd. David Chunn and Denise Yee) RPS Energy Canada Ltd. Encana Corporation GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd. As you can see we are well underway into Sproule Associates Limited our 2015 initiatives. Streamsim Technologies, Inc. Tucker Energy Services Canada As of January 7, 2015 A Special Thanks to Geologic Systems Ltd., CSPG’s Top Sponsor of the Month.
RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 7 2015 CSPG/SEPM Mountjoy Conference ABSTRACT SUBMISSION NOW OPEN
Sessions & Session Chairs
The Nature of Unconventional Carbonate Reservoirs Jay Gregg & Mike Grammer | Oklahoma State University
Carbonate Reservoirs in Structurally Complex Regions Rudy Swennen | Division of Geology, KU Leuven
The Nature of Intensely Fractured, Vuggy Carbonates Ron Nelson | Broken N Consulting, Texas Alex J. MacNeil | Osum Oil Sands, Calgary
Advances in Modeling Carbonate Systems and Reservoirs Part 1, Methods: Georg Warrlich | Shell, Malaysia Rachel Wood | School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh
Part 2, Flow in Carbonates: Xiomara Marquez | Maersk, Doha, Qatar Fiona Whitaker | School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol
Advances in Diagenesis Eva Drivet | Drivet Consulting, Calgary Conxita Taberner | Shell, Netherlands
Dolostones – The Nature of Dolostones in the Geologic Record Hans Machel | University of Alberta, Edmonton Jeff Lonnee | Shell, Qatar
Deadline for Abstracts: For more information visit: March 15th, 2015 www.cspg.org/Conferences
Conference Sponsors: TECHNICAL LUNCHEONS FEBRUARY LUNCHEON Webcasts sponsored by
Abstract Geomechanical Fracture and fault observations at different scales reveal dramatic changes in density Controls on Fault and orientation over small relative distances. This variation has previously been explained and Fracture by variable rock properties or variation in the applied stress. The poroelastic strain Distribution with relationship describes the coupling of the elastic properties with the way stresses are Application to distributed and when this is combined with an understanding of the material strength Structural we can also better predict failure which manifests itself as the creation of structural Permeability and elements (faults and fractures). Hydraulic When considering permeability of fractures Stimulation or placement of hydraulic fractures to BIOGRAPHY stimulate production, we are effectively Scott is a geoscientist with 15 years of consulting evaluating failure of the medium. This experience in petroleum geomechanics and SPEAKER presentation looks at the relationship image log services. On completion of his PhD he Scott Mildren between elastic properties, rock strength spent time with Z&S (Asia) Ltd performing stress, Ikon GeoMechanics and stress distribution with the aid of real structural and sedimentological interpretation of world examples, and demonstrates the image log data. Subsequently, he was among 11: 30 am parameters that we need to consider to the academic staff at the Australian School of Thursday, February 5, 2015 better understand geomechanical failure. This Petroleum researching various geomechanical TELUS Convention Centre approach is then considered in the context of issues such as fault and cap rock seal integrity, Exhibition Hall D, North Building various petroleum related applications that fractured reservoirs, wellbore stability and trap Calgary, Alberta include: risk before founding his own geomechanics and image log service company, JRS Petroleum Please note: The cut-off date for ticket sales • predicting permeable fractures; Research. JRS was merged with Ikon Science in is 1:00 pm, three business days before event. 2012 and Scott is now a Senior Vice President (Monday, Feb. 2nd, 2015). CSPG Member Ticket • discriminating natural fractures from of Ikon Geomechanics at Ikon Science based in Price: $45.00 + GST. Non-Member Ticket Price: drilling induced fractures; London. $47.50 + GST. • hydraulic fracture placement and Each CSPG Technical Luncheon is 1 APEGA containment, and; PDH credit. Tickets may be purchased online at https://www.cspg.org/eSeries/source/Events/ • explaining variable fracture gradients. index.cfm.
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RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 9 TECHNICAL LUNCHEONS FEBRUARY LUNCHEON Webcasts sponsored by
petrology have led to improved BIOGRAPHY Model the Rock! understanding of compaction and quartz Rob Lander’s primary interest is in understanding cementation in sandstones. Our group has the controls on diagenetic processes in clastic Using Diagenesis built process models that build on these rocks and using this understanding to develop advances and developed additional models accurate models of rock properties away Simulation for for grain-coating chlorite formation from from well control and through geologic time. volcanic rock fragment alteration, illite He is the inventor or co-inventor of several Rock Property formation from the reaction of kaolinite simulation systems for diagenesis and reservoir Prediction and K-feldspar, and mechanical compaction, quality prediction including Touchstone©, among others. Additionally, we use an a T>Map©, T>Earth©, Prism2D©, Exemplar©, and SPEAKER posteriori procedure that relies on analog Cyberstone©. Robert Lander sandstones to consider the effects of Geocosm, LLC diagenetic processes for which accurate Rob co-founded Geocosm LLC and co-directs process models have yet to be developed. the company’s Consortium for the Quantitative 11: 30 am We combine these diagenetic models to Prediction of Sandstone Reservoir Quality (RQC), Wednesday, February 18th, 2015 predict the composition, texture, and which was established in 2001 and currently TELUS Convention Exhibition Hall D porosity of sandstones through geologic has 23 members. He also is a Research Fellow North Building time given the depositional composition with the Bureau of Economic Geology and Calgary, Alberta and texture of a sand and its burial history. collaborates with the Fracture Research and These results, in turn, serve as input for Applications Consortium at The University of Please note: The cut-off date for ticket sales models that predict permeability and seismic Texas at Austin. Rob established Geocosm in is 1:00 pm, three business days before event. velocities. 2000 after a stint as Technical Director of (Friday, Feb 13th, 2015). CSPG Member Ticket Geologica AS in Stavanger, Norway. Prior to Price: $45.00 + GST. Non-Member Ticket Accurate subsurface rock property models his time in Norway he was a Senior Research Price: $47.50 + GST. can be developed when this diagenetic Geologist at Exxon Production Research in modeling system is integrated with methods Houston, Texas. Each CSPG Technical Luncheon is 1 APEGA that describe the spatial distributions and PDH credit. Tickets may be purchased online depositional characteristics of lithofacies and Rob has published a number of papers on at https://www.cspg.org/eSeries/source/Events/ petroleum system models that reconstruct topics involving diagenesis and reservoir quality index.cfm. sediment thermal and stress histories. This prediction (including several Notable Papers in integrated approach has proven to be useful the AAPG Bulletin) and received the Wallace E. ABSTRACT for reservoir quality risk assessment in a Pratt Memorial Award for best paper published We have an unprecedented ability to broad range of geologic settings, including in the AAPG Bulletin in 2010. He has a Ph.D. realistically depict the spatial distributions some with considerable complexity. For in Geology from the University of Illinois at of lithofacies in the subsurface thanks to instance, it has been used for accurate Urbana-Champaign and a B.A. in Geology from developments in sequence stratigraphy, pre-drill prediction of reservoir quality Knox College. sedimentology, structural geology, in regions affected by thermal anomalies geostatistics, and geophysics. As important associated with salt structures. as these developments have been, however, they in themselves have a limited ability To take this methodology a step farther to accurately predict rock properties– and to better constrain rock physics, particularly in regions with high thermal geomechanics, and fluid-flow properties of exposures and restricted well control. This rocks in undrilled areas, we are developing limitation arises because the geomechanical, a next-generation modeling platform that petrophysical, and fluid-flow properties rigorously simulates processes in 3D at of clastic rocks are strongly affected by the grain scale. This 3D approach has diagenetic processes (i.e., biological, physical, the potential to provide unique predictive and chemical processes that occur after models of pore network geometries burial). For instance, the mechanical nature and grain contact properties for rocks of a sand deposit may change with diagenetic in undrilled areas. The system considers alteration from a quasi-liquid (think quicksand) thousands of grains with realistic shape to a rigid material suitable for building gothic and size variations and simulates deposition cathedrals. Likewise, permeability may and rearrangement with Newtonian physics decline by as much six orders of magnitude and brittle and ductile deformation of solid as the sediment compacts and is subject to components with continuum mechanics. geochemical alteration. It also considers geochemical processes including quartz cementation and contact Recent breakthroughs in sedimentary dissolution (“pressure solution”).
