JANUARY 2008 VOLUME 35, ISSUE 1 Canadian Publication Mail Contract – 40070050 IHS Accumap®

19 Your Experience Counts: Assessments for Professional Registration 20 Reservoir Engineering for Geologists Part 4 27 Mackenzie Delta/Beaufort Sea, NWT 32 A Petroleum Events Chart for the Whitehorse Trough, Yukon 37 University of Saskatchewan Clastics Field Trip 43 Talking to Astrid Arts

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® IHS AccuMap JANUARY 2008 – VOLUME 35, ISSUE 1 ARTICLES Your Experience Counts: Assessments for Professional Registration ...... 19 “AccuMap encompasses by Deborah Spratt, PhD, P.Geol. speed, stability, efficiency Reservoir Engineering for Geologists and accuracy. As an intuitive Part 4 – Production Decline Analysis ...... 20 by Lisa Dean, P.Geol. and Ray Mireault, P.Eng. and easy-to-use product, CSPG OFFICE #600, 640 - 8th Avenue SW Mackenzie Delta/Beaufort Sea, NWT ...... 27 AccuMap serves a broad Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 1G7 by Canadian Discovery Ltd. Tel: 403-264-5610 Fax: 403-264-5898 audience, from field users Web: www.cspg.org A Petroleum Events Chart for the Whitehorse Trough, Yukon ...... 32 Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:00pm by G.W. Lowey to the CEO.” Business Manager: Tim Howard Email: [email protected] University of Saskatchewan Clastics Field Trip ...... 37 Membership Services: Kristina Keith by Jason Brasseau and Walker Newmann Email: [email protected] Communications & Public Affairs: Heather Tyminski Email: [email protected] 25th Anniversary Squash Tourney Making a Racquet! ...... 38 Corporate Relations: Kim MacLean by David Caldwell Email: [email protected] Corporate Relations Assistant: Dayna Rhoads Hot Talks on a Cool Place: The 2007 CSPG Honorary Address ...... 40 Email: [email protected] Conventions & Conferences: Shauna Carson by Heather Tyminski Email: [email protected] Darrel Saik Conventions & Conferences Assistant: Tanya Santry CSPG Volunteer Profile: Talking to Astrid Arts ...... 43 Email: [email protected] by Heather Tyminski Senior Geological Technologist Reception: Kim Cowell Email: [email protected] CSPG Awards 2007 ...... 45 Paramount Energy Trust EDITORS/AUTHORS Please submit RESERVOIR articles to the CSPG office. Submission DEPARTMENTS deadline is the 23rd day of the month, two months prior to issue date. (e.g., January 23 for the March issue). Executive Comment ...... 5 To publish an article, the CSPG requires digital copies of the Technical Luncheons ...... 8 document. Text should be in Microsoft Word format and illustrations AccuMap is the most widely should be in TIFF format at 300 dpi., at final size. For additional Division Talks ...... 14 information on manuscript preparation, refer to the Guidelines for used and highly trusted oil and Authors published in the CSPG Bulletin or contact the editor. Rock Shop ...... 15, 39 gas mapping software touching Technical Editor Jack Porter – Vignettes of Canadian Petroleum Geology ...... 24 Ben McKenzie every segment of E&P, for every Tarheel Exploration professional. Tel: 403-277-4496, Email: [email protected] Coordinating Editor Heather Tyminski Comunications and Public Affairs, CSPG Tel: 403-513-1227, Email: [email protected] ADVERTISING Kim MacLean Corporate Relations, CSPG Tel: 403-513-1229, Email: [email protected] Advertising inquiries should be directed to Kim MacLean. The deadline to reserve advertising space is the 23rd day of the month, two months prior to issue date. All advertising artwork should be sent directly to Kim MacLean. The RESERVOIR is published 11 times per year by the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists. This includes a combined issue for the months of July/August. Advertisements, as well as inserts, mailed with the publication are paid advertisements. No endorsement or sponsorship by the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists is implied. www.ihs.com/energy The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either in part FRONT COVER Call toll free 1 877 495 4473 or in full without the consent of the publisher. Atacama Region, Chile. Miscanti Volcano. Photo by Marc Shandro. Design & Layout by Sundog Printing. Printed in Canada by Sundog Printing. Additional copies of the RESERVOIR are available at the CSPG RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 office for $3.00. PETRA® connects to the industry’s most popular data source

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For more information visit: energy.ihs.com/petra I_dY['/(-$$$ EXECUTIVE COMMENT A message from the Immediate Past President, Colin Yeo, P.Geol. PETRA® connects to the industry’s most Good progress popular data source and some CSPG unfinished business EXECUTIVE When I began my service as President, the reality. CSPG Executive had a clear vision of what While this is a good start, success will be PETRAprovides geoscientists and engineers the analysis tools President needed to be done: elevate the Executive achieved when the Reservoir consistently Lisa Griffith • Griffith Geoconsulting Inc. needed for today’s exploration and exploitation challenges Committee to set strategic direction, leave publishes technology-related articles that [email protected] Tel: (403) 669-7494 operational matters to our staff, recognize instruct readers, and insightful pieces that and reward our volunteers and strengthen inform, educate, and entertain. The new IHS Enerdeq Desktop and IHS AccuMap directly export well Vice President our ties with other societies. The Executive Communications Director will be increasing Graeme Bloy • West Energy Ltd. and production data into PETRA projects Team has made good progress, but as with technical content from a variety of sources. [email protected] Tel: (403) 716-3468 any ambitious endeavour, there is always Programs will continue to provide excellent room for improvement and not everything technical luncheons, division talks, and Past President For the first time raster logs from IHS AccuLogs are available was accomplished. continuing education courses. Colin Yeo • EnCana Corporation in PETRA for use with digital log data [email protected] Tel: (403) 645-7724 When we reviewed the 2005 Strategic Plan, Perhaps the biggest change we made this the Executive focused on the broad goal year was to transform the Executive from Finance Director of advancing the professional development a committee focused on daily operational James Donnelly • ConocoPhillips Canada of our members. Our industry’s current matters to one that sets direction and Download a trial version at ihs.com/energy/petra [email protected] Tel: (403) 260-8000 direction is exploitative in nature: infill executes the strategic plan. We now only drilling and production optimization. An have one operational meeting a month Assistant Finance Director outpost location is now considered to be based on the premise that ‘a busy Executive David Garner • Chevron Canada Resources a wildcat. Our members need new skills is not a meddling Executive’. The operational [email protected] Tel: (403) 234-5875 and knowledge to be productive in today’s meetings are now progress reports as we industry and we have responded through implement strategies. We hold one planning Program Director Programs and Communications. meeting each quarter to ensure we are on Randy Rice • Suncor Energy Inc. track overall. Spend more time [email protected] Tel: (403) 205-6723 We strongly support the excellent work making decisions of the Technical Luncheon Committee Despite significant absences and turnover, SERVICE DIRECTOR and less time that brings in first-class presentations our staff is running day to day operations well, Jen Vezina • Devon Canada Corporation and has begun to experiment by inviting and is now focused on efficiency measures. managing data. [email protected] Tel: (403) 232-5079 presentations on related topics such as Its effectiveness is seen in record Society government regulations, managing the revenues and a very professional presence Assistant Service Director boom, global petroleum economics, and with our industry sponsors, advertisers, Ayaz Gulamhussein • NuVista Energy Ltd. climate change. and exhibitors. We will continue to have [email protected] Tel: (403) 538-8510 our staff run the Society’s operations while Continuing Education has expanded its committees focus on soliciting technical Outreach Director roster of short courses and field trips and material for the benefit of members. Greg Lynch • Shell Canada Limited has run its first Education Week, designed to [email protected] Tel: (403) 691-2052 offer niche courses at low cost. Continuing The Finance Director and Assistant Finance Education is developing a comprehensive Director made a significant improvement to ASSISTANT Outreach Director training matrix which will be very useful for our monthly financial review. We are now Mike DesRoches • ProsPex Resources Ltd. recent graduates to effectively plan their focused on long-range financial planning [email protected] Tel: (403) 828-0210 professional development. and much less on line item scrutiny. This ©2007 IHS Inc. All rights reserved. has freed up an enormous amount of time Communications Director The Reservoir is now publishing serials on for the Executive to deal with member Peggy Hodgkins • CGGVeritas topics such as GIS and reservoir engineering services. [email protected] Tel: (403) 266-3225 which begins an emphasis on educating our members in a variety of related subjects This initiative is working well and I believe Corporate Relations DIRECTOR designed to make them more aware of that we should discipline ourselves to Monty Ravlich • Sanjel Corporation For more information visit: technologies and skills needed in this new (Continued on page 7...) energy.ihs.com/petra [email protected]

RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008

I_dY['/(-$$$ (...Continued from page 5) We will continue to build our relationships with other earth science organizations. We continue to act strategically. The role of the have just begun our work with the Canadian Executive Committee may change as a result Federation of Earth Sciences. There are of the recommendations of a Presidential many initiatives we share in common with Task Force charged with evaluating the CFES, and cooperatively we can achieve our appropriateness of an Executive Director common goals faster, with better results, for the Society. The Task Force is not and at a lower cost. only determining if an Executive Director is needed, but will also detail roles and While we did not have a specific goal related responsibilities if an Executive Director to Outreach, the Director and Assistant is recommended. We will consider their Director implemented a series of programs report and respond accordingly. targeting science education in the early grades and careers in petroleum geology No matter what decision is made and to graduating university students. As usual, CORPORATE despite current conditions in the office, SIFT was a wonderful success and the “100 MEMBERS it is very important that future Executive Jobs” initiative shows great promise and will Committees not revert back to detailed have a significant impact on new entrants to task management but rather think and act the petroleum industry. Abu Dhabi Oil Co., Ltd. (Japan) strategically. APACHE CANADA LTD. While I am generally pleased with our BAKER ATLAS There is one area where we did not progress over the last year, there are BG Canada Exploration & Production, Inc. meet our expectations. We wanted to several initiatives that I am committed to BP Canada Energy company ensure that we are properly supporting and completing in my role as Past President. I recognizing our volunteers for their efforts will be working with the Communications Canadian Forest Oil Ltd. in running the Society. Whether it is writing Director to generate even more timely and canetic resources trust papers for the Bulletin or articles for the informative articles for the Reservoir, with ConocoPhillips Canada Reservoir, leading our Technical Divisions, the Services Director to improve the awards Core Laboratories Canada Ltd. or participating in one of the Society’s 50 process, and with the Assistant Services committees, it is our volunteers who make Director to implement our membership Devon Canada Corporation the CSPG the success it is. This year we plan. Of course, my first priority is to Dominion Exploration Canada Ltd. had planned to simplify and automate our advise and support Lisa Griffith, our new Duvernay Oil Corp. award nomination process and to improve President, as she leads our Society next enerplus resources fund the award presentation itself, however, we year. did not achieve this goal. fugro airborne surveys It has been my pleasure to have served geologic systems ltd. The Executive is committed to enhancing as President of this vibrant and dynamic GRIZZLY RESOURCES Ltd. the entire award and recognition program. organization. I have benefited greatly from Hunt Oil Company Of Canada, Inc. In the coming year, we will concentrate on the CSPG during my career in the petroleum HUSKY ENERGY INC. implementing this very important strategy. industry and I strongly believe that I now A subcommittee of Executive members will have an obligation to repay the Society. IHS analyze each step of the award’s process with Imperial Oil Resources Limited the intent of confirming we have identified It has been an even greater pleasure to Lario Oil & Gas Company all volunteers and ensuring they are properly have worked with such a fine Executive MJ Systems recognized. We acknowledge and thank all Committee this year. Together, we of our volunteers and supporters. have faced significant challenges, but we Murphy Oil Company Ltd. have worked through them in a spirit of Nexen Inc. The final goal we had set for ourselves was cooperation and goodwill as a team, and we Penn West Petroleum Ltd. to strengthen our ties with other technical have made several significant achievements. Petro-Canada Oil And Gas societies and associations, and in that regard As an Executive, I hope we have better PETROCRAFT PRODUCTS LTD. I believe we have succeeded. We are in the served our members and further advanced process of signing an agreement with the the science of petroleum geology. PRIMEWEST ENERGY trust CSEG to form the Joint Annual Convention provident energy ltd. Committee. We will be extending the RPS Energy CANADA LTD. agreement to the CWLS, the result being Shell Canada Limited that the three societies will hold a joint convention every year. This will lead to Sproule an enhanced convention with an excellent Suncor Energy Inc. array of technical presentations, and we are TAQA North ltd. very excited about this new committee. We Talisman Energy Inc. have also reinforced our relationship with APEGGA and clearly defined our respective Total E&P Canada Limited roles in the professional careers of our WEATHERFORD CANADA PARTNERSHIP members. AS OF NOVEMBER 24, 2007 RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 TECHNICAL LUNCHEONS JANUARY Luncheon sponsored by

The story of Tom Payne is an adventure Mines Limited and made an historic mining Quin Kola: book, amazing, heroic, and true. Born to deal with Cominco. Tom’s four claims a prominent British physician, the young became part of the ‘Con’ mine, which Tom Payne’s Tom’s restlessness led him to western was one of Canada’s largest operating Canada in 1912, where he first tackled the gold mines. Instead of retiring later in life, Search for Gold farming industry. he found new partners and drilled an oil well in Alberta. His story illustrates the After a stint in northern Manitoba, freighting heady excitement of frontier exploration, SPEAKER supplies for the developing base metal mines with the persistence and luck required for Dr. Alice V. Payne, C.M., M.SC., near Flin Flon, he drove a Linn tractor for success. LL.D., P.Geol. the ill-fated MacAlpine expedition. This was one of the first attempts at aerial BIOGRAPHY 11:30 am prospecting in the far north, but Tom Alice Payne, P. Geol., obtained her Bachelor Tuesday, January 8, 2008 ended up seal hunting on the ice of Hudson of Science and Master of Science degrees **CSPG Annual General Meeting** Bay with an Inuit friend. By the early 1930s, from the University of Alberta in the early Telus Convention Centre he moved to the portage at Fort Smith in sixties. She spent fifteen years as a consultant Calgary, Alberta northern Alberta where he succumbed to in the mining industry and academia, and the lure of prospecting, inspired by Labine’s managed Ryan Gold Mines until it was sold Please note: pitchblende discoveries at Great Bear Lake. in 1990. She worked another fifteen years in The cut-off date for ticket sales is Grubstaked by his employers, his first the oil patch, with Gulf Canada Resources, 1:00 pm, Thursday, January 3, 2008. efforts at getting rich quickly met with until her retirement in 1995. She is now Ticket Price: $34.00 + GST. disappointment and near starvation, but he the president of Arctic Enterprises Limited, would not give up. her own company. Payne is a member of Due to the recent popularity of talks, we the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy strongly suggest purchasing tickets early, as Tom finally discovered a rich gold mine and Petroleum; the Geological Association we cannot guarantee seats will be available on among the quartz veins in the shear zones of Canada; the Association of Professional the cut-off date. at Yellowknife; he formed Quin Kola Gold Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta; the American Association of Petroleum Geologists; and was the first woman to be president of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, in 1992. Payne has served on many boards and volunteer committees, and has been the recipient of several honours and awards, including the Paul Harris Fellowship, CL Consultants the YWCA Women of Distinction Award, a University of Calgary honorary doctorate, and Limited the Order of Canada.

