Official Program

Catch the Energy Wave!!

2015 Pacific Section AAPG Joint Annual Meeting May 3-5, 2015 Oxnard, CA

Official Program

CONTENTS

Convention Schedule……………………………………………....…………....…………..……….... 02

Sponsors……..…………………………………………………………..…………….…………….…… 05

Letter from the PSAAPG President, John Williams……………………………………..………. 06

Letter from the Convention Chair, Joan Barminski………………..…………….…………….… 07

Officers and Convention Committee Pacific Section AAPG Officers………………………………………….….………….....……. 08 Coast Geological Society Officers…………………………………….……...……..………… 08 2015 Convention Committee…...…………………...…………………………………………. 08

Exhibitors…………………………………………………………………………………………….……. 09

General Information……………………………………………...……………………..………...…..... 12 The Area – Activities, Food, Fun……..………………………………..………..……………... 14 Speaker and Judge Information……………………………………………………………….. 19

Highlights…………………………………………………..………………………………..……………. 20 Breakfasts – Luncheons – Receptions……….……………..………..………..……….…….. 20 Student Q&A – Visiting Professional Geoscientists…………………..………..…………….. 23

Guest Events…………………...... ………….……………………………………………………...…… 24

Dinner Cruise……..………….……………………………………………………………...………...… 24

Geology Field Trips……..………….……………………………………………………………...…… 25

Teachers Workshop…….….……………………………..…..……………………….…………. 29

Short Courses….…………………….……………………..…..……………………….…………. 30

Technical Program – Oral Sessions – Monday, May 4..………………………………………. 33

Technical Program – Poster Sessions– Monday, May 4….……………………………………. 49

Technical Program – Oral Sessions– Tuesday, May 5..……………….……………………….. 59

Technical Program – Poster Sessions– Tuesday, May 5….…………………………………… 75

AAPG Search and Discovery Mobile App………………….……………………………..………. 82 CONTENTS CREDITS: Cover Photo: Detachment fold in Monterey Formation, Crystal Cove State Park. Photography by Stefano Mazzoni

Back Cover: Wildflowers and surf, Vandenberg AFB. Photography by Stefano Mazzoni

“Our favorite geologist, Andy Cline, is immortalized in this Program in cartoons drawn by the late Harold Sullwold. Prior to Sully passing away he gave the PSAAPG permission to use his Andy Cline cartoons as we saw fit. For decades Sully’s cartoons have provided many a smile to those of us in the oil patch”.

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CONVENTION SCHEDULE Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel and Resort

Saturday, May 2 Field Trips Modern Depositional Systems of an Active 8:00 a – 6:00 p Hotel Entrance Margin Coastline Short Courses Mud in Your Eye? A Core Workshop/Seminar Shell/Aera Illustrating the Evaluation of Mudstones 8:00 a – 4:30 p Office, Ventura Using Examples from the Monterey Avenue Field Formation 8:00 a – 5:00 p Sequence Stratigraphy for Students Embassy 2 Teachers 8:00 a – 9:00 a Geologists Role in the K-12 Classroom Embassy 1 Workshop 9:00 a – 4:30 p Geology and Energy in the Classroom Sunday, May 3 General 3:00 p – 7:00 p Registration Hotel Lobby Information 1:00 p – 5:00 p Speaker & Judges Preparation Coral Exhibit Hall, 6:00 p – 8:00 p Exhibition Mandalay Ballroom Highlights Exhibit Hall, 6:00 p – 8:00 p Icebreaker Mandalay Ballroom Field Trips Mixed Siliclclastic – Siliceous Monterey 8:30 a – 4:30 p Formation Succession, Paradise Cove to Point Hotel Entrance Dume, Los Angeles Basin Short Courses 8:00 a – 5:00 p Sequence Stratigraphy for Students Embassy 2 Understanding and Streamlining the Environmental Permitting Process for 8:00 a – 5:00 p Embassy 1 Upstream Oil & Gas – Formula for Success Embassy 1 Monday, May 4 General 7:30 a – 5:00 p Registration Hotel Lobby SCHEDULE Information 7:00 a – 5:00 p Presenters & Judges Preparation Coral 7:00 a – 8:00 a Presenters & Judges Breakfast Hotel Restaurant 7:00 a – 8:00 a House of Delegates Breakfast* Embassy 2 Exhibit Hall, 8:00 a – 7:00 p Exhibition Mandalay Ballroom Highlights 11:30 a – 1:15 p All Convention Luncheon Embassy 1 and 2 Presidential 3:00 p – 4:00 p Guest Hospitality: Wine Tasting Suite, Hotel Student Q&A: Pacific Section AAPG Visiting 4:00 p – 5:30 p Embassy 2 Geoscientist Program 5:00 p – 7:00 p Brew and Browse Exhibit Hall CONVENTION .02 P 2

Channel Islands Harbor Dinner Cruise Channel Islands 7:00 p – 9:15 p Harbor, Oxnard

Technical Session 1: Regional and Field Studies on the 8:20 a – 9:40 a Embassy 1 Presentations Monterey Formation Session 2: Deepwater Clastic Depositional 8:20 a – 9:40 a Systems in California and Beyond: Reservoir Harbor Quality, Facies, and Architecture Session 3: Integrating Petrophysics and 8:20 a – 10:40 a Pacifica Geoscience 10:00 a – 11:00 Session 4: Assessing Reservoir Quality Harbor a Through Detailed Analyses Session 5: Interpretation Case Studies and 1:40 p – 5:00 p Advancing Technologies in Seismic Pacifica Acquisition and Processing Session 6: Detailed Characterization of the 3:00 p – 4:20 p Embassy 1 Monterey Formation in California Session 7: Sediments as Recorders of Earth’s 3:00 p – 4:40 p Harbor History Poster Session 1: Regional and Field Studies 8:00 a – 6:30 p Exhibit Hall on the Monterey Poster Session 2: Deepwater Clastic

Depositional Systems in California and CONVENT 8:00 a – 6:30 p Exhibit Hall Beyond: Reservoir Quality, Facies, and Architecture Poster Session 4: Assessing Reservoir Quality 8:00 a – 6:30 p Exhibit Hall Through Detailed Analyses Poster Session 5: Interpretation Case Studies 8:00 a – 6:30 p and Advancing Technologies in Seismic Exhibit Hall Acquisition and Processing Poster Session 7: Sediments as Recorders of 8:00 a – 6:30 p Exhibit Hall Earth’s History ION Poster Session 11: Current Advances in 8:00 a – 6:30 p Applied Paleontology, Geochemistry, and Exhibit Hall

Environmental Geologys SCHEDULE Tuesday, May 5 General 7:30 a - Noon Registration Hotel Lobby Information 7:00 a– 8:00 a Presenters & Judges Breakfast Hotel Restaurant Exhibit Hall, 8:00 a – 6:00 p Exhibition Mandalay Ballroom 7:00 a – 5:00 p Speaker & Judges Preparation Coral Highlights 7:00 a – 8:00 a AAPG Division of Professional Affairs Pacifica Breakfast/ Meet and Greet 11:30 a – 1:00 p AAPG Division of Environmental Geosciences Pacifica Luncheon P .03

11:45 a – 1:15 p AAPG Division of Professional Affairs Harbor Luncheon 4:00 p – 6:00 p Sundowner Exhibit Hall 3:00 p – 4:00 p Pacific Section AAPG Leadership & Business Colony Forum 3:30 p – 4:30 p Pacific Section SEPM Awards Reception Pacifica Technical Session 8: Tectonics and Structural Geology 8:20 a – 2:20 p Embassy 1 Presentations of Western North America Session 9: Mixing Oil and Water: Water 8:20 a – 11:40 a Topics Associated wtih Oil and Gas Embassy 2 Exploration and Production Activities Session 10: California Reservoirs: Evolution of 8:20 a – 11:00 a Harbor Development Session 11: Current Advances in Applied 1:20 p – 2:40 p Paleontology, Geochemistry, and Pacifica Environmental Geology Session 12: The Climate of Offshore 1:20 p – 3:20 p Embassy 2 Renewable Energy in the Pacific Region 3:00 p – 4:00 p Special Session: Mexico Energy Reforms Embassy 1 Poster Session 4: Assessing Reservoir Quality 8:00 a – 6:00 p Exhibit Hall through Detailed Analyses Poster Session 8: Tectonics and Structural 8:00 a – 6:00 p Exhibit Hall Geology of Western North America Poster Session 9: Mixing Oil and Water: 8:00 a – 6:00 p Water Topics Associated with Oil and Gas Exhibit Hall Exploration and Development Poster Session 11: Current Advances in 8:00 a – 6:00 p Applied Paleontology, Geochemistry, and Exhibit Hall Environmental Geology Wednesday, May 6 Field Trips Modelo Formation – Submarine-Fan Architecture and Lithofacies Distributions in

SCHEDULE a Structurally Complex Deepwater Basin: Hotel Entrance 7:30 a – 6:00 p The Upper Modelo Turbidite System, Eastern Ventura Basin Introduction to the Need for Real Short Courses 8:00 a – 5:00 p Petrophysics in Today’s Not-So- Embassy 1 Conventional Reservoirs Thursday, May 7 Field Trips Ventura Basin Oil Fields: Structural Setting, 7:30 a – 6:00 p Hotel Entrance Traps, and Petroleum Systems

Friday, May 8 Explorer Diving Field Trips 7:00 a – 7:00 p Santa Cruz Island Tour Adventures, CONVENTION Ventura Harbor .04 P

SPONSORS Thank you to the following companies for their generous contributions and support!

Platinum Level Aera Energy

Chevron

California Resources Corporation

Gold Level Core Labratories PacSeis, Inc

Silver Level DCOR Freeport-McMoRan WSPA

Bronze Level Geokinetics Geomechanics Technologies Kear Groundwater

Petrolog Sinclair Schlumberger

Vaquero Energy Venoco, Inc.

Patron Level SPONSORS Dynamic Graphics, Inc. Fugro Consultants Glenn Gregory Services

Hopkins Groundwater Hopps Group MHA Consultants, Inc.

Numeric Solutions Payzone Petroleum Geophysicists, Inc.

Rancho Energy, Inc. Renaissance Petroleum, LLC Rincon Consultants

TRC Operating Co., Inc. The SourceGroup, Inc. WZI, Inc.

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LETTER FROM THE PSAAPG PRESIDENT, JOHN WILLIAMS

Dear Energy Scientists of the Pacific Sections, Thank you all. The PSAAPG Convention Committee, lead by Joan Barminski has completed the work required for a seamless Convention. It has been my pleasure to be guided by Joan’s management style. Her leadership and temperament has served our diverse group well. Together, the PSAAPG has enthusiastically blended and delivered a great technical and social experience. I am also thankful for Coast Geological Society and its president, Bob Blackmur. It is gratifying to be surrounded by an exceptional team of ‘energy scientists’, including the Pacific Section SEPM and the Pacific Coast Section SEG. Wow, what an accomplishment! Remember, Joan’s unforgettable call, “Thrilling talks and camaraderie coming up – Cowabunga”!!!

My great honor is to welcome all Energy Scientists to the shores of the eastern Pacific to “Catch the JOHNWILLIAMS Energy Wave!!!” My hope is that your exploration is filled with discovery. Upon your arrival you discovered your four star destination, the Mandalay Beach Hotel & Resort Embassy Suites. Meet me at the beach for great luncheons and keynote speakers. At the All Convention Luncheon hear energy expert and bestselling author Alex Epstein on “The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels”. He brings a critically important voice which is rare and refreshing. Energize your exploration and discovery at the PSAAPG Division of Professional Affairs Luncheon. Dr. Charles Sternbach speaks on Discovery Thinking, Heritage of Discovery and the Playmaker Forum. AAPG Division of Environmental Geology Luncheon features Steven Bohlen, State Oil & Gas Supervisor (CA-DOGGR), speaks on the well stimulation and the development of new regulations concerning groundwater monitoring as it relates to SB4. Witness the Honors and Awards Ceremony. We will recognize thirteen honorees, including the debut of the first ever “Young Professional Distinguished Service Award”.

Exhibitors, your booth is ready and your name is prominently displayed. Geologists, over the next three days see and experience the industry that serves you. Sponsors, you are success makers. PSAAPG proudly displays your name. We appreciate all exhibitors, geologists and sponsors; your commitment is the lifeblood for scholarships, publications, and community outreach. Spouse and Social activities balance your scientific technical study. Great opportunities include the ‘Icebreaker’; it’s like the best family reunion. Join Cindy and John on the Scarlett Belle Riverboat for a dinner-cruise, paddling by waterfront homes in the Channel Islands Harbor. Wrap up the third day at the ‘Sundowner’ with friends and colleagues. Extra opportunities abound, tour the Channel Islands National Park or enjoy ambience at the beach and wine tasting.

After ninety years, the PSAAPG continues to entice discovery. This year is exceptional, for Technical and Poster Sessions, Workshops, Short Courses, and Field Trips. Teacher workshops are for K-12 teachers to help bring earth science and geology to the classroom. Geology and Field Trips are synonymous. Experience our field trips, lead by world class geologists, Wow! Since our first primordial Conference at Hotel Alexandria, Los Angeles in 1924, the Pacific Section of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists has endured and it thrives. They started a tradition; we will continue that tradition, our love for geology and another chance to “Catch the Energy Wave”!!!

Welcome Home,

John T. Williams LETTER FROMLETTERPSAAPG THEPRESIDENT

Pacific Section AAPG President 2014-2015 .06 P

LETTER FROM THE CONVENTION CHAIR, JOAN BARMINSKI

Welcome to the Convention! 2015 is a great year to visit the coast to “Catch the Energy Wave.” All the stops are pulled out to give you the best technical program, short course selection, and field trip choices centered around the central California coast and its fantastic energy.

The 2015 Pacific Section Convention is being held in Oxnard, California on the coast just north of Los Angeles and south of Ventura and Santa Barbara. The Coast Geological Society, a society within the Pacific Section of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (PSAAPG), is sponsoring the convention along with the Pacific Section of the Society of Sedimentary Geologists (PSSEPM) and the Pacific Coast Section of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (PCSSEG). The combined forces of these organizations bring diverse talks, posters, courses, and trips for your edification and enjoyment, so take advantage of all the convention has to offer during your stay in Oxnard.

You will find the Mandalay Beach Embassy Suites a wonderful location within walking distance to the Channel Islands Harbor and beaches amidst the great spring weather on the coast. Networking will be enhanced by luncheons and other special events during the meeting. The All Convention Luncheon on Monday is a unique opportunity to hear Alex Epstein, a very compelling speaker on the moral case for fossil fuels. On Tuesday, the AAPG Division of Professional Affairs and AAPG Division of Environmental Geology luncheons will inform and edify.

The Exhibit Hall is the place to find business information, see the poster sessions, and mingle with colleagues during the afternoon Brew & Browse on Monday and the Sundowner on Tuesday. And to kick off the Convention, the Icebreaker in the Exhibit Hall Sunday night is not to be missed. The entire meeting is packed with activities, including short courses and field trips May 2 through May 8.

We welcome our Guests who will enjoy the ambiance of the Presidential Suite for Wine Tasting on Monday afternoon. And everyone will want to go on the Scarlett Belle dinner cruise Monday night; dinner and dancing while cruising along the waterfront will make for a memorable evening.

The whole Convention experience is made possible by generous sponsors who have once again stepped up to support the geosciences, and we sincerely thank them all. The exhibitors provide a key component to the meeting, and our thanks are extended to each of them as well. And the Coast Geological Society formed the core of the Convention Committee; my thanks in particular to each committee member and our trusted advisors from the PSAAPG as they volunteered many hours to bring the convention to you. I look forward to seeing all of you at the Convention!

Joan Barminski PSAAPG 2015 Convention Chair

FROMLETTERCONVENTION THE CHAIRJOAN BARMINSKI

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85th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Section American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hosted by Coast Geological Society

Pacific Section AAPG Officers President John Williams President-Elect Kurt Neher O Vice President Jon Allen

FFICERS & CONVENTION COMMITTEE Secretary Malcolm Allan Treasurers Cameron Campbell, Rebecca Greenberg DeMarais Past President Dan Schwartz Editor In Chief Vaughn Thompson

Coast Geological Society Officers President Bob Blackmur Vice President Bonnie Walters Treasurer Theresa Heirshberg Secretary Alastair Haddow Past President Peter Morris

Convention Committee General Chair Joan Barminski General Vice-Chair Mike Barminski Technical Program Co-Chairs Jon Schwalbach, Stefano Mazzoni PS-SEPM Vice-Chair Rick Behl PCS-SEG Vice-Chair Gary Myers Field Trip Chair Jerry Nichols Short Course Chair Eric White Oral Session Chairs Heather Strickland, Lisa Alpert Poster Session Chair Courtney Marshall Exhibitors Chair Eric Kroh Sponsors & Fundraising Chair Mike Nelson Registration Co-Chairs Peter Morris, Steve Grayson Webmaster Jason Minch Student Liaison Chair Becca Lanners Student Volunteers Chair John Rice Publications Chair-Announcement, Program Jason Minch Editor, Printing, Publicity Chair Phil Kinney Guest Events Co-Chairs Cindy Williams, Dina Schwalbach Judging Chair Bob Ballog Honors & Awards Chair Bob Lindblom Finance Chair Mary Holland-Ford Operations Chair Dale Kunitomi Catering Chair Christine White

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EXHIBITORS

(as of 4/21/2015, subject to change)

Company Contact E-mail Booth

AAPG Tonia Greening [email protected] 10

AAPG Geocare Claudia Davoli [email protected] 4

Aera Energy LLC Traco Mathews [email protected] 9

BSEE and BOEM Bobby Kurtz [email protected] 12 California Geological Cynthia Pridmore [email protected] 7 Survey Canrig Drilling Technolgy Sarah Chamlee [email protected] 28 LTD Core Laboratories Linda Specht [email protected] 15

DOGGR Lynne Taylor [email protected] 5

Dynamic Graphics, Inc Roy Burlingame [email protected] 16 Geomechanics Alejandro Arboleda [email protected] 22 Technologies Getech Holly Hendry [email protected] 8

iBall Instruments Michelle Nesbit [email protected] 14

IHS Jeff Warhol [email protected] 23

LMKR Justine Finnett [email protected] 20

Marura’s Treasure Box Mary Getz [email protected] 17,18

Neuralog Megan Best [email protected] 11

Petrolog, Inc John Williams [email protected] 13 EXHIBITORS

PS AAPG Publications Larry Knauer [email protected] 1, 2,3

PS SEPM Publications Mario V. Caputo [email protected] 6

Real World Globes Charles Dichiera [email protected] 29 Rincon Consultants, Inc. Stephanie Goff [email protected] 30

Sinclair Well Products John Tuttle [email protected] 19

Weatherford Labratories Kimberly Shook [email protected] 21

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Exhibitor Locations

S EXHIBITOR .10 P

EXHIBITORS

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GENERAL INFORMATION

The Conference is a general interest meeting with papers and poster sessions on a wide variety of topics as well as timely short courses and field trips. The theme of the 2015 conference is Catch the Energy Wave. Presentations are organized into technical sessions with topical themes. Our committee members look forward to your papers and attendance at the beach on Ventura County’s Gold Coast.

Find up to the minute information at psaapg.org/2015convention

On-Site Registration/Check-in and Badge Pickup Schedule

Registration will be in the lobby area of the hotel. Ø Sunday, May 3; 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Ø Monday, May 4; 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM Ø Tuesday, May 5; 7:30 AM - NOON

Judging Volunteers Needed

Judging volunteers are needed for the A. I. Levorsen Award for the best oral presentation at an AAPG technical session and for the Victor Church Award for the best poster presentation. These are both prestigious awards given by the AAPG and PSAAPG. Without volunteer judges we will be missing out on a vital component of the technical and poster sessions. If you are

interested, please check the 'Volunteer to Judge' box during registration. For questions contact the Judging Chair: Bob Ballog: [email protected], (805) 498-6294.

Services and Amenities for Hotel Guests

Guests needing to conduct business will appreciate the complimentary on-site BusinessLinkTM Business Center with printing services, and high-speed internet access throughout the hotel. Enjoy the complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast to start your day as well as a complimentary Evening Reception. The Coastal Grill offers casual meals with a dramatic beachfront setting. There is a fitness center, tennis, basketball, swimming pool, bike rental, spa and the hotel property is wheelchair accessible. This is a non-smoking hotel. Expect mild temperatures (40- 70 F) with possible marine layer and/or fog. Sorry, child care is not available at this hotel. Hotel Parking

Underground hotel parking is available at the reduced rate of $6 a day, $10 for overnight. No in-out charge for guests. Valet parking extra.

Accessibility

PSAAPG is committed to making its meetings accessible to all. GENERALINFORMATION .12 P 12

NOTES

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OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Channel Islands Kayak Center – 805.984.5995 – www.cikayak.com Kayaks and paddleboards for rent at Marine Emporium Landing.

Gondola Paradiso – 805.612.4475 – www.gondolaparadiso.com Bring some wine and enjoy an authentic gondola cruise around the harbor.

Hopper Boat Rentals – 805.382.1100 – www.hopperboatrentals.com Have your own party, cruise the harbor on an electric boat. Rates from about $60-$80/hr and hold up to 10 people. They also rent kayaks and paddleboards.

Yoga by the Sea – 805.479.9530 – www.meetup.com/YOGA-by-the-SEA Daily yoga classes in the park or on the beach adjacent to the hotel (north). Donation-based classes.

Channel Islands National Park – 805.658.5730 – www.nps.gov/chis/index.htm

Island Packers Cruises – 805.642.1393 – www.islandpackers.com Offer trips to the Channel Islands.

Southern California Jet Skis – 805.910.SCJS – www.socaljetskis.com Marine Emporium Landing.

Bicycle Rentals are available at the hotel and at the Marine Emporium Landing. Cruise the bike paths and beach streets in cruisers and jitneys.

Farmer’s Market – 10 am to 2 pm each Sunday by the Marine Emporium Landing on Harbor Blvd. Fresh fruits and vegetables, fish fresh from the boat, food, crafts and entertainment.

Channel Islands Sport Fishing – 805.382.1612 – www.channelislandssportfishing.com

RESTAURANTS

Walking Distance from the hotel (0.5 mile)

Mrs. Olsons – 805.985.9151 - www.facebook.com/pages/Mrs-Olsons-Coffee-Hut Oxnard Beach tradition. Breakfast and lunch only. Be prepared for a wait on weekends.

The Italian Job Café – 805.832.4945 – www.facebook.com/italianjobcafe Traditional Italian fare, wines by the glass or bottle. Outdoor courtyard and Sunday brunch specials.

The Lookout Grill -- 805.985.9300 - www.facebook.com/TheLookoutBar British Pub atmosphere, on the harbor, with craft beers. Outdoor deck.

A little farther (.75 mile, across the bridge)

Topper’s Pizza – 805.385.4444 - http://www.topperspizzaplace.com/ GENERALINFORMATION .14 P 14

Salad bar and pizzas, great place for kids. Multiple TV’s to watch the game, and beer on tap. Still walkable if you are up for it (about a mile, Marine Emporium Landing)

Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine – 805.204.0970 – www.moquecarestaurant.com Unique Brazilian menu, upstairs dining with a view of the harbor.

Sea Fresh – 805.204.0974 – www.seafreshci.weebly.com Sushi and seafood, breakfast burritos. Great happy hour, also has a fish market. Indoor and outdoor seating.

The Waterside Restaurant and Wine Bar – 805.985.4677 – www.thewatersiderestaurantandwinebar.com Glassed in outdoor dining, music on weekends. Brunch specials.

Ok, now you might need the car (about 1.5 miles) Whale’s Tail – 805.985.2511 - www.thewhalestail.com Long-time harbor restaurant featuring seafood and steaks.

In the Von’s Shopping Center (Corner of Wooley and Victoria)

Anaba Sushi – 805.382.1230 - http://www.yelp.com/biz/anaba-oxnard Sura USA Korean Restaurant – 805.984.6936 – www.surausa.com Fisherman’s Catch – 805.985.6200 – www.fishermenscatch.com GENERAL GENERAL INFORMATION Dragon Palace – 805.984.9888 – www.oxnarddragonpalace.com

On Victoria between Wooley and Harbor

Yolanda’s Mexican Cafe – 805.985.1340 – www.yolandasmexicancafe.com Fresco II on the Marina – 805.985.4700 – www.fresco2restaurant.com Me and Ed’s Pizza – 805.984.6555 - http://menedsvc.com/

Ventura Area

Brophy Brothers – Ventura Harbor Village – 805.639.0865 – www.brophybrothers.com Watermark on Main – Downtown Ventura – 805.643.6800 – www.watermarkonmain.com Sportsman Restaurant and Lounge – Downtown Ventura – 805.643.2851

LIQUIDS CONSUMPTION

The Rudder Room – 805-985-6096 - www.facebook.com/pages/The-Rudder-Room Very casual hangout on the sand near the breakwater. Locals favorite with adjacent volleyball courts. Wear your flip-flops and sit on the back deck for sunset. Cash only!

Red Tandem Brewery - http://www.redtandembrewery.com New microbrew that should be open in time for the meeting. Check it out. P .15

SHOPPING & OTHER DINING OPTIONS

The Collection Riverpark – 805.278.9500 – www.thecollectionrp.com Camarillo Premium Outlets – 805.445.8520 – www.premiumoutlets.com/camarillo/ Pacific View Mall (Ventura) – 805.642.5530 – www.shoppacificview.com Ventura Harbor Village – www.venturaharborvillage.com

AMUSEMENT

Discovery Zone – 805.856.2695 – www.discoveryventura.com River Ridge Golf Club – 805.983.4653 – www.riverridge-golfclub.com Olivas Park Golf Course – 805.677.6770 www.olivaslinks.com The Painted Cabernet – 805.485.8716 – www.paintedcabernet.com Herzog Winery and Restaurant – 805.983.1560 – www.herzogwinecellars.com Panaro Brothers Winery – 805.654.1577 – www.panarobros.com Surf Brewery – 805.644.2739 – www.surfbrewery.com Century RiverPark 16 – 805.988.6083 – www.cinemark.com

PERFORMING ARTS / LIVE MUSIC

Ventura Harbor Comedy Club – 805.644.1500 – www.venturaharborcomedyclub.com Rubicon Theatre Company – 805.667.2900 – www.rubicontheatre.org Majestic Theater – 805.653.0721 – www.venturatheater.net Amigos Cantina – 805.874.2232 – www.amigosventura.com

MUSEUMS /GALLERIES

Channel Islands Maritime Museum – 805.984.6260 www.channelislandsmaritimemuseum.org San Buenaventura Mission – 805.643.4318 – www.sanbuenaventuramission.org Ronald Reagan Library – 805.522.2977 – www.reaganfoundation.org California Oil Museum – 805.933.0076 – www.caoilmuseum.org Olivas Adobe – 805.658.4728 – www.cityofventura.net/olivasadobe Museum of Ventura County – www.venturamuseum.org SeaBee Museum – 805.982.5165

GENERALINFORMATION .16 P

GENERAL GENERAL INFORMATION

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INFORMATION

GENERAL .18 P 18

SPEAKER AND JUDGE INFORMATION

Presenters and Judges Breakfasts

Monday May 4 and Tuesday May 5 (7:00 AM - 8:00 AM)

Location: Mandalay Beach Hotel Restaurant, First Floor

Speakers, Poster Presenters, Session Chairs, and Judges should attend the breakfast on the day of their talk, poster or judging session. You will have the opportunity to meet with your SPEAKER AND JUDGE INFORMATION chairs and fellow presenters, get logistical information, and answers to any last minute questions. If your talk has not been loaded to the laptop in the room, now would be the time to arrange for that too.

If you are staying at the hotel, breakfast is included with your room. If you are not staying at the hotel, you will get a breakfast certificate from the Convention representative at the hotel restaurant; the Convention rep will have a checklist of speakers, poster presenters, session chairs, and judges to confirm your status, and then give you a certificate for breakfast.

Speakers Preparation Room

Dates: Sunday May 3, Monday May 4, and Tuesday May 5

Hours: Starting at 1:00 PM Sunday; all day Monday and Tuesday

Location: Coral Room, Floor 2

Laptops will be available for speakers/presenters to preview and practice their talks.

P Credit: In Memory of Harold Sullwold .19

HIGHLIGHTS

Breakfasts – Luncheons – Receptions

Icebreaker Sunday, May 3 (06:00 PM – 08:00 PM) Location: Exhibit Hall Plan to kick off the convention meeting old and new friends and colleagues at the Icebreaker. You also have the opportunity to see what is happening with the exhibitors. No-host bar and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

All Convention Luncheon

Monday, May 4 (11:30 AM – 01:15 PM) Location: Embassy 1 & 2, Floor 2 Cost: $ 60 USD Speaker: Alex Epstein, Center for Industrial Progress Please join us for the All Convention Luncheon, where we will feature author and industry advocate, Alex Epstein. Mr. Epstein will speak on delivering effective messages of the value and importance of fossil fuels from cocktail parties and conventions to classrooms and courthouses. Be sure to catch this stimulating and informative talk, recognize recipients of PS-AAPG Honors and Awards, hear from AAPG dignitaries, and enjoy a delicious lunch.

Alex Epstein, energy expert and author of the national bestseller The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels, is the president and founder of the Center for Industrial Progress (CIP), a for-profit think tank championing fossil fuels. In a culture where fossil fuels are often condemned as “dirty”, Epstein argues that they are actually the life-giving energy of our modern world – and therefore should be celebrated, not demonized. A philosopher by training, Epstein challenges many of S our era’s popular notions about energy, industry, and environment, routinely engaging environmentalists in open debate over the big picture benefits of fossil fuels. His work has garnered both heavy praise from supporters and fierce opposition from adversaries.

