HGSBulletin Volume 55 Number 2 Houston Geological Society October 2012
ExplorationExploration HistoryHistory andand FutureFuture PotentialPotential ofof thethe CookCook InletInlet Basin,Basin, AlaskaAlaska pagepage 2727
TheBulletin Houston Geological Society
Volume 55, Number 2 October 2012 In Every Issue Technical Meetings Time to Renew 15 HGS General Dinner Meeting Your Membership 5 From the President Hydrocarbon Migration: What We Know, What We by Martin Cassidy Don’t Know and Why It Is Important page 4 7 From the Editor 19 HGS Environmental & Engineering Dinner Meeting by Patricia Santogrossi Ethics for Professionals and Other Good Folks 34 GeoEvents Calendar 21 HGS International Dinner Meeting Shale Resource Plays in the Horn River Basin, 65 HGS Membership British Columbia, Canada: Using High Resolution Application Chemostratigraphy to Determine Well-Bore Pathways in Multi-Lateral Drilling Campaigns. HPAC 66 25 HGS Northsiders Luncheon Meeting 67 Professional Finding Sweet Spots in Shale Liquids Plays Directory 27 HGS North American Dinner Meeting page 8 Exploration History and Future Potential of Houston Geological Society the Cook Inlet Basin, Alaska OFFICERS Martin Cassidy President 31 HGS General Luncheon Meeting Barry Katz President-elect Classification of Sequence Geometries Justin Vandenbrink Vice President Near Welds and Salt Mike Erpenbeck Treasurer Shannon Lemke Secretary Patricia Santogrossi Bulletin Editor Other Features Karen Pate Bulletin Editor-elect 13 HGS/PESGB Africa Conference DIRECTORS History and Future John Adamick page 10 Beverly DeJarnett 39 SIPES Luncheon Meeting John Dombrowski “La Posada” A Tale of Tenacity, Creative Thinking Gary Coburn and Case History for Remaining Deep Conventional HGS OFFICE STAFF Reserves Onshore South Louisiana Nina Hoeny Office Manager Kathy Sanvido Webmaster 41 The Deposition and Diagenesis of the South Texas Christina Higginbotham Office Committee Chair Late Cretaceous Eagle Ford Formation EDITORIAL BOARD An Alternative Theory Patricia Santogrossi Editor Steve Thornhill Karen Pate Editor-elect Fang Lin Advisory Editor 45 Past President’s Luncheon Ed Marks Advisory Editor 49 2012 Grand Canyon Field Trip James Ragsdale Advisory Editor Charles Revilla Advisory Editor 57 Government Update Nina Hoeny Advertising Editor Henry M. Wise and Arlin Howles Lisa Krueger Design Editor
The Houston Geological Society Bulletin (ISSN-018-6686) is published monthly except for July and August by the Houston page 33 Geological Society, 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 250, Houston, Texas 77079-2916. Phone: 713-463-9476; fax: Come by for a visit and see our new DIGS! 281-679-5504 Editorial correspondence and material submitted for publication HGS has moved to a BIGGER, BETTER Suite! should be addressed to the Editor, Houston Geological Society Bulletin, 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 250, Houston, Texas Same building, same address, same suite # – 77079-2916 or to [email protected] Subscriptions: Subscription to this publication is included in the we are just around the corner from our old office. membership dues ($24.00 annually). Subscription price for non- members within the contiguous U.S. is $30.00 per year. For those outside the contiguous U.S. the subscription price is $46.00 About the Cover: The color photo is of an exceptional exposure of Mesozoic-age Chugach per year. Single-copy price is $3.00. Periodicals postage paid in accretionary terrain rocks along Turnagain Arm, Cook Inlet Basin, Alaska. Turnagain Arm is an Houston, Texas. eastern branch of the Inlet and was named by William Bligh of HMS Bounty fame. Turnagain Arm POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Houston Geological itself is a semidiurnal hypertidal estuary. The photo was taken by Denise Stone while on a Cook Society Bulletin, 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 250, Houston, Inlet field trip in May of 2011. She and other field trip participants had attended AAPG’s Pacific Texas 77079-2916 Section Meeting held in Anchorage. page 49
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2 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Board of Directors 2012–13 http://www.hgs.org/about_hgs/leadership.asp President (P) Martin Cassidy University of Houston 713-503-8331 [email protected] President-elect (PE) Barry Katz Chevron 832-854-6989 [email protected] Vice President (VP) Justin Vandenbrink Weatherford 832-205-4063 [email protected] Secretary (S) Shannon Lemke Vitruvian Exploration 832-458-3150 [email protected] Treasurer (T) Mike Erpenbeck Ziff Energy 832-418-0221 [email protected] Editor (E) Patricia Santogrossi Statoil 832-228-6245 [email protected]; [email protected] Editor-elect (EE) Karen Pate Repsol 281-236-7559 [email protected] Director 10-12 (D1) John Adamick TGS 713-860-2114 [email protected] Director 10-12 (D2) Beverly DeJarnett BEG 713-381-6522 [email protected] Director 11-13 (D3) John Dombrowski Peace River Group, LLC 281-920-0055x12 [email protected] Director 11-13 (D4) Gary Coburn Murphy Oil 281-782-7021 [email protected] Committee Chairperson Phone Email Board Rep. AAPG House of Delegates Bonnie Milne 832-661-6666 [email protected] P GSH Liaison Steve Earle 281-435-5020 [email protected] P Ad Hoc Advertising Nina Hoeny 713-463-9476 [email protected] E Africa Conference Al Danforth 713-780-8622 [email protected] P Arrangements (hotel contracts) Justin Vandenbrink 832-205-4063 [email protected] VP Awards Mike Deming 281-589-6093 [email protected] VP Ballot/Elections Paul Hoffman 713-871-2350 [email protected] S Calvert Fund Carl Norman 713-461-7420 [email protected] PE Christmas Party Kelly Limbaugh 713-922-2913 [email protected] D3 Community Outreach vacant D1 Continuing Education Rosemary Laidacker 713-805-9672 [email protected] D1 Directory Michael S. Benrud 713-785-8700 x104 [email protected] D1 Earth Science Week Martha McRae/Marc Fagelman 713-869-2045 [email protected] D2 Educational Outreach Jennifer Burton 832-607-0074 [email protected] D2 Engineering Council of Houston Claudia Ludwig 713-723-2511 [email protected] D2 Environmental & Eng. Geologists Matthew Cowan 713-777-0534 [email protected] VP Exhibits Bill Mason/Bryan Guzman 281-367-0357 [email protected] D3 Field Trips Anton Wroblewski 281-293-2923 [email protected] D1 Finance Joe Lynch 281-496-9898 x134 [email protected] T Foundation Fund John Adamick 713-860-2114 [email protected] PE General Meeting Justin Vandenbrink 832-205-4063 [email protected] VP Golf Tournament Mark Dennis 281-494-2522 [email protected] D4 Government Affairs Arlin Howles/Henry Wise 281-753-9876/281-808-8629 [email protected]/[email protected] D4 Guest Night Dave Reynolds 281-636-5178 [email protected] D4 HGS New Publications Bill Rizer 281-392-0613 [email protected] D1 Houston Energy Council Sandi Barber 713-935-7830 [email protected] PE HPAC Edie Bishop 713-467-8706 [email protected] S Imperial Barrel Connie Mongold 713-857-9958 [email protected] D2 International Explorationists Scott Thornton 713-876-6433 [email protected] VP Legends Night John Tubb, Jr. 713-805-5649 [email protected] P Membership Sharie Sartain 281-382-9855 [email protected] S Membership Growth Jeff Allen 713-871-2350 [email protected] D3 Mudstone Conference Frank Walles 713-265-6319 [email protected] P Museum of Natural Science Inda Immega 713-661-3494 [email protected] D2 NeoGeos Sameer Baral 440-941-7121 [email protected] D3 Nominations Steve Earle 281-435-5020 [email protected] P North American Interest Group Steve Getz/Donna Davis 713-304-8503 [email protected] VP Northsiders David Tonner 713-264-2167 [email protected] VP Office Management Christina Higginbotham 281-620-7835 [email protected] PE Publication Sales Dennis McConnell 281-362-4743 [email protected] D1 Remembrances Art Berman 713-557-9067 [email protected] EE Shrimp Peel Lee Shelton 281-381-1093 [email protected] D4 Skeet Shoot Tom McCarroll 713-419-9414 [email protected] D4 Social Media Dianna Phu 281-236-3131 [email protected] D3 TechnoFest John Tubb, Jr. 713-805-5649 [email protected] D4 Tennis Tournament Steve Brachman 713-268-8810 [email protected] D4 Vendor’s Corner Paul Babcock 713-859-0316 [email protected] TE Volunteer Coordinator Sue Pritchett 281-451-6522 [email protected] P Web Management Linda Sternbach 281-679-7333 [email protected] D3 HGS Office Manager Nina Hoeny 713-463-9476 [email protected]
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 3 It’s Time to Renew Your HGS Membership Your membership expired June 30, 2012
FYI Annual dues are only $24.00 Emeritus members pay $12.00, Full-time students free If you have NOT PAIDDUES YOUR Check your email for a reminder this is your. notice and renew online at www.hgs.org last issue
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4 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 From the Martin Cassidy President [email protected] President
Tipping Point
hange is all around us. Not only does fall arrive with the Houston will be converted to CNG. School buses are also being the From Ceventual hope of cooler weather, but also our oil and gas converted. Federal government supports in the form of large industry is changing in ways we could not anticipate only a few grants to researchers to develop natural gas containers the size of years ago. In 2000, we used the “petroleum system” concept to present gasoline tanks is the advancement which will accelerate discuss basin history and to guess where the end product, a CNG use in cars. commercial accumulation of hydrocarbons, might be. That involved determination of source rock, time of generation, A prior sudden change in fuel use occurred in the mid-1800s. The migration pathway, timing of trap and seal, and other factors that change from whale oil to kerosene for illumination was reviewed lead to entrapment of hydrocarbons. by James L. Coleman in a series of three articles in the HGS Bulletin of 1994. In 1846 the US whaling fleet was at its maximum Now explorationists have jumped the queue. They now exploit size, but whale oil had become expensive. By 1854 Abraham source rocks directly and intercept the hydrocarbons as they Gesner had extracted a clean burning liquid from coal prepare to migrate, or are migrating. Today in unconventional, and bitumen that he named and copyrighted as Kerosine. In aka tight oil and gas reservoirs, we make “resource plays” where 1859, Benjamin Silliman, Jr. improved distillation of the horizontal drilling and multiple fracs Kerosene (modern spelling) from create artificially fractured reservoir. Pennsylvanian crude even as the Drake well After years of speculation, produced oil. Use of whale oil in lamps was So much gas is now developed that its sales still practical till the invention of the price has been depressed and is likely to the shift to a gas-dominated pressure kerosene lamp with Thorium stay moderate as yet more comes on energy mix may have mantle. After 1888 American whaling was stream with liquids-rich production. one half its former size and on its way to Drilling for dry gas has declined arrived in the US. elimination in favor of kerosene as the dramatically while overall gas production preferred lighting fuel. is still rising. Wide use of cheap natural gas will be a curse to some, but an After years of speculation, the shift to a gas-dominated energy opportunity for us in the industry if we prepare ourselves. Here mix may have arrived in the US. Natural gas, fundamentally is what the HGS can do to prepare us all for the ongoing change: methane, is today’s fuel of choice. We have reached a tipping point! provide information and education for its members. The dinner A system once seemed to be in equilibrium has suddenly changed. and lunch meetings are an opportunity to be exposed to leading This situation is analogous to bumping a glass vase on the dining technology, to meet and learn from each other. As many table. Light disturbance may cause the vase to rock but the companies have done away with their research labs, academics weighted base prevents it from going over. Lack of care can cause are now more valuable than ever. We all can write papers and a larger blow and over the vase goes in a spray of glass chips, water present ideas to contribute. and flowers over the hostess’s fine linen! There are now 4000 HGS members, each one capable of So it is with energy. The connection between oil and gas price is searching for new ideas and useful talks. If you hear a good talk broken. In part because of government mandates, coal is second elsewhere consider that perhaps the author might come to now to cheap gas in new electrical generation in the Houston area Houston to present to HGS. Let us know. The more outside (Houston Chronicle, Aug 9, 2012). speakers we line up the better our meetings and the more courses we can present. Good sources include the GCAGS, SIPES, Compressed natural gas (CNG) outlets have been added to large GCSSEPM, and AAPG courses, conventions, section and annual truck stops across the USA and fleets of garbage trucks in From The President continued on page 9
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 5 10th ANNUAL WINTER EDUCATION CONFERENCE (/534/. 48 s &%"25!29 Five Great Days of the Finest Geoscience Training for One Low Price
List of Topics:: s 2ISK AND 5NCERTAINTY FOR #ONTEMPORARY Hosted by the Prospect Evaluation Norris Conference Center: s !SSET -ANAGEMENT IN 5NCONVENTIONAL 0LAYS 803 Town & Country Lane s 'EOCELLULAR -ODELING IN 5NCONVENTIONAL Houston, TX 77024 2ESOURCES Phone: 713-590-0950 s #ARBONATE 3EISMIC 3EQUENCE 3TRATIGRAPHY Fax: 713-590-0961 s #ARBONATE $EPOSITIONAL 3YSTEMS Special group rate at nearby s 1UICK 'UIDE TO #ARBONATE 7ELL ,OG !NALYSIS Hotel Sorella s 3EISMIC !MPLITUDE )NTERPRETATION Registration and s 0RINCIPLES AND !PPLICATIONS OF 7ELL ,OGGING information: s &ORMATION %VALUATION OF 4HINLY BEDDED 2ESERVOIRS Toll-free (U.S. and Canada) s h/LDv 0RE %LECTRIC ,OGS ! 1UICK 2EVIEW 888-338-3387, or 918-560-2650 …and more to come! Fax: 918-560-2678 (Four concurrent sessions each day – mix and match according to E-mail: [email protected] your interests and training needs. Buffet lunch and refreshments Download a registration form at: included each day.) www.aapg.org/education/wec.cfm Small AAPG Bookstore open during breaks each day
Price through Price increase Tuition for the week: 1/16/2013 after 1/16/2013 AAPG Members...... $1795 $1895 Non Members...... $1895 $1995 Individual Courses ...... $475/day $525/day SIGN UP NOW! (Your five-day badge can be transferred to a friend or colleague if you can't attend all five days.) BY BECOMING AN AAPG MEMBER SAVE $200 AND REGISTERING BEFORE JAN. 16th
6 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 From the Editor
Patricia Santogrossi Editor [email protected]
Fossil is a Part of the Rock the From
he first idea I ever had for a lifetime occupation was to be an day that we are none of us perfect. I became his first Master’s Tarchaeologist; this was way before Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park candidate to present their thesis at a national meeting (GSA 1977 and Barney. Shortly though I learned that in order to make a living in Seattle). Therein, I could compare my results, that facies varied at this occupation (that pesky accountant gene I spoke of last with the Lithostrotionellid coral faunal content and that faunal month), I realized that I would have to be exceedingly lucky to content influenced the microfacies, to the work of others. My become famous for some great find. As I approached college age conclusion was in direct contrast to another young speaker, a and given an interest in chemistry, I very briefly considered a career student of another famous biofacies professor, who concluded that as a pharmacist until my older brother pointed out that I might be the even more fragile Bryozoans in his rocks were insensitive to bored “counting pills all day”. Fortunately, I found my calling their environment. Another way to say this is a column title about thanks to an undergraduate advisor who fossils from the New York Times article by was a geologist and to a choice between Another great life experience James Carroll (June 2012) — “Nature’s geology and astronomy for a physical Masons Do Double Duty as Storytellers.” science sequence. The former was an is to recall that we had to Wish I had said that. answer to a prayer as geology appealed to my interest in combining my orientations learn to acquire evidence and Another great life experience is to recall that to science and the humanities. we had to learn to acquire evidence and to to compile the elements of compile the elements of context that help The title of this column is borrowed from context that help us make us make predictive conclusions. One I like my first industry mentor, Doris Malkin to tell occurred in grad school. My office Curtis. As a summer intern at Shell’s predictive conclusions. happened to have the vending machines Bellaire Research Center in the Mid right outside it and so became a sort of Obscene, i.e. the 70’s, I was fortunate to gathering place. One night a few grad work amongst some incredible giants: Peter Lucas, my first students who had been at work in our respective offices, were told supervisor, Bert Bally who certified my summer project as useful, by a fellow student that there was a cadaver under study in a lab Sig Snelson, creator of 1:1 structural cross sections, Frank Mango, on the third floor of our building. Three of us crept up to peek into a polymer chemist who became a petroleum geochemist, and the room. When the TA saw us, he invited us to view the cadaver. Roger Swanson, the father of sample examination. Doris though, In an open zippered clear body bag, one could see that the body is the one who got me started along the path of involvement in was missing a lower arm and a lower leg, presumably in use research and technical organizations. Already a member of Sigma elsewhere. The geology grad student, who’d brought us up there, a Xi, AAPG and SEPM from university days, Doris saw to it that I rather pompous sort I recall, announced “I can tell by the pelvic got on committees, initially in the area of membership and structure of this cadaver that it is of a Woman!” To which the TA research. came over and stipulated “However, I can tell by the phallus that this is the body of a Man!” So you see there is evidence and there Graduate influences were Dr. Ralph Langenheim, my thesis is evidence. supervisor and field geologist, who knew he wanted to become a paleontologist since the age of nine and Dr. Albert Carozzi, a well- Later, once again I came under the influence of Rufus LeBlanc, a known expert on microfacies and sedimentary petrology. Ralph sedimentologist who trained generations of Shell geoscientists. It taught me how to interpret what I saw in the outcrop and to sample was a mutual admiration thing. He believed that I would / could for success in the laboratory. He was also was my first editor. His help him realize his dream of seeing facies and geometries on advice, that “even eternal vigilance” might not ensure that every seismic as he knew them from the field. And for my part, Rufus
mistake in a manuscript would come to light, reminds me to this From The Editor continued on page 9
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 7 12th ANNUAL GSH/HGS SALTWATER FISHING TOURNAMENT Friday, October 5, 2012 The Top Water Grill Marina • 815 Avenue O • San Leon, Texas Galveston Bay Complex and Offshore
This year’s Saltwater Fishing Tournament will include an Offshore Division We are looking forward to a big event this Fall and we encourage full family participation. Galveston Bay Complex Division Trophies will be awarded for the heaviest individual Redfish (Non-Tagged), Speckled Trout and Flounder. Trophies will also be awarded for the heaviest individual Stringer-1 Redfish, 3 Speckled Trout, and 1 Flounder. Galveston Offshore Division Trophies will be awarded for the heaviest individual Red Snapper, King Mackerel, and Mahi-mahi.
