May 2008 Explorer

Vol. 29, No. 5 May 2008

MAY 2008 3

On the cover: One of AAPG’s most popular field trips is the Lewis & Clark Geotour: “Marias River to Gates of the Mountains, Montana,” an adventure that takes place July 12-17 and offers participants whitewater float trips, canoe trips and other excursions on and around the Missouri River in a geology-oriented journey that is scientific, historical and fun. Feeling adventuresome? There’s still time to get your feet wet – contact the AAPG education department, or go online to www.aapg.org, for more details. Photo by AAPG member Denise Stone.

Want your voice to be heard? Time is running out on your 4 chance to vote for this year’s AAPG officer candidates: The voting deadline is May 15.

Myth busting: Conventional wisdom may suggest that the 8 Gulf of Mexico has seen its best days, but some geologists believe the region’s best days lie ahead. Photo by Sam Samford Honored recently by the Roswell Geological Society were (from left) AAPG President It’s a mystery – but maybe not for much longer. The 12 Willard “Will” Green, Carl A. Shellinger, Edward K. “Eddie” David, George M.Yates, Blackbeard West well, a tight hole that’s been on hold since Patrick J. F.“Pat” Gratton, A. T. “Toby” Carlton, Phelps Anderson and H. Lee Harvard. 2006, has a new operator who is excited about its future.

Let the exploration begin: Libya, a country for years off-limits 16 to U.S. investment and operations, is finally on the menu. Have You Considered Happy birthday to them! Saudi Aramco celebrates its 75th 19 anniversary this month, and we take a look back at its creation – an event that took place even though no one knew if Saudi Submitting a Paper? Arabia had any oil potential at all. By WILLARD ‘Will’ GREEN APPEX and Aberdeen AAPG relies on the significant In early March I traveled to London for contributions of members to make our APPEX (AAPG Prospect and Property Dr. T and the Women (no, not the movie): AAPG President- 21 publications the best. We actively seek Expo), which was the best-attended Expo Elect Scott Tinker, speaking in Bahrain, discusses the manuscripts for the AAPG BULLETIN and to date with over 450 registrants. proposals for Special Publications. South Africa, host country for this importance of attracting women to the geoscience work force – Consider these observations: year’s AAPG International Conference and how to anticipate and overcome the challenges ahead. E&P Notes are very popular with and Exhibition in Cape Town, had a large BULLETIN readers. If you are working on booth in the exhibit hall, and Iceland had an interesting exploration play or have a a booth to give notice The Good, the Bad and the (Possibly) Ugly: An AAPG 22 useful field description, consider of the country’s first- member assesses Iraq and the Middle East in terms of submitting a manuscript. ever licensing round in Geohorizons BULLETIN papers early 2009. General hydrocarbon potential, probabilities and possible consequences. focus on current technical methods. If Chair Mike Lakin and you have a unique way to solve a committee did a fine geotechnical problem, a brief job of organizing the Geohorizons manuscript will spread the Expo. word. From London I flew Discussions and Replies in the to Aberdeen to visit the Geophysical Corner 32 Membership and Certification 48 BULLETIN allow you to expand on a University of Aberdeen Washington Watch 34 Readers’ Forum 52 published paper. While many readers Green and the Aberdeen think “Discussions” primarily serves to Explorer’s Club. My Spotlight On … 36 In Memory 52 correct a published paper, Discussions schedule included meetings with the Professional News Briefs 38 Classified Ads 56 also can be used to extend good work. university principal and vice principal, If you have more to share than a single and sessions with a third year geology Foundation Update 42 Director’s Corner 58 paper, consider submitting a proposal for class and the integrated petroleum a Special Publication. The AAPG geology MSc class. Many of these Regions and Sections 44 EMD Column 58 BULLETIN and Special Publications are graduate students already have www.Update 46 among the most highly valued member accepted jobs in the petroleum industry. services. Many thanks to Colin North, David Like just about everything else in life, Macdonald, Andrew Hurst and Ali advances in the electronic world are MacLeod for arranging my visit. It has AAPG Headquarters – 1-800-364-2274 (U.S. & Canada only), others 1-918-584-2555 changing the way AAPG publishes. For become traditional for AAPG presidents Communications Director Correspondents Advertising Coordinator example: to visit the University of Aberdeen – and Larry Nation David Brown Brenda Merideth The electronic BULLETIN allows us I’m glad I did! e-mail: [email protected] Louise S. Durham P.O. Box 979 to do more with color, oversize images Barry Friedman Tulsa, Okla. 74101 and data archiving. Middle East Region Managing Editor Kathy Shirley telephone: (918) 560-2647 Special Publications now come in a The Middle East Region is taking giant Vern Stefanic (U.S. and Canada only: variety of formats – from all print to all steps forward. GEO 2008 in Bahrain e-mail: [email protected] Graphics/Production 1-800-288-7636) electronic – to best deliver timely (held the same week as APPEX), Rusty Johnson (Note: The above number is for technical information. attended by Rick Fritz and President- Editorial Assistant e-mail: [email protected] advertising purposes only.) The “Getting Started …” series, Elect Scott Tinker, was a great success Susie Moore fax: (918) 560-2636 championed by the AAPG Publications with over 4,400 participants. e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Committee and Vice Chair Terri Olson, Our new director of the AAPG Middle recently delivered its tenth CD, “Getting East office planned in Bahrain, Abeer Al Started in 3-D Seismic Technology,” by Zubaidi, is on board and attended the Vol. 29, No. 5 The AAPG EXPLORER (ISSN 0195-2986) is published monthly for members. Published at AAPG headquarters, 1444 S. Bruce Hart. In fact, we also will have the AAPG Convention in San Antonio. Boulder Ave., P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, Okla. 74101, (918) 584-2555. e-mail address: [email protected] Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa, Okla., and at additional mailing offices. Printed in the U.S.A. eleventh volume out by May, “Getting And more recently, the process of Note to members: $6 of annual dues pays for one year’s subscription to the EXPLORER. Airmail service for members: $45. Started in Sequence Stratigraphy,” by organizing a Student Chapter at the Subscription rates for non-members: $63 for 12 issues; add $67 for airmail service. Advertising rates: Contact Brenda Merideth, AAPG headquarters. Subscriptions: Contact Veta McCoy, AAPG headquarters. Unsolicited manuscripts, Shuji Yoshida. University of Kuwait has begun. photographs and videos must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope to ensure return. High-quality science publications like The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) does not endorse or recommend any products or services that these help AAPG members find and Roswell Geological Society may be cited, used or discussed in AAPG publications or in presentations at events associated with AAPG. produce oil and gas. March 18 was a memorable day: I Copyright 2008 by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved. Consider sharing your work with attended and presented a program at the POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to AAPG EXPLORER, P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, Okla. 74101. others. For more information, contact Roswell (N.M.) Geological Society’s Canada Publication Number 40046336. AAPG Editor Gretchen Gillis at “Local National Leaders Recognition Return undeliverable Canadian address to: P.O. Box 503 • RPO West Beaver Creek • Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4R6 [email protected]. See President, next page MAY 2008 4 Balloting deadline is May 15 The Time to Cast Your Vote is Now There’s still time to vote in this year’s assigned code, referred to as an ballots for offices with more than two will be deemed those voters’ first AAPG officer election, but time is “E-Signature.” Both numbers have been candidates provide voting in order of choice. The process is repeated until a running out. provided in your e-mail notification or on preference; the candidate receiving a candidate receives a majority vote. Members can vote online by the paper ballot, and can be used only majority of the “first choice” votes is Also on the ballot are candidates for accessing the AAPG Officer Election one time. elected. vice president-Sections and treasurer. icon on www.aapg.org through May 15 Those who receive a paper ballot can Previously, the candidate with the Races for secretary and vice president- noon CDT. instead to choose to vote online; most votes was declared the winner Regions will be on next year’s ballot. Members should cast their ballot however, do not also return the paper without regard to a majority tally. Voting results will be announced online if possible; AAPG has switched to ballot. The new process allows for online and in the June EXPLORER. the electronic voting method to reduce User support is available online. determination of a majority without a The candidate slate is: election costs, especially postage. In the president-elect election costly and time-consuming run-off. This year, AAPG mailed paper ballots members will chose from three If no candidate receives a majority of President-Elect to those members who do NOT have a candidates – two nominated by the the “first choice” votes cast, then the Ë John C. Lorenz, Geoflight LLC, valid e-mail address or to those whose Advisory Council and a candidate who candidate who received the least Edgewood, N.M. e-mail addresses bounced back as non- filed a petition to be on the ballot. Voters number of “first choice” votes shall be Ë Dwight M. “Clint Moore, vice- deliverable. are instructed to cast the vote in order of dropped from consideration, and the president-corporate development, ION To cast your vote, you will need both preference. second choices of those voters whose Geophysical, Houston (petition your AAPG member number and an In a Bylaws change effective in 2006, first choice was the dropped candidate candidate). Ë Ronald A. Nelson, Broken N Consulting, Cat Spring, Texas.

EF·FI·CIEN·CY –noun. Vice President-Sections Ë David H. Hawk, Energy Analysis and Answers/Consultant, Boise, Idaho. Ë W.C. “Rusty” Riese, BP Americas, Katy, Texas.

Treasurer Ë Edith C. Allison, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. Ë Kay L. Pitts, Aera Energy LLC, Bakersfield, Calif. J

President from previous page

Night,” when the RGS recognized and honored 12 residents and former residents for giving their time and expertise to serve their business and social communities. Considering Roswell’s relatively small size (50,000 population now), it’s unique that so many have served as presidents, chairmen or CEOs of national or international organizations. The first 10 years of my career were in Roswell as an exploration geologist for Shell Oil Co. Past AAPG presidents Pat Gratton, Eddie David and Toby Carleton were present and also received recognition. Pat grew up in Roswell and returned after college to work for Shell in 1957 before moving to Dallas as an independent; he also served as president of SIPES. Eddie moved to Roswell as a geologist for Texaco in 1. the state or quality of being efficient; competency in performance. 1962 and continues to live and work 2. skillfulness in avoiding wasted time and effort. there with his own E&P company. Toby, also a past president of SIPES, now Whether it’s a skilled field crew striving for flawless execution at your wellsite, resides in Midland, Texas, working as a a dedicated geoscience team evaluating your reservoir, or a PhD-degreed scientist geologist and rancher. Also present were current Roswell developing next-generation technologies, each and every Baker Atlas employee is citizens who have been president of committed to efficiently delivering the quality information you need to help define, AAPL (Carl Schellinger) and IPAA reduce and manage your risk. (George Yates). Former Roswell resident Robert O. Anderson, past chairman and When those sheave wheels turn and the wireline conveys Baker Atlas services into your CEO of Atlantic Refining Co., was honored posthumously. well, feel confident that you’ve made The Best Choice for efficient reservoir evaluation. RGS president Lee Harvard, owner of Baker Atlas is The Best Choice. Harvard Petroleum, organized an outstanding, fun event.

MAY 2008 5

Collaborate. Innovate. Deliver.

Today, there are no easy answers. As you take on adding reserves in more complex and remote environments, the challenge is leveraging technology to reduce uncertainty and improve investment decisions. Schlumberger Information Solutions brings seismic-to-simulation solutions that unlock the potential of your exploration teams. “New volume approaches to fault interpretation in the Petrel* software, when closely linked to model building, offer highly efficient workflows for generating 3D structural models.”—Ru Smith, Project Manager

Breakthrough Team Performance

www.slb.com/sis

MAY 2008 6

MAY 2008 7

MAY 2008 8 Lots of room to explore – but access limited New Ideas Keep GoM a Prime Target

By LOUISE S. DURHAM the Florida coast off limits to drilling for EXPLORER Correspondent more than two decades, Blickwede noted. In the early 1990s Gulf of Mexico To date, only about 70 wells have production had dropped below 20-year been drilled in this entire eastern Gulf record low levels, and much of the area, even though a number of promising industry was off looking for finds plays have been identified (see related anywhere but the Gulf. story, page 14). Then, in 1993, Anadarko announced A prospect in one of these plays – its Mahogany subsalt discovery, igniting a Destin Dome, offshore the Florida whole new play in the Gulf’s extensive panhandle – was the site of a 2-3 tcf subsalt environs. discovery about 30 years ago. Political Add the deep gas play and the ever- intervention on both the federal and increasing action in the deep water, and (Florida) state level put the skids on the Gulf became and remains a top developing this significant resource. producer for the energy-gorging United The Yucatan platform of Mexico also States, where most offshore regions have looms as a promising locale for GoM been declared off-limits for drilling. exploration. It encompasses an area One of the more recent high points in about three-fourths the size of the North the Gulf’s long history was the successful Sea, yet only about 50 wells have been production test of Chevron’s Jack #2 well Photo courtesy of Chevron drilled here – most without the benefit of in 2006 at Walker Ridge in the deepwater modern seismic. The Chevron Jack #2 well at Walker Ridge represents one of the recent high points in Lower Tertiary Wilcox trend. The well was The eastern margin of the intra- the Gulf of Mexico’s storied history. The well, in the deepwater Lower Tertiary Wilcox drilled to 25,000 feet subsea in 7,000 feet platform basin on the Mexican side is trend, was drilled to 25,000 feet subsea in 7,000 feet of water, and tested 6,000 bopd. of water and tested 6,000 bopd. probably the best place to pursue this The test triggered a near-frenzy in the geologists that any perceived as having any potential. play, Blickwede said, as the westward tilt mainstream media once potential significant sands would “It’s a myth that the Gulf is in its elder of the Yucatan platform would favor recovery for the entire play was be encountered this far years and played out,” Blickwede added. secondary migration toward the east. publicized to be in the billions of barrels. out in the basin,” said “In the geographic sense, most of the This play has a pedigree of sorts. The highly touted Jack well actually AAPG member Jon Gulf of Mexico basin is under-explored, “The intra-platform basin as it’s followed a string of significant deepwater Blickwede, senior staff and some of the best global exploration conceived has one of the best analogs discoveries in the Lower Wilcox, dating geologist with Statoil’s opportunities are sitting under our imaginable,” Blickwede noted. “It has back to 2001. Global Exploration- noses.” elements analogous to the super giant Only a few years prior to these Americas division in accumulations of the Arabian platform.” discoveries, few geoscientists envisioned Houston. “The Challenges and Obstacles Yucatan’s petroleum potential has the presence of any significant Paleogene Blickwede deepwater Wilcox play been documented by one major sands in the deepwater Gulf, let alone is a good example of But there are challenges – of various discovery in northern Guatemala – the hundreds of feet of net sand spread how the Gulf province continues to kinds. Xan Field – and two smaller discoveries across a vast area of the present-day surprise us in terms of discovering new Both federal and state political in Belize. lower continental slope and abyssal plain. resources in parts of the stratigraphic posturing has kept the geologically “It came as a surprise to many section that industry had not previously promising eastern one-third of the GoM off See Future Plays, page 10

PETRA® “With PETRA I can generate water saturation curves and update HPV maps within minutes of receiving digital logs. Now that’s staying astride of your drilling!”

Christopher Collom, Ph.D. Senior Geologist, enerPLUS Resources Fund

Download your free PETRA trial at ihs.com/petraconnect

Get real-time log analysis. PETRA provides multi-discipline reservoir management teams with the analysis tools needed for today’s exploration, exploitation and acquisition challenges.

MAY 2008 9

MAY 2008 10

“But I’m suggesting it may be much Future Plays t’s a great time in the industry for more extensive geographically,” he from page 8 added, “and under certain conditions of “Iexplorationists to be creative and bring diagenesis or deformation it may be a viable reservoir target in other parts of new ideas forward.” the basin where we may not have considered it before.” There’s been considerable attention focused on drilling off the coast of Cuba, Going Deeper which has the smallest and least Mexican Gulf Targets Gulf-wide Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary explored offshore area of the three mass transport breccias. Given the once-inconceivable find of countries having sovereignty over the Across the Gulf to the west from This complex clastic, or “cocktail,” great volumes of Lower Tertiary Wilcox GoM. Cuba, the Mexican sector of the unit at the K-T boundary has been sands in the deep basin, there’s some A well drilled in the offshore Cuban deepwater is perhaps the most demonstrated to be the main reservoir in head-scratching as to just how deep in sector three years ago was rumored to promising under-explored Gulf area. giant fields in Mexico’s Bay of the stratigraphic section the operators have been a discovery, according to Fewer than 10 wells have been drilled in Campeche. Outside of this locale and might go. Blickwede. water depths greater than 500 meters, also western Cuba where it’s a Outside the eastern Gulf, the A number of countries are cozying up Blickwede noted. productive reservoir as well, it would be Mesozoic has not been actively pursued to the Cuban government to get on In contrast, about 1,800 wells have a new play. in the U.S. offshore GoM. An exception board to drill in waters reportedly as gone down in these same depths “Most people perceive the K-T was Shell’s Baja #2 well drilled in 2000 in close to Florida as 50 miles – an ironic offshore Texas and Louisiana. boundary breccia to be restricted Alaminos Canyon Block 557, which twist given the moratorium covering The more highly explored areas of perhaps to just the immediate area penetrated a section at least as old as most of the eastern Gulf. the GoM also hold plenty of potential for around Chicxulub crater in Mexican the Lower Cretaceous, according to new plays – and one of these entails the waters,” Blickwede said. Blickwede. Effective porosity and permeability can be limiting factors as one goes deeper in the section, but there are examples of high porosity and permeability being preserved at great depths. “In the northeastern Gulf in the Jurassic Norphlet play in those aeolian sands offshore from Mobile Bay, there are some significant gas accumulations below 25,000 feet subsea with porosities above 20 percent and associated good permeabilities,” Blickwede said. “In that case, it’s been documented that it’s apparently due to very continuous clay coatings on quartz grains, which protect the sands from cementing up with quartz overgrowth cement – which at those depths and temperatures is what you’d most worry about in a highly quartzose sand like the Norphlet. “There are parts of the Cretaceous in the Tuscaloosa where a similar phenomenon occurs. “The porosity basement in terms of depth of burial is difficult to put a firm number on,” Blickwede noted. “It sort of depends on the composition and diagenetic conditions of the sand.” Carbonates are a different breed of cat. “Carbonates don’t necessarily have to be exposed to fresh water to develop good porosity and permeability post deposition,” Blickwede said. “Hydrothermal fluids from below can come into contact with carbonates, and the organic acids in those fluids can post-depositionally develop good porosity and permeability. “So there are scenarios where probing deeper doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll run out of effective porosity.”