Epstein’s writings on energy have been published in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Investor’s Business Daily, among hundreds of other publications. A highly sought-after speaker, he has spoken on the economic and environmental benefits of fossil fuels at dozens of universities, including Stanford, Duke, Rice, and UCLA. He has also defended fossil fuel energy in debates against Greenpeace, 350.org, and the Sierra Club. Alex’s think tank, CIP, regularly consults with industry in and outside of America, where his keynote appearances and company strategy sessions have inspired and galvanized industry professionals, from high-level HIGHLIGHT executives to workers in the field. .20 P

Brew and Browse Monday, May 4 (05:00 PM – 07:00 PM) Location: Exhibit Hall Wrap up a long day of technical sessions by winding down with friends and having the opportunity to talk with exhibitors and review the day’s posters. No host bar and snacks will be served.

AAPG - DPA Breakfast/Meet and Greet Tuesday, May 5 (07:00 AM – 08:00 AM) Location: Pacifica, Floor 2 The AAPG Division of Professional Affairs hosts this special buffet breakfast as an opportunity to meet and greet current and prospective DPA members. Meet our luncheon speaker and chat with colleagues of the DPA. Join us for this annual gathering.

AAPG – DEG Luncheon Tuesday, May 5 (11:30 AM – 01:00 PM) Location: Pacifica, Floor 2 Cost: $ 50 USD Speaker: Steve Bohlen, State Oil & Gas Supervisor (CA-DOGGR) The AAPG Division of Environmental Geosciences (DEG) sponsors this buffet lunch and distinguished speaker with DOGGR updates on the new requirements and compliance schedule for well stimulation permitting, UIC, and aquifer exemptions in California.

The potential for producing new oil and gas reserves in California with the aid of artificial HIGHLIGHT stimulation techniques, such as hydraulic fracturing, has led to the development of new regulations concerning groundwater monitoring, public notification, and well integrity. The passage of Senate Bill 4 (SB4) in 2013 has required the California Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources to conduct technical studies and prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to identify and review potential environmental impacts associated with well stimulation treatments in California. In addition, recent scrutiny by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of underground injection (UIC) of produced water has brought increased interest in the protection of drinking water aquifers and aquifer exemptions.

The status of the technical studies and EIR required by SB4 as well as current issues S associated with UIC should be of great interest to both operators and consultants. Come join us as State Oil and Gas Supervisor Steve Bohlen discusses the status of SB4, UIC, and the new P

regulatory permitting environment which will affect oil and gas operators in California. .21

AAPG-DPA Luncheon Tuesday, May 5 (11:45 AM – 01:15 PM) Location: Harbor, Floor 2 Cost: $ 50 USD Speaker: Charles A. Sternbach “Heritage of Discovery: Resources for Explorers” An honorary member of AAPG, Charles has actively organized programs for AAPG in leadership roles for two decades (active member of AAPG since 1980). In 2008, he originated the popular AAPG/DPA Discovery Thinking forum which he regularly chairs at annual AAPG meetings. During 4 years as president-elect, president, and past president of AAPG’s Division of Professional Affairs (DPA) Charles created, organized, and moderated Playmaker Panels. He founded the AAPG Playmaker program and chairs DPA’s Playmaker Committee. Charles loves hearing oil finders tell discovery stories. To facilitate presentations on discoveries, Charles encourages organizers to create Playmaker Forums wherever explorers gather. “Heritage of Discovery: Resources for Explorers”. AAPG and its Division of Professional Affairs (DPA) can help today’s explorer with both technical and professional resources accessible on the internet. These include Playmaker video presentations (about 20) include case studies, work flows, marketing tips, foundational skill sets, and exciting discoveries in new and emerging plays. Charles will demonstrate how explorers can access valuable information from the internet on desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile device. Many geoscientists already watch a video presentation during their lunch hour of legendary explorers explaining how they made major discoveries. Each of us has the duty to employ this heritage so that we may improve it for those who come after us. Charles has a PhD (and MS) in geology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a BA in geology from Columbia University. Charles currently serves as President Star Creek Energy, Houston, Texas. Star Creek integrates technology to find and produce oil in shallow onshore basins.

Pacific Section SEPM Awards Reception Tuesday, May 5 (3:30 PM - 4:30 PM) Location: Pacifica, Floor 2 Please come join the Pacific Section-SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology) reception for the awards presentation, announcements of upcoming field trips and activities, and to hear what’s new with your PS-SEPM society. Light snacks will be provided.

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Pacific Section AAPG Leadership & Business Forum Tuesday, May 5 (3:00 PM - 4:00 PM) Location: Colony, Floor 2 Speaker: John Williams, PS-AAPG President Learn what the leadership of your organization has been up to and their plans for the future of your organization. This is a great opportunity to spend time with the leadership of Pacific Section AAPG. Officers and Committee Chairs will present short summaries of their activities. Hear about our business plan for 2015, support for affiliated societies, details of scholarship programs, and how you can get involved.

Sundowner Tuesday, May 5 (04:00 PM – 06:00 PM) Location: Exhibit Hall You made it through a full schedule of meals, meetings, and technical sessions. Relax and plan ahead with old and new friends and colleagues. This is your last chance to talk with exhibitors and review the day’s posters before the post-convention field trips. Can you see the sunset over Santa Cruz Island from the beach? No host bar and snacks will be served.

Student Activities Student Q&A: PS-AAPG Visiting Geoscientist Program Date (times): Monday, May 4 (4:00 PM to 05:30 PM) Location: Embassy 2, Floor 2 Coordinators: Michelle Judson, Becca Lanners Panel: Jon Allen, Cameron Campbell, Michelle Judson, Susan Morrice Dan Schwartz, John Williams HIGHLIGHT Limit: 100 Description: The Visiting Geoscientist Program will be introduced followed by a Student Q&A session with a panel of visiting geoscientists. Have you or your Student Chapter been looking for guest speakers for your school? Would you like to have geoscientist come give a technical talk in their area of expertise or talk about their career experiences? We are excited to share more information about the Visiting Geoscientist Program. This year’s Student Q&A will focus on the Visiting Geoscientist Program. Come learn about how you can take advantage of this great program and meet some of the available speakers. If you have any specific questions about finishing your degree, finding an internship, making industry connections, or anything else please submit your question with your registration or at the PSAAPG web site at PSAAPG.org. S No registration required; bring your friends and colleagues. P .23

GUEST EVENTS

Title: Hospitality Wine Tasting Date: Monday, May 4 (03:00 PM – 05:00 PM) Location: Embassy Suites – Presidential Suite on the Beach Description: We are honored to have local Vintner and Geologist David Panaro feature his selection of fine crafted wines from Panaro Brothers Winery, Ventura, CA. As registered guests, you will have a chance to test your knowledge of wine trivia, while discovering what appeals to your personal taste preference. Select cheeses, crackers and olives are also provided. This event is included with your guest registration. Come and join us for the FUN!

DINNER CRUISE Channel Islands Harbor Dinner Cruise on the Scarlett Belle Date: Monday, May 4 (07:00 PM – 09:15 PM) Location: Departs from the dock at 3600 Cabezone Circle Cost: $ 70 USD per Person ($140 a Couple) Limit: 149 guests (bring your friends) SPECIAL NOTE: For this event only, convention registrants may purchase tickets for guests and friends to come on the dinner cruise. These guests and friends do not need to be registered for the convention, as this is an offsite event. Additional tickets may be purchased at the

Registration Desk.

Description: Come celebrate Cinco de Mayo Eve on the Scarlett Belle with a dinner cruise around scenic Channel Islands Harbor. The Scarlett Belle is a modern multi-level Paddlewheel Riverboat offering great views from the upper deck, and music and dancing on the lower deck. We’ll catch the sunset on the harbor and enjoy fajitas and a margarita bar. A great way to relax with friends and colleagues. Check out the website at http://scarlettbelle.com/.

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Geology Field Trips

Field Trip 1 Title: Modern Depositional Systems of an Active Margin Coastline Date: Saturday, May 2 (8:00 AM - 6:00 PM) Meeting Location: Hotel Entrance Field Trip Leaders: Alex Simms Cost: USD $ 100 - includes Transportation, Lunch, and Field Guide Sponsor: Coast Geological Society Description: The purpose of this trip is to examine the modern coastal depositional systems of the northern Santa Barbara Channel. We will visit the beaches of the Oxnard Plain, the marshes of Carpinteria Slough, and the marine terraces and smaller estuaries and incised valleys of the Gaviota Coast. You will have the opportunity to walk on these depositional systems and examine their grain sizes, structures, and other sedimentary characteristics. We will also view and discuss some of the ground-penetrating radar, high-resolution seismic, and cores collected from these environments. Included in these discussions will be the preservation potential of the facies from these depositional environments as well and their potential as petroleum reservoirs. GEOLOGY GEOLOGY FIELD TRIPS

Field Trip 2 Title: Ventura Basin Oil Seeps Tour Date: CANCELED Meeting Location: CANCELED Field Trip Leaders: John Harris Sponsor: PS-SEPM

Description: This field trip is intended to show the attendee a variety of natural oil seeps within the Ventura Basin from the south-facing hills of Sulphur Mountain to the coast of Carpinteria. These seeps were used by indigenous people of California and later by early hydrocarbon explorers to discover some of the larger oil fields in the state. Topics of discussion will include the history of the oil and gas business in California as it relates to oil seeps, the Monterey Shale and the effects of natural fractures on oil seeps. The fieldtrip will start from the Mandalay Bay Hotel, making stops in Santa Paula, Ojai, Ventura, and Carpinteria.

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Field Trip 3 Title: Mixed Siliciclastic-Siliceous Monterey Formation Succession, Paradise Cove to Point Dume, Los Angeles Basin Date: Sunday, May 3 (8:30 AM - 4:30 PM) Meeting Location: Hotel Entrance Field Trip Leaders: Richard Behl, Wanjiru Njuguna Cost: USD $115 - includes Transportation, Lunch, and Field Guide Sponsor: Los Angeles Basin Geological Society Description: The excursion to the Point Dume-Paradise Cove Upper Miocene section will examine a splendidly exposed, mixed-clastic-biogenic succession of the Monterey Formation in a beautiful setting at the northern edge of the Los Angeles Basin. This location records a transition from organic-rich phosphatic mudrocks (c.f., Nodule Shale) to interbedded porcelanite and siliceous shale to sandstone and diatomite at the boundary between the rifted and rotated Western Transverse Ranges and the translating Inner Continental Borderland. Changes in lithology, grain-size and abundance of sedimentary structures document the depositional history from initial isolation and condensed sedimentation through input of coarse clastics, likely derived from both the Tarzana Fan and more local sources. Located between the onshore Malibu Coast fault and the offshore Anacapa-Dume fault, the study area has a complex tectonic history and displays splendid examples of perpendicular extension and shortening at a variety of scales and mechanical behaviors. The field trip will also visit Point Mugu, where initial opening of the basin is documented by the marine deposits of the Lower to Middle Miocene Vaqueros and Topanga formations, cut by a basaltic dike swarm from the Conejo Volcanics. Field trip participants should able to walk 2-3 miles on soft sand without easy access to restrooms for up to 3-4 hours and be willing to get wet, as our hike through the section will begin near high tide. Guidebook, lunch and drinks will be provided, but participants will need to carry the provided food and other supplies on the beach in daypacks(not provided). Weather in early May should be mild to hot, but light jackets or sweaters are recommended in case of a strong marine layer or winds.

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Field Trip 4 Title: Modelo Fm. - Submarine-Fan Architecture and Lithofacies Distributions in a Structurally Complex Deepwater Basin: The Upper Modelo Turbidite System, Eastern Ventura Basin. Date: Wednesday, May 6 (7:30 AM - 6:00 PM) Meeting Location: Hotel Entrance Field Trip Leaders: Greg Gordon, Stuart Gordon Cost: SOLD OUT - includes Transportation, Lunch, and Field Guide Sponsor: San Joaquin Geological Society Description: Structurally complex, fault-bounded deepwater basins are located in a wide variety of tectonic settings worldwide. These deepwater basins often contain submarine- canyon-fed turbidite systems that are prolific hydrocarbon reservoirs. The Eastern Ventura basin (EVB), which formed as a borderland-style, fault-bounded deepwater basin in the middle Miocene, and the adjacent Piru-Topatopa Mountains contain excellent outcrops of turbidite systems such as the Modelo and Towsley Formations. The object of this field trip is to view outcrop exposures and discuss the stratigraphic architecture, distribution of lithofacies associations, and interpreted evolution of the middle-late Miocene Upper Modelo depositional system. We will discuss implications for reservoir quality and geometries, as well as structure- stratigraphy interactions and evolution of this deepwater basin. We will also highlight some of the EVB’s fascinating oilfield history, which dates back to the 1880’s. GEOLOGY GEOLOGY FIELD TRIPS

Field Trip 5 Title: Ventura Basin Oil Fields: Structural Setting, Traps, and Petroleum Systems Date: Thursday, May 7 (7:30 AM - 6:00 PM) Meeting Location: Hotel Entrance Field Trip Leaders: Thom Davis, Jay Namson, Stuart Gordon Cost: USD $ 135 - includes Transportation, Lunch, and Field Guide Sponsor: Coast Geological Society Description: Trip will stop at the Aliso Canyon oil field (now a gas storage field), crest of Oat Mountain, Silverthread Area of the Ojai oil fields, the Ojai Valley, and Ventura Anticline oil field. Stop presentations will emphasize the trapping style of the fields, the geometry and kinematic evolution of the area, and the influence of structure on the local petroleum system. Stops will involve very short hikes (

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Field Trip 6 Title: Santa Cruz Island Tour Date: Friday, May 8 (7:00 AM - 7:00 PM) Meeting Location: In front of The Greek restaurant in the Ventura Harbor, 1583 Spinnaker. Charter is Explorer Diving Adventures Field Trip Leaders: Jim Boles Cost: SOLD OUT - includes Transportation, Lunch, and Field Guide Sponsor: PS-SEPM, Coast Geological Society Description: Participants in this one-day field trip will travel by boat from Ventura Harbor to Prisoner's Harbor on Santa Cruz Island, largest of the Northern Channel Islands. Then, travelling by jeeps and trucks along the spine of Santa Cruz Island, we will drop down to the southwestern coast of the island, an area not open to the public. Outcrops include the oldest rocks on the island, the Santa Cruz Island Schist, as well as a diverse sequence of Paleocene to Miocene sedimentary rocks exposed in arroyos and beach cliffs. These rocks include spectacular fossil beds, conglomerate and breccia that reveal intraplate motion and deformation, and volcaniclastic “Monterey-like” sequences with an unknown source. We will also visit major structural features such as uplifted marine terraces, offset stream drainages, and the famous Santa Cruz Island strike-slip fault that juxtaposes these rocks with the Santa Cruz Island volcanics.

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TEACHERS WORKSHOP

This unique teachers workshop will be held for K-12 teachers to help these dedicated educators enhance how they bring the earth sciences and geology to the classroom by teaming with working geologists. Geologists, this is your opportunity to take a role in the K-12 Classroom by helping teachers learn to communicate and demonstrate the concepts of an underrepresented science in the K-12 curriculum.

Title: Geology and Energy Workshop

Date/Times: Saturday, May 2 (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM) Geologists (Teachers Welcome) – 8 am - 9 am Geologists and Teachers – 9 am - 4:30 pm

Location: Embassy 1, Floor 2

Instructor: Debbie Bereki, PhD

Cost: USD $ 0 – includes lunch and materials

Sponsors: PS-AAPG, Gold Coast Science Network, STEMdelivered.org

Description: 8:00 to 9:00, Geologist Role in the K-12 Classroom: Required for geologists taking the Teachers Workshop, but any geologist can attend. Teachers are welcome. This TEACHERS WORKSHOP one-hour, introduction focuses on the geologist’s role when visiting a K-12 classroom. Learn what to do to prepare for a successful visit, including the teachers’ needs, good classroom practices, and the best ways to communicate with students.

9:00-4:30, Geology and Energy Workshop: Geologists join with K-12 teachers in this workshop that is designed to provide an environment to form partnerships while learning ways to teach geology and energy concepts in the K-12 classroom. Throughout the day participants will have an opportunity to experience hands-on activities, receive classroom ready lessons, discuss classroom materials and ideas.

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SHORT COURSES

During the convention, four short courses, on a range of technical and regulatory topics will be provided by experienced industry professionals.

Short Course 1 Title: Mud in your eye? A Core Workshop/Seminar illustrating the evaluation of mudstones using examples from the Monterey Formation Date: Saturday, May 2 (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM) Location: Shell/Aera Clubhouse, Ventura Ave Field Instructor: Kevin Bohacs, Dan Schwartz, & Jon Schwalbach Cost: USD $ 125 (includes course materials) Sponsor: Coast Geological Society Description: If mudstones might be in your future, then this course is a great way to hone your skills. This one-day seminar will combine lecture-type discussions, core viewing/description, and well-log correlation to illustrate techniques for evaluating mudstones. We use an observational approach to build a sequence stratigraphic framework that helps us understand depositional environments and compositional variations impacting rock properties and the role the Monterey plays in the hydrocarbon system. The approach has proven valid for evaluating fine-grained rocks in many other depositional settings. Burial diagenesis and structural deformation are among other key elements of mudstone evaluation, and will be illustrated with Monterey examples, including some cores not previously displayed. Kevin was an AAPG Distinguished Lecturer and is a recent recipient of the Berg Researcher Award. He has studied mudstones around the world in nearly all types of depositional settings in his role as ExxonMobil’s chief stratigrapher. Dan and Jon both have decades of experience working with the Monterey Formation in exploration, research and development settings. The course fee includes presentation notes, coffee and morning snacks, and a bar-b-que lunch. Directions to the clubhouse will be provided to registrants via email.

* Valid student ID required for full-time student admission to the Workshop.

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Short Course 2 Title: Understanding and Streamlining the Environmental Permitting Process for Upstream Oil & Gas – Formula for Success Date: Sunday, May 3 (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) Location: Embassy 1, Floor 2 Instructor: Brent Miyazaki, Bill Gorham, Michael Smith Cost: USD $ 150 (includes course materials) Description: Environmental permitting typically presents many challenges to project implementation, especially in California. Permit requirements range from compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), to characterizing seasonal wetlands, identifying threatened and endangered species or running specialized models for air quality permits. Many permits require substantial studies, analyses and documentation. Strategic planning and early project coordination minimizes potential schedule delays. When is the best time and what is the optimal process to initiate strategic planning and early project coordination to ensure project success? The short course will address this question and provides guidance to address a range of environmental permits typically required to initiate upstream oil and gas projects.

Short Course 3

Title: Introduction to the Need for Real Petrophysics in Today’s Not-So- Conventional Reservoirs

Date: Wednesday, May 6 (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) Location: Embassy 1, Floor 2 Instructor: Dan Pignatiello & Thomas Howard Cost: USD $ 200 (includes course materials) Description: Successful modern hydrocarbon exploration and development requires current, state of the art petrophysics and log analysis. Today’s reservoirs and prospects cannot be properly evaluated with dated, simplistic interpretation methods. Find out what you should be aware of, and what some of the current approaches to log analysis and petrophysics are, including: the choice of Shaly Sand vs Archie’s equations to evaluate saturations, strategies for mixed lithologies, thin beds and unconventional reservoirs, working with mixed vintage well logs from the last 80 years, gleaning more information from image logs and dip meters, and evaluating Permeability, Rw and TDS.

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Short Course 4 Title: Sequence Stratigraphy for Students Dates: Saturday-Sunday, May 2-3 (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) Location: Embassy 2, Floor 2 Instructor: Morgan Sullivan Cost: USD $ 50 (includes lunch and course notes) Sponsor: PS-SEPM Description: This two day short course, for students only, provides a historical perspective on the development of stratigraphy in general and focuses on the development of sequence stratigraphy in particular. Sequence stratigraphy is a methodology that uses stratal surfaces to subdivide the stratigraphic record. This methodology allows the identification of coeval facies, documents the time-transgressive nature of classic lithostratigraphic units, and provides geoscientists with an additional way to analyze and subdivide the stratigraphic record. We provide a mix of lectures and hands-on exercises utilizing datasets that were instrumental in formulating concepts of sequence stratigraphy.

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TECHNICAL PROGRAM

The final Technical Program also is available at the Pacific Section AAPG website, www.psaapg.org, at the AAPG Meetings Search and Discovery iPhone app, and in the Abstracts with Program distributed at the conference.

ORALTECHNICAL SESSIONS – MONDAY, MAY 4

SESSION NO.1: Regional and Field Studies on the Monterey Formation Chairs: Gregg Pyke, Annie Mosher Location: Embassy 1 Room

8:20 Daniel Schwartz Recent Characterization of the Monterey Formation in the San Joaquin Basin

One hundred years after the first production from the Monterey Formation, exploration, appraisal, and development continues. The quest for migrated and in-situ hydrocarbons in porous and fractured quartz porcelanite and chert is ongoing in and around the giant oil fields in the west-side fold belt Buttonwillow depocenter, San Joaquin Basin, California. Moderate Total Organic Carbon (TOC) volumes are found throughout the Monterey in the San Joaquin. Maturity in the west-side fold belt anticlines is low. A 3D basin model indicates that the synclinal strata are sufficiently buried to mature the organic matter, and would be entering the oil generation window below ~12,000ft tvdss. Monterey quartz porcelanite reservoirs in the crest and upper flanks of Belridge and Lost Hills contain migrated intermediate to light grade hydrocarbons in matrix and bed confined fractures. Matrix oil saturations range from low to moderate, with porosity ranging from 17 to 30 percent. Live oil was observed on open fractures in core. Monterey reservoirs in synclinal settings are cherty quartz porcelanite with bedding plane parallel and TECHNICAL PROGRAM complex high angle fracture networks. These units contain intermediate grade API hydrocarbons. Matrix oil saturations range from moderate to high, with porosity less than 10 percent. Some oil stain was observed on fresh fractures in core. Burial depth influences the matrix rock properties (decreasing porosity and permeability with depth in moderately over-pressured reservoirs). Remaining in-situ hydrocarbons are lower gravity residuals, the lighter hydrocarbons having migrated into adjacent structural and stratigraphic traps.

8:40 Richard J Behl California Margin-Wide Cherts And Organic-Rich Phosphates During A Major Sea-Level Fall: What Happened During Middle Monterey Deposition?

The middle member of the Miocene Monterey Formation across California is widely characterized by either an unusually organic-rich and phosphatic mudstone facies or by the chertiest succession in the unit. Although both lithofacies are associated with intense upwelling and planktonic productivity, they also represent siliciclastic sediment starvation. Their origin is enigmatic because - in spite of their concentrated richness of silica or organic matter - they record lower mass accumulation rates of biogenic silica and organic carbon than other members of the formation. These units‚ locally part of the Carbonaceous Marl, Middle Chert, Sandholt, McDonald members, etc.‚ were for the most part deposited during the late Luisian to Mohnian stages, between 14 Ma and 9 or 10 Ma during Antarctic ice sheet growth and eustatic sea- level fall. This is puzzling because phosphates and sediment starvation are broadly associated with transgressive systems tracts or maximum flooding surfaces, not eustatic sea-level fall and forced regression. Increased latitudinal thermal gradients with polar cooling would have amplified winds, upwelling, and current velocities that may have combined to increase diatom productivity and

simultaneous winnowing and condensation of elevated banktops, upper slopes and shelves; this could concurrently deposit both facies as shown in the Santa Maria and Santa Barbara basins. Intensified

currents possibly explain the linked, lateral facies variability, but not the near margin-wide decrease in P .33

sedimentation rate during one of the largest sea-level falls of the late Cenozoic. This presentation explores and evaluates the tectonic, climatic, and paleoceanographic framework in which this perplexing facies assemblage was deposited.

9:00 Hannah Erbele Lateral Variation of Siliceous Sedimentary Lithofacies in the Upper Monterey Formation, South Belridge-Lost Hills Fields, Kern County, California

The character of diatomaceous rocks in the Monterey Formation is significantly related to the compositional ratio of biogenic silica-to-detrital material, which has significant effects on primary and diagenetic rock and reservoir properties. Limited published studies on the Midway-Sunset, Buena Vista, Elk Hills, Belridge and Lost Hills, fields show a gradation of lithofacies from more highly siliceous sediments at the top of anticlinal paleobathymetric highs to the surrounding lows where biogenic or diagenetic silica is diluted with detritus. In the southwest (Midway-Sunset, Buena Vista and Elk Hills), these lows were primarily sand-filled submarine channels, but farther to the north (Belridge and Lost Hills) are sand-poor. This study will be a detailed examination of the fine-grained, highly siliceous portion of the Upper Monterey Formation to better understand the lateral changes in composition from structural highs to structural lows, as well as, identify the depositional and transportation mechanisms that cause these variations. Several recent wells have been drilled across South Belridge to Lost Hills anticlines and into the surrounding Buttonwillow sub-basin which contain complete, modern well log suites as well as substantial core through much of the upper McDonald to the lower Antelope Shale - the interval of interest. Well logs will be used to calculate variations in porosity and clay content, cores and cuttings used to identify and quantify lateral variation in composition and sedimentary features, and well logs and cuttings from infilling wells used to provide better spatial resolution. Core and cuttings samples will be analyzed for mineralogy by XRD and geochemically by XRF or ICP-OES/MS and integrated with petrophysical findings. Preliminary results will be presented.

9:20 Lindsey R Clark, Courtney Libben, Tony A Reid Characterization of Low-Detritus Quartz-Phase Porcelanite within 29R and Gunslinger

Shale Reservoirs, Elk Hills Field, California

The 29R Shale Reservoir (29R) and Gunslinger Shale Reservoir (GS) are located on adjacent north-west trending structures within the Elk Hills Field, and are operated by California Resources Elk Hills, LLC. The 29R Structure is shallower than the Gunslinger Structure, with crestal depths of approximately - 3600ft TVDSS and -6100ft TVDSS respectively. This study 1) identified and described GS and 29R lithologies; 2) identified differences in reservoir and rock properties within the low-detritus quartz-phase porcelanite (LDQP) of each structure; 3) identified potential lateral and vertical variability in lithology, reservoir properties, and rock properties. Cores from six wells were analyzed to determine and classify lithology. On the GS structure, samples were collected from Monterey Formation members A, B, C, D, and PG Shale, and on the 29R structure, samples were collected from members A and B Shale. The following data were analyzed: optical petrography, photomicrograph, x-ray diffraction (XRD), mercury injection capillary pressure, porosity, permeability, oil and water saturation. This study recognizes LDQP as the primary reservoir rock within 29R, while the primary reservoir rocks within GS are LDQP and quartz-phase chert (QPC). The LDQP is primarily a matrix reservoir, containing greater than 75% silica, minor to abundant microporosity, and variable fracturing. The QPC is a fractured reservoir, containing greater than 85% quartz, little to no visible microporosity, and common extensive fracturing. There is a continuum of reservoir rock types between the LDQP and QPC, with varying amounts of silica, detritus, microporosity, and fracturing. XRD data collected on LDQP samples indicate negligible compositional differences between 29R and GS; however, 29R has higher permeability and porosity. Additionally, capillary pressure data indicate an average oil entry point height of 284 feet (height above free water) for GS and 185 feet for 29R. This study indicates that compaction and diagenesis, as a result of burial, are the driving forces that contribute to differing rock and reservoir properties in 29R and GS.

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SESSION NO.2: Deepwater Clastic Depositional Systems in California and Beyond: Reservoir Quality, Facies, and Architecture

Chairs: Greg Gordon, Morgan Sullivan Location: Harbor Room

8:20 Greg Gordon, David Pyles Turbidite Stratigraphy And Distribution Of Lithofacies Associations In A Structurally Complex Depocenter: Upper Modelo Formation In Eastern Ventura Basin, California

Outcrops of the Miocene upper Modelo Formation in the eastern Ventura basin, California, which will be visited in the associated field trip on May 6, provide a longitudinal transect through a fault-controlled deepwater depositional system, from proximal structural terraces, through a submarine canyon, to the basin floor and basin margin. This study area is divided into three regions based on geographic location, stratigraphic character, and interpreted paleogeographic environment: Region 1 (Feeder System), Region 2 (Proximal Basin Floor), and Region 3 (Medial-Distal Basin Floor). Region 1 contains interpreted syndepositionally active normal faults (e.g., Devil Canyon fault) near the proximal basin margin; these faults are associated with abrupt changes in depositional environments, lithofacies associations, paleobathymetry, and stratigraphic thickness. The adjacent submarine canyon was an area of bypass, yet there are sand-rich submarine channels located within it. This area has a relatively low net-sandstone content overall. Isopach maps reveal that gross thickness is greatest near the interpreted canyon mouth. In Region 2, a proximal-basin-floor fairway located immediately basinward of the canyon contains the highest sandstone content in the basin. This fairway comprises a number of channel complexes, mostly characterized by amalgamated, medium-grained-to-pebbly sandstone lithofacies. In Region 3, gradual changes in proportions of lithofacies associations result from subtle variations in the gradient of the basin floor near the lateral/distal basin margin, as interpreted from the isopach map. In this area, channel complexes comprising structureless, amalgamated sandstone overlie thin-to-medium bedded, “dirty” sandstones deposited at the fringes of lobes. This upward architectural pattern is interpreted to result from an outwardly expanding depocenter through time. TECHNICAL PROGRAM

8:40 Olivia Turner, Mason Dykstra Depositional Framework And Controls On Coeval Deep-Water Slope Channel And Slope Fan Systems In The Eocene Juncal Formation, Southern California

The Eocene Juncal Formation, well exposed in the Transverse and Coast Ranges‚ of southern California, is comprised of deep-water, middle and upper active continental slope deposits that shallow to shelf depths. On the Pine Mountain fault block, a 19-km-wide stratigraphic exposure is interpreted to exhibit two coeval slope systems as much as 2,700 meters thick in outcrop. Sandstones and conglomerates within both systems are encased in mudstone tens to hundreds of meters thick, punctuated by mass- transport deposits tens of meters thick. The Western Slope System contains sandstone sheets and lobes ranging in thickness from a few to as much as 100 meters. Some are partially confined within 5-15m-deep scours, and exhibit high-energy bypass features such as pebble lags, scour surfaces, truncated bed tops, and basal injections. In contrast, the Eastern Slope System exhibits conglomerate-filled channels with 50- 100m of confinement and change upward to fine- to coarse-grained sandstones with conglomeratic interbeds and increased content of terrestrial organic particles. Here, these two slope systems, and their contrasting grain sizes, sedimentary body geometries, and architectural elements, are described, discussed and interpreted with respect to depositional processes, various slope environments, and allogenic vs. autogenic controls. Distinguishing coarse-grained deposits of the Western Slope System are interpreted as line- to multi-sourced, sandy intra-slope aprons fed by longshore drift from a nearby delta. Those in the Eastern Slope System appear to be point sourced, where a confined slope channel system and associated overbank deposits at the base grade upward to shallow-water shelf edge beds sourced directly from the delta. Mass-failure scars created accommodation whereas the mass-transport deposit created an obstruction to trap sediments from subsequent down-slope flows. Sandstones are common overlying mass-transport deposits in both systems. Sea-level fluctuations are interpreted to control initial channel cutting, whereas tectonics and sediment supply control available grain-sized populations. Slope accommodation and rugged topography created by mass-transport deposits controlled the different P .35

architectures between the two systems. Results from this outcrop study of two coeval slope systems help bridge the data gap between large-scale seismic interpretations and smaller-scale detailed core analysis.