Registration fee includes: Launch Fee, GSH/HGS Fishing Cap, Fish Fry Meal after weigh-in, Refreshments, Trophies, and DOOR PRIZES.
For more information, please contact: Bobby Perez (HGS & GSH) via email [email protected] or [email protected] or by phone 281-240-1234 ext. 3103 Office • 281-787-2106 Cell
The Geophysical Society of Houston and the Houston Geological Society are non-profit organizations serving the Geosciences Community. Corporate and individual contributions are appreciated and will be acknowledged on several sponsor boards and ban- ners at the Weigh-In Station and Marina. All contributors will be recognized in the GSH newsletter and HGS Bulletin following the tournament. This is a great way to entertain friends, family, business associates, and clients. So spread the word! GSH/HGS SALTWATER TOURNAMENT
NAME: ______COMPANY: ______
ADDRESS: ______
PHONES: (H) ______(B) ______(C) ______
E-MAIL ADDRESS: ______
Upon receipt of the registration form, each participant will be provided by e-mail with a copy of the specific tournament itinerary and rules sheet. Please register EARLY.
Please return this form with your check for $60.00 per contestant payable to: GSH SALTWATER TOURNAMENT and Mail to: Geophysical Society of Houston, 14811 Saint Mary’s Lane, Suite 204 • Houston, Texas 77079
Registration Fee: $ ______+ Sponsor Contribution: $ ______= TOTAL $ ______
DISCLAIMER: I acknowledge that the Geophysical Society of Houston / Houston Geological Society will not be held responsible for injury or accidents during this event. PRACTICE SAFETY!!!!!
Signature: ______Date ______
8 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Back to Table of Contents From the President continued from page 5______
meetings. Our email addresses are on page 3 of the Bulletin. I President’s Column – Editorial Correction
encourage you to relate to us your good meeting experiences. Bones In Schools Program President In my September Bulletin President’s column, I included a A word to employers: Cover the expense for employee attendance summary of the Owen Hopkins Bones In Schools Program that at evening and noon meetings! These employees are there HGS procured from the Corpus Christi Geological Society. In that processing valuable information, ideas, and and techniques summary I stated that the HGS “purchased” the program which developed by others for the benefit your company. If just one idea included a truckload of Pleistocene bones and fossils. We must translated to an increased oil recovery from a shale in just one well clarify that statement. Though we have licensed the educational the From by one extra barrel a day, in a year it would be worth an extra program, the bones and fossil display material is in fact a donation $29,000. That is roughly a 1000% return on investment! to the CCGS by the Wright Family of Bluntzer, Texas. The CCGS is allowed to share this donation material so long as it is used for We geoscientists need to learn and be ready for that lucky break. teaching purposes and never sold. We have contractually agreed As large companies lose heart and sell off gas wells due to huge to be permanent caretakers of this donated material through sunk costs, new and smaller companies can sweep them up. formation of a travelling museum. In our agreement we can use Opportunity awaits those able to leverage new knowledge of rock the material and provide it on permanent loan to schools for the physics, seismic attributes, microseismic recording, and express purpose of education. We are grateful to the CCGS and the re-perforation. Wright Family for sharing their material for the enrichment of children in our community. Part of our HGS mission is education of members. Now is the time to study up. You owe it to yourself and to others. I
From the Editor continued from page 7______
(“The Pope”) would return from a field trip and through a simple which premiered on September 20th for a lot of evidence and a ton diagram place each and every outcrop into a context so that we of context. It is never too late to discover your closet archaeologist/ could all appreciate the big picture—and especially what was not paleontologist. supported by evidence but had to be construed. Editor To this day, I relish the work and personal relationships I have had I think it is interesting in an era of paleontological staff with Paleontologists. Some of my favorites to whom I owe much minimalization, that the public is to be treated to a new resource are Ed Picou, retired Shell for his example and style; Mike Nault, that can inspire and educate us on the variety of life forms and Applied Biostratigraphix for his passion and friendship; Art
environments that preceded ours. What I love most about the New Waterman, PaleoData for his steadfastness; Ron Waszczak, the From Hall of Paleontology at the Houston Museum of Natural Science ConocoPhillips for his mentorship and caring; and Andy Bowman, is the notion that it belongs to all of us. If you missed Dinosaur Statoil for his willingness to try. Thanks to you all. I Discovery last month, then be sure to see Conservation Quest
Candidate Search Underway he Nominations Committee of the Houston Geological Society has begun its search for candidates in the two Spring elections, Tone for the AAPG House of Delegates and the other to elect a new HGS Board. To be considered for either of these, you must be an Active Member of HGS. Additionally, to run for the HOD, you must also be a Member of AAPG.
If you are interested in volunteering to run for an HGS office or for the AAPG House of Delegates, please contact Nominations Committee Chair Steve Earle at [email protected] or by phone, 281-435-5020. If you have any questions, you may also direct them to Steve. Information about the HOD is also available from Martha Lou Broussard or Jeff Lund, immediate Past Chair of the House. I
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 9 Back to Table of Contents HGS Golf Tournament Monday – October 15, 2012 Kingwood Country Club Dust Off The Clubs, Polish The Shoes, And Pad The Handicaps, It’s Time For Golf! Come out and join us for golf, food, friends and fun at the annual HGS Golf Tournament at Kingwood Country Club. This year’s format will be a four man scramble, with three flights determined by handicap. First, second, and third place awards (blind draw for 3rd place) will be awarded for each flight. There will be prizes awarded for closest to the pin and long drive as well as many great door prizes and raffle prizes for participants.
The entry fee is $125.00 per person or $500.00 per team on entries received by October 5th. Entries will be accepted after October 5th, but a $25.00 late fee per golfer will be applied. Individual entrants will be grouped with other individual golfers to make up a foursome. Entries are limited and will be accepted on a first-in basis.
Companies or individuals interested in sponsoring the event should contact Mark Dennis at 281-494-2522 (office), 281-705-4346 (cell) or by email at [email protected].
To enter, please fill out the entry form and email, fax or mail with your entry fee (payable to HGS Entertainment Fund) to: Petro Log International, Inc. One Sugar Creek Center Blvd., Suite 945 Sugar Land , TX 77478 Office: 281-494-2522 Fax: 281-494-2526 Email: [email protected]
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 8:00 – 9:45 a.m. Registration and free use of driving range (Breakfast will be provided by Petro Log International, Inc.) 10:00 a.m. Shotgun start 3:00 p.m. Cash bar, open buffet 3:30 p.m. Door prizes and awards presentation Team Captain ______Phone ______Amount Enclosed ______Company ______Email ______Billing Address ______Credit card # ______Exp. Date ______Code# ______Please Provide Email Addresses For All Team Members. All Communications Will Be Done Via Email. Foursome Members Company Phone Number/Email Hdcp/ (Please Print) Avg. Score 1. ______2. ______3. ______4. ______
10 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Back to Table of Contents HGS Golf Tournament Monday – October 15, 2012 Kingwood Country Club Sponsorship Application Trevino Sponsorship $ 500.00 • Hole signs on all three courses. • Company name displayed on sponsor recognition board at registration and awards banquet. Hogan Sponsorship $ 750.00 • Hole signs on all three courses. • Company logo displayed on sponsor recognition board at registration and awards banquet. Nicklaus Sponsorship $ 1,000.00 • Hole signs on all three courses. • Company logo prominently displayed on sponsor recognition board at registration and awards banquet. • Company logo displayed on driving range and practice putting green. Title Sponsorship $ 2,000.00 • Hole signs on all three courses. • Company logo prominently displayed on sponsor recognition board at registration and awards banquet. • Company logo displayed on driving range and practice putting green. • Company logo displayed on beverage carts. • Sponsorship includes tournament entry for one team (4 people).
To sponsor, please indicate your sponsorship level ______and mail, fax or email sponsor application form along with payment (payable to HGS Entertainment Fund) to: Petro Log International, Inc. • One Sugar Creek Center Blvd., Suite 945 • Sugar Land , TX 77478 Office: 281-494-2522 Fax: 281-494-2526 • Email: [email protected]
Name ______Phone ______Amount Enclosed ______
Company ______Email ______
Billing Address ______
Credit card # ______
Exp. Date ______Security Code# ______Please email your company logo to Mark Dennis at [email protected]. Note: Company logos (high resolution file ) must be received no later than October 5th. If there are any questions, I can be reached at 281-705-4346 (cell) or 281-494-2522 (office).
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 11 Back to Table of Contents 12 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Back to Table of Contents HGS/PESGB Africa Conference History and Future
his year’s HGS-PESGB Africa Conference held at the Westin Houston, Memorial City THotel, 11-12 September 2012 is the 11th in the series, and the 5th in Houston (see series of covers for Houston Conference Proceedings from 2003 - 2012 at right). History and Future and History
The conference series, organized by members of the International Group of Houston Geological Society (HGS) and Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain (PESGB), covers all aspects of African E&P, with particular emphasis on new ideas for plays and prospects, the geology of the continent and its conjugate margins, and application of emerging technologies. This annual conference has become established as the primary technical E&P conference on Africa. The conference is typically a two-day program of talks along with technical posters and exhibits from sponsoring companies and alternates venue each year between London and Houston.
The conference has grown, thus the move to a new venue in Houston this year. The conference in London will move to a new location next year, (see previous page).
The conference is successful primarily for the content. Technical presentations by operators of new discoveries, “service companies” that continue to provide technologies that “make it happen” and national oil companies offering new acreage provide a fertile mix of ideas and opportunities for finding the next successful plays.
Africa continues to deliver discoveries that fuel future growth! Bob Fryklund, VP Research IHS Conference Africa HGS/PESGB Energy, says “a review of the Global discovery record shows these discoveries are not just “giant” by Africa standards but also by global standards, with Africa providing eight of the ten largest discoveries so far this year. This translates into Africa’s discovery of over 9 bboe or 70% of the world discovered resources so far in 2012, which has surpassed other giants such as Brazil and the Middle East. This trend began in 2010 with the opening of the East Africa deepwater tertiary plays and the West Africa Equatorial Margin Cretaceous plays”.
The other reason for success of the conference is the dedication of HGS and PESGB volunteers keen on Africa.
Conference Committee for 2012: HGS: Al Danforth, Ian Poyntz, Martin Cassidy, Justin Vandenbrink, Ken Nibbelink, Brian Frost, Ian Cross, Lucy Plant and Claudia Lopez PESGB: Ray Bate, Richard Dixon and Duncan Macgregor I
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 13 Back to Table of Contents 14 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Monday, October 8 , 2012 HGS General Westchase Hilton • 9999 Westheimer Dinner Meeting Social Hour 5:30–6:30 p.m. Dinner 6:30–7:30 p.m. Cost: $28 Preregistered members; $35 non-members/walk-ups Barry Jay Katz Meeting To guarantee a seat, pre-register on the HGS website & pre-pay by credit card. Chevron Energy Technology Company Pre-registration without payment will not be accepted. Walk-ups may pay at the door if extra seats are available.