10 RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 TECHNICAL LUNCHEONS MARCH LUNCHEON Webcasts sponsored by
called Dakota! See more at: http://www.aapg. Dinosaurs, org/career/training/in-person/distinguished- lecturer/abstract/articleid/11553/dinosaurs- Mummies and mummies-space-shuttles#sthash.ll3xEYUg.dpuf
Space-shuttles? BIOGRAPHY Phil Manning is Professor of Natural History and SPEAKER Director of the cross-faculty Interdisciplinary Phillip Manning have ever known the experience of discovering, Centre for Ancient Life (ICAL) at the University of Professor of Natural History & Director excavating, preparing and studying the fossil Manchester (UK). Phil is also a Fellow (International) of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Ancient remains of a dinosaur mummy. Such stories of the Explorer’s Club (New York). He has a BSc Life, University of Manchester illustrate the changing nature of palaeontological from Leicester University in Earth Sciences, an MSc science as new ideas and techniques can be from the University of Manchester in Geology and a 11: 30 am applied to the most special of dinosaur fossils. PhD from the University of Sheffield in Paleontology. Tuesday, March 24h, 2015 While it is possible to deploy 21st Century TELUS Convention Exhibition Hall D science on such ancient remains, the recovery Phil has worked as a paleontologist for over North Building, Calgary, Alberta of such animals has changed little since the first 25 years, including positions in museums and dinosaur mummy was discovered a little over universities, working in both the laboratory and the Please note: The cut-off date for ticket sales is 1:00 100 years ago. field. A pivotal theme of his research is the study the pm, three business days before event. (Thursday, multiple contemporary problems of natural-resource March 19th, 2015). CSPG Member Ticket Price: Charles H. Sternberg and his sons, possibly the conservation and environmental quality and how $45.00 + GST. Non-Member Ticket Price: $47.50 most successful palaeontological dynasty, were they relate to the history of life on Earth. His work + GST. the first to discover the mummified remains explores both the past and present interactions of a dinosaur in 1908. This was a find that of processes that integrate the four terrestrial Each CSPG Technical Luncheon is 1 APEGA PDH surpassed anything that Sternberg had ever seen spheres: lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere credit. Tickets may be purchased online at https:// in his forty years of fieldwork. This must have and biosphere. Phil’s research is both broad and www.cspg.org/eSeries/source/Events/index.cfm. been not unlike the feelings of Howard Carter interdisciplinary with active research topics including: upon opening the intact tomb of the Egyptian biomechanics, geobiology, taphonomy and soft ABSTRACT pharaoh Tutankhamen in 1922, resulting in tissue preservation, synchrotron-based imaging and The word “mummy” has been used to mean equally unprecedented insight to another world. spectroscopy, de novo applications of LiDAR-based many different things, but is synonymous imaging (including landscape and skeletal modeling), with excellent preservation in the realms of In 1999 a prehistoric burial site scene was x-ray microtomography, as well as the application of archaeology and palaeontology. The term discovered by a young fossil hunter, Tyler numerical modeling techniques to biomaterials. Phil signifies the preservation of soft tissue, such Lyson, now a successful scientist working at and his team have worked extensively in the Hell as hair, muscle, tendon, but especially skin. The the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. This is the Creek Formation of South Dakota and Montana, most familiar examples to us are human, usually discovery that would lead to an international but his field program also includes sites in South of the Egyptian variety, but many such remains interdisciplinary alliance centred around America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. include both human and animal remains from a beautiful fossil. Tyler had discovered the all over the world. While some mummies are mummified remains of a hadrosaur dinosaur Phil has presented several documentaries including artificially created by human effort, many are in the Hell Creek Formation of North Dakota a recent series for National Geographic Channel the natural product of accidents or specific (USA). Through a series of very fortunate (‘Jurassic CSI’) that showcased the application environmental conditions. There are multiple events, I got to work with Tyler and was able of new technologies in paleontology and he has preservation types that are unique to each to help build the team of scientists who gained also contributed to many BBC, Discovery Channel, environment in which the physical remains of access to this remarkable fossil. The dinosaur Channel 4 and History Channel TV documentaries. organisms come to rest. The processes that was nicknamed ‘Dakota’ and is possibly the first Phil plays an active role in the University of impact upon a body post-deposition introduce dinosaur to properly wear the ‘mummy’ badge, Manchester’s public programs, contributing to open- the splendidly macabre science of taphonomy, based upon the information harvested from days, public lectures, workshops and fieldwork. He literally ‘burial-laws’. these fossil remains. has authored both children and popular science books and is a regular contributor to public speaking The fossilized impressions/remains of dinosaur The study of this remarkable fossil took our programs around the world, promoting the public skin occur in various contexts. Post-mortem team from NASA facilities where we probed engagement of science. Phil has been appointed as factors can move both bones and soft-tissue Dakota’s innermost secrets with high-powered the Science and Technology Research Council (STFC) elements from a body after death, often tomography to particle accelerators where Science in Society Fellow (2013-2017), so as to generating frustratingly isolated samples. The the chemical ghosts of past biology were still further promote science and technology to as wide fossil skin impressions attributable to dinosaurs present in the fossilized soft-tissues. Even an audience as possible. may also be found as isolated patches not the diagnostic chemistry that typifies melanin associated with a dinosaur skeleton. In other skin pigment has now been mapped and its The ‘Dinosaur CSI’ blog is authored and regularly cases, fragmentary skin impressions are found coordination chemistry constrained within the updated by Phil and includes information on recent associated with a skeleton. It is curious to prehistoric hide of this very special fossil. This publications from ICAL as well as their extensive note that for some reason, patches of skin on lecture will take you on a whistle stop tour field programs around the globe. You can follow Phil hadrosaur tails are the most common. Only a of the people, places, science and discoveries on Twitter @DrPhilManning. select few palaeontologists and fossil hunters associated with a very special fossil dinosaur
RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 11 DIVISION TALKS PALAEONTOLOGY DIVISION Sponsored by
ABSTRACT others previously analyzed, has prompted The Littlest Rhynchonkos stovalli (Lepospondyli: a large-scale review of recumbirostran Recumbirostra) is a small ‘microsaur’ from endocranial morphology. These new Brontosaurus: the Permian of Oklahoma that, based on detailed descriptions have led us to re- a number of shared features has been evaluate the current understanding of Two New hypothesized to be one of the potential ‘microsaur’ phylogeny. ancestors of caecilians. However, due to Recumbirostrans the varying nature of preservation of the BIOGRAPHY available materials, the original description From Calgary, Alberta, Matt Szostakiwskyj (Lepospondyli) of Rhynchonkos was done as a composite completed his BSc in Zoology at the University of multiple specimens. We used micro-CT of Calgary in 2013. He spent the following and a to digitally dissect and reconstruct the year as a research assistant in the Anderson specimens attributed to Rhynchonkos. lab, using micro-CT to digitally reconstruct Redescription of We will present new braincase data microsaur skulls. Through this process, he Rhynchonkos that varies between specimens, and was able to show that Rhynchonkos stovalli, has led to the description of two new a microsaur hypothesized to be a potential Stovalli, Based on taxa (Aletrimyti gaskilli and Dvellecanus ancestor of caecilians, was a composite of carrolli), as well as a redescription of the three different animals. Matt is currently a HRXCT holotype specimen. With the splitting of Master’s student with Jason Anderson at the these taxa, the host of shared features University of Calgary, studying the evolution between Rhynchonkos and caecilians is and diversification of salamanders. He is SPEAKER greatly diminished. Furthermore, the interested in the origin of lissamphibians, Matt Szostakiwskyj, M. Sc. Candidate interlocking nature of the elements of and how the extant frogs, salamanders, and University of Calgary the skull roof, braincase, and palate imply caecilians relate to the multitude of extinct a fossorial lifestyle for recumbirostrans, amphibians. His current research aims to 7:30 PM suggesting that any similarities with document the variation in cranial anatomy of Friday, February 20, 2015 caecilians may be due to burrowing. salamanders, and to explore its implications Room B108, Mount Royal University Variation of the endocranial features both in their phylogeny. His other research Calgary, Alberta within and between these specimens, and projects include the re-descriptions of various microsaurs, the phylogeny of lepospondyls, and exploring new visualization techniques for comparative anatomy. In his spare time Matt enjoys riding bicycles and snowboards, and brewing his own beer.
INFORMATION This event is presented jointly by the Alberta Palaeontological Society, the Earth Science Department of Mount Royal University, and the Palaeontology Division of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists. For details or to present a talk in the future, please contact CSPG Palaeontology Division Chair Jon Noad at [email protected] or APS Coordinator Harold Whittaker at 403-286- 0349 or contact programs1@albertapaleo. org. Visit the APS website for confirmation of event times and upcoming speakers: http:// www.albertapaleo.org/
12 RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 DIVISION TALKS GEOMODELING DIVISION Sponsored by Geomodeling in Challenging Oilsands Reservoirs
SPEAKER David Garner [email protected]
12:00 Noon Wednesday, February 25, 2015 Husky Conference Room A +30 level, South Tower A simulated result for facies with dips imposed and subsequent petrophyscial properties. 3rd Floor – 707, 8th Ave SW Calgary, Alberta
ABSTRACT The current focus of hydrocarbon developments is on efficiently producing the marginal economic barrel from challenging reservoirs. Technical innovation is a key focus of the extraction strategy. The standard approaches to developments are being compared to emerging technologies and hybrids with existing technologies. The Geomodeling role is to enable the integrated Resource screening and pad reservoir model layout using columnar Net Continuous Bitumen (NCB) calculations. subsurface characterization and evaluation of the expected reservoir responses to extraction technologies. An excerpt from a architectures. The study scope addressed BIOGRAPHY Statoil case study presented at the World challenges of producing these reservoirs. David Garner is a Specialist in Applied Geostatistics Heavy Oil Congress in 2014 (WHOC14 – 139) Improved reservoir characterization focused and Geomodeling. He has held positions in R&D is the basis of this Geomodeling focused talk. on data integration and mapping point bar for Statoil, was a Geomodeling Advisor with In that study, custom Geomodeling workflows architecture, paying attention to key internal Chevron Canada Resources and Characterization were critical to unlock business case successes heterogeneities and their 3D geometry. Specialist for ConocoPhillips Canada. Through after screening technologies with the potential Effective and efficient geomodeling was TerraMod Consulting, he worked on integrated to create steam pathways into complex customized for the thin pay pools based on field studies in North and South America, North oilsands reservoirs. anticipated technical requirements for the and West Africa, and the Middle East. extraction technologies under evaluation. The McMurray Formation in Alberta, Canada For example, the inclined structure of the Mr. Garner holds two geophysics degrees, a B.S has extensive bitumen resources trapped in dominant I.H.S. lithofacies was captured within from Washington and Lee University and an M.S. large-scale tidal-fluvial point bar sequences geobodies. Fluid architecture was modeled as from Cornell University. In 2006 he received a of interbedded siltstones and sands, called lithology dependent water saturation height Citation in Geostatistics from the University of Inclined Heterolithic Stratification (I.H.S.). trends, i.e. transition zones and capillarity. Alberta. He currently serves as a co-chair for the I.H.S. dominated reservoirs are not Permeability distributions were derived from Geomodeling Technical Division of the CSPG. He economically producible using Steam Assisted empirically based micro-models scaled to previously served on the board of directors and Gravity Drainage (SAGD). Thick intervals of the grid cell volumes and introduced into was general chair for the Gussow 2011 and 2014 interbedded sands and silts present vertical the geomodels as by-facies cloud transforms conferences, “Advances in Applied Geomodeling permeability layering which responds as (Manchuk, Garner and Deutsch, in press). for Hydrocarbon Reservoirs: Closing the Gap I baffles and barriers. Recovery of I.H.S.-prone Stochastic modeling with a ranking strategy and II”. bitumen resource is both an upside prize and was fundamental. Ranking required working a challenge. definitions of net pay and connectivity for INFORMATION bitumen reservoirs. Grid scaling issues from There is no charge for the division talk and we Thick pay sands are accessible by ordinary well blocking to reservoir simulation models welcome non-members of the CSPG. Please bring SAGD and are a commercial success. were adequately handled to maintain model your lunch. For details or to present a talk in the Geological resource mapping over the fidelity. Geological mapping was used to future, please contact Weishan Ren at Weishan. example leases identified pools with thin pay transfer performance forecasts to other pools [email protected]. sands overlain by I.H.S.-types of reservoir through proxies.
RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 13 DIVISION TALKS BASS DIVISION Sponsored by
interpretation and occurrence have been to better understanding the sedimentary Interpreting arrived at: environment for paralic reservoirs, help to predict the distribution of heterolithic Bioturbated 1. Rhythmicity in tidally influenced belts in strata dominated by estuary IHS: although evidence of tidal sedimentation, and to better understand Inclined influence can be observed in IHS, the reservoir heterogeneity ascribed to dominant mode of sedimentation results channel-associated IHS. Heterolithic from seasonal variations in sediment distribution. Unlike in fluvial settings, BIOGRAPHY Stratification estuary-IHS does not necessarily indicate Murray Gingras received his diploma in substantial differences in hydraulic mechanical engineering technology from the SPEAKER energy, and IHS may simply result Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Dr. Murray Gingras from changes in sediment flux into the 1987, his B.Sc. degree from the University University of Alberta estuary. For example, if fluvial discharge of Alberta in 1995, and his Ph.D. from into an estuary is increased, the overall the University of Alberta in 1999. Gingras 12:00 Noon increase in the tidal prism volume may has worked professionally in the hydrocarbon Friday, February 27th, 2015 be fractional, but mud-plume associated industry at the Northern Alberta Institute ConocoPhillips Auditorium with the river may expand substantially. of Technology and as an assistant professor Gulf Canada Square As such, in the inner estuary, sandstone at the University of New Brunswick. He 401 – 9th Ave. S.W. is associated with high-river flux and is presently tenured at the University of Calgary, Alberta mudstone with low-river flux. This Alberta. Gingras’ research focuses on applying relationship is reversed in middle estuary sedimentology and ichnology to sedimentary Inclined Heterolithic Stratification (IHS) is locales, where sandstone is tidally rock successions, as a paleoecological tool, commonly associated with paralic reservoirs. transported during low fluvial flux and a reservoir-development tool, and in process Within such reservoirs, the primary modes the mudstone is deposited during high sedimentology. of IHS are as laterally accreted point- and riverine discharge. These two scenarios, channel-bars, and as vertically accreted inner versus middle estuary, can in some INFORMATION channel fills. cases be determined, in the rock record, BASS Division talks are free. Light refreshments on the basis of trace-fossil distributions. are provided. For further information about the Some examples of IHS are rarely observed division, joining our mailing list, a list of upcoming in fluvially dominated settings that display 2. Distribution of IHS: the nature talks, or if you wish to present a talk or lead a no evidence of tidal influence, an example of tidal and fluvial sediment sources, field trip, please contact either Steve Donaldson of this is the Cretaceous Dinosaur Park the volume of the tidal prism and the at 403-766-5534, email: Steve.Donaldson@ Formation in Alberta, Canada, wherein IHS volume of fluvial flow each strongly cenovus.com or Mark Caplan at 403-975-7701, is most commonly expressed as unburrowed influence the distribution of IHS in email: [email protected] or visit our web page sandstone-siltstone couplets. These likely estuaries. The distribution of IHS in on the CSPG website at http://www.cspg.org./ represent seasonal variability in river flux estuaries is therefore predictable, as with the two lithosomes representing IHS-prone belts start at the tidal limit different energy flow conditions. This and extend into the middle-, and in presentation, however, focuses on the nature rare cases outer-estuary. Proximal- and character of IHS in tidally influenced distal relationships within IHS can be, settings, particularly in estuaries, for to a degree, resolved using trace-fossil which, IHS tends to have widely variable distributions, ichnofossils size-diversity sedimentological expressions. trends, and through ethological analyses.
Examples of IHS in tidally influenced settings 3. Bed thickness of IHS: in estuaries are presented from the Cretaceous McMurray IHS bed thickness is in part a and Bluesky formations, in Alberta, Miocene sedimentological response to channel strata in Upper Amazonia, Pleistocene size, proximity to the fluvial system, and strata at Willapa Bay, Washington, USA, fluvial sediment flux. In general, thickly and from modern settings including the bedded (i.e. dm scale) IHS is an indicator Bay of Fundy, Canada, the Ogeechee River of greater fluvial influence, whereas estuary, Georgia, USA and Willapa Bay. smaller tide-dominated channels Using a range of techniques, including characteristically display cm-scale IHS. routine sedimentological and ichnological Notably, even in the tide-dominated characterization, X-RAY analysis, analysis scenarios, IHS tends to be an indicator of sedimentary rhythmicity via Fast-Fourier of annual sedimentary cyclicity. Transform Analysis and Frequency Analysis, and mapping spatial distributions of IHS, The above observations help to formulate a range of observations pertinent to IHS interpretations from IHS that contribute
14 RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 Dana Coffield GrMh TnarrM Ehargy Ihc. White Hat Round-Up Reception; Callan McMahon Callan McMahon appetizers and refreshments will be served Ted Beaumont ClnmMrax Ehargy Cl.
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16 RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 DRILLING PLAN BASICS – Building a Landing Section with Deep EM LWD | By Malcolm Alexander, Jean Seydoux, and Daniel Bourgeois, Schlumberger
INTRODUCTION Planning a landing section to intersect your target reservoir is one of the most important steps to ensure a successful horizontal well. The most basic drill plans consist of two points: the kickoff point (point where the inclination build begins) and the target true vertical depth (TVD) (projected target TVD within your reservoir). At minimum, the distance traveled over the two points must accommodate four requirements:
• drillstring dogleg restrictions; Figure 1. Components of a landing section. • completion string dogleg restrictions; • steering limitations; • reservoir uncertainty.
The first three requirements are hardware- dependent and are estimated in the hardware specifications. The last requirement, reservoir uncertainty, is managed by the addition of a drill plan control point called the tangent angle.
The tangent angle is a specified bit inclination that is low enough for the motor to hit the planned target inclination once the reservoir is detected. As shown in Figure 1, a well- Figure 2. Schlumberger GeoSphere* service. The deep EM LWD tool propagates a wide range of electromagnetic thought-out drilling plan will reach the frequencies deep into the formation. The interaction of the electromagnetic signal with the formation is used to tangent angle at the uncertainty range of calculate the individual bed resistivities, anisotropy, and formation dip. the reservoir surface—this ensures that the bit position can be adjusted to the desired inclination once the reservoir is detected and can be optimized for the subsequent horizontal section.
The reservoir uncertainty range can be constrained by seismic or by local offset wells. However, even with many offset wells and/or high-resolution seismic, reservoir uncertainty is always present because uncertainties accumulate with each survey while drilling, otherwise known as the “cone of uncertainty.” To help deal with reservoir/ trajectory uncertainty, many operators have started using deep electromagnetic logging while drilling (deep EM LWD) when drilling the landing section. Deep EM LWD uses a wide electromagnetic frequency range to delineate resistive/conductive boundaries away from the tool. Today’s newest deep EM LWD tools, such as the Schlumberger GeoSphere* service (Figure 2), can detect resistive/conductive boundaries in excess of 50 m from the wellbore and calculate Figure 3. Drilling plan without (top) and with (bottom) deep EM LWD. The main benefit of drilling with deep EM individual bed resistivities, anisotropy, and LWD is earlier detection of the reservoir. Early reservoir detection allows for a more aggressive tangent angle, (Continued on page 18...) resulting in a reduced total measured depth (MD).
RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 17 The detection range of deep EM LWD is directly related to transmitter-receiver spacing; a short transmitter-receiver spacing will give high resolution but limited detection range, while a longer transmitter-receiver spacing will have limited resolution but an extended detection range. Having both short- and long-spaced receiver-transmitter configurations in the borehole assembly will ensure high resolution and deep detection range are provided. For landing sections, a short- and long-spaced transmitter-receiver pair is recommended.