First, Some Questions

If you’re determined to head out to the deepwater Gulf with the goal of identifying new plays in under-explored parts of the stratigraphic column, Blickwede has a to-do list: Question paradigms – the deepwater Wilcox is a good example. Look for anomalies, exceptions to the rule. Use your understanding of the regional geology for clues, and evaluate whether the play concepts make sense in the regional context. Push the data, especially the seismic, to its limits. But he, like so many others, believes the time is right to make good things happen. “It’s a great time in the industry for explorationists to be creative and bring new ideas forward,” Blickwede said. “The state of the industry is very aggressive now, and there’s a heightened receptiveness to new ideas or exploration concepts.” J

MAY 2008 11

HALLIBURTON WIRELINE AND PERFORATING SERVICES

the LOGIQ™ Platform Now you get laboratory precision and rock-solid reliability — no compromise.

Gone are the days when you had to choose between precision

and reliability. Halliburton’s LOGIQTM platform for openhole

wireline logging services is the industry breakthrough that

delivers it all.

Encompassing advanced downhole logging tools, a higher

data rate telemetry system and our powerful PC-based

LOGIQ surface system, it also features a dramatic reduction

in the length and weight of downhole tools without penalty

in temperature or pressure rating specifications. And with that

shorter logging tool string comes a much lower potential for

sticking.All this with superior service quality.

Halliburton Wireline and Perforating Services.

All things considered, the logical choice. For the rest of

the story, visit us at www.halliburton.com/wireline.

Unleash the energy.™

HALLIBURTON

MAY 2008 12 GoM test intrigues Shallow Water, Deep Miocene Play

By LOUISE S. DURHAM quick to say, “I cut my eye teeth doing EXPLORER Correspondent work onshore in the deep Miocene.” There was mystery and a lot of unanswered questions surrounding the 32 Prospects, 17 Discoveries mega-deep Blackbeard West well that spudded early in 2005 at South Timbalier It was a natural progression to Block 168 on the shallow water Gulf of ultimately move onto the shelf to apply Mexico shelf. the deep Miocene exploration As tight holes go, this may have been techniques honed in the onshore as tight as any has been in industry environment. history, spawning rampant rumors and In fact, McMoRan assembled speculation as it headed for a near- exploration rights to 1.5 million gross world-record target depth of 38,000 feet acres to pursue hydrocarbons in the in the quest for ultra-deep gas (>25,000 deep Miocene geological trend beneath feet). historical or existing production in The well spudded during the time shallow waters. So far, they have racked when the shallow water deep gas play up 17 discoveries on 32 prospects (15,000 to 25,000 feet) was essentially drilled since 2004. the domestic exploration event of the “The importance is not only have we moment. found production, but we’re able to see Some of the savvier deep gas players these wells flow at rates substantially met with success and continue playing higher than the Plio-Pleistocene,” Moffett this trend today, while others faded from said. “There, an average well would be the picture after a few costly Photos, graphics courtesy of McMoRan 10 million (cubic feet) a day, and a big unproductive deep holes. A production test announced in early April for McMoRan’s Flatrock #2 well at South one would be 20 to 25, but we’re getting As for that eagerly anticipated ultra- Marsh Island indicated a gross flow rate of approximately 103 mmcf/d, 1,890 b/d of completions that flow at 30 to 60.” deep test at Blackbeard, the project has condensate and no water. The well was drilled in 10 feet of water and bottomed out A production test announced in early been on hold since August 2006, when slightly deeper than 18,000 feet. April for the company’s Flatrock #2 well the Blackbeard West well was at South Marsh Island indicated a gross temporarily abandoned by operator This past March McMoRan re-entered Plains Exploration and flow rate of approximately 103 mmcf/d, ExxonMobil. The well reached a the Blackbeard West well, which sits in Production Co. and 1,890 b/d of condensate and no water. measured depth of 30,067 feet, 70 feet of water. The plan is to drill to a Energy XXI (Bermuda). The well was drilled in 10 feet of water reportedly running up a tab somewhere proposed total depth of 31,267 feet to It’s all about the and bottomed out slightly deeper than above $200 million. evaluate the deeper targets – and deep Miocene rocks, 18,000 feet. Enter seasoned shallow water deep possibly deepen the hole to as much as something near and When the shallow water deep gas gas player McMoRan Exploration. 33,000 feet. dear to the heart of play first kicked off, many prospectors The company acquired the rights to At press time, the drill bit had reached veteran geologist were concerned about the quality of the the Blackbeard project when it 27,000 feet. James Moffett, co- sands in the deeper pressured purchased the Newfield Gulf of Mexico The Rowan Gorilla IV rig is drilling the chairman of the board shelf properties in 2007. well for operator McMoRan and partners Moffett at McMoRan – he’s continued on next page

MAY 2008 13 continued from previous page the deep gas fold belt that’s been delineated in the deep water is more of a compressional feature. reservoirs. “The geological style changes at “We knew from onshore they had a lot about 25,000 feet, and you go below the of gas,” Moffett said. “Below the traditional tectonics of the deep gas play geopressure there was high quality sand I’ve been playing,” Moffett said, “and you that had good flow rates in the Planulina, go into the fold belt of the Miocene that’s Hollywood, Hackberry – to name a few of been basically calibrated out in the so-called deeper gas (reservoirs) deepwater.” onshore – and we’ve been able to Moffett noted that the structures seen confirm those kinds of quality sands do in the traditional deep gas play can be exist on these deep structures. quite large – as much as 3,000 to 5,000 “If you’ve got the structure and the acres, which they think may apply to high quality sands with the high flow Flatrock. But the structures in the deep rates, that’s what will make these deep water and what appear to be the same wells feasible,” he said. “Blackbeard is structures and same age rocks in the just a continuation of the same concept. ultra-deep (play) are substantially larger “The ultra-deep play at Blackbeard is – 10,000 to 15,000 acres. to test to see if the same sands exist The discoveries reported at fields even deeper than our original deeper such as Thunder Horse, Mad Dog and gas sands concept as you go out into others are in deep water, but the sands the deeper part of the shelf,” he said. are the same age as what appears to be The intrepid explorer emphasized that in the ultra-deep section on the shelf, even though the current modern day according to Moffett. shelf is what everyone sees, it had no In a sense, Blackbeard might be impact on Miocene deposition. considered to be a stratigraphic test. The “The controlling feature for Miocene structures can be seen via 3-D data, so deposition in the Gulf Coast was the the challenge is to confirm that the shelf at Miocene time, which was north of prolific deep sands from the deepwater the current coastline,” Moffett said. gas play do, in fact, exist underneath the “If you draw a line along the shelf shelf. edge today and move it back to the north “Logic says they should, because all and put it onshore you can see all of a the sands, we believe, came from the sudden that all of this deepwater deep Mississippi River to the north,” Moffett gas and shelf deep gas (sands) were said. being deposited in the same Miocene “If they’re in deepwater, some of them basin just off the mouth of the Mississippi had to come across the shelf – that’s our River, which is the source of all the play in a nutshell.” sand.” For now, intrigue is the name of the game. A Stratigraphic Test? “Until we get in the new hole and test our concepts and prove these sands Moffett noted the shelf play they have exist or if there was some barrier to been drilling is in what they call the deposition, everybody has to hold their traditional trapdoor normal fault breath,” Moffett said. tectonics, which occurred in an “We should know something in the extension type pressure regime, whereas next several months.” J

MAY 2008 14 Eastern sale notable Gulf Tracts Attract Premium Bids advancements in deepwater technology. By LOUISE S. DURHAM The top five companies submitting the highest dollar amount of high bids for Sale 206: EXPLORER Correspondent Eastern Gulf Sale 224 comprises 118 Two federal sales of offshore Hess Corporation – 25 ($437,541,152) whole or partial unleased blocks spread hydrocarbon leases in the eastern and Cobalt International Energy, L.P. – 36 ($389,056,079) over 546,971 acres in the Eastern central Gulf of Mexico garnered more BP Exploration & Production Inc. – 63 ($336,575,445) Planning Area. The acreage occurs south than $3.7 billion in high bids in March, ConocoPhillips Company – 20 ($323,891,298) of the Florida Panhandle and west of the according to the U.S. Minerals Chevron U.S.A. Inc. – 49 ($240,987,863) Military Mission Line in water depths that Management Service (MMS), which range between 2,657 feet and 10,213 conducted the sales. The top five bids for Sale 206: feet. In fact, Sale 206 in the central Gulf Anadarko E&P/Murphy E&P/Samson Offshore – Green Canyon/432 ($105,600,789) Sale 224 is historic in a sense in that attracted $3.67 billion, which set a record it’s the first sale where the revenue Marathon Oil/Hess Corporation – Walker Ridge/226 ($93,024,910) for high bids since area-wide leasing sharing provisions of the Gulf of Mexico Cobalt International Energy, L.P. – Green Canyon/858 ($85,418,889) initially began in 1983. The sale received Energy Security Act of 2006 begin 1,057 bids from 85 companies on 615 Chevron U.S.A. – Green Canyon/945 ($81,063,073) immediately, according to the MMS. tracts. Cobalt International Energy, L.P. – Keathley Canyon/163 ($74,418,889) Producing Gulf states Alabama, Eastern Gulf Sale 224 garnered 58 Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas will bids from six companies on 36 tracts, The top five companies submitting the highest dollar amount of high bids for Sale 224: share in 37.5 percent of the high bids on yielding $64.7 million in high bids. BHP Billiton Petroleum (Deepwater) Inc. – 27 ($47,858,420) whole and partial blocks in the Eastern It is noteworthy that these sales Anadarko E&P Company LP – 7 ($12,754,728) Planning area. These four states also will inaugurated enhanced revenue sharing Murphy Exploration & Production Company – 7 ($3,188,682) share in 37.5 percent of all future with oil and gas producing Gulf states, Eni Petroleum US LLC – 1 ($527,006) revenues generated from the acreage along with higher royalty rates, indicative Shell Offshore Inc – 1 ($384,377) leased in March in the Eastern Planning of the region’s vital role in the nation’s Area. No royalty relief will be issued with energy supply. The top five bids for Sale 224: the leases. The more-than-7,000 leases in the Gulf Anadarko E&P Company LP/Murphy Exploration & Production Co. - Lloyd Ridge/289 For the central Gulf Sale 206, the account for 25 percent of the United royalty rate for blocks in all GoM water ($8,049,750) States’ domestic oil supply and 15 depths is increased to 18.75 percent from BHP Billiton Petroleum (Deepwater) Inc – De Soto Canyon/680 ($5,285,555) percent of domestically produced natural 16.66 percent. gas, the MMS noted. More than 30,000 BPH Billiton Petroleum (Deepwater) Inc – De Soto Canyon/681 ($5,285,555) The new revenue sharing provision will jobs are directly related to Gulf energy BPH Billiton Petroleum (Deepwater) Inc – De Soto Canyon/725 ($5,285,555) provide funds to help the four Gulf exploration and production. BHP Billiton Petroleum (Deepwater) Inc – De Soto Canyon/726 ($5,285,555) producing states meet the educational, Central Gulf Sale 206 offered 5,569 environmental and infrastructure needs of tracts comprising approximately 29.8 attracted bids in Sale 206 are in ultra- figures). The bid was submitted by their communities, according to Randall million acres in federal areas offshore deep water greater than 5,249 feet, MMS Anadarko, Murphy E&P (USA) and Luthi, director of the MMS. Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The reported. Lloyd Ridge Block 286 in Samson Offshore. Lease Sale 224 is the only sale lease area occurs between three and 230 slightly more than 10,000 feet of water The MMS asserted the high level of scheduled for the eastern GoM under the miles offshore in water depths ranging was the deepest tract to receive a bid. industry interest in the deepwater and current Five Year Outer Continental Shelf from close to 10 feet to more than 11,200 The top bid received for a block was ultra-deepwater areas of the central Gulf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The feet. $105,600,789, proffered for Green is being sustained by the information acreage included in Sale 224 was last About 34 percent of the tracts that Canyon Block 432 (see accompanying gained through new discoveries and the available for lease in 1988. J

Beneﬁt from the knowledge gained through our highly successful North American joint industry project focused on tight gas sands. Core Laboratories is now offering the industry’s most comprehensive evaluation of tight gas sands for INTEGRATED RESERVOIR projects worldwide. SOLUTIONS DIVISION Reduce Risk and UNITED STATES Increase Success Tel: +1-713-328-2673

Access to the Largest Tight Gas Sands V UNITED KINGDOM Database in the Industry Tel: +44-173-785-2390 V Detailed Core-Based Reservoir Characterization V Rock-log Calibration and www.corelab.com/IRS/studies/tgs Petrophysical Modeling email: [email protected] V 3-D Fracture Design and Completions V Fracture Production Forecasting V Real Time Monitoring V Post-Frac Evaluation

MAY 2008 15

Who is going to help find the energy for a global population expected to grow 20% by 2025?

Join us, and you will.

At Chevron, you can be part of a global team of geoscientists tackling the world’s biggest energy issues head on. From exploration to product management to research and development, our diverse projects and culture of innovation will ensure you have the opportunity to accomplish almost anything. Find out how you can put your knowledge and skills to work.

We are seeking interns, entry-level and experienced candidates for a wide range of job opportunities in the Earth Science function around the globe. Visit us online today.

MAY 2008 16 Work progressing Libya Poised for Production Success

By LOUISE S. DURHAM In fact, it harbors an estimated 36 exploration director at ExxonMobil 110 miles offshore in the Sirte Basin, which EXPLORER Correspondent billion barrels of high quality oil reserves, International. reportedly is a world class petroleum Even before passage of the recent U.S. according to the Energy Information “With our re-entry in 2005, our province. energy policy legislation – which omits any Administration. Relatively low production objectives have not changed from what Contract Area 21 sits in water depths effort to increase domestic oil and gas costs and geographic proximity to they were originally, which is to build a ranging from 5,400 feet to 8,700 feet, and production – many U.S.-based companies Western markets add to the appeal of material presence and work with the the untested block is thought to be a already had set their sights on conducting doing business there. Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) to particular prize in that it’s considered to be a significant part of their operations in ExxonMobil is among the big fully exploit, find and further develop among the most prospective unlicensed other, more E&P-friendly countries. companies with big plans for Libya. hydrocarbon resources in Libya,” Bellis areas in the Libyan offshore. A notable case is Libya, where the In a way, this is a kind of homecoming. said. “It’s a simple broad-based strategy.” As part of the agreement, Bellis action is heating up following the lifting of Prior to the merger of Exxon and Mobil, confirmed they committed to a five-year economic sanctions imposed by the the two separate entities had been among A Five-Year Commitment work program, which will entail: United States in 1986 that placed it off the earliest companies, along with Oxy, to At least 4,000 kilometers of 2-D limits to investments by U.S. companies. enter Libya back in the 1960s. When they The company’s most recent effort seismic acquisition. Given Libya’s vast, largely unexplored both chose to exit the country prior to the entailed negotiating a Heads of 2,000 square-kilometers of 3-D areas, it’s viewed as one of the most sanctions, the joint production between Agreement to execute an Exploration and seismic. appealing exploration regions on the the two was more than one million barrels Production Sharing Agreement with the One deepwater exploration well. international scene. of oil per day, according to Russ Bellis, Libyan NOC for Contract Area 21 about Implementation by the company of a training program aimed at upgrading the skills of the nationals. Provide other support for education in Libya. The actual EPSA is in the process of being worked out. Meanwhile, the company is busy in other areas. “We have two EPSAs in place today,” Bellis said, “which we won in exploration rounds. “In Round 2 in 2005, we were awarded Contract Area 44 off the northeast coast,” he noted. “We’ve already completed recording more than 5,000 kilometers of 2-D seismic data there that’s now being interpreted. “In 2007, we participated in Round 3 and were awarded Contract Area 20 (immediately west and adjoining 21) in the offshore Sirte Basin, effectively northeast of Tripoli,” he said. “In that contract area, we’re currently recording 2-D seismic, and will likely acquire 3-D there next year.” Additionally, the company presently is implementing CSEM (controlled source electro-magnetic) mapping in area 44 and plans to apply this same technology in area 20.

Oxy’s Big Presence

Oxy, another prominent player in Libya, reportedly has a position tallying about 30 million acres, making it the country’s largest holder of oil and gas acreage. The company first began operations in Libya in 1965. Unlike ExxonMobil, which had no standstill agreements to allow it to re-enter assets previously held, Oxy re-entered its historical producing areas in 2005 where it’s applying new technology and EOR methodology to enhance recovery. In fact, Oxy has signed agreements with the Libyan NOC to upgrade several of its existing petroleum contracts to be more in line with the contractual framework now in place relative to the country’s petroleum industry. Following a $5 billion capital investment over a five-year period, the fields included in the agreements are anticipated to kick out more than 300,000 barrels a day compared to current levels of 100,000 barrels. Following an almost-20-year lockout, you may be curious as to whether all parties must tread lightly. In fact, there appears to be a notable lack of intimidation. “By our participation in the country, we’ve acknowledged there is an acceptable working relationship with the Libyan government,” Bellis said. “The government has strived for a very transparent process in terms of how acreage is awarded. “They work hard to make it as transparent as they can.” J

MAY 2008 17

Scan, print, digitize, interpret and manage data with...