9:00 Elisabeth Steel, Alexander Simms, Jonathan Warrick, Yusuke Yokoyama Depositional History and Stratigraphic Architecture of Lofted Hyperpycnal Flows in the Santa Barbara Channel, Southern California

Gravity flows in the Santa Barbara Channel (SBC) of Southern California have the potential to damage pipelines leading to offshore petroleum platforms, yet their recurrence intervals and initiation mechanisms remain unknown. The recent discovery of seven fans on the continental shelf of the SBC poses an important question; namely, are the SBC fans deposited by sediment gravity flows capable of damaging shelf infrastructure? Here, we present grain size trends, radiocarbon dates, and overall stratigraphic architecture of two fans in the SBC from eight cores and nine grab samples collected in October, 2013. The Tajiguas Creek fan and Refugio Creek fan lie on the northern shelf of the SBC in 30 m to 70 m water depth. The fans lie directly offshore from small mountainous creeks that exceed the suspended sediment threshold of 40 g/L required for plunging at the fluvial-marine interface. Both fans contain approximately seven elongate lobes with abrupt terminations. A transgressive ravinement surface (TRS) is present at or near the base of five cores from the Tajiguas Creek fan. This layer is interpreted as a TRS based on its abundant shell fragments of a diverse assemblage and because radiocarbon dates from shells directly below this layer correlate well to local relative sea-level curves. Above the TRS, lobe-forming subaqueous gravity flows deposited structureless fine- to medium-grained sands that are slightly graded. Radiocarbon dates indicate that flow events occurred as early as 8500 Cal years BP and may still be active today. The snub-nosed geometry of each lobe implies en masse freezing of deposits, but the incorporation of shell material and evidence of erosion in shallow seismic profiles indicate an initially turbulent flow regime. The location and geometry of these features suggests that the fans in the SBC are the result of lofted hyperpycnal flows. A small shoreface slope break found immediately up-dip from these features and the absence of a similar slope break in areas without fans suggests that seafloor geometry may play a key role in their deposition.

9:20 Todd J Greene, Michelle T Melosh, Kathleen D Surpless Anatomy And Provenance Of A Deep-Water Boulder Conglomeratic Submarine Canyon In The Upper Cretaceous Panoche Formation (Cenomanian), Great Valley Group, San Luis Reservoir, Central California

Low water levels in the San Luis Reservoir in the southern Diablo Range of Merced County, CA, have exposed a deep-water boulder conglomerate succession approximately 1500 m thick along a 2 km transect within the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Panoche Formation of the Great Valley Group (GVG). Individual boulder conglomeratic units represent the thickest (up to 180 meters thick) and coarsest (up to 4.5 meter clasts) deposits ever recorded in the GVG. Fully characterizing these extraordinary deposits and placing them in a paleogeographic context adds to a steadily evolving history for the GVG in the San Joaquin basin. The dominant lithofacies associations include clast- and matrix- supported boulder and cobble conglomerate within a coarse sandy matrix, pebble and cobble traction carpets, medium to coarse-grained sand lenses containing abundant planar bedding, and thin-bedded turbidites marking breaks between periods of coarser-grained deposition. Basal surfaces of the conglomerate lithofacies are commonly sharp and erosive but with limited relief. In general, clast size does not display grading throughout the conglomerate lithofacies, however, the lowest conglomeratic unit in the system contains consistent 2-3 m clasts at the base. Published geologic maps indicate Panoche- aged conglomerate may extend approximately 18 km along strike to the northwest, roughly parallel to northwest-to-southeast directed paleocurrent measurements recorded on imbricated clasts. Therefore, although no canyon wall exposures were observed, we interpret the entire section to represent a strike- parallel submarine canyon exposure based on the style of deposition, thickness, continuity of deposits, and proportion of oversized boulder clasts. Combined provenance data from conglomerate clasts and mudstone geochemistry suggest sources at two difference scales. The oversized conglomerate clasts are dominated by hornblende gabbro, brecciated basalt, and keratophyre indicating a local ophiolitic source from nearby headlands contributing to the submarine canyon deposits. However, the dominant

TECHNICAL PROGRAM TECHNICAL background source for the canyon is Sierran when compared to a more regional mudstone geochemical .36 P

database. In addition, although Panoche-aged mudstone data generally overlap with San Joaquin basin GVG samples, our results fill a data gap that records a transition from Lower Cretaceous mafic trace element signatures to Upper Cretaceous felsic signatures.

SESSION NO.3: Integrating Petrophyscis and Geoscience Chairs: Tom Howard, Dan Pignatiello, Don Hill Location: Pacifica Room

8:20 Donald G Hill Well Log Quality Control: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

Well Logs form the foundation upon which Oil and Gas reserves are based. Logging vendors are responsible for delivering data that has been acquired with instruments what were calibrated and run properly, providing documentation of this in both delivered hard and soft copy data. The client representative needs to verify that this has been done, before signing the vendor invoice, as the logging witness. Failure to do so can have severe repercussions, if “Stated Reserves” include data from miscalibrated and/or improperly run logs. Simple, straight-forward, well-site techniques are demonstrated which will allow the client representative to quickly determine if the vendor has properly done their job.

8:40 Deborah M Olson, William R Berry II Deriving Pseudo-Capillary Pressure Curves From Standard Core Analysis Data in Heavy Oil Reservoirs and Their Use in Estimation of Original Sw

Original water saturation is needed for reservoir studies, yet can be difficult to determine accurately in older fields. Capillary pressure (Cp) data can be used to calculate original Sw, but for many reservoirs suitable core material is not available or special core analysis was not done. This paper presents a method to use standard PKS core data in heavy oil reservoirs to construct pseudo-Cp curves for application in a petrophysical model to calculate original Sw. Since heavy oil does not flush significantly from the core, the saturations from PKS analysis are representative of reservoir saturations. To apply this TECHNICAL PROGRAM method, all valid core data from the reservoir are compiled into a single dataset. For each core point, the height above the free fluid interface (oil/water contact) is calculated. Then the set of core analyses is sorted into permeability groups (bins), the ranges of which are determined from the available data. Within each permeability bin, core Sw (X axis) is plotted against height above the FFL (Y axis). Several trial groupings may be required to determine the best way to bin the data. Since most reservoirs have undergone some depletion, the data within each permeability group will probably be spread across a range of Sw values. However, some data points are likely to be close to original Sw. A curve can be fitted to the low-Sw edge of the data cloud for each permeability group, using the predicted behavior of Cp curves to shape them where data may be sparse. A permeability-referenced set of pseudo-Cp curves can thus be derived and used to construct a petrophyscial model. These curves can also supplement laboratory measurements that do not capture the full range of permeability variation in the reservoir. Using log-derived permeability and height above the OWC for each log depth level, original Sw can be estimated. This method bypasses problems with variable Rw values, heat-affected resistivity curves, and unknown amounts of reservoir depletion. With porosity computed from modern logs, OOIP can be estimated, and these data are suitable for reservoir modeling. In many fields, the method is applicable to old e-logs since a permeability transform can often be developed based on short normal curves. For this case, porosity can be determined by first computing clay volume from the SP, GR, or other clay indicators. The porosity is then obtained by a transform which is a function of clay volume and maximum porosity (PHImax) in a clean sand.

9:00 Randall Stephenson, JoAnn Conard, Jon Schwalbach The Merits of Mud Logging: Using Gas Ratio Analysis to Salvage a Well with Poor Quality Open Hole Logs

Formation evaluation has evolved to rely on technologically advanced well logging tools and techniques. This focus on new technology, however, has caused some analysts to underutilize data available from more basic tools such as mud logs. The mud log provides a variety of data including lithology, oil/gas P .37

shows, interval thickness, relative permeability and porosity, reservoir fluid types, and gas ratios. These data are the product of direct measurement and observation of the cuttings and entrained hydrocarbons from the formation as the well is drilled, providing a near real-time record of the well’s progress. This case study presents a recent example of the mud log’s utility from a well drilled in the Ventura Avenue Field. High salinity drilling mud and high borehole angle relative to the formation created difficult logging conditions for open-hole logs. The mud log was the basis for a successful well completion with initial production rates of 225 BOPD and 140 MCFPD of gas. If the mud log had not been included in the drilling package for this well, which is located down dip and on the flank of the previously known productive area, abandonment might have been the end result.

9:20 Donald G Hill A Simple Wireline Measurement Screening Technique for Identifying Commercial Potash Deposits

Wireline identification of commercial potash mineralization can be both simple and straight forward or quite complex, depending upon the mineralogy present. Potash minerals are radioactive because of the presence of the radioactive 40K isotope. This characteristic has led to developing core based log transforms of total gamma ray log measurements to estimate potash ore grades. Unfortunately the core transform approach is compromised by the occurrence of 232Th decay series and/or 238U decay series isotopes. Potassium/Uranium/Thorium (K-U-T) spectral gamma ray logs can isolate 40K from the uranium and Thorium series isotopes. While this removes some of the problems of identifying commercial potash deposits, not all potash minerals are commercial, so more sophisticated multi-mineral techniques have been utilized. Multi-mineral analyses have been successfully utilized to estimate potash assays in Saskatchewan and Cape Breton Island. This approach is limited, however, by the number of wireline measurements available. For example, the McNutt Member of the Salado Formation in the SE New Mexico Potash Area, contains 6 different potash minerals, only 2 of which are commercial, and 4 non- radioactive evaporite minerals, as well as radioactive “Marker Beds”, and claystones. Multi-mineral analyses, for this situation would require 11 different physical property measurements, to be most effective. A simple screening technique utilizing only two log measurements: Gamma Ray and Neutron

Porosity, is proposed and successfully demonstrated for potash deposits in Michigan, New Mexico, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan.

10:00 Juan Pablo Gomez, Sean O'Connor Variability Of Elastic Properties And Applicability Of Brittleness Indicators, Miocene Monterey Formation, San Joaquin Basin, California

The combination of horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing has been paramount to unlocking vast hydrocarbon reserves in tight shale reservoirs not previously considered to be economically productive. As a result, quantification and improved understanding of formation brittleness is important for completion zone identification and design of stimulation treatments that create complex fracture networks. Brittleness is commonly quantified through empirical correlations that combine elastic properties of rocks, which relate applied stresses and resulting deformation. Elastic properties are easily computed from well logs, but results are frequency-dependent and must be corrected to static conditions. This study addresses how elastic properties of the heterogeneous and diagenetically complex Miocene Monterey formation vary across the San Joaquin basin, and how these properties compare to those of other well-documented shale formations. By investigating the effect of mineralogy and burial conditions on Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio calculated from sonic and density logs, the extent to which a brittleness index can be used to delineate areas better suited for fracture stimulation is explored. Results from this assessment suggest that mineralogy is a more suitable brittleness indicator for Monterey regional work in the San Joaquin Basin than a generic index based on elastic properties sensitive to the variability of burial and compaction seen at the basin scale.

10:20 Thomas Howard, Kenneth H Baird Recovering Dip Data from Resurrected Dip Meter Logs

When original interpretation dip meter deliverables are no longer available, or are considered suspect, TECHNICAL PROGRAM TECHNICAL interpretable and useable dip data can be recovered from paper or electronic copies of “Vintage” field dip .38 P 38

meter logs, i.e. four pad, single or two button tools. Satisfactory results can be obtained from a 5 inch = 100’ paper log plot (or scanned tiff). Interpretations based on the resurrected data may be better than any original computer-generated interpretation, as the work flow centers on: 1) An experienced analyst manually picking, editing and interpreting “events” and 2) Integrating iterative feedback from the end-user geologist. Most picks will likely be bedding dips; however, it may be possible to speculate about some picks which are otherwise including: legitimate fractures, faults, and/or possibly stratigraphic dips. A general workflow is described followed by discussion of several examples.

SESSION NO.4: Assessing Reservoir Quality Through Detailed Analyses Chair: Dalton Lockman Location: Harbor Room

10:00 Alyssa Beth Kaess, Robert A Horton, Shruti Shertukde, Monique Armijo Diagenesis of the Temblor Formation, McKittrick Oil Field, California

The McKittrick oil field is located near the western edge of the San Joaquin basin approximately 60 km west of Bakersfield and just north-east of the McKittrick thrust fault. The oil field is currently producing from the Tulare, San Joaquin, Reef Ridge, Monterey, Temblor, Tumey, and Kreyenhagen Formations. Within the Temblor Formation production is mainly from the Carneros and the Phacoides sands. Samples were obtained from the California Well Sample Repository. Depths range between 2400 and 2650 meters. These were studied using petrography and with a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS) and a cathodo-luminescence system (SEM-CL). The Temblor Sandstones consist of fine to very coarse poorly to well sorted arkosic arenites. Detrital framework grains include sub-angular quartz, K-feldspar (microcline and orthoclase), plagioclase, and rock fragments. Three chemically distinct types of K-feldspars have been identified: Ba-free, Ba-rich, and perthite. Accessory minerals include glauconite, biotite, muscovite, magnetite, titanomagnetite, sphene, zircon, phosphate, corundum, and rutile. Diagenetic alteration includes compaction, dissolution of detrital minerals, albitization of feldspars, cementation by kaolinite, calcite and dolomite, precipitation of K-

feldspar and quartz overgrowths, replacement of framework grains by calcite, alteration of volcanic rock TECHNICAL PROGRAM fragments, and the alteration of biotite to pyrite and chlorite. Long, sutured, and interpenetrating grain-to- grain contacts, squashing of labiles to create pseudomatrix, and fracturing of brittle grains (quartz and feldspar) indicate significant compaction. Early formed fractures were healed by authigenic quartz, albite, and K-feldspars. Precipitation of carbonates and clays, rearranging of broken grains, and formation of pseudomatrix subsequently reduced porosity. Secondary porosity is common and formed initially by the dissolution of plagioclase (excluding albite) and volcanic fragments and later by dissolution of calcite, dolomite, and detrital K-feldspars. Oil emplacement was followed by precipitation of late pyrite framboids in pores containing both oil and clays. This suggests that continuing maturation of the hydrocarbons supplied sulfur that reacted with ferrous ions in pore fluids trapped within the clays’ microporosity.

10:20 Stephanie E Caffee, Robert A Horton Diagenesis and Reservoir Quality of the Oligocene Vedder Sandstone, Rio Bravo Oil Field, California

The Rio Bravo oil field is located in the southern San Joaquin basin, fifteen miles northwest of Bakersfield. Production from this field comes mainly from sandstones in the Vedder Formation and the Stevens sands that lie within the Monterey Formation. The Vedder Sandstone is the zone of importance and is about 1,250 feet (380m) in thickness. The thin (<100ft, 30m) Miocene Rio Bravo sandstone, which unconformably overlies the Vedder, is included in the main Vedder reservoir. The Vedder reservoir sandstones are bounded below by non-marine sands of the Walker Formation and above by deep-marine shales of the Freeman-Jewett Formation. Burial depths range from approximately 10,750 feet (3,415m) to 12,450 feet (3,800m), with reservoir temperature at approximately 120 degrees C. Samples were obtained from eight wells housed at the California Well Sample Repository. The mineralogy and lithology of Oligocene sandstones of the Rio Bravo oil field were examined using a petrographic microscope and a

scanning electron microscope equipped with and energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS) and a cathodo-luminescence imaging system (SEM-CL). The Vedder reservoir sandstones are medium to fine- grain subangular to subround very poorly to well sorted arkosic arenites and wackes. Detrital minerals of P .39

the Vedder reservoir include quartz, potassium feldspar (orthoclase, microcline, perthite), plagioclase, biotite, muscovite, zircon, hornblende, and rutile. Rock fragments include volcanic grains, granitic microphanerites, chert, and shale clasts. The diagenetic features affecting reservoir quality of the Vedder Sandstones are similar among wells. Authigenic minerals include albite, clays, calcite, dolomite, quartz, pyrite, galuconite, and phosphate. Albitization occurs extensively along fractures in plagioclase and K- feldspar grains. Plagioclase shows varying degrees of alteration to clay or sericite. Biotite has been altered to chlorite and pyrite. Cements include clays (kaolinite, chlorite, and illite and/ or mixed-layer illite/smectite or illite/chlorite), carbonates (calcite and dolomite), and pyrite. Kaolinite occurs as pore-filling cement and is commonly associated with feldspar dissolution. Calcite cement occurs within some through going fractures. Calcite has partially to completely replaced framework-grains. Frambroidal pyrite is present in pores containing clays and hydrocarbons. Authigenic quartz developed mostly as syntaxial overgrowths on detrital quartz grains. Porosity within the Vedder reservoir sandstones is controlled mainly by compaction and dissolution of framework-grains. Compaction decreased porosity through ductile grain deformation of shale clasts and micas, which commonly were squeezed into adjacent pores to form pseudomatrix. Rotation and slippage of grains and fracturing of brittle grains is also widespread. Dissolution of framework grains created oversized and elongate pores, with the result that secondary intergranular porosity contributes significantly to overall reservoir quality.

10:40 Tom Arnold, Andrew Sneddon, Shang Wu, Andria Deen Case Study: Woodford Shale Source Rock Characterization by Geochemical and SEM Evaluation in a Horizontal Well

The benefits to hydrocarbon exploration from geochemical and petrologic analysis have been known for many years. Yet the advent of smaller, cheaper and more specialized equipment is now providing the ability to make highly precise and critical measurements during the drilling process. This greatly reduces the time it takes to obtain results that may take weeks or even months. When this data is coupled with standard surface logging techniques of gas and formation analysis, they provide valuable information about the hydrocarbon source rock to the reservoir. This will aid with production of the subject well and future development planning. For this case study, several instruments were used in a mobile laboratory

during the drilling of a Woodford horizontal well on cutting samples taken at regular intervals: Rock Eval®, GCIR II for Gas Isotopes‚ Niton® XRF, Hitachi TM-3000 SEM. The Rock Eval pyrolysis provided data on producible hydrocarbons, thermal maturity and total organic content in each sample. The GCIR II analyzed the gas isotopes from both isotubes and isojars yielding data on c1, c2, c3 and c4 isotopes. This data provided insight into permeability, porosity and provided information on hydrocarbon compartmentalization. In addition, GCIR data analysis composed regional stable isotope mapping (DNA) of the target formation. XRF analysis was able to quantify the elemental composition of the cutting samples. This provided an understanding of the best locations to frac based on silica and aluminum content, changes in mineral composition due to alterations of depositional environment, better regional understanding of the reservoir and an indication of Total Organic Carbon assisting with‚ ”sweet spot” identification. Petrologic analysis was done using the SEM. This instrument gave direct observation of both microstructures and available pore space. In turn this data gave corroboration to the previous geochemical and elemental analysis. As a control to the measurements made during the drilling of the well, two Woodford outcrops from the Arbuckle Mountains of Oklahoma were examined from samples taken at specified intervals through the formation using the standard practices of stratigraphy. These samples were subjected to analysis using the XRF and SEM. Not only did this provide a benchmark for the test well, it provided information to assist with regional variations within the Woodford source rock.

SESSION NO.5: Interpretation Case Studies and Advancing Technologies in Seismic Acquisition and Processing Chairs: Gary Myers, Dan Szymanski Location: Pacifica Room

13:40 Chad Severson, Gary Myers, Deborah Edgerton, Wallace Bayne Extending The Boundaries Of A Mature Oil Field With The Aid Of 3D Seismic Imaging: A Study Of The South Belridge Field, San Joaquin Valley, California TECHNICAL PROGRAM TECHNICAL .40 P

The South Belridge field is one of the most prolific producing fields in California. Since its discovery in 1911, the field has produced over 1.5 BBLs of oil. As production declines due to depletion, reserve additions become vital to maintain the commerciality of such a field. In this study, we look to the flanks of the Belridge anticline using well log and production data in addition to 3D seismic imaging. This allows for the identification of prospects for reserve replacement in order to extend the producing boundaries of the field. The study has focused primarily within the shallow Pliocene-Pleistocene interval of siliciclastic, primarily heavy oil, reservoirs within the Tulare, San Joaquin and Etchegoin formations. 3D volume interpretation yielded seismically identified geobodies for additional evaluation and correlation to existing step-out wells on the flank of the Belridge anticline. Geobody extractions of the 3D data and integration with hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs observed in the well data provide the ability to map the spatial extent of potential prospects found within this un-developed area.

14:00 Cynthia Black, Barkley Andersen Revitalizing An Older 3D Data Set Using Updated Reprocessing Techniques

The THUMS 3D was acquired over the offshore part of the Long Beach Unit (Wilmington Field) in 1995 by Arco. The 3D data has been used from time to time to evaluate some deeper projects, however, despite multiple reprocessing efforts, it has failed to provide enough detailed imaging of the complex normal faulting in the shallower zones to the extent that geologists and engineers have, over the years, only depended on well control to place infill wells in established reservoirs of Ranger-Ford age. In 2014, the THUMS 3D was reprocessed, applying refraction statics to this transition zone type data, 5D interpolation, and pre-stack depth migration. Over the past 6 months, the reprocessed dataset is providing much improved images of faulting even at the shallower depths of the prolific Ranger reservoirs at 3000-3500 ft depth despite the low fold afforded by the old 3D survey. It is allowing new insights into fault patterns that were thought completely defined by workers over the past 2 decades and helping delineate new drilling locations in these mature reservoirs.

14:20 Chuck Diggins, Cynthia Black How Refraction Statics Affect the Pre-stack Migration of Deep Structures in San Joaquin Data TECHNICAL PROGRAM

Bedding thicknesses hold the key to identifying turbidite complexes in the subsurface. Statistical best-fit relationships for bedding thicknesses in confined turbidite systems can help differentiate channel-levee systems from proximal fans. Statistical analyses will also help increase discovery of new petroleum reservoirs and enhance geological understanding for further petroleum recovery in old fields. The Midway-Sunset Oil Field, located on the southwest side of San Joaquin Basin, CA, provides a unique setting where it is possible to study the differences among channel-levee, proximal fan, and marginal fan turbidite deposits. Frequency distributions of bedding thicknesses measured from whole cores, taken in the Midway-Sunset Field, will be analyzed. These cores encompass three systems within a turbidite complex: channel-levee, intraslope fan, and marginal fan systems. Observed bedding thickness distributions are compared to theoretical cumulative frequency distributions to determine whether they follow power law, log-log, inverse log, polynomial, and exponential relationships. Variation in bedding thickness frequency distributions may relate to depositional setting, such as differences between channel- levee systems and the basin floor, amount of sediment from tectonic triggered deposition, and paleo-sea levels within deepwater basins. Grain size and amalgamated surfaces may also show variations in bedding thickness frequency. Preliminary results from the marginal fan system indicate that the frequency distribution of bedding thickness for this locality is statistically distinct from an exponential distribution (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, p-value <0.05), but not from a lognormal distribution (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, p-value >> 0.05). When bedding thicknesses are sorted by grain size, the medium sands (1/4-1/2 mm) and the coarse sands (1/2-1mm), follow lognormal distributions with p-values > 0.10. Fine grain sands (125-250µm) also follow a lognormal distribution with p-values > 0.20. While the measured bed thickness distributions contain more thin beds than thick, the medium and coarse sand beds compose most beds greater than 100 cm thick. Thicknesses vary depending on structural location and will be

assessed by comparing bedding thicknesses along strike to bedding thicknesses along dip. Dip section measurements will also be compared and tested against each other as will strike section to strike section. P .41

Comparisons among different localities and parts of the turbidite system provide opportunities to explore the effects on bedding thickness of depositional settings, sediment supply, and paleo-sea levels.

15:00 M Lee Bell, Gary Myers Processing The KTK 3D Seismic Survey For Azimuthal Information: San Joaquin Basin, California

Geokinetics acquired the KTK 3D seismic survey in 2013 in conjunction with Aera Energy. The survey took place in the San Joaquin Basin in Kern, Kings and Tulare Counties and was intended to explore the northern extents of the Monterey and Kreyenhagen formations in the Buttonwillow Depocenter which lie between 12,000 and 16,000 ft in depth. With the recent advances in horizontal drilling and fracking in unconventional plays, the Monterey Shale has come under scrutiny as a strong candidate for similar exploitation. Chief among its attributes is not only as an excellent source rock, but an understanding of its natural fracture networks and the local stress regime that it is subjected is important in commercial production. The contribution of seismic data to characterizing the density and direction of fractures, as well as the direction and magnitude of the local stress fields has been well documented. Important to the success of this analysis is the acquisition of sufficient offsets in all directions as well as the careful preservation of this azimuthal information in the data processing. Since land seismic acquisition is by nature irregularly sampled due to a variety of natural and man-made obstacles, sophisticated interpolation schemes and amplitude and azimuth preservative pre-stack migration must be employed to overcome the impact of these effects. A typical amplitude preservative processing sequence was followed. The data were sorted into cubes of offset ranges and azimuth ranges and migrated. However, when subdividing the data into so many domains, a lot of holes in the data are created; thus the necessity of multidimensional interpolation. Several methods exist to do this; the one used here is known as the Projection Onto a Convex Set, or POSC. We show several examples of the data holes interpolated using all 5 (x, y, t, offset and azimuth) dimensions. With the 5D interpolation completed, the OVT migration is performed and the data is now ready for analysis for anisotropy, fracture characterization, stress analysis, etc. The KTK survey has been acquired and processed in such a way that a sophisticated azimuthal analysis of the Monterey and Kreyenhagen formations may be performed. The 5D interpolation is a critical step to

forming complete OVTs that then may be successfully imaged.

15:20 Mitchell Barklage, Dan Hollis, Brady Barto, Robert Clayton, Cynthia Black, Barkley Anderson, Paul Davis, Jascha Polet, Elizabeth Cochran, Yiran Ma LASSIE: A High Density Short Duration Broadband Seismic Survey Of The Los Angeles Basin

LASSIE (Los Angeles Syncline Seismic Interferometry Experiment) is a collaborative experiment between industry and academia to operate a high density short duration broadband seismic survey across the Los Angeles Basin. The survey consists of a linear array of broadband seismic stations that transect an area from the Long Beach harbor to the foothills north of Whittier with a high density 3D array of instruments over the Long Beach oil field and a portion of the Wilmington oil field. The industry objective of this survey is to derive seismic velocity information from ambient-noise surface waves, and use it to improve subsurface reflection images of the Long Beach oil field. The academic interest is to image the Los Angeles Basin with receiver functions and seismic interferometry. 73 broadband instruments were used in the deployment, which occurred Sept 21 to Nov 17, 2014. The data is archived at the IRIS Data Management Center and will be open access after a two-year exclusivity period. A number of large teleseismic earthquakes occurred during the survey including three M7 or greater. Preliminary results show that teleseismic earthquakes are well recorded at long periods even in the noisy urban environment of the Los Angeles Basin.

15:40 Jamey Turner, Janet Sowers, Josh Goodman, Stuart Nishenko 3D Vp-Gravity-Density Modeling of Irregular High-Vp Diabase Intrusive Bodies and Shallow 3D Very High-Res Reflection Imaging of Faulted Marine Terraces of the Southern Irish Hills, California TECHNICAL PROGRAM TECHNICAL .42 P

Active source seismic data collected in the Irish Hills of central coastal California in 2011-2012 provided 22 million first-break picks that were jointly inverted with gravity and density to create 3D acoustic wave velocity (Vp) and reflection volumes. 2011 data were acquired across the Irish Hills; 2012 acquisition focused on shallow faulting and velocity structure along the southern coast. Higher-res Vp models were made for marine terrace area with 2ft vertical and 10ft horizontal cells, and the Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) area with 5ft vertical spacing to 300 ft depth. Surface mapping, gravity, helimagnetic, and nearshore Multibeam bathymetry data are evaluated for faulting, Mesozoic basement structure of the inverted Pismo Synclinorium, and mapping subsurface diabase in the study area. Vp and S-wave 3D tomography volumes provided reflection processing inputs for foundation velocity analyses to inform ground motion modeling for DCPP. The Miocene Obispo Fm. in the DCPP area is intruded by diabase bodies with uniquely high Vp values ≤ 6 km/s); typical Mesozoic basement velocities in this area range from ~4 to 5 km/s. The diabase is well-imaged in Vp; no significant offset of diabase-Vp structure was observed. The marine terrace Vp model southeast of DCPP was evaluated for possible splay faults that may hard-link the San Luis Bay fault system (e.g., Rattlesnake fault) and the offshore Shoreline fault zone. Terrace deposits 20 to 50 feet thick overlie a platform of subvertical Cretaceous sandstone (Ks); the top of Ks was mapped by creating a depth-to-first-strong-reflector map in which three lineaments were identified. No consistent bedrock step is seen across the previously mapped Rattlesnake fault. An unnamed fault in Irish Canyon, coincident with a strong magnetic-anomaly lineament, is observed in 2011 reflection data as prominent reflector truncations along strike; we propose the name Irish Canyon fault, and hypothesize it as an en-echelon splay of the Tertiary San Miguelito-Shoreline fault system. Vertical faults cross-cut transpressional folds north and south of the basin imaged in 2D/3D depth-migrated data, similar to offshore faulting observed in 3D reflection and bathymetry data. The Shoreline fault may left step onshore onto the steeply-north-dipping Irish Canyon fault west of Pt. San Luis. 3D viscoelastic deformation modeling of long-term Hosgri oblique slip reproduces observed coastal terrace uplift rates along the Irish Hills.