NOTE • Geological Consulting Copies of Quin Kola: Tom Payne’s Search • Vast domestic and international for Gold will be available for sale at the experience since 1979 January 8, 2008 Technical Luncheon for $25.00 + GST. All proceeds of these sales will • Extensive technical support go to the CSPG Trust. • Gas detection and log annotation available • Geoprint software • Competitive rates • Member of APEGGA • Member of IS Net World and HSE Canada 3601A - 21 St. NE Calgary, AB T2E 6T5 Tel: 403.250.5125 Tel: 403.250.3982 www.clconsultants.ca

RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 TECHNICAL LUNCHEONS JANUARY Luncheon sponsored by

A deterministic approach to model updating Chair in Exploration Geophysics in the Anisotropic through minimizing residual move out in Department of Geoscience at the University of common-image gathers is used commonly, Calgary. He previously served as Head of the seismic depth but discussions between data processors Department from 1997 to 2002. He joined and interpreters are also critical for reducing the department in 1979 after obtaining a Ph.D. imaging tutorial ambiguity and yielding geologically realistic in Applied Geophysics from the University of models that can be structurally balanced. Auckland, New Zealand. His research interests and applications All sources of geophysical and geological include integrated geophysical and geological data must be integrated to optimize studies in fold and thrust belts, acquisition, in fold and thrust velocity model updating. Determination of processing and interpretation of multi-component anisotropy parameters from offset vertical seismic data, seismic anisotropy, and geological belt exploration seismic profiles and field refraction surveys storage of CO2. He is a Director of the Fold- will be demonstrated, and the use of other Fault Research Project (FRP) and an Associate geophysical data, such as gravity, to provide Director of the Consortium for Research in SPEAKER constraints on the geological models and Elastic Wave Exploration Seismology (CREWES), Don Lawton interpretations will be illustrated. both of which are successful research consortia Department of Geology and Geophysics, sponsored by industry. He is currently an University of Calgary Interpreters need to understand the Associate Editor of the Bulletin of Canadian limitations of the seismic acquisition and Petroleum Geology and is a past Editor of the 11:30 am processing methods while data processors Canadian Journal of Exploration Geophysics. Thursday, January 24, 2008 must address the credibility of their velocity He was a recipient of a Meritorious Service Telus Convention Centre models in the geological context. Increased Award from the Canadian Society of Exploration Calgary, Alberta collaboration between geology and Geophysicists (CSEG) in 1996 and in 2000 he geophysics is the key to improving success received the CSEG Medal, the Society’s highest Please note: in thrust-belt exploration. honour. He is a member of CSEG, CSPG, SEG, The cut-off date for ticket sales is AAPG, EAGE, ASEG, and APEGGA. He is 1:00 pm, Monday, January 21, 2008. Biography serving as a 2007/2008 AAPG-SEG Intersociety Ticket Price: $34.00 + GST. Don Lawton is a Professor of Geophysics and International Distinguished Lecturer.

Due to the recent popularity of talks, we strongly suggest purchasing tickets early, as we cannot guarantee seats will be available on the cut-off date.

Exploration for hydrocarbons in fold and thrust belts can be challenging. Seismic imaging is often hampered by severe topography, outcropping carbonates, acquisition conditions and parameters, near-surface velocity variations, structural Reservoir Characterization complexity, and sparse geological control Expertise in heavy oil & deep basin reservoirs from outcrops or wells. Thus it may be difficult for explorers to produce • AVO / LMR Analysis interpretations of subsurface structures in which they have confidence. • Neural Network Analysis

Correct seismic imaging of geological • PP & PS Registration structures in thrust belts requires prestack • Joint PP & PS Inversion depth migration due to significant lateral changes in seismic velocities that often occur. • Fracture Detection Analysis using Azimuthal AVO A further complexity arises in structural domains where sequences of dipping • Spectral Decomposition clastic strata overlie hydrocarbon targets. Time Lapse Analysis Structures beneath such sequences will be mispositioned if isotropic velocities are used during processing. Anisotropic prestack depth migration (APSDM) is necessary Carmen Dumitrescu to position these targets correctly. The P.Geoph., M.Sc., Manager, Reservoir Geophysics requirement for success in anisotropic depth Direct: 403-260-6588 Main: 403-237-7711 imaging is constructing correct models of www.sensorgeo.com interval velocities, anisotropy parameters, and dip used in the migration.

RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 TECHNICAL LUNCHEONS FEBRUARY Luncheon sponsored by

Please note: The cut-off date for ticket reef are hundreds of individual reefs. Is the modern Belize sales is 1:00 pm, Thursday, February 7, These range from a few metres thick near 2008. Ticket Price: $34.00 + GST. the coast to nearly 30 m thick near the carbonate- barrier and are constructed primarily of Due to the recent popularity of talks, we strongly bulbous and branching corals. Analogous siliciclastic shelf an suggest purchasing tickets early, as we cannot shelf reefs, constructed almost entirely by guarantee seats will be available on the cut-off date. stromatoporoids, occur in the Beaverhill appropriate analog Lake, Leduc, and Nisku of western Modern clastic and carbonate settings of Canada. for exploration and Belize are often used as analogs for Devonian sequences in the Western Canada The Belize barrier reef forms the eastern development of Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) but are these margin of the Belize shelf and is dominated analogs valid? Despite differences in age, by a variety of coral species distributed Western Canada components, and regional setting, we believe across deep to shallow water facies. The they are but as with any modern analog, barrier is 250 km long, ranges from 0.7 to Devonian reservoirs? should be used with caution. 1.2 km wide and is over 300 m thick. Similar high-relief fore-reef to back-reef facies, SPEAKERS The Belize shelf consists of coastal clastics and consisting of stromatoporoids and corals Burr Silver a lagoon/barrier-reef/atoll complex. Coastal occur in Keg River, Slave Point, Swan Hills, Olympic Exploration and Production clastics are derived from late Silurian granites and Leduc formations in western Canada. Nigel Watts, EnCana and Pennsylvanian-Permian meta-sediments of the Maya Mountains. East-flowing rivers Three large atolls occur basinward of the CO-AUTHOR transport coarse-grained feldspathic sands Belize barrier in waters over 400 m deep. Bill Martindale from the Mayas to the coast where they are Each is rimmed by reefs that enclose a W. Martindale Consulting moved south by longshore currents. Middle central lagoon. Rim reefs are populated Devonian analogs include terrigenous delta by all of the major reef builders whereas 11:30 am plain complexes that are closely associated with lagoonal patch reefs are dominated by Tuesday, February 12, 2008 carbonates that fringe the Peace River Arch. finger and a few species of bulbous corals. Telus Convention Centre Examples of detached Devonian basinal Calgary, Alberta Between the Belizean coast and the barrier (Continued on page 12...)

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RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 11 (...Continued from page 10) Devonian, reflecting significant fluctuations focus. This, we would argue, is where the atolls, constructed by stromatoporoids and in relative sea level. greatest impact of the modern analog lies. corals, include Fenn/Big Valley, Judy Creek, Redwater, Golden Spike, and Wizard Lake. Although depositional dip and relief across Biography the Belize shelf margin exceeds that of Burr A. Silver has experience with a major oil Despite the similarities mentioned above, most WCSB Devonian margins, scale of company research lab as well as its exploration, there are also significant differences the Devonian complexes dwarf the development, and corporate planning groups that between Belize reefs and their Devonian Belize complex. The Belize shelf covers included research and exploration in Alberta and counterparts. These include: role of approximately 36 x 103 km2. In contrast, several U.S. basins. Silver served on the faculties antecedent structure on reef location, types the Devonian carbonate factory covered an of two universities where he and his M.Sc. of reef builders, scale, magnitude of sea level area of 1,400 x 103 km2. This vast difference and Ph.D. candidates conducted research in change, and time. Antecedent Pleistocene is related to the relative absence of tectonic modern carbonates located in the South Pacific, topography dictated Holocene depositional features on the pre-Devonian surface and the Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, and Belize. Silver patterns in Belize. In contrast, an underlying effects of relative sea level change over time. organized an independent exploration company (basement?) structural control on Devonian but he has maintained his enthusiasm in our reef development is still debated. Whereas Perhaps the most important difference science by instructing seminars in exploration corals are the dominant reef builders in between Belizean carbonates and those of stratigraphy, seismic stratigraphy, and a field Belize, western Canada Devonian reefs the WCSB Devonian is time. The Holocene workshop and seminar in Belize. were dominated by stromatoporoids. (about 10,000 years) is a snap shot in Stromatoporoids and corals exhibit similar time when compared to the more than Nigel Watts has worked in the exploration, growth forms (bulbous, branching, and sheet) 45 million years represented by Devonian production, and reservoir engineering groups and probably occupied similar ecological strata. It is possible that time will “flatten of a major multi-national oil company as well niches, determined by water depth, light, out” all of the Holocene observations with as three large Canadian Independents. His and sediment load. the result that the differences discussed area of expertise is the exploration for and above would become less significant. the development of carbonate reservoirs in the The growth form of Belizean and Devonian The appreciation of geologic time and its WCSB. His experience also includes studies reefs is related to accommodation space, influence on the evolution of carbonate of ancient carbonate sequences in the US, determined by relative sea level change. reservoirs is perhaps the greatest obstacle Indonesia, Australia, Angola, Great Britain, and Aggradational growth forms dominate in in paleoenvironmental interpretations. Europe as well as modern carbonates in Jamaica, Belize, where over 120 m of post-glacial Rather than attempting to force-fit modern Shark Bay – Western Australia, and Belize. He sea level. rise has occurred over the last analogs into our reconstruction efforts, has taught in-house short courses on carbonate 18,000 years. In contrast, aggradational and perhaps it is the processes that influence sedimentology as well as field seminars on the progradational styles occur in the WCSB carbonate reservoirs that should be our Devonian reefs in the Canadian Rockies.

12 RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 TECHNICAL LUNCHEONS FEBRUARY Luncheon sponsored by

on valley evolution in response to glaciation, uplift and subsidence should therefore be Subsidence and deglaciation and meltwater routing, and an important component in large fluvial- global sea-level change. These studies deltaic systems elsewhere, today and in the sea-level change contribute to our understanding of the stratigraphic record. subsidence and sea-level change because they along the constrain the thickness and lateral extent of BIOGRAPHY sediments that were removed during the Mike Blum completed his Bachelor’s Degree in northern Gulf of last glacial period and subsequently replaced 1983 at the University of Texas at Austin, his during the Holocene, as well as provide a Masters’ Degree in 1987 at the University of Mexico, response chronology for excavation and filling. Texas, and his Ph.D in 1992 at the University of Texas. He is currently a Professor in the of the Mississippi Results of 1D steady-state and 3D visco- Department of Geology and Geophysics at elastic models show the volume of sediments Louisiana State University. River to the last removed and replaced was sufficient to induce large-scale flexural uplift of the delta Some of his publications include “Climate glacial cycle, and region, followed by flexural subsidence. change, sea-level change, and fluvial sediment Amplitudes of uplift and subsidence range supply to deepwater sysems” (co-written with the flexural ups from 12 metres in the valley center to 9 J.H. Womack), “Fluvial evolution of the lower metres at the valley margins, and dissipate Mississippi River Valley during the last 100-kyr and downs of the to negligible values over distances of >100 glavial cycle: Response to glaciation and sea-level kilometres along the adjacent Gulf of Mexico change” (co-written with T.M. Rittenour), and Mississippi Delta shoreline. “Signatures of climate versus sea-level change within incised valley successions: Quaternary This high-frequency, cyclical flexural signal examples form the Texas Coastal Plain and SPEAKER has a number of implications for the analysis Shelf” (co-written with S.B. Marriott). Mike Blum of subsidence patterns, as well as spatially Louisiana State University varying views on sea-level change along the His professional interests include fluvial and Talk Funded by the AAPG Foundation Gulf of Mexico shoreline. Moreover, incision coastal sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy of and aggradation is a common response continental successions, and geologic responses 11:30 am of large rivers to cyclical climate and sea- to global climate and sea-level change. Tuesday, February 26, 2008 level change: cyclical, high-amplitude flexural Telus Convention Centre Calgary, Alberta

Please note: The cut-off date for ticket sales is 1:00 pm, Thursday, February 21, 2008. Ticket Price: $34.00 + GST. CALL FOR Due to the recent popularity of talks, we strongly suggest purchasing tickets early, as ARTICLES we cannot guarantee seats will be available on the cut-off date. One of the goals of the Reservoir is to promote

Subsidence and sea-level change in the the petroleum industry Mississippi delta region have seen renewed – and the geosciences in general – interest after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Subsidence and sea-level change include by providing a platform contributions from a number of interrelated for discussion and updates of current research, processes, which operate over a variety of spatial and temporal scales. This presentation ideas, and events related to our profession. discusses a new component to land-surface The Reservoir is continually looking for technical articles dynamics in the delta region, and along the that assists in this goal. adjacent Gulf of Mexico shoreline, a cyclical flexural response to excavation of lower The Reservoir will pay an honorarium of $200 for Mississippi valley sediments by meltwaters any accepted technical article (minimum 1,500 words). during the last deglaciation, when sea level was relatively low, and valley filling during Please see page 3 for article guidelines Holocene sea-level rise. or contact Ben McKenzie at [email protected]

Recent studies of the lower Mississippi valley provide a new and more detailed view

RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 13 DIVISION TALKS GEOFLUIDS DIVISION sponsored by

evaporative enrichment, halite dissolution, mixing has been especially active within the Origin of brines or mixing with other waters. Devonian and the post-Devonian sections, with less mixing between these units. in the Western A recent compilation of Br- and Cl- concentrations for the Western Canada This paper was presented at a symposium Canada Sedimentary Basin (WSCB) allows the entitled “Regional Groundwater Flow: In interpretation of brine origins in the basin. Honor of József Tóth”, at the Geological Sedimentary At the bottom of the sedimentary section, Society of America Annual Meeting in oilfield brines in Middle Devonian formations Denver (October 28-31, 2007). Basin as inferred have high TDS concentrations (greater than 100 g/L) and plot directly on the S-E-T. BIOGRAPHY from bromide Published data from evaporite mines in James Freeman is a Principal Hydrologist at Saskatchewan have higher TDS (greater Matrix Solutions Inc., an environmental and and chloride than 200 g/L) and overlap with the oilfield engineering consultancy based in Calgary. brines. The Cl-/Br- mass ratios of these ratios brines indicate evaporation past the point of Kaush Rakhit is the President of Canadian halite precipitation. Discovery Ltd. and the creator of the GEOFLUIDS SPEAKERS database. James Freeman and Kaush Rakhit Cl-/Br- mass ratios in brines from the top of the WCSB geological section, in Information 12:00 Noon clastic Cretaceous formations, indicate that Upcoming talk, Thursday, January 17, 2008 these waters have undergone evaporative Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008 ConocoPhillips Auditorium, 3rd Floor concentration of seawater. Mannville Group Understanding groundwater recharge (above +15 Level), (and its equivalent) brines typically have in a sandy landscape: Observing 401 – 9th Avenue SW TDS concentrations of 50-90 g/L and plot the effects of disturbance is a step Calgary, Alberta directly on the S-E-T. Some of the Upper towards reclamation Cretaceous brines from units above the Ions of bromine and chlorine are recognized Colorado Group contain as little as 5 SPEAKERS as reasonably conservative tracers in natural g/L TDS and plot close to the S-E-T, but Brian Smerdon, WorleyParsons Komex waters. This quality has led to the use of waters from this section are often Br- Carl Mendoza, University of Alberta bromide (Br-) concentrations and chloride enriched, suggesting an organic source of Clara Qualizza, Syncrude Canada Ltd. (Cl-)/Br- mass ratios to infer the geochemical Br- in the shallow WCSB. Brines from provenance of different groundwaters. For Upper Devonian sediments indicate mixing The lunch talks are free and everyone is brines, Carpenter (1978) defined a “seawater with the underlying Middle Devonian, while welcome to attend. If you would like to suggest evaporation trajectory” (the S-E-T) using Mississippian and Mesozoic sediments are a technical topic or present a talk to the division, cross plots of Cl- and Br- concentrations. often Cl- enriched, suggesting mixing with please contact the Division Chairs, Jennifer On the S-E-T, the ratio of Cl- to Br- remains halite dissolution-derived brines. Adams, University of Calgary, at (403) 220- constant as water evaporates and becomes 3258 or via e-mail at [email protected], or increasingly enriched, until the point of Overall, Cl-/Br- mass ratios suggest that Nina Ejezie, Imperial Oil, at (403) 237-2985 or halite precipitation, at which point the Cl- many of the brines in the WCSB have via email at [email protected]. /Br- ratio decreases. The S-E-T can be used evidence of a syndepositional salt source to infer the origin of a brine, whether due to that has mixed with other waters. This

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS The Reservoir is seeking additions to its editorial committee. We have the opportunity to greatly expand the scope and content of the Society’s news magazine, but need the people to make it happen. We are looking for volunteers that would be interested in coordinating or assisting in developing any of the following departments: Exploration geology • Development geology • Geophysics • Petrophysics Government liaison • University liaison • Current publications Please contact Ben McKenzie ([email protected]) for more information.