Figure 4. DRTVD and BitDRTVD schematic showing the relationship between deep EM LWD detection range, Both reservoir thickness and resistive inclination, DRTVD, and BitDRTVD. contrast can affect the deep EM LWD detection range, but can be resolved by forward-modeling nearby offset data or with sensitivity plots. Once modeled or plotted, the deep EM LWD detection range can be integrated into the drilling plan.
When approaching a resistive contrast with any incident angle other than 0° (as in Figure 4), the simulated/estimated detection range must be modified to the following:
DRTVD = Detection Range × cos(90 – Inc0), Figure 5. Radius of Curvature method for determining the MD along a planned 2D path. where: Detection Range = deep EM LWD detection range;
Inc0 = initial bit angle.
This calculation can be modified to include the structural dip (horizontal dip = 90°):
DRTVD = Detection Range × cos (Dip – Inc0),
where: Dip = structural dip.
All above calculations are taken from the boundary calculation measure point (transmitter-receiver midpoint). To make the calculations more relevant, we calculate the DRTVD for the drill-bit position (Figure 3) by using the following:
Figure 6. Radius of Curvature schematic showing the required inputs needed for a basic DLS calculation. BitDRTVD = DRTVD – Measure Point Offset
× cos (Inc0), (...Continued from page 17) DRILLING PLAN CALCULATIONS formation dip. Being able to sense the Before any calculations can be made, it is where: reservoir before intersection enables the important to determine the deep EM LWD BitDRTVD = deep EM LWD detection range well planner to incorporate the deep EM detection range. Deep EM LWD detection for drill-bit position. LWD detection range limit into the plan range is not a set distance, and there are and set a more aggressive tangent angle. a few factors that must be provided to the For a set target angle and BitDRTVD, the Tangent angle optimization via deep EM service-company well placement engineers: distance can be calculated for any given initial LWD detection range reduces the true angle. Figure 5 shows a simple 2D schematic horizontal distance in the curve section • borehole assembly; with the initial bit angle (Inc0), BitDRTVD,
(Figure 3), leaving more horizontal length • formation thickness; and target angle (Inc1) relationship. From the where it counts – in the production leg. • formation true resistivity values; Inc0-BitDRTVD -Inc1 relationship, we can • structural dip. calculate the distance along the trajectory
18 RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 discontinuity. There are many situations where: where stratigraphic or structural breaks can
Azi1 and Azi0 = planned azimuthal changes. occur. The drilling plan must accommodate for the risk of an absent reservoir. For As outlined in Figure 6, there are a few an absent reservoir case, a lower limit things to determine before calculating the based on reservoir uncertainty should be DLS: included in the drilling plan. A drilling plan that accommodates reservoir uncertainty • target inclination at reservoir boundary and discontinuity consists of three control – previously the tangent angle when points: the kickoff point, the tangent hold
not using deep EM LWD (Inc1 in Figure calculated with deep EM LWD detection 6); range, and the lower uncertainty reservoir
• planned azimuthal changes (Azi0 and limit (Figure 8). It is important to note that
Azi1 in Figure 6); the lower limit build can be initiated at • drillstring, completion string, or any time along the tangent section (if the steering DLS limitations (whichever is reservoir is detected). the lowest). CONCLUSIONS Figure 7. Excel® spreadsheet output when using the formulas above. In this particular case, the The drilling plan calculations show how Deep EM LWD can be used to reduce tangent angle of 78.8 deg can be held until the to use deep EM LWD detection range, uncertainty risks involved when landing a well reservoir is detected, after which the inclination can be increased using a 2 deg DLS to intersect the expected formation dip, planned target within a specific target. A detailed drilling reservoir top at 88 deg. inclination at reservoir contact, planned plan that incorporates electromagnetic azimuth changes, and DLS restrictions technology allows for a more aggressive (MD) to target intersection using the Radius to calculate BitDRTVD, MD, and DLS. tangent angle. A more aggressive tangent of Curvature method: With these calculations, we can create a angle means that less time and meters simple spreadsheet to determine the most will be spent drilling the landing section, MD = BitDRTVD x (Inc1-Inc0) sin Inc1 - sin Inc0 aggressive tangent angle possible. reducing drilling costs and maximizing the producing horizontal section. Once the inclination and MD are In the Figure 7 example, Microsoft® Excel® determined, we can calculate the dogleg software is used to plot the DLS and severity (DLS). The DLS is the azimuth BitDRTVD on the tangent angle versus the * Mark of Schlumberger and inclination degree change every 30 m. MD plot. The optimum tangent angle can be As mentioned in the introduction, DLS determined for any DLS by simply looking calculations are important because the for the intersection of the DLS along the drillstring, completion string, and steering all BitDRTVD curve. have dogleg restrictions. The calculation of DLS using the Radius of Curvature method DRILLING PLAN EXECUTION (Figure 6) is as follows: A more aggressive tangent angle can be used when drilling a landing section with deep EM –1 DLS = {cos [(cos Inc0 × cos Inc1) + (sin Inc0 LWD. Once the tangent angle is determined
× sin Inc1) × cos (Azi1 – Azi0)]} × (30 ÷ MD) we must consider one final risk—reservoir
RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 19 PHOTO OF THE MONTH
Multiple medial moraines on the Kaskawulsh Glacier, St. Elias Mountains, Canada formed by the coalescing of lateral moraines on several smaller glaciers. Photo by Margot McMechan.
20 RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 THE VALUE OF BOREHOLE IMAGE LOGS Part 2: Analysis of Structure and Fractures in Image Logs | By Kris Vickerman, HEF Petrophysical Consulting Inc.
INTRODUCTION due to fractures, the effect of borehole As discussed in part one of this series, conditions (breakout, washout, mud-cake borehole image logs have been in use for effects such as bit marks) and stratigraphic many decades but gained prominence in data such as cross-bedding and slump the late 1990’s. Their applications are features among the final structural data. wide-ranging but their main use is firstly, Modern wellbore structural data sets to determine bedding orientation in a are the truest measurement of bedding particular wellbore to interpret fault and orientation possible, often providing the fold geometries and secondly, to determine only measurement of such data in areas with the degree and nature of natural fracturing poor seismic resolution. present to interpret the effect that fracturing will have on reservoir and cap- Interpreting structural data rock permeability. Once the structural bedding is isolated from the other possible correlations it can be STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS interpreted using stereonets, scat curvature Structural analysis from direct borehole analysis and projection in an appropriately- measurements has been possible since aligned cross-section. the 1930’s when Schlumberger recorded its first three-button resistivity dipmeter The first step is to look at the overall structural log. Confidence in the measurement has axis through stereographic projection and, increased through the transition from single usually, through statistical analysis of the resistivity buttons on each of 3, 4 or 6 pad population of poles to bedding. Data is dipmeters to arrays of more than a hundred projected onto a stereonet and Eigenvector such measurements arranged around the populations of that data are computed to borehole, with the position of each trace aid in understanding the fold axis and other tracked carefully via caliper, magnetometer orientations (Woodcock, 1977). A simple, and accelerometer measurements, typically automatic approach to analyzing dip data is recorded at sample frequencies measured in valid only for areas with a single structural the millimetres. domain, and care should be taken in systems with multiple fault orientations (normal and This increase in resolution has vastly strike-slip regimes), with each structural Figure 1: A comparison of modern 4 and 8-pad borehole improved confidence in the dip values, discontinuity investigated and considered on images (on the left) to older 8 button and 4 button dipmeter images on the right, showing the increased no longer hand-calculated on a trace log its own merits, and on its own isolated cross- resolution and confidence in both fracture and structural or automatically correlated by computer, section. interpretations possible in the modern tools. marred by the presence of poor correlations (Continued on page 22...)
Figure 2: The effect of cross-bedding, truncations and other stratigraphic textures Figure 3: Bedding structures in the borehole can be extremely complex, changing is shown in these three images. Obviously cross-bedding (left and right images) and rapidly with depth, and are frequently cut by faults that can be imaged clearly (such sedimentary textures like the breccia shown in the central image should not be as the pair of minor faults bounding a brecciated and rotated block shown in the included in any structural data set. image on the right).
RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 21 (...Continued from page 21) Stereographic analysis (including investigation of tangent diagrams to test for fold cylindricity) leads to an understanding of the fold axis, its dip and strike directions (important for SCAT and cross-section analysis as well as in determining the plunge magnitude and direction observed in the dip data).
SCAT (short for Statistical Curvature Analysis Techniques, after Bengston, 1981) presents dip data in terms of dip azimuth, dip magnitude, Transverse apparent dip (in the true dip direction), and Longitudinal apparent dip (in the “strike” direction). Other useful scatter-type displays can include dip ratio, the ratio of true dip/ transverse apparent dip which gives a value of 1 when the data is projected in the correct true-dip section and approaches 0 as the dip magnitude gets more significant in the out-of plane, strike direction.
Once a proper transverse section is chosen (remembering that there may Figure 4: Once bedding plotted in an appropriate cross-section and fault analysis has been conducted, the be more than one section required bedding can be projected away from the borehole to give an accurate representation and prediction of structures for multiple structural domains), the that may be too steep to be imaged by seismic surveys. curvature of dip anomalies are investigated to look for events such as faults, folds and unconformities, always using the image data as a reference for any interpreted feature (i.e. one should not interpret a fault in the middle of uninterrupted bedding on the image). The rule of thumb is that dip cusps verge toward the down-fault direction for normal faults (i.e. bedding dip increases in a direction parallel to the fault dip) and toward the up-throw direction for reverse (thrust) faults (i.e. bedding dip increases in the opposite direction as the fault dip).