16:00 Phil Hogan, H Gary Greene, Stu Nishenko Modern Industrial Technology and Methodology Used in the Acquisition of High- Resolution 3D PCable Seismic Reflection Data, Offshore Central California TECHNICAL PROGRAM

Extensive three-dimensional (3D) low-energy offshore seismic reflection surveys were undertaken in 2011 and 2012 for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to image faults and piercing points for constraining slip rates of the Shoreline and the Hosgri Fault Zones. Interpretations of the 3D/2D datasets are being used by PG&E in its ongoing efforts to characterize seismic hazards at the DCPP. The major components of the 3D multichannel data acquisition system were a digital recording system (CNT-2 Controller), 12 to 14 PCable-configured GeoEel solid digital streamers, CSP-D power supplies, and a triple-plate boomer acoustic source. The streamers were connected to a single PCable that was pulled taut from each end by port and starboard paravanes. Very high-resolution data were collected using state-of-the-art high-precision navigation, acoustic sound source, receivers, and recorders. The low- energy (1.5 kJ), high-resolution 3D PCable seismic-reflection profiling system has a frequency range of 100-700 hertz [Hz], with a 200-225 Hz fundamental frequency. A 3D navigation binning system was used. The streamer separation on the P-Cable was 6.25 m; each streamer consisted of eight active channels, with a group interval of 6.25 m. This allowed for tight control of bin spacing by using individual channels or summation of adjacent channels to increase the signal-to-noise ratio. With this configuration, a total of 96 channels (12 streamers) or 112 channels (14 streamers) of data were acquired at a sampling rate of 250 microseconds and a record length of 750 milliseconds (ms). The GeoEel streamer configuration used in this investigation provided a Nyquist frequency of 2 kilohertz. Survey sail-lines for 3D data collection in all surveyed areas used a trackline spacing of 37 to 40 m. The 3D swath width of this spread was 37.5 m or 43.75 m, depending on the number of streamers deployed. Shot spacing was at 3.125 m, with a CDP interval of 3.125 m and a 0.25 ms sample interval. Vertical resolution for all the seismic data is estimated to be 2 m; horizontal resolution is approximately 3 m. Processed 3D seismic-reflection amplitude and attribute volumes provide imaging of faults, stratigraphic horizons and geomorphologic features in unprecedented detail that were used to map fault geometry and evaluate slip-rates. The slip rate for the

Shoreline fault zone is estimated to be less than 0.1 mm/yr., an order-of-magnitude less than that for the Hosgri Fault Zone. P .43

16:20 Dare Odumade, A Jayeoba Geological and Structural Interpretation of Ado-Ekiti Southwest and Its Adjoining Areas Using Aeromagnetic Data

Airborne magnetic datasets was processed to interpret the geology of part of the basement complex of Ado-Ekiti SW, Sheet 244 and estimate the depth to basement of magnetic sources in the area in order to evaluate and deduce the basement topography, delineating structural lineaments and their trends using the aeromagnetic geophysical method. Aeromagnetic dataset were collected, filtered, inverted and enhanced using appropriate software packages and subsequently employed to generate model of the subsurface basement topography. The data processing steps involved were Butterworth filtering, reduction to the equator, analytic signal, upward continuation, Tilt angle derivative, Average power spectrum, Euler deconvolution and Window Euler solution. The magnetic intensity from Butterwort ranges from 171.647 to 188.405nT; Reduction to the Equator varies from -162.5 to 194.1nT; upward continuation at 4km ranges from 7.6 to 91.7nT and analytical signal varies from 0.007 to 0.564nT. The magnetic intensity distribution was found to depend on the size, depth of burial and the thickness of low susceptibility superficial material overlying the magnetite rich crystalline rocks. Tilt angle derivative revealed the presence of fold, shearing and lineaments with its orientations. Lineament analysis using the rose diagram showed that the area is dominated by NNE-SSW trend. Window Euler solution varies from 0.132km to 2.23km with the percentage variation in the depth estimation ranging from 5.56% at shallow depth to 0.90% at deeper depth. The average radial power analysis delineated shallow sources ranging from 0.36km - 0.50km with 95.2nT - 134.9nT magnetic intensity and deeper sources ranging from 0.88 - 1.35km with magnetic intensity -37.4nT to -162.5nT. Maps of upward continuation, analytical signal, tilt derivative, average power spectrum, Window Euler solution and Rose diagram revealed the basement topography including structural lineaments with its orientations and the depth to the magnetic sources of the study area.

16:40 Zhao Ning, Huang Jiangqin High Resolution Seismic Attribute Analysis and Lithological Trap Identification of Thin Layer Braided River Delta Deposits: A Case on the Yogou and Sokor Formation in the

Yogou 3D Area of Agadem Block, Niger

Lithological trap identification is still a challenge for thin layer reservoirs in thick shales. Based on the high resolution sequence stratigraphy theory and seismic structure analysis, the high resolution sequence stratigraphy framework is established. With the sedimentary facies analysis of 22 wells in the nearly 2300 sq km Yogou 3D area, seismic sedimentary characteristics in the area are identified: (1) Six kinds of sedimentary microfacies and three major reservoir sands are developed in late Cretaceous Yogou formation and early Paleogene Sokor formation. Submarine channels have a “bell” or “box” shape in GR, with a good continuity, strong to medium amplitude and medium frequency of seismic reflection with a flat top and convex bottom shape or a belt shape, and go thinner upwards; Mouth bars have a “funnel” shape in GR, with a bad continuity, weak to medium amplitude, low to medium frequency of seismic reflection with a convex top and flat bottom shape or an elongated shape, and go thicker upwards. They can be divided into channel (bar) trunks and channel (bar) flanks. Submarine sand sheets have a “finger” shape in GR, with a medium to good continuity, weak amplitude, medium to strong frequency of seismic reflection with a narrow belt shape and multi-periods suspension; (2) With the analysis of seismic sedimentary characteristics in reflection geometry shape, internal structure, amplitude, frequency and continuity, delta-front sands display quite different from shore, coast, prodelta deposits and volcanics; (3) Seismic amplitude extraction of 6 milliseconds’ RMS in each zones of the YS3 sub-formation and sedimentary microfacies sands statistics in all wells show different source directions and planar sands distribution. (4) Considering about multi-grades fractures and the cap rocks later sealing, three sets of sands in the YS3 sub-formation can be correlated through the whole area. Most of oil beds are in the upper I and II sand sets of submarine channels and mouth bars onto the west slope and in the lower II and III sand sets of submarine sand sheets down to the east sag; (5) A mixed and distant source supply sedimentary model of this area is established.

TECHNICAL PROGRAM TECHNICAL .44 P 44

SESSION NO.6: Detailed characterization of the Monterey Formation in California Chairs: Gregg Pyke, Annie Mosher Location: Embassy 1 Room

15:00 Heather Strickland, Jim Boles Two Small-Scale Deformation Features In The Monterey Formation And Their Significance For Reservoir Characterization

The Monterey Formation is often highly fractured and deformed due to its brittle nature and occurrence along an active transform margin. The degree of brittle deformation is a crucial factor in the quality of fractured Monterey Formation reservoirs. Small-scale features often record multiple episodes of structural deformation and their presence can impact reservoir properties such as porosity, permeability and hydrocarbon saturation. Incorporating detailed core description, optical petrography, SEM with EDS, FTIR and XRD, we are able to characterize two distinct features, which are often grouped together as small scale fractures, but reflect very different timing and mechanisms of formation. Intrastratal microfractured zones (IMZ) are small, strata-bound, en echelon tear fractures that are compositionally the same as the matrix but have a higher grain density, and form in the early stages of burial diagenesis. The IMZ have a lower porosity and permeability than the matrix rock, which can affect hydrocarbon saturation and fluid movement. Vertical pressure solution seams, on the other hand, are features that are compositionally different than the matrix and form due to horizontal stresses, causing pressure solution at grain contacts. The pressure solution seams form perpendicular to sigma 1 and are important indicators of paleo stress directions. These typically form during later stages of burial, related to tectonic stresses. They also serve as pre-existing planes of weakness that can be reactivated in opening mode or shear with further tectonic strain or induced well stimulations.

15:20 Tesfalidet G Kassa, Richard Behl Pore Structure Of Opal-CT And Quartz Phase Porcelanites, Monterey Formation, California

We identify and quantify significant differences in pore size, shape and complexity between opal-CT and TECHNICAL PROGRAM quartz-phase porcelanites, but also between rocks of the same silica phase with distinct silica content or sedimentary fabric using secondary and backscattered electron scanning electron microscopy of argon- ion polished or focused-ion beams’ cut surfaces. Porcelanites are important reservoir rocks that demonstrate great differences in producability despite similar bulk physical characteristics. Previous studies have measured an order-of-magnitude lower permeability in opal-CT compared with quartz phase porcelanites, presumably due to difference in pore-throat size. In quartz-phase, we identify three porosity microfabrics. Silica-rich porcelanite (> 80% silica) has patchy/speckled and laminated microfabrics. The first displays low porosity matrix and high porosity lenticular patches. We measured 17-20% bulk porosity of (pore-diameter 0.05-3.00 microns). In contrast, a laminated silica-rich porcelanite (26% bulk porosity) has ~100 µm-thick layers that alternate between highly porous (35% & pore size 0.01-3.7 microns) with good interconnectivity and low porosity layers (19%) with isolated pores (0.01-0.7 microns). The massive silica-poor porcelanites have porosity of 10% with (0.02- 0.03 microns) and poor connectivity. Our range of bulk porosities for quartz-phase porcelanite (10-26%) measured by microanalysis is similar to that determined by standard methods. Opal-CT porcelanite also reveals three different microfabrics: two in high-silica (>75%) and one low silica (<60%). One high-silica porcelanite with 30% bulk porosity has a pervasive lepispheric fabric in which lepispheric cores and interlepisphere porosity each comprise ~1/2 of the total porosity (3-138 nm size). Lepisphere cores are formed of highly porous granular opal-CT, but this porosity is mostly isolated by a virtually pore-free, surrounding impermeable mantle. The larger and better-connected interlepisphere pores are formed by larger, crosscutting and radiating bladed crystals. The second silica-rich, opal-CT porcelanite is characterized by extraordinarily large and connected vuggy pores with bulk porosity of 60%. This unique pore structure is associated with silica mobility during stalled burial or tectonic uplift of the opal-CT to quartz transition zone. The last fabric is in silica-poor opal- CT porcelanite that has 18% bulk porosity with poorly connected pores (0.001-0.09 microns).

15:40 Kristina M Hill, Richard Behl Diagenetic and Compositional Controls of Wettability in Siliceous Sedimentary Rocks,

Monterey Formation, California P .45

Modified imbibition tests were performed on 69 subsurface Monterey Formation reservoir samples from the San Joaquin Valley to measure wettability variation as a result of composition and silica phase change. Contact angle tests were also performed on 6 chert samples from outcrop and 3 nearly pure mineral samples. Understanding wettability is important because it is a key factor in reservoir fluid distribution and movement, and its significance rises as porosity and permeability decrease and fluid interactions with reservoir grain surface area increase. Low permeability siliceous reservoirs of the Monterey Formation are economically important and prolific, but a greater understanding of factors that alter their wettability will help better develop them. Subsurface reservoir samples from 3 oil fields were crushed to eliminate the effect of capillary pressure and cleansed of hydrocarbons to eliminate wettability alterations by asphaltene, then pressed into discs of controlled density. Powder discs were tested for wettability by dispensing a controlled volume of water and motor oil onto the surface and measuring the time required for each fluid to imbibe into the sample. The syringe and software of a CAM101 tensiometer were used to control the amount of fluid dispensed onto each sample, and imbibition completion times were determined by high-speed photography for water drops; oil drop imbibition was significantly slower and imbibition was timed and determined visually. Contact angle of water and oil drops on polished chert and mineral sample surfaces was determined by image analysis and the Young-Laplace equation. Oil imbibition was significantly slower with increased detrital composition and faster with increased silica content in opal-CT and quartz phase samples, implying decreased wettability to oil with increased detrital (clay) content. However, contact angle tests showed that opal-CT is more wetting to oil with increased detritus and results for oil on quartz-phase samples were inconsistent between different proxies for detritus over their very small compositional range. Water contact angle trends also showed inconsistent wetting trends compared to imbibition tests. We believe this is because the small range in detrital composition between the “pure” samples used in contact angle tests was close to analytical error. These experiments show that compositional variables significantly affect wettability, outweighing the effect of silica phase.

16:00 Manish K Lal, Viet Hoang Tran, Larry E Drennan Challenges and Values of Formation Testing in Tight Sand in Monterey Formation Using Modular Dynamic Tester (MDT)

A vertical appraisal well was drilled in the southern San Joaquin Valley to evaluate two intervals in the Monterey Formation. The target reservoirs have decent porosity but low matrix permeability. The well will have comingled production, if completed in both zones. The purpose of the appraisal well is to properly characterize the reservoirs and evaluate technologies that can lead to the development of tight reservoirs in the area. A secondary objective is to understand the individual zone production such that we may target a single zone for future development. The completion and producibility of these tight intervals is still in debate and quite challenging. These zones will likely need to be frac stimulated due to very low permeability. This paper describes the challenges and values of formation testing using the Modular Dynamic Tester (MDT) run in the well. The MDT was selected to run to measure formation pressure, collect fluid samples for PVT analysis and test the frac closure pressure. A decision was made beforehand to run the MDT tool through drill pipe to avoid any potential drilling issues. However, this had less flexibility in moving up / down the hole and was time consuming. The tightness of the reservoir posed additional challenges to be able to collect fluid samples in a limited time frame and with conventional sample collection techniques. However, continuous onsite monitoring, on the fly changes in the sample depths in response to formation behavior, and optimization of sample chamber opening time enabled us to successfully collect one water and two oil samples. At two depths we were able to get reservoir pressure data that was more accurate than data from XPT. The sample is being currently analyzed for fluid properties which will help narrow down the uncertainties and aid in planning the stimulation of the well. This is especially important to prove and maintain the commerciality of the reservoir. Lessons Learned: 1. MDT is a proven technique but needs special attention including on-site monitoring when evaluating tight rocks. 2. Remote monitoring may not always be real time. Decision may need to be made on the fly. Best Practices: 1. Early engagement with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and vendor for job planning. 2. Ensure people in early engagement meetings are available during job execution. Challenges: 1. Running tool on drill pipe, though safer, is time consuming. 2. Persons executing the job were not involved in pre-job planning. TECHNICAL PROGRAM TECHNICAL .46 P 46

SESSION NO.7: Sediments as Recorders of Earth’s History Chairs: Alex Simms, Kathie Marsaglia Location: Harbor Room

15:00 Rashonda Stubblefield Shifting Wind Vectors As Evidenced By Yardang Morphology And The Implications For Climate Change In Qaidam Basin, China

Climate change affects wind patterns, and in landscapes where wind-eroded features exist, these changes can be observed in landform geomorphology. Landforms such as sand dunes (modern) and yardangs (~1000s years) show evidence for the direction of the winds that shaped them. This study creates and analyzes a database of wind-shaped landforms in Qaidam Basin, China, to determine if climate change has caused changes in wind patterns. The basin shows evidence of extensive erosion by unidirectional winds carrying abrasive particles, but the strong, regular dust storms required have not been observed in the past 50 years. Global climate models predict that the region experienced stronger winds during glacial periods, the last of which occurred about 20,000 years ago. This study aims to test and to possibly fine-tune this model. Sand dune morphology is used to represent current and/or recent wind patterns, and yardang directionality is used to represent past wind patterns. Landform vectors are measured in Google Earth and then modeled using ArcGIS spatial analysis tools. The resulting model shows distinct areas of the basin where these two datasets do not correspond with one another. It is possible that these regions are evidence for a past wind regime and therefore a past climate change. These results suggest that in addition to the modern SE-directed winds, the basin at one time experienced strong and sustained SW-directed winds.

15:20 Matthew Van Grinsven, Lilian Rubi, Robert Negrini Glaciogenic Effects During MIS 2 On The Lacustrine Sediment Flux Of Tulare Lake

Physical and chemical changes in the lithology of deposited sediment can act as proxies for past lake levels and, hence, climate change, particularly when terminal lake basins are studied. Ever since the MIS 2 glacial maximum one such lake, Tulare Lake, CA, has been the terminus of four of the largest rivers TECHNICAL PROGRAM from the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains and hydrologic modeling has shown that its surface elevation is a good gauge of Sierran stream discharge. Here we present two chronologies which extends the relative paleolake-level record of Tulare Lake from the TL05-4 cores based on geochemical and geophysical proxies back to 29 or 44 cal kyr BP. Proxy data from these cores include magnetic susceptibility, grain size, total inorganic and organic carbon, and carbon-nitrogen ratios. To some extent, these data co-vary and based on comparisons with earlier trench sample based lake-level records, reflect relative lake level. The earliest part of the record shows millennial scale cyclic fluctuations of grain size which may relate to regional climate. After this, Tulare Lake experienced a sharp increase in lake level, likely associated with the creation of a small fan dam around 25 cal kyr BP. Lake level gradually decreased during the Tioga Glaciation (25-15 cal kyr BP). This may have been caused by decreased summer precipitation and winter precipitation that has been sequestered in the snowpack. During the late Tioga Glaciation, large amounts of runoff from the melting glaciers and addition of water from the Kings River filled the lake and significantly increase the sill height of the fan dam (18.6-15 cal kyr BP) to more or less present elevations. After this, Tulare Lake levels stabilized and varied in conjunction primarily due to changes in sea surface temperatures. Lack of age control prior to 24 cal kyr BP leaves some ambiguity between age models, both of which have merit. Further age dates are expected to refine the model and extrapolate lacustrine sediment changes to regional climate change.

15:40 Johnathan Rice, Alexander Simms The Nueces Bay-head Delta Response to the 2.6 ka Climate Event in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

The purpose of this study is to examine how a wave-dominated estuary responded to a period of aridity

that occurred around 2.6 ka. Additionally, the overall evolution of the bayhead delta is better defined through a sub-delta facies model. Twenty-eight vibracores, eight geoprobe cores, and twenty-five

kilometers of high-resolution seismic profiles were collected in the Nueces Bayhead Delta on the P .47

northwest coast of the Gulf of Mexico in Texas. The sediment cores were described and used in conjunction with the seismic profile to determine lateral facies relationships. The timing of deposition and facies changes were determined by radiocarbon dating. We identified eight sedimentary facies in the sediment cores which include five distinct deltaic sub-facies. The sedimentary facies include two distinct mud facies, two distinct sand facies, an oyster facies, tan sandy silt facies, a brown fine sand facies, and a black sandy silt facies. Within the 25 kilometers of seismic data, we identified four seismic facies. The seismic facies were identified based observed reflection characteristics. Seven sand lobes were identified in the seismic profiles and sediment cores. The seven sand lobes have been interpreted as mouth-bar deposits and used to determine the approximate location of the seaward edge of the delta through time. The delta was located farther seaward than its current location prior to 3 ka. After 3 ka the delta backstepped by at least 10 kilometers before prograding to its modern position. The post-3 ka backstepping event correlates with a period of local aridity and was probably caused by a reduction in sediment supply.

16:00 Grant Caldwell, Ann Bykerk-Kauffman Evaluation Of Late Neogene Sediments On The Northern Flank Of The Central Coyote Mountains: Paleotopographic Setting And Sediment Sources Of The Late Miocene Latrania Formation During Initial Stages Of A Marine Incursion

During the late Miocene, initiation of motion on the West Salton detachment fault caused rapid subsidence of the Salton Trough region, resulting in a marine incursion between 6.3 and 4.3 Ma (Dorsey and others, 2011). Marine sediments of this age were deposited unconformably onto Paleozoic/Mesozoic metamorphic rocks and mid-Miocene nonmarine clastics and volcanics of the Split Mountain Group. In the central Coyote Mountains, located along the southern edge of the Salton Trough, the marine sedimentary rocks consist of the Miocene-Pliocene Latrania Formation, a thin sequence of locally derived fossiliferous immature conglomerates and sandstones, overlain by the Pliocene Deguyos Formation, a thick sequence of Colorado River-derived deltaic mudstones and fine mature sandstones. Progradation of the delta resulted in a return of nonmarine conditions, marked by the deposition of the Pliocene- Pleistocene Diablo Formation, a thick sequence of fine mature sandstones and mudstones. Around 1 Ma, the tectonic regime in the area changed, deposition of Colorado River-derived sedimentation ceased, and

the right-lateral Elsinore fault formed, uplifting the range. Detailed geologic mapping on the north flank of the central Coyote Mountains reveals a network of faults kinematically compatible with the Elsinore Fault as well as a remarkably rugged paleo-topography along the unconformity between the marine sedimentary rocks and the metamorphic basement. This unconformity is locally so steep that it is easily mistaken for a fault. In these places, the Latrania Formation is absent; deltaic mudstones of the Deguyos Formation are plastered directly against paleo-cliffs of metamorphic rocks. In addition, the Latrania Formation appears to have been simultaneously deposited at varying depths--wherever the topography was gentle enough to retain sand. Specific focus on the depositional environment and provenance of the Latrania Formation has yet to be presented. Petrographic analyses of thin-sectioned samples and a proposed paleogeographic reconstruction of the studied area during Latrania deposition add to a growing understanding of the paleotopography and sediment sources associated with the initial stages of this marine incursion.

16:20 George J Morgan, JR Morgan Interfingering Of An Imperial Group Sediment With Volcanic Flows Of The Alverson Formation In The Coyote Mountains, Western Salton Trough, Southern California

Woodring (1931) was looking at the Tertiary sediments in the Salton Trough when he noted on the “southeastern” edge of the Coyote Mountains that Imperial Formation sediments interfingered with basaltic flows of the Alverson Formation. Considering the unconformity that is usually mapped between the two formations and the age difference that have been published [lower Imperial: ~6.2 Ma (Dorsey, 2011) and lower Alverson: 17.1 ± 2 Ma (Morgan et al, 2012)], most workers, including us, have ignored Woodring’s observations. While mapping the Coyote Mountains at 1:2000 scale, Woodring’s outcrops were rediscovered on the southeastern edge of the Coyote Mountains west of Bataca Canyon. This is the only place, so far, in the Coyote Mountains where this relationship has been observed. A siltstone containing typical Imperial Group marine shells is found between two flows of what appears to be TECHNICAL PROGRAM TECHNICAL .48 P 48

upper(?) Alverson. A single zircon sample from a siltstone associated with the Imperial Group gave a U/Pb date of 16.9±1.7 Ma (n=5)In Alverson Canyon/Fossil Canyon an Imperial Group unit with marine fossils interfingers with a green fanglomerate. This fanglomerate can be traced eastward to near Bataca Canyon where it is capped by flows of the Alverson. These two outcrops indicate that a lower part of the Imperial Group in the Coyote Mountains may be older than Dorsey’s (2011) ~6.2 Ma date. The continuing work being done to date zircons from tuffs in the area may provide further constraint on the age of these Imperial Group rocks.

POSTER TECHNICAL SESSIONS – MONDAY, MAY 4

All posters located in the Mandalay Ballroom Floor 1, Exhibit Hall

Session 1: Regional and Field Studies on the Monterey Formation

Alexander Sedlak, Richard Behl Investigation Of The Potential For Isotopic And Chemostratigraphic Correlation Within The

Miocene Monterey Formation And Linkages To The Global Climate Record POSTER TECHNICAL SESSIONS

Despite over a century of study, dating and long-distance correlation within the Monterey Formation remains a persistent problem. The widely used benthic foraminiferal stages are time-transgressive and of long duration, yet are commonly used as there are few alternatives available. Chemostratigraphy is one such alternative that has been little explored. The Miocene climate record is well-documented from deep- sea cores, and the major climatic events (such as the development of permanent ice sheets) have well- constrained ages. Thus chemostratigraphy, using paleoclimate proxies, has potential utility for correlation and age-constraints in the Monterey. Although the sediments of the Monterey Formation were deposited in different basins with differing tectonic histories, the major lithostratigraphic units are remarkably similar. Due to this fact, we believe there is a high potential for the major global climatic events of the Miocene to be recorded in the sedimentary record. However, commonly used chemostratigraphic methods such as Sr/Ca ratios and oxygen isotopes typically use carbonates, which are only partly continuous in the lower and middle portions of the formation, thus excluding the upper portion, which is crucial to petroleum geologists. Trace metal analysis is an alternative method with high potential utility throughout the Monterey, including non-carbonate-bearing intervals. Trace metal uptake into sediment is driven by redox conditions in the basin, which are related to surface productivity, which is in turn influenced by climate. Thus the concentrations of trace metals in a section should be a good proxy for paleoclimate analysis and stratigraphic correlation. Potentially useful trace metals include Mo, V, and U, among others. Recent studies suggest that diatoms can hold an oxygen isotope record of paleoclimate similar to that of carbonate. Although this is potentially useful for the shallowly buried portions of the formation, previous isotopic work in the Monterey has found a diagenetic signal in the oxygen isotopes of opal-CT and quartz- phase rocks. However, we believe that if the water/rock ratio was low enough, such as in a porcelanite- dominated succession, then the original climate signal may still be present, but with values‚ shifted a certain amount by the diagenetic conditions. If this signal is present, then it provides another potential climate proxy for chemostratigraphic analysis within the Monterey Formation.

Benjamin Davidson Lithostratigraphy of the Miocene Monterey/Modelo Formation along Camino De La Cumbre, Sherman Oaks, CA

The Middle to Upper Miocene Modelo or Monterey Formation outcrops along a roadcut on the northern flank of the Santa Monica Mountains in Sherman Oaks, CA. This 1400 foot section of interbedded sandstone, diatomite and mudstone provides an opportunity to study the detailed stratigraphy of this interval and compare with sections previously identified by Hoots (1930), Rummelhart and Ingersoll (1997 and 1999), Redin (1984), and Wright (1991). According to these authors, the Monterey/Modelo Formation in this location was deposited during the subsidence of the Los Angeles Basin as part of a system of P .49

sandstone turbidites, fine-grained gravity flows, and hemipelagic sedimentation. While much is known about the sandstones within the Modelo Formation, very little is known about the relationship between the sandstones and associated fine-grained rocks. This independent research project aims to produce detailed characterization of a section of Middle to Upper Monterey/Modelo Formation through the use of handheld spectral gamma ray readings at two foot intervals in conjunction with lithologic description including key sedimentary features such as graded beds, speckled beds, varve-like laminations, scoured surfaces, bioturbation, etc. This project holds significance by aiding in correlation and interpretation of subsurface well logs as well as improving the understanding of facies relationships in mixed-clastic, diatomaceous sedimentary systems.

Maia Davis, Richard Behl Origin, Distribution, And Formation Of Atypical Map-Scale Dolomite Bodies In The Monterey Formation, Central California

Dolomite within California’s Monterey Formation is most commonly known to occur as laminations, beds, nodules, veins, and often replaces other lithologies. However, in central California, enigmatic, massive, isolated, map-scale dolomites or other carbonates exist locally throughout the Monterey, especially associated with cross-cutting fault zones or at disconformities at the base of the formation. Hydrocarbons are commonly included in complexly fractured and re-cemented massive dolomites and also form nuclei of individual dolomite crystals. These occurrences closely, if not directly, link dolomite-forming brines to initial or intermediate reservoirs and migration paths of hydrocarbons, making dolomite occurrence and inclusion a proxy record for hydrocarbon migration associated with basinal or even deep-crustal S dewatering. Little is understood of these non-stratigraphic dolomite bodies of mappable proportion. This study will test the hypothesis that these bodies are largely of hydrothermal origin associated with normal or detachment faulting. Identifying the origin, timing, and distribution of the atypical, map-scale dolomites will offer more insight into how fluids (hydrocarbons and brines) were able to migrate through the Monterey Formation, giving a more complete understanding of how the Monterey basins evolved. Geologic maps have been scoured in order to establish the distribution of exposures of massive dolomite/carbonate bodies. Subsurface records from Central Coast oil fields will be examined‚ some of which are known to contain volumes of intense or complete dolomitization. Available outcrops and cores will be analyzed for rock for rock fabric and to identify similarities or differences between occurrences. Samples will be analyzed geochemically and petrographically for microfabric and replacement relationships pertaining to their genesis. Isotopic analysis will include Δ18 O values (possibly also clumped isotopologues) to determine the temperature at which the dolomite formed and Δ13 C to provide insight into compositional differences or similarities of geochemical environment between locations. These data will be integrated to assess the varied or consistent origin of these enigmatic, non- stratigraphic rock masses.

Ryan Weller, Richard Behl Mineralogical and Mechanical Characteristics of the Opal-A to Opal-CT Transition Zone in a Diatomaceous Sequence of the Miocene Monterey Formation, San Joaquin Basin, California.