14 RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 DIVISION TALKS PALAEONTOLOGY DIVISION sponsored by

Theropods exhibit a high diversity of Biography Lean, mean, feeding behaviors, where five feeding François Therrien earned a B.Sc. in Geology categories are recognized: at the Université de Montréal in 1997. He killing machines: 1) Antrodemus, Majungatholus, and Carno- then moved to the United States and obtained taurus share the mandibular properties his M.Sc. in Geosciences from the University the feeding of Komodo dragons, suggesting that they of Rhode Island in 1999 for his study on the delivered slashing bites; paleoenvironments of Late Triassic theropods behaviors and 2) dromaeosaurids have mandibular from the American Southwest. Subsequently, properties reminiscent of Komodo François moved to Baltimore to pursue his bite force of dragons for slashing bites, but differences Ph.D. at the Johns Hopkins University, School between dromaeosaurines and velocirap- of Medicine. Although he studied the latest meat-eating torines indicate that the former had a Cretaceous dinosaur-bearing deposits of stronger bite than the latter and probably Transylvania for his dissertation, he also dinosaurs relied on it to capture and kill prey; learned to apply biomechanical principles to 3) Suchomimus and Dilophosaurus both the study of dinosaur behavior. SPEAKER exhibit mandibular adaptations related Dr. François Therrien, to the capture of prey relatively smaller After obtaining his Ph.D. in 2004, François Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology than themselves, the former probably came to the Royal Tyrrell Museum and practicing a bite-and-hold strategy University of Calgary on an NSERC 7:30-9:00 PM, Friday, January 18, 2008 whereas the latter finished its prey with postdoctoral fellowship. In 2006, he was Room B108, Mount Royal College slashing bites; appointed Curator of Dinosaur Palaeoecology 4) Ceratosaurus, Allosaurus, Acrocantho- at the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Meat-eating dinosaurs, the theropods, saurus, and Giganotosaurus demonstrate are often pictured as ambush predators adaptations of the anterior extremity Information attacking their prey with a slashing bite, of the mandible for prey capture and This event is jointly presented by the Alberta a strategy similar to that of Komodo delivering powerful bites in order to Palaeontological Society, Mount Royal College dragons. However, given the great diversity bring down prey or deliver the final blow; and the CSPG Palaeontology Division. For of theropod dinosaurs, various species and information or to present a talk in the would likely have adopted different hunting 5) tyrannosaurids, unlike any other theropod, future please contact CSPG Paleo Division techniques to capture different prey, like exhibit mandibular adaptations to resist Chair Philip Benham at 403-691-3343 or modern mammalian predators do. To test high torsional stresses at the anterior [email protected]. Visit the APS this idea, a biomechanical approach (beam extremity of the mandible, related to website for confirmation of event times and theory) was used to model the mandibles prey capture and/or bone crushing upcoming speakers: http://www.albertapaleo. of theropods and compare them to those capabilities. Bite force estimates also org/. of modern predators, such as the Komodo reveal that Tyrannosaurus rex had a bite dragon and crocodilians, to infer their three times more powerful than that of killing strategies and bite force. Giganotosaurus, approximately 16 times that of a modern alligator!

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RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 15 DIVISION TALKS BASIN ANALYSIS AND SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY DIVISION sponsored by

commercial in size and scope. Comprehensive to the base of pay as possible and expecting Integration of case histories for production achieved by to minimize the effects of reservoir SAGD operators and associated successes heterogeneity by going with longer well SAGD or challenges are not currently in the public pairs. With an integrative approach, however, realm, which limits the amount of learning strategies may have to be modified to fundamentals required to optimize in-situ recovery. optimize production. One critical question Communication and sharing of knowledge is “What is SAGD pay?” with reservoir in all aspects of SAGD is of mutual benefit at this early stage in Alberta’s in-situ oil sands There appears to be no common definition characterization industry. for SAGD pay. Some operators define pay as a continuous bitumen interval, averaging to optimize SAGD Enhancement of bitumen production, at least 65% oil saturation by volume, with associated decrease in steam oil ratios no mudstones greater than 1 metre thick. production and methods of increasing profitability will Other operators use a more conservative undoubtedly require operations modified approach, limiting mudstones to less than SPEAKER to specific reservoir types. Integrating a 0.5 metre in thickness. Cross-bedded sands, Rudy Strobl basic understanding of SAGD operations commonly exhibit a vertical permeability Enerplus Resources Fund with reservoir characterization is now range from 2 to 6 Darcy (D) units. In required to make production targets. contrast, IHS lithofacies contain laterally 12:00 Noon Important basics include the role of sub- continuous mudstone interbeds with 2 to Friday, January 25, 2008 cool, production liner slot design, effects 3 orders of magnitude reduction in vertical EnCana Amphitheatre, 2nd Floor, of top water or potential thief zones, top permeability (milliDarcy). East end of the Calgary Tower Complex gas, start up procedures, and the effects of 1st Street and 9th Avenue SE, Calgary, AB variable reservoir thickness on production Depending on operating procedures, it is along the length of the SAGD well pair. likely that geometry and lateral continuity Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage is truly of permeability barriers such as mudstone in its infancy, with only a handful of in- Traditionally, operators work with a simple interbeds are more important than thickness. situ operations in Alberta that are fully model of placing SAGD well pairs as close The top and base of the SAGD interval and the associated placement of SAGD well pairs will vary considerably, depending upon how pay is defined and interpreted.

Optimal well placement in combination with appropriate operating practices is emphasized to better understand the interaction of the oil sands reservoir, steam chamber and associated production fluids. In this presentation, concepts and ideas are offered for discussion purposes which will Career Opportunities hopefully initiate discussion and learning. Reservoir Imaging & Reservoir Characterization BIOGRAPHY • Seismic Processing Technician Rudy Strobl obtained his B.Sc. (Honours) at the University of Manitoba followed by his M.Sc. “Sharing Ideas – Embracing Opportunities” • Junior & Senior Processing Geophysicists at the University of Alberta. Rudy obtained a diverse background and experience in oil sands August 13 — 15 | 2008 Dalhousie University | Halifax | Nova Scotia | Canada • Processing Supervisor geology working with the Alberta Geological Survey, Alberta Energy Corporation, EnCana, • Reservoir Geophysicist Call for Papers and currently with Enerplus Resources Fund. For Oral and Poster Presentations Relating to: INFORMATION Margin Evolution & Development | Basin Petroleum Systems | Productive Fields & Analogues BASS Division talks are free. Please bring your lunch. For further information about the division, OTHER PROGRAM FEATURES PROGRAM INFORMATION If you are interested in working for a dynamic reservoir joining our mailing list, a list of upcoming talks, Field Trips: Short Courses: David E. Brown technology company, please visit our website for or if you wish to present a talk or lead a field Nova Scotia, Morocco, Portugal Practical Salt Tectonics | Petroleum Systems Modelling [email protected] further information. trip, please contact either Steve Donaldson Core Workshop: Seismic Data Room: Grant D.Wach at 403-645-5534, email: Steve.Donaldson@ Offshore N.S. Reservoirs & Facies Latest Central Atlantic Programs & Profiles [email protected] encana.com or Mark Caplan at 403-532-7701, email: [email protected] or visit our web ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE March 1, 2008 LOGISTICAL INFORMATION www.sensorgeo.com All abstracts must by submitted through the conference website page at www.cspg.org/events/divisions/basin- Trudy D. Lewis [email protected] analysis-sequence-strat.cfm. WEBSITE www.conjugatemargins.com

16 RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 DIVISION TALKS HEAVY OIL/OIL SANDS division sponsored by

The world oil inventory is dominated gradients and the heterogeneity seen Bugged barrels: by heavy oils and oil sand bitumens in within some Alberta oil sand reservoirs foreland basins generated almost entirely will be discussed in the context of genesis geological by the process of biodegradation. This and their impact on bitumen recovery process is a biologically driven, complex strategies and sweet-spot targeting. controls on reactive diffusion-dominated, in-reservoir oil alteration process that occurs under BIOGRAPHY bitumen anaerobic conditions (Aitken et al., 2004) Jennifer Adams received a B.Sc. in Geology driven by oil-water reactions, usually at at the University of Waterloo and a M.Sc. compositional the base of the oil column producing in Hydrogeology at the University of Alberta. methane and CO2 as by-products and She worked on CO2 sequestration and heterogeneity in concentrating heavy oil components (Head basinal fluid property estimation with the et al., 2003). Alberta Geological Survey before starting Alberta oil sands doctoral studies in simulation of petroleum Over geological time, progressive biodegradation and the evolution of fluid reservoirs biodegradation leads to the development properties in heavy oilfields with Steve Larter of both lateral and vertical compositional at the University of Calgary. SPEAKER and fluid property gradients, which are Jennifer Adams commonly documented in conventional University of Calgary heavy oilfields and in super heavy oil. The shape and variability of these gradients is 8:00-9:00 am related to reservoir properties, oil charge Thursday, January 31, 2008 history, reservoir mineralogy and water RPS Energy Canada Ltd., flow in the reservoir. The controlling Training Room in 1400, 800 5 Ave SW factors on the development of these

OTHER PROGRAM FEATURES PROGRAM INFORMATION Field Trips: Short Courses: David E. Brown Nova Scotia, Morocco, Portugal Practical Salt Tectonics | Petroleum Systems Modelling [email protected] Core Workshop: Seismic Data Room: Grant D.Wach Offshore N.S. Reservoirs & Facies Latest Central Atlantic Programs & Profiles [email protected]

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE March 1, 2008 LOGISTICAL INFORMATION All abstracts must by submitted through the conference website Trudy D. Lewis WEBSITE www.conjugatemargins.com [email protected]

RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 17 © 2004 Baker Hughes Incorporated. All rights reserved. ATL-04-7487 never seen before! seen never you’ve like mud oil-based in Images Imager: EARTH never seen before! seen never you’ve like mud oil-based in Images Imager: EARTH Baker Atlas – The Best Choice Best The – Atlas Baker net-to-gross. estimate and orientation texture,features,fracture rock sedimentary and structural identify accurately to well oil-based next your in service Imager EARTH the use can you how out find to today us Call deviations. hole all at contact pad in coverage borehole 63% with you provides arms,it articulated individually on mounted pads 6 its With in operates service Imager EARTH The images. mud oil-based in before seen never details you giving than less of resolution vertical a offers Atlas Baker from imager micro-resistivity proven This Imager EARTH The images in oil-based mud with great hole coverage. hole great with mud oil-based in images micro-resistivity high-resolution delivers www.bakeratlasdirect.com 7.5mm SM service at a standard logging speed of speed logging standard a at 200mm diameter holes while maintaining while holes diameter 152 to 533mm diameter boreholes. diameter 275 m /hr www.bakerhughes.com Baker Atlas Your Experience Counts: Assessments for Professional Registration | by Deborah Spratt, Ph.D., P.Geol. (see www.ccpg.ca). APEGGA’s Geology and to exempt if competence can be demonstrated” Geophysics syllabi match the national knowledge approach to all applications and has eliminated requirements and are reviewed every five years past practices, such as adding penalty exams by academics and industry practitioners. to failed exams (assessed exams can now be repeated until they are passed, or others chosen Exams continue to be assessed, however, if in some cases). the transcripts do not match the APEGGA syllabus. In the next step a geoscience experience So, if it has been a while since you first applied examiner looks for evidence of appropriate-level to APEGGA, or if you have never applied, it is work experience and career progression, using time to consider doing so now. As one of seven the information provided by the applicant and geoscience examiners on the APEGGA Board of confirmed by referees. This is to see if any or Examiners, I can assure you that your years of even all assessed exams can be waived by using experience will be taken into consideration by the combination of academics and experience the Board. Exams that you may have been asked (this is commonly the case if there is extensive to write in the past may no longer be required. experience). Like the old Cornflakes commercial used to say, “Try us again for the first time!” Applicants with foreign undergraduate geology As part of CSPG President Colin Yeo’s strategic degrees are normally assessed with confirmatory For more information on registration matters, please initiative to renew the collaborative relationship exams (which have an extensive choice of visit: www.apegga.org/Applicants/Geoscientists/toc. between the CSPG and APEGGA, he has asked subjects). These too are considered for waiving html. me to explain APEGGA’s updated procedures for if there are either additional degrees or sufficient evaluating applicants. work experience acceptable to the Board. The Board of Examiners applies a modern “looking A lot has changed since the early 1980s, when I applied to APEGGA and my own transcripts were assessed against an unpublished list of 30 science and geoscience requirements with 16 specified subjects and 14 more from a narrow range of options. If you applied to APEGGA and abandoned the process because you were asked to write a large number of exams, you should consider applying now because your experience counts.

Academic transcripts and work experience for Geoscience applicants are reviewed by Professional Geologists or Geophysicists, and, contrary to some rumours, not by office staff or Professional Engineers. These Professional Geoscientists make assessments and recommendations that are voted on by the APEGGA Board of Examiners as a whole.