These dip cusps and other patterns in the dip magnitudes are used to determine the boundaries for structural domains, while the fault inclination magnitudes are usually inferred from structural styles in the area or from direct observations in the image logs.
FRACTURE INTERPRETATION Borehole image logs are the best tool for analyzing the orientation, intensity and nature of natural fracturing in a borehole. In electrical image logs drilled with conductive (water-based) drilling mud, fractures are typically appear as conductive, resistive or mixed resistivity Figure 5: Complexly folded and faulted bedding can also be projected away from the borehole on a more traces that are usually planar, and cross- mesoscopic scale to better understand the geometry and structural vergence shown in these smaller-scale structures. cut or terminate on bedding. In acoustic image logs, open fractures appear as low Open Fractures into the formation which displace and reflection amplitude events, and healed The drilling process mixes and injects replace original fluids or gasses that were fractures are usually not visible. relatively saline (conductive) drilling fluids present in the fractures. This results in a
22 RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 Figure 6: Open fractures produce dark (conductive) traces that cross and terminate Figure 7: Healed fractures range from obvious, high contrast resistive events (on the left), to on bedding. Fractures often do not cross the entire borehole as most fracture radii subtler features seen mostly as halos of over and under conductance (middle). Fractures can be are similar in scale to the borehole itself. partially cemented, simultaneously filling part of the fracture while the cements keep the aperture propped open (the spotted and intermittently healed sub-vertical fractures on the right).
Figure 8: Faults exist on different scales, from the cm-offset features shown above to fault zones with transport magnitudes measured in kilometres. The image on the left shows a small reverse fault filled with resistive fault gouge. The image in the middle shows a small Figure 9: Some acoustic and electrical oil-based images show good repetition normal fault with open aperture which drops a conductive bed down a few centimetres. between the two measurement types. Fractures are seen as low amplitude The image on the right shows a horizontal shale reservoir cut by four healed or gouge filled reflections (dark) on the image on the right and as dark traces (representing high normal faults in rapid succession, each with throws of less than a metre. resistivity) in the reverse-scaled oil-based image on the left. dark (conductive) sinusoidal trace that is cut and offset bedding and thus are faults or repeated section around the features. typically oriented at a high angle to bedding. of some scale. These features are seen with fault-offsets on the sub-borehole scale Oil-based and acoustic images Healed Fractures (mm’s to cm’s) through the sub-seismic Oil-based electrical image logs and acoustic Healed fractures are formerly open scale (dm’s to several metres) and up to (televiewer) image logs are less reliable fractures that have been filled by some more significant, seismic-scale faults in the than conductive mud borehole images for cementation or mineral precipitation, scale of tens to hundreds of metres of fault- fracture identification. Electrical resistivity typically calcite or silica cements, with offset. Similar to discrete healed and open images are “conductivity seeking”, that less common filling materials including fractures, theses fault-offset fractures can is, the current flow seeks the most anhydrite, pyrobitumen, and even some be open (filled with drilling fluid), sealed conductive path from the source to the conductive materials such as pyrite or (either mineralized or filled with fault receiver buttons, so the presence of non- clay minerals. The typical cements, calcite gouge), or brecciated (seen as a network conductive fluid filled fractures serves and silica, are electrically resistive and can of fractures or broken and altered material as an impediment to that current flow, be imaged by electrical image logs. They within a zone of deformation). Indeed, making those fractures naturally harder usually appear as “halo” events where the most large faults are usually not imaged to image. That said, if there is significant electric flux in the formation produces well on borehole image logs because the resistivity contrast between the formation a crescent of excess conductivity on the fault-damaged zones tend to wash out resistivity and the injected drilling fluid, the inside of the peak or trough of the sinusoid during drilling. This leads to poor pad features can be visible (just as with healed with a matching crescent of lowered contact or wider brecciated zones without fractures). conductivity on the outside. clear planes that can be identified directly. In these cases, the fault zone should be Acoustic (ultrasonic) image logs are often Fault-offset fractures noted and its orientation and presence coupled with oil-based electrical images Borehole image logs reveal fractures that inferred from bedding flexure, and missing (Continued on page 24...)
RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 23 (...Continued from page 23) and can be helpful in fracture identification, but suffer their own limitations. Being a measurement of the reflection of acoustic energy through the drilling mud, against the borehole wall and back to the tool, the measurement is affected by anything that would interfere with that reflection. This means that acoustic image quality is reduced by dense drilling mud (reducing the energy that is returned to the receiver), by rough or washed out borehole (scattering the energy), by the presence of even moderate thickness of mud filter cake (providing a barrier between the fluid and the borehole wall), and by the tool being off-centered or too small for the borehole in question (increasing the distance the signal must travel). Despite these overlapping image quality impediments, acoustic image logs Figure 10: Some acoustic and electrical oil-based images do not repeat well. In this case, the open fracture set that is so clear can respond well to open fractures (by in the acoustic image on the right is barely seen at all in the electrical image on the left. For this reason, fracture detection in oil-based image logs carries some uncertainty. locally reducing the reflection amplitude measured by the tool), but any fracture interpretation taken from these tools must be assumed to be a positive-indicator of fracturing. Hence, if fractures are not seen in a particular interval, we can’t know that there aren’t fractures present, due to the factors outlined above.
Fracture analysis – Trace length, Density and Aperture Picking fractures produces several primary measurements – Depth, Dip, Azimuth and Fracture Type, but these are not all of the observations possible if fractures are interpreted properly. Fractures (and all other sinusoidal events) should be picked only where they are present in the borehole (i.e. for fractures that terminate Figure 11: Density can be linear such as a line count on an outcrop (left), two-dimensional such as a length summation on bedding or on other fractures, only a within a defined surface area (right), or ideally represents a summation of all fractures in an idealized and well-estimated partial sinusoid should be picked). This act volume (middle). of picking partial intersections produces other significant primary measurements – of length, similar to counting the fractures surface area is counted relative to an Trace Length (the linear length of borehole on an outcrop transect. This kind of count imaginary volume of reservoir rock around crossed by the feature), Minimum Radius density is inappropriate as it does not the borehole (Jamison et. al, 2004). (the smallest circular fracture that could account for the geometric bias between have produced such a feature intersection), the intersection line (the borehole) and the Fracture Aperture and Porosity and Height (the borehole-parallel extent of fractures (which may be oriented steeply The trace of a fracture as it appears on the feature). relative to the borehole). The first attempt a resistivity-based image log results from to account for this is a simple geometric the contrast in conductivity between the Further analysis is possible, specifically correction commonly called the Terzaghi material in the fracture and the surrounding calculating fracture density (as an correction: rock. A dark fracture trace generally results approximation of connectivity), and from the invasion of high-conductivity in calculating fracture aperture (usually Dens = Counted Fractures * 1 / sin(intersection angle) drilling mud into the fracture aperture. with the goal of providing an estimate for On the images, we see this fracture trace fracture permeability modelling or perhaps This kind of linear correction is generally as a dark band, generally much wider determining fracture porosity – more on too large and inappropriate for borehole than the actual fracture aperture. The this later). data as the borehole is a three-dimensional image log tool is actually measuring the volume (not a linear sample. Fractures variations of conductivity along and around Fracture Density should be counted in terms of trace length the wellbore. This conductivity information In its simplest terms, fracture density in the borehole per unit of surface area, can, theoretically, be used to calculate can be expressed in a linear sense as the or up-scaled to account for geometric bias the physical fracture aperture, provided a number of fractures encountered per unit to a volume density where each fracture’s number of variables are known.
24 RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 The determination of the fracture aperture area. Since most fractures are relatively and Horizontal Wells, will explore the begins by fitting a sinusoidal curve to the hairline (on the order tens to hundreds particular challenges in using and logging borehole fracture trace, and forming a of microns), even in very high fracture borehole images in these environments, “gather window” around this sinusoid. The densities of say 20 m/m2, with large (0.1mm focusing on the interplay of natural and excess conductance (K) associated directly fractures), calculated fracture porosities induced fractures in fissile rocks. with the fracture is derived as shown in the are very small: diagrams at right. REFERENCES
Фf = Af * Df C. A. Bengtson, 1981, Statistical curvature 2 -4 There are several implicit assumptions Фf = 20 m/m * 10 m analysis techniques for structural interpretation embedded in this procedure, such as: Фf = 0.002 m2/m3, or 0.2%, or 0.2 p.u. of dipmeter data, AAPG Bulletin, February 1981, v. 65, p. 312-332 1) The fracture is planar and extends CONCLUSION entirely through the wellbore. It is important to understand the source Woodcock, N.H., 1977, The specification of of dip measurements as there is a wealth fabric shapes using an eigenvalue method, 2) The fracture dip is less than ~45° to of information available on the structural Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, v. the wellbore. style and on imaging and understanding 88, p. 1231-1236 sub-seismic accommodation structures, 3) The fracture is situated in a provided structural data is properly isolated Jamison, W., Vickerman, K., Heffernan, P., homogeneous medium with a known from stratigraphic bedding. If fractures are Fracture Quantification from Image Logs,
mud-invaded zone resistivity (Rxo). carefully traced and properly classified, 2004 Poster presentation for the ICE2004 borehole image logs provide invaluable Geoconvention 4) The fracture aperture is invaded by insight into their orientation, density and
drilling mud of known resistivity (Rm), other properties that cannot be replicated Luthi, S.M. & Souhaite, 1990. Fracture and all of the excess conductance with other measurements. apertures from borehole scans. Geophysics, in the gather window is due to the v. 55, no. 7 mud-invaded fracture. The next article in this series, Part 3: Image Logs in Unconventional Plays If these assumptions hold (and they rarely do), fracture aperture can be calculated from the Luthi and Souhaite (1990) equation:
b (1-b) W = c * K * Rm * Rxo
Where: W is the Physical aperture of the Fracture K is the excess conductance associated with the fracture trace
Rm is the drilling mud resistivity
Rxo is the invaded zone formation resistivity c and b are constants that depend on tool type and aperture units (c=0.004801 and b=0.863)
There are several aspects of this fracture aperture analysis that can result in large errors in the aperture determination, even assuming that the equation shown is accurate. These error sources fall into two general categories: uncertainty in the appropriate values for the drilling mud resistivity Rm and the mud-invaded zone resistivity Rxo, and discord between the model fracture geometry and the natural fracture geometry in the wellbore. For this reason fracture aperture calculations are very mixed in terms of their results.