Hydrocarbon Migration: What We Know, What We Don’t Know and Why It Is Important
ydrocarbon migration remains one of the least understood The importance of these carriers is clearly seen in the Waltman
Haspects of petroleum systems, yet an understanding of the Shale in the Wind River Basin, where liquids have been retained in Dinner General HGS process remains important when one assesses both conventional the shale within the generative, thermally mature portion of the and unconventional resources. There are effectively three phases of basin, and where carrier beds are absent. The retention of generated migration that should be considered during any assessment: products, in general, also raises questions that concern approaches primary migration or expulsion, secondary migration from used to establish oil-source rock correlations. The oil retained and source to reservoir, and tertiary migration between reservoirs or that expelled differ at both the bulk and molecular level. remigration. Furthermore, it appears that expulsion is retarded relative to the conventional views of thermal maturity associated with the oil- The mechanisms of expulsion remain an enigma. The window, such that hydrocarbons expelled in some petroleum mechanisms for oil and gas expulsion appear to differ, which systems are more mature than the often cited top of the oil- explains the often-cited differences between oil and gas source window. This suggests a need to reconsider how the oil-window is rock geochemical thresholds and why large volumes of defined i.e., based on expulsion rather than on generation or organically-lean rocks cannot substitute kerogen transformation. for lesser volumes of organically-rich There are effectively three rocks. Lean rocks cannot reach sufficient Once out of the source rock, secondary oil saturation levels for expulsion to occur. phases of migration that migration begins. Secondary migration It has also been suggested that although is driven by buoyancy and modified by the generation process is continuous, should be considered during water movement and the stratigraphic/ expulsion may not be. Expulsion may be petrophysical character of the carrier represented by cycling of pressure build- any assessment: primary system. Migration may be predominantly ups due to hydrocarbon generation, migration or expulsion, vertical or lateral. Vertical migration fracturing of the rock, expulsion of permits the development of stacked hydrocarbons with an associated release secondary migration from reservoirs and stratigraphic separation of pressure, and the healing of the between source and reservoir. Lateral fractures. The overall efficiency of the source to reservoir, and migration permits the accumulation of expulsion process remains controversial. large volumes of hydrocarbons from Rather high expulsion efficiency factors tertiary migration between extensive gathering areas and geographic have been cited but appear somewhat separation between generative basin and inconsistent with the growing reservoirs or remigration. accumulations. Most accumulations understanding of the unconventional result from a combination of lateral and resource base. It appears that reported elevated expulsion vertical migration. Faults can play a role within this phase of efficiency values actually reflect the movement of hydrocarbons migration by acting as both conduit and seal, with some out of kerogen and not out of the source rock. The efficiency of individual faults acting as both conduit and seal along the fault hydrocarbon movement out of the rock is much more limited trace and through time. The modeling of secondary migration and is potentially controlled by fine-scale stratigraphy. Expulsion continues to improve as both geologic input and computational occurs at the interface between the source and the carrier or capabilities are advanced. Conceptually, these models suggest micro-reservoir. The greater the contact surface area the more that, in addition to the previously noted controls on secondary efficient expulsion appears. HGS General Dinner continued on page 17
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 15
HGS General Dinner continued from page 15 ______
migration, the availability of hydrocarbons can influence Biographical Sketch Meeting migration patterns. BARRY KATZ received his B.S. in geology from Brooklyn College in 1974 and his Many petroleum systems display evidence for tertiary migration Ph.D. in marine geology and geophysics or the re-mobilization of hydrocarbons from a pre-existing from the University of Miami in 1979. accumulation. Tertiary migration may result in the reduction of After he received his doctorate, he joined hydrocarbon volumes as well as changes in fluid character. The loss Texaco’s Bellaire Research Center, where of hydrocarbons may occur through displacement or inversion, he held numerous technical and with hydrocarbons being lost in the carrier network or to “blue supervisory positions. He continued with sky”. Whereas changes in fluid properties may occur through the Chevron after the merger with Texaco in 2001, and since has been introduction of lighter or more mature hydrocarbons into a part of Chevron’s Energy Technology Company. He currently reservoir, through migration fractionation or phase segregation serves as a team leader for hydrocarbon charge. His work has associated with changes in PVT conditions. focused on the applications of geochemistry. He has been engaged
in both research and technical support activities and has worked Dinner General HGS In conclusion, although working concepts and general thoughts in approximately 50 onshore and offshore basins on six continents. have evolved, much remains to be learned about hydrocarbon migration. Our own terminology often confuses the issues. Dr. Katz has authored more than 75 papers and has edited five Migration remains important when one attempts to assess resource books. He serves as editor and reviewer for ten journals—among potential, correlate oils to their sources, and define the effective them editor-in-chief of The Open Geology Journal and an associate parts of a basin. It remains clear that there are hydrocarbon losses editor of the AAPG Bulletin. Barry has been chairman of IODP’s during the three phases of migration and that a better Environmental Protection and Safety Panel for the past decade. His understanding of these processes would improve the evaluation of honors include being named a Chevron Fellow and being named a petroleum system. I an Honorary AAPG Member. He served for two years as Elected Editor for HGS and currently serves as President-elect.
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 17 Back to Table of Contents availableavai abDataDDa ailabailaai a ata now Equatorial Margins gins BrazBrazil abable
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18 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Wednesday, October 10, 2012 HGS Environmental & Engineering Black Lab Pub, Churchill Room • 4100 Montrose Blvd. Dinner Meeting Social 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m. Cost: $25 Preregistered members; $30 non-members & walk-ups Meeting To guarantee a seat, you must pre-register on the HGS website and pre-pay with Christopher C. Mathewson, PhD, PE, PG a credit card. Regents Professor, Emeritus, Texas A&M University Pre-registration without payment will not be accepted. Member, Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists You may still walk up and pay at the door, if extra seats are available. Ethics for Professionals and Other Good Folks
he renewed driving force behind Professional Ethics for Dr. Mathewson served as a commissioned officer in the National TProfessionals and Other Good Folks is a general opinion that Ocean Survey from 1965 to 1970, working on ocean charting and there is no longer a “national” ethical standard but a new “personal” marine geophysical surveys in the Pacific and on coastal hazards in standard. A review of the development and growth of ethics can be Hawaii. He joined the faculty in the Department of Geology in traced back in history as various religions grew and developed. It is September 1971 where he teaches Geology for Engineers, hard to deny, when one considers that they still exist today, that Engineering Geology, Mineral Resources and other courses. His the Druids’ Ethic of Peace, 2000 BCE; research included coastal and river processes, Moses’ the Ten Commandments, 1500 BCE and Only through true ethical expansive soils, urban planning, surficial the Verda, text of Hindus, 1100 BCE are codes processes, groundwater resources and of ethics, each accepted by a large population. practice can a profession protection, natural hazard analyses and or organization gain mitigation, archaeological site preservation A code of ethics is not only a religious and engineering geology of surface lignite document; it is a system of moral standards or the reputation of being mines. values that are accepted by a particular person, group, organization or profession. The simple an ethical one. Dr. Mathewson has presented over 400 fact is that moral behavior is based upon papers, published over 90 technical papers,
making a distinction between right and wrong and selecting the edited 4 technical volumes and is the author of a textbook in Dinner Engineering & Environmental HGS right behavior. Only through true ethical practice can a profession Engineering Geology. In addition, he is active in the profession and or organization gain the reputation of being an ethical one. The has served as President of the American Geological Institute, complexity of modern society or management teams who interact President of the Association of Engineering Geologists, Chair of to complete a common project may develop the need to establish the Engineering Geology Division, Geological Society of America; a Code of Ethics. The scale of a team may be a multi-national Chair of the U.S. National Group, International Association of corporation or a local geologist society, thus the code of ethics for Engineering Geology and the Environment, among many other each form the moral guidelines for human interaction within the society positions. He currently serves on the Council of Examiners team. Active participation in professional societies, both academic of the National Association of State Boards of Geology where he and practice, is how the Standard of the Practice is defined, assists in the writing and review of the national Geologist Licensure improved, and enhanced even as technology changes, discoveries Examination. are made, and new tools are invented. Thus, the Standard of the Practice must also change and keep up. I Dr. Mathewson has received many awards which include the Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching and the Biographical Sketch Robert C. Runnels Excellence in Advising Award from Texas CHRISTOPHER C. MATHEWSON is a Senior A&M University; the Claire P. Holdredge Award, the Floyd T. Professor and Regents Professor Johnston Service Award and the Karl and Ruth Terzaghi Emeritus, who specializes in Engineering Outstanding Mentor Award from the Association of Engineering Geology, at Texas A&M University, Geologists and; the Meritorious Service Award from the College Station, Texas. Professor Engineering Geology Division of the Geological Society of Mathewson received a Bachelor of Science America. The Association of Environmental and Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from Case Geologist recently established the Christopher C. Mathewson Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Scholarship in Texas. Governor Rick Perry recently appointed Ohio, in 1963; and his Master of Science Dr. Mathewson to serve on the Texas Board of Professional and Doctoral degrees in Geological Engineering from the Geoscientists, 2012-2017. University of Arizona in 1965 and 1971.
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 19 Back to Table of Contents Marcellus Fairway Program Exploring Boldly
To date over 1,000 square miles, of the proposed 1,500, Contact: Dennis Langlois have been acquired of the multi-client data consisting +1 832 351 1052 of four high quality 3D surveys in the heart of the [email protected] Marcellus. The CGGVeritas programs will be completed next year with imaging objectives ideal for the Marcellus Shale. Explore boldly with high-quality data in the right location.
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20 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Monday, October 15 , 2012 HGS International Westchase Hilton • 9999 Westheimer Dinner Meeting Social Hour 5:30–6:30 p.m. Dinner 6:30–7:30 p.m. Cost: $28 Preregistered members; $35 non-members/walk-ups Gemma Hildred Meeting To guarantee a seat, pre-register on the HGS website & pre-pay by credit card. Chemostrat, Inc., Houston Pre-registration without payment will not be accepted. Walk-ups may pay at the door if extra seats are available.
Shale Resource Plays in the Horn River Basin, British Columbia, Canada: Using High Resolution Chemostratigraphy to Determine Well-Bore Pathways in Multi-Lateral Drilling Campaigns.
hale resource plays have risen to the forefront of Dinner International HGS Shydrocarbon exploration over the last decade. However, the fine-grained, macro-scale homogeneity of most shale plays negates some of the more traditional approaches to reservoir characterization and stratigraphic correlation. A common problem is that shale accumulation in restricted basins limits the use of biostratigraphy, and palynomorphs are often thermally degraded. Electric log correlations are also hampered by the variable controls on U, K, and Th content and the recognition of sedimentary facies is made especially difficult when only cuttings samples are available.
Furthermore, shale resource plays are often exploited using horizontal drilling, a technique that requires drilling to, then stay within, a targeted zone. A recent study conducted by Halliburton revealed “approximately 50% of wells geosteered using the conventional gamma ray geosteering methods within an area of the Haynesville were misplaced for more than 50% of their lateral length.” http://www.epmag. com/ProductionDrilling/Geosteering-nconventional- Shale-Reservoirs-Potential_80771. The challenge, then, is to define a stratigraphic framework that will Figure 1: Chemostratigraphic characterization of the Horn River Formation encountered in well d-H52-L/094-O-08. allow repeatedly accurate placement of the well-bore within the “sweet spot” in a multi-lateral drilling campaign. Horn River Formation in northeastern British Columbia, using Inorganic whole rock geochemical data can be used to meet this variations in inorganic whole rock geochemical data. In this example, challenge (Figure 1). chemostratigraphy is used on two vertical wells to subdivide the Horn River Formation into five geochemical packages and nine Using examples from the Horn River Formation, this talk will higher-resolution geochemical units, based on variations in key demonstrate how a high-resolution stratigraphic framework can be elements such as U and CaO, element ratios such as Si/Zr, Th/U, the used to locate precisely lateral well-bores relative to a pilot hole enrichment factor of vanadium (EFV), and terrigenous input. (Figure 2). A robust chemostratigraphic zonation has been established for the Evie, Otter Park, and Muskwa members of the HGS International Dinner continued on page 23
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 21 Back to Table of Contents 22 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 HGS International Dinner continued from page 21 ______
Chemostratigraphy can provide regional Meeting correlations of shale reservoirs to help to understand broad basinal stratigraphies and events. Additionally, changes in inorganic geochemical data can be used to determine well-bore pathways in multilateral drilling campaigns. Because these data can be acquired rapidly and at a wellsite, this application has large potential in the Horn River Basin and elsewhere. Furthermore, the same dataset can be used to model mineralogy and rock properties, identify anoxic conditions, differentiate biogenic and detrital silica, and in some cases, be used to understand how shale stratigraphy may be interpreted in a sequence Dinner International HGS stratigraphic context. I Figure 2: Placement of the build and Biographical Sketch lateral sections of well d-B52-L/094- O-08 into the pre-existing chemostratigraphic framework for the Horn River Formation.
GEMMA HILDRED graduated from the University of Birmingham applications of inorganic whole rock geochemical data to the with an M.Sc. Honours degree in Geology in 2006. She began her geosciences and to the oil industry, specifically studies of low career at Chemostrat International Ltd. in 2006 and is now a senior accommodation fluvial sequences in western Canada and the geologist and project manager at Chemostrat Inc. in Houston, chemostratigraphic characteristics of shale resources plays such as where she oversees proprietary work throughout North America. the Eagle Ford Formation in Texas and the Horn River Formation Ms Hildred also continues to research and publish work on the of British Columbia, Canada.