The Geology syllabus is now flexible enough to accommodate a wide range of disciplines and paths to training. It is available online and includes a summary page that allows an informal self-assessment by any prospective applicant: www.apegga.org/Applicants/pdf/Examinations/ GEOLOGY.pdf

As there is no national or international accreditation system for Geoscience programs, transcripts are evaluated case-by- case and compared course-by-course to national geoscience knowledge requirements for professional practice adopted by the Canadian Council of Professional Geoscientists

RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 19 Reservoir Engineering for Geologists Part 4 – Production Decline Analysis | by Lisa Dean P. Geol. and Ray Mireault P. Eng

Production decline analysis is a basic tool for gas and/or water) and changes in relative fluid c) water cut percentage versus cumulative forecasting production from a well or well permeability. Plots of production rate versus production, group once there is sufficient production to production history (time or cumulative d) water level versus cumulative establish a decline trend as a function of time production) illustrate declining production production, or cumulative production. The technique rates as cumulative production increases e) cumulative gas versus cumulative oil, is more accurate than volumetric methods (Figures 1-4). f) and pressure versus cumulative when sufficient data is available to establish production. a reliable trend and is applicable to both oil In theory, production decline analysis is only and gas wells. applicable to individual wells but in practice Decline curves a) and b) are the most extrapolations of group production trends common because the trend for wells Accordingly, production decline analysis is often provide acceptable approximations for producing from conventional reservoirs under most applicable to producing pools with well group performance. The estimated ultimate primary production will be “exponential,” in established trends. It is most often used to recovery (EUR) for a producing entity is engineering jargon. In English, it means that estimate remaining recoverable reserves for obtained by extrapolating the trend to an the data will present a straight line trend corporate evaluations but it is also useful for economic production limit. The extrapolation when production rate vs. time is plotted on waterflood and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is valid provided that: a semi-logarithmic scale. The data will also performance assessments and in identifying • Past trend(s) were developed with the present a straight line trend when production production issues/mechanical problems. well producing at capacity. rate versus cumulative production is plotted Deviations from theoretical performance • Volumetric expansion was the primary on regular Cartesian coordinates. The well’s can help identify underperforming wells and drive mechanism. The technique is not ultimate production volume can be read areas and highlight where well workovers valid when there is significant pressure directly from the plot by extrapolating the and/or changes in operating practices support from an underlying aquifer. straight line trend to the production rate could enhance performance and increase • The drive mechanism and operating economic limit. recovery. practices continue into the future. Production decline curves are a simple visual The rate versus time plot is commonly To the geologist, production decline analysis representation of a complex production used to diagnose well and reservoir of an analogous producing pool provides a process that can be quickly developed, performance. Figure 1 presents a gas well basis for forecasting production and ultimate particularly with today’s software and with an exponential “straight line” trend for recovery from an exploration prospect or production databases. Curves that can be much of its production life. But in 2004 the stepout drilling location. A well’s production used for production forecasting include: actual performance is considerably below the capability declines as it is produced, mainly a) production rate versus time, expected exponential decline rate, indicating due to some combination of pressure b) production rate versus cumulative a non-reservoir problem. Wellbore modelling depletion, displacement of another fluid (i.e., production, suggests that under the current operating conditions, the well cannot produce liquids Rate vs Time to surface below a critical gas rate of about 700 Mscfd, which is about the rate when well performance started deviating from the Flow rate less than expected exponential decline. Water vapour critical gas rate and well is probably condensing in the wellbore loads up with liquid and impeding production from the well. Removing the water would restore the well’s production rate to the exponential trend.

Figure 2 is an example of a pumping oil well that encountered a pump problem. A rapid decline in production rate to below Gas Rate MMcfd the exponential decline rate cannot be a reservoir issue and must therefore be due to equipment failure and/or near wellbore issues such as wax plugging or solids deposition in the perforations. In this case, the pump was replaced and the fluid rate returned to the value expected for exponential decline.

Arps (1945, 1956) developed the initial series Critical gas rate under current line pressure @ ~0.610 MMscfd of decline curve equations to model well performance. The equations were initially Figure 1. Gas well example showing liquid loading in the wellbore. considered as empirical and were classified

20 RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 As stated previously, oil and gas wells producing conventional (>10 md) permeability reservoirs under primary depletion (or fluid expansion) generally exhibit exponential decline trends. But the performance of some waterfloods and unconventional low permeability gas reservoirs are better modeled using hyperbolic decline trends.

Figure 4 presents an example of well production from a “tight” gas reservoir. These reservoirs are becoming increasingly important to the industry but they typically have permeability below 0.1 md and are generally not productive without some form of mechanical fracture stimulation. From Fig 4A, a slightly hyperbolic (approximately exponential) extrapolation of the most recent production data yields an ultimate recovery of approximately 1.8 BCF. But the hyperbolic decline trend of Figure 4b provides a good fit for the complete production history and Figure 2. Pumping oil well where pump capability is decreasing. indicates an ultimate recovery of 7.6 BCF. as exponential, hyperbolic, or harmonic, gas, oil, and water production; operated The typical range of ‘b’ values is approximately depending on the value of the exponent ‘b’ hours; and wellhead pressure. For oil wells 0.3 to 0.8. A ‘b’ value of 2 represents an that characterizes the change in production at least, monthly production at the battery upper limit to the volume of gas that will decline rate with the rate of production is routinely pro-rated back to the individual ultimately be produced. The uncertainty in (see Figure 3 and equations at the end of wells, based on sequential 1-2 days tests of the trend that should be used to forecast well the article). For exponential decline ‘b’=0; individual well capability. Depending on the performance can be reflected in the assigned for hyperbolic ‘b’ is generally between 0 number of wells and test capability at each reserves as follows: and 1. Harmonic decline is a special case of battery, it can take up to several months to • Proven 1.8 BCF hyperbolic decline where ‘b’=1. obtain a test on each well in the group. • Proven plus Probable plus Possible 7.6 BCF

The decline curve equations assume that Factors that determine the rate of decline Based on the reserve definitions, the reservoir rock and fluid properties (porosity, and whether declines are exponential, assignment suggests there is a 95% chance permeability, formation volume factor, hyperbolic, or harmonic include rock that the actual volume recovered will be viscosity, and saturation) governing the flow and fluid properties, reservoir geometry, greater than 1.8 BCF and less than 7.6 BCF. rate will not change with time or pressure. drive mechanisms, completion techniques, An estimate for the proven plus probable While the assumption is not entirely correct, operating practices, and wellbore type. volume can be developed by integrating the industry experience has proven that decline These factors must be understood prior to well pressure history and material balance curves present a practical way to forecast analyzing the production decline trends or gas-in-place (OGIP) estimate with the well production in all but the most unusual serious errors in the ultimate production decline analysis trend. circumstances. estimates can result (see Figure 4). (Continued on page 22...)

Figure 3 illustrates the difference between exponential, hyperbolic, and harmonic decline when production rate vs. cumulative production is plotted on Cartesian scales. The “straight” orange line extrapolates an exponential decline from the data. The green and blue lines present hyperbolic extrapolations of the data trend with ‘b’ values of 0.3 and 0.6, respectively. Note that the curvature of the line increases as the ‘b’ value increases.

Figure 3 also illustrates the main challenges in decline analysis – data scatter and the type of extrapolation that is appropriate for the well under consideration. Data scatter is an unavoidable consequence of dealing with real data. In Western Canada, the permanent record of production and injection consists of monthly totals for Figure 3. Production history rate versus cumulative production with associated decline formulas.

RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 21 D is an initial decline fraction (1/d), Rate vs. Cumulative Prod. i Example b is the hyperbolic exponent (from 0 to 1).

Solving for Di and t gives: b b Expotential Decline Di = [ (qi /q) - 1 ] / bt and t = [ (qi /q) - 1 EUR=1.8 bcf ] /Di b

The cumulative production to time t (Np) is given by: MMscfd

, , -1/b Np =  q dt =  qi { 1 + bDit } dt b 1-b 1-b = { qi / [ (1 - b)Di ] }[ qi - q ]

Gas Rate The Harmonic decline equation is:

q = qi / { 1 + Dit }

where: 3 qi is the initial production rate (stm /d), 3 Gas Cumulative, Bscf q is the production rate at time t (stm /d), t is the elapsed production time (d),

Example Rate vs. Cumulative Prod. Di is an initial decline fraction (1/d).

Solving for Di and t gives: -1 Di = [ (qi/q) - 1 ] / t and t = [ (qi /q) ] / Di Hyperbolic Decline (b=2) EUR=7.6 bcf The cumulative production to time t (Np) is given by: -1 Np =  q dt =  qi { 1 + Dit } dt

MMscfd = { qi / Di ] } ln { qi /q } , ,

Gas Rate Look for our next article on “Material Balance” in the February issue of the Reservoir.

This article was contributed by Fekete Associates, Inc. For more information, contact Lisa Dean at Fekete Associates, Inc. Gas Cumulative, Bscf

Figure 4. Tight gas well example illustrating minimum and maximum values for EUR depending on decline methodology.

References Formulas: Arps, J.J, (1945) Analysis of Decline Curves, The Exponential decline equation is: Trans. AIME, Vol 160, pp 228-247. q = q exp{ -Dt } i ERRATA Arps, J.J, (1956) Estimation of Primary Oil where: 3 Reserves, Trans. AIME, Vol 207, pp 182-191. qi is the initial production rate (stm /d), q is the production rate at time t (stm3/d), Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy t is the elapsed production time (d), and Petroleum, Determination of Oil and D is an exponent or decline fraction (1/d). Gas Reserves, Petroleum Society Monograph Number 1, Chapter 18, 1994 and 2004. Solving for D and t gives:

D = - ln { q/qi } / t and t = - ln { q/qi } / D Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook, First Edition, November 1, 2005, Volume The cumulative production to time t (Np) 2, Detailed Guidelines for Estimation and is given by:

Classification of Oil and Gas Resources and Np =  q dt =  qi exp{ -Dt } dt = (qi - q) Reserves. Section 6: Procedures for Estimation / D and Classification of Reserves, 2005. The Hyperbolic decline equation is: In last month’s installment of Fekete’s Reservoir -1/b Stotts, W.J., Anderson, David M. and Mattar, q = qi { 1 + bDit } Engineering For Geologists, Part 3 - Volumetric Louis: “Evaluating and Developing Tight Gas Estimation, the source reference for Figure 4 was Reserves – Best Practices”, SPE paper # 108183 where: inadvertently missed. The figure caption should have 3 read, “Figure 4. Gross and Net Pay Distinction (Etris presented at the 2007 SPE Rocky Mountain Oil qi is the initial production rate (stm /d), and Stewart, 2003). The source reference is: Etris, 3 and Gas Technology Symposium, Denver, CO, q is the production rate at time t (stm /d), Ned, and Stewart, Bruce, 2003. Net-to-Gross Ratio. USA, 16-18 April, 2007. t is the elapsed production time (d), CSPG Reservoir, Vol. 30, Issue 4, pp. 24-25.

22 RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 23 JACK PORTER VIGNETTES OF CANADIAN PETROLEUM GEOLOGY

Strait. This inclement weather pursued the but essentially devoid of vitamin C. Beer J.B. Tyrrell’s two vessels during their crossing of Hudson was the standard beverage until it turned Bay. For two nights following the Unicorn’s sour. introduction arrival in the estuary, an improvised beacon for the Lamprey was created by a very large The first fatality of scurvy occurred on to the interior bonfire on top of a headland. The Unicorn November 21, 1619, its victim being a piloted the Lamprey into the inlet where boatswain from the frigate, Unicorn. From of Canada’s she was later winched across the tidal flat the aforementioned date to June 4, 1620, and secured on the sheltered side of a rock 61 crewmen succumbed to scurvy. Three, Precambrian promontory (Ibid.: pp. 246,247 and 250). including Jens Munk, remained alive. The last seaman to be buried was on May 12 Shield The scourge of scurvy was beginning to affect and the remaining emaciated men were too crew members of the Lamprey, however, Jens weak to continue the task (Ibid.: 258, 277, (...Continued from the October, 2007 issue of Munk recognized its symptoms. Aware that and 278). the Reservoir) the disease could be remedied by ingesting fresh fruit and vegetables, he instructed On June 10, Jens Munk left his cabin, not The last week of Joseph Tyrrell’s summer the ship’s surgeon that his patients be being able to bear the stench of putrefied survey of 1892 was spent on a segment of fed local berries, including cloudberries bodies to sleep on the deck of the Unicorn. the Churchill River. A few historic highlights, (wild raspberries), cowberries (rose hips), The next morning he was observed by relative to the events of Europeans, who crowberries (large cranberries), and two of his crew who had sought refuge on were among the earliest to leave their mark gooseberries. The seamen shortly regained shore. They, equally wasted, crossed the on this great river, are worthy of mention. their health. ice-covered inlet and assisted him from the Unicorn to their improvised camp. The The first European to have observed and On September 18, 1619, Jens Munk met with disappearance onshore of the winter’s reported the existence of what we now his ships’ officers to discuss the expedition’s snow had exposed the preserved remnants refer to as the Churchill River was the strategy. Because of the impending winter, of fruit-bearing shrubs. Grubbing with their Danish explorer, Jens Munk. On May 9, all were unanimous in agreeing to winter shriveled hands, they were able to salvage 1619 he embarked from Copenhagen with at their present site (Ibid.: p.248). He bilberries (a variety of blueberry) and two ships under his command – the frigate christened their refuge Munk Haven and the cowberries (rose hips), as well as their leafy Unicorn, on which he traveled, and the country Nova Dania. The river (Churchill), parts and roots, all of which they sucked on sloop Lamprey, a much smaller, single-mast associated with the estuary of their and slowly devoured. Apart from sleeping, vessel (1965, Hansen, Thorkild: The Way encampment, was named Danish River by the three pathetic figures continued this To Hudson Bay, The Life and Times of Jens Munk, later to be construed as Munk River daily routine until June 18, 1620, when Munk; pub. A Helen and Kurt Wolff Book; (Ibid.: p. 295). the ice covered estuary broke up. With Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc., New York, renewed strength, they retrieved a flounder p. 218). Their combined crew consisted of One of the 65 members of Munk’s net from the Unicorn and netted six sea 65 seamen, which included two Englishmen, expedition, a boatswain, had died on August trout. The spring high tide had arrived, William Gordon and John Watson, both 6, 1619 while the two vessels were ice- which enabled the three to refloat the having served as mates on the two ships bound at Haresund (Hares’ Sound) – its Lamprey. With provisions and equipment (Ibid.: p. 228). location being on the southwest peninsula transferred from the Unicorn, they eagerly of Baffin Island, flanking the entrance to set sail from Munk Haven’s estuary on July At the behest of King Christian IV of Hudson Strait. The seaman had been buried 16, 1620. After 68 days at sea, Jens Munk Denmark and Norway, Jens Munk was alongside of a cairn erected by Jens Munk and his two fellow survivors set foot on selected to cross the North Atlantic and to acknowledge Norway’s and Denmark’s land near Bergen, Norway on September enter Hudson Strait to access Hudson claim to the country (Ibid.: pp. 237, 238). 21, 1620 (Ibid.: pp. 289, 290, 294, and 208). Bay and explore its west coast. Munk’s Unknowingly, Munk had laid claim to Martin objective was to discover the conceptualized Frobisher’s Meta Incognita (the unknown The treaty of Utrecht in1713 resulted Anian Strait, later to be construed as the limits), a name given to the same peninsula in France ceding to England her former Northwest Passage. This would lead his by Queen Elizabeth I following Frobisher’s Hudson’s Bay Company’s Rupert’s Land expedition to the Southern Sea (Pacific return to England from his second voyage possession as well as Newfoundland and Ocean), from where he could reach Cathay to his “Frobishers Streytes” (Bay) in 1577. Nova Scotia, but retaining Quebec and (Ibid.: p. 203). Louisiana. The formal transfer of France’s The incident of incipient scurvy among Fort Bourbon, to be reinstated as the On September 7, 1619, after 122 days at sea, the crew of the Lamprey, during the late Hudson’ Bay Company’s York Fort, took while sailing up Hudson Bay’s west coast; summer and early fall of 1619, was to place on September 11, 1714. The principal Jens Munk fortuitously found safe shelter for portend the dire ravages of this disease participants involved in the surrender were his Unicorn and crew, after dropping anchor would inflict on the 64 seamen sequestered the post’s French commander, Governor in the estuary of a river, which the Hudson’s at Munk Haven during the ensuing winter Nicolas Jeremie and the newly appointed Bay Company was to later name Churchill and spring of 1620. The ship’s fare of the Hudson’s Bay overseas governor, James River (Ibid.: p. 246). Both vessels had been period, consisting of biscuit, salt pork, Knight; the latter accompanied by his plagued by early winter snowstorms, pack oatmeal, rice, cheese, vinegar, and honey deputy, Henry Kelsey. Both Knight and ice and fog at the entrance to Hudson – despite being rationed – was adequate, Kelsey, in the company of the French