Assuming fracture aperture can be calculated correctly (or alternatively if it is assumed based on core measurements or other reservoir studies), fracture porosity can be calculated as the sum of discrete fracture aperture times discrete fracture
RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 25 HONORARY MEMBER – James D. (Jim) Reimer, P.Geol.
education with an Honors Certificate in disciplines, with a special emphasis on the the Canadian Securities Course. public perception of science. He played a pivotal role in the establishing the Earth Jim joined the CSPG in 1977, the same year Sciences For Society (ESFS) initiative that he won the CSPG Undergraduate and he was a strong supporter for the Award. In 1991 he was awarded Best creation of the Canadian Federation of Convention Paper, then a Link Award for Earth Sciences. Jim subsequently earned best technical luncheon paper followed two more Society awards in 2008 and in 1994. Jim was a co-founder of the 2010: a Volunteer Award for participating CSPG Hydrogeology Division (now the as a Convention Session Chair at the 2008 Geofluids Division), which earned him a Convention, and a Service Award for his Tracks Award in 1996. He also served as guidance on the ESFS committee. a general co-chairman for the 1998 Joint Annual Convention (GeoTriad ’98). This Jim started his career with Home Oil convention was the first three-society in 1980. During his 14 years there, he joint conference and these seminal efforts advanced from prospecting geologist earned him a President’s Award. to the position of Chief Geologist – International Business Development. Jim began his tenure on the CSPG Executive He also completed a specialization Jim Reimer graduated from the University in 2005, and he served as Society President in petroleum hydrodynamics and of Waterloo in 1978 with an Honors B.Sc. in in 2006. His executive efforts included petrophysics. Jim is credited with the Earth Sciences. Two years later, he earned implementing the 2005 CSPG strategic discovery of the Ring-Border Montney gas his M.Sc., also from UW, specializing in plan, highlighting on technical information trend for Home Oil, plus the creation of a hydrogeology. In 1997, he rounded out his distribution and communication between new exploration model for hydrothermal
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26 RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 dolostone reservoirs. In 1995, Jim plus the interactive Groundwater-Driven approach to exploration and development moved to Stampeder Exploration, Mineralization exhibit. Jim has been named plays. Jim’s belief in open, technical where he assisted with several major a Science-Alumnus-of-Honor by UW in sharing of ideas, combined with his active corporate transactions and takeovers recognition of his career achievements volunteering, has advanced our industry before becoming the Vice President of and support of university programs. and our Society. Accordingly the CSPG Exploration. He then moved to Encal is proud to award Jim Reimer Honorary Energy with the same title, but with a Jim is widely respected as a strategic Membership status. larger staff and a substantially larger thinker and an accomplished petroleum drilling program. In 2000, he became geoscientist. He is well-known for his Vice President and Operating Officer creative thought leadership and he is of Encal’s West Business Unit, with full recognized as an industry expert on responsibility for all company operations the petroleum geology of northeastern in northeastern British Columbia and the British Columbia. He consistently Peace River Arch district. Jim’s next step offers an unconventional and innovative was to become the founder and President of Race Rocks Resources, focusing on shallow gas drilling in Alberta. He then joined Result Energy as Vice President Exploration, later becoming Executive Vice President. Jim was quick to spot the shale gas potential of the Horn River Basin, and he lead Result Energy to accumulate the largest land position on this play within the junior sector. Jim took 2010 as a sabbatical year, providing executive level consulting services through his personal E&P advisory business. In 2011, he was lured to his current role at Painted Pony Petroleum as Vice President of Exploration. The company’s exclusive focus on horizontal drilling in shale gas and light-tight oil plays has provided Jim with deep experience in the resource AVO COMPLIANT play arena. STRUCTURE AND STRATIGRAPHIC 5D INTERPOLATION Jim is a veteran explorer, with experience 4D TIME LAPSE across western Canada, the Beaufort Sea, 3D PRESTACK TIME MIGRATION Canada’s east coast and Latin America. 3D MERGE He is an accomplished speaker and he has 2D PRESTACK DEPTH presented extensively on topics ranging 2D MARINE from hydrothermal dolomite, to shale MULTICOMPONENT gas plays, to industry updates concerning WORKSTATION RENTALS oil and gas supply trends and economics. His 1991 paper to the CSPG technical conference is considered revolutionary, as he identified key relationships between hydrothermal reservoir dolomitization and collapse features, while proposing a novel burial diagenetic model to explain the process (TSR-HTD). Industry quickly adopted Jim’s ideas, resulting in a rush to explore for HTD collapse features in carbonate platforms worldwide.
Jim and his wife Peggy are the principal benefactors of several new mineral collections featured at the Earth Sciences The On-Shore Seismic Specialists Museum of the University of Waterloo. Key displays include the Reimer Family Collection of fine mineral specimens, EDGE TECHNOLOGIES INC. Direct: +1.403.770.0440 • edge-tech.ca
RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 27 STUDENTS!
Did you know there is over $26,000 available in CSPG awards and scholarships?!
Scholarship/Award Amount available Application Deadline Student Event Grants 5 x $1000 March 6, 2015 Graduate Master’s Thesis Award $4000 September 15, 2015 Graduate Doctoral thesis Award $5000 September 15, 2015
Andrew Baillie Award 2 x $2000 GeoConvention 2015 GO TAKE A HIKE Headwall Lakes, Kananaskis, Alberta | By Philip Benham and David Miller
Trailhead: Drive north 18 km on Hwy 842 from Kananaskis Lakes Trail or 45 km south on Hwy 842 from Canmore to Chester Lake parking lot. Distance: 15 km and about 445 m elevation gain. This is a moderate to challenging hike that requires some careful route finding and includes steep and rough trail sections with ascent of muddy, boulder-covered and rooted intervals. The trailhead is near Chester Lake trailhead toilets and the first portion is along a series well-defined cross-country ski trails. A trail map is strongly advised. Proceed SE on the blue-signed trail above the parking lot. At 1.4 km turn left at a T-intersection with a logging road (trail with yellow and blue markers). Another 900 m along, stay to the right on the trail marked by yellow signs. You will pass an intersection with the orange-signed trail at 500m but keep straight. This trail will cross a bridge and proceed upstream before swinging right and ascending a steep hill. Near the top of the hill is a cairn on the left near a “caution downhill sign.” The cairn (and orange flagging) marks the trail to Headwall Lakes. Sections of the trail are narrow but it is easy to stay on track from here and make your way up the valley.
Headwall is the term for the highest and steepest cliff in a cirque, the point Mountain Thrust, a major fault that can be traced about 300 km in a at which a glacier has initiated. It is here that the two lakes rest in the bowl NNW-SSE direction from Jasper to Kananaskis Country. The Sulphur gouged by the ice. The steepest cliff in a cirque is the generally the point Mountain Thrust is exposed east of the trail end, on the northeastern at which the glacier has initiated. It is here that the two Headwall Lakes side of The Fortress (a popular climbing destination). The parking lot are located and thereby take their name. The over-steepened slopes have trailhead starts just east of the Bourgeau Thrust, which runs parallel to been subject to much rockfall since the retreat of the glacial ice, resulting and a few hundred metres west of Hwy 842. Underfoot at the start of in broad talus aprons that reach the margin of the valley floor. the trail, and largely undercover, is tightly folded Triassic in footwall of the Bourgeau Thrust. When the Headwall Lakes trail first emerges from The Headwall Lake trail is less well known than the popular route to the forest at the foot of a vast talus slope (on your right) you will have a Chester Lake on the northwest side of Mount Chester; however, it good view of the normally recessive reddish brown weathering (but dark is just as worth the effort to reach. Beside spectacular views, a full grey when fresh) siltstone and shale of the Sulphur Mountain Formation succession of Devonian through Triassic strata is exposed along the (Triassic Spray River Group) on Mount Chester to your left. You can trail. The strata dip to the SW, carried in the hanging-wall of the Sulphur (Continued on page 31...)