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 23 Back to Table of Contents Drive More Value: PSI expertise with rock and uid evaluation is a known quality, proven over and over again. In fact, after 15 years putting our brand of petrophysics Call on Proven Services. to work for companies worldwide, we’re more than ready to serve you. We do it with single- well analyses, integrated eld studies, seismic petrophysics and more. We even help clean and organize old, internal databases. PSI is analytical, trustworthy, and independent. We’ll make your petrophysicists more e ective – or give you the petrophysics resource you need. Discover more: (281) 558-6066. DISCOVERIES DRIVE VALUETM
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24 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Tuesday, October 16, 2012 HGS Northsiders Crowne Plaza Hotel - Greenspoint (former Sofitel) Luncheon Meeting 425 North Sam Houston Pkwy E Social 11:15 AM, Luncheon 11:30 AM Meeting Cost: $31 pre-registered members; $35 for non-members & walk-ups. Harris Cander BP America To guarantee a seat, you must pre-register on the HGS website and pre-pay with a credit card. Pre-registration without payment will not be accepted. You may still walk up and pay at the door, if extra seats are available. Finding Sweet Spots in Shale Liquids Plays
rediction of petroleum composition and reservoir pressure are The central part of the Eagle Ford fairway had comparatively less Pcritical for finding sweet spots in shale liquids plays. The uplift. As a result, the amount of over-pressure is not directly linked properties of the fluids are at least as important as properties of the to thermal maturity and GOR. Fluids with higher gas-oil ratio rock to define the most valuable parts of a shale fairway. In fact, occur at relatively lower reservoir pressure in the west compared the most profitable part of a shale fairway can to the central part of the fairway. Therefore, sometimes be defined where an optimal In fact, the most profitable whereas retained petroleum properties can be gas-oil ratio (GOR) occurs at highest reservoir linked closely to thermal stress, creation and pressure. In this study, an in-house source rock part of a shale fairway retention of over-pressure is not strictly due kinetic model was coupled with regional basin can sometimes be defined to petroleum generation; so a broader, basin- Luncheon Northsiders HGS modeling in the Eagle Ford Shale fairway to scale interpretation is required in order to delineate its sweet spot. where an optimal gas-oil define regions where revenue generation will be highest. Because it is often the foreland This study also involved the prediction of ratio occurs at highest phase of rapid subsidence and burial that petroleum compositions and evaluation of the catalyzes both disequilibrium compaction effect of petroleum generation on pore reservoir pressure. and source rock maturation, the generation of pressure. The in-house kinetic model accounts petroleum and over-pressure are often coeval for petroleum retained in both organic and inorganic porosity. and their effects on reservoir pressure, effective stress, permeability, With this kinetic model, maps of thermal stress were converted to and reservoir deliverability can be difficult to differentiate. I maps of gas-oil ratio, viscosity, and BTU content to predict mobility of shale liquids and flow of revenue from wells across the Biographical Sketch fairway. Petroleum compositions in the Eagle Ford Shale are closer HARRIS CANDER has worked for BP for the to an instantaneous product over a narrow thermal stress range past twenty-one years and currently leads rather than a cumulative product from expulsion and migration BP’s New Venture efforts for onshore over a broad range of thermal stress. The petroleum is in near South America basins. During 2010-2011, equilibrium with the thermal stress state of the rock and most of Harris led BP’s Research and Development the petroleum was generated in situ and retained as the last program in unconventional reservoirs and generated product with limited lateral migration. Fluid viscosities fluids. Harris has focused the past several are closely linked to composition i.e. gas-oil ratio, and thus are years in unconventional resources and predictable. played an integral role in all of BP’s entries into shale plays in North America. In addition to North and South Mobility of shale liquids is also strongly a function of reservoir America, Harris has done exploration and development work in pressure. The reservoir pressure we see in the Eagle Ford today is a offshore Trinidad, Sakhalin, the Gulf of Mexico, the Beaufort Sea, function of how the pressure was created and how it was preserved. offshore Angola, central Europe, and Indonesia. Several authors have proposed that most of the over-pressure in shale source rocks was created by petroleum generation. Basin In 2009-2010, Harris was an AAPG Distinguished Lecturer on modeling performed in this study suggests that petroleum unconventional resources, and since 2008 has been the Chairman generation can account for some of the over-pressure, as measured of the AAPG Unconventional Research Group. Harris will serve as in psi above hydrostatic, within the Eagle Ford Shale gas fairway. the theme chairman for unconventional resources for the 2013 However, the majority of regional over-pressure was generated AAPG Annual Meeting. from disequilibrium compaction during rapid Late Cretaceous through Paleogene burial. Late exhumation altered shale reservoir Harris received his Ph.D. in geology from the University of Texas pore pressure in the western half of the Eagle Ford fairway. at Austin and an M.B.A. from Rice University.
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 25 Back to Table of Contents 26 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Monday, October 29, 2012 HGS North American Westchase Hilton • 9999 Westheimer Dinner Meeting Social Hour 5:30–6:30 p.m. Dinner 6:30–7:30 p.m. Cost: $28 Preregistered members; $35 non-members/walk-ups Denise M. Stone Meeting To guarantee a seat, pre-register on the HGS website & pre-pay by credit card. Pre-registration without payment will not be accepted. Walk-ups may pay at the door if extra seats are available. Exploration History and Future Potential of the Cook Inlet Basin, Alaska HGS North American Dinner Dinner American North HGS
Location Map of all Alaska with square showing Cook Inlet Basin.
Physiographic Map Cook Inlet.
he Cook Inlet Basin of south-central Alaska is the site of the The total cumulative production in the Cook Inlet Basin, from Tfirst commercially viable oil and gas production in Alaska. The 1958 through the end of 2011, is 1.3B barrels of oil from five fields discovery of hydrocarbons there gave rise to the technology needed and just under 7.8 TCF of gas from 28 producing fields. However, to operate in harsh cold northern latitudes. Discovery of oil in the relative to other hydrocarbon producing basins in North America, Cook Inlet ushered Alaska into statehood and provided a stepping the Cook Inlet Basin is considered under-explored. stone to exploration and production (E&P) on the North Slope, which would become the state’s second and most prolific The 2011 USGS assessment of technically recoverable resources in hydrocarbon-rich area. Industry learning from Alaskan operations the Cook Inlet region concluded that mean undiscovered volumes is in part enabling E&P to press even farther northward to the of nearly 600 MMBO, 19 TCFG and 46 MMBNGL remain to be
Arctic. HGS North American Dinner continued on page 29
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 27 Geoscience Day 2012 An Overview of Geological and Geophysical Methods for Individuals New to the Industry Thursday, October 18, 2012 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. See Details & WesternGeco Registration 10001 Richmond Ave. Information Houston, Texas, 77042 at www.gshtx.org and www.hgs.org $100.00 Early Registration $110.00 After September 18 (Limited to 125 Registrants)
• Find out about the life of an oil eld from prospect to retirement • Field acquisition displays • Presentations • Docent-aided displays of “Tools of the Trade” • Gain perspective for discussing projects with a broad audience • Understand what work goes on in areas other than your own • Learn what dif culties and problems must routinely be solved Presented by Geophysical Society of Houston & Houston Geological Society Contact: Email: [email protected] Tel: 281-741-1624 Geoscience Day 2012 Registration and Sponsorship Form Registration Fee: $100.00 Per Attendee - $110.00 After 9/18/12. Please Complete a Form for Each Attendee or Register Online at www.gshtx.org or www.hgs.org. Registration is Limited to 125 Participants.
Attendee Name: ______Address: ______City/State/Zip: ______Phone # ______Cell #: ______Email:______Company: ______Years of Experience or Industry: ______Job Title/Function: ______T-Shirt Size: XL: ______L: ______M: ______S: ______
Sponsorship Fee Sponsorship Company: ______Contact Name: ______Contact Address: ______Contact Phone # ______Email:______q Platinum: $2,000.00 q Gold: $1,500.00 q Silver: $1,000.00 q Bronze: $500.00 Individual Event Registration Fee ______+ Sponsorship Fee ______= TOTAL ______Pay By Check or Credit Card. Name On Card: ______q AMEX q VISA q MC Card #:______Exp. Date: ______Make Checks Payable To: Mail To: The Geophysical Society of Houston The Geophysical Society of Houston 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 204 Geoscience Day 2012 Houston, Texas 77079
28 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Back to Table of Contents HGS North American Dinner continued from page 27 ______
found. Discovery of these resources Meeting will require more drilling, creative explorers, access to prospective acreage, re-evaluation of existing data, and acquisition of new, mainly seismic, data.
Cook Inlet exploration strategies have historically included surface and subsurface mapping to locate giant anticlines and structural highs, dry hole re-evaluation, and application of new technology. While these strategies may still work, new ideas, new play types and fresh exploration thinking are needed. Data from producing and non-producing wells in the Cook Inlet point the way Dinner American North HGS forward. Dry holes are teachers. Chugach Mountain terrain looking across Turnagain Arm, Alaska. Exploration strategies today need greater emphasis on play types that have not yet been tested. Hydrocarbon-bearing stratigraphic traps, unconformity traps and subtle anomalies need to be evaluated and the production potential of shale needs to be understood. I
Biographical Sketch
DENISE M. STONE is a geologist who has been an independent consultant since 2003. She has been involved in international Sunset over Mt Susitna, Upper Cook Inlet, Alaska. and domestic oil and gas exploration projects for over twenty years and has worked the Cook Stone currently serves as editor of a special publication of the Inlet of Alaska since 2006. During her career she has worked at AAPG entitled Oil and Gas Fields of the Cook Inlet of Alaska. She BP/Amoco, Superior Oil/Mobil, and Unocal. Currently, she is has served the HGS in multiple leadership roles that include Past Director of Business Development for Rose & Associates, LLP. As a President. Denise has a B.S. in Geology from Texas Christian long-standing member of the AAPG Publications Committee, Ms University and an M.S. in Geology from Memphis State University.
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 29 Back to Table of Contents Looking for the next hotspot? (Come and explore Western Gulf of Mexico)
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30 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Wednesday, October 31, 2012 HGS General Petroleum Club • 800 Bell (downtown) Luncheon Meeting Social 11:15 AM, Luncheon 11:30 AM Cost: $30 pre-registered members; $35 for non-members/walk-ups; Emeritus/Life/Honorary: $15; Students: FREE James N. Blackerby Meeting To guarantee a seat, pre-register on the HGS website & pre-pay by credit card. Hongxing Ge Pre-registration without payment will not be accepted. Davis N. Tolman Walk ups may pay at the door if extra seats are available. Classification of Sequence Geometries Near Welds and Salt
ignificant hydrocarbon accumulations are found in salt-welded DAVIS TOLMAN is a Geological Fellow with Straps, which comprise the majority of under-explored targets ConocoPhillips in Houston. Davis received in the Gulf of Mexico. Most studies on welds focus on weld his graduate and undergraduate degrees geometry, their relationships to linked salt, parent-salt architecture, in geology from the University of Arkansas. kinematics of weld formation, and geophysical imaging. These He has worked for Phillips Petroleum and studies provide constructive and critical information used to now ConocoPhillips in numerous roles, describe welds, segregate welds into salt provinces, and evaluate primarily in US Gulf Coast and deepwater Luncheon General HGS weld-seal risks. However, the geometries of sequences adjacent to exploration. For the past five years Davis the weld and salt interface are poorly addressed. has focused on unconventional plays and has been instrumental in the exploration, appraisal and We propose that near-weld sequence geometries may provide an development of ConocoPhillips’s Eagle Ford asset. Davis is a important aspect of weld/salt seal criteria. The geometries of member of the HGS and AAPG. sequences that bound welds display a set of common observable characteristics. These geometries are directly related to local and HONGXING GE received his B.S. degree sub-regional compensation effects, size of weld, and kinematics of from Nanjing University, China, his M.S. minibasin and sedimentary systems. These geometries are found degree from Colorado State University, in all mobile salt environments. and his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. Mr Ge worked for Shell We provide a simple classification of two-dimensional sequence Technology Company and ConocoPhillips geometries near the weld and salt. Five main categories Company before he joined Nexen characterized in this work include Convergent Truncated, Divergent Petroleum U.S.A. Inc., where he is an Truncated, Isopachous Truncated, Isopachous Parallel, and exploration geologist who works the Convergent Sub-parallel. We examine examples of drilled weld traps deepwater Gulf of Mexico. from the Gulf of Mexico and establish a basis for a statistical analysis between sequence geometries and weld trap and seal potential. I
Biographical Sketches JIM BLACKERBY is an exploration geologist 2011-2012 who works for ConocoPhillips in HGS/GSH Houston, Texas. He received his B.A. degree from the University of North Member Directory Carolina at Wilmington and his M.S. degree from West Virginia University. Mr. For Sale Blackerby worked for Arco, Vastar, and Phillips Petroleum prior to joining A limited number of hardcopy HGS/GSH ConocoPhillips in 2002. During his 30 member directories are available for sale years in industry, he has worked deepwater projects worldwide with to current HGS members for $20. emphasis on the Gulf of Mexico, as well as Gulf Coast fluvial deltaics and carbonate plays. Please contact Nina Honey at 713-463-9473 or email at [email protected]. This presentation was given at the 2012 AAPG convention in Long Beach, California. Mr. Blackerby is a member of the HGS and AAPG.
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 31 Back to Table of Contents 32 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 The HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Local Geology Activities for the Whole Family Week coming in October! Earth Science Week, 2012 October 6-14 Please visit the HGS website and look for the Earth Science Week tab under
Educational Outreach for details and current updates. http://www.hgs.org Science Earth
Saturday, October 6, 8:30am-2:15pm IHS is hosting a Geoscience Day for middle-school aged Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America at their Katy Freeway office location. There will be 4 workshops with hands-on demonstrations that will teach the scouts about oil and gas formation, as well as the methods used to find and extract these valuable resources. By doing this, we will expose the scouts to the many career opportunities in these exciting fields. Topics will also go toward satisfying aspects of the Boy Scouts Geology merit badge. IHS Rocks! Boy Scouts may register through http://www.doubleknot.com/ Girl Scouts may register through http://www.gssjc.org/, under the Program Activities and Events offerings for STEM.
Saturday, October 13 Annual Family Energy Festival – Houston Museum of Natural Science: Hands-on activities for kids and guided tours of the Wiess Energy Hall and the new Paleontology Hall
Saturday, October 20 Energy Day – Downtown Houston Festival by Consumer Energy Alliance HGS Booth will provide free tours of the Downtown Building Stones.
Sunday, October 21 HGS sponsors a family friendly outdoor geology fieldtrip in the Houston area. Details will be posted on the HGS – ESW tab website as they become available.
Ongoing National 2012 ESW Art/Essay/Photo Contest: http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests/ Photography Contest — Earth Science Is a Big Job Geoscientists study Earth processes in action in many types of places — deserts, forests, mountain tops, rivers, ocean floors, underground, up in the air, and in rural communities and cities alike. Whether they do it to optimize land use, harvest energy resources, to ensure safe water supplies, or to forecast the weather, these scientists monitor natural processes to help improve our lives. In a photograph, capture evidence to show the important work that Earth scientists do in your community. Visual Arts Contest — Imagine Me, an Earth Scientist! Earth scientists — or “geoscientists” — are curious about Earth’s land, water, air, and living things. These scientists study systems in nature, such as our planet’s environment, natural resources, weather patterns, plant and animal life, and the solar system. Imagine that you are a geoscientist. What would you study? How would you gather information? What tools would you use? Use artwork to show yourself as an Earth scientist. Essay Contest — Geoscientists Working Together Our planet’s land, water, air, and living things each affect and are affected by one another. Earth scientists observe these interactions among Earth systems — the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. How do geoscientists study these interactions to solve problems and seize opportunities in areas such as energy, farming, preservation ofsafe water resources, preparation for natural disasters, environmental protection, and community building? Identify an example of interacting systems, and write a brief essay that explains how Earth scientists work together to improve all our lives.