NeuraScanner NeuraMap - NEW! t Scans any length log, map, etc. up to 12” wide t Volumetrics, reserves and custom reports t Color or B&W scanning up to 10” per second t Automated digitizing of contours, shot points and more t Image viewing and editing software included t Interactive contour editing and QC NeuraLaser NeuraSection t Prints any length raster or LAS log up to 14” wide t Makes quality structural or stratigraphic sections t B&W, full or halfscale up to 4” per second printing t Works on logs, maps, sections and montages t Image viewing and editing software included t Reserve estimates, quickly and accurately NeuraLog NeuraDB - NEW! t Automated log digitizing and QC t Corporate repository of well data, logs and maps t Depth calibrate logs for quick interpretation t E&P managment system for raster and digital data t Interactive curve editing for analysis quality data t Read from and write to industry standard applications

Call 1.281.240.2525 to get additional information. Or, visit our web site www.neuralog.com. You’ll be glad you did.

MAY 2008 18

MAY 2008 19 Aramco Born of Foresight, Deal Seemed like a lot to pay – at the time

By DAVID BROWN EXPLORER Correspondent On May 29, 1933, a subdued meeting took place at Kazam Palace in Jiddah, Geologists Made Their Marks Saudi Arabia. (Editor’s note: This is an excerpt of the Miller and Henry wasted no time in just geologists. Through necessity they also The country’s finance minister, Abd story “Arabesque Adventurers,” published examining the hills that initially attracted became electricians, mechanics, inventors Allah al-Sulayman, read a proposed in the AAPG EXPLORER Special Issue: A Socal. The two covered 75 miles of the and much more. business agreement out loud. Century.) coast during their first week and discovered Their inventions and developments King Abdul Aziz Al Saud nodded his a structure – later named the “Dammam included a still to distill water, a photo lab approval, papers were signed and fountain By KATHY SHIRLEY EXPLORER Correspondent Dome” – that they instinctively knew would and huge, low pressure tires more suited for pens were handed out to officials involved Many petroleum geologists fancy be oil bearing. traveling on sand. in the negotiations. themselves adventurers of a sort because “We ... could see the beds dipping away By the end of the first field season, the Saudi Aramco was born. they are often exploring remote regions of from a common center,” Miller said in a geologists had marked the spot on the And so remarkable that was, because the world in search of new petroleum 1983 interview (a year before his death) for Dammam Dome that they hoped would be the fist of a global economic depression provinces. “Aramco World” magazine. “We got on one the site of the first oil well in Saudi Arabia. squeezed against all ventures. But only a handful of geologists can of the beds and drove around it, and we When they returned from a much- Less than three months earlier every claim to have changed the course of a knew, in just a few minutes – it was like a needed vacation in the mountains of bank in the United States had been shut nation by their mere presence. Only a copy of Bahrain Island. To get two Lebanon to start the 1934-35 season, there down, closed for a full week, for fear of a handful has directly influenced the pages of structures like that was rather a marvelous were reinforcements waiting to greet them. panic that threatened financial doom. history. thing.” The most significant among the new No worse time for a foreign investment This is a story of such people. geologists was AAPG member Max in a remote corner of the Middle East. The first American geologists to come Getting Acquainted Steineke. This year, Saudi Aramco observes its ashore in the Al Hasa Province of eastern Many who were involved in Saudi Arabia 75th anniversary as the world’s single most Saudi Arabia in 1933 arrived with courage, Steineke of Arabia important company in crude oil production. in 1933 must have expected clashes dedication and determination to succeed. between two vastly different cultures. But, Almost all who worked with Steineke In 1933, no one knew if Saudi Arabia And in doing go, they initiated a way of life would ever produce a drop of oil. surprisingly, there were no major incidents. agree that he was the one man who that transformed the essentially nomadic The Saudi government and Socal unraveled the stratigraphy and structure of desert country that is older than Abraham Birth of a Nation desperately wanted the concession to Saudi Arabia’s desert. Steineke was soon into a powerful westernized nation. evolve into a lasting relationship and both named chief geologist and remained in Most of these adventurer-geologists are sides went out of their way to avoid any Saudi Arabia until his death in 1952. The story of Saudi Aramco begins in now dead, and most were AAPG members. many places – in the desert and on the conflicts. Many claim that Max Steineke, who in They broke new ground and crossed new In fact, the Saudis sometimes were too 1951 received AAPG’s Sidney Powers coasts of the Arabian Peninsula, in the territories, sometimes defining their roles as government offices of Westminster, in the accommodating. Award, discovered more oil in his lifetime they developed – and their legacy When Miller and Henry waded ashore than any other geologist in history. He is headquarters of Standard Oil Co. of continues to make an impact to this day. California. there was a crowd waiting to greet them. credited with discovering much of the 10 It started with Standard Oil Co. of The local emir and other dignitaries from billion barrels of proven reserves in Saudi And, in the abundant marine life and California (now Chevron Corp.), the first sediments of the Paleozoic seas, certainly. towns along the coast as well as the Arabia at the time of his death. American firm to explore for oil in the Middle Bedouins planned a celebration of Barger said of Steineke, “He always It starts before Saudi Arabia even East. The company began its Middle East existed, in the remarkable exploits and talked to every young geologist that came operations in Bahrain, where its subsidiary in. This is a ploy used by some managers to conquests of the country’s future king, Bahrain Petroleum Co., brought in the first known to the world as Ibn Saud. make people feel at home, like part of the producing well on the island nation in May team. But Max talked to them because he Before his 30th birthday, Ibn Saud of 1932. invaded and wrested control of Riyadh thought he might learn something he didn’t While working on Bahrain, Socal know.” from a rival family. Within two years, he had geologists Fred A. Davies and William F. built a force that defeated his nearby … By 1939 the first wave of geologists Taylor became convinced that the low hills had all gone home and Steineke was the enemies and their Ottoman supporters. along the coast of Saudi Arabia – only 12 After World War I, Ibn Saud took control senior scientist. But the changing of the miles away across the Persian Gulf – were guard did not change the job. There were of Al-Hasa and the Hejaz region of the similar to the classic domal structure that western Arabian Peninsula, then expanded Taking a break from hot exploration: still miles of uncharted desert to explore. paid off in Bahrain One of the most significant tasks his control to dominate most of the Najd Their hunch helped encourage Socal to from left, Dick Bramkamp, Dick Kerr, plateau. Max Steineke and Fred Davies, in Jubail undertaken by the second wave of negotiate an oil concession for 371,263 geologists was the mapping of the Rub’ al- In the Treaty of Jeddah, signed in 1927, square miles of the desert nation. in the early 1940s. Great Britain recognized the Kingdom of Khali, also known as the Empty Quarter, Saudi Arabia, hit hard by the worldwide welcome, delaying their work. which is one of the harshest deserts in the Najd and Hejaz as a fully independent and depression of the 1930s, desperately sovereign state under the rule of Ibn Saud. The government was so solicitous, in world. Only two Europeans had crossed the needed the revenue an oil concession fact, that it sometimes impeded the Empty Quarter before Barger and Harriss Success had come as much from his might bring. But the government was not political and diplomatic skill as military geologists’ work. Each field party was were sent to map the region. willing to let the concession go for a less required to have 16 soldiers along to Two more major oil fields were strategy. The king played off British than fair price. interests against Ottoman force, rewarded demonstrate to the Bedouins that the discovered in those first 10 years of After months of tough negotiations, geologists traveled under the protection of exploration – both credited to Steineke’s supporters and, when necessary, Saudi King Ibn Sa’ud instructed his finance compromised grudgingly. King Ibn Sa’ud. Plus, the Arab culture geologic expertise. minister on May 29,1933, to “Put your trust prohibited the combining of jobs. So The Abu Hadriya Field, over 100 miles His most conservative and religiously in God, and sign.” devout followers distrusted the king’s whenever two geologists headed for the northwest of the Dammam Field, was familiarity with Western powers and First To Arrive desert they were accompanied by a guide, discovered in March 1940 when the No. 1 Christianity, a recurrent theme for the an interpreter, a cook, a cook’s helper, a well struck oil at 10,115 feet. That same country. Robert P. “Bert” Miller and Schuyler B. houseboy, a mechanic, a mechanic’s year the No. 1 Abqaiq was spudded 35 In March 1932, Ibn Saud consolidated “Krug” Henry, the first geologists to enter helper, a driver, four camel drivers, a miles southwest of Dhahran. The Abqaiq and unified Al-Hasa, Qatif, Najd and Hejaz Saudi Arabia, came ashore in Al Hasa on contingent of soldiers and two to three well was shut in early in 1941 when World into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Sept. 23,1933 – just two years after the dozen camels. War II interrupted operations in Saudi He ruled an awkwardly poor estate. United States officially recognized Ibn But the Americans and Arabs soon Arabia, but even then drillers knew that the Much of the country’s income came from Sa’ud’s nation. learned to live together and began Abqaiq field was the largest discovery so pilgrims on their way to Mecca, but hard One month later former AAPG member adopting many of each other’s customs. far. economic years slashed that revenue by J.W. “Soak” Hoover joined Miller and Henry. The geologists grew beards, adopted The field turned out to be one of the as much as 80 percent. Three more geologists,Tom Koch, Art the Arabs’ ghutra head dress and practiced world’s largest oil reservoirs. And so it was that Karl Twitchell came to Brown and Hugh Burchfiel, arrived soon their Arabic on anybody that would listen. The Abqaiq Field was probably Jiddah. after Hoover, and those six became the The Saudis were entranced with the Steineke’s greatest achievement. Seemingly nucleus of the first season’s 10-man things the geologists brought to the desert. unrelated clues like salt flats, tertiary Land of Wealth? American team that mapped the desert. Cars, generators, radios and other wonders outcrops and the alignment the sand dunes (According to AAPG records, all but of western civilization were welcomed by led him to believe the region had potential. Years later, rumor and speculation – Henry were members of the Association at the townspeople and the desert Bedouins Structure drilling proved his theory, that and envy – would say that Twitchell acted one time.) alike ... there was a well-defined dome at Abqaiq as an agent of American oil. But in truth, he A steady stream of Americans poured The Bedouins quickly learned the whose surface features had been didn’t begin with an eye for petroleum. into Saudi Arabia in those first years, advantages of medicine, and many were obliterated. A Vermont-born mining engineer and reaching a total of 425 in 1940. Soon after convinced the geologists, who carried Barger wrote in one of his letters, “Max geologist, Twitchell spent years conducting the concession was signed, Socal formed a medical supplies, were doctors. has been all his life looking for a place like surveys in the Middle East. He traveled to subsidiary, California Arabian Standard Oil The geologists were not doctors, of this.” J Co., to handle operations there. course, but they were certainly more than See Aramco, next page MAY 2008 20

commercial value in this country,” he wrote. position to negotiate, he time the world’s leading oil consortium, Aramco Despite the discovery of placer gold reasoned. also joined in the negotiations. nuggets, attempts at mining gold would After some thought, Hoping for the best, al-Sulayman asked from previous page prove little more than marginally economic, Ibn Saud agreed. for the equivalent of 100,000 British and no great aid to the Saudi treasury. Standard of pounds in gold. Standard of California Saudi Arabia in 1931 at the invitation of Ibn Arabian culture dictated that the king California geologist responded by offering 20,000 in gold. IPC Saud, with the backing of Chicago personally assist his people and bestow Fred Davies, an AAPG agreed to much less, the equivalent of philanthropist and Arabia-supporter financial gifts when appropriate. Ibn Saud member since 1920, 10,000 British pounds in rupees. Charles Richard Crane. also had to pay for a government. Lacking went to Bahrain to help In the next round of talks, al-Sulayman His first interest was water. The young a reliable revenue source, he borrowed direct drilling at Jebel reduced the Saudi’s position to 50,000 country – nestled between the Red Sea from merchants and traders. Davies Dukhan. The word worth of gold plus an annual rent of 5,000. and the Persian Gulf – needed water for At one point, al-Sulayman was forced to “jebel” means mountain IPC dropped out of the bidding. The agriculture, for mining, for any kind of announce a moratorium on debt payments or hill, a high place. potential for Saudi oil production, development. and to commandeer local supplies. He later noticed its similarity with Jebel especially in the country’s Eastern Twitchell eventually recounted those Put bluntly, Ibn Saud needed money, Dhahran, just across the Gulf’s waters. The Province, seemed unlikely to justify an efforts in his book Saudi Arabia, published badly. company used geologic reports from investment amounting to US $250,000. in 1947. He listed the water resources of And so the interest of the oil industry Davies and Twitchell when evaluating Standard of California offered an the various regions of the kingdom and was welcome, indeed. plans for an exploration concession in immediate 30,000 pounds in gold, a loan provided supporting details, including the Saudi Arabia. of another 20,000 pounds in gold 18 depth that drinking water had to be raised Practicing Patience That possibility became more urgent months later, and agreed to the 5,000 from wells. after Bapco found oil in commercial pound yearly rent payment. Next, he examined the wealth and Standard Oil Co. of California already quantity at Jebel Dukhan in June 1932. So it was that the company and Saudi potential of the country’s agriculture and had created the Bahrain Petroleum Arabia reached their agreement. livestock. Company, known as Bapco. It began Let’s Talk Money “Besides the forest products of charcoal exploratory drilling in that island kingdom Aftermath in northern Hejaz, and the poles and and British protectorate in October 1931. Twitchell returned to the United States timber of Najd in the Buraida district ... Ibn Saud smelled cash. He knew to gauge interest in a Saudi minerals or oil Exploration would be carried out by the there are in Saudi Arabia a number of American oil companies would pay bonus concession offering. He found less California Arabian Standard Oil Co., known important agricultural crops, including money for a drilling concession in Saudi enthusiasm than he’d hoped. as Casco, as soon as possible. dates, sorghums, wheat and rice,” Arabia, even before a discovery in Bahrain. Not only was the world floundering in Twitchell received a generous payment Twitchell noted. Twitchell advised patience. economic depression, it was swimming in for serving as a consultant to Standard of Finally, he turned to the most promising He met with the king in January 1932, oil. Foreign discoveries and new California, and a bonus when negotiations of the kingdom’s mineral resources: and “Ibn Saud asked me to arrange for oil production from Texas and Oklahoma had were successfully completed. Gold. geologists and oil-drillers. I recommended flooded the market, sending crude prices Casco turned into the Arabian About 5,000 years earlier, primitive strongly that the results of the Number 1 below 25 cents a barrel. American Oil Co., and then Aramco, and mining work had begun to exploit gold Well at Bahrain be awaited before doing Meetings with the Texas Company today Saudi Aramco. deposits near the Arabian coast of the Red anything regarding oil,” he recalled. (Texaco) the Near East Development Co. Davies, a native of Aberdeen – South Sea. Twitchell thought it might be the area “Since no evidence of faulting or (a consortium that included Shell, Mobil, Dakota – became the president of Casco, of King Solomon’s mines. difference geologically between Bahrain Standard of New Jersey, Atlantic Richfield then of Aramco, and finally chairman of the “I was asked if I could suggest any and the mainland of Hasa could be seen, and others) and Gulf Oil Co. brought no board. other practical sources of income, it being and in view of the fact that oil well offers, but Twitchell found a more King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al understood that my reports did not exploration and drilling is extremely supportive audience in Standard of Saud lived out his life as a major figure in encourage anticipation of any large expensive, and that if the Bahrain well did California executives. the Arab world, to his death in 1953. agricultural increase in the Hejaz,” not strike commercial oil it would be After only four business conferences to Casco drilled at Dhahran for four years Twitchell recalled. unlikely that it would be found in Hasa, a discuss the matter, a Standard board without success. “I had prepared for such a question ... I definite wait-and-see policy was member in New York told Twitchell the In the fifth year, in March 1938, a drill bit had seen the ancient workings, mine ruins advocated,” Twitchell wrote. company would be willing to negotiate a encountered the vast oil reservoirs of Saudi and tailings at Umm Garayat – near Wejh – But if Bapco found oil in Bahrain, Saudi concession agreement. Arabia for the first time. J so I replied that there might be minerals of Arabia would be in a much more favorable The Iraq Petroleum Co. (IPC), at that