24 RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 commissioner, J. B. Cullerer, had embarked return to York Fort, where they would time. On July 10, 1717 he left Henry Kelsey together from the frigate Union, which had be taught to speak the Cree language. in charge of York Fort and sailed north in arrived at the mouth of the Hayes River Stewart’s party arrived back at York Fort the sloop, Good Success, accompanied with on September 5, 1714 (Ibid.: 1939, Morton, on May 7, 1716 after nearly a year’s absence. her sister sloop, Prosperous. On July 14 the Arthur S. --- p. 127). The peace was to be short lived. By 1717, two vessels arrived in the estuary of the the troublesome Cree natives had resumed Churchill River. After James Knight examined James Knight, now approximately seventy their attacks on the Chipewyans. several potential sites for the erection of years of age, had spent 38 years in the the fort he, ironically, was compelled to service of the Company, having risen from In an effort to prevent further hostilities, select Munk’s Point, the very location of shipwright in 1676 to his appointment in Governor Knight decided to establish a Jens Munk’s Munk Haven where 97 years 1713, as governor-in-chief of the posts trading post at the mouth of the Churchill earlier 61 seamen suffered horrific deaths in Hudson Bay. Initially, he set about River, which would allow the Chipewyan from scurvy, prolonged in a formidable and restoring the fort to its former condition. natives to transport their furs from the desolate environment. It was located four He immediately recruited Cree natives to Athabasca and Slave River regions with miles within the estuary, above a broad mud journey to the northern habitats of the impunity. It offered, as well, a shorter travel (Continued on page 26...) Chipewyan natives as peace envoys, in order for these remote natives to trade at York Fort with impunity. The aggressive Cree, who served as middlemen, were the tormentors of the Chipewyan, having driven the latter out of their traditional hunting environs of the wooded Churchill River valley to the Barren Grounds.

Exaggerated reports, by natives visiting York Fort, extolling the abundance of native copper, hosted as placer deposits, in sands of the “copper river” and “yellow metal” ornaments worn by natives living along the borders of the western sea; so fueled James Knight’s imagination that he craved to search for their occurrences.

In June 1715, Cree natives, who visited York Fort, were met in council with Governor Knight. The native delegation told him: “of another sea (Lake Athabasca) which ran down into it; they showed him salt and brimstone from the region.” One of the delegates, a Cree chief known as The Swan, had been on a mission of peace, which was negotiated with the Beaver natives who inhabited the valley of the Athabasca River. In June, 1719, following an absence of four years, The Swan returned to York Fort, 4PGUXBSF 4FSWJDFT %BUB $POTVMUJOH where Henry Kelsey was now governor, (FP$BSUB5PPMT %JHJUJ[JOH4PMVUJPOT %.PEFMJOH -PH%JHJUJ[JOH &YQSFTT%BUBCBTF &YFDVUJWF.BQ4VJUF 5FDIOJDBM3FDPSET %.PEFMJOH (FP7JTUB 5IF3BU *NBHJOH 8PSLTUBUJPO3FOUBMT -BOE%BUB %JHJUBM%BUB *NBHJOH 4FJTNJD%BUB-PBEJOH and presented him with a sample of; “ that FOFS(*4JUF 0F9 'PSNBUJPO5PQT%BUB 8FTUDBO3BTUFS.BQT $SPTTMPH4VJUF "#'PSNBUJPO-JNJUT Gum or pitch that flows out of the Banks of that River,” ( Ibid.: 1939, Morton, Arthur S. --- p. 134).

Governor James Knight had sent an emissary, William Stewart from York Fort in June 1715 to arrange a council of peace with the Chipewyan natives. Accompany him were a ban of Cree as well as a “Slave Woman”. Knight had purchased this Chipewyan woman from a Cree native who had brought her to York Fort. She was to be the fort’s first interpreter. Stewart’s party, after journeying 700 miles northwest of York Fort, diagonally crossed the “Baren Desarts” to the wooded area south of Great Slave Lake. The “Slave Woman” was able to entice ten of her countrymen to

$64 '%/,/ 2%3INDD RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • 0- JANUARY 2008 25 (...Continued from page 25) Hearne and his 39 Englishmen. La Perouse The Hudson Bay Record Society; ed. K. G. forces were comprised of 300 marines and Davies, pub. 1965, p; LVI). and stone tidal flat, on the estuary’s north three ships. The buildings were ransacked, bank (Ibid.: 1939, Morton, Arthur S. --- pp. burned, and the canons spiked. His attempt Knight’s proposed voyage through the 137, 138). James Knight initial examination to obliterate the formidable walls met with “Streight of Anian” to reach the mines was of the site confirms his frustration, to quote failure. enthusiastically received and approved by the “I never see such a miserable place in my Committee on May 1,’1719. He was assigned life…Were they (London Committee) but James Knight’s unabated gold fever to the frigate, Albany, on which he shipped here to see the Sculls & bones of Men as confirm the Chipewyans’ purported stories and the sloop, Discovery; each with their Lyes Scatter’d…it would put them into a of copper and gold occurrences, lying respective captains, being George Berley feavor to think how they should Secure northwest of his recently established Prince and David Vaughan. The Governor and his Themselves.” (1936, MacKay, Douglas: The of Wales Fort, took him to England in Committee saw the two vessels embark Honourable Company, pub. McClelland & 1718. His contract with the Hudson’s Bay from Gravesend on June 4, 1719. Tragically, Stewart; Toronto, p. 72). Company, after some 40 years of service, none of the 27 seamen and officers aboard had now expired and he was free to pursue the two ships, including James Knight, their Notwithstanding Knight’s questionable his aspiration. commander, was ever again seen alive (Ibid.: endorsement of his proposed site, trading 1939, Morton, Arthur S. --- p. 142). there commenced in 1719. At that time On March 20, 1719 he submitted a proposal it was named Prince of Wales Fort and to the London Committee that he would Some 48 years had elapsed from the time became The Company’s first permanent sail up the west coast of Hudson Bay James Knight’s copper- and gold-finding post located in the estuary of the Churchill to “…find out the Streight of Anian in expedition had embarked from Gravesend River. It was abandoned in 1740, with its order to discover gold, and other valuable before the enigma surrounding their trading facilities transferred that same commodities to the northward.” (Ibid: disappearance was resolved. Their final year to the massive stone fort located 1939, Morton, Arthur S. --- p. 142). He landfall occurred in the autumn of 1719 when on Eskimo Point at the entrance to the claimed “From these Indians (Chipewyans) the Albany and Discovery sought shelter from harbour. Construction of the new Prince he learned the source of the copper he the pack ice by entering a harbour on the of Wales Fort (Fort Churchill) had started saw among them and he concluded that, if easternmost end of Marble Island. This small in 1731 to prevent attacks by the French. the mine from which it came lay by a river barren island lies 16 miles off Rankin Inlet’s It was completed in 1771, only to be easily flowing into the sea, then that mine should coast, nearly 300 miles north of Prince of captured by La Perouse in August, 1782, be capable of being reached by the sea.” Wales Fort. The waters surrounding the with the surrender of Governor Samuel (Letters From Hudson Bay 1703 — 1740: island were a favorite habitat for black whales, which in 1767 were sought after by Hudson’s Bay Company’s whalers. The same year Joseph Stephens, captain of the whaler, Success, who, apart from Inuit, had entered a heretofore unoccupied harbour on Marble Island. The hulls of the Albany and Discovery were found beneath 30 feet of water, both having been crushed by pack ice while entering the harbour. When Samuel Hearne visited the site two years after Stephens, he was informed by an elderly Inuit that not Reservoir Imaging only had his people traded with the white strangers trapped on the island but later, in Expertise in heavy oil & deep basin reservoirs their state of privation, had provided them with blubber and seal meat. The Inuit, on • Time Lapse (4D) Processing visiting Marble Island in the summer of 1721, found only five members of James Knight’s • 4D Cross Equalization expedition alive. In the fall two remained, after burying their three companions. The • Multicomponent (3C, 4C) Processing two seamen resorted to sitting on a high ridge, emaciated and forlorn, while gazing • 3D Merging south, in hope of being rescued by a passing ship. Following the death of one of the pair; • PSTM with Common Offset Vector Binning the other died while attempting to bury his partner. (1899, Willson, Beckless: The Great Company; pub. The Copp, Clark Company Limited; Toronto, pp. 291 - 294). Privation and resultant starvation was the obvious Hart Janssen cause of the deaths of the 27 seamen B.Sc., Manager, Seismic Processing of James Knight’s doomed expedition, but Direct: 403-260-3372 Main: 403-237-7711 scurvy may have been a contributing factor. www.sensorgeo.com To be continued…

26 RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 Mackenzie Delta/Beaufort Sea, NWT | by Canadian Discovery Ltd.

This article is reprinted with permission from successful Umiak N-05 during 1Q 2005, drilled in 1972, has much more information Canadian Discovery’s CEO map series (Fall/ applied for a SDL on December 19 2005 (see available and may offer a clue as to targets Winter 2006 Northern Canada Onshore Table 3, page 30), on the basis of successful of EnCana and partners’ recent drilling. That & Offshore Regions). For information on test results in that well. The results for vertical well was drilled by Gulf Canada products offered by CDL, please visit www. the 3,625 m well are still confidential (a (now ConocoPhillips Canada) and partner canadiandiscovery.com or call 269-3644. two-year confidentiality period applies to Mobil Oil (now ExxonMobil Canada) and exploration wells in the NWT). That new ran a number of tests (including cased hole). Devon Applies for Significant oil and gas SDL comprises 16 sections (see The 4,772 m Tertiary test, which is situated Discovery at Paktoa explanation above) or 4,865 ha, and was about 9 km north of the N-05 discovery, During the winter of 2005/2006, all eyes granted on April 5, 2006 by the National penetrated clastic sequences down to and were on Devon ARL’s drilling at Paktoa C- Energy Board (NEB). An identification including the Paleocene-Eocene Reindeer 60. That well was spudded in approximately number for the new SDL has yet to be Formation. All tests were conducted in 13 m of water in the eastern portion of EL published by the NEB. Already-highgraded that last reservoir interval below 2,960 m, 420 (see Table 1, page 29) and was the first 53,961 ha Exploration Licence (EL) 384 where, at best, some gas-cut water and very well drilled in the Canadian Beaufort Sea issued in January 1997 expired in January small gas volumes were tested. Hannigan in over 15 years. The 2,390 m exploratory 2006 (see Figure 2, page 28). The new SDL et al. (GSC Open File 5343, 2006) briefly well was begun December 5, 2005 and rig includes not only discovery Umiak N-05, but describe the established Tertiary reservoirs released on March 19, 2006 after having also adjacent Umiak N-16, drilled less than section of the Beaufort-Mackenzie Basin, reached a final depth of 2,383 m. Under the 3 km to the northwest, and the extensively summarized in Table 4, page 30. original work commitment, four wells have tested but abandoned Kilagmiotak F-48. to be drilled on EL 420 by August 2009. Umiak N-16 was drilled to 3,101 m (original This latest SDL joins myriad other oil Completed on time and on budget, the C-60 licence 3,364 m) in February/March 2004, and gas SDLs (over 50, see Figure 2, page well did encounter hydrocarbons (oil and and re-entered for testing the following 28) in the Beaufort Sea and Mackenzie gas), but not the gas volumes expected. In season. EnCana has reported that the well Delta, awaiting the advent of an economical addition to not having found the reserves has encountered hydrocarbons, but as yet exploitation system. it was hoping for at Paktoa, the company no additional information is available. The could not secure the equipment necessary partners were likely encouraged enough by EL 434, 56,605 ha in area and immediately to drill a second Beaufort well in 2006/2007. the N-16 results to drill N-05 during the south of the new SDL, was awarded to In order to obtain permission from the winter of 2004/2005. Kilagmiotak F-48, (Continued on page 28...) federal government to postpone the second well normally required under its licence, the eastern portion of EL 420 (174,048 ha) was relinquished so that now the EL is reduced by half. Devon is also paying an additional $1 million deposit. In the longer term, the company said that it has no intention of pulling out of the Canadian Arctic. Devon has indicated that it is filing for a significant discovery licence (SDL) based on the C-60 result and is open to acquiring partners in its future Beaufort operations.

In northern Canada, the Federal Permit System (FPS) is a land grid used to locate and identify, among other spatial elements, oil and gas land licences and wells, and is based in part on the Canadian National Topographic System (NTS), i.e., latitude/longitude (Figure 1). In essence, major grid “squares” (which are generally not square and vary is shape and size depending on latitude) are made up of a number of sections (the number of which varies depending on latitude). In turn, each section is divided into 16 units. Table 2 (page 29) summarizes this information.

Significant Discovery Granted for Umiak EnCana and partners Anadarko (now Chevron) and ConocoPhillips, which drilled Figure 1. Mackenzie Delta / Beaufort Sea Geography.

RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 27 Figure 2. Mackenzie Delta / Beaufort Sea Exploration Licenses.