In terms of porosity, permeability, density and other rock properties important to petroleum geologists, the opal-A to opal-CT transition zone is likely the most stratigraphically heterogeneous interval known to result from the burial diagenesis of fine-grained sediments. Investigation and quantification of rock properties within this zone is key to understanding of its potentially unique petroleum reservoir potential. In the western San Joaquin Basin, the upper Monterey Formation (Antelope, Belridge, Reef Ridge units) is originally composed of highly unstable diatomite or diatomaceous mudstone that is heterogeneously bedded or laminated. With burial, in situ transformation of biogenetic opal-A to diagenetic opal-CT occurs over an interval of 10s to 100s of meters with a relative timing that is largely controlled by the bulk composition of individual strata and maximum temperature reached. Particularly, smectitic clay content retards the transformation, resulting in diagenesis that occurs first in silica-rich lithologies and later in detrital-rich lithologies. Conversely, the presence of carbonate may accelerate the phase transformation. Both factors can lead to a complexly interbedded succession of opal-CT chert or porcelanite with opal-A diatomite or diatomaceous mudstone. The intercalation of highly fractured or fracturable opal-CT-phase

POSTER TECHNICAL SESSION TECHNICAL POSTER beds with highly porous, moderately permeable diatomaceous beds could form an effective migration .50 P 50

pathway or attractive reservoir for petroleum. We will complete a high-resolution study of this zone, relating the interstratified coexistence of opal-A and opal-CT-phase rocks with the resulting contrasting physical and mechanical properties and behaviors. Quantifying such contrast is important to understanding plastic-elastic deformation and fluid flow in natural or artificial hydraulic fracturing and the potential development of compartmentalization. Core samples from a transition interval interval in the western San Joaquin Basin will be evaluated for mineralogical content, porosity, and permeability. We intend to use this detailed lithologic and diagenetic stratigraphy to define the mechanical stratigraphy by performing laboratory rock strength/failure measurements of well-characterized samples. Correlation of these rock properties to well logs will be used to identify and evaluate the opal-A to opal-CT transition zone’s character as a reservoir and provide a model for further log recognition and characterization.

Satoru Yokoi, Takashi Tsuji Tight Oil Potential in Neogene Monterey-like Biosiliceous Shale of Japan

We have proposed a diagenetic hydrocarbon trap model in Monterey-like biosiliceous shale formation called Onnagawa (Tsuji et al, 2011), which is the main source rock of Japan and has similar potential as that of Upper Monterey. We however have much and continuous oil shows in the Onnagawa shale far below the trap, which is indicative of a shale oil system. We have reviewed the Yuihara-Ayukawa field in Akita of Japan mainly from geochemical aspect, where commercial oil & gas production from the

Onnagawa Shale with a conventional trap is ongoing. In the field, various producing reservoirs in the POSTER TECHNICAL SESSIONS Onnagawa shale seem to have a common gas-oil system. And the maturity of the hydrocarbon is much higher than that of source rocks close to these reservoirs, which indicates normal migration process from the kicthen. We also have non-commercial oil production or intense oil shows from tight reservoirs, typically porcelanites, and the maturity of oil, however, is lower than that of commercial oils and close to that of early-matured source rocks around. In summary, we have two different hydrocarbon accumulations in one filed. One is productive, mature and probably migrated, and another is non- commercial so far, less mature and indigenous. Now we think the latter is a part of a shale oil or tight oil system. Although not enough data are available so far, we expect basin-wide shale oil potential with the order of 100 million bbl without risk factor, where our fields are located in the upper transition zone of oil generation window. To confirm the existence of shale oil system, we started The Onnagawa Tight Oil Project with support of JOGMEC in 2012. Firstly, we tried acid treatment on naturally but weakly fractured shale reservoir of an existing deviated-well of the Yuihara-Ayukawa field to testify the productivity of Onnagawa tight oil. We had a success with over 50 times improvement in terms of Productivity Index. Starting from with rate of over 300bbl/D, the oil production is ongoing with over 100bbl/D after 10-month production, and its cumulative production is getting over 60,000bbl. We also have started the first multi- stage fracturing project in Japan to optimize fracturing operation in Onnagawa shale. The operation was completed for a newly drilled horizontal well of another oil field last year, and we are waiting for flow- back.. As the next step to the current fracturing project, a pilot test in Yurihara-Ayukawa field with higher potential is being planned.

Khaled S Amrouni, Michael C Pope, Ernest A Mancini, Ahmed S El-Hawat Monterey Event in the Cyrenaican Miocene Carbonate Platform (Central Mediterranean), NE Libya

The focus of this field and lab integrated study is on the Cyrenaican Miocene 13C-isotope changes in the sequence stratigraphic, and diagenetic context. The field work included 29 measured stratigraphic sections along 135 km, 14 spectral gamma-ray profiles. The lab work includes petrographic and diagenetic studies of 501 hand samples, thin sections and stable isotope (Δ18O and Δ13C) analyses. The sequence stratigraphic framework is based on the sedimentological analysis, correlation of stratigraphic time surfaces and vertical stratigraphic sections, oxygen and carbon stable isotope profiles, and gamma-ray logs. The Ar-Rajmah Group Miocene carbonate rocks record two 2nd order supersequences (97 m maximum thickness); containing six 3rd order sequences. The TST of the younger 2nd order sequence is separated by a sharp disconformity surface from the HST of the older 2nd order sequence, and by maximum flooding zone from the HST of the younger 2nd order sequence. The HST of the older 2nd sequence is the Early Miocene Benghazi Formation (46 m thick), and dominated by red algal reefs, and bioclastic packstones. The TST and HST of the younger 2nd order sequence occur in the

Middle and Late Miocene Wadi Al-Qattarah Formation (26 m and 25m thick respectively), and dominated P .51

by continuous oolitic grainstones, microbialites that associated with evaporites and siliciclastics. The 3rd order sequences range in thickness from 5 m to more than 15 m. The chemostratigraphic data shows that the Early Miocene is enriched in both Δ8O and Δ13C, the Middle Miocene is enriched in Δ13C but depleted in Δ18O, and the Late Miocene is depleted in both Δ18O and Δ13C. The Middle Miocene is characterized by a prominent positive increase in the Δ13C, Monterey event, which coincides with influx of siliciclastic facies that have high gamma ray zone, and evaporite deposits. In addition, this Δ13C enrichment event is roughly coinciding with major changes in facies lithologies, textures, and diagenetic patterns. The pre-Monterey event facies are dominated by silicified dedolomitized red algal and bioclastic packstones, where the syn-and-post-Monterey event facies are dominated by silicified and recrystallized oolitic grainstone, microbial-bioclastic-oolitic grainstone. The global Monterey event is preserved in the Δ13C record of the Cyrenaican Miocene carbonate platform in the Central Mediterranean, and associated with major sedimentological, stratigraphic, and diagenetic changes.

Session 2: Deepwater Clastic Depositional Systems in California and Beyond: Reservoir Quality, Facies, and Architecture

Cole Heap, Mara Brady Statistical Analyses of Confined Turbidite Bedding Thickness in Monarch-Spellacy Sand Equivalents, Midway-Sunset Field, CA S In order to comprehensively describe micro-throat structural for tight sands reservoir, we use multi-scale multidimensional imaging technology to research tight sands of Fuyang formation Daan oilfield in Songliao basin. Starting with 25mm diameter rock sample, we then use the micron CT for imaging at resolution of 16.5 micrometers, and get the size distribution of pores and throats. The calculated porosity is significantly different from the porosity calculated by gas measurement. In order to select the appropriate resolution for characterizing pore and throat, before start to use the high resolution for scanning, we use FIB-SEM for imaging, through MAPS (tiny image stitching) technology, than we get a large two-dimensional image of pore and throat, identify the pore types, characterize the pore size. Analysis of the result of MAPS indicates that most of the pore size distribute around 0.2 micrometers, so the micron CT cannot distinguish this size of the pore, therefore we prepare several samples at the size of 65 micrometer diameter for using the high resolution at nano scale for scanning, reconstitute the pores' 3D structure model at nano scale, calculate the porosity and permeability of the samples. The diameter of the most pores are about 0.05-0.5 micrometers. With increased numbers of nano size pores evident, pore structures are seen and tubulose or globular in or on the mineral particles (crystal) under the nano scale. Globular pores of nano size have low connectivity, isolated at three-dimensional space, only can be regarded as reservoir space, but tubulose pores of nano size have connectivity in some extent, have some connection with tubulose pores of micron size and globular pores of nano size near by, have dual function of pore and throat. Micron-Nano CT multi-scale multidimensional reconstitute technology can offer accurate gist for recognizing structural characterization of tight sands reservoir.

Session 4: Assessing Reservoir Quality Through Detailed Analyses

Julie Unson, Sean Loyd Cement Paragenesis of Septarian Concretions of the Cretaceous Holz Shale

Septarian concretions, concretions with a carbonate-composed body and septarian veins (calcite cement- filled interior fractures), from the Upper Cretaceous Holz Shale Member of the Ladd Formation were collected near the junction of Silverado Canyon (Santa Ana Mountains, California) to investigate its formation. The abundance of thin-shelled bivalves, Inoceramus, suggests a primary source of carbon. A geochemical analysis will be administered to the concretion to characterize the origins of carbonate cements of the body and veins. Each sample will be measured against a 915b concentration standard to measure the carbon isotope and the inorganic abundance of each concretion. The CRCP90 isotope will POSTER TECHNICAL SESSION TECHNICAL POSTER be used to further constrain isotope analysis and ensure proper analytical protocol. The results will be .52 P

analyzed to determine the possibility of a trend in carbon enrichment with respect to the growth of the concretion, recording this growth from the center outward. This method will also provide a measured amount of the inorganic carbon abundances to determine if microbes were involved and give insight into whether the environment was organic-rich and therefore a significant source of carbon. The isotopic analysis will provide the amount of carbon and calcite contributed from pore fluids to form the concretions and will confirm that the concretions were formed in an organic-rich sediment that provided significant amounts of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) for concretion formation.

John Lawrence, Kathleen Marsaglia, Scott Fitzpatrick Petrographic Analysis of Potter and Potential Temper Sands from the Lesser Antilles Islands

The indigenous peoples of the Lesser Antilles Islands in the Caribbean Sea used local materials for temper used in the manufacturing of pottery. The purpose of this geoarcheology project is to help better define the source of materials used to create tempers and the manufacturing techniques of pottery on two islands. From this, interpretations of indigenous peoples interactions, such as trade and migration, can be made. Emphasis is on samples from the islands of Barbados, located on the accretionary prism, and Mustique, located on the arc platform of the Caribbean plate. Each island exhibits distinct geology: Barbados hosts a carbonate reef cap over most of the island with a small exposure of quartzose, deep- marine fan deposits sourced from South America, whereas Mustique is part of the volcanic island arc formed from the subduction of the Atlantic plate beneath the Caribbean plate. Thirty-two sherds from POSTER TECHNICAL SESSIONS Mustique and 23 sherds from Barbados were collected, thin sectioned and stained for petrographic analysis. Petrographic descriptions were first done to select representative suites for point counting using the Gazzi-Dickinson 300-grain count method. The Barbados sherds exhibit three sand-tempers: grog, quartzose, and carbonate. The Mustique sherds exhibit two sand-tempers: volcaniclastic and feldspathic. Preliminary results from this study show temper composition directly reflects island geology, implying that the temper and pottery was locally made. In contrast, studies of islands from the region, such as on Carriacou, showed that pottery was imported to the island implying an inter-island trade network within the Lesser Antilles Islands.

Deborah M Olson, William R Berry II Application of Pseudo-Cp Curves Derived From PKS Core Data to Estimation of Original Sw in Heavy Oil Reservoirs

A companion paper presented at this conference discusses the derivation of pseudo-capillary pressure curves from PKS core data in heavy oil reservoirs, for use in the calculation of original Sw where laboratory Cp measurements are either inadequate or not available and resistivity-based Sw does not provide the necessary information. This method has been applied in several fields, examples of which are shown. In each case, permeability was calculated from a log transform calibrated to core data, and height above the OWC (used as a proxy for the FFL) was calculated for each reservoir depth level in each fault block. Field 1 has never been produced so current Sw is probably very close to original Sw. Formation waters are fresh to brackish, wet legs may not have the same water chemistry as oil-bearing sands, and no information on field Rw is available. The pseudo-Cp curves were used to construct a permeability-referenced model to derive Sw, which compares favorably to core So. The other field examples are from reservoirs which have been in production for decades, first on primary and then on cyclic steam. Original formation waters were likely low to moderate salinity and variable both laterally and vertically, and steam injection has reduced the TDS in some zones. Heat has affected some wells, but log max recorded temperature is not a reliable indicator for where the heat is and how it may influence the deep resistivity measurement. Wells available for a reservoir study span several decades and represent the fields at different stages of depletion. No Cp measurements were available, and original Sw was needed for OOIP. Sw from pseudo-Cp curves compared to core and time-of-logging Sw show significant depletion in some zones, moderate depletion in others, and appear to be a reasonable estimate for original Sw.

Yue Zhang, Donglai Bai, Huijian Wen, Shizhong Ma Fine Description of Microscopic Features on Nanopore Throat for Tight Sandstone in Northern of Honggang, Fuyu Oil Layer of Songliao Basin P .53

Research on the K1q4 member of the petroliferous Fuyu Formation of northern of Honggang in Songlian Basin, has focused on the type, size and form of micro pore structure in the tight sandstone reservoir, also, the mineral surface porosity of the and pore size distribution of nanopores. The results show that the average porosity is 7.27%, permeability average is 0.25x10-3 micrometer2, thus it belongs to low porosity‚ ultra low and low permeability tight reservoir. The pore structure of this reservoir is complex, as a whole with poor connectivity. Rore-throat radius is small, mainly distributed between 0.025 ~ 0.63 microns and sorting is bad. There are three types of nanopores developed in this area: grain micropore, mineral intragranular pore and microfracture. The grain micropore include the hairline nanopore of goeschwitzite mica (grain size: 204-714 nm) , slit shape nanopore of chlorite (grain size: 81-800 nm) and quartz nanopore (grain size: 200-800 nm). Mineral intragranular pore include pitted quartz (grain size: 42-407 nm) and pits in feldspar (grain size: 352 nm-1.55 microns). Microfracture contain the fissure in granules (width: 31-154 nm) and around the edge (width: 135-540 nm). Meanwhile, twelve forms of nanopores were discovered: slit, mesh, short slit, beaded, triangular, nearly spherical pits, trapezoidal, pin-hole, pore shape, strip shape, linear, serrated, and wedge-oblong. However, the pores distribute independently with poor connectivity. We define mineral surface rate as the ratio of visible pore area over the surface area in a image. This parameter of main minerals have been measured in this area and find that the ratio for quartz is 0.36% and feldspar is 1.9%. Therefore, feldspar has better storage space in its mineral surface. Three samples of tight sandstone were measured by nitrogen adsorption and show that the more abundant larger nanopores, the better the porosity and permeability of the samples. Baed on this study of the nanoporosity of the Fuyu reservoir, we conclude that exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas in Songliao basin has great potential. S

Session 5: Interpretation Case Studies and Advancing Technologies in Seismic Acquisition and Processing

Tingting Li, Shizhong Ma, Huijian Wen Application of 90 Degree Phase Rotation Technology in the Prediction of Thin Reservation

Seismic waveform reflects the basic information of seismic data which mainly includes seismic amplitude, phase frequency, etc. The zero-phase data has high signal-to-noise ratio, high resolution and the character of wavelet symmetry. In the case of thin interbedded formation, there is no necessary relation between the zero-phase-data event and formation lithology. However, 90-degree phase rotation events may correspond to the presence of sand. This paper presents forward simulations based on the actual parameters of study area in order to verify the feasibility of the 90-degree phase rotation technology. The model transverses 1000m of stratigraphy and contains of 3 stratigraphic units in vertical succession. The upper and lower stratigraphic units are 30m thick mudstones with velocity of 3000m/s; the middle strata is 67m thick sand with an average velocity of 3400m/s. There are 32 individual sand bodies in the middle stratigraphic unit, each about 2m in thickness with a velocity of 3700m/s. The wavelet's frequency is 40hz and sampling interval is 1ms. We used zero-phase and 90-degree phase Ricker wavelet carried on forward simulation respectively, then extracted amplitude attributes of each 2m single sand body along layer. The resulting analysis shows that the 90-degree phase amplitude slice can better reflect the thin layer information. Comparison of extracted amplitude slice from zero-phase and 90 degree phase forward simulation with sedimentary macrofacies and sandstone thickness maps demonstrates that the amplitude slice of 90-degree phase is a better predictor of lithology. Furthermore, when the 90-degree phase rotation technology is applied in reservoir prediction in study area, it has achieved good results. The 90-degree phase rotation technology cannot improve the resolution of seismic data but it can improve the recognition effect of thin sand body. Application of the 90-degree phase rotation approach should considered as a primary method.

POSTER TECHNICAL SESSION TECHNICAL POSTER .54 P

Session 7: Sediments as Recorders of Earth’s History

Julie A Rieth, Christopher J Pluhar Looking for Normal in the Lodo Gulch: Magnetostratigraphy Across the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

A paleomagnetic study on Ocean Drill Program (ODP) core section 13H6 from Walvis Ridge, Southeastern Atlantic Ocean conducted by Lee and Kodama (2009), reported a brief normal subchron spanning the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) within Geomagnetic Polarity Timescale Chron C24r. Since such a feature would be of tremendous utility in synchronizing stratigraphic records, our study attempts to test the existence of this brief normal subchron. The Lodo Formation type section, located in western Fresno County, contains the PETM. Paleocene- to Eocene-age Lodo Formation was deposited on a continental margin where sedimentation rates were much higher, 16.8 cm ka-1 (John et al., 2008) than those for the abyssal ocean, ~1 cm ka-1 (Stap et al., 2009). Our dense sampling of the PETM consisted of thirty-one samples from a 5.16-meter section. Samples were subdivided into specimens and subjected to either thermal demagnetization up to 580 degrees C in fifteen steps in a nitrogen atmosphere oven or alternating field (AF) demagnetization and measured using a SQUID cryogenic magnetometer housed in a mu-metal shielded room (Kirschvink et al., 2008). Twenty-eight of the thermally demagnetized samples produced good results while the AF demagnetized results were mostly problematic. Remanence carriers were likely magnetite and maghemite which oxidizes to hematite at high temperatures with single-domain magnetite hosting the ChRM. The site mean ChRM of Ds=158.0 POSTER TECHNICAL SESSIONS degrees Is=-64.8 degrees n=28 and alpha 95=11.6 degrees produces a paleomagnetic pole indistinguishable from that of Bess and Courtillot (2000) for North America at this time. This indicates no inclination shallowing, no poleward transport, no vertical axis rotation, and higher-than-expected angular dispersion (s=32.7 degrees). This study shows no evidence for a normal polarity during the PETM.

Brian J Swanson, Pamela J Irvine Updated Nomenclature for Plio-Pleistocene Formations in the On-Shore Ventura Basin, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara 30' x 60' Quadrangles

The Plio-Pleistocene bedrock nomenclature of the onshore Ventura basin and associated San Fernando Valley embayment was re-evaluated from a basin-wide perspective during preparation of the Preliminary Geologic Map of the Los Angeles 30’x60’ Quadrangle, which was recently updated by the California Geological Survey and issued in July of 2014 as part of the STATEMAP project. The nomenclature adopted for this map will likely be extended to the eastern half of the Santa Barbara 30’x60’ Quadrangle in a future update. Strata of this age have a complex history of nomenclature: conflicting terminologies have developed due to a combination of complex depositional conditions (such as facies changes and local unconformities near the basin margins, and the time-transgressive nature of contacts due to westward migration of the paleoshoreline during basin infilling), and inconsistent methodologies used to define formations (such as the use of fauna rather than lithology, the use of formation names defined in other basins, and differing techniques used in surface mapping vs. subsurface exploration for oil). The basic stratigraphic sequence is regressive, ranging up section from bathyal hemipelagic and submarine fan turbidite deposits to granular shallow marine, local transitional/paralic, and granular continental deposits. The definitions of the marine Pico Fm. and Towsley Fm. and the nonmarine Saugus Fm. published by Winterer and Durham (1962) for the type sections in the eastern Ventura basin are adopted and extended to the western portion of the basin. Marine strata formerly assigned by some workers to the Saugus Fm. in the southern Santa Susana Mountains are reassigned as an informal member of the upper Pico Fm. Strata formerly assigned to the San Pedro Fm. near South Mountain are reassigned to the Saugus Fm., if nonmarine, or to the Las Posas Fm. if marine. The informally defined term Mudpit shale member of the upper Pico Fm. is adopted in preference to Santa Barbara Fm. for strata west of Fillmore. The term “Repetto” is defined by Repettian Stage microfauna rather than lithology and is therefore considered a biozone rather than a formation. The Sunshine Ranch and Camarillo members of the Saugus Fm. are adopted, and the terms Elsmere Canyon delta-plain facies of the Saugus Fm. and Grimes Canyon deltaic facies of the Pico Fm. are also informally defined. The formational terms Santa Barbara, San Pedro, and Fernando are excluded to areas outside of the Ventura basin. P .55

Dominic Ombati, Kevin E. Nick Sedimentology of the Neoproterozoic Beck Spring - Kingston Peak Transition in the Kingston Range, California

The Neoproterozoic Kingston Peak Formation (KPF) is known for its diamictites representing glaciation. Studies in the underlying Beck Spring Dolomite (BSD) describe early fossil forms and microbialites that suggest warmer and shallow water. This study aims to understand the changing depositional conditions between those units and focuses on the transition, specifically in the basal 4 meters of the KP1 subunit of the KPF, as it appears in the Kingston Range, California. We described and correlated sedimentary rocks immediately overlying the contact and analyzed the sedimentary structures, textures and sequences. A previous study suggested this unit was probably deposited by storm currents in a shelf setting. So far, we have located and measured 2 sections about 5 meters long that include the KPF-BSD contact. The top of the BSD in both locations contain microbial laminations, oncoids and pisoids and sheets of chert overlain by a peloidal and brecciated wackestone. Thin sections from about 15 cm below the contact to 50 cm above the contact show microbial laminations with some peloids or ghosts of peloids and abundant chert. The base of the KPF is composed of millimeter to centimeter-scale alternating clastic-rich (A) and dolomite-rich (B) thin beds and thick laminae. A Beds are silty dolostones- silty mudstone with abundant muscovite. B beds are recrystallized silty dolostones with ghost peloids. These beds also show an alternating mineralogy with A beds being more clastic rich and B beds dolomite rich. Alternating bed contacts are sharp. XRD and thin section analysis show a decreasing amount of dolomite trending up- section. Almost all thin sections show many fractures indicating tectonic activities. Measurement and

S analysis of individual alternating bed thickness show cyclical changes taken over by a rapid increase in bed thickness to massive sandstones. All these features can be correlated between the two sections. The pattern of increasing clastics and their bed thicknesses suggest clastic influx during progradation that progressively overwhelmed carbonate production thus resulting in increasing clastic and decreasing carbonate material up section. This progradational setting could occur on a tide dominated delta or on a prograding shoreface. The BSD-KPF contact at Kingston Range most likely represents a sequence boundary located at the change in lithology from dolostones to clastics.

Jasmyn M Nolasco Using Sedimentary Petrology And Provenance To Resolve Questions Regarding Neogene Fluvial/ Lacustrine Drainage Development And Potential Marine Influence In The Southern Rim Of The Amazon Basin, Madre De Dios Region

The modern east-flowing Amazon River system is geologically recent, resulting from major drainage reorganization in the Miocene to Pliocene. The timing of this reorganization is contentious, and there is little agreement as to the degree of marine (estuarine/tidal) influence in the foreland basin successions deposited before the changes in drainage. Models and hypothesis of the geologic history of Amazonia are

NICAL SESSION NICAL mainly based on local and regional studies, where in contrast, studies have argued for a single basin hypothesis where the deposition of the Madre de Dios Formation records these basinal changes. The Madre de Dios Formation (Units A-C), crops out along ~700km of the Madre de Dios River in the Amazon foreland of Peru with successions that compete in depositional setting; with fluvial, tidal and lacustrine models. In this study, the muddy components (mudstones) of three sections, Cerro Colorado, Piedras River and Candelaria were described using smear slide techniques to document mineralogy and fauna in order to help discriminate depositional environments (fluvial vs. lacustrine vs. tidal estuarine) during drainage reorganization. A total of 146 samples from Cerro Colorado, Piedras River and Candelaria sections were made into smear slides and reviewed for authigenic and biogenic debris. Assessment for mud indicates no compositional evidence for diagnostic microfossils, indicating no marginal marine or brackish water influence. No tephra fragments or horizons were found, to aid in fingerprinting chronology of the depositional successions. Instead, clay and minor sand components could be consistent with a source that is fluvial and/ or lacustrine in origin.

Vanessa May D Brillo, Alexander Simms, John M Cottle Evidence For Arid-Land Fluvial Systems In Western Equatorial Pangaea During The Guadalupian (Middle Permian): The Cloud Chief Formation In Western Oklahoma, U.S.A. POSTER TECH POSTER .56 P 56

A renewed interest in the Permian Midcontinent of the U.S.A. has led to new depositional models for most of the stratigraphic units of western Oklahoma in which these units are interpreted as lacustrine and eolian in origin. However, with these new interpretations, the question remains as to what is the source of the large volumes of fine-grained mudstones that are common within these rocks. In this study, we measured 43 stratigraphic sections within the Guadalupian Cloud Chief Formation of western Oklahoma. Seven facies were recognized within the measured sections. These facies include gypsum, channelized very fine sandstone, massive mudstones, sandstones, variegated mudstones, ripple cross-laminated very fine sandstone, and interbedded sandstone and mudstone. We interpret these facies to represent subenvironments of widespread arid-land fluvial systems. Our interpretations fit well with other recent work calling for arid non-marine conditions within the Midcontinent during the middle Permian. In addition, the presence of extensive fluvial systems provides a convenient explanation for the source of the large volumes of fine-grained sediments comprising the middle Permian rocks of western Oklahoma

Ryan Waldman, Kathleen Marsaglia, IODP Expedition 351 Scientists Early Subduction And Depositional History Of The Izu-Bonin Mariana Arc Back-Arc System, Western Pacific Ocean

Subduction zones are a vital component of plate tectonics; slab pull at subduction zones is a major driver of plate movement. However, we have incomplete understanding of how the subduction process begins.

In particular, records are lacking for intraoceanic arc subduction systems. The International Ocean POSTER TECHNICAL SESSIONS Discovery Program recently sampled sediments at several locations in one such arc, the Izu-Bonin Mariana Arc south of Japan. These sediments will provide a previously lacking window into the early development of this subduction zone. I propose that subduction in the Izu-Bonin Mariana Arc System initiated spontaneously along a transform plate boundary. This mode of subduction initiation leaves a characteristic stratigraphic sequence associated with pre subduction-initiation localized extension and subsidence followed by volcanism and volcanic uplift as subduction begins. I am testing this hypothesis by examining sediment cores from two sites in the IBM arc system; one at the northern end of the arc, and one at the southern end. A detailed macroscopic study of the cores is being conducted to identify depositional features and trends, and microscopic analysis of selected intervals to identify mineralogy and microstructures. This will facilitate creating a detailed stratigraphic record of the arc, giving us a much better understanding of its earliest depositional history, and allow the changes in environment over time to be correlated with the predicted model of spontaneous subduction initiation.

Session 11: Current Advances in Applied Paleontology, Geochemistry, and Environmental Geology

Melissa K Macias, Eiko B Kitao, Robert S Gray Taphonomic Processes Of The Giant Ground Sloth Quarry At Vandenberg Air Force Base, Santa Barbara County, California

A continuation of paleontological fieldwork at the EEG (Eiko's Elephant Graveyard) quarry at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) has resulted in the discovery of the most complete Paramylodon harlani ground sloth skeleton found in Santa Barbara County, CA. To date, approximately 30% of the skeleton has been recovered, including a large portion of the vertebral column, ribs, hand and foot elements, parts of both femora, a large portion of the pelvis, and a scapula. The presence and size of elements is consistent with a single, average sized individual. The EEG quarry is located south of Point Sal State Beach in the northern portion of VAFB. Rapid erosion of unconsolidated sand, silt, and clay has formed badland-style topography. All fossils are found approximately 3m above the bedrock and are associated with a red, iron-rich caliche layer that is erosionally resistant and provides a good marker for fossil location. Fossils are encapsulated in clay, with concentrations of manganese, wood fragments, and occasional rounded and polished pebbles. Above the fossil horizon are beds of sand and clay with occasional bone fragments. Sedimentary and taphonomic analysis of the EEG quarry suggests deposition deposition of a ponded section along a coastal alluvial plain or piedmont. The skeleton is disarticulated, but most elements are complete and show excellent preservation. There is no evidence of predation or P scavenging, and small elements such as osteoderms are present. Small, freshwater gastropods and .57

pelecypods are found throughout the clay fossil horizon. Excavation and study of the EEG quarry will continue through the summer of 2015, and should produce a significant number of additional bones.