As you exit from the forest, you have a view southeast to an unnamed peak attached to Mount James Walker. There the Etherington, Spray Lakes, Ishbel, and Spray River groups are exposed in varying degrees. Inset left: horn coral with septa (thin walls radiating towards centre. Inset right: view eastwards of ascent to lower Headwall Lake.
RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 29 Karsted landscape on approach to Upper Headwall Lake. Fractures created as the strata were carried in the hanging-wall of the Sulphur Mountain Thrust have been enhanced by preferential dissolution upon surface exposure. The upper lake drains into the lower through this network.
The well-bedded strata on the SE side of talus-filled ravine represent the Opal and overlying Carnarvon members of the Mount Head Formation. These are capped by the darker, and mainly cliff forming Etherington Formation (lower recessive Daisy Creek, and overlying cliff-forming Cyclamen and Ewin Creek members).
Above Left: Carbonates of the Middle and Late Mississippian Etherington Formation (Cet) and overlying sandstone dominated Lower and Middle Pennsylvanian Spray Lakes Group (Psl) on Mount Chester. Above right: view down towards Lower Headwall Lake with Mt Murray across the valley in the distance. Right: broadly folded carbonates of the Livingstone, Mount Head and Etherington formations above a large talus slope on the south side of the valley. The steeply dipping beds in concert with glacially scoured, steep valley walls have resulting in large talus slopes.
Upper Headwall Lake, view of folded strata in the hanging-wall of the Sulphur Mountain Thrust. Devonian Palliser (Dpa) to Banff (Mbf) are exposed in the vicinity of the lake. Inset shows recessive shales and siltstones of the Triassic Spray River Group resting on the Permian Ishbel Group on SW side of Mount Chester.
30 RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 (...Continued from page 29) scale debris-flow blocks capped by cherty thin- silicified brachiopods and siltstone). A subtle scramble up Mount Chester to examine these bedded, mudstone and grainstone. The rest of unconformity separates the Todhunter from deepwater deposits. the upper Banff (easily accessed at the eastern the overlying Pennsylvanian Spray Lakes margin of the upper Headwall) consists of Group (Psl). In ascending order, the Spray Along the southeast side of the valley, you will sharp-based fining upwards cycles of grainstone Lakes Group comprises the Tyrwhitt, Storelk, see beautiful exposures of Triassic to Devonian to cherty siltstone, possibly channels in a Tobermory, and Kananaskis formations. The strata (their locations are best illustrated in submarine-slope sediment transport system lower three formations are dominated by the accompanying photographs). As it makes (Richards et al.,1999). Between the upper and sandstone deposited in neritic to shoreline and best sense to discuss the stratigraphy from the lower Headwall lakes, the strata underfoot is coastal dune settings, whereas the Kananaskis stratigraphic bottom to top, we will start with the Mississippian Livingstone Formation. Beds is mainly cherty dolostone. Marine portions the view at the end of the trail and with the in this interval include chert-rich dolostone often exhibit bioturbation or contain silicified oldest rocks – the limestone of the Devonian and cross-stratified grainstone composed brachiopods. The Permian Ishbel Group (PIs- Palliser Formation which rolls over in view of of crinoid, bryozoan, brachiopod, and coral dolostone of Johnston Canyon Formation and the Upper Headwall Lake. It is overlain by the debris. The overlying Middle Mississippian overlying bedded chert of Ranger Canyon black organic-rich shale of the latest Devonian Mount Head Formation consists of the Opal Formation) unconformably overlie the Spray to earliest Mississippian Exshaw Formation and Carnarvon members comprised of thin Lakes Group. Recessive black shale and buff- (best seen in the pass connecting the valley to medium-bedded, recessive cherty lime weathering siltstone and sandstone of the of Headwall Lakes with that of Chester Lake) packstone to wackestone, platy marlstone and Triassic Spray River Group unconformably and the overlying bedded chert, black shale, limestone containing numerous solitary and overlie the Permian strata. and carbonate beds of the much thicker Early colonial corals. Mississippian Banff Formation. The abundant References: chert in the lower Banff was derived from The Middle and Late Mississippian Etherington McMechan, M.E., 1995. GSC Map 1965A, Rocky opal in the numerous siliceous sponge spicules Formation overlies the Carnarvon Member Mountain Foothills and Front Ranges in Kananaskis in the formation, which were dissolved and of the Mount Head. In ascending order, the Country. re-precipitated as chert. Sponges were very Etherington comprises four members: 1) the common in the late Paleozoic but in the fossil thin, recessive Daisy Creek member (green to Richards, B.C., Mamet, B.L., and Bamber, E.W., record are often known only from their needle- gray shales, nodular pedogenic mudstones, and 1999. Uppermost Devonian and Carboniferous like spicules, which provided structural support siltstone, 2) the thicker cliff-forming limestone Sequence Stratigraphy. Biostratigraphy and Basin to the living sponges. of the Cyclamen member (skeletal lime Development, Banff Region, Southwestern Alberta, packstone, wackestone, and grainstone), 3) Ewin Field Trips 4-7 and 17 of XIV International Congress In the valley of Chester Lake, the Banff contains Creek member (sandy to silty dolostone and on the Carboniferous and Permian, August 1999, a steep-sided erosional truncation surface limestone, sandstone, and greenish paleosols), Calgary, Alberta. interpreted to be a submarine paleo-canyon and 4) the Todhunter Member (lower trough (Richards et al., 1999). The truncation surface is cross-bedded shoreface sandstones overlain by overlain by a thick succession of coarse, metre- sandy limestone and dolostone with abundant
Aerial view of Headwall Lake (photo source WikiCommons, courtesy of Kevin Lenz. Buff and Black strata in foreground belong to the Triassic Spray River Group.
RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 31 GEOMODELING: A Team Effort to Better Understand Our Reservoirs | By Thomas Jerome, Reservoir Modeling Manager, RPS, Calgary, AB
I had an opportunity to attend the two Of course, I can only reach out to people Gussow Conferences on geomodeling, reading the magazine Reservoir… and, while organized by the CSPG, in 2011 and in 2014. I know that I don’t open magazines about Both were great successes! Many experts from engineering or petrophysics as often as I Calgary, from other parts of Canada and from should, chances are that many in your teams other countries, gathered to listen to high- don’t open the Reservoir as much as they quality presentations. I can’t thank enough the should either. organizers of these two events. For that reason, I will require your help. If you These conferences were great places to like this series and if you think it could benefit promote geomodeling. They were perfectly your whole team, share it with your colleagues in line with what the Geomodeling Division of and let’s Reach Out To Non-Specialists together! the CSPG has been doing in Calgary for years now: organizing free monthly talks, as well FORMAT OF THE SERIES INTRODUCTION as annual sessions at the GeoConvention, to I will publish one article monthly until the end I’m a geologist by background and a reservoir give a place for reservoir modeling experts to of 2015. Some of my colleagues in RPS and/or modeling fanatic at heart. gather and learn. I also thank deeply everyone some of my contacts will co-author the papers who ever got, or will get, involved in this with me. My university in France is a center of Division. Thank you for your efforts. I know excellence for reservoir modeling. It gave me that your work is very much appreciated by This series is meant for every geoscientist and the opportunity to specialize in this domain our community. engineer working in the oil and gas industry. early in my career. It was about 15 years ago. Reservoir modelers will probably find the Since 2008, and for the last seven years, I’ve All these presentations allow experts like content too general for them but I encourage practiced my art as a consultant in Calgary. me to increase their skills. Each talk tells them to read it nevertheless. It might give me something more about how other them some ideas on how non-specialists The first important lesson I’ve learned is geomodelers are integrating the numerous perceive what we do. that the models were better when everyone types of data available to them and how their in the team understood what we wanted models help their team make better decisions While being published in the magazine of the to achieve and how they could help. The about their reservoir. CSPG, this series is not meant exclusively second important lesson I’ve learned is that, for geologists. The link between reservoir unfortunately, many of my co-workers didn’t Those who want to become experts in modeling and geology will be described, but know enough about reservoir modeling. To be reservoir modeling have also many resources the articles will also include topics related to fair, I probably didn’t know as much about their available in Calgary. They can/should learn petrophysics, geophysics and diverse aspects work either and I should have!. how to use the diverse geomodeling packages of engineering. available to us. They can/should also take The series I’m starting today aims at providing modeling courses such as those organized by The fundamentals of reservoir modeling are, solutions to these problems. the CSPG. more or less, the same for every type of reservoir. I believe that a significant part of I’ll describe, month after month, what REACHING OUT TO NON-SPECIALISTS what I will present in this series can be applied reservoir modeling is all about. My goal is to CSPG events and conferences are most often everywhere. My goal is to introduce some give some practical ideas on what the role attended only by people already interested in practical concepts, with as little theory as of every type of expert (geoscientist and reservoir modeling. It is unfortunate, but quite possible. Each paper will suggest where the engineer) is in a modeling project. normal: engineers are the main audience of reader can read more about each topic. engineering talks, as are petrophysicists to And again to be fair, I solemnly promise to presentations about petrophysics. SERIES OVERVIEW the people I’ll work with in the future that I The series is structured in four parts. will continue learning more about their own Also, while courses such as “Geophysics specialities and about how I can help them for Non-Geophysicists” or “Engineering for Firstly, I’ll explain what reservoir modelers better. Coffee is on me if you catch me not Geoscientists” exist, I’m not aware of anything are doing. caring about your work! equivalent for geomodeling. In March, I’ll build a model of the Teapot LEARNING ABOUT RESERVOIR I came to think that a series on “reservoir dome oil field in the U.S. I’ll give an overview MODELING modeling for non-reservoir modelers” in the of a typical reservoir modeling workflow, Calgary has a lot to offer for reservoir Reservoir magazine might be an additional way from gathering data to building the three- modeling beginners and experts alike, and I to reach out to geoscientists and engineers dimensional grid. This dataset being public, believe this will continue to grow in the coming who are currently not drawn to attend to anyone interested will be able to redo some years. geomodeling presentations. this work himself.