(...Continued from page 27) arctic frontier interest to Chevron USA and offsetting Tertiary oil and gas discoveries the EnCana/Anadarko/ConocoPhillips Chevron Canada. In essence, that deal is an made by Shell in 1974/1975 (SDLs 18, 31 and consortium on May 2, 2006, and interestingly asset swap whereby Anadarko’s Mackenzie 59). The companies are 50:50 partners in is made up of a portion of now-expired EL Delta, Beaufort Sea, and Yukon assets are three ELs at the western edge of the Delta 385 (January 2006) and a portion of the exchanged for working interest in Gulf of totaling almost 150,000 ha. Chevron and BP previously amputated EL 384. At the end of Mexico deep water blocks and enhanced are also in partnership, with ConocoPhillips, 2006, EL 434 represents the only exploration terms in a west Texas exploration joint in adjacent EL 394 (73,155 ha). One well licence owned by the consortium now made agreement. Chevron is already a major would be drilled at the north end of Langley up of EnCana/Chevron/ConocoPhilips. player in the Beaufort Sea/Mackenzie Delta Island, likely on EL 404 near the Ellice I-48 region, in partnership with other companies discovery (34 mmcf/d) and the three multi- Anadarko Sells Canadian (see Figure 2). lateral Olivier H-01 discoveries, all drilled to Northern Assets to Chevron the Paleocene-Eocene Aklak Member of the In order to refocus its portfolio and reduce In early October, partners Chevron and Reindeer Formation during the 2004/2005 debt following the August 2006 acquisition BP announced a plan to drill two wells season by the Chevron/BP partnership. of Kerr-McGee and Western Gas Resources in the Delta region. On January 17, well The partnership is preparing a Significant (for US$22.5 billion, including cash plus Chevron et al Kumak I-25 was authorized Discovery application for Ellice and Olivier, debt), Anadarko sold its western Canadian on the Delta by the NEB. That 2,000 m and has submitted an application for the assets to Canadian Natural Resources and exploratory well was scheduled to spud Langley K-30 discovery drilled during 1Q/2Q under a separate deal divested its Canadian February 1 and is located on EL 394, 2003. The second 2006/2207 well is planned

28 RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 Mackenzie Delta/Beaufort Sea, NWT: Exploration Licenses

Exploration Primary Expiry Bid Amount Licence # Date Issued Date Final Expiry Date ($MM) Area (ha) $/ha Petro - Canada/ Devon EL 406 08/15/2000 08/14/2005 08/14/2009 81.9 72,523 1,129 EL419 04/18/2002 09/17/2004 09/17/2008 105.3 72,311 712 TUK 2 08/01/2000 08/01/2010 08/01/2020 23.0 7,888 2,916 TUK 3 08/01/2000 08/01/2010 08/01/2020 10.0 108,056 93 Totals / Averages 220.2 260,778 844 BP/ CONOCOPHILLIPS / Chevron/ PARAMOUNT EL 394 09/18/1999 09/17/2004 09/17/2008 42.4 73,155 80 INUVIK 1 08/01/2000 08/01/2010 08/01/2020 90,461 43 225 INUVIK 2 08/01/2000 08/01/2010 08/01/2020 100,309 Totals / Averages 85.4 263,925 324 Chevron/ BP/ PARAMOUNT EL 404 08/15/2000 08/14/2005 08/14/2009 76.7 73,608 1,042 EL 417 05/14/2002 05/13/2007 05/13/2011 13.2 18,912 698 EL 422 06/07/2004 06/07/2009 06/07/2013 61.9 56,054 1104 Totals / Averages 151.8 148,577 1,022 ENCANA/Chevron/CONOCOPHILLIPS EL 384 01/06/1997 n/a 01/05/2006 Acquired from NOG in acreage swap 53,961 n/a EL 434 05/03/2006 05/03/2011 05/03/2015 40.2 56,605 710 Totals / Averages 56,605 n/a DEVON EL 418 05/14/2002 05/13/2007 05/13/2011 1.1 27,360 40.2 EI 420 08/15/2002 08/14/2005 08/14/2009 224.2 164,421* 662 Totals / Averages 225.3 191,781 616 SHELL EL 435 05/03/2006 05/03/2011 05/03/2015 11.6 99,942 116 IMPERIAL TUK Concession 10/01/1986 10/01/2005 10/01/2016 n/a 40,954 n/a TALISMAN EL 317 10/05/1986 n/a n/a n/a 175,810 n/a BPCANADA EL 329 09/05/1987 n/a n/a n/a 349,982 n/a * After relinquishment of 51% of original licence, summer 2006

Table 1. Mackenzie Delta/Beaufort Sea, NWT ExplorationLicenses. for Camp Farewell, on EL 394, offsetting Paramount Resources announced that it had Blocks 1 and 2. In brief, Paramount becomes a number of oil and gas discoveries. As of concluded an area-wide farm-in agreement operator (after this winter’s drilling season, December 15, no record of drilling licence with the two partners in the Mackenzie Delta. with Chevron as operator) and can earn a application (and precise location) had been The deal involves EL 394, EL 247 (a.k.a. ELs 50% interest by drilling 11 wells and shooting published by the NEB. 404, 417, and 422), and Inuvik Concession (Continued on page 30...)

New Kid on the Exploration Latitude Grid “Square” Number of Number of Block Size (minutes) Sections/”Square” Units/Section In the Spring of 2006, the Chevron/BP 60º - 68º 10’ lat. x 15’ long. 80 (8 x 10) 16 partnership had revealed plans to “farm down” their 405,000 ha into four exploration 68º - 70º 10’ lat. x 15’ long. 60 (6 x 10) 16 licences. On October 19, shortly after 70º - 75º 10’ lat. x 30’ long. 100 (10 x 10) 16 Chevron and BP had made public drilling plans for the upcoming winter (see above), Table 2. Federal Permit System grid sizes.

RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 29 (...Continued from page 29) MACKENZIE DELTA / Beaufort Sea SIGNIFICANT DISCOVERY LICENCES a specified amount of 3D seismic over a LICENCE OPERATOR DISCOVERY period of four years. Upon satisfying these SDL 14+15 Chevron Garry SDL 16 Chevron Niglinkgak drilling commitments in full, Paramount SDL 17 Shell Kugpik will also earn a 50% interest in nearby SDL 18 Shell Kumak Delta discoveries at Langley K-30, Olivier SDL 19 Shell Niglinkgak H-01 and Ellice I-48 (Paramount News SDL 25+26 Nytis Exploration Garry Release, October 19). The company also SDL 27 Nytis Exploration Ivik announced in the same release the creation SDL 28 Nytis Exploration Pelly SDL 29 Altagas Marketing Ikhil of a new public corporation, temporally SDL 30 ConocoPhillips Kamik called “Newco”, to manage Paramount’s SDL 31 Shell Kumak future activities in the Mackenzie Delta and SDL 32 ConocoPhillips Parsons Colville Lake. It was announced later on SDL 33 Shell Reindeer January 5, 2007, that the new corporation SDL 34 Shell Titalik will be called MGM Energy and have as SDL 35+36 Shell Ya Ya North President Henry Sykes, previously President SDL 37 BP Havik SDL 38 BP Koakoak of ConocoPhillips Canada. SDL 39 BP Kopanoar SDL 40 BP Nektoralik EnCana Getting Out of SDL 41 BP Nerlerk Northern Canada SDL 47 BP Kenalooak At the end of September 2006, EnCana SDL 48 BP Kopanoar announced that it was seeking proposals for SDL 49 BP Nektoralik SDL 50 Imperial Adgo its northern Canada assets located in the SDL 51 Imperial Amerk Mackenzie Delta/Beaufort Sea and the Arctic SDL 52 Imperial Atkinson Point Islands. In the Mackenzie Delta/Beaufort SDL 53+54 Imperial Isserk Sea, these assets include EnCana-operated SDL 55 Imperial Itiyok EL 434 and the new Umiak SDL, where the SDL 56+57 Imperial Ivik company has a 37.5% working interest, plus SDL 58 Imperial Kadluk SDL 59 Imperial Kumak non-operated interests in 14 SDLs located SDL 60 Imperial Mallik mostly offshore and nearshore. In the Arctic SDL 61 Imperial Netserk Islands, the company holds various interests SDL 62 Imperial Parsons in 19 SDLs (including the major Drake SDL 63 Imperial Taglu Point and Hecla gas discoveries) plus one SDL 64 Imperial Titalik Production Licence (PL) for oil at Bent SDL 65 Imperial W. Atkinson Horn, totaling over 600 bcfe net to EnCana. SDL 83 ConocoPhillips Issungnak SDL 84 ConocoPhillips Kiggavik In November 2006, “divestiture activities” SDL 85 ConocoPhillips Koakoak were underway for these northern assets, SDL 86 ConocoPhillips Tersiut with CIBC World Markets acting as financial SDL 87 ConocoPhillips Ukalerk advisor and a data room opened in late SDL 88 ConocoPhillips Pitsiulak October, 2006. EnCana expected the sale SDL 89 BP Adlartok to close by “the end of 2006.” SDL 91 Imperial Arnak SDL 92 Imperial Hansen SDL 93 Imperial Imnak Other Matters: Call for SDL 94 Imperial Mayogiak Nominations, Seismic SDL 95 Imperial Nipterk A Call for Nominations had been issued SDL 96+97 ConocoPhillips Amauligak by INAC for 2007 in the Beaufort Sea/ SDL 100 Shell Unipkat Mackenzie Delta region, with a closing SDL 110-112 Imperial Isserk SDL 113 BP Kingark date of February 28. (in 2005, the Call for SDL 114 BP Kingark Nominations closed November 29 and was SDL 115 Imperial Minuk followed by a successful Call for bids in May SDL 116+117 Imperial Nipterk 2006). SDL ? EnCana Umiak PRODUCTION LICENCES During the summer of 2006 the NEB LICENCE OPERATOR FIELD approved 5,069 km of Beaufort 2D seismic PL 02 ConocoPhillips Amauligak acquisition by GX Technology Canada. A PL 06 Altagas Marketing Ikhi total of 3,535 km of these data were shot Table 3. Mackenzie Delta / Beaufort Sea significant discovery licences. between September 4 and October 5, 2006. It is not clear precisely where this seismic Environments of Hydrocarbon survey was acquired. Interval Reservoir Formations Deposition Discoveries Paleocene to Moose Channel, Reindeer Oligocene and Kugmallit Delta-front/delta-plain Oil & gas Oligocene to Kugmallit and Mackenzie Miocene Bay Deep-water submarine fan Oil & gas Table 4. Tertiary Reservoirs of the Beaufort-Mackenzie Basin.

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we make a difference www.apegga.org RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 31 A PETROLEUM EVENTS CHART for the Whitehorse Trough, Yukon | by G. W. Lowey

INTRODUCTION ‘oil window’ had not been reached. This containing a mean marketable natural gas Whitehorse Trough is the northernmost triggered a land rush in south-central Yukon estimate of 5,521x106m3 (196 Bcf) and a of four ‘Interior Cordilleran’ basins in that culminated in 1969-70 when various oil mean recoverable oil estimate of 1.29x106m3 northwestern Canada (i.e., from north companies leased approximately 0.6 million (8.12 MMBbl). to south, Whitehorse, Bowser, Nechako, hectares (1.5 million acres) of land within the and Quesnel basins, Figure 1) that exhibit basin. In 1970, Geoservices discovered dry Although no wells have been drilled for gas similar patterns of sedimentary history and gas in rock samples from the Whitehorse or oil in the Whitehorse Trough, renewed tectonic evolution, and have corresponding Trough, and Koch (1973) estimated that interest in the hydrocarbon potential of this oil and gas potential (Teitz and Young, between 25 to 116 billion cubic metres frontier basin is based on: 1) its similarity 1982). It forms a northward tapering belt (0.9 to 4.1 trillion cubic feet) of gas and with the other Interior Cordilleran basins, (approximately 70 km wide and 600 km long) possibly some oil may occur within the all of which are known to contain gas and/or of Mesozoic volcanic and sedimentary rocks basin. Petro-Canada eventually sent a field oil; 2) reported occurrences of oil shale, gas in south-central Yukon that is interpreted party to the Whitehorse Trough, identifying odors, and oil seeps; 3) the presence of coal; to have originated in Middle to Late Triassic potential source rocks, reservoirs, and 4) favorable structure traps identified by a time as a forearc basin, with the ancient seals, and suggested that the basin has fairly recent seismic survey; and 5) the proposed North American margin on the east and good prospects for gas and less so for oil Alaska Highway pipeline. As a result, the the volcano-plutonic Lewes River arc on (Gilmore, 1985; Gunther, 1986). Hannigan Geological Survey of Yukon has undertaken the west (Tempelman-Kluit, 1976; Bultman, et al. (1995) and The National Energy Board a multi-disciplinary study of Whitehorse 1979). (2001) subsequently undertook a detailed Trough to reassess the hydrocarbon potential assessment of the hydrocarbon potential of of the basin (Long, 2005; Lowey, 2004, Petroleum exploration of the Whitehorse the Whitehorse Trough. The National Energy 2005; Lowey and Long, 2006; Piercey, 2005; Trough began in the 1950s when Swartzman Board (2001) identified several conceptual White et al., 2006). Preliminary results (1953) determined that the thermal stratigraphic and structural gas and oil plays of this study are presented herein as a maturation of coal samples from the and concluded that the Whitehorse Trough petroleum ‘events chart’ (Figure 2), which basin was relatively low, implying that the is an immature, mainly gas-prone basin shows the chronology of the four essential elements (i.e., source rock, reservoir rock, seal rock, and overburden rock) and two processes (i.e., trap formation and generation-migration-accumulation) of a petroleum system (Magoon and Dow, 1994). The events chart also shows the major rock units of the basin, and the critical moment best depicting that point in time for the generation-migration-accumulation of any potential hydrocarbons.

ROCK UNITS Three stratigraphic units, termed the Lewes River Group, the Laberge Group, and the Tantalus Formation, are recognized in the Whitehorse Trough (Wheeler, 1961). The Lewes River Group (Upper Triassic-Lower Jurassic) is approximately 3,500 m thick and is informally subdivided into the lowermost Povoas Formation and the uppermost Askala Formation (which is informally subdivided into the Casca, Hancock and Mandanna members). The Povoas Formation consists of basalt flows and volcaniclastics, where as the Aksala Formation consists of deep-marine clastics and carbonates, reefal clastics, and shoreface to tidal flat deposits (Tempelman- Kluit, 1975, 1978, 1980, 1984). The Lewes River Group is unconformably overlain by the Laberge Group (Lower-Middle Jurassic), which is approximately 3,500 m thick and Figure 1. Location map for the Whitehorse Trough and map showing the four Interior Cordilleran basins (modified is informally subdivided into three units from Teitz and Young, 1982). that include the Richthofen, Nordenskiold,

32 RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 possibly effective source rocks. Note that both the Tanglefoot and Tantalus formations mainly occur in the northernmost part of Whitehorse Trough; subsequently this is the most prospective area for hydrocarbon exploration.

RESERVOIR ROCK Potential reservoir rocks exposed at the surface were used to estimate subsurface reservoir quality (Tobin, 1997). All lithologies in the Lewes River Group exhibit tight depositional facies and are interpreted as a high risk for reservoir quality, although limestone in the Aksala Formation (i.e., Hancock Member) is locally fractured. Medium- to thick-bedded feldspathic sandstone in the Tanglefoot Formation ranges from porous with minimal weathering to exhibiting abundant secondary porosity of uncertain origin, and is interpreted as a low and moderate to high risk for reservoir quality. Massive to thick-bedded, lithic sandstone in the Tantalus Formation is tightly compacted, but porous and weathered, and is interpreted as a moderate to high risk for Figure 2. A petroleum events chart for the Whitehorse Trough, Yukon (P=Povoas, C=Casca, M=Mandanna, reservoir quality. H=Hancock, R=Richthofen, and N=Nordenskiold). SEAL ROCK and Tanglefoot formations. The Richthofen The Aksala and Richthofen formations are Rocks lacking porosity and permeability Formation consists of conglomeritic interpreted as spent source rocks, whereas occur throughout the Lewes River Group submarine fan deposits, the Nordenskiold the Tanglefoot and Tantalus formations are and include basalt and volcaniclastics in the Formation represents subaqueous interpreted as potential source rocks and (Continued on page 34...) volcaniclastics, and the Tanglefoot Formation consists of coal-bearing deltaic deposits (Cairnes, 1910; Bostock, 1936; Bostock and Lees, 1938; Tempelman-Kluit, 1984). The Laberge Group is conformably overlain by the Tantalus Formation (Upper Jurassic- Lower Cretaceous), which is approximately 1,500 m thick and consists of coal-bearing fluvial clastics (Lowey and Hills, 1988).