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 33 Back to Table of Contents October 2012 S u n d a y M o n d a y T u e s d a y W e d n e s d a y
Members Pre-registered Prices: 1 2 3 General Dinner Meeting...... $28 Nonmembers & walk-ups ...... $35 Env. & Eng...... $25 HGS Board Meeting Luncheon Meeting ...... $30 6 p.m. Nonmembers & walk-ups ...... $35 International Explorationists ...... $28 North American Explorationists ...... $28 7 8 9 10 HGS Environmental HGS General & Engineering Dinner Meeting “Hydrocarbon Migration: What We Know, Dinner Meeting What We Don’t Know and Why It Is “Ethics for Professionals and Other Important”, Barry Jay Katz, Good Folks”, Christopher C. Mathewson, Earth Science Week Westchase Hilton, Houston, TX, Black Lab Pub, Houston, TX, Page 15 Page 19
14 15 HGS International 16 17 Dinner Meeting HGS Northsiders “Shale Resource Plays in the Horn River Luncheon Meeting Basin, Canada”, Gemma Hildred, “Finding Sweet Spots in Shale Westchase Hilton, Houston, TX, Page 21 Liquids Plays”, Harris Cander, Crown Plaza Hotel - Greenspoint, Houston, TX, Earth Science Week HGS Golf Tournament Page 25 Kingwood Country Club, Page 10
21 Earth Science Week 22 23 24 HGS sponsors a family friendly outdoor geology fieldtrip Page 33 GCAGS and GCSSEPM 62nd Annual Convention Austin, TX, Page 56
28 29 30 31 HGS North American HGS General Dinner Meeting Luncheon Meeting “Exploration History and Future “Classification of Sequence Geometries Potential of the Cook Inlet Basin, Alaska”, Near Welds and Salt”, James N. Blackerby, Denise M. Stone, Westchase Hilton, Hongxing Ge, and Davis N. Tolman, Houston, TX, Houston Petroleum Club, Houston, TX, Page 27 Page 31
34 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Back to Table of Contents GEOEVENTS T h u r s d a y F r i d a y S a t u r d a y Upcoming GeoEvents
November 4-7, 2012 4 5 12th Annual 6 Earth Science Week Geological Society of America GSH/HGS Geoscience Day for Girl Scout and Boy Charlotte, NC Scouts of America, IHS, Saltwater Fishing Houston, TX, December 2-5, 2012 Tournament Page 33 GCSSEPM 32nd Annual GCSSEPM The Top Water Grill Marina, Foundation Bob F. Perkins Research San Leon, TX, Earth Science Week Page 8 Conference “New Understanding of the Petroleum Systems of Continental 11 12 13 Margins of the World” Earth Science Week Houston, TX Annual Family Energy Festival, Houston Museum of Natrual Science, December 3-5, 2012 Houston, TX, Arctic Technology Conference Page 33 Houston, TX
December 5-7, 2012 International Petroleum Technology 18 SIPES Luncheon 19 20 Conference Meeting SIPES Continuing Beijing, China “La Posada” – “Case History for Earth Science Week Remaining Deep Conventional Reserves Education Seminar Energy Day – Downtown Houston Onshore South Louisiana”, KC Shale Play Assesment Methods, Festival by Consumer Alliance, April 6-9, 2014 Whittemore, Houston Petroleum Club, Halliburton Conference Center Houston, TX, AAPG Annual Convention Houston, TX, Page 39 Houston, TX Page 33 & Exhibition Geoscience Day 2012 Page 40 Houston, TX page 28 25 26 27 You can make FYI your reservations If you have NOW online at NOT PAID YOUR DUES ww.hgs.org this is your. last issue Reservations: The HGS prefers that you make your reservations on-line through the HGS website at www.hgs.org. If you have no Internet access, you can e-mail [email protected], or call the office at 713-463-9476. Reservations for HGS meetings must be made or cancelled by the date shown on the HGS Website calendar, normally that is 24 hours before hand or on the last business day before the event. If you make your reservation on the Website or by email, an email confirmation will be sent to you. If you do not receive a confirmation, check with the [email protected]. Once the meals are ordered and name tags and lists are prepared, no more reservations can be added even if they are sent. No-shows will be billed.
Collarini Energy Staffing Inc. Full–Time and Temporary Exploration and Production Personnel Geoscience Facilities Drilling Production Reservoir Engineers Landmen Management Procurement Information Technology Health and Safety Accounting Administrative Support 11111 Richmond Avenue, Suite 126 www. collarini.com 4200 South I-10 Service Road, Suite 230 Houston, Texas 77082 Metairie, Louisiana 70001 Phone (832) 251-0553 Phone (504) 887-7127 Fax (832) 251-0157 Connecting the Industry’s Experts Fax (504) 887-7162
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 35 Back to Table of Contents APPLIED GEOSCIENCE CONFERENCE
Applied Geoscience for Mudrocks System Characterization to Improve Exploitation of Unconventional Oil and Gas Reservoirs
February 18 – 19, 2013 Westin Memorial City 945 Gessner Road Houston, TX 77024 USA
Integrated Approaches to Unconventional Reservoir Assessment & Optimization
Presentations will include discussions of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs across North America with major themes in: Day 1: Outcrop to Subsurface Characterization Emerging Plays Day 2: Mudrocks System Characterization Reservoir Characterization TTowardsowards Optimized Stimulation and Production
Features invited technical subject matter experts of industryindustry,, government & universityuniversity..
Discussions on well placement, completion strategystrategy,, stratigraphystratigraphy,, petrologypetrology,, geochemistrygeochemistry,, geomechanics, field, log and core studies and integration across subject fields.
Houston’sHouston’s premier technical event for geologists, geophysicists, geochemists, nanno experts and engineers.
Be a Corporate Sponsor! For more information on registration, sponsorship and to view the speaker line-up, please visit wwwwww.hgs.org..hgs.org.
Hosted by Houston Geological Society.Society. Sponsored by
36 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Back to Table of Contents 2013 APPLIED GEOSCIENCE CONFERENCE February 18—19, 2013
VENDOR FORM
Vendor Table—$500 Includes one 6’ skirted table, two chairs and continental breakfast and lunch for two
x Tables will be assigned on a first come, first served basis.
x Vendors are responsible for their own electrical and internet setup, which can be handled through the hotel.
x Setup: Sunday, February 17 x 2:00pm—5:00pm
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October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 37 Back to Table of Contents H 14811 St. Mary's Lane, Suite 250 77079 • 2013 APPLIED GEOSCIENCE CONFERENCE February 18—19, 2013
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Main Conference - $15,000 Speaker Reception - $3,500 Availability: SOLD Availability: 2 of 2 x 4 complimentary conference registrations x Company name & logo displayed at event, online event x Company name & logo prominently displayed at event, website and related HGS communications online event website and related HGS communications x 10 complimentary passes for speaker reception x Dedicated directional signage and logo’ed lanyards x Complimentary vendor table Lunch - $2,500 Availability: 5 of 5 Student Technical Poster Session - $10,000 x Company name & logo displayed at event, online event Availability: 2 of 2 website and related HGS communications x All sponsored student conference registrations x Dedicated signage during conference lunch x Company name & logo prominently displayed at event, online event website and related HGS communications Coffee - $1,000 x Dedicated signage at student technical poster session Availability: 4 of 4 x Complimentary vendor table x Company name & logo displayed at event, online event website and related HGS communications Reception - $5,000 x Dedicated signage at conference break stations Availability: 5 of 5 x 2 complimentary conference registrations General - $500 Availability: Unlimited x Complimentary vendor table x Company name & logo displayed at event, online event x Company name & logo displayed at event, online event website and related HGS communications website and related HGS communications x Dedicated signage during conference reception
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38 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 BackH to Table of Contents 77079 • SIPES October Luncheon Meeting “La Posada” A Tale of Tenacity, Creative Thinking and Case History Meeting for Remaining Deep Conventional Reserves Onshore South Louisiana by KC Whittemore
n the circles of onshore conventional plays, the recent La Posada discovery marks a significant event. La Posada is an L Planulina Idiscovery located in Vermilion Parish., LA. The play was generated by Yuma Exploration and is operated by PetroQuest Energy. With over 310 feet of pay below 17,500 feet in the second of two wells, early production is estimated to reach 50 mmcfg and 3000 barrels of SIPES Luncheon Luncheon SIPES condensate plus liquids. As noteworthy as the deep discovery is, so too is the history behind the play. To quote a PLS article from December 11, 2011 on the discovery, “selling the deal required a believable story”. Yes, a good believable story and geologic picture were required to lure partners to drill a 19,000 feet deep test in the environment that followed one of the worse economic collapses in history that was further compounded by an exodus of capital for unconventional plays. Tenacity, creative thinking, and perseverance were essential to reach payoff. Key take-aways of this experience include identification of remaining deep, onshore gas/condensate potential, development of a predictive model for deep plays, awareness of the significance of building relationships, and maintenance of tenacity, perseverance, and creative thinking to weather any storm. The La Posada story is a sequence of fortuitous events as remarkable as the discovery itself. I
Biographical Sketch KC WHITTEMORE is an oil and gas independent and geological consultant with over 35 years experience in exploration, development and acquisitions. Currently Mr Whittemore is active as a working-interest partner in drilling oil and gas prospects along the Gulf Coast, as a facilitator of business development activities, and as a consultant who screens third party prospects and provides project management.
Mr. Whittemore is an active member of HGS and SIPES where he serves on the Board as the Deal Buyers and Sellers Membership Chair.
Thursday, October 18, 2012 Houston Petroleum Club in the Discovery Room, 800 Bell St. (downtown Houston). Social 11:15 AM, Luncheon 11:45 AM Reservations Required: Make reservations by telephone (713-651-1639), fax (713-951-9659), website (www.sipes-houston.org), or e-mail [email protected] to B. K. Starbuck-Buongiorno by 12:00 noon on Tuesday preceding the meeting. You can now sign up for the meeting online at www.sipes-houston.org, but payment is still required by regular mail or at the door. Cost: $30 for SIPES Members and Chapter Affiliates who register by 12:00 Noon Tuesday; $35 for new registrations at the door. The price for guests, non-members and walk-ins is $35. No-shows will be billed.
Since 1983 Domestic & International Services MICRO-STRAT INC. Specialists for 26 Years 5755 Bonhomme, Suite 406, Houston, TX 77036 Phone: 713-977-2120, E-Mail: [email protected] MICRO-STRAT INC. Integrated Biostratigraphic and Seismic Sequence Stratigraphy Website: www.Micro-Strat.com Specialists in 80 countries, 15 different Microfossil Groups, Cambrian -Recent Gulf of Mexico Onshore / Offshore / Subsalt Africa Poland Shale Gas Bossier / Haynesville / Eagleford / Marcellus Middle East
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October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 39 Back to Table of Contents
The Deposition and Diagenesis of the South Texas Late Cretaceous Eagle Ford Formation An Alternative Theory by Steve Thornhill
ecently, researchers studying the RHormel plant in Austin, Minnesota discovered Spam shipment records dating An Alternative Theory Alternative An back millions of years. A field of upright stone tablets located adjacent to the Hormel plant, long thought to be an abandoned cemetery, turned out to be the long lost Hormel macrochip shipping records. Researchers who studied these records were surprised to learn that not only are the Hawaiian Islands the world’s number one Spam consumer. Even more Spam was consumed there millions of years ago than is consumed there today. The main difference is that early Spam was packaged pre-sliced rather than in the small loaf form with which we are familiar. The shipping records revealed that there was a century-long gap during which no Spam was shipped to the islands; after the gap, shipments slowly resumed.