32 RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 In April, I’ll cover the fundamentals of statistics model they receive, and how they can take this WHILE WAITING FOR THE NEXT and geostatistics as applied to reservoir uncertainty into account in their studies. ISSUE… modeling. I’ll explain those mathematically- Feel free to email me if you have questions complex topics with as few equations as In October, I’ll have a look at how reservoir about what has been presented so far or what possible. I’ll focus on practical issues such as modeling can be used as input for reserve will be presented next. As the series will run bias in the data and the impact of trends in computations. Companies are not reporting for a year, I might have time to include some modeling. I’ll also insist on the importance of a single number for their reserves anymore. of your comments and/or some of my answers taking uncertainty into account, something They report a range of volumes (P10- into a future article. for which both statistics and geostatistics are P50-P90). The range captures the uncertainty very strong at. Moving forward in this series, they have about everything from future taxes I’m looking forward to have you as a reader uncertainty management will be a transversal to production costs. Reservoir models can next month. aspect of every article. be of great help, as good models capture the uncertainty about the reservoir that the team BIOGRAPHY In the second part, I’ll focus on what has identified. Thomas Jerome ([email protected]) geoscientists can bring to a reservoir modeling graduated from the Nancy School of Geology project. In November, I’ll discuss about production in France in 1999 with a Master degree in engineering. I’ll explain how using a good Engineering and Earth Sciences. A Geologist In May, the article will focus on how geologists presentation of the reservoir can lead to by background, Thomas specialized early on and reservoir modelers can work together. better results in the modeling of natural in geomodeling. He first worked 5 years in the Often, the reservoir modeler is the geologist, fractures and hydraulic fractures, two aspects GOCAD Research Group located in Nancy. As but not always. Among other things, the article of our reservoirs on which production an employee of Earth Decision and Paradigm, will insist on how geologists must make sure engineers work more and more. Thomas continued, for the next three years, with that their understanding of the geological onsite geomodeling consulting at Saudi Aramco. In environment is incorporated into the model. At last, I’ll discuss about the role of asset team 2008, Thomas moved to Calgary and to RPS in Using geological hypotheses to make sense managers. 2011. Now, as Manager of the Reservoir Modeling of the data is crucial. Diverse aspects of team in RPS, he is working on various projects uncertainty will be discussed as well. In December, it will be time to conclude with Petrel, SKUA and GOCAD. Thomas has this series by discussing how asset managers close to 15 years of geomodeling experience with In June, we’ll talk about petrophysics. influence modeling projects. I’m convinced conventional and unconventional reservoirs, the Petrophysicists are providing the logs we need that better communication leads to better last 7 years focusing largely on Western Canadian as input for our models (v-shale, porosity, models...and good communication within a reservoirs. His current interests are in improving water saturation…). Recently, reservoir team starts with its manager. I’ll review some the integration of geomodeling in waterflood modelers have started asking more of their aspects of team and project management that I and fracking studies and in improving workflows petrophysicists. We want to understand what found useful through the years. This last paper applied to oil sands reservoirs. uncertainties the petrophysicists faced when will be also the occasion to summarize the creating their logs and we want to incorporate main points developed in the series. these uncertainties in our reservoir models.
In the double issue of July/August, we’ll have a look at geophysics. Geophysical data is essential to give some insight about what is CRAIN’S LOG ANALYSIS COURSES happening between the wells. Geophysicists For Engineers, Geologists, Geophysicists, and Technologists must make sure that their data is properly used in the geomodel. This paper will discuss PRACTICAL QUANTITATIVE LOG ANALYSIS aspects such as time-depth conversion and the Every April and October in Calgary associated uncertainties in velocity modeling. Details / Registration at www.spec2000.net/00-coursedates.htm It will also discuss how seismic inversion can be used as an input to geostatistical algorithms. NARRATED MULTI-MEDIA SELF STUDY COURSES In the third part, I’ll explain how engineers can Slide Shows, Reference Manuals, and Exercises Included be involved in reservoir modeling. AV-01 Practical Quantitative Log Analysis AV-02 Advanced Quantitative Log Analysis In September, I’ll start with reservoir AV-03 Analysis of Unconventional Reservoirs engineers. Reservoir engineers are often those Details / Order Online at: www.spec2000.net/00-av-training.htm for whom the reservoir model is created in the Single-User, Corporate, and Academic Licenses Available first place. They need it for tasks such as flow Individual Reference Manuals and Slide Shows Available Separately simulation and history matching. Traditionally, they don’t get involved in the modeling though, CRAIN’S PETROPHYSICAL HANDBOOK ONLINE they just receive the model once completed. Shareware Petrophysical Encyclopedia at www.spec2000.net Experience has shown that much better results 50+ Years Of Experience At Your Fingertips can be achieved if engineers ask to get involved === in the modeling process itself. Among other E. R. (Ross) Crain. P.Eng. things, it will allow them to better understand 1-403-845-2527 [email protected] the uncertainty embedded in the reservoir ======
RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 33 THE 5TH ANNUAL – Young Geoscientists
Networking Reception took place October options are two major reasons for 30th, 2014 at The Garage Sports Pub in attendance. CSPG has recently brought Eau Claire. With over 200 guests stopping on a new Director (Ryan Lemiski) who is in to network and share a drink or two, the overseeing Young Professional activities. CORPORATE event was a huge success! Along with joint society events, we hope SUPPORTERS to have more events for our younger CL Consultants The annual event is held in an effort members. If you have any ideas for such Exova Canada Inc to increase networking opportunities and events or would like to volunteer for Enviro-Tech Surveys Ltd Pulse Seismic Inc provide an informal introduction between a position on the newly formed Young Canada Brokerlink Inc. experienced and new-to-the industry Professionals Committee, please contact Energy Navigator geoscientists. The exposure to mentorship Ryan at [email protected]. Golder Associates Nalcor Energy opportunities and CSPG involvement Paramount Resources EDGE Technologies Belloy Petroleum Consulting GeoSpace Technologies CSPG Thanks the Committee and our Sigma Explorations Canacol Energy Ltd. Generous Sponsors for the Event: Earth Signal Processing Ltd Explor Japan Canada Oil Sands Ltd. McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. PREMIER EVENT SPONSOR Sproule International Limited Target Data Ltd. Petrocraft Products Ltd. Spectrum RIGSAT Communications Birchcliff Energy Ltd. Cabra Enterprises Ltd. Cougar Consultants, Inc. SAExploration Serpa Petroleum Consulting Ltd. Glacier Exploration Surveys Matrix Solutions Inc. Sensor Geophysical Ltd. BOOTH SPONSOR Cossack Land Services Ltd. Deloitte Petroleum Services Group EPI Group FMQ Southern Exploration GeoChemTech Inc. Geotir Hurry Hydrocarbons Maxam Seismic Explosives NExT- A Schlumberger Company Petrel Robertson Consulting Ltd. Statcom Ltd. HEF Petrophysical Consulting Inc. Caracal Energy Inc. GOLD SPONSOR Regent Resources Bankers Petroleum Ltd. BJV Exploration Partnership SOCO International 3e Royalties Bengal Energy Bounty Developments Ltd. Brasoil Corp. Bukit Energy Central European Petroleum Ltd DualEx Energy International Franconia Geoscience Gran Tierra Energy Inc. BRONZE SPONSORS International Petroleum Consulting Jenner Geoconsulting Inc. Korean National Oil Company Long Reach Resources Ltd. Lorne LeClerc & Associates Madison Petrogas Ltd. Petroamerica Serinus Energy Sherritt International Corporation Skyhawk Exploration Tretio Exploration Ltd. Valeura Energy As of January 7, 2015
34 RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 NEW ISSUE OF THE BULLETIN
ISSUE CONTENTS
New contributions in Baffin Bay/Labrador Sea petroleum exploration and development geoscience - J.W. HaggartForeword The shallow stratigraphy and geohazards of the Northeast Baffin Shelf and Lancaster Sound - R. Bennett, D.C. Campbell and M.F.A. Furze Saglek Basin in the Labrador Sea, east coast Canada; stratigraphy, structure and petroleum systems - C.D. Jauer, G.N. Oakey, G. Williams and J.B.W.H. Wielens Sedimentary successions and palynoevent stratigraphy from the non-marine Lower Cretaceous to the marine Upper Cretaceous of the Nuussuaq Basin, West Greenland. - G.K. Pedersen and H. Nøhr-Hansen New insights into the stratigraphy and petroleum potential of the Baffin shelf’s Cretaceous rocks - B. MacLean, G. Williams and S. Zhang Basin evolution in the Davis Strait area (West Greenland and conjugate East Baffin/Labrador passive margins) from thermostratigraphic and subsidence modelling of well data: Implications for tectonic evolution and petroleum systems - E.D. McGregor, S.B. Nielsen and R.A. Stephenson Provenance study of Paleocene and Cretaceous clastic sedimentary rocks from the Davis Strait and the Labrador Sea, based on U-Pb dating of detrital zircons - K. Thrane
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