Shawna Couplin, Kathleen Marsaglia, Colleen Delaney Petrographic Analysis and Provenance of Ground Stone Tools from Northern Channel Islands and Coastal Southern California

Eighteenth century Spanish explorers observed and documented the exchange of tools and goods between various Chumash tribes in Southern California. Mortar, pestle, and matate samples from documented archeological sites on the northern Channel Islands and within the northern California Bight Regions consist of a range of lithologies, including sandstone, volcanic rocks, and sedimentary concretions. By identifying where stone tools were produced in relation to the locations where they were ultimately found, our study attempts to provide constraints on the reconstruction of trade relationships of the indigenous people. Petrographic analyses and detailed descriptions on a sample set of these tools will aid in determining the correlative source lithologies from the area, providing insights to the extent of Chumash trade networks within the late Holocene. Exposures of volcanic rocks and resistant sandstones located throughout the northern Channel Islands are known resources and stone tool production sites used by the Chumash. Archaeologists and geologists have rapidly progressed the understanding of many cultures throughout the world by determining provenance of implement artifacts. The Chumash have an extensive history, and by applying petrographic analysis and detailed descriptions of these samples, we can further grasp the culture of these prominent and important peoples. S Edween Hernandez, Nicole Bonuso A Paleoecological Study of the Middle and Late Triassic within Favret and American Canyon, West-Central Nevada

Paleozoic shallow marine communities differ considerably from modern shallow marine communities. Modern animals such as gastropods and bivalves occupy niches once occupied by Paleozoic organisms such as brachiopods and crinoids. Researchers suggest the End-Permian mass extinction reset the stage by removing past communities, thus allowing new communities to take over. However, this transition did not occur immediately after the mass extinction. Once ocean conditions returned to normal in the Middle Triassic, modern communities stabilized and took on their modern ecological shape. Bivalves increased in diversity and abundance, grew thicker shells and some began burrowing deep into sediment. Gastropods also increased in diversity and abundance and grew thicker shells, while some developed new drilling adaptations and became carnivorous. Researchers suggest that changes in shell thickness and deeper burrowing occurred as competition increased among newly evolved predators (e.g.: marine reptiles and crabs). Scientists describe these changes in life habit as the Mesozoic Marine Revolution, a transition initiating in the Middle and Late Triassic. Previous research focused on European fossil sites, however, we lack data from the western Panthalassa region (i.e.: present day western North America). Our research will provide new paleoecological data to help piece together the story of how shallow marine communities modernized. Favret and American Canyon’s host shallow to deep marine carbonate rock formed off the coast of modern Nevada. These study sites provide data that help better understand western Panthalassan paleoenvironment and paleoecology conditions of the Middle and Late Triassic. Such paleoenvironment and paleoecological conditions can then be used as modern environment analogues. The main goal of this project is to track and document taxonomic and ecologic patterns within an environmental context through time. We plan on comparing fauna and environmental context to determine causal mechanisms for observed patterns.

Michael Bentz, Alexander Simms, Pamela Buzas-Stephens Foraminifera Zonations in Southern California Salt Marshes

Salt marsh foraminiferal species live in distinct elevation zones relative to tidal and sea level datums. Their strict vertical zonation can be used as a tool in recognizing rates of sea-level rise as well as tectonic activity along the coast. Although foraminifera have been used worldwide to reconstruct past sea levels, no such elevation zonations have been produced for southern California salt marsh foraminifera. We

POSTER TECHNICAL SESSION TECHNICAL POSTER sampled foraminifera from three southern California estuaries: Carpenteria Slough, Mugu Lagoon, and Sweetwater Marsh, for the purpose of establishing a foraminifera zonation for southern California .58 P 58

marshes. The results from Carpenteria Slough display a distinct zonation in foraminifera species based on their elevation in relation to tidal datums. The high marsh foraminifera consist primarily of Trochomina inflata and show a small assemblage of Milammina fusca. The low (subtidal) marsh is dominated by textularids and rotalids, while also showing an abundance of palnktonic foraminifera and several deep- sea benthic species. These results will allow for the construction of a better-defined paleo sea level curve for southern California, as well as providing insights into tectonic activity along the southern California coast. ORALTECHNICAL SESSIONS – TUESDAY, MAY 5

SESSION NO.8: Tectonics and Structural Geology of Western North America Chairs: Plamen Ganev, Jay Namson Location: Embassy 1 Room

8:20 Michael D Evans, Wanda J Taylor Structural Development and Tectonic Role of the Arrowhead Mine Fault, Pahranagat Shear Zone, Nevada

The boundary between the Northern (NBR) and Central (CBR) Basin and Range sub-provinces is seismically active and a fundamental tectonic element with differences in the timing, magmatism and the onset of extension across it that may be accommodated by strike-slip faults along it. The Pahranagat shear zone (PSZ) in Lincoln County, Nevada is a 20-25 km wide zone of left-lateral faults that lies within the central part of that boundary zone. The Arrowhead Mine Fault (AMF), one of the three major faults in the PSZ, is a Cenozoic, left-lateral, strike-slip fault at which more typical Cenozoic normal faults terminate. The purpose of this research is to determine whether the normal and strike-slip faults represent two distinct periods of deformation or, alternatively, a regional transfer zone, with normal faults kinematically linked along the transfer fault. This determination requires geometric data and cross-cutting TECHNICAL PROGRAM relations, which are best documented through field mapping. Consequently, 1:12,000 scale mapping with emphasis on fault cross-cutting, termination, and kinematic relationships of the AMF and normal faults in the western part of the Pahranagat Range was done. Mapped geometries show three fault sets: NNE- striking normal, NW-striking normal and NE-striking left-lateral. Two episodes of deformation are apparent from map data, a first set of NW-striking normal faults formed before the AMF due to kinematic incompatibility. Mapped geometries and associated analysis suggests that one NNE-striking normal fault set and the NE-striking left-lateral faults of the AMF formed synchronously based on kinematic compatibility of fault kinematics and orientations from slickenline and geometric data. Both the AMF and the NNE-striking normal faults that end at the AMF cut the 14 Ma Kane Wash Tuff making them both younger than 14 Ma. These age relations and the kinematically compatible geometries of the NNE-normal and NE-strike-slip faults suggest that the fault system is a transfer zone. These findings indicate that transfer faults play a significant role in structural development of the NBR-CBR boundary. This new kinematic interpretation of the AMF lays the foundation for our understanding of strike-slip faults in the boundary zone. It also indicates that extension in the boundary zone between NBR and CBR was active after 14 Ma and may still be relatively active, which is consistent with modern seismicity near it.

8:40 Amy L Maldonado Resolving Structural Complexities in the Tulare Fold Belt: Implications for Oilfield Development in the South Central Cymric Oilfield, Kern County, California

The Tulare Fold Belt in the southern portion of the Cymric Oilfield is a shallow northeast verging fold and thrust system that largely affects the San Joaquin and Tulare formations. It is known that understanding the complex structural geometries within the thrust system is paramount to effectively developing reserves in the shallow heavy oil reservoirs. Resolving the structural geometries is challenging due to varying structural styles within the fold belt. It is observed that fault geometries in the western portion of the study area are steeply dipping fault propagation folds with very strong asymmetry, whereas fault geometries in the eastern portion of the study area are flatter and have less asymmetry. Additionally, the P .59

faulting and resultant compartmentalization is more intense in the west as compared to the eastern area where there may be little to no compartmentalization. Mapping each fault in detail is challenging as each thrust appears to have unique geometry in terms of the vertical and horizontal extent. The varying structural styles across the fold belt can be attributed to: 1.) growth and propagation basinward of the thrust front and, 2.) effects of an older underlying structural feature (1Y Anticline). Detailed mapping of the fault planes and delineation of the structural compartments is important because each compartment contains beds with varying dip magnitude and fluid levels. Understanding the location of each dip domain within the structural compartment is critical as this affects well placement decisions in turn, optimizing hydrocarbon recovery. Adding to the challenge of this problem is the inherent depositional complexity within the stratigraphic units. The active uplift of the 1Y Anticline during deposition of the Etchegoin, San Joaquin, and Tulare formations has resulted in a stratigraphic thinning over the crest of the anticline as well as stratigraphic thickening off structure. The stratigraphically youngest unit, Tulare Formation, was deposited in a progradational fluviodeltaic system. The Tulare Formation is lithologically heterogeneous and comprises many different lithofacies, both horizontally and vertically. Sands within the Tulare Formation are discontinuous and correlation can be difficult between structural compartments. This lithologic discontinuity is a problem when attempting to generate balanced cross sections as the standard methods require an assumption of uniform parallel bedding and concentric folding.

9:00 Alexander Simms, Helene Rouby, Kurt Lambeck Sea Levels and Marine Terraces: The Importance of Glacio-Hydro-Isostastic Adjustment in Determining Vertical Tectonic Motion Across the Pacific Coast of North America

Differences in marine terrace elevations across the Pacific Coast of North America have long been assumed to be a result of differences in the rates of tectonic motion. However, other processes such as glacio- isostatic adjustment (GIA) lead to regional variations in sea levels. In this study, we compile the elevations of marine isotope stages (MIS) 5a (~84 ka) and 5c (~106 ka) terraces across the Pacific Coast of North America and compare these regional variations in elevation to predictions of GIA. These predictions are generally consistent with the observed trends in the elevations of both terraces and show that GIA creates up to 20 m of coeval variation in local sea levels along the central Pacific Coast

(between 20¬∞N and 45¬∞N) of North America during MIS 5c and MIS 5a but less, ~4 m, during MIS5e (119-129 ka). Ignoring GIA leads to overestimating uplift rates by an average of 35% but up to 70% across the Pacific Coast of North America. An understanding of regional variations in GIA-corrected sea levels allows the identification of areas with mistaken age assignments and/or time dependent changes in uplift rates.

9:20 Calvin H Stevens, Paul Stone, Mark D Schmitz, Scott R Paterson Dating of Late Permian deformation in eastern California

Contractional deformations of Late Permian age have been previously interpreted in the Sierra Nevada- Death Valley region and documented in the El Paso Mountains of eastern California. Deformation involving thrusting in the former region, previously considered Late Permian? in age, has been termed the Sierra Nevada-Death Valley thrust system (SNDVTS). Here we present the results of analyzed zircon populations from these two regions that refine the timing of the deformations and suggest a possible tectonic link between the SNDVTS and Late Permian deformation in the El Paso Mountains. In the El Paso Mountains a previously undated, undeformed pluton penetrating deformed eugeoclinal rocks has been dated as 257.39 ¬±0.1 Ma by Schmitz. The youngest eugeoclinal rocks contain latest Leonardian conodonts and are capped by an arkose from which Riggs and Cecil have recovered ~267 Ma detrital zircons. These rocks are overlain by deformed andesitic rocks previously dated at ~262 Ma. This deformation, therefore, apparently occurred around 260 Ma, an age in agreement with that of the Weiss pluton in the El Paso Mountains which has previously been dated as ~260 Ma and interpreted as syndeformational. A sample from the Mount Pinchot pendant farther north in the central Sierra Nevada was analyzed by Paterson. It contains detrital zircons with a strong peak at 252-263 Ma. To the east, in Owens Valley, Riggs obtained detrital zircon ages of ~263 Ma from the Reward Conglomerate, which is overlain conformably by a Wuchapingian (~260 Ma) fossil bed. Deposition of both units preceded the SNDVTS. Riggs also recovered ~257 Ma zircons from the unconformably overlying upper part of the

TECHNICAL PROGRAM TECHNICAL Conglomerate Mesa Formation, which postdated the SNDVTS. Together, these samples and those from .60 P

the El Paso Mountains suggest major deformational and magmatic events overlapping at about 260 Ma. A possible paleogeographic reconstruction places the El Paso Mountains west of the Mount Pinchot pendant and Owens Valley in Late Permian time, and our data indicate that plutons and/or volcanoes in the El Paso Mountains terrane could have been the source of detrital zircons in both of the other areas. West-vergent deformation in the El Paso Mountains and east-vergent deformation in the SNDVTS could have taken place simultaneously as the oceanic El Paso Mountains terrane collided with the continental block to the east along a convergent segment of the Late Permian continental margin.

10:00 James Boles, Hilario Camacho, John Lupton Fault-related Mantle Helium, Los Angeles Basin, California

Mantle helium with 3He/4He ratios as high as 5.3 x air ratios are found in gas from deep oil wells along the 50 km long Newport-Inglewood fault zone (NIFZ) in the Los Angeles (LA) basin. Up to 66% of the He gas is derived from the mantle. The 3He/4He ratios along the NIFZ are significantly higher than other faults and areas sampled within the basin. Surprisingly, the NIFZ is currently in a transpressional rather than extensional stress regime and lacks both high thermal gradients and recent magma emplacement, all of which typically characterize crustal areas with high 3He/4He values. Our results demonstrate that the NIFZ is a deep-seated fault in communication with the mantle, in spite of being modeled as truncated by a proposed major, potentially seismically active, decollement beneath the LA basin.

10:20 Calvin H Stevens, Paul Stone, Robert T Magginetti Late Paleozoic Basin Evolution and Tectonism in East-central California

Prior to the latest Devonian to Early Mississippian Antler Orogeny the continental margin off east-central California was passive and marked by a long slope westward to the ocean floor. During that orogeny, an uplift was constructed in the Sierra Nevada which depressed the crust to the east forming the Late Mississippian Rest Spring Basin. This basin was only partially filled, primarily with shale. This was followed by deposition of calcareous turbidites in the successor Keeler Basin in Pennsylvanian to Early Permian time. Also in the Late Pennsylvanian, part of the older shelf to the southeast was depressed, possibly along a SE-trending fault parallel to a sinistral continental truncational fault farther west. This TECHNICAL PROGRAM marked the first phase in development of the Darwin Basin which is exposed in the Darwin Hills, some 6 km west of the exposed shelf. Here a sequence of Gzhelian (Upper Pennsylvanian) calcareous turbidites > 225 m thick lies upon older shelf strata which have been cut into by a submarine canyon at least 275 m deep and 1 km wide. This canyon was filled by a basal sequence of limestone conglomerates and an overlying thick sequence of siltstone. Reconstruction of the paleogeography using an average of upper slopes adjacent to shelves ~6 km to the east suggests that the water depth at the base of the submarine canyon was in the vicinity of 500 m. A second phase of development of the Darwin Basin followed emplacement of the Last Chance allochthon in the middle Sakmarian at the older Mississippian shelf margin. Folds and thrust wedges at the toe of the allochthon built up the Conglomerate Mesa Uplift which thereafter marked the western margin of the Darwin Basin. Emplacement of the allochthon apparently resulted in downdropping more of the previous shelf along a northeast trend parallel to the uplift. The resulting basin received approximately 2000 m of deep-water sediment, including debris-flow deposits derived from the shelf more than 30 km to the east, which piled up against the allochthon. The calculated maximum depth of this basin adjacent to the Conglomerate Mesa Uplift, assuming a slope of about 1.5‚Å∞, was about 2000 m when the debris-flow deposits formed. The Darwin Basin was further enlarged eastward later in the Artinskian. Before the end of the Permian, however, basinal deposition ceased and all previous basinal rocks were buried by mostly terrestrial deposits probably derived from the west.

10:40 Laura Reynolds, Alexander Simms Holocene Relative Sea Level in Southern California: Implications for Estimates of Recent Tectonic Rates on the Coast

Estimates of recent vertical tectonic rates in coastal areas based on elevations of paleo-shoreline features rely on the ability to remove the effects of Holocene eustatic and isostatic contributions to sea- level change, which at the present is poorly constrained for southern California. Here we present the first regional, uplift-corrected Holocene relative sea-level (RSL) curve for southern California derived from a P compilation of ~80 radiocarbon dates from nearshore, estuarine, marsh, and freshwater deposits in .61

sediment cores. We correct for long-term uplift using Marine Isotope Stage 5e (MIS 5e) terrace elevations, assuming an age of 120ka and interglacial RSL of 12+/-3m above modern. Our resulting compilation shows rapid sea-level rise decelerating to present between 6 and 8ka, with 0.8¬± .21mm/yr average late Holocene (<4ka) rates of rise. We demonstrate the utility of our compilation by comparing it to RSL data from regions thought to be experiencing recent, localized vertical tectonic motion, additional to long-term motion indicating by uplifted 5e terraces, such as Carpinteria Marsh, Elkhorn Slough and an exposed Holocene terrace in Santa Barbara. We show magnitude of Holocene vertical tectonic motion on the coast is quantifiable when comparing the deviations of site-specific RSL data to the regional curve.

11:00 Michael A Thompson Evolution of the Palos Verdes Fault near Lasuen Knoll, Offshore Southern California

The Palos Verdes Fault Zone (PVFZ) is a near-vertical, multi-stranded, oblique dextral shear zone that extends from Santa Monica Bay in the north to San Pedro Bay offshore Southern California. It is one of several Inner Borderland northwest-trending faults formed during middle Miocene rifting. Neogene deformation involved dextral slip on the fault and clockwise rotation of crustal blocks, causing tectonic inversion of the San Pedro Basin along the PVFZ. On the San Pedro Shelf, the PVFZ forms a trap for the Beta oil field, which has been estimated to contain recoverable reserves of 590 MMBOE. Recent seafloor expressions of the fault are evident southeast of the San Pedro shelf where the PVFZ forms a transpressional contact at Lasuen Knoll. Several stratigraphic sequences onlapping Lasuen Knoll in seismic data suggest that a complex history of tectonic uplift has formed the knoll. The fault appears to die out or step eastward before slip continues to the Coronado Bank Fault. This study dates tectonic subsidence and uplift along the PVFZ, and analyzes where and how slip on the fault is transferred at its southern extent to the Coronado Bank Fault. Structure and isochore maps of stratigraphic sequences were generated using 3D and 2D deep-penetrating seismic data, 2D high-resolution seismic data, well logs, paleontological reports, and seafloor bathymetry and backscatter imagery. Analysis of these maps provides insight to the sedimentological and structural processes and mechanisms that have acted locally over the lifespan of the basin. This study culminates synthesizing the relationships between the PVFZ, Lasuen Knoll and the Coronado Bank Fault, as well as the effects of Inner Borderland tectonic evolution

on the development of this southern segment of the PVFZ.

11:20 Shaimaa Abdelhaleem, Wanda J Taylor Kinematics and Timing of Deformation of Nellis Dunes Recreational Area, Nellis, Nevada

Kinematics and origin of transfer, accommodation and strike-slip zones is of paramount significance in understanding the kinematic models of continental extension. The Las Vegas Valley Shear Zone (LVVSZ) is a NW-striking right-lateral fault system in the central Basin and Range province. Despite its prominence among the structures of the region and its role in the regional tectonic development, little is understood about its eastern portion. Nellis Dunes Recreational Area (NDRA), north of Frenchman Mountain, lies along the eastern part of LVVSZ. The area exposes structures, the Muddy Creek Formation and Quaternary deposits. Previous mapping suggested that the area under the NDRA formed as a pull-apart basin between the LVVSZ in the northern part of the area and the Munition fault that lies to south and bounds the northern end of the Frenchman Mountain block. However, some structural geometries are inconsistent with the regional pull-apart basin model of Nellis basin. The purpose of this study is to collect and analyze more detailed data and suggest a deformation model consistent with the entire fold and fault geometries. Larger scale mapping (1:8,000) provided complex structural geometries and kinematics. Secondary NE-oriented folds are interpreted to be related to right-lateral strike-slip faults that dominate the northwestern and northeastern parts of NDRA, while the central part is dominated by NW-oriented folds with NE-striking normal faults. Structural analysis showed that area exhibits three different strains. The right-lateral faults are part of the LVVSZ and cut Muddy Creek Formation suggesting that the LVVSZ was active after 4.7 Ma. Later, during the Quaternary, the LVVSZ was cut by NE-oriented left-lateral strike-slip faults with associated folds consistent with the recent NE strain direction. The northern end of Frenchman Mountain fault curves to the NE forming a left-lateral fault splay in the southern part of NDRA. Consequently NE-striking faults and NW-oriented folds dominated the southern part of NDRA as secondary structures associated with that left-lateral deformation. TECHNICAL PROGRAM TECHNICAL .62 P 62

13:20 Kenneth A Piper, Michael R Brickey Write Off the Pacific Offshore? The Last Best Hope for New Pacific Discoveries

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Minerals Management Service have ranked the Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Oceanside basins (not necessarily in that order) as the best prospects for future oil and gas discovery and development in the Pacific Federal offshore. All basins to the north and the distal basins of the Southern California Borderland have either economic or political constraints that rule out future leasing and exploration. However, the discovery history shows that for Santa Barbara and Santa Maria basins (and San Pedro as well), the "easy oil" has been found (except for one untested prospect). In fact, all production is from the first one or two lease sale offerings in each respective area, and almost all is from the first offering. The exception is a prospect within the Federal ecological preserve that surrounds Santa Barbara Harbor. It is on trend with the Dos Cuadras and Carpinteria fields to the east and may have recoverable resources on the order of 100 MMbbl.Because of this, continued leasing efforts and exploration are unlikely to result in additional economically recoverable resources for the Santa Barbara offshore basin. In Santa Maria basin, the only resources of interest for future leasing are within those leases that were bought back by the Federal government following lawsuits by the State and oil companies that were unable to develop their discovered resources. Those leases are believed to contain about 1 billion barrels of recoverable oil, and would therefore be of interest to companies that are willing to fight the inevitable anti-oil efforts by environmental and other groups.The last best hope, then, is the yet unexplored Oceanside basin. Because it is on trend with the Los Angeles basin major oilfields, and has many mapped and sizeable prospects, it has long been of interest to government geologists. Efforts in the 1980's to include it in lease offerings were unsuccessful, primarily because of opposition by the U.S. military, which has operations offshore of Camp Pendleton Marine base in northern San Diego County. As the population of San Diego County has greatly increased since that time, it is almost certain that there will be enormous political opposition to any proposed leasing in the Oceanside basin. Is it any wonder that BOEM has tacitly written off oil and gas for the Pacific Region

13:40 Yannick Wirtz, Nate Onderdonk, Richard Behl Underestimation of Shortening in Balanced Cross-Sections Across the Santa Maria Basin,

California Revealed by Map-Scale and Outcrop-Scale Structural Analysis TECHNICAL PROGRAM

The Santa Maria basin (SMB) in California underwent a complicated tectonic history from Miocene basin development to the formation of a fold and thrust belt by several phases of north-south shortening. Accurate quantification of structural deformation in the SMB is essential to unraveling the tectonic history of the California active plate margin and test models of major block movements and rotations. Namson and Davis (1988) quantified shortening across the basin by balancing regional-scale cross-sections. However, examination of outcrop-scale structures of Miocene rock units in the southern SMB and preliminary quantification of map-scale structures show that there is significant internal deformation and shortening within structural panels that were assumed to maintain constant volume in the reconstruction. Thus, an underestimation of shortening of regional-scale balanced cross-sections is hypothesized. The objectives of this study are to assess the quantitative contribution of map-scale and outcrop-scale structures at the southern boundary of the SMB to existing balanced cross-sections and evaluate how omission of these smaller scale structures affects the assessment of the regional deformation and tectonic history. The Monterey and Sisquoc formations are well suited for this study because (1) they formed during the Miocene - early Pliocene time period and display structural features from tectonic events related to the formation of the SMB fold and thrust belt, (2) their thinly bedded character and diverse rock mechanics provide excellent smaller structures that allow the quantification of tectonic shortening at outcrop-scale, and (3) they are well exposed and provide excellent and continuous structures at map-scale that are representative on a regional scale. Namson and Davis used surface mapping and well data to create a regional-scale balanced cross-section across the SMB. We conducted a preliminary test across a 7.4 km long north-south section of the southern SMB by making cross-sections from existing geologic maps. The cross-section by Namson and Davis imply 6.6 % of total shortening across this area. However, our preliminary measurements of shortening across the same area contribute an additional 8.9 % of shortening to the regional-scale cross-section suggesting a total deformation of 15.5 %. Structural mapping and restoration of continuous outcrops will document how much deformation at outcrop-scale will be further additive to the map-scale.

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14:00 Wei An Apatite Fission-Track Analysis In The Northern Continental Shelf Of South China Sea

This paper tries to apply Apatite Fission Track (AFT) analysis to the thermal evolution history research for the sedimentary basins in the north shelf in South China Sea. AFT measurements of 10 samples from 3 boreholes have been investigated. The reports show that Well A location had not been disturbed by major thermal event and the thermal evolution was quite steady since 32Ma, while Well B location had been disturbed between 32Ma to 10Ma base on the measurements of several of thermal evolution history. The conclusions have been verified by means of a theory model calculating Fission Track. By compare with Growth Index and the Distribution of the synsedimentary faults activities, the correlation between thermal history and faults activities have been reported in this area. The geothermal activities may play an important role in controlling the length and the duration of the faults.

SESSION NO.9: Mixing Oil and Water, Water Topics Associated With Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Activities Chairs: Laura Bazeley, Allen Waggoner Location: Embassy 2 Room

8:20 Jean B Kulla Highlights from the Symposium: Oil, Gas, and Groundwater in California

In mid-February a joint symposium was held in Long Beach, Ca. presented by the Groundwater Association of California and the Los Angeles Basin Geological Society, sponsored in-part by Pacific Section AAPG. The purpose of the symposium was to bring together petroleum industry and groundwater professionals, policy-makers, regulators, and academia to hear the latest information and science, developing policies, and regulations on petroleum well stimulation. A partial list of Speakers included: Dr. Donald Paul, Executive Director of USC Energy Institute; Jon Parker, General Manager, Kern Water Bank; Don Clarke, AAPG‚ 2014-15 Distinguished Ethics Lecturer; Dr. Jane Long CCST;

Steve Bohlen, State Oil and Gas Supervisor; Dr. Norman Warpinski, Pinnacle-Halliburton Research; Ned Clayton, Schlumberger; Dr. Ted Frankiewicz, SPEC Services; John Borkovich, SWRCB; and Justin Kulongoski, USGS. Topics included: Production and Protection of Hydrocarbon and Groundwater Resources in California; Petroleum and Groundwater Activities in California; Status on DOGGR compliance schedule and new rules; Industry Activities and Technologies for groundwater monitoring, monitoring reservoir stimulation, well competency, and production water conservation; and SB4 and SWRCB activities. Highlights, updates, and conclusions of the symposium will be presented. Where do we go from here?

8:40 Abby Auffant Mixing Oil and Water: When Collaboration Yields Crops

Located along the southeastern edge of the San Joaquin Valley is the giant Kern River oil field, the fourth largest oil field in the United States. Just a few miles from the oil field, valley farmers need water for irrigation. Mature oil fields, such as Kern River, produce lots of water. Around 757,000 barrels of water, or 98 acre-feet, are produced each day along with Chevron oil production at Kern River Field. Chevron reuses about 30 percent of this water to generate new steam to enhance oil production and for other in- field uses. However, the remaining water, approximately 66 acre-feet, represents what would normally be a costly disposal problem and lost opportunity for water reuse. In 1994, Cawelo Water District and Chevron recognized that the produced water from Kern River oil field was a safe and reliable source of agricultural water and entered into a mutually beneficial relationship. An 8.5-mile pipeline was built to connect Cawelo local reservoir with the Kern River oil field. As a result, Cawelo is able to acquire large quantities of water at a very reasonable price, and valley farmers have a source of water for irrigation even in drought years. Chevron conducts a rigorous monitoring program to ensure the quality of its produced water prior to sending it to Cawelo. The water Cawelo receives from Chevron is governed by a permit issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. TECHNICAL PROGRAM TECHNICAL .64 P 64

9:00 Bob Poole, Mark L. Wilson CASE STUDY: An Innovative Public-Private Partnership for Re-Use of Treated Residential Water in a Steam Generation Project in Santa Barbara County, California

Santa Barbara County, California has a long history of environmental leadership and an even longer history of oil development, both offshore and on. As a result, Santa Barbara County has developed a comprehensive regulatory framework and infrastructure to address perceived environmental concerns beyond those at the state and federal levels. Our company, Santa Maria Energy, LLC accepted and met these challenges head-on by designing our state-of-the art project in the Orcutt field to not only fully comply with arguably the most stringent operating regulations anywhere but also incorporating innovative solutions to reduce, reuse and recycle our natural resources in the course of producing energy. Our approved project consists of two related but independent projects, oil production and water reclamation. The Santa Maria Energy Project is to drill, outfit and operate 136 new production wells utilizing the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique known as cyclic steaming to produce oil from the local Sisquoc diatomite reservoir. Laguna County Sanitation District Recycled Water Pipeline Project is the construction and installation of an 8-mile underground pipeline to deliver reclaimed wastewater to the Santa Maria Energy project site for steam generation. Project environmental benefits include producing vital domestic petroleum resources in a very safe and sound manner. The project uses reclaimed wastewater in lieu of groundwater for steam generation/oil recovery. The Laguna Pipeline built to supply SME’s project will provide ‘upstream’ access to other users of reclaimed water. Additional environmental benefits are accrued because they are paid for by the success of the oil operation. Included is the protection of endangered and threatened biological resources, including setting aside in perpetuity critical habitat for the preservation of a unique subspecies of California Tiger Salamander. The production project uses natural gas already produced and previously flared to generate steam. Our paper will provide a full description and discussion of the diatomite reservoir, the process of extracting oil from this reservoir, governing local/state/federal regulations and both the innovative environmental solutions listed above along with those not mentioned and the various economic benefits as well.