Meteorological research identified that an enormous cyclonic event, one of biblical Figure 1: Generalized map of the Eagle Ford Formation showing the Late Cretaceous Spam Zone. proportions, had preceded this century- Source: Regional Stratigraphic and Rock Characteristics of the Eagle Ford Shale in the Play Area: long gap. The story researchers pieced Maverick East Texas Basin, Tucker F. Hentz and Stephen C. Ruppel together truly amazes. When the mega- storm hit the Hawaiian Islands, the Spam slices, possessed of a which were then deposited along with the Spam. Normal semi-airfoil, were lifted aloft into the stratosphere and held there sedimentary processes quickly buried and sealed the bacteria/Spam for weeks while the cyclone churned across the Pacific and wiped layer which, combined with the heat and pressure of burial, out everything in its path. Finally the storm reached the North continued to be broken down by anaerobic bacteria. Thus, today’s American coastal mountains where it finally lost much of its power. petroleum-rich Eagle Ford Formation came to be. The storm still managed to clear the mountains and make it into the ancestral Gulf of Mexico. Based on recent petrochemical examination of the oil and gas obtained from the Eagle Ford Shale, it is obvious that the Eagle As a consequence of the energy loss across the mountains, the Ford oil is from the breakdown of the fats, grease, and fatty oil that Spam, which had been held aloft for weeks, rained from the sky was contained in the original sliced Spam. The natural gas on the into the shallow Late Cretaceous Sea in an arc-shaped swath from other hand is from the flatus* contained in the brazillions** of what is now northern Mexico far up into the area now known as bacteria that rained down on the Spam when the Spam Zone Texas. In what is now known as the Late Cretaceous Spam Zone became anoxic. (Figure 1), the sea floor became covered with sliced Spam, much like shingles on a roof. This huge influx of organic material created Unfortunately, these are closely guarded proprietary data. The ideal conditions for organic growth, causing huge bacteria blooms author had to wrestle two large Polynesian gentlemen just to get a to form over and to begin to consume the Spam. Unfortunately for glimpse of the data. I the bacteria, their metabolic processes also consumed all the oxygen Formation Ford Eagle Texas South the of Diagenesis and Deposition The in the water, created anoxic conditions, and killed the bacteria An Alternative Theory continued on page 43
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 41 DEEP OIL GAS PROJECT - GULF OF MEXICO “Davy Jones” Cited as Very Large Gulf Shelf Discovery
Cameron 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 15 5 4 3 2 1 Sabine Pass 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 TEXAS 1 A 31 32 B40 49 48 47 46 45 44 42 41 39 38 E3’7 36 35 34 33 1 2 E 43 LOUISIANA N 2 3 4 A 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 C67 68 3 11 10 9 8 2 7 6 5 4 3 6 81 80 79 78 77 76 75 74 73 72 71 69 12 ss 6 7 83 82 13 14 15 16 17 18 Freshwater City ass a 70 7 8 9 10 11 13 D 19 A E 12 e P 14 9 8 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 99 100 101 102 103 104 0 in 98 26
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71 5 G 50 G’ 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 220 221 222 223 224 225
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321 320 319 317 316 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 1 0 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 7 5 322 118 116 115 114 113 112 117 111 1 193 194 196 197 198 199 201 A-6 A-5 D’ A-3 A-172 A-173 A-174 1 7 I 195 200 A-4 - 1 B’ A 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 243 242 241 240 239 238 237 236 274 273 272 271 270 269 268 6 6 121 120 119 118 117 116 115 114 113 C11’2 D’ 7 6 C’ 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 3 6 A’ B’
208 207 206 205 204 203 202 A-7 A-8 A-9 A-10 A-11 A-12 A-179 A-178 A-177 1 7 - 1 8
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3 9 2 1 286 285 284 283 282 3 5 A 340 341 343 346 347 256 255 254 253 252 251 141 138 137 132 342 344 345 139 4 5 140 139 136 135 134 133 235 137 138 140 141 142 143 144 1 4 236 234 233 A-21 A-22 A-23 A-24 A-25 A-26 A-27 A-28 A-29 A-189 A-188 A-187 A-186 4 5 6 7 287 288 H 355 354 353 352 351 349 348 257 258 259 260 261 262 6 3 A’ 350 152 150 149 148 147 4 6 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 154 153 151 1 4 HIGH ISLAND WEST CAMERON EAST CAMERON VERMILION S. MARSH ISLAND Project Cost: Digital well-logs: $7,900 High Island-Sabine Pass (30 wells) Ultra Deep Wells $900 High Island-Sabine Pass (30 logs) $14,900 West-East Cameron (74 wells) S. Marsh Island, $1,800 West-East Cameron (74 logs) $7,900 Vermilion-S. Marsh Island (30 wells) Vermilion, $900 Vermilion-S. Marsh Island (30 logs) $7,900 Eugene Island (30 wells) $900 Eugene Island (30 logs) $7,900 Ship Shoal (30 wells) W. Cameron, $900 Ship Shoal (30 wells) $7,900 S.Timbalier-South Pelto (35 wells) High Island $900 S. Timbalier - S. Pelto (35 wells) • PROJECT DELIVERABLES PROJECT BENEFITS • 1. 229 single well plots. Most wells 15000’ with with Assist in identifying reservoir-type sands, play concepts and mapable Genetic Sequences correlated with marker facies on seismic within each Sequence in an 360 degree arc species, paleowater depth, well log and FAIRFIELD from each of these project wells. • INDUSTRIES INC., Extracted 3-D PSTM seismic panels Identify and correlate MFS with continuous reflectors on (one mile in length, dip direction) (Fig. A). seismic panels with regional FAIRFIELD seismic dataset. • 2. Biostratigraphic and Sequence Stratigraphic tables, with Identify MFS (seals) on well-logs and 3-D seismic to provide marker species, paleowater depth, age dated MFS (Seals). local and regional timelines. • 3. Cross Sections (Dip & Strike) 7-9 per project with age dated Identify optimum producing and potential deep gas targets MFS and well logs (Fig.B) in 12 Genetic Sequences. • 4. Deliverables in two types of formats: Use MFS to construct isopach, sand %, structural and a. Hard copy binder (11”x 17”) printed on premium paper biofacies maps (Fig. C) • and includes written report, single plots, etc. Reduce your company’s risk in prospecting, reservoir and b. Reportandrawdataisbedeliveredindigitalformat. exploration evaluation. 5. Individual projects have been completed and are now available. Please call for a presentation Integrating Biostratigraphy, Well-Logs,
3 A 1 2 4 Seismic Profiles and Sequence Stratigraphy 8 76 5 Ultra Deep Wells Fig. C 9 10 11 12 13C 14 15 Eugene Island, wc38wc37 wc33 D D’ wc49 wc48 wc47 wc43 wc40 DEMO CROSS SECTION Fig. B 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 ec2 B wc54wc55 29.6 wc60 wc66 wc67 Ship Shoal, wc78 wc82 wc76 wc70 26 27 28 2930 31 3233 34 35 wc83 wc69 wc79 ec15 E wc96 ec16 E’ wc104 47 46 45 44 43 42 4140 39 38 37 S. Timbalier wc98 wc101 ec24 H’ 1 ec26 ec23 ec21 sa10 wc107 wc115 wc108 ec32 58 wc130 48 49 50 5152 53 5455 56 57 2 3 4 sa14 sa13 59 5 ec46 ec43 69 114 115 wc149 wc143 F’ A 113 B wc157 wc147 F 68 67 6665 64 6362 61 60 10 98 76 29.4 wc148 ec51 ec55 B wc166 wc168 6 6 6 19 X wc170 70 16 17 18 116 wc161 wc167 71 72 73 74 7576 77 78 79 80 11 12 13 14 15 C 20 118 117 Fig. A wc289 wc180 82 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 ec65 G’ E E’ 119 Fourchon 1 91 31 30 2928 27 26 2524 23 22 90 89 88 87 86 85 84 83 81 X X wc196 wc294 ec81 120121122 3 2 ec76 100 A 5 4 wc300 92 32 33 3435 36 37 3839 40 41 21 wc194 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 101 102 D wc208 wc205 ec83 ec84 44 12 6 6 6 6 6 6 E wc214 wc217 D X X X 13 14X 15 Bay Marchand 29.2 wc305 113G C’ 43 10987 11 X 104105106107108109110111112 103 55 4449505152535 48 4647 5 X X C E’ wc227 67 24 6 6 6 6 6 X X 16 17 18 19 0222212 3 113A F F’ X 4321 5 56 76585 59 626160 63 6564 6 wc322 121120119118117116115114113B 122 X X wc318 wc232
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Please Contact us at: MICRO-STRAT INC., 5755 Bonhomme, Suite 406, Houston, TX 77036, Tel: 713-977-2120, Fax: 713-977-7684, e-mail:[email protected], Web-Site: www.Micro-Strat.com
42 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 An Alternative Theory continued from page 41 ______
Glossary * flatus – gas produced by bacterial action on waste matter and composed primarily of hydrogen sulfide and varying amounts of methane. **brazillion – a very, very, very, large number; even larger than a
gazillion. v
References An Alternative Theory Alternative An Steve Thornhill, with thanks to Judi and Ron Barrett, Cloudy with e Because the solution is a Chance of Meatballs (and possibly some form of hallucinogen, within our grasp. such as Spam, Ed.). ConocoPhillips is a company of many C. Wyman, SPAM: A Biography, Harcourt Brace & Company, 1999 resources, and we’re leveraging our strength in new ways. We’re a company with innovators who are ready to meet the world’s energy Review by James Ragsdale: needs in exciting new ways. Fascinating! Steve’s remarkable theory calls to mind the somewhat You will: analogous history of the formation of the ore body that made • Play an active role in determining your possible the development of the highly-profitable fat mines of career path, working in a rewarding, Uberwald, where lard is found in underground seams along with collaborative environment tusks, teeth, and other pachydermal remains. The geologic setting • Maintain a positive work-life balance at a company that encourages working and presumed history of this resource are described in detail by hard and playing hard British natural historian Terry Pratchett in his book, The Fifth • Have opportunities for continuing education Elephant (Harper-Collins, 2000). and professional development, supported by proactive mentorship Can Steve provide some illustrations? Also, some geochemical work • Enjoy the best of both worlds in a career that combines the stability of a global company with that might help in differentiating the basin of origin of Hormel the agility of an independent Spam versus that of Underwood Deviled Ham might be helpful for future exploration. Available positions include: • Domestic L48 Unconventional Exploration Geoscientist Yours for Science. We need the laugh. Jim R. • GOM Exploration Geologists/Geophysicists • GOM Operated Assets Geologist/Geophysicist Biographical Sketch • GOM Pore Pressure Geologist/Geophysicist S TEVE T HORNHILL is a Consulting • GOM Exploration Maturation Geologist/ Geologist/Geophysicist with over 34 years Geophysicist • Intl Unconventional Exploration Geologist/ professional experience in both the Geophysicist upstream petroleum industry and in the • Intl Exploration Geochemist environmental industry. In addition to • Exploration Petrophysicists currently doing geological research and • Exploration Seismic Stratigrapher technical, Steve has 16 years exploration, • Well Operations Geologist production and research experience in • Petroleum System Analyst petroleum geology and geophysics. Steve has a bachelor’s degrees from Southern Illinois University in both We’re looking for people who look harder. Geology and Industrial Design. While working in the CPGeoJobs.com/HGS environmental industry as principal of his own consultancy, Steve © 2012 ConocoPhillips Company. All rights reserved. EOE. became a licensed professional geologist in three states as well as a licensed driller. Steve is a past Secretary and Treasurer for the
Houston Geological Society, a past HGS Delegate to the AAPG, and a past GCAGS Field Trip Chairman.
conocophillips.com/careers Formation Ford Eagle Texas South the of Diagenesis and Deposition The
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 43 Back to Table of Contents WHEN KNOWLEDGE COUNTS...
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44 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Past President’s Luncheon
pholding an HGS tradition, current President Martin measure of the quality of this group is the numbers who have gone
UCassidy and outgoing President Steve Earle hosted a most on to serve AAPG as officers. In particular, I would like to recognize Luncheon distinguished group of HGS Past Presidents at the Petroleum Club previous AAPG Presidents: John Amoruso, Dick Bishop, Dave on August 17. Able to attend this year’s lunch were twenty two men Rensink and Dan Smith. and women who have served HGS with distinction during their respective terms. A special note, the most senior Past President After a short update on the state of the HGS, there were several attending was Fred Schall (1969-1970). good stories told, Steve Earle was recognized as our most recent Past President, and the official photo was taken. All too quickly, it The Past President’s Luncheon was started by John Amoruso was time to go. Thank you to everyone who has served the HGS several years ago and we hope it will continue for many more. One with their time and energy. I Past President’s Past
Front row (from left): Craig Moore (2000-01), Paul Hoffman (2001-02), Denise Stone (2002-03), Ron Harlan (1990-91), Tony Reso (1975-76), Martin Cassidy (2012-13), Steve Earle (2011-12), Linda Sternbach (2007-08), Charles Sternbach (1999-2000), Steve Levine (2004-05), Steve Brachman (2006-07) and Dave Rensink (2005-06). Back row (from left): Craig Dingler (2002-04), Jeff Morris (1978-79), Dan Smith (1987-88), Clint Moore (1994-95), Pat Gordon (1992-93), John Bianchi (1993-94), John Tubb (2010-11), John Amoruso (1972-73), Dean Grafton (1977-78), Fred Schall (1969-70) and Sabin Marshall (1974-75). Unable to attend this year include: Sandi Barber, Kara Bennett, Dick Bishop, Gary Coburn, Jeff Lund, Chuck Noll, Jim Ragsdale, Peggy Rice, Deet Schumacher and Cyrus Strong.
John Amoruso and Martin Cassidy
John Tubb presents Past-President’s pin to Steve Earle Past-President’s Luncheon continued on page 47
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 45 46 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Past President’s Luncheon continued from page 45 ______Luncheon Past President’s Past
Dan Smith tells a story to the group; seated from right is Sabin Marshall, Dean Grafton, Jeff Jeff Morris and John Tubb talk before lunch Morris, Ron Harlan, and John Amoruso
Fred Schall and Sabin Marshall Tony Reso, Dean Grafton, and Jeff Morris visit before lunch
Craig Moore and Pat Gordon Martin Cassidy updates group Tony Reso
Denise Stone with Paul Hoffman Charle Sternbach makes a point John Tubb talks to group
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or informaF information on these AAPG GTW’s,AAPG please log on to our website at http://www.aa .pg.org/gtw
48 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 2012 HGS Grand Canyon Field Trip
GS went back to the Grand Canyon this Trip Field HJuly and 23 lucky individuals had the opportunity to join us on this journey through time. This trip is on many people’s “bucket list” and the Canyon did not disappoint. We had the opportunity to see wonderful sights from the boat and on several short hikes, get wet in the exciting rapids, sleep out under the stars and more, all while we viewed the classical geology that the Grand Canyon offers in abundance. As always, Hatch kept everyone safe and provided some memorable meals.
“There will be weather” is generally an accurate description for this trip; the good news is that some light showers kept the temperatures down. 2012 HGS Grand Canyon Canyon Grand HGS 2012 The rains also offered us the opportunity to witness some geological processes in action as several side canyons flooded during the second half of our trip. As a consequence, the Colorado River turned from its usual green to a beautiful reddish-brown. National Canyon, which we walked on our last full-day there, Alan Gensamer, David Gossett, Jon Graham, Chuck Kaiser, showed evidence of recent flash Gretchen Sparks, Paul Walshe, Barry Wawak, Robert Webster and flooding that included the Marigold White among the participants. We met up Sunday observation of streambed gravels outside the Las Vegas airport and quickly loaded up the bus for our moving downstream. drive to Lee’s Ferry. We drove by way of Zion National Park and the impressive Navajo Sandstone outcrops there. Monday morning This year we had HGS members we loaded up the boats and were underway. Immediately, we could Martha Barnes, Mercer Brugler, 2012 HGS Grand Canyon Field Trip continued on page 51
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 49 50 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 2012 HGS Grand Canyon Field Trip continued from page 49 ______see the Permian section as the canyon walls quickly rose to meet us. We ended the first day with a short walk up North Trip Field Canyon.
The next day we saw the Mississippian, Devonian and Cambrian sections and walked up to the Indian granaries. Day 3 included the always popular Little Colorado River stop, our chance to play in its beautiful sky-blue waters, followed by a walk through over 1 billion year old Proterozoic sediments.
On day 4 we entered the canyon's Inner Gorge where the rapids get bigger. A walk to a beautiful little waterfall up Clear Creek and a stop at Phantom Ranch were 2012 HGS Grand Canyon Canyon Grand HGS 2012 two other highlights. The next day involved shooting more rapids and stops at Elves Chasm and Blacktail Canyon where we put our hands on rain. We had been sleeping under the stars. No one bothered to pitch The Greatest Unconformity that represents well over 1 billion years a tent when the sky was clear. However, that night a shower moved of missing earth's history. That evening we made camp in a light through during the night. The next morning dawned pleasantly and the trip offered a walk to the top of Deer Creek Falls. Along the way, we passed a beautiful overlook and could see a plume of sediment in the Colorado River moving at its own pace downstream. Clearly, that little shower we experienced was a deluge elsewhere. In the distance, there appeared a sharp line between the greenish water seen previously and the reddish water for which the Colorado was named. By the time we got back to the boats, the line has passed and we pushed off in the silty water. With motors on our rafts, we outran the sediment and could observe that the transition was more gradual.
Matkatamiba Canyon was occupied so we headed for Havasu Creek; however, by the time we got there that afternoon, rain threatened and at the first stream crossing we decided not to risk being cut off from our boats. That evening in camp we pitched the tents and it rained again. Before midnight, the silty water had worked its way down to our position and the rain had raised the river level higher than the normal fluctuations we had seen so far. In fact, the water came up to our “kitchen”, knocked over one of our tables, and dumped the water coolers and utensils in the river! Most of it was fished out of the river that night and we moved it up slope. The rest was recovered in the morning.