SOURCE ROCK Over 400 rock samples from these units have been analyzed by programmed pyrolysis and combustion, which – together with coal rank, vitrinite reflectance, and the color of microfossils – indicates several potential source rocks. In the Lewes River Group, the Povoas Formation has no source rock potential and the Aksala is a poor source rock, probably gas-prone and postmature. In the Laberge Group, the Richthofen Formation is a poor to fair source rock, gas- prone, and postmature; the Nordenskiold Formation has no source rock potential; and the Tanglefoot Formation (Figure 3) is a good to very good source rock, mainly gas- prone with a possibility of oil, and mature. The Tantalus Formation (Figure 4) is also a good to very good source rock, mainly gas- prone with a possibility of oil, and mature. Petroleum fluid inclusions are present locally in the Tanglefoot and Tantalus formations. Figure 3. Potential source rocks of the Tanglefoot Formation (staff is 1.5 m in length).

RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 33 Figure 4. Potential source rocks of the Tantalus Formation (staff is 1.5 m in length).

(...Continued from page 33) stratigraphic traps in the Laberge Group accumulation of possible hydrocarbons in Povoas Formation and interbedded sandstone include unconformities and pinchouts in the the Whitehorse Trough is estimated to be and mudstone in the Aksala Formation. Tanglefoot Formation. Unconformities and Early Cretaceous time (~145 mya). Interbedded conglomerate, sandstone, pinchouts may also be potential stratigraphic and mudstone beds in the Richthofen traps in the Tantalus Formation. Structural CONCLUSION Formation represent potential regional seals, traps include anticlines and high-angle faults Whitehorse Trough is a frontier basin that whereas mudstone beds in the Tanglefoot that probably formed in Middle Jurassic may contain gas and possibly oil. Based on Formation are potential local seals. Massive time (~170 mya) and affected all strata in Rock-Eval analysis, vitrinite reflectance, and conglomerate in the Tantalus Formation the basin. the color of microfossils, the Tanglefoot is a potential regional seal and mudstone and Tantalus formations are interpreted beds are potential local seals. The overlying GENERATION-MIGRATION- as potential source rocks and possibly volcanic flows of the Carmacks Group and ACCUMULATION effective source rocks. Fractured limestone Mount Nansen Formation are also potential The generation-migration-accumulation of in the Aksala Formation and sandstone in regional seals. potential hydrocarbons is difficult to estimate the Tanglefoot and Tantalus formations without adequate subsurface data and a are potential reservoir rocks, where OVERURDEN ROCK proper burial history chart. However, burial as the Povoas Formation and mudstone Overburden rock for the Tanglefoot of potential source rocks is thought to have in the Aksala, Richthofen, Tanglefoot, and Formation includes the Tantalus Formation started in Late Jurassic time (~150 mya). Tantalus formations are potential seal rocks. (~1,500 m thick), Carmacks Group (~1,000 m Stratigraphic traps (reefs and pinchouts) thick), and Mount Nansen Formation (~500 PRESERVATION and structural traps (northward-trending m thick). The Carmacks Group and Mount The preservation, modification, or anticlines and high-angle faults) are present, Nansen Formation are also overburden destruction of any possible hydrocarbons with structural traps forming in Middle rock for the Tantalus Formation. probably began in Early Cretaceous time Jurassic time. The generation, migration, and (~140 mya) and may be continuing today. accumulation of potential hydrocarbons may TRAP FORMATION have begun in Late Jurassic time, with the Potential stratigraphic straps in the Lewes CRITICAL MOMENT northernmost part of Whitehorse Trough River Group include reefs in the Aksala The critical moment, or point in time the most prospective area for hydrocarbon Formation (i.e., Hancock Member). Potential that best depicts the generation-migration- exploration.

34 RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 REFERENCES Bradshaw (eds.), Yukon Geological Survey, p. (105E) and Carmacks (115I), Yukon Territory. Allen, T., 2000. An evaluation of coal-bearing 177-191. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 1101. strata at Division Mountain (115H/8 east- half, 105E/5 west-half), south-central Yukon. Lowey, G.W., 2004. Preliminary lithostratigraphy Tobin, R.C., 1997. Porosity prediction in frontier In: Yukon Exploration and Geology 1999, D.S. of the Laberge Group (Jurassic), south-central basins: a systematic approach to estimating Emond and L.H. Weston (eds.), Exploration and Yukon: Implications concerning the petroleum subsurface reservoir quality from outcrop samples. Geological Services Division, Yukon, Indian and potential of the Whitehorse Trough. In: Yukon In: Reservoir quality prediction in sandstones and Northern Affairs Canada, p. 177-198. Exploration and Geology 2003, D.S. Emond carbonates, J.A Kupecz, J. Gluyas and S. Bloch and L.L. Lewis (eds.), Yukon Geological Survey, (eds.), AAPG Memoir69, p. 1-18. Bostock, H.S., 1936. Carmacks district, Yukon. p. 129-142. Geological Survey of Canada, Memoir 189, 67p. Wheeler, J.O., 1961. Whitehorse map-area, Lowey, G.W., and Hills, L.V., 1988. Lithofacies, Yukon Territory. Geological Survey of Canada, Bostock, H.S., and Lees, E.J., 1938. Laberge petrography and environments of deposition, Memoir 312, 156p. map-area, Yukon. Geological Survey of Canada, Tantalus Formation (Lower Cretaceous) Indian Memoir 217, 32p. River area, west-central Yukon. Bulletin of White, D., Colpron, M., Buffett, G., and Roberts, Canadian Petroleum Geology, v. 36, p. 296-310. B., 2006. Structural constraints for oil and Bultman, T.R., 1979. Geology and tectonic gas assessment in the Whitehorse Trough: history of the Whitehorse Trough west of Atlin, Magoon, L.B., and Dow, W.G., 1994. The New results from seismic profiling. In: Yukon British Columbia. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Yale petroleum system. AAPG Memoir 60, p. 3-24. Exploration and Geology 2005, D.S. Emond, University, 284p. G.D. Bradshaw, L.L. Lewis and L.H. Weston National Energy Board, 2001. Petroleum (eds.), Yukon Geological Survey, p. 315-323. Cairnes, D.D., 1910. Preliminary memoir on resource assessment of the Whitehorse Trough, the Lewes and Nordenskiold rivers coal district, Yukon Territory, Canada. Oil and Gas Resource ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Yukon Territory. Geological Survey of Canada, Branch. Department of Economic Development, The interest, discussions, and analyses of various Memoir 5, 70p. Government of the Yukon, 59p. samples by D.G.F. Long, M.G. Fowler, V.D. Stasiuk, and A.R. Sweet are gratefully appreciated. Gilmore, R.G., 1985. Whitehorse field party. Piercey, S.J., 2005. Reconnaissance geological Unpublished report, Petro-Canada, 16p. and geochemical studies of the Joe Mountain Information Formation, Joe Mountain region (NTS 105D/15), G. W. Lowey Gunther, P.R., 1986. Geochemical evaluation of Yukon. In: Yukon Exploration and Geology Yukon Geological Survey, Whitehorse, Yukon Whitehorse field party samples. Unpublished 2003, D.S. Emond and L.L. Lewis (eds.), Yukon [email protected] report, Petro-Canada, 19p. Geological Survey, p. 213-226.

Hannigan, P., Lee, P.J., and Osadetz, K.G., 1995. Swartzman, E., 1953. Analysis directory of HUGH REID’S Oil and gas resource potential of the Bowser- Canadian Coals. Mines Branch, Department of Whitehorse area of British Columbia. Unpublished Energy, Mines and Resources, Fuels Division, WINTER & SPRING report, Geological Survey of Canada, 40p. No. 836. COURSES Koch, N.G., 1973. The central Cordilleran region. Teitz, H.H., and Young, F.G., 1982. Canadian PRACTICAL DST CHART In: The future petroleum provinces of Canada- hydrocarbon resource development up to the INTERPRETATION their geology and potential, R.G. McCrossan year 2000. Journal of Petroleum Geology, v. 4, (ed.), Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, p. 347-375. (Thorough Basic Course) Memoir 1, p. 37-71. Jan. 28-Feb. 1 & Apr. 14-18, 2008 Tempelman-Kluit, D.J., 1975. Carmacks map- Long, D.G.F., 2005. Sedimentology and area, Yukon Territory. In: Report of Activities, 16 WAYS TO IDENTIFY hydrocarbon potential of fluvial strata in the Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 75-1, Part BYPASSED PAY FROM Tantalus and Aksala formations, northern A, p. 41-44. Whitehorse Trough, Yukon. In: Yukon Exploration DST DATA and Geology 2004, D.S. Emond, L.L. Lewis and Tempelman-Kluit, D.J., 1976. Transported (More advanced, for those G.D. Bradshaw (eds.), Yukon Geological Survey, cataclastite, ophiolite and granodiorite in Yukon: “comfortable” with DST charts) p. 167-176. evidence of arc-continent collision. Geological Apr. 22-23, 2008 Survey of Canada, Paper 79-14, 27 p. Lowey, G.W., and Long, D., 2006. Summary of Rock-Eval data for the Whitehorse Trough, Yukon: Tempelman-Kluit, D.J., 1978. Reconnaissance HYDRODYNAMICS Implications concerning the hydrocarbon potential geology, Laberge map-area, Yukon. In: Current SEMINAR of a frontier basin. In: Yukon Exploration and Research, Part A, Geological Survey of Canada, (Oil & Gas Finding Aspects) Geology 2005, D.S. Emond, G.D. Bradshaw, L.L. Paper 78-1A, p. 61-66. Apr. 28-May 2, 2008 Lewis and L.H. Weston (eds.), Yukon Geological Survey, p. 207-230. Tempelman-Kluit, D.J., 1980. Highlights of field work in Laberge and Carmacks map areas, In-house courses available. Lowey, G.W., 2005. Sedimentology, stratigraphy Yukon Territory. In: Current Research, Part A, For course outline visit: and source rock potential of the Richthofen Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 80-1A, p. www.hughwreid.com Formation (Jurassic), northern Whitehorse 357-362. Trough, Yukon. In: Yukon Exploration and 262-1261 Geology 2004, D.S. Emond, L.L. Lewis and G.D. Tempelman-Kluit, D.J., 1984. Geology, Laberge

RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 35 36 RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 University of Saskatchewan Clastics Field Trip | by Jason Brasseur and Walker Neumann

idealized models. This is a concept that is often hard to grasp in a classroom; the understanding of this became crucial in order to offer a logical interpretation of these outcrops. We also had the opportunity to walk out a complete deltaic sequence, and observe different shoreface environments at outcrops belonging to the famous Book Cliffs near Green River, Emery, and Price. The opportunity to study these environments on such a large scale greatly contributed to our understanding of both 3D bed geometries and how different environments undergo lateral transition. This of course will be a great aid to any of those in the class pursuing further academic study in sedimentology, or those who plan to join the petroleum industry and work on clastic reservoirs, as well as those interested University of Saskatchewan Geology 343 Utah Field School Participants. in uranium exploration. These field trips have provided a great learning experience, The GEOL 343 sedimentary environments One of the formations we had the and the younger students in the college look course at the University of Saskatchewan opportunity to study in detail was the forward to their chance at going on future has been offered using a traditional in-class Triassic Chinle Formation. We compared trips such as these. format for years, but this changed in 2006. fluvial outcrops near Torrey and Moab Instead of studying from textbooks and that while superficially similar, had distinct We would like to thank the University specimens in a classroom, students were genetic differences. By making our own of Saskatchewan for its financial support given the opportunity to go into the field observations of these outcrops, we learned and for allowing this field school to be to study outcrops first hand, giving them that fluvial systems rarely fit perfectly into conducted during term time. Additionally, invaluable hands-on experience. The trip the traditional three models offered by industry funding from Talisman Energy Inc., was organized by Professor Brian Pratt, who textbooks, and that in many cases the Shell Canada Ltd, and Areva Resources in the fall of that year took the first group lines between braided, meandering, and Canada Inc. made the trip more affordable of students to Texas and New Mexico. anastomosing are blurred; there really for the students. So we would also like to Focused on carbonates, students studied exists a continuous transitional spectrum give them a big thank you! a variety of ancient settings, including: of fluvial environments between the three evaporate deposits, carbonate ‘mud mound’ reefs, framework reef systems, peritidal dolomites, and ramp facies. The class also received evening lectures based on the theoretical components of the facies being studied in the field.

The success of the first international field school in 2006 opened the door for the 2007 trip to Utah. The outcrops found in that state are world famous and provide peerless examples of eolian, fluvial, shoreface, and deltaic environments. So much so that oil companies from Calgary and around the world routinely send their employees to Utah for training in sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy. With this in mind, the Utah field course focused on clastics, and so Brian walked us through these environments with the help of his colleague Professor Luis Buatois, and Professor Darrel Long who was visiting from Laurentian University, Sudbury. Geology 343 students at the Great Salt Lake.

RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 37 25th Anniversary Squash Tourney Making a Racquet! | by David Caldwell

have a few new things that should please all of the dedicated sponsors.

One change to note for this year’s tourney is the date of the Registration Night. Traditionally it has been the Tuesday night before the tournament begins. It has now been moved to Monday February 4 to accommodate event scheduling conflicts with the Bow Valley Club.

Tucker Wireline Services will once again be leading the way as a Tournament Sponsor. Practice Nights have been set for Wednesday, January 23 and Tuesday, January 29 at the Bow Valley Club. As always, everyone is welcome to come down to the club for a few practice games, some snacks and beverages – all compliments of Tucker Wireline Services. It is also a good chance to size up the competition and/or socialize with Spectators enjoying the 2007 Squash Tournament. some of your fellow squash enthusiasts.

Well it’s time to dust off the squash gear and Megan Barefoot, Kristy Howe, Ryan Barnett, Please look for the 25th Anniversary back on the courts. The 25th Annual CSPG Warren Dublonko, Megan Huckvale, Randy Registration form on the CSPG Website Squash Tournament is just months away. Smith, Kris Jewett, Shawn Lafleur, and Kim under Events at http://www.cspg.org/events/ The date has been set for February 7 – 9, Maclean. Colin Thiessen and David Caldwell events-social-squash.cfm. 2008. Once again, the World Heath Club have agreed to Chair the tourney again this at Edgemont will proudly host the longest year. The event fills up quickly every year. There is running squash tournament in Calgary. a maximum player limit of 125. Some people The committee is always looking at new have begun to register already hoping to Look for bigger and better things this year as ways to improve sponsorship recognition. win the Early Bird prize. The registration the CSPG celebrates the 25th Anniversary Last year, a slide show was added with deadline is January 18, 2008. The tourney is of the Squash Tournament. New events may tournament pictures and corporate logos. open to all level of players from “A” for High include Doubles Squash, as the doubles court This slide show ran throughout the entire End players, through to “E” for beginners. nears completion at the World Heath Club weekend. This year, the committee hopes to Hope to see you there. in Edgemont. With very few facilities, such as the Bow Valley Club, offering doubles squash, it will not only be a great addition to the World Health Club but to our event.