9:20 David Underwood, Steve Johnson, Samuel Wachtor, Tony Reid Salinity of Water in the Tulare Formation at the Elk Hills Field: Identification of Protected TECHNICAL PROGRAM and Non-protected Water for SB-4 and other Regulatory Reporting

Recent California regulations require monitoring of groundwater in non-exempt formations wherever reservoir stimulation operations are untaken. However, monitoring is not required if groundwater is absent, or if groundwater is of a non-protected status where it meets and/or exceeds the minimum threshold of 10,000 mg/l total dissolved solids (TDS). When direct sampling of groundwater is not practical, calculation of salinity using wireline logs is a valid alternative. The Resistivity Porosity (RP) or Humble method, described by Davis (1988), is favored over the SP method because of higher accuracy in calculating TDS. Salinity calculation has four steps: (1) converting measured density to formation porosity, (2) calculation of apparent water resistivity, (3) correcting apparent water resistivity to a standard temperature, and (4) converting temperature corrected apparent water resistivity to salinity. Calculated salinity in the Tulare Formation at Elk Hills ranges from about 4,000 mg/l to over 20,000 mg/l TDS and shows increasing salinity with depth. Actual water samples from the Tulare range from 1 percent under to 30 percent over the calculated values. The difference is attributed to two causes: (1) water samples are generally collected from a large completion interval and may represent a mixture of waters with several difference salinities, and (2) calculated salinity is based on a NaCl-only fluid, and a correction of salinity for a TDS composition more likely to be present will cause calculated salinity to approach measured salinity. Caution should be used with application of the RP method in thin bedded formations, where deep resistivity is affected by bed boundaries. Calculated values are also more variable in clayey sands‚ the RP method assumes calculations for clean sand. Good hole conditions are important for valid density values washouts or large holes may yield anomalously low salinity values. In areas of Elk Hills where groundwater is absent from the Tulare Formation, or areas containing only non-protected groundwater and unsaturated Tulare sands, a Letter of Concurrence may be requested from the State Water Resources Control Board which acknowledges that protected waters (<10,000 mg/l TDS) are absent. This process has been successfully used at Elk Hills to identify several areas that are now exempt from

groundwater monitoring. P .65

10:00 Janice Gillespie, Joshua Meyer, David Kong, Stephen Anderson Using Oilfield Chemical Analyses To Determine Salinity Gradients And The Depth To Underground Sources Of Drinking Water In Kern County's Oilfields

The use of well stimulation techniques such as fracking and acidizing to recover remaining oil reserves as well as to unlock new sources of oil and gas from shales has increased in many areas of the country. While this has caused an increase in US oil production and a consequent independence from foreign sources of oil, it has also created great public concern about its potential to negatively impact groundwater supplies. As a result of these concerns, the California legislature passed SB 4 (the so-called ‘fracking bill’) in September 2013. The bill requires the state to identify potable groundwater resources which require protection and develop a monitoring program to protect these resources in areas where fracking occurs. In the past, oil producers set surface casing to protect the base of fresh water (BFW) which is defined as waters containing less than 3000 ppm total dissolved solids (TDS). However, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires state agencies to protect Underground Sources of Drinking Water (USDW). Waters classified as USDW’s have less than 10,000 ppm TDS and are considered to have potential for remediation for agriculture, landscaping and industrial uses. In this study we examine data from geochemical analyses in oil and water wells in order to determine the depth to USDW’s in various oilfields throughout Kern County, California. The depth to the base of the USDW’s is controlled by a number of factors including location, depth and stratigraphy.

10:20 Joseph P Morris Mandated Monitoring for Potential Hydraulic Fracturing Impacts upon Groundwater in California: Update on SB4 Expert Recommendations

Hydraulic fracturing has unlocked previously untapped unconventional oil and gas resources in the U.S., leading to the U.S. surpassing Saudi Arabia and Russia in daily oil production in mid-2014. However, public concern of potential environmental impacts such as induced seismicity and reduced water quality has grown over time. In response, California passed State Bill 4 (SB4) in September, 2013 to develop and establish a regulatory structure for unconventional resource extraction (hydraulic fracturing, acidizing, and other stimulation techniques) for the state. SB4 requires the State Water Resources Control Board

(SWRCB) to develop groundwater monitoring criteria to be implemented across a range of spatial scales (from well-by-well to regional) for water quality effects from oil and gas wells subjected to well stimulation treatment. The legislation also calls upon the state board to seek the advice of experts on the design of these criteria. The SWRCB has contracted Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) as an expert advisor. LLNL has utilized both internal and externally contracted expertise to engage with industry, academia, government agencies and the general public in development of a scientifically based set of criteria for groundwater monitoring. In this presentation I will provide an overview of the process being followed and the latest developments from the team as we work toward our recommendations to the SWRCB. Disclaimer: This work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

10:40 M. Jane Ellis-McNaboe, Ashley Bylow, Joshua Meyer, Cara Costamagna The Challenges of Developing and Implementing a Groundwater Monitoring Plan to Comply with SB4 Requirements

SB4 interim regulations requiring a well-specific or area-specific Groundwater Monitoring Plan (GMP) for all well stimulation treatments (hydraulic fracturing and acid stimulations) that penetrate an USDW are being implemented by DOGGR until July 2015 when the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) will become the lead agency for SB4 GMPs. Emergency regulations were introduced in January 2014, and then readopted in July 2014; final regulations from DOGGR will be implemented in July 2015 but will not include GMPs. The regulations regarding GMPs will become the responsibility of the SWRCB in July 2015; the upcoming changes are unknown to those trying to meet the regulatory requirements. Complying with the regulatory requirements has been a challenge for oil companies and regulators alike. Developing a hydrogeologic model is difficult when data on water wells, including their location, completion details, and groundwater analytical results are not public information. Calculations from electric logs to determine the base of the USDW, water with a Total Dissolved Solids concentration of TECHNICAL PROGRAM TECHNICAL less than 10,000 ppm, is of questionable accuracy. Scanned formation water analytical data available on .66 P

the DOGGR web site is often of questionable quality and it is difficult to determine where and how the water samples were collected. Drilling and constructing a deep groundwater monitoring well with an oil drilling rig is fast and efficient but difficult when the companies do not have the required C-57 licensed contractor on staff. Determining the interval to perforate above the depth of protected water requires log interpretation, again with an uncertain margin of error. Collecting groundwater samples from deep monitoring wells is new to the groundwater sampling technicians. We have successfully used HydraSleeves, but not without breaking some of them in the process. Analytical laboratories need approximately 3.5 gallons of groundwater to run the required tests. Most laboratories cannot perform the radionuclide analysis. Discussions with the laboratory are important to ensure that the radionuclide results will be expressed in the required units, piC/L. Finding and meeting with neighboring water well owners to request permission to sample their water wells adds an important public relations aspect to the challenge.

11:00 Brent Miyazaki Geological, Hydrogeological and Related Subsurface Conditions Affecting Well Integrity & How Do We Identify and Evaluate Potential Risk Factors Based on Available Data?

Groundwater protection is a primary concern for oil and gas related exploration and production activities in America. Maintaining well integrity is the primary tool for protecting our nation's groundwater resources from accidental well releases. Thorough evaluation of geologic and related technical considerations is critical to ensure well integrity and groundwater protection. Substantial risk is directly associated with inaccurate technical evaluations that lead to compromised annular seals, resulting in subsequent gas or fluid migration to the surface or groundwater aquifers. Well bores represent primary potential vertical gas migration conduits. Numerous leaking wells are documented at American oil and gas fields, some with catastrophic results. Most leaks are associated with abandoned oil and gas wells and old dry holes, but could include newly constructed wells with defective annular seals. Many factors contribute to leaks in operating or abandoned wells, including engineering design and construction challenges. Several geologic factors that may cause or contribute to well integrity are listed below and discussed in the presentation. Geologic and other factors affecting annular seals and confinement include: 1. "Shallow" gas bearing zones‚ 2. Aquifers, especially artesian aquifers‚ 3. "Mud cake" on borehole wall‚ 4. Fractured TECHNICAL PROGRAM zones. Thoroughly evaluating downhole conditions for geological risk factors is fundamental to design well completions that address potentially problematic subsurface geologic conditions, and thereby, minimize potential adverse consequences. This presentation covers geological, hydrogeological and related subsurface risk factors that adverse effect well integrity, and techniques to identify potential adverse downhole conditions from typical borehole logs.

11:20 Janice Gillespie, Preston Jordan Produced Water Disposal In The Southern San Joaquin Basin: A Direct Analog For Brine Leakage In Response To Carbon Storage

Injection of CO2 during geologic carbon storage pressurizes reservoir fluid, which can cause its migration. Migration of saline water from the reservoir into underground sources of drinking water (USDW) via pathways such as permeable wells and faults is one concern. As of 2010, 2 billion cubic meters (MMMm3) of oil, 10 MMMm3 of water, and 400 MMMm3 of gas had been produced in the southern San Joaquin Valley. A considerable portion of the gas and a majority of the water were injected into production zones for pressure support, water flooding, or as steam for thermal recovery. However a portion of the produced water was disposed of by injection into zones without economic quantities of hydrocarbons, termed saline aquifers in the geologic carbon storage community. These zones often lay above the producing zone and, in the absence of hydrocarbon production, were at their original pressures. The subset of such zones at CO2 storage depths received disposed water volumes equivalent to tens of megatons (MT) of CO2 injected at overpressures of many MPa. For instance, in the Fruitvale field, a water volume equivalent to over 20 metric tons (MT) of CO2 was injected at a depth of 900 m and an average wellhead pressure of 6 MPa. The Fruitvale field lies only one half mile east of downtown Bakersfield and many domestic water supply wells produce from the aquifer overlying the disposal zone in the area. Consequently the produced water disposal injection in the Fruitvale field provides an analog

for assessing the occurrence of water leakage impacts due to reservoir pressurization. Almost 230 P .67

articles regarding groundwater contamination published from 2000 to 2013 by The Bakersfield Californian, the main newspaper in the area, were assessed. These were written by 71 authors including 38 staff writers. The articles covered 53 different types of facilities or activities that either contaminated groundwater or for which there was such a concern, and discussed 85 different geographic locations. They described groundwater contamination at hundreds of wells during and previous to the publication period. Contamination due to upward leakage caused by produced water disposal injection was not mentioned. This suggests the lack of reporting of groundwater impacts from leakage due to produced water disposal injection indicates no significant public impact, such as closure of numerous public supply wells, occurred during the article time period or for some years previous. This research continues with analysis of historic groundwater constituent data available from the California State Water Resources Control Board’s Geotracker Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment database. This database contains TDS and other constituent results for 149 wells within or in the immediate vicinity of the Fruitvale oil field.

SESSION NO.10: California Reservoirs: Evolution of Development Chairs: Jerry McNaboe, Jon Allen, Scott Hector Location: Harbor Room

8:20 Chris Peltonen, Jim Boles Hydrocarbon Production from the South Ellwood Field and the Effects on Naturally Occurring Oil and Gas Seeps

Refraction statics are typically thought of in terms of resolving long-wavelength statics that can cause false time structures or if not solved adequately simply degrade the final stacks. This paper shows how determining a near-surface, low-velocity model resulted in superior refraction statics. These statics dramatically enhance the resolution of deep structures in the pre-stack migration of data from the deformed fold belt on the west side of the San Joaquin Basin, Kern County, California.

8:40 Terence O'Sullivan Observations of Condensed-Vapor Gamma in California Heavy Oil Reservoirs

Higher than normal gamma ray (GR) values are frequently observed on open-hole logs run in wells drilled through steam- and vapor-filled intervals of heavy oil reservoirs. Previous work demonstrates that these GR values, which can exceed 1000 GAPI, are caused by drilling-related cooling of the wellbore and condensation of radon-enriched vapor in the surrounding rock. With few exceptions, these high GR values only occur through vapor-filled intervals. To learn more about this "Condensed-Vapor Gamma" (CVG) effect, GR logs and other data from hundreds of heavy oil wells were examined. Systematic variations in CVG appear to be related to vapor composition, rock type and remaining oil saturation. Comparison of GR logs between groups of closely-spaced wells shows that the high GR response correlates and that amplitudes are similar, even when the GR is higher than 1000 GAPI. Higher GR values are found in lower-quality reservoirs which are likely to have higher remaining oil saturation. High GR is also observed to occur in intervals located directly above silt barriers where condensed vapor appears to accumulate. The condensation-induced gamma signal has only been documented to occur in wells drilled in heavy oil steamfloods, but the effect should occur in any reservoir containing condensable vapor, provided that vapor can be cooled toward the dew point. Applications include evaluation of vapor composition, identification of barriers, and time-lapse observation of changes in these properties as an indicator of process efficiency.

9:00 Daniel B Wynne, Milind B Patel Development of Kern County's Rose Oil Field

We provide a data-rich update for Kern County's Rose oil field after reviewing the play, reservoir properties and a tiltmeter evaluation of frac propagation, as were documented in a cluster of publications ca. 2003. Our recent synthesis and themed evaluation is drawn from publically-accessible online TECHNICAL PROGRAM TECHNICAL DOGGR data through early 2015. It includes both production information and well histories that include .68 P

directional surveys, completion information and geologic markers. A "heat map" is presented showing incremental and cumulative production posted over completion intervals and not wellheads. We also present 3-D visualizations showing completion intervals. Decline curves are presented. A discussion of trends in completion and frac programs is presented. The Rose oil field is an unconventional play discovered in 2000. It was indicated by seismic modeling and drill data extrapolated from the nearby North Shafter field. The play is a burial-induced permeability increase attributed to the diagenetic transformation of opal-CT to quartz diatomite within the McLure shale member of the Monterey Formation. The field is structurally simple; the McLure dips gently SW in an apparently unfaulted homocline. The play was confirmed in mid-2000 when EOG Resources recompleted, fraced and flow- tested the Tulare 25-1 in the McLure, previously untested in the area. Shortly after, EOG spudded the discovery well Goodshow 1H to confirm commercial production from the McLure and establish the pattern for developing the field. Rose production wells are vertical drills to approximately 7500 ft TVD, builds of ~86 degrees or ~94 degrees and laterals of ~2500 to ~5500 ft length toward the NNE or SSW. Rose field has a cumulative production >4 Mbbl BOE. Current production is from ~52 wells with a GOR of ~430 cf/stb and watercut of ~70%. Completion of production wells is as follows: ~20 wells in 2000-2003, ~3 wells in 2004-2006, none in 2007-2010 and ~22 in 2011-2014. Produced water is injected at depths of ~2500 to 6000 ft into the Etchegoin and San Joaquin Formations. There are ~15 open permits for new wells of all types within or associated with the field.

9:20 Matt Lusk, JoAnn Conard, Michael Glascock, John Stevens Ventura Oil Field; An Evolution in Development, Waterflood Practices, and Geological Interpretation

The Ventura Oil Field, which produced its billionth barrel of oil in 2012, has a long history that began in 1885 with identification of oil in ground water wells. Early mapping identified a 'perfect anticline' structure. With this model in mind an attempt to drill the first oil well was initiated in 1902. Initial drilling attempts were fraught with difficulties due to shallow gas and use of cable drilling tools. Development took off in the 1920's when rotary tools were used for drilling. As drilling campaigns expanded and deeper wells were drilled, micropaleontology data identified 3 major faults and steep asymmetric dips. This explained some inconsistencies in production results. Faults combined with seven stratigraphic productive units, TECHNICAL PROGRAM resulted in 13 different 'pools' that were produced in the 1940s. Primary development continued into the 1950s with the first water flood being implemented in the early 1960s.Over time additional fault blocks have been identified and increased the number of productive 'pools' to > 50. Today, after nine different operators and more than 100 years, the anticline structure is well mapped. Thrust faulting has been identified using electric log correlations and dip and image logs. We used 3D structural interpretation develop a full-field fault framework model that is internally consistent, utilizing a flat-ramp-flat fault geometry that has been subsequently folded. This model is being used for development and surveillance. Our turbidite depositional model is being reviewed with legacy geological interpretations, completions, and production data to better understand net to gross and connectivity/thickness of individual layers. The result is a more thorough understanding of the geology of the field for development planning and an appreciation for the evolving story of the Ventura Oil Field.

10:00 John Harris, Eric White Revitalization of Santa Maria Basin Oil Fields

The Santa Maria Basin has been an active oil and gas development location since the discovery of the Orcutt field in 1901 by Western Union Oil Company. Since this discovery the basin has gone through periods of development and dormancy due to the economic challenge of heavy oil development and the uncertainty associated with developing reserves from the fractured Monterey Shale. Due to higher sustained oil prices over the past half-decade, there has been a resurgence of operations in the basin focusing on the fractured reservoirs of the Monterey Shale, tight diatomite, and Pliocene sandstones. Operators currently active in the basin are employing old and new technologies to extract generally heavy oil from these reservoirs. Notably these technologies include thermal EOR, directional drilling and acid stimulation. While these techniques have been successful in some areas, there has been inconsistency in the results. Contrasting these varied outcomes highlights the challenges and risks associated with the

development of heavy oil in fractured shales and the factors that lead to success. P .69

10:20 Marc Cooper, Eddie Behm III, Michael Lebaron, Katy Jensen-Doescher Successful Mature Field Re-Development at Mount Poso Oil Field, Kern County, California

The Mount Poso Oil Field was discovered in 1926 and has produced over 300 mmbo from a three way closure against an east dipping normal fault situated along the eastern flank of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. The field was on decline in January, 2012, producing 800 bopd from 300 wells in the Miocene Pyramid Hills formation. A combination of sixty new horizontal wells, a waterflood project, and re-development of the Oligocene Vedder formation have since increased production to over 3,000 bopd. Production is expected to increase further with a full field expansion of the waterflood and continued re-development of the lower Vedder formation. The Vedder formation was under primary production from its discovery in 1926, then steam flooded from 1973-1998 with a focus on the Upper Vedder, and finally shut-in from 1998-2012. The shallower clay-rich Pyramid Hills formation was largely bypassed until the mid 1980's, followed by workover appraisal, and then became the focus of development with vertical new drills in 1999 with the first laterals in 2005. From 2005-2012 the average well rates decreased from 4 to 2.5 bopd. In 2012 a successful horizontal well program built off the lessons learned from earlier development increasing production to 2,000 bopd by the end of the year with many 50-125 bopd IP wells. A successful Pyramid Hills waterflood was implemented by incorporating an updated geomodel, testing fluid compatibility with swelling clays, and utilizing the large inventory of existing wellbores to minimize costs. Reappraisal of the previously abandoned lower Vedder formation since 2013 has led to thirteen new drill wells and five workovers with rates ranging from 10-280 bopd. Renewed focus and shallow reservoirs with attendant low costs have allowed multiple development techniques to be tested successfully in a short period of time at the Mount Poso field, realizing significant production growth in a mature field.

10:40 Manuel Paz, Jason Leiran Geologic Evaluation And Remaining Potential Of An Abandoned Oil Field: The Santa Margarita (Reef Ridge) Sandstones Pool Of The San Emidio Nose Field, California

The Santa Margarita (Reef Ridge) Sandstones pool of the San Emidio Nose Field is located in the Southern San Joaquin Basin, California. It was discovered in 1958 by Richfield Oil Corporation and

developed by 18 subsequent wells that produced over 10 MMBO. The Santa Margarita pool was active until 1981, when the last producer was plugged and abandoned. The accumulation is formed by the pinch-out of three different sand units (Sands #1, #3, #4) against the San Emidio paleohigh. This pinch- out as well as a detailed structure map at the top of each individual reservoir has been interpreted in detail using both 3D seismic and all the well data. Based on this interpretation the boundaries of the pool are better understood and the field could potentially be extended to the east .Approximately half of the well completions commingled the three reservoirs. However, Sand #1 is thought to have been the most prolific because of its better reservoir quality with permeabilities ranging from 10 to 300 mD. Sands # 3 and #4 correspond to thinner and lower quality sandstones (1 to 20 mD) which are interpreted to have less recovery than Sand #1. Cumulative production and initial oil rate maps for the Santa Margarita pool show a good correlation with respect to the thickness and structure at the top of Sand #1 confirming that the uppermost reservoir is likely the main contributor to the historical production. A 2014 exploration well targeting deeper intervals in the San Emidio Nose Field encountered better gas shows, higher oil saturations and higher pressures in Sands #3 and #4; it also found that the resistivity values of these two intervals remained the same magnitude as logged in the original wells. In contrast, Sand #1 showed a significant decrease in resistivity with respect to the original values, dropping from 50-80 ohm-m down to 10-20 ohm-m. These data support the interpretation that the recovery from Sands #3 and #4 was poor in the original development, and provide significant development potential for the Santa Margarita accumulation.

TECHNICAL PROGRAM TECHNICAL .70 P 70

SESSION NO.11: Current Advances in Applied Paleontology, Geochemistry, and Environmental Geology Chairs: Jordan Kear, Russell Shapiro, Adam Woods Location: Pacifica Room

13:20 Assaf A Rees Biosparging Study Demonstrates Metabolic and Cometabolic Degradation of BTEX and Preventing Migration across Site Boundary

13:40 Randal Orton Geology, Water Quality and Aquatic Life in Malibu Creek: An Unusually Severe Example of Geologic Impacts

This presentation provides an update to earlier work on geologic influences on water quality in Malibu Creek, one of California's saltiest creeks. Recent large-scale surveys of aquatic life and water quality in California and southern California streams in both natural and urban settings have enabled quantitative estimates of the relative influence of geologically-relevant factors on both stream chemistry and aquatic life in Malibu Creek. These estimates include not only general parameters such as overall salt levels (i.e. spec. conductance), but also estimates of the impact on aquatic life of specific major ions such as sulfate, phosphate and nitrate. These factors and their impacts vary seasonally in Malibu Creek, as the watershed transitions each year from rain and surficial runoff dominated flows in winter (SC ~ 1,500 µS/cm) to groundwater-dominated flows (SC ~ 2,500 - 3000 µS/cm) from late spring through fall, timing

that coincides with optimal physical factors (i.e. rising temperatures and insolation) for algal species TECHNICAL PROGRAM adapted to or tolerant of the creek's unusually brackish water and sulfate levels (SO42- > 500 mg/L) , especially the green alga Cladophora glomerata and halophilic and eutrophilic diatoms. These geologically mediated water quality impacts also directly affect the creek's aquatic animal life, favoring benthic macroinvertebrate species tolerant of geologically-mediated water quality (i.e. high conductivity), and indirect impacts from algal-driven and changes in physical habitat. Different geologies (i.e. Conejo volcanics vs biogenic marine shales and siltstones vs non-marine sedimentary exposures) dominate different tributary streams to Malibu Creek, providing a natural laboratory for separating the effects and relative influences of different geologies on the creek's water chemistry and aquatic life. In comparison to other California streams, Malibu Creek is best characterized as an outlier with respect to the magnitude of its geological impacts on water quality and the extent (taxonomically) of these impacts on its aquatic life.

14:00 Benjamin Scherzer Miocene Teleost Fish From Chino Hills: Preliminary Results From The Vila Borba Project, San Bernardino County, CA

The Vila Borba Project is a 336-acre residential and commercial development in the city of Chino Hills, San Bernardino County, California. Phase I began in early 2014, with archeological and paleontological monitoring provided by DUKE Cultural Resources Management. Phase I involved the northwest portion of the project, an area roughly bisected by the northwest-southeast trending Chino Fault. This area has been previously mapped as comprising the late Miocene (Late Luisian to Delmontian) Puente and Sycamore Canyon Formations. In five months of monitoring, over 160 fossils specimens were found, including teleost fish, chondrichthians, bivalves, marine and land plants, corprolites, and burrows. Preliminary investigation of the teleost fish specimens identified Chauliodus sp. (viperfish), Etringus sp. (round herring), Laytonia sp. (halosaur), Rhythmias sp. (sheepshead), Clupeiformes (herring and

anchovy), and Myctophiformes (lanternfish). The sedimentology of the bedrock and the presence of fossils were distinctly different on either side of the Chino Fault. East of the fault (footwall), sediments were dominated by pebble to boulder conglomerates and sandstones, and relatively few fossils were P .71

observed. West of the fault (hanging wall), sediments were exclusively mudstones to very fine-grained sandstones, and the majority of fossils were encountered. The difference in fossil exposure in sedimentology on either side of the Chino Fault may reflect taphonomic differences within the same formation, or may signify a more complex geology in the project area than is currently mapped. Further phases in the Vila Borba Project may clarify the local geology and their respective fossil deposits.

14:20 Russell S Shapiro Assessing Invertebrate Fossils in Developing Mitigation Plans

Various federal, state, and local regulations have been enacted to protect fossils as important public cultural resources that provide valuable insights into the evolution of the Earth and biosphere. However, the language on nearly all these laws and statutes specify protection of vertebrate fossils; some note protection of invertebrates and plants only if the find is significant. This dichotomy exists because of the natural disparity in distribution. Invertebrates are much more common in the rock record due to the abundance of marine facies, skeleton composition (calcite and silica), and previous research focus. Furthermore, the issue may be raised on how to define and value "significance" with regards to invertebrate fossils. Most mitigation projects in California, Arizona, and Nevada impact Quaternary to late Neogene deposits and these formations tend to be more vertebrate-rich than the older units, albeit fossils are still not abundant. The majority of these units are terrestrial and comprise a variety of facies including high-sedimentation alluvial, fluvial, lacustrine, and marginal glacial. These units, in comparison to the marine realm, have a much more poorly understood invertebrate fossil record, dominated by molluscs and micro-arthropods. Therefore, the potential to gain valuable scientific data from invertebrates is proportionally higher and should be considered in developing mitigation plans.Factors to consider for defining "significance" and establishing the level of mitigation fall into four categories. First, the higher taxonomic understanding of the invertebrate phyla may not be known or may be erroneous and further collection would clarify phylogenetic relationships. Second, the resolution of biostratigraphy of the interval may be able to be refined with additional invertebrate data. Third, many of these units, in particular pedogenic horizons‚ may yield unique taphonomic attributes. Finally, invertebrates can yield important facies information that will become even more critical as scientists look to the rock record to understand

the impact of climate change and constraints on the "Anthropocene."

SESSION NO.12: Alternative Energy Chair: Douglas Boren Location: Embassy 2 Room

13:20 Andrea Copping Identifying and Addressing Environmental Effects and User Conflicts for Offshore Wind on the West Coast

Development of offshore wind along the US coastlines is under development as an addition to "all of the above" approach to the national energy portfolio. Offshore wind turbines take advantage of strong and consistent winds, and potentially avoid many of the stakeholder concerns that are faced by the development of land-based wind. Off the west coast of the US, the continental shelf drops rapidly, eliminating the potential for large-scale development of seabed-mounted turbines such as those that are under development in the Atlantic. Floating designs for wind turbines are advancing in the US and abroad, and appear well suited for this coastline. As these new wind capture technologies progress, the ability to test and deploy offshore wind farms must develop assessments of potential environmental effects and stakeholder conflicts that may arise. Following deployment, robust monitoring programs will be needed to determine whether deleterious effects are noted, and to provide guidance for future development.The objectives of this paper are: to examine the key environmental and user challenges facing offshore wind development along the west coast; to set priorities among all potential interactions between offshore wind development and the environment; and to propose methodologies for accelerating the development of offshore wind farms. Determining key environmental concerns of offshore wind

TECHNICAL PROGRAM TECHNICAL requires knowledge of the biology and ecosystem interactions between living resources such as seabirds, .72 P 72

marine animals, fish, and the habitats that support them, with specific aspects of wind towers and turbines, power cables, mooring lines and other portions of a wind system. These interactions must be examined throughout all phases of a wind project: construction/installation, operation, maintenance and decommissioning. Regulatory requirements and local ordinances play a key role in determining what data must be collected prior to installation, as well as monitoring needs throughout the life of the project.The presentation will include a brief descriptions of two research projects: a site suitability analysis for offshore wind in California, and the initial steps in developing the west coast's first offshore wind farm.

13:40 Kevin Banister The WindFloat and Opportunities for West Coast Offshore Wind

Principle Power is the owner of an innovative floating offshore wind foundation, called the WindFloat, which enables access to the strong wind resources in deep water far from shore. Since 2011, the company has operated a 2 MW unit off the coast of Portugal that has successfully demonstrated the technical and power production performance of the system. Now, under a financial assistance award from the US Department of Energy, Principle Power is developing a commercial demonstration off the coast of Oregon, which would be the world's first floating offshore wind array. This project will feature up to five WindFloats with large capacity offshore wind turbines (up to 40MW), and is slated for operation beginning as soon as 2017. This presentation will provide an overview of the WindFloat technology, display some of its performance data, and also describe the development steps that are being taken for the Oregon project. Details will include engineering requirements, permitting pathways and strategies for project finance.

14:00 Kenneth A. Piper Think Small For Nascent Alternative Energy Technologies

Alternative energy sources are needed in the long run, but have obstacles to implementation in today's financial and political climate. With dropping oil prices and a Congress less inclined to fund expensive, and often untested technologies, we need to consider ways to reduce costs, and get the most for our tax dollars.

Big corporations prefer big power plants, often in remote locations. They have been counting on the TECHNICAL PROGRAM government to subsidize them, for land, for building the plants, and for building transmission lines to where power is needed. Distributed production has several advantages. It can be produced near to where it is needed, as is being done with rooftop solar collectors. New transmission lines are not needed; the electricity goes directly into the distribution network. A similar system can work with small-scale wind turbines and certain geothermal technologies in rural areas. Distributed production is less susceptible to variations in wind or sun that can affect large localized power plants. And distributed networks are far less susceptible to power disruption due to environmental catastrophes or sabotage. They are a viable alternative energy source for rural areas and a valuable supplement in metropolitan areas.In the future, ocean-based wind and wave power generation will be important in the U.S., as most populated areas are near the coast. However, there are many technical and regulatory hurdles to be overcome before it can become a major contributor to our power mix. The ocean can be a hostile environment. Waves have enormous power, and salt water is corrosive. Most proposed sites are in areas with large waves with the aim of maximizing produced energy per installed extraction device. Most wave energy devices fail because they have moving parts that cannot withstand such an environment. Most proposed sites are also far from where energy is needed, and require extensive transmission networks.An alternative approach to these problems is to start smaller, in less stormy seas, and close to where the energy is needed. Devices with few or no external moving parts, and encased in non-corrosive enclosures will be less prone to damage. Devices below the surface or on the ocean floor may be preferable; they would be invisible from shore, and also less affected by the surface waves. They would not extract the maximum energy of the waves, but starting with such a network could prove the technology, and be improved in successive iterations.

14:20 Holly Wyer Offshore Renewable Energy and California

In his January 2015 inaugural address, Governor Brown proposed the ambitious goal of sourcing 50 percent of California's electricity from renewable sources within the next 15 years. Offshore renewable P energy has the potential to meet a significant portion of California's energy demand and contribute to the .73

Governor's goal. The California State Lands Commission (Commission) has jurisdiction over ungranted tidelands from the mean high tide line to three nautical miles from shore and considers leases and other permits for use of these tidelands pursuant to the common law Public Trust Doctrine. The Commission is interested in incorporating the responsible development of renewable energy on State tidelands to the extent that development is consistent with the Public Trust. Offshore renewable energy has some advantages over onshore renewable energy. For example, waves, tides, and currents are easier to predict than onshore wind and solar energy, allowing for greater power reliability. In addition, offshore wind also occurs with greater frequency and strength than onshore wind, and in some cases, offshore wind coincides with peak demand for electricity. This presentation will provide an overview of offshore energy potential in California, different types of marine renewable energy technologies, potential environmental impacts of concern, and resources for further information.