On our last full day in the Grand Canyon, we pushed off from camp and noticed the large amount of dead wood
2012 HGS Grand Canyon Field Trip continued on page 53
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 51 Specialists in geosteering with LWD
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52 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 2012 HGS Grand Canyon Field Trip continued from page 51 ______
floating in the Colorado. Our first walk was up National Canyon ferried us out. This last trip for a chance to take a real shower after which had experienced a flash flood. The flood washed out one of a full week was tempered by the knowledge that the adventure had Trip Field the campsites we sometimes used; fortunately, no one was camped come to an end. there. A walk up Fern Glen Canyon and a couple of short scrambles provided access to several very pretty waterfalls. Later it was on to The next Grand Canyon field trip will be in 2014, so start making Lava Rapids for the last big, exciting rapids of our trip. We said plans to attend now. I farewell to our river guides the next morning and helicopters 2012 HGS Grand Canyon Field Trip continued on page 55 2012 HGS Grand Canyon Canyon Grand HGS 2012
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 53 David Childers, ph: 713-658-0077, e-mail: [email protected] Total Plaza, 1201 Louisiana St., Suite 570, Houston, TX 77002
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54 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 2012 HGS Grand Canyon Field Trip continued from page 53 ______Field Trip Field 2012 HGS Grand Canyon Canyon Grand HGS 2012
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 55 Back to Table of Contents Gulf Coast Association of GeoloGeologicalgical R Societies and the GGulfulf CCoastoast SSectionection of SEPM ndnd 626 2 AAnnualnnualnnuualal ConConventionConveentionntio onn O BEROCT 21–24, 2012 AUSTIN T, SAEX H STEDO BY TUSTIN EH AUSTIN G LAICOGLOE S CIETYO Logs Since 1971 www.mjlogs.com
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56 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Government Update by Henry M. Wise, P.G. and Arlin Howles, P.G.
If you’d like the most up-to-date Texas rules, regulations, and governmental meeting Update information, we direct you to the HGS website to review The Wise Report. This report, which comes out as needed but not more often than once a week, offers the most up-to-date information that may be of interest to Texas geologists.
AGI Government Affairs Monthly Review (July 2012) Opponents claim H.R. 4402 is meant to reduce environmental Hydropower Legislation Approved by House protection in the mining industry. Other critical minerals bills plan Government On July 9, 2012 the House of Representatives passed a bill that to support the industry by creating inter-agency groups to monitor encourages permitting of small hydropower projects and supports the global supply chain or research U.S. deposits and mineral research into pumped storage for solar and wind projects. The processing techniques. This bill primarily promotes relaxed permit Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2012 (H.R. 5892), regulations for companies who attempt to mine critical minerals. sponsored by Representative Cathy Rodgers (R-WA), would allow the While H.R. 4402 was able to pass the Republican-controlled House Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to exempt conduit of Representatives, it is unlikely to pass through a Democratic Senate. projects that generate less than five megawatts from the regulatory process. In addition, the bill requires FERC to submit a report to Domestic Energy Bill Introduced in Senate, Includes Critical Congress on the viability for a shortened, two-year permitting process Minerals Language for pumped storage projects and non-powered dams. On July 26, 2012 Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) announced the Domestic Energy and Jobs Act of 2012 (DEJA) in the Senate. This H.R. 5892 has received bipartisan support within the House and bill would put policy in place to reduce energy costs and create jobs Senate. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), ranking member of the Energy within the energy sector. It incorporates language from Senator Lisa and Natural Resources Committee, is currently at work on sister Murkowski’s (R-AK) Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2011 (S.1113) legislation for the House bill, with support from the Committee directing the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to evaluate domestic Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). Many in the hydropower mineral deposits and find sources of critical materials. DEJA would industry and Department of Energy claim the bill will support job approve the Keystone XL Pipeline, limit regulations of the coal creation, expand the hydropower industry, and potentially provide mining industry and make more land available for oil and gas 15 percent of the nation’s electricity needs by 2030. leasing. The bill has not yet been introduced though it is already supported by Senator Murkowski and Senate Minority Leader House of Representatives Passes Critical Minerals Bill Mitch McConnell (R-KY). On July 12, 2012 the House of Representatives passed the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012 (H.R. 4402). A House of Representatives version of DEJA was announced by The bill’s supporters claim it would streamline regulations and increase Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). It is unlikely DEJA will agency cooperation to strengthen the domestic mining industry. pass the Democratic Senate, however the bipartisan collaboration between Senator Murkowski and Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) As of 2010, the U.S. imports 17 critical minerals including rare earths suggests hope for S.1113. and thorium. Critical minerals are defined as being necessary for vital technology such as missile defense systems, wind turbines and New Million-Scale Digital Map Data Program led by USGS catalytic converters and whose supplies are not subject to U.S. control. On July 24, 2012 the United States Geological Survey (USGS) introduced the National Atlas of the United States of America, a The author of H.R. 4402, Congressman Mark Amodei (R-NV), comprehensive, digital cartographic system to make maps easily asserts that these minerals could be produced in the U.S. if accessible and internationally compatible. The one million-scale permitting regulation is curbed. He made the case on the House maps, where one inch on the map is equivalent to about 16 miles, floor that Australian and Canadian mining operations are subject have twice the resolution of previous versions. to environmental protections similar to those in the U.S., but their permitting process takes less than two years; it can take more than National Atlas is modeled to make geographic information easier seven years in the U.S. Amodei argued that bureaucratic restrictions to find, get, and use. Digital maps of national, state, and country in the permitting process deprive the U.S. of high paying jobs and boundaries, transportation infrastructure, surface waters, and cities a domestic supply of critical minerals. and towns can now be easily found on-line through data portals such as data.gov or nationalatlas.gov. Future map themes will
Government Update continued on page 59
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 57 If you liked our timely September article on Microbialites by Stanley M. Awramik and H. Paul Buchheim, you may wish to read more about it in SEPM’s latest Special Publication (SP 101) Microbial Mats in Siliciclastic Depositional Systems through Time Edited by: Nora Noffke and Henry Chafetz.
he research field on microbial mats in siliciclastic environmental settings has greatly developed since its establishment by Tstudies of pioneering scientists such as Gisela Gerdes, Wolfgang Krumbein, Jürgen Schieber, David Bottjer and others. This SEPM Special Publication is the result of the SEPM Field Conference on Sandy Microbial Mats (modern and ancient), which was held in May 21st to 23rd, 2010 at Dinosaur Ridge, Denver, Colorado, USA. The volume presents peer reviewed individual case studies on microbial mats and on sedimentary structures, often called “microbially induced sedimentary structures” aka MISS, that occur in modern and ancient marine and terrestrial environments. The conference brought together sedimentologists, microbiologists, and paleontologists from 30 countries and all five continents. Topics discussed ranged from the evolution of cyanobacteria, the detection of quorum sensing in biofilms to the taxonomy of MISS and microbial mat ecology. The talks and posters presented fossil material from 3.2 Ga old rock successions to microbial mat samples from sediments of the present day. This volume is designed to present the wide spectrum of research in this multidisciplinary scientific field, and to integrate the many different points of views and approaches.
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58 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Government Update continued from page 57 ______
include Federal and Native American lands, Congressional districts, Drillers in Arkansas Threatened with Lawsuit for In- Update and U.S. statistical areas. Data can be downloaded free of charge duced Seismicity and easily used with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or On behalf of Stephen Hearn and other residents of Faulkner desktop mapping software. In addition, the National Atlas has County, Arkansas, Emerson Poynter LLP has filed a lawsuit connected map features along the U.S. borders with national against drilling operators due to the onset of thousands of mapping programs in Canada and Mexico, and now meets the earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. The lawsuit targets subsidiaries Global Map specifications. Global Map is an international mapping of Chesapeake Energy Corporation and BHP Billiton for their coalition with the goal to create an integrated, million scale map “ultra hazardous” decisions to inject hydraulic fracturing of the world. wastewater underground. Government
EPA Reports Water at Dimock, PA Safe to Drink The process of hydraulic fracturing creates toxic, briny flowback The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in July water, which drilling companies must treat and discharge into surface that contaminant levels in Dimock, Pennsylvania’s water supplies water or dispose of by underground injection. Recent technological show no health threat and no connection to chemicals used in advances to hydraulic fracturing have led to an increase in gas hydraulic fracturing. production wells and wastewater injection sites. Numerous scientific studies, including one conducted by United States Geological Survey The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) scientists, conclude that injecting wastewater underground can has not allowed Cabot Oil and Gas to drill near Dimock, the town lubricate faults and induce small earthquakes. featured in the documentary “Gasland.” The wells were shut down in 2009 because the town claimed poor well construction caused Citizens of Faulkner County claim the earthquakes, which have the migration of methane gas into water resources. The DEP found reached magnitudes as strong as 4.7, are caused by the negligence unnatural gas concentrations on 18 properties. The EPA methane of drilling companies and are asking the court to decide whether tests found five wells with methane levels above the 28 parts per Government Update continued on page 61 million threshold. People receiving water from these wells were already aware of methane levels present in local water.
The EPA tested for naturally occurring substances including arsenic, barium, and manganese. Levels of concern for health impacts were identified at five households, however all have built, or plan to build, water treatment systems to reduce the risk.
DOE Announces $7 Million for Carbon Capture and Storage Research The Department of Energy (DOE) will allocate $7 million to eight projects at universities, companies and research institutions in an effort to control the release of carbon dioxide from coal plants and lower the cost of oxy-combustion.
The administration has said they hope to develop technologies to capture 90 percent of emissions at less than $25 per ton of carbon dioxide. Test pilot projects have not yet been able to reach commercial scale because costs were are at least double the $25 goal. FutureGen 2.0, a large-scale demonstration project, plans to use oxy-combustion when it comes online in 2017.
Projects which exhibit promise would be proposed for more funding next year. Companies and universities have added their own money to the DOE’s $7 million, and raised the total amount of funds to around $9.4 million. To date, $6.9 billion has been spent by the federal government on carbon capture and sequestration.
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 59
2012 HGS Holiday Ho-Ho-Hoedown Monday, December 3, 2012 5:30pm - 11:00pm Blanco’s Bar & Grill 3406 West Alabama @ Buffalo Speedway • Houston, Texas 77027 • (713) 439-0072 Giddy up, Giddy up, Giddy up, Let’s go!
Don’t miss the best dang holiday shindig in town! Lasso your posse and mosey on down to Blanco’s Bar and Grill. Eat tasty vittles, wet your whistle at the cash bar and get your boots a scootin’ on the dance floor
Preregistration: Members: $40 Non-members: $45 At the door: Members: $45 Non-members: $50
Price includes dinner, three (3) drink tickets and live band Register & prepay online at www.hgs.org
Or send check and form to: HGS Office, Holiday Ho-Ho-Hoedown, 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 250, Houston, Texas 77079 or fax this form with credit card information to 281-679-5504 Name: ______Company: ______Work Phone: ______Email: ______No. of tickets desired: Pre-registered Members & Spouses $40 ______Non-members $45______Total amount enclosed:______Membership No. ______(Please include names of all attendees): ______Credit Card number and type: ______CVV or Card ID : ______Expiration Date (required): ______Name on Credit Card: ______Daytime Phone number of Card Holder: ______Billing Address for Card: ______City, State and Zip: ______
60 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Government Update continued from page 59 ______
the drilling operations amount to a public nuisance or trespassing. released its rules for a voluntary carbon emissions trading scheme. Update Although no law addresses induced seismicity, the law firm claims The rules were translated into English and distributed by Chinese the drilling companies disregarded the well-known connection environmental advocacy group The Climate Group. between injection wells and seismic activity and are causing the increase in earthquake activity. The lawsuit states that this has The policy promotes reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) through resulted in higher insurance costs and residents now fear for their emissions limitations set by China’s National Development and safety. The case is scheduled for trial in March 2014. Reform Commission (NDRC). Limitations can be raised by purchasing credits from other companies. The NDRC’s monitored More Countries Join United States Led Climate and emission reduction levels will be reviewed by third party Government Clean Air Initiative organizations as dictated by the government report. Seven more nations joined the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, launched by Hillary Clinton in February. The addition of Britain, Beijing and the Hubei and Guangdong provinces have begun Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy and Jordan brings the crafting local emissions trading schemes based on the system total membership to 20 countries. Work has been done to attract emplaced by the European Union. Guangdong is a major center of more nations, including China and India, to join the coalition. China’s growing coal production industry and is the largest carbon- emitting region in the country. Environmental advocates hope this According to the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP), air cap and trade scheme will curb the coal industry and encourage pollution may cause up to 6 million deaths per year worldwide and clean energy technology. significantly contribute to global warming. The United States has not taken any legislative action to cut greenhouse gas emissions, 2012 Presidential Candidates Support Clean Energy however the Climate and Clean Air initiative could reduce global R&D Initiatives temperature rise associated with greenhouse gases 0.9 degrees During a debate on energy and environmental policy sponsored Fahrenheit by 2050. by Business Roundtable (BRT), representatives for Barack Obama and Mitt Romney expressed the candidates’ support of the China Develops Carbon Cap and Trade Rules Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) funding China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) model for high-risk basic research. Since it first received funding
Government Update continued on page 63
Directory of Oil Company Name Changes 22nd Edition (April 2012)
A new 22nd edition, of the HGS publication, “Directory of Oil Company Name New Edition Changes”, is now available through the Bureau of Economic Geology. This publication is a cross-referenced list of domestic oil and gas, exploration and production companies that have sold major assets or have changed their names due to a merger, acquisition or reorganization. The purpose of this directory is to provide an oil company road map that may assist geologists in tracking down logs, samples, cores, paleo, drilling reports, production histories and other well data that may be obscured by these numerous name changes.