MAY 2008 21 Creative approaches required Industry Needs to Attract Females By VERN STEFANIC “Flexibility dysfunction,” which is “Women don’t have as many Saudi Aramco, who spoke of new EXPLORER Managing Editor when there is so much flexibility that “not opportunities for social learning as men scholarship programs in Saudi Arabia to AAPG President-Elect Scott Tinker said much gets done.” do,” Abdullah added. help prepare young women to join the in Bahrain that the goal of attracting “Fifty percent of the population is “At our university, we’ve learned we work force. women to the geoscience work force female,” he concluded. “We need to have to keep parents very aware of the Abla N.A. Al-Riyami, gas director of requires awareness of and creative continue to adapt and improve, need for their daughters to have the same Petroleum Development Oman, who said approaches to challenges and changes. particularly in high tech industries. preparation as male students in the same that the industry should “nurture children Tinker made his Everyone will benefit.” discipline,” Abdullah said. “We must toward their interests and don’t set up remarks as one of three influence those who have an influence on obstacles to their learning,” and about keynote speakers at the Other Voices children and decision-makers.” women in the work force, “I encourage third Women’s Other participants included: you to take on new initiatives, and strive to Leadership Forum Another AAPG member and forum Sara Al-Akbar, the founder and CEO understand people.” (WLF), held in speaker, Fowzia H. Abdullah of the Kuwait of the independent oil company Kuwait Melanie Dreiman, with Saudi conjunction with the University Faculty of Science, said “forums Energy, who succeeded despite the reality Aramco, noted that “international oil March GEO 2008 like this one can be solutions for the that “what men take for granted, women companies are now taking the lead in conference in Manama, networking problems working women have to work hard to get.” serious endeavors to attract, retain and Bahrain. face. Amal Al-Awami, a consultant for promote women in the workplace.” J WLF is an Tinker international gathering of professionals to discuss issues of recruiting, leadership, retention and career development of women in the petroleum industry. One of the forum’s co-chairs was AAPG member Pinar Yilmaz. Several industry executives and professionals – representing a variety of corporate disciplines and levels – participated in the forum, including Abdulkarim Al-Sayed, chief executive of Bahrain Petroleum Co., who said “women are essential to meet the pressing challenges in our industry.” He said women comprise 32 percent of the Bahrain labor market, according to 2004 statistics. “Despite hardships, women – especially Bahraini women – have contributed to progress and prosperity in significant and indispensable ways,” Al- Sayed added. Tinker, who plans to make awareness of the recruitment and retention of women in the geosciences one area of focus of his AAPG presidency (2008-09), praised the panel of women science and engineer speakers as true “pioneers,” and told forum attendees that: Attracting more women to the geoscience work force means that the industry needs to “lose gender stereotypes and facilitate mentoring – including a cross-gender mentoring program.” Retaining women will require “flexible programs and work/life balance solutions.” Promoting women demands that the industry must “break the corporate mold” regarding the “glass ceiling,” and must “track the metrics of female promotions compared to those of men – (it) needs to be a win-win situation.” As an example of the “difficult A world of intelligence, challenges to overcome,” Tinker said adjustments need to be made to delivered. accommodate the industry’s changing demographics. As the search for energy resources moves to the data acquired and or processed from land, transition “Google’s company policy requires a minimum of 20 percent female engineers,” world’s less-hospitable regions, one company stands zones or shallow water regions. And bring back the Tinker said. “They’ve found that (team) ready to venture forth where few have dared. seismic data that is worth developing. ratios of less than one woman to five men result in unhealthy communications Geokinetics has blazed new trails into some of the Which is why more and more results-oriented energy patterns – at least one woman is on every planet’s most extreme environments. Pioneered the companies depend on Geokinetics. We deliver the engineering search committee. “To accommodate special needs of use of innovative technologies. Adapted to harsh decision-critical intelligence it takes to cut the cost women in the workplace, Google conditions. And accepted challenges from which of every barrel of oil you discover. introduced flexibility programs – the four- others shrink. All to bring you 2D/3D/4D seismic day workweek, telecommuting, shorter hours during vacations, and others,” he said. Of course, flexibility is not without Ingenuity. Expanding. Worldwide. www.geokinetics.com challenges, he added. Issues that could arise include: Reverse discrimination concerns. The willingness of female scientists to maintain their scientific edge during “part-time” years. How to handle “precedent setting” cases of flexibility. MAY 2008 22 Large areas still to be explored Iraq’s Potential Remains Untapped

By LOUISE S. DURHAM EXPLORER Correspondent So who has the most proven oil reserves? Few would argue that Saudi Arabia tops the list, reportedly harboring 260 billion barrels of proven reserves. The consensus appears to be that Iraq occupies the number two spot with 115 billion barrels followed by Iran with 90 billion barrels. Since the war began in Iraq five years ago, oil production and exports have been subjected to numerous disruptions. The good news is they are now at the highest levels of any time during that five-year span. This accomplishment is all the more notable given the many bouts of oilfield- related sabotage along with the lack of modern equipment and technical know-how Christian in the country’s oil fields following two wars and decades of decades of U.N. sanctions. Iraq’s average production for February was 2.4 million bopd, according to the Oil Ministry, which noted exports averaged 1.93 million bopd. The February output grossed US$5.037 billion for the month. That’s a lot of money, and where it all goes continues to be under discussion. But the fact is that’s also a lot of oil and there’s more oil to be found. The bulk of the oil production and exports in Iraq originate in the southern province of Basra, where a new wave of violence recently erupted. A lesser yet still sizeable amount of oil comes from fields in the north, in the vicinity of the city of Kirkuk. Given that the country’s petroleum wealth is concentrated principally in the northern and southern regions, it is noteworthy that the Oil Ministry recently invited both local and international companies to submit bids to develop the Akkas natural gas field in the western province of Anbar. The field reportedly holds estimated reserves of 2.15 tcf of gas and

See Potential, page 24

MAY 2008 23

MAY 2008 24

Super-Giant Middle East Oil Fields Potential (From GeoArabia, v.2, no. 3) Top 33 Billions of from page 22 Ranked Recoverable Oil Fields Country Primary Reservoir Barrels Ghawar Saudi Arabia Upper Jurassic carbonates 90 Burgan Kuwait Lower Cretaceous sandstone 86 perhaps as much as 100 million barrels of Safaniya Saudi Arabia Lower Cretaceous sandstone 32 liquid hydrocarbons. Majoon Iraq Lower Cretaceous sandstone 30 Rumalia Iraq Cretaceous carbonates, sandstones 22 The Oil Ministry also is soliciting Zakum Abu Dhabi Lower Cretaceous carbonates 17 proposals for construction of two oil Kirkuk Iraq Tertiary, Cretaceous carbonates 17 tomorrow pipelines to link the Basra oil fields to Manfia Saudi Arabia Lower Cretaceous, Upper Jurassic 15 Umm Shaif Abu Dhabi Lower Cretaceous Iran’s Abadan refinery. Upper Jurassic carbonates 14 begins I today Zuluf Saudi Arabia Lower Cretaceous carbonates 14 Ahwaz Iran Tertiary, Cretaceous carbonates 13 Iraq: Room to Grow? Abqaiq Saudi Arabia Upper Jurassic carbonates 13 Khurais Saudi Arabia Upper Jurassic-Paleozoic From a geological point of view, Iraq is carbonates/sandstones 12 Marun Iran Tertiary-Upper Jurassic carbonates 12 far less intensely explored than Saudi Berri Saudi Arabia Upper Jurassic-Paleozoic carbonates 11 Arabia and, perhaps, Iran, according to Gachsaran Iran Tertiary, Upper Cretaceous Lower Cretaceous 11 AAPG member Louis Christian, a Dallas- East Baghdad Iraq Lower Cretaceous sandstone 10 based Middle East exploration consultant. North Field Qatar Permian carbonates- 10? Christian’s findings complete in a Devonian sandstone + gas Begin exploring your ConocoPhillips career Bu Hasa Abu Dhabi Lower Cretaceous carbonates 9 report he calls, “Good News and Bad Kuh-e Mand Iran Tertiary-Cretaceous carbonates 9? News from the Middle East: Reserves, Agha Jari Iran Tertiary-Cretaceous carbonates 9 opportunities today for a promising tomorrow. Producibility, Future Potential and Possible Raudhatain Kuwait Upper Cretaceous-Lower Cretaceous 8 Khafji Kuwait Lower Cretaceous sandstone, Economic Consequences” offers “a carbonates 7 backward glance” at the region’s oil and Qatif Saudi Arabia Upper Jurassic, Middle Jurassic Visit our Careers site at carbonates 6 gas reserves as well as a look at future Marjan Saudi Arabia Upper Cretaceous, Lower Cretaceous production potential. Jurassic carbonates 6 www.conocophillips.com/careers. “Tens of kilometers or even one Bab Abu Dhabi Lower Cretaceous carbonates 6 Fateh Dubai Upper Cretaceous carbonates 6? hundred kilometers between wells and Sabriya Kuwait Upper Cretaceous carbonates seismic lines in parts of Iraq west of the Lower Cretaceous sandstone 5 Asab Abu Dhabi Lower Cretaceous carbonates 5 Euphrates River leave open, inadequately Zubair Iraq Upper Cretaceous carbonates ConocoPhillips offers exciting opportunities explored regions where Iraqi gravity and Lower Cretaceous carbonates 5 magnetic modeling suggests undrilled Shaybah Saudi Arabia Lower Cretaceous carbonates 5 Dukhan Qatar Upper Jurassic, Middle Jurassic to build an inspired and successful geoscience structural trends and horst blocks with the carbonates 5 potential for Mesozoic and Paleozoic Abu Sa’fah Saudi Arabia Upper Jurassic carbonates 4 closures, carbonate shelf edges and reef career. Whether you are an experienced trends analogous in age and dimensions He noted that Paleozoic prospectivity to the Paleozoic basins of West Texas,” in Iraq depends largely on lower Silurian geoscientist or a university student/graduate, Christian said. source rocks, where thermal maturity runs “A (published) regional composite the gamut from cool and immature to full-time positions and internships are among seismic profile across the 600-kilometer mature and on to sometimes over-mature, width of Iraq shows structural depending on current temperatures as interpretation between the East Baghdad well as past burial and re-uplift histories. the options that await you. and Tel Ghazal oil fields,” Christian said. About 175 kilometers southwest of “But west of Baghdad the Abu Jir fault Baghdad, one particular well in the Kifl zone and indicated Mesozoic and field flowed at a 5,600 barrel per day rate Paleozoic rollovers remain essentially from lower Cretaceous deltaic Zubair undrilled.” formation sandstones. The well hasn’t Your ConocoPhillips journey starts now. At Hith – about 175 kilometers been connected to a pipeline. northwest of Baghdad – a huge asphalt “If commercial developments were Begin Today! lake at the surface has been mined for possible in areas such as Kifl, west of the 5,000 years or more. Christian noted it’s Euphrates River, oil production in estimated to contain about five billion predominately Sunni areas could begin to barrels of heavy oil or asphalt open to approach the production already outcrop. established in areas that are “The bricks at ancient Nineveh are held predominately Shia in southern Iraq and together with asphalt mastic,” he said, Kurdish in northern Iraq,” Christian said, “and I have personally seen the triumphal “possibly facilitating political settlements highway entering the main gates of between the main cultural/ethnic groups.” ancient Babylon paved with this asphalt Given that the Anbar province and gravel.” reportedly is a former Sunni insurgent There are a number of inadequately stronghold, the proposed development of explored yet inviting gravity highs along the Akkas field is considered to have the the Hith-Abu Jir fault trend, according to potential to boost the economy of the Christian. Sunni region. J Good News – Bad News

AAPG member Louis Christian, a From a purely geological Dallas-based Middle East exploration perspective, Iraq remains much less consultant, offers other observations intensely explored than Saudi Arabia about “the good news and the bad and, perhaps, Iran. news” found in the region: Iraq’s new constitution stipulates As of 10 years ago or more, that already producing oil fields “shall median field size for the Middle East remain in Iraqi, not foreign hands. was about 150 million barrels. Unexplored areas may possibly be made available for joint Iraqi and A 50 percentile (median) field foreign exploration and development. size for about 100 Iraqi oil fields plots Will this some day include American out to be 130 million barrels. oil companies?”

Dozens of conventional oil Iran is “structurally so much more discoveries once considered non- complex than Saudi Arabia that in no commercial (at 2,000-3,000 barrels per way can it be said that conventional day) in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran will surface structural mapping, seismic surely be developed and marketed in mapping and drilling have come the coming years – “delaying or anywhere close to exhausting prolonging the much-feared terminal prospective areas in the Zagros Fold decline of King Hubbert.” (See “King Belt, nor in (its) various interior Hubbert: An Irascible Iconoclast,” basins.” J December 2007 EXPLORER.) EOE MAY 2008 25

With geoSCOUT new opportunities are easy to ﬁnd.

GEOLOGIC Full Page industry-leading customer service

easy data importing, searching & mapping

helping clients increase productivity

geoSCOUT™ is a Windows-based, enterprise-wide, easy to use oil and gas decision support system for searching, posting, mapping and analyzing data. Whether you’re in geology, engineering, land or ﬁnance, geoSCOUT allows you to choose your data sources and gives you all the tools you need to increase your productivity. Just ask the thousands of landmen, engineers & geologists currently using geoSCOUT oil and gas mapping and analysis software to make solid decisions every day.

Give us an hour for a demo – we know you’ll see the value. Another powerful suitee of Call 403.262.1992 | Email [email protected] | Online www.geoscout.com/demo tools fromfrom geog LOGLOGICGIC

MAY 2008 26

Visitors to the Drake Museum can experience a genuine “nitro show” (left) and tour the power room to get an idea of what life was like when Drake made his famous discovery. Museum spruced up for 150th celebration Drake Story Being Retold – Well

By BARRY FRIEDMAN at the museum for the rapidly approaching barrel – it was more oil than had ever been photographs, providing detailed EXPLORER Correspondent “Oil 150 Celebration” in 2009. collected at one time before. documentation of the region and the “I wish I had a nickel for every time I’ve But it’s more than the money; it’s the How big was this? industry from 1860 to 1915, were added tried to explain … to the bus-exiting kids history. Life magazine’s “Millennium Edition” (today, there are more than 11,000 that oil has been around almost forever Almost a century and a half after the ranked Drake’s achievement as number 47 images). and that our claim to fame is drilling to get fact, it may no longer matter to most where of the most significant 100 events of the In the 1930s, in anticipation of the 75th it.” the modern oil industry actually began – past 1,000 years, claiming that his well had anniversary of the strike, local oil Not that she minds repeating the tale, with the exception of people in Spindletop, “doubled the world’s oil supply in one day.” producers raised funds and built the first for Barbara Zolli, director of the Drake Well Texas, and Signal Hill, Calif., of course – museum building and research library Museum in Pennsylvania, says, “It’s our but to the people of Titusville, Pa., a small Bigger and Bigger located on the site of Drake’s successful story and we take pride in sharing it.” town of approximately 6,000, where the well. As old as the oil industry itself, it’s a Drake Well Museum is located, the “where” Titusville, naturally, seemed like a good And Pennsylvanians took to the place. story that’s 150 years in the making, which is a very big deal. place for the museum – especially since By 1945, total attendance for all state is why it deserved a birthday present of This is where in 1859 Edwin L. Drake local residents marked the famous well so parks was 10,270 – and 3,676 of those sorts. struck oil at a depth of 69-1/2 feet in this it would’t be lost. came to the Drake Well Museum. Also that The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania northwestern Pennsylvania town. The well Then, at the turn of the 20th century, a year, the Pennsylvania general assembly recently granted more than $6 million for produced 10 to 20 barrels a day when oil collection of early oil industry memorabilia much-needed renovations and expansions was selling for unheard price of $20 a was collected and housed; then See Museum, page 28

MAY 2008 27

MAY 2008 28 Drake Yes, It Matters The question, for those outside the from page 26 industry, is why does a place like Drake still matter? Zolli thinks the answer is obvious. appropriated $185,000 toward adding a “As the birthplace of the modern oil wing and constructing a board-for-board industry, the Drake Well Museum continues replica of Drake’s engine house and to attract local, national and international derrick. attention,” she said. “Recently we hosted In 1959, the museum building was Japanese, German and Australian enlarged to include a research library for documentary film crews; the Wall Street the Centennial of Oil. Journal, CBS Evening News, PBS Lehrer In 1963, the limestone museum and News Hour and Bloomberg News; and library were finished. provided historic images and In 1966, with the addition of 80 contemporary oil producers for stories and professional exhibits, Drake’s original well videos about independent oil, pipeline and an acre of land around it were listed in history and petroleum geology.” the National Register of Historic Places as Moreover, Zolli says the growth of public a National Historic Landmark. interest in hydrocarbon-based energy By 1979, the American Society of positions the museum as a unique place to Mechanical Engineers designated Drake’s help visitors understand current issues well as a National Historic Engineering within the historical context of regulation, Landmark, citing the revolutionary production and technological growth. technological changes that occurred on “Drake Well Museum can demonstrate the site and creating a bronze plaque environmental impact, explain economic stating, “Few events in history have so cycles and help visitors compare the transformed the face of civilization.” merits of alternative resources,” she said. Drake does that by using what Zolli Perfect Timing refers to as “the real stuff” of powerful objects, images, tours, documents and the For the past 20 years, the focus at experiences and expertise of workers Drake was on improving collections throughout the industry who helped shape management by computerizing records, the profession – and does it by connecting hiring professional staff and upgrading audiences to their pasts, entertaining them collections storage and environmental and encouraging their exploration and monitoring. curiosity in a social setting. Photos courtesy of the Drake Museum That’s why museum officials smiled “Drake tries to help people understand especially wide when Pennsylvania, with Drake’s original well (top), and a rendering of the museum after the planned renovations. the past and its impact on the present as a the Drake discovery sesquicentennial way to make informed decisions for the approaching, released a $6.64 million Drake Well Museum’s ability to preserve The creation of a comprehensive future.” capital project to upgrade the facility’s 41- and interpret oil industry history. state-of-the-art collections storage system For Zolli, though, there’s something else year-old building infrastructure and “It will accomplish three things,” she and Research Library. – something more obvious to all those systems, to completely re-design the said: An additional $1 million in funds was students getting off all those buses, permanent exhibits, and to create a The upgrade of building systems and raised to provide interior and exterior something she tells each of them. comprehensive research and collections infrastructure (including fire suppression). orientation to the region, including the “There’s a drop of oil in your life every storage area. The design and installation of a new, construction of a new 50-seat Orientation day!” J Zolli says the project will enhance the larger permanent exhibit. Theater.

MAY 2008 29 FBI FINDS

HOFFA!® [They Must Have Used KINGDOM !]