15:00 Tracy Logan BOEM Offshore Renewable Energy Leasing

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, an agency in the Department of the Interior, oversees development of the nation’s energy and mineral resources in the Federal waters offshore the United States known as the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). In 2005 BOEM was granted new authority by the Energy Policy Act to issue leases, easements, and rights-of-way for renewable energy projects, cables transporting renewable energy, and the alternate use of existing facilities on the OCS. BOEM established a robust offshore renewable energy program, standing up Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Forces in thirteen states and working closely with stakeholders to insure the safe development and stewardship of the Nation’s offshore renewable energy resources. Based in Camarillo, California, the BOEM Pacific OCS Region covers California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. This presentation will provide an overview of activities occurring both nationally and within the Pacific Region, an overview of BOEM’s four-step leasing process, and information on the Pacific Region’s unique geologic and bathymetric characteristics and how they are being addressed by various types of offshore renewable energy technologies.

SESSION NO.13: Special Session on Mexico Energy Reform Chair: Thom Davis Location: Embassy 1 Room

15:00 Olman Valverde, Dennis Luna Overview of the Mexico Energy Reform (one-hr presentation)

Dennis R. Luna and Olman J. Valverde will provide a general overview of sweeping and historic changes that are currently being made to the legal and regulatory schemes that govern Mexico’s energy industry. In December 2013, President Enrique Pena Nieto launched the reform of Mexico's energy sector through a constitutional amendment that opened the oil and gas industry, and the power generation sector, to private participation. Prior to the constitutional amendment, the Mexican energy industry was for most purposes not open to foreign investment. On August 12, 2014, Mexico adopted nine new “secondary laws” as well as amendments to existing laws which implement the December 2013 constitutional changes. With respect to Mexico's oil and gas industry, the changes are being made in order to increase Mexico’s diminishing production of hydrocarbons. Despite an increase in investment by Mexico in exploration and extraction, oil production in Mexico declined from 3.4 million barrels per day in 2004 to 2.5 million in 2012, with consequent negative effects on the Mexican economy. By making these changes, Mexico hopes to invigorate its production of oil and gas by attracting significant outside investment for the first time since foreign oil companies were ousted in 1938. The energy reform presents an opportunity both for Mexico and for foreign investors as the process unfolds over the next several years and decades. At this point in time, with decades of experience and investment in energy by the private sector the U.S., there is significant opportunity for U.S. companies to become involved. The presentation will cover the following topics: Legal Structure, Bidding Process, Regulatory Agencies, New TECHNICAL PROGRAM TECHNICAL Secondary Laws, Changes to Existing Laws, Business Issues, Current Issues .74 P

POSTER TECHNICAL SESSIONS – TUESDAY, MAY 5

All posters located in the Mandalay Ballroom Floor 1, Exhibit Hall

Jean Senteur de Boue Evidence for an Asteroid Impact Origin for the Ventura Basin

An asteroid impact origin for the Ventura basin is indicated by an east-west orientation of the basin axis, and clinoforms that dip away from the basin center. Most major structural elements in California have north-south trends that parallel the San Andreas Fault, the healed suture of an ancient subduction zone. By contrast, the Ventura basin trends east-west. Speculative models, based on poorly constrained paleomagnetic data, interpret this anomalous trend to have originated from clockwise rotation of the basin axis by 90 degrees. A more believable explanation is that the basin formed when a giant meteor hit the Piru area and gouged a linear east-west trough (the Santa Clara Valley) as the meteor slid westward into the sea. Frictional heating associated with meteoric impact reset paleomagnetic orientations in adjacent rocks to give anomalous values that most researchers have misinterpreted to evidence tectonic rotation. Giant clinoforms with amplitudes >100m characterize exposures of the Middle Eocene (Narizian) Cozy Dell Formation that crop out in the Topatopa Mountains on the uplifted northeastern margin of the Ventura basin. Previous studies interpret these structures as river-dominated deltas. However, the POSTER TECHNICAL SESSIONS clinoforms do not dip south, towards the basin depocenter, as would be expected if they formed during delta progradation. Instead, depositional dip is to the northwest, away from the probable point of asteroid impact. Most likely, these clinoforms resulted from sediments scrambling pell mell over one another in an attempt to get the hell out of the way of the shock wave generated by the meteor collision.

Jean Senteur de Boue Mantle Degassing: Possible Hydrocarbon Source in Regions of Anomalous Uplift

Recent speculations on the production and loss of the high-density batholithic root of the southern Sierra Nevada of California interpret some regions of anomalous subsidence in the southern Sierran arc and adjacent San Joaquin Valley forearc basin to represent convective removal of mantle lithosphere during arc magmatism. Other workers have postulated that some hydrocarbons are primordial (i.e., inorganic) in origin and related to mantle-derived basement, in marked contrast to popular kinetic models that attribute most of the worlds petroleum reserves to maturation of organic material. Possibly, the generation and subsequent removal of upward-rising masses of high-density mantle material (so-called mantle “drip” structures) may be accompanied by concurrent convective removal of primordial hydrocarbons entrained in the mantle. Given the dramatically different densities of eclogitic mantle material and carbon-based compounds, different paths of crustal migration are likely, with mantle drips initially under-plating batholithic terranes adjacent to regions of anomalous subsidence, and primordial hydrocarbons migrating in the opposite direction to give rise to regions of adjacent anomalous uplift, as buoyant primordial hydrocarbons rise though the crust and push on overlying strata. One example may be the Palmdale bulge. If so, inflation of this bulge by mantle degassing may prove to be a previously overlooked gas source, leading to speculation that mantle flatulence could be responsible for some of the isolated dry gas accumulations of the Bakersfield Arch.

Session 4: Assessing Reservoir Quality Through Detailed Analyses

Ibrahim Olgun Ugurlu, Attila I Kilinc A New Method of Determining Pore Size Distribution in Sedimentary Rocks

Determination of porosity in sedimentary rocks is central to the evaluation of potential storage volume for hydrocarbons. Recent developments in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have changed the approach on the evaluation of potential reservoir capacity of sedimentary rocks. New techniques in

horizontal drilling and fracking have made uneconomic sandstone reservoirs economic reservoirs. P

Therefore, to be able to evaluate and estimate reservoir capacity of these low- productive reservoirs .75

accurately, revealing the size, shape and distribution of pores from thin sections has become a critical investigation. Within this context, we are evaluating pore size distribution (PSD) in sandstones using the methodology of crystal size distribution (CSD) theory proposed by Marsh (1988). Although this theory has been used to measure the number of crystals per unit size range per unit volume, our results show that it can easily be applied to reveal the pore size distributions in thin sections of sandstones. In this new method of measuring pore sizes in thin sections, we collected data on number of pores per unit size per unit area first, and then converted it to per unit volume using the procedure suggested by the CSD theory. This method, besides providing accurate measurements of pore sizes and areas, can also give the following additional information: 1) distribution of pores as a function of sizes, 2) percent of pores in each size range, 3) number of pores per unit area 4) number of pores per unit volume 5) number of pores per unit size interval per unit volume. This is the first attempt to use the CSD theory and image-analysis to reveal pore size distribution (PSD) in sedimentary rocks. Besides providing new information about pore size distribution, this approach can be extended to evaluate distribution of pore sizes as a function of depth in a drill core, percent of pores in each size range, and pore types and pore geometry.

Session 8: Tectonics and Structural Geology of Western North America

Angela J Linder, Brian L Clements, Joshua J Schwartz, Elena A Miranda Timing Of Mid-Crustal Deformation With Respect To Magmatism And Detachment Faulting In The S South Mountains Metamorphic Core Complex, Arizona, USA

The South Mountains metamorphic core complex (SMCC) contains a record of Cenozoic extension and gravitational collapse that is fundamental to the post-orogenic crustal evolution of western North America. The SMCC comprises two variably deformed and mutually intrusive Miocene plutons, termed the South Mountains granodiorite (SMg) and the Telegraph Pass granite (TPg), both of which are intruded by syn- to post- kinematic felsic to mafic dike swarms. Extensional fabrics in the footwall are defined by crystal- plastically deformed quartz and brittlely fractured feldspars. The SMCC is unique because fabric development in the Tertiary footwall rocks cannot be attributed to older (e.g., Cretaceous) deformation, thus presenting an opportunity to precisely determine timescales of mid-crustal deformation and mylonitic fabric development related to Miocene core complex faulting.Two samples were collected from the SMg, and one from the TPg. One SMg sample (SMg1) was collected from the center of the core complex, whereas the second sample (SMg2) was collected ~1 km west of the first sample, away from any observed or mapped mafic dikes. The TPg sample was collected at the boundary between the SMg and TPg units, and is the least deformed footwall pluton sampled. The three samples yielded statistically indistinguishable 207Pbc-corrected 206Pb/238U zircon SHRIMP-RG ages of 20.6 ± 0.3 Ma (SMg1), 20.8 ± 0.2 Ma (SMg2) and 20.1 ± 0.5 Ma (TPg). Ti-in-zircon thermometry gave emplacement temperatures of 720 ± 25 degrees C and 710 ± 25 degrees C for SMg1 and SMg2, and 740 ± 25 degrees C for the TPg sample. Integrating our new data with a previous 206Pb/238U zircon LA-ICPMS age of 19.4 ± 0.3 Ma from an undeformed dike allows us to bracket the timing of mylonitic deformation between ca. 20.1 and 19.4 Ma. These new data suggest that both the SMg and TPg were emplaced contemporaneously, and crystal-plastic deformation occurred within <1 Ma of igneous crystallization. Calculated cooling rates from magmatic emplacement at 700 degrees C to ~120 degrees C yielded a time-integrated value of ~220 degrees C/Ma. These data highlight the rapid tempo of mylonitic deformation and cooling related to Miocene core complex development.

Brian Olson Updated Mapping of Surface Traces of the San Cayetano Fault Zone between Fillmore and Piru, Ventura Basin, Southern California

The San Cayetano Fault Zone (SCFZ) is a major east-west-trending north-dipping thrust fault, along the northern edge of the Santa Clara River valley between Upper Ojai Valley and Piru Creek in Ventura County. It is divided into two sections based on a prominent right-step in the fault trace, which forms a lateral ramp along Sespe Creek. At two places in the eastern section, the SCFZ bifurcates into two

POSTER TECHNICAL SESSION TECHNICAL POSTER strands with one located varying distances from the mountain front and another trending higher up through the foothills. One of these splits is found in the vicinity of Fillmore and another near Piru. In each .76 P

of these cases, it appears the lowermost trace is the active strand, while the upper strand appears inactive. Where the fault exists as a single fault trace near the base of the mountains, it is also active.The California Geological Survey (CGS) recently evaluated the SCFZ in the Piru quadrangle for the Alquist- Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning program. Here, the "Main strand" continues northeast in the foothills and the "Piru strand" trends more easterly in the alluvium, south of the mountain front. Both strands lose stratigraphic separation and die out east of Piru Creek. Previous geologic mapping in the 1970s through 1990s located the Main strand in the foothills; however, the Piru strand and portions of the Main strand in the alluvium at the base of the mountains are mapped in varying locations, largely inferred from aerial photos and groundwater data. Recently flown Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data and paleoseismic studies allowed for better interpretation of the geomorphic features associated with the SCFZ. These data show the active portions of the SCFZ have discrete geomorphic expression, including prominent south-facing scarps in the alluvium up to 8 m high.In the eastern Fillmore quadrangle, the SCFZ trends nearly north-south as part of the lateral ramp connecting the two primary sections of the fault zone. Here the same pattern is seen with the inactive "Goodenough strand" located in the foothills and the "Main strand" in the alluvium near the mountain front. Recent paleoseismic studies by others, performed east of Fillmore, confirm the lower strand is active. An inactive "upper strand" was mapped during that study, but not as high in the hills as the other two inactive strands to the north and east. In the Fillmore area scarps are not well preserved due to erosion from Sespe and Pole Creeks, which flow near the base of the mountains. POSTER TECHNICAL SESSIONS Craig Nicholson, Andreas Plesch, Christopher C Sorlien, John H Shaw, Egill Hauksson The SCEC Community Fault Model Version 5.0: An Updated and Expanded 3D Fault Set for Southern California

A major goal of the Southern California Earthquake Center is to improve estimates of earthquake hazard and predictions of strong ground motion by using more realistic models of 3D fault geometry in its earthquake rupture forecasts. To this end, SCEC has developed and continually updates its Community Fault Model (CFM), a digital 3D representation of major active fault surfaces for the region. Here we present a new release of CFM (Version 5.0) that includes a number of major improvements, including refinement and additions of new 3D fault surfaces using primarily detailed fault surface trace, industry well, seismic reflection, relocated hypocenter and focal mechanism nodal plane data. CFM 5.0 now contains 90 distinct fault zones or separate fault systems defined by over 300 individually named faults with 625 primary and alternative 3D fault representations, and includes an updated fault database with an improved hierarchical fault naming and numbering system. The results document a wide variety of complex fault deformation styles, including: various aspects of strain partitioning and fault-related folding; sets of both high-angle and low-angle faults that mutually interact; blind and emergent structures; significant non-planar, multi-stranded faults with variable dip along strike and with depth; and active mid- crustal detachments at different structural levels. In places, closely-spaced fault strands or fault systems can remain surprisingly subparallel to seismogenic depths, while in other areas, major strike-slip to oblique-slip faults can merge or diverge with depth. An good example is in the Ventura-Santa Barbara area, where new fault models -- that include a substantially revised set of alternative representations for the Ventura, Pitas Point, North Channel, Red Mountain, Mission Ridge, Santa Ynez, San Cayetano, Oak Ridge and Simi-Santa Rosa faults -- were developed that indicate many of these fault systems tend to merge at depth. The updated CFM 3D fault surfaces thus help characterize a more complex pattern of fault interactions at depth between various fault sets and linked fault systems, and a more complex fault geometry than typically inferred or expected from projecting near-surface data down-dip, or modeled from surface strain and potential field data alone. CFM 5.0 is provided as a series of digital, triangulated fault surfaces, and is available by browsing to the SCEC-CFM webpage accessible from the structure.harvard.edu website.

Thom Davis Structural Wedge Model and the Antelope Uplift, West Side of the San Joaquin Basin, California, and Hydrocarbon Potential

The west side of the San Joaquin basin, California, is a geologically complex area whose potential for

new plays and discoveries is considered high due to rich source rocks, and structural and stratigraphic P .77

complexities. One such structural play is based on a crustal-scale, structural-wedge being driven eastward into the undeformed San Joaquin basin with shallow-level backthrusts that dip basinward. The wedge model was first proposed by Namson and Davis in 1988 to explain the characteristics of the 1983 Coalinga earthquake (Mw=6.5) and the development of the Coalinga anticline (Namson, J.S. and Davis, T.L., Seismically active fold and thrust belt in the San Joaquin Valley, California, Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 100, p. 257-273). In the interpretation presented here, the wedge model is applied to the Antelope uplift, an extensive area of older rocks at shallow depths, located between the northern Temblor Range and North Belridge oil field. There the wedge creates a triangle-zone geometry with a subthrust anticline(s) involving Tertiary-age strata with hydrocarbon potential, as opposed to the wedge at Coalinga that involves mostly Cretaceous- and Jurassic-age rocks with much less potential. The subthrust anticline(s) is bounded on the west by the westward-dipping Temblor Range thrust and on the east by the eastward-dipping Shale Hills thrust, and the Antelope uplift is a broad hanging-wall anticline to the Shale Hills thrust (roof thrust). The opposing thrust sheets conceal the subthrust anticline(s) that could have up to 10,000 acres of closure. This interpretation, while not unique, and untested by drilling, is supported by reprocessed 2D seismic lines tied to well data, Bouguer gravity, and ties to the surface geology. The stratigraphy of the subthrust anticline(s) can be postulated by two methods: First, geologic units within the subthrust block have approximately the same structural relief as the undeformed units to the east (Buttonwillow depocenter); and second, the stratigraphy of the northern Cymric oil field can be mapped northward, using deep well data and strike seismic lines, beneath the lateral ramp forming the southern edge of the Antelope uplift, and into the subthrust block. These methods suggest that subthrust anticline(s) should involve known reservoirs and source rock of late Cretaceous through Miocene age, S and the prospectivity is further enhanced by a local petroleum system indicated by several nearby oil fields and numerous oil and gas shows in wells. Hydrocarbon generation and migration are most likely from the Buttonwillow depocenter (lateral migration) and deep subthrust areas (vertical migration). The structure of the entire Temblor Range suggests the wedge model could be used in additional locations to explore for large subthrust structures.

George J Morgan, JR Morgan Report on the Mapping of the Coyote Mountains, Salton Trough, Southern California

Since 2001 we have been mapping the Coyote Mountains at a 1:2000 scale. The mapping completed to date indicates that the complex geology of the Coyote Mountains includes: 1) Active left- and right-lateral faults and reactivation of older faults; 2) Landslides and terraces related to the recent uplift of the Coyote Mountains; 3) Cenozoic thrust and detachment faults; 4) Miocene (17.1 ¬± 0.4 Ma) volcanic plugs, cinder cones, tuffs, lahars and flows; 5) To date no Cretaceous igneous rocks have been found; 6) Dated Jurassic igneous rocks: Jwc (gneiss)157 and 164 Ma, Jt (tonalite) 160.2 Ma, Jg (gabbro) 163 Ma, Jd (diorite) 162 Ma; 7) Folded and metamorphosed Paleozoic(?) marbles, quartzites, schists, and amphibolites; 8) Additional evidence for upper Miocene to Pliocene Imperial Group 9+ marine transgressional-regressional sequences intermingled with non-marine sediments; 9) A freshwater limestone and Garnet Formation (fanglomerates) between two of 8+ Imperial Group transgressional- regressional sequences, which implies deposition in an extensional basin near sea level; 10) Difficulty correlating units in the Salton Trough; and 11) Interfingerng of an Imperial Group sediment with volcanic flows of the Alverson Formation. Additional features include meta-pillow basalts, outlier (klippe?), mullion structures, hooddoos, horsts and grabens.

Ian Desjarlais, Doug Yule, Richard Heermance Using B4 LiDAR and CRN Age Data to Constrain Slip Rates Along the San Andreas Fault System at Millard Canyon, San Gorgonio Pass

Fault scarps cut a series of Holocene alluvial fan surfaces in Millard Canyon, within the San Gorgonio Pass (SGP). These fault scarps are likely the result of coseismic slip along the San Andreas Fault system during potentially large magnitude (Mw7+) earthquakes. Here we provide new ages for Holocene surfaces Qf2, Qf3, and Qf4. Charcoal fragments beneath Qf2 limits the surface to 1270 ± 80 years before present (ybp) and new 10Be exposure ages from the two older Holocene surfaces provide age constraints of 4800 ± 1600 ybp for Qf3 and 6800 ± 550 ybp for Qf4. These new ages provide limits on the

POSTER TECHNICAL SESSION TECHNICAL POSTER timing of slip through the San Gorgonio Pass. Airborne LiDAR from the B4 dataset was used to identify .78 P

and measure preserved scarps that cut the terrace surfaces. The northernmost fault (F1) with an observed northward dip of 45 degree vertically offsets units Qf2 and Qf3 by 1.4 ± 0.7m and 2.9 ± 0.5m respectively. The southern fault (F2), a 30 degree north dipping active oblique strike slip thrust fault, vertically offsets units Qf1 and Qf4 by 1.5 ± 0.6m, and 12.7 ± 1.4m respectively. Geomorphic evidence suggests a roughly 3:1 lateral to vertical slip relationship, and with this we mathematically resolve these vertical slip parameters onto their respective fault plane geometries to evaluate the strike slip component of motion. The strike slip component, in conjunction with the age constraints gives the following Holocene strike slip rates: northern fault (F1): 1.6 ± 1.1mm/yr; southern fault (F2): 5.4 ± 1.1mm/yr. Summation of these rates across the study area yields 7.0 ± 2.2 mm/yr for the Holocene strike slip rate through the San Gorgonio Pass. These faults, suspected of carrying the majority of San Andreas motion through the SGP are interpreted to release interseismic strain during large magnitude earthquakes of Mw 7 or greater (Yule and Sieh, JGR 2003).

Zachary Martindale, Graham Andrews, Sarah Brown, Junhua Guo Internal Architecture Of The Proto-Kern Canyon Fault At Engineer’s Point, Lake Isabella Dam Site, Kern County, California

The core of the Cretaceous (?) proto-Kern Canyon Fault (KCF) is exposed continuously for 1.25 km along Engineers Point at Lake Isabella, Kern County, California. The proto-KCF is notable for (1) its long and

complex history within, and perhaps preceding the Sierra Nevada batholith, and (2) hosting the POSTER TECHNICAL SESSIONS Quaternary Kern Canyon Fault, an active fault that threatens the integrity of the Lake Isabella auxiliary dam and surrounding communities. We are investigating the internal architecture of the proto-KCF to explore its control on the likely behavior of the modern KCF. The proto-KCF is developed in the Alta Sierra biotite-granodiorite pluton. A traverse across Engineers Point, perpendicular to the proto-KCF trace, reveals gradational increases in fracture density, fracture length, bulk alteration, and decreases in fracture spacing and grain size toward the fault core. Mapping of the fault core reveals two prominent and laterally extensive zones: (1) continuous foliated blastomylonitic granodiorite with steeply-dipping, anastomosing shear bands and minor mylonite planes, and (2) foliated orange and green fault breccia with intergranular gouge, strong C/S fabric, and a central gouge plane. The fault breccia zone is intruded by a lensoidal, post-deformation dacite dike, probably ca. 105 - 102 Ma (Nadin & Saleeby, 2008) and is weakly overprinted by a set of cross-cutting spaced, short, brittle fractures, often coated in calcite, which we infer to be genetically related to the modern KCF. We present our structural and lithological data that will be supported by mineralogical and geochemical analyses. Nadin & Saleeby (2008) Disruption of regional primary structure of the Sierra Nevada batholith by the Kern Canyon fault system, California: Geological Society of America Special Paper 438, p. 429-454.

Session 9: Mixing Oil and Water, Water Topics Associated With Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Activities

David Kong, Janice Gillespie Establishing the Base of Underground Sources of Drinking Water (10,000 ppm) Using Geophysical Logs and Chemical Reports in the Southern San Joaquin Basin, CA.

Recent concerns about well stimulation and oilfield disposal practices has resulted in the desire to learn more about the distribution of usable groundwater that might be impacted by these practices. Waters that require protection are classified by the US EPA as USDW (Underground Sources of Drinking Water). These waters have a concentration of 10,000 parts per million total dissolved solids and are not within an exempt aquifer. Direct sampling and chemical analyses of the water from oil and gas producing formations provide the most accurate values for the formation water salinities, but the data is scarce. The method in this analysis uses open-hole geophysical logs and Archie's equation to calculate the salinity. The two methods used in the analysis are the spontaneous potential method that uses the spontaneous potential log and the mud and formation resistivities to calculate a salinity, and the resistivity-porosity method that uses the resistivity and porosity logs. Sonic, density, and neutron logs are available in the southern San Joaquin as well as porosity values from cores. Results shows that the resistivity porosity P

method has a smaller error than the spontaneous potential method, therefore, the resistivity-porosity .79

method is chosen for the analysis of the 10,000 parts per million boundary. Due to the lack of porosity logs in wells with chemical analyses, porosity values recorded in DOGGR reports are used in the Humble equation to link the formation water resistivity to salinity. In this way, we can back calculate the deep resistivity vales that should correspond to the 10,000 salinity boundary to determine the depth at which the base of the USDW is found.

Janice Gillespie, Joshua Meyer Defining Base Of Protected Groundwater In The Southern San Joaquin Valley, Kern County, California Using Groundwater Chemical Analysis

Groundwater Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) concentrations in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) are unmapped at 10,000 parts per million (ppm). This research suggests that depositional environment and regularity of hydrologic recharge are vital elements in predicting the depth of the 10,000 ppm TDS zone.

Session 11: Current Advances in Applied Paleontology, Geochemistry, and Environmental Geology

Samuel Jameson, Janice Gillespie Potential for Carbon Dioxide Sequestration and Enhanced Oil Recovery in the Vedder Formation,

S Greeley Field, San Joaquin Valley, California

Most scientists agree that greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) are major contributors to the global warming trend and climate change. One effort to mitigate anthropogenic sourced CO2 is through Carbon Capture and Sequestration. Depleted oil and gas reservoirs due to their known trapping capability, in-place infrastructure, and proximity to carbon emission sources are good candidates for possible CO2 storage. The Vedder formation is one of three reservoirs identified in the San Joaquin Basin that meets standards for possible storage. An analysis of net fluid production data (produced minus injected) from discovery to the present can identify the reservoir volume available for CO2 storage. Data regarding reservoir pressure response to injection and production of fluids include final shut-in pressures from drill stem test, static bottom-hole pressure measurements from well completion histories, and idle well fluid level measurements for recent pressure data. All data collected was logged and entered into excel spreadsheets and mapping software to create subsurface structure, reservoir thickness and pressure maps, cross sections, and production/injection charts on a well-by-well basis. This data is used to determine storage capacity and the amount of pressure variance within the field to determine how the reservoir will react to CO2 injection. Preliminary results indicate a homogenous field with large storage capacity and ability to transmit pressure changes over large areas. An analysis of production by stream suggests that a strong water drive may negatively impact the storage capacity.

Enrique Lopez, Diane Clemens-Knott Possible Ophiolite Slivers Embedded In The Southwestern Sierra Nevada Batholith, Kern County, California

Whole-rock geochemical analyses of gabbros and peridotites collected near the western edge of the Kern Plateau (Sequoia National Forest, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California) suggest that rocks exposed on Blackrock Mountain are not the product of Mesozoic arc magmatism. Instead, elevated chromium and nickel contents (698-1999 ppm Cr; 153-346 ppm Ni; n=5), coupled with high values of magnesium number (70-77) and olivine-pyroxene-rich mineralogy, appear more consistent with an ophiolite origin. For comparison, hornblende-rich Mesozoic arc gabbros of the Kern Plateau have lower Cr (rarely approaching 130 ppm) and Mg-numbers (~55-65). The nearest recognized outcrops of ophiolite occur ~50 km to the northwest at the southern tip of the Kaweah ophiolite melange of the Foothills ophiolite belt. Additional Cr-rich (~300 ppm) peridotites outcrop near Bodfish, CA, ~50 km to the southwest of Blackrock Mountain. We hypothesize that the Bodfish and Blackrock peridotites are ophiolite slivers that decorate a major sinistral transform fault, possibly formed during Permo-Triassic truncation of the southwestern POSTER TECHNICAL SESSION TECHNICAL POSTER North American continental margin. If correct, these ophiolite slivers would provide constraints on the .80 P

location of the California-Coahuila transform fault along which the Caborca Block was translated ~950 km to the southeast into Sonora, Mexico. Future work aimed at separating zircons from Blackrock plagiogranite may provide a test of this model: if zircon is present, U-Pb zircon dates might discriminate between arc-related (~250-80 Ma) and ophiolite-related Ordovician magmatism.

Gerardo Vallejo, Andrew Nyblade, Susan J Webb, Erica Emry Subsurface Structure of the Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa: An Application of Geophysics

South Africa is host to the largest single known platinum group metal supply in the world. The Bushveld Igneous Complex, spanning an impressive 300x400 kilometers, hosts hundreds of years' worth of platinum, chromite, vanadium, and other ore. Its wealth of these metals is tied directly to the large layered igneous intrusion that formed roughly 2061 million years ago. The extraction of platinum is vital to the industrial world, as these precious metals are widely used in the automotive industry, dental restorations, computer technology, in addition to, many other applications. In collaboration with the Africa Array geophysics field school and the Penn State Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP), we surveyed the Modikwa mine located along the border of the provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo in South Africa. The following techniques were applied to survey the area of interest: seismic refraction and reflection, gravity, magnetics, electrical resistivity, and electromagnetics. The data collected were developed to measure the depth to bedrock, and to identify any potential hazards in the forms of dykes POSTER TECHNICAL SESSIONS and/or faults in the bedrock. Several areas were studied and with the combination of the above- mentioned methods several possible hazards may be present. The overburden's thickness was determined to be ~4-5 meters in some regions, and as thin as several centimeters in others. This section of rock and soil lies above an area where platinum will likely be mined in the future. The removal of overburden can be accomplished by using power shovels or scrapers; while remaining material can be contained with the use of galvanized steel culverts. Additionally, some joints were located that may have allowed water to accumulate underground. The models created from the data permit us to estimate which hazards could be present in different parts of the land surveyed. These results are imperative information that will help determine how deep to mine while also avoiding hazards that could result in serious injuries to personnel and/or cause costly damages to equipment.

Jacob Kato Analysis of Basalts in the White Mountains, California by X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy

In the White Mountain/Inyo Range, Miocene (10.8-10.9 m.y.) olivine basalt flows are located at several topographic highs in the Blanco Mountain Quadrangle. Gravity draws basalt flows to topographic lows like streams or river channels. It is assumed that the White Mountain basalt flowed east into Horse Thief Hills; however, the source of the basalt is unclear. I will collect basalt samples in the White Mountains and Horse Thief Hills to determine if the basalt flows are chemically similar. Samples will be powdered and analyzed for major and minor trace elements using X-ray Fluorescence spectrometer (XRF). A correlation of basalt flows across the region may reveal a paleo-river channel that would contribute to the dispersal of aquatic and other species.

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Official Program 2015 Pacific Section AAPG Joint Annual Meeting

www.psaapg.org/2015convention

Catch the Energy Wave!!

May 3-5, 2015 Oxnard, CA