The cost of the directory is still $15.00 and it can be obtained from the BEG. Contact information is as follows: Bureau of Economic Geology University of Texas in Austin Attn: Publication Sales University Station, Box X Austin, Texas 78713-8924 Phone: (888) 839-4365 www.beg.utexas.edu
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 61 HGS Welcomes New Members
New Members Effective August 2012 ACTIVE MEMBERS Richard Nolen-Hoeksema ASSOCIATE MEMBER New Members New Stan Abele Philip Norby Tammy Price Christopher Armstrong Matt Orillion Robert (Neil) Aubuchon Stephane Raillard EMERITUS MEMBER Duncan Bate Colby Record Steven Voss Anand Boice Lorna Richmond Christopher Clinkscales Patrick Schuneman STUDENT MEMBERS Tyler Croft Austin Shock Andrea Dearing Ashley Dack David Sills Allegra Giblin HGS Welcomes Welcomes HGS Emmanuel Ede Sonja Spasojevic Samantha Leone Duncan Edwards Jael Sprinkle Cheyenne Morgan Meredith Faber Scott Trollope John Pirraglia George Grunau Osman Varol Yesenia Rivera Axita Gupta Jennifer Wadsworth Ming-Kang Shih Jacob Hundl Stephen Wells Melanie Stephens James Immitt Ronald Wilson Shams Ul-Hadi Corey Moss Konstandinos Zamfes
New Members Effective August 2012 ACTIVE MEMBERS Susan Rainbolt Ron Thornhill Jeff Benton John Sharp William Finley Qiang Song ASSOCIATE MEMBER Jake Lacy Scott Stookey William Dabaghi Christopher McKinley Qiang Sun James Trippon Roger Murray Charlie Teague Ravi Nigudkar Stephanie Thomas Welcome New Members
Renew your HGS membership online hgs.org
62 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Back to Table of Contents Government Update continued from page 61______
in 2009, ARPA-E has spent more than $1 billion on new, clean Sciencedebate.org is a grassroots, nonprofit science advocacy Update energy technologies. organization dedicated to the initiation of a national dialogue on the top science and engineering policy problems. The organization Bipartisan praise for ARPA-E research and development efforts first held an online discussion forum for potential questions and differed only in the extent to which the campaigns believe then partnered with science and engineering organizations, government should subsidize clean energy technology with including the American Geosciences Institute and several member public funds. Romney representative Linda Gillespie Stuntz societies, to reach a consensus and finalize the list. accused the Obama Administration of investing in clean technologies that produce few jobs and argued that the federal The top science questions for 2012 focus on issues including Government government should not pick technology “winners and losers.” innovation and the economy, climate change, research investments, She cited the failure of Solyndra, a thin-film solar cell biosecurity, education, energy, food, fresh water resources, internet manufacturing company, as an example. Dan Reicher, management, improving ocean health, improving scientific campaign representative for the Obama Administration, integrity, space exploration, critical natural resources, and argued that government assistance is needed to promote vaccination requirements. commercialization of clean energy technologies. Both administrations said they would use government-backed loan The Obama and Romney campaigns have been asked to respond guarantees to encourage nuclear power plant development. to the questions by August 15, 2012. Sciencedebate.org and its media partner Scientific American magazine welcome societies to When the conversation turned to carbon dioxide emissions, the cross-publicize, generate unique coverage of the issues, and discuss campaign representatives disagreed on the value of carbon capture the questions in order to encourage productive debate. I and storage technologies (CCS). The Romney campaign doubts the cost-effectiveness of CCS technology; whereas, the Obama campaign defends its efforts to launch a CCS pilot project in Texas. In terms of climate change policy, the Romney campaign said they NPC Engineering Group, LLC would be reluctant to mandate greenhouse gas emissions International Petroleum Consultants reductions unless nations such as China and India agreed to similar Texas Registered Professional Engineer & reductions. Texas Registered O&G Operator services Let NPC compete for the work you outsource, such as: Top American Science Questions of 2012 Posed to Drilling Consultants Presidential Candidates Contract Field Operations Field Redevelopment Studies In collaboration with scientists, engineers, and concerned citizens, Acquisition & Divestiture Valuations Sciencedebate.org has requested Barack Obama’s and Mitt Expert Witness Testimony Romney’s campaign teams to respond to a list of 14 critical science Lonnie McDade, President, 817-454-5954 issues that the nation faces (http://www.sciencedebate.org/ (Dallas/Ft.Worth) questions.html). Vance Usher, PE, Sr. Manager, 817-437-9661 (Houston)
E. H. STORK, TORK, JR.,J & ASSOCIATES, OCIA INC. BiostratigraphicBiostrat Specialists ecial
* ExtensiveExtensiv Regional Paleo o DatabaseData * Onshore nshore – Offshore Texas & LouisianaLou * Over 5,000 Well Inventory ventory Kevin J. McMichael 3HFRUH6WUHHW6XLWH+RXVWRQ7; HURFH3 ;7QRWVXR+HWLX6WHHUW6H ; VWRUNDQGDVVRF#VEFJOREDOQHW JFEV#FRVVDGQDNURWV ODEROJ QHW (+6WRUN-UDQG6ODWHU(0F(DFKHUQ-U+( RW6 UN O6GQDU- DW FD(F0(UH U-QUHK Current Analysis — Drilling Wells
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 63 Back to Table of Contents Full Color Ads Now Available!HGS Bulletin Instructions to Authors All materials are due by the 15th of the month, 6 weeks before issue publication. Abstracts should be 500 words or less; extended abstracts up to 1000 words; articles can be any length but brevity is preferred as we have a physical page limit within our current publishing contract. All submissions are subject to editorial review and revision. Text should be submitted by email as an attached text or Word file or on a clearly labeled CD in Word format with a hardcopy printout to the Editor. Figures, maps, diagrams, etc., should be digital files using Adobe Illustrator, Canvas or CorelDraw. Files should be saved and submitted in .ai (Adobe Illustrator) format. Send them as separate attachments via email or CD if they are larger than 1 MEG each, accompanied by figure captions that include the file name of the desired image. DO NOT EMBED them into your text document; they must be sent as separate files from the text. DO NOT USE POWERPOINT, CLIP ART or Internet images (72-DPI resolution) as these do not have adequate resolution for the printed page and cannot be accepted. All digital files must have 300-DPI resolution or greater at the approximate size the figure will be printed. Photographs may be digital or hard copy. Hard copies must be printed on glossy paper with the author’s name, photo or figure number and caption on the back. Digital files must be submitted in .tif, .jpg or .eps format with 300-DPI or greater resolution at the printing size and be accompanied by figure captions that are linked by the file name of the image. The images should be submitted as individual email attachments (if less than 1 MB) or on CD or DVD. Advertising The Bulletin is printed digitally using QuarkXPress. We no longer use negatives or camera-ready advertising material. Call the HGS office for availability of ad space and for digital guidelines and necessary forms or email [email protected]. Advertising is accepted on a space-available basis. Deadline for submitting material is 6 weeks prior to the first of the month in which the ad appears.
Random Inside Page 2 Inside Front Inside Back Outside Calendar Calendar (Black & White) (B&W) Cover Cover Back Cover Back Page (Full Color) (Full Color) (Full Color) (Full Color) (Full Color) No. of Random*Random* Random* Random* Issues Eighth Quarter Half Full Full Full Full Half Full Quarter 10 $823 $1,387 $2,488 $4,734 $5,680 $7,830 $7,560 $6,858 $6,750 $2,700 9 $823 $1,387 $2,488 $4,734 $5,680 8 $750 $1,260 $2,242 $4,307 $5,169 7 $665 $1,123 $2,014 $3,834 $4,600 6 $590 $990 $1,782 $3,392 $4,069 $1,890 5 $497 $837 $1,503 $2,860 $3,432 $4,698 $4,536 $4,104 4 $405 $683 $1,223 $2,326 $2,792 3 $327 $550 $990 $1,886 $2,262 $1,080 2 $232 $392 $704 $1,339 $1,607 1 $146 $246 $443 $842 $1,010 $1,404 $1,296 $1,080 $810 FULL COLOR AD BUSINESS CARD $160 per 10 Issues – Send two cards * add 30% to B&W charge for full (4) color ad ($30 for each additional name on same card) Website Advertising Opportunities
HGS has multiple website advertising opportunities for your company! We’ve expanded our offerings to include a 275 x 800 pixel, rotating banner ad on the front page of the website. We have kept the popular Event Calendar and Geo-Job Postings advertisement locations!
Home page Home Page Event Calendar Geo-Jobs Website Business Card Personal Resumes Banner (200 x 400 pixels) (200 x 400 pixels) (120 x 90 pixels) (Members Only) (Members Only) One year $3,000.00 $2,800.00 $2,500.00 $1,400.00 Free Free 6 months $2,000.00 $1,800.00 $1,500.00 $750.00 Free Free 3 months $1,500.00 $1,300.00 $1,000.00 $450.00 Free Free Monthly $ 700.00 $500.00 $ 400.00 $200.00 Free Free
We still offer Geo-Jobs - where your company can post job openings for 14 days at $50.00 or 30 days at $100.00.
For more information regarding website advertising visit HGS.org or email [email protected].
64 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Discover I American Express, I MasterCard, I VISA, I ______plcn’ intr______Dt ______Signature______Date Applicant’s Earth Science Work Experience Work Science Earth ______School ______Degree ______Major ______Year School ______Degree ______Major ______Year Endorsement by HGS member (not required if active AAPG member) Endorsement by HGS member (not required if active Name: ______Signature______Date Check, I Card # ______Expiration Date: ______Card I.D. ______Mail this application and payment to: Society Geological Houston 77079-2916 TX 250 • Houston, Suite Lane, Mary’s 14811 St. 713-463-9476 Fax: 281-679-5504 Telephone: Payment method: ) card of or back front on number – 3 or 4 digit I.D. (Card Associate membership in the Houston Geological Society and pledge to abide by its Active or K North American E&P (other than Gulf Coast) American E&P North (onshore & offshore) Gulf Coast E&P Check here if a full-time student. I hereby apply for K Application to Become a Member of the Houston Geological Society of Member Houston a the Become to Application college or university; university and have been engaged in the professional study or practice of earth science for at least five (5) years. International E&P K Environmental Geology K AAPG member No.: ______To the Executive Board: Executive the To Constitution and Bylaws. K Membership Chairman ______HGS Secretary HGS ______ChairmanMembership ______Work Phone: ______Fax Number: ______Phone:Work ______Fax Address: Mailing Preferred Circle Home Office Affiliations:______Professional K K Professional Interest:Professional K Home Phone:Home Name: Spouse’s ______Email: ______Job Title: ______Company: ______Address:Company ______Name: Name: ______Address:______1) Have a degree in geology or an allied geoscience from accredited 2) Have a degree in science or engineering from an accredited college 1) Be involved in the application of earth or allied sciences. 2) Be a full-time student enrolled in geology or the related sciences. revised 8/6/10 revised Qualifications for Active Membership Active for Qualifications students) (including Membership Associate for Qualifications HGS Join on click and www.hgs.org at online Apply fee) re-instatement $5 – renewals (Late 30. June Each Expire Dues Annual are free. pay $12.00; students members are $24.00; emeritus dues Annual
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 65 Back to Table of Contents Houston Petroleum Auxiliary Council News Edie Bishop, HGS Liaison 713-467-8706 or [email protected] News
So, do you have a Houston Bucket List? Are there lots of things that you have wanted to do in Houston and its environs—such as visit some of the smaller museums, tour a cheese factory, be led on a walk by a docent around Glenwood Cemetery among Houston’s famous of yesteryear, visit an artist’s studio, try some of the many ethnic foods, etc—but just have not? This is the question Martha Lou Broussard posed to HPAC’s membership when she founded our special interest group, HPAC Exploring Houston in September 2010.
The group meets three times a year. They start with a couple of discovery trips around Houston and follow with one road trip in the spring to explore our extremely interesting Texas history. These Martha Lou will kick off this year’s outings on Thursday October outings have been very successful and well received. Our first 18th with a morning cruise on the Spirit of the Bayou pontoon boat discovery trip included a delicious Persian lunch at which our that begins from the point that the Allen Brothers designated as bread was baked against the side of a brick oven; our second trip the uppermost navigable area of Buffalo Bayou and on which they was a tour of a chocolate factory. founded our city. Lunch will be at the Spaghetti Warehouse, with
Houston Petroleum Auxiliary Council Auxiliary Petroleum Houston its resident ghosts, followed by a tour of the newly refurbished Julia Ideson Building of the Houston Public Library.
Other events this year include a late January trip to the above- mentioned Glenwood Cemetery for a special tour of famous ladies by a member of Preservation Houston. After lunch on Washington Avenue or in the Heights, we will go to David Adickes’ studio where he sculpts his famous giant statues. The spring road trip will be to Columbus, one of Texas’ oldest towns in which there are many sights to see that include pre- and post-Civil War homes and the 1886 Opera House. Spouses and guests are welcome to attend these events.
We thank you, Martha Lou and Linnie Edwards, for making this special interest group truly special!
Now from the Bucket List to a Fave List—for some it was the Remember that in addition to our regular luncheon programs and discovery trip to New China Town, renamed Asian Town, where this special interest group, we have other interest groups: Bridge: we experienced a tea tasting at the Taipei Culture Center, a visit to Audrey Tompkins, 713-868-0005 or Daisy Wood, 713-977-7319, a temple, a walk through an Asian market and a dim sum lunch. A and Book Club: Phyllis Carter, 281-397-9888 or Anita Weiner, favorite Spring Road Trip was the visit to Goliad, one of the oldest 713-572-9874, towns in Texas. The town was founded in 1749 when the Presidio La Bahia and the Mission Espirito Santa were established. Not Texas Geologists, please encourage your spouses to join HPAC, where born, I was unaware that Col. James Fannin and 350 of his men they will have to opportunity to meet other spouses of Geologists, were massacred following their surrender to Mexican forces after Geophysicists, Engineers, and Landmen. They will participate in the battle of Coleto Creek. I’m sure other members have different informative and entertaining programs, delicious lunches and favorite trips—just ask Jennifer and John Biancardi next time you welcoming fellowship. The HPAC membership form is included in see them! the HGS Bulletin. (Contact Edie Bishop at 713-467-8707 or [email protected]).
66 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 Back to Table of Contents You are invited to become a member of HPAC 2012–2013 dues are $20.00 Mail dues payment along with the completed yearbook information to Winona LaBrant, 10123 Valley Forge Drive, Houston, Texas 77042 YEARBOOK INFORMATION
Last Name First Name Name Tag
Spouse Name Name Tag HGS Member’s Company
Home Phone Business Phone Business Fax
Street Address City Zip
Email Address Home Fax Please choose a committee assignment if you are interested.
I Fall Event I Yearbook I SOS I Membership
I Christmas Event I Spring Event I Notification I Game Day
I May Luncheon I Courtesy
Professional Directory
3-D Seismic Interpretation, FTG Gravity Modeling, Seismic Inversion and AVO analysis 6001 Savoy, Suite 110 • Houston, Texas 77036 (713) 981-4650 • (281) 242-0639 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.hunter3dinc.com
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 67 Charles S. Knobloch Attorney at Law . Registered Patent Attorney Texas Professional Geoscientist - Geophysics
4900 Woodway, Suite 900, Houston, Texas 77056 p: 713-972-1150 . d: 713-335-3021 . f: 713-972-1180 [email protected] . [email protected] www.arnold-iplaw.com
68 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012 JAMES S. CLASSEN Looking for close-in deals BUS. 208-854-1037 P.O. BOX 140637 RES. 208-854-1038 BOISE, ID 83714 FAX. 208-854-1029
JAMES B. BENNETT RANDALL SCHOTT Geology Geophysics
811 Dallas Suite 1020 Bus. (713)650-1378 Houston, Texas 77002
Graham Gi ord VP US OPERATIONS graham.gi [email protected] Direct line +1 713 979 9902 GETECH 3000 Wilcrest Dr., Suite 155 Houston TX 77042 USA Tel +1 713 979 9900 Fax +1 713 979 9960 www.getech.com
Geological & Environmental Investigations on Oil & Gas and Mining Properties • Site Assessments • Brine Investigations • Hydrochemical Studies • DeWatering Studies • Property Evaluations • Forensic Investigations Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H. I2M Associates, LLC http://I2MAssociates.com Houston and Seattle • 7138070021
October 2012 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 69 7500 SAN FELIPE, SUITE 250 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77063
HGS GeoJob Bank www.hgs.org/en/jobs
70 Houston Geological Society Bulletin October 2012
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