Finding the impossible is plausible with KINGDOM’s Flex Grid technology. 15 54 1.407 - 1.398 -5370 -5411 Flex Grid is fast. In fact, in benchmark testing, it is 10x faster than many leading gridding algorithms. And while the intuitive interface is easy enough for 1.4 beginners, it is powerful enough for experts.

0 Flex Grid saves time. The graphical feedback displays 5 4 3 4 an accurate preview, allowing you to make a grid that 9 5 0 - LV H[DFWO\ ZKDW LV QHHGHG ² WKHÀUVW WLPH 7KHDGYDQFHG statistical analysis enables you to tune parameters before the grid is made. Flex Grid produces accurate maps. It allows you to balance minimum curvature with minimum tension. 5 In addition, you can preview how bin spacing 1.406 -5406 6 4 5 accommodates known well control. This makes Flex - Grid the perfect solution for every surface generation. 4 5 Flex Grid helps you ﬁnd the time you need to interpret - the data, not manage the tools.

To learn more about how KINGDOM 8.2 and Flex Grid can help you discover impossible ﬁnds, visit our web site at www.seismicmicro.com/hoffa1.

Intuitive. Integrated. Interpretation. America +1 (713) 464-6188 Asia +65 6220 1089 Europe +44 (0) 20 8240 6524

MAY 2008 30

MAY 2008 31

MAY 2008 32 When Thin is In, Enhancement Helps

(The Geophysical Corner is a regular column in the EXPLORER, edited by Bob A. Hardage, senior research scientist at the Bureau of Economic Geology, the University of Texas at Austin. This month’s column deals with “thin-bed reflectivity inversion.”)

By SATINDER CHOPRA JOHN P.CASTAGNA and YONG XU Expanding the frequency bandwidth of surface seismic data is an unending quest for geophysicists, because increased seismic resolution is essential for extracting stratigraphic detail from seismic images. While both vertical resolution and horizontal resolution are important for interpreting small geologic features on seismic data, we focus our attention here on vertical resolution – recognizing that migration procedures usually enhance horizontal resolution. If the frequency spectrum of a seismic wavelet is centered around 30 Hz, which is usually achievable, and the seismic interval velocity is greater than 3000 m/s, reservoirs having a thickness Data courtesy Arcis Corporation, Calgary Figure 2 – Comparison of (a) a segment of a band-limited less than 25 meters may not be resolved. Figure 1 – Comparison of (a) a conventional seismic section seismic section and (b) the equivalent section derived when “Not resolved” means there is no distinct and (b) its derived thin-bed reflectivity. More geologic detail thin-bed reflectivity is convolved with a 5- to 120-Hz bandpass reflection peak or trough centered on the can be seen with the reflectivity data than with the input data. wavelet. The section in panel b has enhanced resolution. top and bottom interfaces of the reservoir unit. This interval thickness, where seismic data can no longer position a distinct Figure 3 – Stratal reflection peak or trough at the top and slices from (a) a base of the interval, is called “tuning coherence- thickness.” attribute volume Because numerous stratigraphic derived from targets have thicknesses of 10 meters or band-limited less – which is thinner than tuning seismic data and thickness for most seismic profiles – (b) thin-bed frequency enhancement procedures reflectivity need to be applied to seismic data to convolved with a study reservoir targets in this “thinner 5- to 120-Hz band than tuning thickness” domain. pass wavelet. Features can be *** seen with better definition and One post-stack spectral inversion clarity on such method that resolves thin layers having a attribute slices. thickness less than tuning thickness was published in 2005 (contact the authors for the reference). This method is driven an inversion procedure in which spectral wavelet that extends the high end of the enhanced resolution has on the by geological principles rather than by constraints are derived on the basis of frequency spectrum to 120 Hz (figure coherence attribute, as evidenced by the mathematical assumptions and uses spectral decomposition procedures. 2b). Enhanced resolution of the increased lateral resolution of the spectral decomposition to enhance the It is important to note that no Earth reflectivity section is indicated by the channel system and by the improved frequency spectrum local to a thin-bed model or any assumption about extra reflection cycles. faulting picture seen in figure 3b. unit. stratigraphic layering is used in this More individual reflection cycles can This spectral, or thin-bed, reflectivity inversion procedure – the trace-by-trace now be tracked, leading to more detailed Conclusions inversion outputs a reflectivity series, inversion procedure requires no starting interpretation of the data. and the apparent resolution of the geologic model and has no lateral The thin-bed spectral inversion inversion product is superior to the continuity constraints. *** method discussed here is a novel way of resolution of the input seismic data used removing wavelet effects from seismic to generate the reflectivity response. Figure 1 shows a comparison of a Seismic attributes are a great help in data to create a pure reflectivity Applications of this method in segment of a seismic section from extracting geologic information and are sequence. For data with a high signal-to- deconvolving complex seismic Alberta, Canada, before and after widely used to map geologic features at noise ratio, units with thicknesses less interference patterns are changing the reflectivity inversion. After reflectivity many scales. Geologic information not than the tuning thickness of the input mindset of many seismic interpreters, inversion, more reflection detail can be revealed by conventional displays of data can be resolved. because the technique shows seen, and faults are shown with seismic data can often be seen on The improved-resolution seismic data stratigraphic patterns with such improved clarity. displays of one or more attributes retrieved in the form of reflectivity data remarkable detail. Once thin-bed reflectivity is derived derived from the data. are not only important for more accurate The method consists of the following from an input seismic volume – using, for As a result, there has been an geologic interpretations but prove to be steps: example, a wavelet derived from an explosive growth in the development and advantageous for: existing well – an interpreter can application of seismic attributes. 1. A set of time-varying and space- determine the amount of uncertainty Attribute computation done on data Convolving the extracted reflectivity varying wavelets is estimated from the involved in the inversion process by with enhanced resolution proves to be with a wider bandpass wavelet (say seismic data. using a blind-well test. particularly useful for mapping onlap 5-120 Hz) to provide a high-frequency For this purpose, it is good to have Our experience with such exercises and offlap patterns or other stratigraphic section. well control data to aid in selecting suggests that thin-bed spectral inversion features, which facilitates the mapping of Providing high-frequency attributes optimal space and time dependencies creates data that tie favorably with other parasequences and the direction of that enhance lateral resolution of that should be expressed by these wells positioned in the same 3-D seismic sediment transport. geologic features. J wavelets. In the absence of well control, volume. Figure 3 shows a comparison of a a statistical method of wavelet estimation Figure 2 shows a comparison stratal slice through a coherence- (Editor’s note: Chopra, an AAPG can be adopted. between a segment of an input seismic attribute volume generated for both input member, and Xu are with Arcis Corp., section (figure 2a) and an equivalent seismic data and for enhanced- Calgary, Canada. Castagna is with the 2. The wavelets estimated in step 1 segment of thin-bed reflectivity that has resolution data. University of Houston/Fusion Petroleum are removed from the seismic data using been convolved with a bandpass Notice the significant impact that Technologies Inc.)

MAY 2008 33

MAY 2008 34 It Was ‘Raining Science’ in Capitol

By DAVID CURTISS We had a large Texas contingent GEO-DC Director n all, we held 16 meetings across Capitol at CVD, and those participants met Early in the morning of March 5, a with staff for Senators Kay Bailey group of professionals gathered in IHill, and at each we indicated our Hutchison and Jon Cornyn. Several the lobby of the historic Army and participants were able to chat and Navy Club on Farragut Square in willingness to help tackle these problems. take a photo with Hutchison in the Washington, D.C., two blocks from Russell building (see next page). the White House. Exiting the building In addition, Texans Pat Gratton on this gray day left damp after and Valary Schulz met with staff for overnight rain, they hailed cabs to Rep. Pete Sessions; Dan Smith met take them to their first appointment of Curtissscience, engineering and technology Award for Science-Engineering- with staff for Rep. Al Green; and Larry the day – breakfast in the U.S. to the nation. They are here for 2008 Technology Leadership. Jones and Allen Balla met with staff Senate. Congressional Visits Day (CVD). We then hustled back to the Army for Rep. Mike Culberson, then Hopping out at the Russell Senate and Navy Club for dinner in the club’s stopped the congressman in the Office Building they passed through *** wood paneled main dining room. It hallway for a brief chat. security and into the Caucus Room. was a delicious meal enjoyed with Finally, AAPG participants met This richly ornamented room served Events began two days earlier, on good company. with staff members of the Senate as backdrop for many significant Monday evening, over crab cakes Energy and Natural Resources events in U.S. history – including the and salad at the Army and Navy *** Committee and the House Energy Watergate inquiry and the Club’s Eagle Grill, allowing and Minerals Subcommittee. confirmation hearing of Supreme participants to get acquainted. On Wednesday morning, after our In all, we held 16 meetings across Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Tuesday morning involved a breakfast at the Russell building, we Capitol Hill, and at each we Today, it will be the site of briefing on federal geoscience fanned out across Capitol Hill to meet communicated the importance of breakfast for these professionals. programs and budgets at the with elected officials: dealing with the work force crisis Who are these people, eating American Geophysical Union, Jim Hill represented California facing the energy and minerals breakfast in such grand followed by an afternoon briefing on with visits with staffers of U.S. industries, the need to support the surroundings? Perhaps they are those the federal budget and science Senators Dianne Feinstein and preservation of geoscience data and power-brokers you hear about, activities at the American Association Barbara Boxer, and Rep. Elton samples, and the proper federal role walking the halls of authority, rubbing for the Advancement of Science. Gallegly. in oil and gas research and shoulders with lawmakers. That evening we gathered for a G. Warfield “Skip” Hobbs met development. In fact, that is precisely who they reception in the Rayburn House with members of the Connecticut We also indicated our willingness are: They are U.S. citizens engaged Office Building. In attendance were delegation, including the staff of to help them tackle these problems. in participatory democracy. several members of the U.S. House of Senators Chris Dodd and Joseph They also happen to be AAPG Representatives, including Reps. Lieberman, and a personal meeting *** members. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) and Vernon Ehlers with Rep. Chris Shays. They are in Washington, D.C., (R-Mich.), both Ph.D. scientists, and Peter MacKenzie and Jeff What did we accomplish? Well, the together with 250 other scientists and Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), chair of Daniels of Ohio visited with staffers sun shone on Washington, D.C., engineers from a host of disciplines the House Science and Technology for Senators George Voinovich and during CVD, but it was raining and professions, to tell their elected Committee, who at the reception Sherrod Brown, and Rep. Deborah leaders about the importance of received the George E. Brown Jr. Pryce. continued on next page Subsurface Interpretation & Mapping Certification Program

GEOSCIENCE SUBSURFACE INTERPRETATION AND FIRST OF ITS KIND: HANDS-ON MAPPING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Course Schedule # Days Dates INTERPRETATION & STRUCTURAL MAPPING WEEK 1 Structural Styles in 5 days August 25 - 29 Petroleum Exploration and Development CERTIFICATION PROGRAM WEEK 2 Holiday 1 day Sept. 1 WEEK 2 Open Hole Log Analysis / 3 days Sept. 2 - 4 TWELVE (12) WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM Petrophysics TO RAPIDLY RAISE SKILLS LEVEL OF WEEK 2 Multiple Bischke Plot Analysis 1 day Sept. 5 WEEK 3 Seismic Survey Design, Acquisition, 5 days Sept. 8 - 12 GEOLOGISTS & GEOPHYSICISTS and Processing WEEK 4 Principles of 3-D Seismic 5 days Sept. 15 - 19 JUMP-START FOR NEW HIRES Interpretation, AVO and Attribute Analysis LEARN FUNDAMENTALS OF GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS WEEK 5 Applied Subsurface Geological 5 days Sept. 22 - 26 Mapping GENERATE, HIGH QUALITY, PROFESSIONAL INTERPRETATIONS & MAPS WEEK 6 Basic Reservoir Engineering for Non- 2 days Sept. 29 - 30 HANDS-ON APPROACH. Engineers WEEK 6 Fundamentals of Sequence / Seismic 3 days Oct. 1 - 13 Stratigraphy PROPERLY TRAINED PEOPLE, Project Schedule NOT WORKSTATIONS, WEEK 7 Phase I: Initial Exploration – 5 days Oct. 6 - 10 Delineate Prospects – Drill FIND OIL & GAS Exploration Well WEEK 8 Phase II: Assess Discovery – Refine 5 days Oct. 13 - 17 Interpretation SCA has a worldwide reputation in delivering WEEK 9 Phase III-A: Field Development – 5 days Oct. 20 - 24 HIGH QUALITY TRAINING PROGRAMS. Drill Development Wells WEEK 10 Phase III-A: Field Development 5 days Oct. 27 - 31 Continued For Complete Details go to WEEK 11 Phase III-B: Explore for 5 days Nov. 3 - 8 www.scacompanies.com Additional Prospects WEEK 12 Phase IV: Field Performance 3 days Nov. 10 - 14 Training Services Analysis – Results of Other Exploration Prospects Geoscience Certification Program WEEK 12 Phase V: Present Report and Project 1.5 Results days Space is Limited, Call us TODAY or register online. WEEK 12 Graduation Celebration 0.5 day November 14 Subsurface Consultants & Associates, LLC. 10255 Richmond Ave., Suite 300 - Houston, Texas 77042 Phone: +1.713.789.2444 Fax: +1.713.789.4449 www.scacompanies.com General Inquiries: [email protected] Training Course Registration & Information: [email protected] - Consulting & Direct-Hire Services: [email protected]

MAY 2008 35 continued from previous page rain. At GEO-DC we’re scanning the clouds, umbrellas at the ready. science on Capitol Hill. And that’s important. *** As geoscientists we understand that an individual drop of water has little In early February the AAPG effect on a landscape. But multiple Executive Committee approved the drops form rivulets that form streams addition of three new members to serve that collectively can be transformative. three-year terms on the GEO-DC Sometimes change occurs quickly; Governance Board, which provides sometimes it occurs drop by drop, oversight and guidance to GEO-DC. moving grain by grain, with patience They are AAPG members Alfredo and persistence. Either way, it starts Guzman and Peter MacKenzie, and with that individual drop followed by past AAPG president Dan Smith, who another, and another – it’s up to you was also named the board’s vice chair. and me. We must engage policy Patrick J.F. Gratton, another AAPG makers at CVD and back at home. past president, chairs the Governance Here is another opportunity: Mark Board. J your calendars for Sept. 9-10. The American Geological Institute and its (Editor’s note: David Curtiss, head member societies are planning a first- of AAPG’s Geoscience and Energy ever GeoCVD. We’ll provide more Office in Washington, D.C., can be details as they become available. contacted at [email protected]; or by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas (center) met with AAPG members (from left) Washington, D.C., could use more telephone at 1-202-684-8225.) Allen Balla, Larry Jones, Dan Smith and Valary Schulz. take a fresh look at TEXAS with . . . R Texas SEI Offshore Expansion 3D

Wharton Dual Sensor 10,000 m. Offset

DeWitt Brazoria Phase VI Jackson Completed Matagorda Galveston-Brazos Area Victoria 42.78 Blocks

Goliad Phase V In Progress Calhoun Brazos Area 86.0 Blocks

Refugio Phase IV Completed Matagorda-Brazos 42.78 Blocks Phase II San Patricio Completed 17.81 Blocks

Phase I Phase III Completed Completed 50.84 Blocks 27.88 Blocks www.seismicexchange.com

MAY 2008 36

Schmitt Still Reaching for the Stars

By SUSIE MOORE University. serving one term and becoming, during his and Refining at the session Return to the EXPLORER Correspondent In 1965 he was final two years, chairman on the Senate’s Moon: Research, Resources and Rewards. AAPG member Harrison H. “Jack” selected for the Science, Technology and Space Schmitt currently resides in Schmitt, geologist, author, politician, scientist-astronaut Subcommittee. Albuquerque, N.M., and is chair emeritus scientist-astronaut extraordinaire and the program by NASA He has served as chairman of the of the Annapolis Center in Maryland as last man to walk on the moon, has added where he was the only NASA Advisory Council since 2005 as well well as adjunct professor of Engineering at another award to his lengthy résumé. scientist on board and as serving on several other boards, the University of Wisconsin-Madison where Schmitt was presented the 2008 Pick served as lunar module including the Orbital Sciences Corp., he occasionally teaches Resources from and Gavel Award by the Association of pilot for 1969’s Apollo Edenspace Systems Corp. and PhDx Space. American State Geologists (AASG) at the 17 mission – the last Systems. Joining AAPG in 1971, he was As for his efforts in making commercial group’s centennial celebration in March, an Schmitt Apollo mission to the named AAPG Honorary member in 2006. ventures into space become a reality, honor presented to those who make moon. He was the last Schmitt is author of Return to the Moon: Schmitt noted, “No major investors in lunar significant contributions to advance the of 12 men to walk on the moon. Exploration, Enterprise and Energy in the helium-3 fusion power have stepped up.” role of geoscience in public policy and That would be enough of an Human Settlement of Space (2006 However, he said, “small amounts of who have supported AASG’s mission in accomplishment to last most people for a Springer-Praxis). private funding is pushing the technology government affairs. lifetime, but Schmitt was just getting And as a technical session co-chair at forward at the University of Wisconsin- His latest efforts include leading an started. the recent AAPG Annual Convention and Madison. initiative to make the use of private After retiring from NASA he was elected Exhibition in San Antonio he presented the “We are still following up leads,” he enterprise to fund space exploration and U.S. senator for New Mexico in 1976, paper Lunar Resource Mining, Processing concluded. J mining the moon’s surface for helium-3 as an energy resource for use on Earth a reality. In an April 2006 EXPLORER interview Announcement Readied for Cape Town with Schmitt, he said for an enterprise of It’s been discussed for months, but potential of Africa. They are: In addition, the program offers 16 this magnitude to get started there must be now the planning can get serious for the The Elephant – A Steady Advance: short courses, eight field trips and permanent settlements on the moon. next AAPG International Conference and “Deepwater: Ancient Analogues, Current several special forums, including: “Once you have permanently settled Exhibition (ICE). Technologies, Future Opportunities.” The potential impact of the oil the moon or you’re in the process of The official announcement for this The Leopard – Unraveling Secrets: industry’s looming demographic crisis. establishing settlements, you have begun year’s ICE, set Oct. 26-29 in Cape Town, “Advances in Geoscience and Allied The role of the independent in west to move our species into other modes of South Africa, is expected to be available Disciplines.” African exploration and production. existence,” Schmitt said. in late May. The Black Rhino – Turned Around Keynote talks on subjects ranging Schmitt, nicknamed Jack by his mother In it you’ll find the information on the From Near Extinction: “Next Generation from mega-tectonics of Africa to because his father’s name was Harrison, location, speakers, special events and Tools and Technologies.” exploration case studies circum Africa. was born in 1935 to a geologist and a the entire technical program, built on the The Lion King – Roar of the Future: Global climate change. schoolteacher. theme “African Energy – Global Impact.” “The New Business of Energy.” Pre-registration is expected to open A native of Silver City, N.M., he earned The technical program itself will have Cape Buffalo – Beauty and the in mid-May, as well. a bachelor’s degree at the California more than 70 sessions that are built Beast: “Gondwana and Pangean For more information watch the June Institute of Technology (Caltech), studied around “the big five” symbols of Africa’s Petroleum Systems: Exploration, EXPLORER or go online to as a Fulbright Scholar at Oslo and earned animal kingdom – specific themes that Development and Production – www.aapg.org/capetown/. J a doctorate in geology from Harvard reflect the geology, history, culture and Emerging Plays, Lessons and Analogs.”