The addition of doubles squash will allow people to play in more games and enjoy the fast and furious pace of this exciting version of squash. There are tentative plans to have a competitive and a recreational division in doubles squash, given that the courts are ready. This should add to the social aspect of the tournament and be great fun to watch. It will also allow the Squash Committee more opportunities to offer sponsors.

The Squash Committee has been hard at work since October planning all of the various activities at the event. The committee is very large again this year. It is comprised of: Jessie Gould, Travis Brookson, Kim MacLean and Colin Thieseen showing off their pipes.

38 RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 ROCK SHOP

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RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 39 Hot Talks on a Cool Place: The 2007 CSPG Honorary Address | by Heather Tyminski

attempted and failed by many over the last 400 years. MacInnis talked about his encounters with polar bears, hurricane- force storms, and unbearable weather that didn’t stop him from making his dream of conquering the passage come true.

While he recounted his adventure, he always related his experience to everyday life in order to impart some valuable life lessons to his audience. For example, he shared the fact that he originally knew nothing about sailing or navigating before the trip, and that he refused to let that stop him. This was important, for as he taught the audience, you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to.

Beauchamp’s address was equally fascinating, as he talked about the Arctic’s environment and geology. He discussed Jeff MacInnis captivating the audience with his arctic adventures. how climate change impacts the North the most; glaciers are visibly melting, which For the last 50 years the CSPG Honorary In an 18-foot catamaran, MacInnis and his is changing the habitat at an extreme Address has taught kids about geology, and colleague succeeded in a feat that had been rate. For the elementary and junior has promoted geosciences to the public; the 2007 CSPG Honorary Address was no different. Held on Wednesday, November 21, this year’s Honorary Address taught students and adults, non-geologists and geologists about the Arctic. Jeff MacInnis, the Polar Passage Explorer, captivated the audience with his story of his travels through the Northwest Passage, and Dr. Benoit Beauchamp, Director of the Arctic Institute of North America, excited the audience with his own presentation on what makes geology in the Arctic a “cool job in a hot place.”

As in previous years, the Honorary Address speakers first gave their presentations to an audience of students. 800 students attended the afternoon performance, and showed their enthusiasm to the presentation by peppering the speakers with questions afterwards. The numbers may have been lower than last year, but this was due to the shortage of bus drivers, among other reasons. However, the energy and excitement of the 800 kids was enough to fill the auditorium.

MacInnis’ presentation certainly incited this enthusiasm and excitement. MacInnis and a colleague became the first people in history to sail the Northwest Passage. Benoit Beauchamp explaining what makes arctic geology a cool job in a hot place.

40 RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 high students in the audience, he also to learn more about the geosciences: Brett Wrathall of Caltex, Jay Williams of remarked on how especially fascinating Arctic Institute of North America, Tucker Wireline Services, Alex Wills of the geology is in that region; because APEGGA, Calgary Science Network, Montane Resources Ltd., Alex Wright of there is so little vegetation, the geology is Calgary’s Youth and Science Fair, City SOUND Energy Trust, Penny Colton of easier too examine. Showing photographs of Calgary Waterworks CSEG, CSPG, Exploratech Service Ltd., Shawn LaFleur of the Arctic wildlife, his Arctic hikes and Komarevich Originals, Shiny Little Things, of ConocoPhillips, Dieter Deines of his helicopter trips, his younger and older and TELUS World of Science. ConocoPhillips, and Honorary Address audience could understand the appeal of a Chair Jennifer Dunn of ConocoPhillips. The career in Arctic geology. The silent auction this year was highly sponsors of this event are also important, successful, as it collected over $1,900 for as they supported the event. As in past years, the Honorary Address the CSPG Trust. also featured lobby displays and a silent The 50th annual CSPG Honorary Address auction before the presentations and None of this could have been possible was a resounding success, and we look during the intermission. The following without the Honorary Address Committee, forward to the 2008 Honorary Address. companies had lobby displays, giving who volunteered their time to make students and the general public a chance this happen. The Committee includes:

Thank you to the following sponsors for their generous contributions and support of the 2007 CSPG Honorary Address.

Marquee Sponsor

Presenting Sponsors Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors Media Partners

POWER

RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 41

CSPG VOLUNTEER PROFILE Talking to Astrid Arts | by Heather Tyminski

Bulletins are available now and the CSPG Luncheon … it’s not everyday you get to Memoirs are currently being converted to meet someone who’s been to the moon. digital format. Another memorable project for me was What other volunteer positions have when I started the Hunter Award during you held in the past at the CSPG? my time on the Executive. It is quite I started volunteering for the CSPG in humbling to consider the contributions 1999, when I had a minor role in the CSPG made by Hunter Award recipients like Clint Convention. I was Special Events Chair Tippett, Les Eliuk, Vic Panei, Ashton Embry, for the 2001 CSPG Rock the Foundation Jack Porter, and Ian MacIlreath. They have Convention, and then was the Publicity and given thousands of hours to the CSPG over Marketing Chair for the CSPG Diamond the past several decades. It was really nice Jubilee Convention in 2002. During the to start an award to recognize the huge 2001 and 2002 Conventions, I was also contributions these individuals have made responsible for the Convention websites. and continue to make to the society. From 2003 to 2005, I served on the board of the CSPG Trust and in 2004-2005; I was Could you offer some words of wisdom the Assistant/Services Director. I became to our CSPG members? Chair of the Electronic Communications I think that if you take part in any CSPG Committee in 2004. activity, such as the luncheons, conventions or if you read the Bulletin or Reservoir, you Why did you initially decide to should consider volunteering for the CSPG. volunteer? Without volunteers, all these events and People asked me to help. Regan Palsgrove services would end. asked if anyone wanted to help with the 2001 Annual Convention, and I said yes. If you want to start volunteering, participate Usually when you start volunteering, you in a CSPG Convention. You will meet a Astrid Arts, want something small, but somehow I was lot of people and while there may be a Chair of the Electronic suddenly in charge of all the convention significant time commitment, there is a Communications Committee social events and website. I thought I was fixed end date to your obligation, so you Number of Years as a CSPG Volunteer: 9 years in over my head! Then Gerry Reinson can always see the light at the end of the asked if I wanted to be a part of the 2002 tunnel. Volunteers get a lot of guidance What are you responsibilities as Convention Committee. Who can say no from the Convention office staff (so you Chair of the Electronic to Gerry? aren’t overwhelmed) and there’s also the Communications Committee? wonderful social aspect to the Convention As the current Chair, my main role is the Why have you continued to volunteer that you get to enjoy as an insider. maintenance of the CSPG website (www. for the CSPG? cspg.org). I enjoy it: it’s a bit of a hobby for me. Since What is your opinion of current I have decided to stay at home for the volunteerism in the CSPG? The CSPG’s first website was developed in next few years, it’s something I can do so I am amazed at the number of volunteers 1995 by Glenn Karlen. In 2005, I began work I don’t feel completely out of touch. I have the CSPG has. It is nice to have so many on a complete rebuild of the site. I first also met a lot of amazing people I wouldn’t people who give so freely of their time worked with the Public Affairs Committee have met any other way and continuing to without expecting anything in return. As and a graphic designer to create an “identity volunteer allows me to stay in contact with a society we really are leaders in the image” for the CSPG. That image can now them. number of services and events we offer be seen on the banner of the website as our members and we do most of it with well as other CSPG material. My main role What are some memorable moments volunteers. I think that in order to sustain now is to keep information on the website you have had as a volunteer? what we currently do, we need more people current and relevant. The most memorable moment was when in smaller roles. That way, each person will I got to meet Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 have a smaller time commitment but the Beyond the website, the Electronic astronaut and the only geologist to have work will still get done. Communications portfolio also includes the walked on the moon. I had watched the ENewsletter, which I initiated in February HBO series “From Earth to the Moon” We also need more young volunteers. Our 2005. I am also working on having more and I thought he would be a “cool” speaker membership will decline greatly when the CSPG publications digitized and made for the 2001 CSPG Convention. It was baby boomers retire and we will definitely available to members though AAPG amazing tracking him down, meeting him, need people to replace them and keep the Datapages and GeoScienceWorld. The and getting him to speak at a Convention society growing.

RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 43 To us, it’s all about making your career a big success. Choose from over 50 exciting field seminars and short courses all designed with the goal of helping you explore and better understand your industry. For complete details on any of the field seminars and short courses offered by the AAPG, call +1 918 560-2650 or visit http://www.aapg.org/education/

SHORT COURSES

Decision Methods And LNG Value Chain Management March 1 – 2, 2008 Manama, Bahrain, in conjunction with GEO-2008 Meeting William Haskett & Deborah Resley, Decision Strategies Inc., Houston, TX (Note: Registration handled thru GEO-Bahrain website, NOT AAPG. Go to http://www.geobahrain.org/ for complete meeting and registration information)

Basic Petroleum Geology for the Non-Geologist A joint course with AAPG and The University of Tulsa Continuing Engineering and Science Education Department March 25-27; April 15-17, 2008 Oklahoma City, OK (March); Houston, TX (April) Norman Hyne, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK http://www.aapg.org/education/shortcourse/details.cfm?ID=26

Principles of Reservoir Characterization April 7-8, 2008 Houston, TX Jeffrey Yarus, Landmark Graphics Corp., Houston, TX http://www.aapg.org/education/shortcourse/details.cfm?ID=105

Risk Analysis and Decision-Making in E & P: From Evaluating Plays and Prospects To Efficient Appraisal and Development April 19-20, 2008 San Antonio, TX, with AAPG Annual Meeting P. Jeffrey Brown, Decision Strategies, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN; Patrick Leach, Decision Strategies Inc., Missouri City, TX http://www.aapg.org/education/shortcourse/details.cfm?ID=68

FIELD SEMINARS

Deepwater Clastic Deposits March 17-21, 2008 Begins and ends in Little Rock, AR Roger M. Slatt, Director, Institute of Reservoir Characterization, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK; Charles G. Stone, Arkansas Geological Commission (ret.), Little Rock AR; Rob- ert Davis, Schlumberger Oilfield Services, Oklahoma City, OK http://www.aapg.org/education/fieldseminars/details.cfm?ID=10

Deep-Water Siliciclastic Reservoirs, California April 13-18, 2008 Begins in Palo Alto and ends at the airport in San Francisco, California Stephan Graham and Donald R. Lowe, Stanford University, Stanford, CA http://www.aapg.org/education/fieldseminars/details.cfm?ID=17

Clastic Reservoir Facies and Sequence Stratigraphic Analysis of Alluvial Plain, Shoreface, Deltaic, and Shelf Depositional Systems April 2008. Check website for latest scheduling details. Begins and ends in Salt Lake City, Utah Thomas A. Ryer, The ARIES Group, LLC, Katy, TX http://www.aapg.org/education/fieldseminars/details.cfm?ID=9

For more info or to enroll call +1 918 560-2650 or visit http://www.aapg.org/education/ More science than you can shake a pick at. CSPG Awards 2007 The following is the list of recipients for the 2007 CSPG Awards. Please see your March 2008 Bulletin for full citations.

Stanley Slipper Gold Medal Ben Mckenzie Jim Davidson

TBA David Middleton Graham Davies

RJW Douglas Medal Kevin Root Jeff Deere

Dr. Ed Landing Scott Rose Ian Dewolfe

President’s Special Award Don Simmons Steve Donaldson

John Varsek Colin Thiessen Angela Dowd

John Townsley Clint Tippett Jon Downton

Link Award Godfried Wasser Warren Dublonko

TBA Karen Webster Ken Duckworth

Honorary Membership Volunteer Awards Mark Dzikowski

Phil S. Simony Jennifer Adams Neil Ethier

Neil Hutton Paul Anderson Ned Etris

Medal Of Merit Kathy Aulstead John Evans

Graham Davies Richard Bale Andrew Fox

Langhorne Smith Ryan Barnett Riona Freeman

H. M. Hunter Award Kim Bastedo Jeremy Gallop

Bill Ayrton Philip Benham Nilanjan Ganguly

Memory Marshall Dan Boudreault David Garner

Track Awards Peter Boyle Hugh Geiger

Benoit Beauchamp Travis Brookson Murray Gingras

Jon Dudley Mark Caplan Bill Goodway

Kris Jewett Mike Cardell Ian Gordon

Gerry Reinson Al Carswell Lisa Griffith

Service Awards Sylvstre Charles Ayaz Gulamhussein

Wes Bader Robert Chelak Chris Haberny

Tony Cadrin Satinder Chopra Matt Hall

David Caldwell Penny Christensen Anne Halliday

Greg Cave Carter Clarkson Brian Hargreaves

Gela Crane Sheila Conner Tim Hartel

Peter Fermor Michael Crawford Michelle Hawke

Fiona Katay Martin Dashwood Doug Hayden

(Continued on page 46...)

RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 45 (...Continued from page 45) Stuart Mitchell Rick Wierzbicki

Sean Hayes David Mitrovica Dick Willott

Ken Hedlin Jessie Mitton Hugh Wishart

Fran Hein Cody Muhle Jolene Wood

Dawn Hodgins Megan Namespetra Keith Yaxley

John Hogg Rachel Newrick OUTREACH AWARDS

Norm Hopkins Guillaume Nolet Andrew D. Baillie Award - Paper

Steve Hubbard Kirk Osadetz Chad Glemser

Megan Huckvale Mike Pacholek Andrew D. Baillie Award - Poster

Heather Hunt Regan Palsgrove Michelle Martin

Lee Hunt Vic Panei Region Grad Scholar - West

Jamie Jamison Brenda Pearson Andrew Mumpy

Krista Jewett Bob Potter Region Grad Scholar - Central

Dennis Johnston Indy Raychaudhuri Zishann Khan

Sam Kaplan Weishan Ren Region Grad Scholar - East

Don Keith Cindy Riediger Stephen Schwartz

Ian Kirkland Laurie Ross Reg Undergrad Scholar - West

Cindy Koo Al Rutherford Andrea Wolter

Craig Lamb Mauricio Sacchi Reg Undergrad Scholar - Central

Malcolm Lamb Rob Scammell Michael Babechuk

Ron Larson Chris Seibel Reg Undergrad Scholar - East

Don Lawton Wendy Shier Tiffany Piercey

John Lefebure Stacia Skappak PhD Thesis Award

John Logel Randy Smith Michael C. Rygel

Greg Lynch Jennifer Squance PhD Thesis Honorable Mention

Therese Lynch Rick Steedman None Awarded

Adam Macdonald Darren Steffes MSc Thesis Award

Elizabeth Macinnes Rob Stewart Michael Hay

Paul Mackay Joe Stuhec MSc Thesis Honourable Mention

Christine Manion Kathy Taerum Shellie Jober

Andrea Marsh Rainer Tonn We will announce the recipients of the Blair Mattison Tony Wain ConocoPhillips Glen Ruby Scholarship, The Cast Award, The J.B. Webb Award, Chris May Juefu Wang and The CSPG Undergrad Awards at a Ian Mcilreath Marian Warren later date.

Kevin Meyer Kathy Waters

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RESERVOIR ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2008 47 rox_cspg_jan.qxd 5/1/07 12:32 pm Page 1

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