MAY 2008 37

The FrameBuilder™ module is a major addition to the ® GeoGraphix Discovery™ suite of advanced exploration With GeoGraphix, and production technologies. Providing an exciting breakthrough in cross-sectional interpretation and mapping, framing it all just got this new subsurface interpretation model works with the Discovery smartSECTION® cross-section tool to leverage a whole lot easier. multisurface constraints and advanced surface topology in 3-D sequence stratigraphy and structural modeling.

The Discovery™ FrameBuilder™ module. For accelerating the speed and accuracy of prospect and As the industry’s most advanced structural and resource assessments, it doesn’t get more advanced than stratigraphic interpretation and mapping solution, the GeoGraphix Discovery Framebuilder 3-D module. To it streamlines prospect development. learn more, visit us at www.geographix.com.

Unleash the energy.™

HALLIBURTON

MAY 2008 38

2008 Open Enrollment Course Schedule Joe Alcamo, to senior staff Stavanger, Norway. Risk Analysis, Prospect Evaluation & Expl. Economics geophysicist, Encore Acquisition, Fort Worth. Previously senior geophysical Arnout J.W. Everts, to technical adviser, Vintage Production California director, Horizon Energy Partners Asia May 12 – 16 Houston, Texas (Oxy), Bakersfield, Calif. Sdn Bhd, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Previously senior geologist, Murphy June 9 – 13 Denver, Colorado* John Arenson, to technical sales Sarawak Oil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. * includes material adviser-structural and stratigraphic August 11 – 15 Bogota, Colombia on unconventional interpretation, Paradigm, Houston. John L. Ezerskis, to project resource Previously manager-Military Installation environmental scientist-northeast Ohio, Sep 29 – Oct 3 Calgary, Alberta assessment Transformation Solutions, BearingPoint, Floyd Browne Group, Akron, Ohio. San Antonio. Previously geologist/project manager, Oct 13 – 17 Houston, Texas Ohio Drilling Co., Massillon, Ohio. Henricus A. Bockmeulen, to director- Oct 27 – 31 Beijing, China* new ventures, Continentoil, London, Stuart D. Harker, to vice president- England. Previously director-business geology, Circle Oil, Finchampstead, development, Williams International, England. Previously adviser-geology, Register at: www.roseassoc.com/instruction Questions: [email protected] Caracas, Venezuela. PGS Reservoir, Aberdeen, Scotland. 713/528-8422 Steve Ehrenberg, to PanTerra George A. Hillis, to exploration Geoconsultants, Leiderdorp, manager, BEPCO, Fort Worth. Previously Netherlands. Previously StatoilHydro, division geologist, BEPCO, Fort Worth.

Robert Hobbs, chief operating officer, TGS-NOPEC, Houston. Previously manager-worldwide geoscience, Central Utah Thrust Belt Marathon Oil, Houston.

Scott Humphrey, to manager-Latin BlueQube Survey America marketing, Geotrace, Houston. Previously director-Latin America and Caribbean region, ION Geophysical (GX Technology), Houston.

Dan Jarvie, to president, Worldwide Geochemistry, Humble, Texas. Previously president, Humble Geochemical Services, Humble, Texas.

Stacy Jenkins, to senior geologist, T14S R2WW T14S R1W T14S R1E T14S R2E T14S R3E T14S R4E Seneca Resources, Houston. Previously Data now available T14SS R4W T14S R3W lead geologist, Sterling Energy, Houston.

T15ST15S R4W , to senior Multidisciplinary approach to T15S R3W T15S R2W Walter J. Korenkiewicz T15SS R1WW T15ST R1E T15S R2E T15S R4E T15S R3E geophysicist, Berry Petroleum, Denver. mapp complex p structuresuctures at Previously senior geophysicist, Rosetta NavajoNavajo depth andd help drivdrivee JUABJUAB Resources, Denver. T16ST16S R4W T16S R3WW T16S R2W T16S R2E T16S R3E T16S R4E future exploration.exploration.n. Jay S. Leaver, to executive vice T16S R1W T16S R1E president, Thomasson Partner SANPETESANPEETTEE Associates, Denver. Previously vice T17ST17SSR R4W T17S R3W T17S R1W T17S R1E T17S R2E T17SS R3E T17S R4E president-geosciences, Thomasson 150 sq mi - BlueQube data T17S R2W Partner Associates, Denver. and Interpretationation report ooverver T18ST18S R4W T18ST R3W , to vice president- T18S R2W T18ST188S R1W T18S R1E T18S R2E T18S R4E Steve Leeds CovenantCovenant Fieldd - Now AAvailablevailable T18S R3E business development, Core Laboratories, Denver. Previously T19T19S9S R1W manager, business development-Rocky 300 sq mi - Inn processing T19S R3W T19ST199S R4W T19S R2W T19S R4E T19S R1E T19S R2E T19S R3E Mountain region, Core Laboratories, Denver.

TT20T20S0S R1W 900 sq mi - Permitted,Peermitted, to be T20SS R4W T20S R3W Jim Lowe, to consultant geologist, Noble Energy, Houston. Previously staff T20S R2WR2W flown 2008 T20S R1E T20S R2E T20S R3EE T20S R4E geologist, Southwestern Energy, MILLARD T21ST21S R4W Houston. T2T21S1S R1W T21S RR1E1E T21S R3EE T21S R4E T21T21S21SS R2W T21S R2E T21S R3W Peter MacKenzie, to president, Products Availableailable MacKenzie Land & Exploration, TT22SR1W T22ST222S R4W Worthington, Ohio. Previously vice GravityGravity Gradiometry Gradiometrymetry T22S R1E T22S R3EE T22S R4E T22S R3W T22S R2E president-geosciences, Triana Energy, Magnetic GradiometryGradiometryometry T22S2 S RR2W2W Worthington, Ohio. GGrravityavity TT23S2 S R R2WW T23S R3E T23S R4E T23S R4W TT23S3 R1W1W T23S R2E has been elected LiDAR T23S R1E James R. Maytum T23S R3WW partner and named principal geologist, IInterpretationnterpretation ReportReport Geocal, Centennial, Colo. Previously TT24S24S R R2WW SEVIERSEVIER T24S R3E manager-geotechnical operations, T24S R1E T24S R2E T24S R4E T24S R3W T24S R4W T24S24S R1W Geocal, Centennial, Colo. For further informationformation Terri Olson, to petrophysical adviser, and participationion rates EOG Resources, Denver. Previously please contact:t: 0 mi 5 mi 10 mi 15 mi 200 mi 25 mi 30 mi geoscience development adviser, EnCana Oil & Gas, Denver.

Mike Rogers, to manager- professional development, Nexen, JEBCOJ E B C O Calgary, Canada. Previously vice president-exploration, Dolomite Energy, Calgary, Canada. RRobertobert SS.. DammerDammer,r,,J JEBCO Duncan Bate, ARKeXARKeX Incc TTel:el: +1 713 554 6207207 Tel:Tel: +1 713 425 6351 Benjamin Sloan, to subsurface team lead-Gorgon and Io-Jansz fields, Cell: +1 713 823 9188188 Cell: +1 713 818 7667 Chevron Australia, Perth, Australia. [email protected] [email protected]@arkex.comm See PNBs, page 40 MAY 2008 39

MAY 2008 40 ‘Bookout Initiative’ Supports Teachers By MARLAN DOWNEY Brookhaven College in Dallas, we AAPG Foundation Trustee began discussions with Diane A recent review of AAPG Foundation Brownlee, EMGI director, and Stan donors revealed that support for K-12 Pittman, EMGI board member. The teachers and students ranked very high Institute was founded by long-time in donor interest. Dallas independent oilman Ellison This coincides with the intent of Jack Miles, and is very modern and well Threet and Larry Funkhouser, co-chairs equipped. of the Foundation’s fundraising efforts, It has become a center for K-12 to find ways that the AAPG Foundation teacher science training and is heavily can, in its growth, continue to make the used for professional workshops and Foundation’s objectives parallel the Bookout Downey Funkhouser Threet meetings. interests of the donors. Our discussions with EMGI allowed Foundation Executive Director Rick The Foundation is interested in were encouraged to “do something” definition of a series of low-cost earth Fritz has pointed out to the Foundation enlarging its support of new K-12 rather than wait for an interesting new science education courses for K-12 Trustees that K-12 support has been activities, while continuing its strong K-12 proposal to arrive before the teachers, with EMGI providing facilities, only a relatively modest part of past support of current programs. Foundation board. teaching materials and staff for nominal Foundation outlays, with the exception In a discussion between John As AAPG had assisted in the initial costs. of the Foundation’s highly regarded Bookout, former chairman of Shell Oil, funding of the Ellison Miles This “teach-the-teachers” concept “Teacher of the Year” program. Bill Fisher, Jack Threet and myself, we Geotechnology Institute (EMGI) at has several unique elements: The short courses are scheduled at the teacher’s convenience (weekends and school holidays). The courses taught by EMGI provide credit hours needed for the teacher’s annual certification requirements. The teaching materials are selected from the best currently available. Organization and supervision are provided by the EMGI staff. John Bookout has agreed to fund the starting phase of this new AAPG Foundation program, which we have named the “Bookout Initiative.” The program got off to a jump-start in October 2007, and has provided funding for training 223 teachers at an amazingly low cost of about $35/teacher. The program has been heavily advertised in the teaching profession, and requests already have been received for 14 more short courses for the first quarter of 2008! Teachers are excited about using new knowledge and teaching materials in their classes. The Bookout Initiative also funded a special field trip, “Geology on the Bus,” in January 2008 that received rave reviews from all 35 teachers. This is no surprise, of course – once you show someone the lessons of the rocks, then understanding, enthusiasm and a sympathetic view of earth science emerges. The AAPG Foundation has many wonderful programs that deserve your support; we hope that a larger Foundation will allow us to play a strong role in channeling your contributions to the sort of activities you find most worthwhile.

(Downey is a past president of AAPG.)

PNBs from page 38

Previously planning analyst, Chevron International Exploration and Production, San Ramon, Calif.

(Editor’s note: “Professional News Briefs” includes items about members’ career moves and the honors they receive. To be included, please send information in the above format to Professional News Briefs, c/o AAPG EXPLORER, P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, Okla. 74101; or fax, 918-560-2636; or e-mail, [email protected]; or submit directly from the AAPG Web site, www.aapg.org/explorer/pnb_forms.cfm.)

MAY 2008 41

Data courtesy of Fugro MCS

Fbg]bg` mkn^ `^heh`r Zg] mkn^ ]^ima maZml ma^ Zkm h_ bfZ`bg`' When you are drilling a well five miles below the surface, you want your $E½NINGdecisionsTHE toART be based OF on DEEP an accurate IMAGING image positioned at the right depth. That’s why companies turn to 3DGeo. Whether you are building a complex velocity

model or are grappling with subsalt imaging issues, our knowledge and expertise

in providing the most accurate imaging solution is proven. Let us demonstrate the

ﬁne art of imaging on your next project.

www.3DGeo.com

MAY 2008 42

By REBECCA GRIFFIN The 2008 monetary) to the AAPG Foundation. In an effort to promote alliances AAPG Foundation Manager Chairman’s Award was Threet recently co-chaired the between societies, Foundation Chairmen It’s been a busy month for the AAPG presented to Trustee Foundation’s Financial Campaign, William Fisher and Paul Strunk recently Foundation as initiatives have moved Emeritus and AAPG “Meeting Challenges … Assuring invited the SEG Foundation Trustee forward, members were honored and a Honorary member Jack Success.” Associates to attend the next AAPG significant gift was received to start a C. Threet at the The award was first presented in 1999, Foundation Trustee Associates meeting, new program. Foundation Chairmen’s to the late Michel T. Halbouty. Other past set Sept. 3-7 in Jackson Hole, Wyo. The gift was a $250,000 donation from Reception in San recipients include L. Austin Weeks, David “Scotty” Holland, a Trustee Antonio. James E. Wilson, Merrill W. Haas, Hugh Finally, the Foundation Trustee Associate and Member of the Foundation Holland The Chairman’s Looney, Lawrence W. Funkhouser, Fred A. Associates have another new member. Corporation, which will endow the first Award recognizes Dix, Robert W. Esser and Eugene F. Fred Barrett, of Bill Barrett Corp. in AAPG Foundation Named Professorship. those who have made “Bud” Reid. Denver, recently joined, bringing the The AAPG Foundation/Holland extraordinary contributions (service or group’s total to 260. J Professorship will be designated to Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Foundation (General) Grants-In-Aid Fund Louis R. Lambiotte Holland, now retired, began his career Mansour Hashim Al-Hashim Mansour Hashim Al-Hashim In memory of Roger D. Steward with Marathon Oil (1957-66), then spent Robert James Ardell John D. Haun B.M. Rankin Jr. In memory of Amos Salvador In memory of M.O. Turner In memory of Roger D. Steward three decades with Pennzoil in a variety Louis Chapman Bortz Whiting Petroleum Corp. Richard S. Rankin of countries and positions, including In memory of John D. Edwards, Matching gift from Barry Gager In memory of Roger D. Steward president and chairman of 17 different James A. Peterson and Robey H. Kurt Reinecke Pennzoil international subsidiaries. Clark Gustavus E. Archie Memorial Grant In honor of William J. Barrett In other Foundation news: Kirby Lee Cockerham Jr. Whiting Petroleum Corp. Gary Stuart Sandlin In memory of Amos Salvador Matching gift from Barry Gager Ronny and Susan Thomas This year the Grants-in-Aid Marlan Wayne Downey In memory of Roger D. Steward Committee will award the first Ike In memory of James Lee Wilson Ike Crumbly Linda Valdez Crumbly Minorities in Energy Grant in the Gregory Thomas Fletcher Minorities in Energy Grant In memory of Roger D. Steward amount of $500. James S. McGhay Robert Loren Countryman Whiting Petroleum Corp. The Ike Crumby Minorities in Energy In memory of Thomas Mairs In honor of Ike Crumbly Matching gift from Barry Gager Grant, was established in 2003 by the Paul Milton Strunk AAPG Membership/Diversity Joseph Theodore Westrich SEAPEX Named Grant Haas-Pratt Subcommittee to honor educator Isaac J. James W. Turner Distinguished Lecture Fund “Ike” Crumbly at Fort Valley State Digital Products Fund Jack C. Threet University. Mansour Hashim Al-Hashim Marta S.Weeks Named Grant In memory of J.B. Coffman The selected recipient must be a William Otis Williams graduate geoscience student who is Bryn Mawr College In memory of Melvin J. Hill Holland Professorship Fund female and/or a visibly ethnic minority Barbara Toan Meckel David Scott Holland (black, Hispanic, Asian or Native K-12 Education Fund San Diego State University Mansour Hashim Al-Hashim E.F. Reid Scouting Fund American, which includes American Mathew Wayne Stikes Jim O. Atkins Jeffrey M. Rayner Indian, Eskimo, Hawaiian or Samoan.) In memory of Roger D. Steward For more details contact the Distinguished Lecture Fund Robert Royce Hillery Eugene F. Reid Dibblee Fund Foundation office or go to the Foundation Mansour Hashim Al-Hashim For the “Bookout Initiative” Jeffrey M. Rayner Web site at foundation.aapg.org.

Denver, CO

Colorado July 9-11 2008 Convention Early registration Center discounts end May 23 Rocky Mountain Geology & Energy Resources Conference P RESENTED BY ROCKY MOUNTAIN SECTION AAPG

Trips & Short Courses: For information: O Unconventional Plays: Lewis, Niobrara & Bakken Rocky Mountain O Completions for Geoscientists Section AAPG: Technical Sessions Include: www.rms-aapg.org O Resource Plays: Perception vs. Reality O Petroleum Systems in Honor of Fred Meissner Online Registration: O Technology & Operations www.epicenter2008.org O Reservoir Styles O The Business Side of 3-D Seismic in the Rockies Sponsors O Shale Gas Plays Jim Emme [email protected] Keynote Speaker: Scott Tinker Director, Texas Bureau of Economic Geology: Exhibitors O Global Energy: Myths, Realities, Paradoxes Brian Richter [email protected]

Joint Energy Epicenter Event: Rocky Mountain Natural Gas Strategy Conference & Investment Forum Presented by Colorado Oil & Gas Association: www.coga.org

MAY 2008 43

MAY 2008 44

May 2008 S t r u c t u r e Midland Valley Wo r l d Welcome to May’s Structure World column Additional activities that we will be holding from Midland Valley. This month we with the Technology Meeting include announce the Keynote Speakers presenting a workshop on ‘Reducing Structural at our Technology Meeting in Glasgow, Uncertainty’ and a Field Trip looking at the Scotland in September while our interpreters Architecture of the Highland Boundary tip looks at displacement data analysis. Fault. To receive the full Technical Programme Thank you to all who and Registration details for all of the Silver visited us at the recent Anniversary events contact Sarah through AAPG exhibition in San [email protected] or visit our website, Antonio where we were www.mve.com. exhibiting with our Upstream Technology Alliance partners Interpreters Tips: how displacement Badleys Geoscience and IES - Integrated data analysis can be an aid for structural Exploration Systems. It was great to catch interpretation? up with friends old and new. We hope you Displacement measurements along faults The winning team from the University of Leoben, Austria, which took first place in the enjoyed it as much as we did! can provide insights on both the evolution European Region’s Imperial Barrel Award competition – and represented the Region of a fault system and its segmentation in the IBA finals in San Antonio. Silver Anniversary Technology Meeting pattern. Generally, the displacement on a fault decreases from the centre to the outer sectors of a fault. The displacement dies out at a tip line (the trace in space of the terminations of a fault) and can be Winning Teams Moved transferred to some other fault or to a fold. Displacement-distance graphs (or displacement proﬁles) illustrate the change To celebrate our 25th Anniversary, we in displacement along the strike of a fault. On to San Antonio are holding a Technology Meeting with The displacement-distance curve can show session topics of structural geology; different shapes ranging from a circular Twelve university teams from around and advancing the careers of reducing uncertainty; reservoir analysis arc to sinusoidal to D-shaped. Variations the world competed in the finals of geoscience students. and petroleum systems. Presentations will of displacement gradient can be related to AAPG’s Imperial Barrel Award program at Listed here are the first place and be delivered by keynote speakers from different fault interactions (i.e.tips of linked the AAPG Annual Convention and ”wild card” teams that participated in this industry and academia. Our Upstream faults generally show higher displacement Exhibition in San Antonio. year’s IBA. Results of the competition are on Technology Alliance partners Badleys and gradients) and can indicate changes in www.aapg.org and will be published in Africa Region – Federal University IES will also be represented. structural trends. the June EXPLORER. of Technology, Nigeria. Where you see an apparent change from The 12 teams were the finalists of 34 Asia Pacific Region – University of Keynote Speakers include: a smooth displacement proﬁle or rapid university teams from around the globe Indonesia. Tim Buddin, BP change in displacement gradient you that entered the annual Canada Region – University of Prof John Dewey, UCD should look for relay ramps or hard linked prospect/exploration Alberta. Dr Jan Kees Blom, Delft University transfer faults that may have been omitted evaluation/presentation competition European Region – University of Prof Rob Butler, University of Aberdeen in the interpretation. between university student teams Leoben, Austria. Prof George Davis, University of Arizona competing to win scholarship funds. Eastern Section – West Virginia A The teams analyzed a complete University. The meeting takes place from 30th dataset in six to eight weeks prior to the Gulf Coast Section – University of September - 1st October 2008 in the competition and (geology, geophysics, Louisiana, Lafayette. B Mid-Continent Section – University Glasgow Science Centre, Scotland. land, economics, production infrastructure and other relevant of Oklahoma.

DISPLACEMENT C materials). Each team delivered their Pacific Section – San Diego State results in a 30-minute presentation to a University. panel of industry experts who acted as Rocky Mountain Section – Colorado DISTANCE judges. School of Mines. The first place team was awarded Southwest Section – Texas Christian Displacement vs. distance profiles for two isolated normal faults $20,000, with $10,000 for second and University. and for a linked fault system (not in scale). (a) Arc-shaped profile; (b) approximately sinusoidal distribution; (c) overlapping faults $5,000 for third. The remaining finalists Wild card (2008 only) – University of with D-shaped distribution (redrawn after Schlische et al., 1996). received $1,000 each. Aberdeen (2007 IBA winner). The program is rigorous and Wild card (2008 only) – Imperial Come to one of our Public Training’s in Initially Geometrically contributes to AAPG’s mission of College London (program concept Houston: Isolated coherent promoting petroleum geoscience training founder). J • May 29th Stage 1 Public Training: 2DMove & 4DBase • May 30th Stage 2 Structural Uncertainty Workshop Stage 3 Silver Anniversary Events • Sept 29th Other IBA finalists Structural Uncertainty Workshop included teams from Evolution of displacement vs. distance profiles on pairs of sub- the University of • Sept 30th - Oct 2nd parallel, non-colinear faults (redrawn after Nicol et al., 2002). Alberta (left), Federal Midland Valley Silver Anniversary University of Technology Meeting, Glasgow, UK. As a rule of thumb, faults with small Technology, Nigeria • Oct 2nd maximum displacements are unlikely to be (lower left), and the Field Trip: The Architecture of the continuous over large distances in either University of Highland Boundary Fault. map or section view and thinking of them Oklahoma (lower right). as elliptical segments forming parts of Exhibitions discontinuous arrays may be useful. • October 26th - 29th AAPG International, Cape Town. To receive the interpreter tip monthly, contact Steven: [email protected]. [email protected]

You can contact Midland Valley on +44 (0)141 332 2681 or email [email protected] The structural geology experts www.mve.com

MAY 2008 45

H[FRP

UD]LO

PRUH

*XOI RI 0H[LFR

VPLWK#DUN

VH\ DWD"

FRP

HEVLWH IRU

WLRQ

O\QGV

9LVLW RXU ZH LQIRUPD ZZZ

9LVLW RXU ZHEVLWH IRU PRUH

LQIRUPDWLRQ

ZZZDUNH[FRP

&RQWDFW XV HPDLOHPD O\QGVH\VPLWK#DUNH[FRP WHO I

WHO QHWLF G QG PDJ \ DQ

$XVWUDOLD YLW\ DQG PDJQHWLF GDWD" YLW D D

(DVW $IULFD IRU JU

1RUZD\ RRNLQJ RX O

DUH

IWZ

6RI UH \

RI $UH$U \RX ORRNLQJ IRU JU

DLQLQJ

ZH GR

HORSPHQW

HYHORSPHQWHY RI 6RIWZDUH

:KDW ZH GR 3URFHVVLQJ ,QWHUSUHWDWLRQ,QWHUSUHWDWLRQ '' DQG 7

DQG 7

6SDLQ

:HVW $IULFD

8. DQG ,UHODQG

MAY 2008 46

120,000 1,200,000 6,000,000 Visits Pages Hits AAPG Site 100,000 1,000,000 5,000,000 Is BIG – 80,000 800,000 4,000,000 And Still 60,000 600,000 3,000,000 Growing 40,000 400,000 2,000,000 By JANET BRISTER AAPG Web Site Editor 20,000 200,000 1,000,000 There are over 10,000 pages of news and informational content in the aapg.org Web site, and more than 0 0 0 Apr-07 Jun-07 Aug-07 Oct-07 Dec-07 Feb-08 Apr-07 Jun-07 Aug-07 Oct-07 Dec-07 Feb-08 Apr-07 Jun-07 Aug-07 Oct-07 Dec-07 Feb-08 3,000 pages served up from its sub- May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08 domains (DEG, EMD, DPA, Foundation, Students, etc.). And, of course, these Internet users came to aapg.org this many times ... and looked at this many pages ... and this many individual items. pages are added to daily. However, AAPG wants to expand its Web site services to attract even more traffic to our sites and to the organization. Some of the services planned include additional collaborative tools – such as Podcasts, blogs and wikis – and audio and video files from lectures, meetings, and other events. Between 15,000 and 30,000 pages are accessed daily just on www.aapg.org alone, by between 2,500 and 3,500 visitors. In 2004 those numbers were 10,000 to 18,000 pages accessed by 2,000 to 2,800 visitors. It’s exciting to see that not only the content has grown but the access and use has grown, too.

Students’ Site

The latest addition of students.aapg.org serves primarily our college students and the resulting student chapters. It focuses on content of interest and help to the college audience. From these pages students can: Learn about the job expos. Locate other student chapters to learn what they are doing and compare notes. Gather details about contests such as the Imperial Barrel Award. Learn about grants offered through the AAPG Foundation.

More to Come

The Bookstore and events registration system is nearing completion and you should begin to see a difference in what lies behind Members Only. Then there are those collaborative tools that are popping up all over the Internet – which we plan to incorporate into AAPG’s site as well. Our Divisions are working on enhancing their content for their respective members: DPA is improving the certification registration process. DEG continues to grow its Environmental Geosciences journal and information. EMD’s proprietary information maintained by its commodities committees grow regularly.

***

Because of the desire to expand Web services and information and the need to update and maintain the already extensive site, the AAPG Web site staff had doubled. Jamie M. Edford is on board as web site editorial assistant. She was previously with University of Tulsa Petroleum Abstracts. J MAY 2008 47

Articles Multiscale stratigraphic analysis of a structurally confined submarine fan: Carboniferous Ross Sandstone, Ireland Coming to You David R. Pyles Ross Sandstone

Results of a detailed, multiscale stratigraphic analysis indicate that the Carboniferous Ross Sandstone, Ireland, is indeed an outcrop In the May analog for the productive submarine fans that fill structurally confined minibasins in the northern Gulf of Mexico. A better AAPG BULLETIN understanding of the former will aid exploration and production of

the latter. Tectonically induced adjustment of passive-margin accommodation space; influence on the hydrocarbon potential of the Orange Basin, South Africa Douglas A. Paton, David van der Spuy, Rolando di Primio, and Brian Horsfield Increased Passive Margin Potential

Most passive margins have experienced some degree of postrift deformation. A single tectonic event significantly altered the location and style of sediment accumulation on the southern Orange Basin passive margin in South Africa, resulting in increased hydrocarbon

potential. Evidence for multiple stages of oil cracking and thermochemical sulfate reduction in the Puguang Gas Field, Sichuan Basin, China Fang Hao, Tonglou Guo, Yangming Zhu, Xunyu Cai, Huayao Zou, and Pingping Li Geologic Notes Puguang Gas Field TSRs A Review and Technical Summary of the AAPG Hedberg Research Conference on “Origin of Petroleum – Biogenic and/or The Puguang Gas Field of the Sichuan Basin is the largest carbonate Abiogenic and Its Significance in Hydrocarbon Exploration and gas field in China but contains a high concentration of H2S. This Production” Barry Jay Katz, Ernest A. Mancini, and Alexander A. Kitchka Petroleum: Biotic or Abiotic Origin?

The question of whether petroleum is of a biotic or an abiotic origin, as well as the implications of such an origin, was tackled at the Hedberg Research Conference. While little common ground exists between the two camps, all participants agree that the meeting was an informative and useful exercise.

Access your BULLETIN online at http://www.aapg.org/May_Bulletin/ and log in to the Members Only section. Submit your paper to the BULLETIN. Details and online submission links are available at http://www.aapg.org/bulletin/ MAY 2008 48

The following candidates have For Active Membership submitted applications for membership in the Association and, on the next page, certification by the Division of Arkansas Professional Affairs. This does not Martin, K. Luke, Southwestern Energy, constitute election nor certification, but Conway (D.C. Melton Jr., R.D. Ponder, places the names before the K.R. Butler) membership at large. Any information bearing on the California qualifications of these candidates Andres, Miriam S., Chevron Energy should be sent promptly to the Technology, San Ramon (P.M. Harris, Executive Committee, P.O. Box 979, J.C. Hsieh, G.D. Jones); Blume, Cheryl Tulsa, Okla. 74101. Renee, Schlumberger, Bakersfield (D. Information included here comes from Pennell, C. Presmyk, J. Schwalbach); the AAPG membership department. Finken, Richard Dale, City of Long (Names of sponsors are placed in Beach, Long Beach (S.C. Prior, M.W. parentheses. Reinstatements indicated Gaudet, M. Clark); Jolley, Bryan Dale, do not require sponsors.) Aera Energy, Bakersfield (M.G. Acosta, Membership applications are J.D. Milton, H.A. Orndorff); Surko, available at www.aapg.org, or by Tammy Lynne, Dominion Transmission, contacting headquarters in Tulsa. Tustin (R.S. Yeats, E.M. Gath, R.L. Walden)

Colorado Cavens, Jessica J., EnCana Oil & Gas, Denver (J.L. Schmidt, L.M. Kozimko, B. Luneau); Devine, Vicki Verross, self- employed, Denver (P.E. Devine, D.M. Wheeler, J. Rhodes); Kubik, Peter, Anadarko, Denver (T.J. Birmingham, W.S. Lyons, W.A. Tedesco); MacIntyre, Timothy James, EnCana Oil & Gas (USA), Denver (T.M. Olson, D.E. Schmude, M.P. Dempsey); Maslyn, R. Mark, consultant, Centennial (reinstate); Mauro, Laura Ann, Questar, Denver (M.W. Longman, C.E. Bartberger, K.D. Reisser); Whittaker, Stefani D., Discovery Group, Denver (S. Cluff, R.M. Cluff, C.E. Brown)

Indiana Henning, Mark J., Chevron, Evansville (J.F. Swartz, D.C. Beeson, J.C. Eacmen Jr.); Smith, Jason Todd, Core Minerals Operating, Evansville (J.G. Peters, W.F. Bandy Jr., R.L. Sumner) Louisiana Taylor, Jerry Wayne, Toxicological and Environmental Association, Baton Rouge (reinstate) New Mexico Frost, Gwendolynne Rose,

ConocoPhillips, Farmington (S.E. Nez, C.F. Head, E.A. Pippin)

Oklahoma Goodfellow, Karen B., Continental Resources, Enid (J.H. Stark, D.E. Pethoud, R. Jones); Jarrett, Andrew Whitney, Chesapeake Energy, Oklahoma City (J. Sharp, J. Kapchinske, M. Lester); Kenney, Kathleen Marie, Questar E&P, Oklahoma City (R.C. Thornburg, S.K. Broberg, R.E. Conrad II)

Pennsylvania Adams, David Paul, ABARTA Oil & Gas, Pittsburgh (J. Interval, J. Wigal, J. Jenkins) Texas Allwardt, Jeffrey R., ConocoPhillips, Houston (S.R. Schwegal, D.N. Tolman, M.O. Maler); Close, David Ian, ! Schlumberger, San Antonio (D. Fairhurst, H.A. Balling, P. Winefield); Erigha, Eric Akporherie, independent, " #$ Houston (G.J. Nash, J.L. Honganen, D.R. Phu); Hardesty, Elizabeth C., Shell Oil, Houston (C.M. Griffith, J. Rehnmark, G. Yoder); Jones, Rebecca Harrington, Bureau of Economic Geology, Austin (S.C. Ruppel, F.J. ! ! Lucia, U. Hammes); Kim, Kyou Ho, Providence Energy Group, Houston (G. Bunge, S. Hamm, M.M. Cassidy); continued on next page

MAY 2008 49 continued from previous page Mexico Daal, Antonio Jose, Neuralog, Vera Cruz (J.J. Daal, J.N. Meinwald, A.F. Callejon) Latson, Rebecca Lynn, Hess Corp., Houston (J. Halgas, M.L. Price, S.B. Nigeria Pluim); McCormack, Niall James, Hess Alalade, Babatunde, ExxonMobil Corp., Houston (A.S. Pepper, T.M. Nigeria, Lagos (W.B. Odufisan, F.A. Cordingley, D.E. Ballentine); McDavid, Bassey, A.O. Ojo); Sunday, Akinlawon Andrew Dax, Stalker Energy, Austin Akinyemi, International Logging Inc., (P.A. Strunk, W.A. Walker Jr., W.L. Rivers State (L.A. Fakoya, T.S.A. Fisher); Mobley, Casey R., Chevron, Akewusola, M.A. Akinyele) Houston (G. Pritchard, G. Rhoads, E. Van Reet); Murray, Mychal, Chevron, People’s Republic of China Houston (D.S. Beaty, D.E. Rowan, R.C. Xue, Guanghua, ConocoPhillips Bain); Phillips, Mark Ingrum, M.I. China, Beijing (C.M. Curtis, R.J. Hofer, Phillips, Wichita Falls (J.L. Gilbert, J.W. S. Li) Ritchie, D. Vader); Rabson, William, Dynamic Global Advisors, Houston Poland (J.R.J. Studlick, B.J. Radovich, T. Porebski, Szczepan Jan, Polish Matava); Serrano, Isabel Cristina, Academy of Sciences, Krakow Edge Petroleum Corp., Houston (B.L. (reinstate) J Faulkner, J.M. DeGraff, H.A. Creasey); Shetler, J. David, Black River Limited, San Antonio (reinstate); Stolte, Christian, Schlumberger, Houston (K.S. Glaser, D.R. Paddock, T.C. Hay); Stull, Kenneth E., Schlumberger, San Antonio (D.L. Fairhurst, M.A. Norville, M.M. Guethle); Throckmorton, Tracey Tolson, Texas General Land Office, Austin (P.A. Boone, D.L. Collier, D. Hyatt); Tompkins, Clifford Franklin, DeGolyer and MacNaughton, Dallas (H.W. Peace, P.L. Neat, J.D. Hooks); West, James Charles, Pioneer Exploration, Houston (reinstate)

Utah McLin, Ryan Hunter, TerraTek, Salt Lake City (M. Milner, S.J. Lutz, G.M. Gillis)

West Virginia Wilcox, Clay Audry III, Chesapeake Appalachia, Charleston (E. Rothman, R. Snyder, B.J. Carney)

Canada Alexander, W. Bruce, Scotia Waterous, Calgary (B. Markhasin, D.M. Hartz, C. Pike); Pena, Miguel Angel, Nexen, Calgary (R. Penas, A. Mendez- Castiblanco, B.R. Mills); VandenBrink, Justin, RPS Energy, Calgary (R.T. Dick, G.M. Say, R. Ashton)

Colombia Plata Torres, Jairo Antonio, Saudi Aramco, Bucaramanga (C.J. Nieto, A. Garg, A.A. Al-Gaoud)

Germany Kluth, Oliver, RWE Dea, Hamburg (J.D. Marsky, S. Luning, R. Guedemann)

Italy Di Celma, Claudio Nicola, University of Camerino, Camerino (S.S. Flint, E. Mutti, R.L. Brunt)

Korea Lee, Gyoo Ho, Korea Gas Corp., Seongnam (T. Lee, Y. Kil, K.P. Park)

Certification

The following is a candidate for certification by the Division of Professional Affairs.

Petroleum Geologist

Texas Brennen, James D., consultant, Garland (L. Billingsley, H.W. Kiatta, B. Layton)

MAY 2008 50 Commentary Some Will Learn, Others ‘Believe’

By GENE SHINN The Marcellus shale cover story in the March EXPLORER was outstanding – not only is it a unique application of science and technology to tease out more gas, but because of another striking implication. Just show that cover to most anyone and ask, “What do you see?” They will likely say, “I see a man standing on an old concrete sidewalk near a stream.” I tried it on several people and that was their response. My point – nothing to do with oil and Nature at work: The cover photo of the gas – is that it is a wonderful example of March EXPLORER reminded Gene how nature can mimic man-made Shinn about the “wonderful” way nature objects. mimic’s man-made objects on the sea Off the island of Bimini in the Bahamas floor at Bimini (left and right shots). there are several rows of stones that a growing group of New Age thinkers The true believers’ basic argument is swear was made by ancient humans. In Photos courtesy of Gene Shinn that nature does not produce straight fact, a large number will say it is the he belief in Atlantian-made lines; it must therefore be the work of remains of Atlantis! man, even though no man-made artifacts I made the mistake of pointing out its Tstructures points the ﬁnger have been found. natural origin some years ago and now The Marcellus shale photos clearly there is a Web site disprove that assumption, as do recently (http://www.mysterious- squarely at our education system discovered identical submarine sites america.net/bimini-caysal200.html that elsewhere. claims I am part of a government ) and our poor job of imbuing My first publication on the subject, conspiracy to keep the public from “Bimini’s Atlantis Hoax,” was serious and knowing the truth! critical thinking in our youth. intended to warn potential investors of This came about because I once Shinn the scam. Meanwhile numerous TV cored the stones and determined they programs, most recently the History were beachrock formed a few thousand Channel, show underwater photos of the years ago when sea level was lower. rock break up like an old sidewalk. they revealed to him that Atlantis is aligned Bimini stones with statements Their straight alignment and shape is not Unfortunately, there are the followers located off the island of Bimini. like, “Nobody knows the origin of these unusual, because beachrock forms on of Edgar Cayce and his Foundation who The rush of New Agers beginning in stones.” stable beaches in warm tropical seas. If think otherwise. You see Cayce, who the 1960s was on and, regrettably, many My second publication, although a the beach is straight, the rock is straight. according to the faithful, communicated were putting real money into the search. Once exposed to the sun the slabs of with reincarnated souls of Atlantians, and Unfortunately, history is repeating itself. continued on next page

Westshore Consulting is the midwest’s geophysical expert in the acquisition, processing & interpretation of accurate, densely sampled gravity surveys.

For over 25 years, we have provided the exploration industry data in the entire project area, not just the easily accessible portions. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit our web site at www.westshoreconsulting.com.

MAY 2008 51

continued from previous page spoof, was a true accounting of adventures with the true believers spanning a 30-year period. It was published in the Skeptical Inquirer, and this one really brought down the wrath of the Cacyites. They claim my work is a hoax. I must admit, however, it has been a fun ride and a great lesson in human foibles. When the special session, “A Tribute to (AAPG member) Bob Ginsburg” was organized for the 2005 Geological “Sharing Ideas – Embracing Opportunities” Society of America meeting in Denver I knew just what to present. You see, August 13 — 15, 2008 | Dalhousie University | Halifax | Nova Scotia | Canada Bob’s first publication in 1953 was on the formation of beachrock at Dry Tortugas. It was a fun, lighthearted Thematic Sessions presentation but with some serious implications. (Oral & Poster Presentations) Because of the Bimini stones (also called the Bimini Road) layout, they Margin Evolution & Development could be considered an example of “intelligent design.” The belief in Basin Petroleum Systems | Productive Fields & Analogues Atlantian–made structures points the finger squarely at our education system IN ADDITION TO THE CONFERENCE SESSIONS, ALSO FEATURED WILL BE: and our poor job of imbuing critical thinking in our youth. FIELD TRIPS COURSES I admit giving the talk was fun, but Nova Scotia (Pre-Meeting) Practical Salt Tectonics writing the paper for the upcoming “A Permian to Jurassic Rift Successions Petroleum Systems Modelling Tribute to Ginsburg” volume for the • Classic Carboniferous Sections journal Sedimentology was difficult. I • Onshore Cretaceous Reservoir Equivalents CORE WORKSHOP had learned from earlier attempts that if • you misspell a word the true believers Morocco (Post-Meeting) Offshore Nova Scotia Reservoirs, will zero-in and throw the baby out with Triassic Synrift Reservoir Facies & Architecture Facies & Sequences the bathwater. Portugal• (Post-Meeting) I also had to be serious, because Jurassic Carbonates & Fluvio-deltaic Successions SEISMIC DATA ROOM peer-review does not take kindly to • scientists who stray into strange areas Latest Central Atlantic Programs & Profiles beyond our profession. PROGRAM INFORMATION I hope all readers will pick up the David E. Brown LOGISTICAL INFORMATION baton and educate when and where [email protected] Trudy D. Lewis you can. [email protected] Once again, I wish to thank all those involved in the Marcellus shale article, Grant D.Wach and especially Gary Lash, who took the [email protected] cover photograph. It is a great example WEBSITE & ON-LINE REGISTRATION of what nature can do. www.conjugatemargins.com Now we can only hope the New Age thinkers don’t see the images. They will SPONSORS / ENDORSEMENTS surely say, “ancient beings from outer space created the formation during the Devonian and filled it with gas for our future use.” J

(Editor’s note: AAPG member Eugene “Gene” Shinn retired in 2006 as a geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, where he was recognized as a pioneer in scientific research in carbonate sedimentology and coral- reef ecosystems. He is now with the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg, Fla.)

MAY 2008 52

EnCana Chair in Unconventional Gas fed up two years ago and left for a major The University of Calgary invites applications for a Chair in Unconventional Gas Editor’s note: Letters to the editor – and by both tables, I make about in the Department of Geoscience (www.ucalgary.ca/geoscience) at the level of should include your name and $20,000 less than the figures for the “3-5 tenure-track Associate/Full Professor.We are looking for a senior scientist to build address and should be mailed to year” experience category in 2007, and Readers’ Forum, c/o AAPG an internationally renowned geoscientific program in unconventional gas research. about $10,000 less than the average EXPLORER, P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, The successful candidate will have a PhD and an international reputation in their field of research M.S. with three-five years experience. Okla. 74101, or fax (918) 560-2636; covering major aspects of the science and engineering involved in exploring for and producing Just some food for thought. or e-mail to [email protected]. Letters unconventional gas reservoirs. Possible research areas might include one or more of tight gas, shale gas, Kent Swartz may be edited or held due to space coal bed methane or gas hydrates.The candidate will work with researchers in the departments of Houston restrictions. Geoscience, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, where there are ongoing activities in unconventional gas.The successful candidate will build a vigorous, externally funded research program that will become an internationally leading centre for developing innovative solutions Poetic License to the challenges presented by the exploration and development of unconventional gas. Salaries An Ode to Petroleum Geology: Evaluationof applicationswill begin October 31, 2008 and continue until the position is filled. Regarding the findings of your recent We geologists must all play our part Additional information about the position and the application process can be found at AAPG Salary Survey (April EXPLORER): Exploration’s not just science, it’s an art www.ucalgary.ca/hr/careers or by contacting [email protected] I have been working for nearly four You gotta know the rocks years in the industry, and have my M.S. Think out of the box All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be in geology. When I first started I worked Finding oil’s not for the faint of heart. given priority. The University of Calgary respects, appreciates and encourages diversity. for an independent in Wichita, Kan., and Stuart Harker To see all Universityof Calgaryacademic positions, please visit: www.ucalgary.ca/hr/careers. started at $37,000 – very, very low, even Aberdeen, Scotland for just four years ago. That is why I got

Correction An error in the April EXPLORER resulted in Patrick J. Gooding not SUMMER NAPE being included in the list of this year’s AAPG award winners. Gooding, manager of the AUGUST 27-28 Kentucky Geological Survey’s Well Sample and Core Library, was honored at the recent AAPG Annual OOTHS VAILABLE Convention and B A Exhibition in San Antonio with a House of GOTO: WWW.NAPEEXPO.COM Delegates’ Distinguished Member Award. Gooding, who has been an HoD delegate for the past five years, is Gooding presently completing his fourth term as chair of the House’s Credentials Committee. He’s also chair of the AAPG Preservation of Geoscience Data Committee and a member of the GeoTour Committee. Also receiving HoD Distinguished Member awards in San Antonio were John R.V. Brooks, of Brookwood, England; and Alan L. DeGood, Goddard, Kan. Jeannie Fisher Mallick, with Milagro Exploration in Houston, received the House’s Long Service Award. The EXPLORER regrets the error.

Morton Bigger Jr. (AC ’47) Dallas Charles A. Hinton (AC ’48) Mount Pleasant, Texas Robert Lill (EM ’51) Calgary, Canada Robert H. Paschall, 90 Bishop, Calif., Dec. 8, 2007 David N. Schell, 80 Covington, La., Feb. 20, 2008 Glenn L. Shepherd, 86 Wailuku, Hawaii, March 10, 2008 Roger D. Steward, 82 Corpus Christi, Texas March 8, 2008 Jacques W. Vincent, 78 Tulsa, March 18, 2008 R.J.Yedlosky, 76 Fairmont, W.Va., March 8, 2008

(Editor’s note: “In Memory” listings are based on information received from the AAPG membership department. Age at time of death, when known, is listed. When the member’s date of T HE NAPE EXPO IS PRESENTED BY NAPE EXPO LP, death is unavailable, the person’s COMPRISED OF AAPL, IPAA, SEG AND AAPG AS LIMITED PARTNERS membership classification and anniversary date are listed.)

MAY 2008 53 To us, it’s all about making your career a big success. &KRRVH IURP RYHU H[FLWLQJ ¿HOG VHPLQDUV DQG VKRUWFRXUVHV DOO GHVLJQHG ZLWKWKHJRDO RI KHOSLQJ \RX H[SORUH DQG EHWWHU XQGHUVWDQG \RXU LQGXVWU\ )RUFRPSOHWH GHWDLOV RQ DQ\ RI WKH ¿HOG VHPLQDUV DQG VKRUWFRXUVHV RIIHUHG E\ WKH $$3* FDOO RU YLVLW http://www.aapg.org/education/

SHORT COURSES

)DOO (GXFDWLRQ &RQIHUHQFH RQ 6WUXFWXUDO *HRORJ\ 6HSWHPEHU $ FROOHFWLRQ RI HLJKW WRSQRWFK FRXUVHV DURXQG WKH WKHPH RI 6WUXFWXUDO *HRORJ\ with 10 renowned instructors!! -RKQ /RUHQ] 5RQDOG 1HOVRQ 0DUWLQ 7UDXJRWW 0DUN =REDFN 5XVVHOO 'DYLHV .HQ 0F&OD\ 9LYHN &KLWDOH 3DXO (OOLRWW )UHG +LOWHUPDQ DQG 0DUN 5RZDQ http://www.aapg.org/education/fec.cfm

FIELD SEMINARS

/HZLV &ODUN *HRWRXU 0DULDV 5LYHU 7R *DWHV 2I 7KH 0RXQWDLQV 0RQWDQD 6HSWHPEHU %HJLQV DQG HQGV LQ *UHDW )DOOV 0RQWDQD :LOOLDP % +DQVHQ -LUHK &RQVXOWLQJ 6HUYLFHV *UHDW )DOOV 07 KWWSZZZDDSJRUJHGXFDWLRQ¿HOGVHPLQDUVGHWDLOVFIP",'

6HGLPHQWRORJ\ $QG 6HTXHQFH 6WUDWLJUDSKLF 5HVSRQVH 2I 3DUDOLF 'HSRVLWV 7R &KDQJHV ,Q $FFRPPRGDWLRQ 3UHGLFWLQJ 5HVHUYRLU $UFKLWHFWXUH %RRN &OLIIV 8WDK 6HSWHPEHU %HJLQV DQG HQGV LQ *UDQG -XQFWLRQ &RORUDGR .HLWK : 6KDQOH\ &RQVXOWDQW 'HQYHU &2 - 0LFKDHO %R\OHV 6KHOO ,QWHUQDWLRQDO ( 3 +RXVWRQ 7; KWWSZZZDDSJRUJHGXFDWLRQ¿HOGVHPLQDUVGHWDLOVFIP",'

0RGHUQ 7HUULJHQRXV &ODVWLF 'HSRVLWLRQDO 6\VWHPV -XQH 6HSWHPEHU 2FWREHU %HJLQV DQG HQGV LQ &KDUOHVWRQ 6RXWK &DUROLQD :DOWHU - 6H[WRQ $WKHQD 7HFKQRORJLHV ,QF &ROXPELD 6& KWWSZZZDDSJRUJHGXFDWLRQ¿HOGVHPLQDUVGHWDLOVFIP",'

LAST CHANCE! Don’t miss these June opportunities

*(27285 7KURXJK $ODVND $ 7UDQV$ODVNDQ 7UDQVHFW ± *XOI RI $ODVND WR 3UXGKRH %D\ RQ WKH $UFWLF 2FHDQ 0D\ ± -XQH 7ULS EHJLQV LQ +RPHU DQG HQGV LQ )DLUEDQNV $ODVND 7RP 3ODZPDQ %3 $QFKRUDJH $. DQG 'DYLG +LWH &RQVXOWDQW $QFKRUDJH $. IRU VRXWKFHQWUDO $ODVNDQ VHJPHQW *LO 0XOO 6DQWD )H 10 7RP 3ODZPDQ DQG 'DYLG +LWH IRU %URRNV 5DQJH DQG QRUWKHUQ $ODVND VHJPHQW KWWSZZZDDSJRUJHGXFDWLRQ¿HOGVHPLQDUVGHWDLOVFIP",'

([SORULQJ )RU 6WUDWLJUDSKLF 7UDSV 8VLQJ 3UHVVXUHGHSWK 3ORWV 6DOLQLWLHV -XQH 'HQYHU &RORUDGR +XJK 5HLG +XJK : 5HLG $VVRFLDWHV &DOJDU\ $% &DQDGD KWWSZZZDDSJRUJHGXFDWLRQVKRUWFRXUVHGHWDLOVFIP",'

3UHGLFWLQJ &ODVWLF 5HVHUYRLUV 8VLQJ $SSOLHG 6HTXHQFH 6WUDWLJUDSK\ -XQH %HJLQV DQG HQGV LQ 6DOW /DNH &LW\ 87 /HH ) .U\VWLQLN )RVVLO &UHHN 5HVRXUFHV )RUW :RUWK 7; DQG %HYHUO\ %ODNHQH\ 'H-DUQHWW %XUHDX RI (FRQRPLF *HRORJ\ 7KH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 7H[DV +RXVWRQ 7; KWWSZZZDDSJRUJHGXFDWLRQ¿HOGVHPLQDUVGHWDLOVFIP",'

0XOWLFRPSRQHQW 6HLVPLF 6WUDWLJUDSK\ -XQH +RXVWRQ 7; %RE +DUGDJH %XUHDX RI (FRQRPLF *HRORJ\ $XVWLQ 7; KWWSZZZDDSJRUJHGXFDWLRQVKRUWFRXUVHGHWDLOVFIP",'

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.

MAY 2008 54 Coalbed Methane Reserves (U.S.) Coalbed Methane From Hazard from page 58 To Resource Coal mine explosions have been unconventional resources such as known for centuries, and the gas coalbed methane and gas shales associated with coal mining worldwide is critical for economic stability operations always has been of major and continued growth. concern. Enhanced coalbed methane recovery However, despite the early failures using sequestered greenhouse gases to recognize coal gas as beneficial (carbon dioxide) and microbial rather than simply a mining hazard, conversion of the coal and sorbed gases Scotsman William Murdoch was the into methane may represent a solution to first to recognize the usefulness of solving energy and environmental coal gas as an illuminant in the late objectives simultaneously and 1700s. Coal gas remained an development of these technologies is important illuminating source for the accelerating to meet global demand. J world until it was replaced by electricity. (Editor’s note: Scott is with Altuda The first true coalbed methane Energy Corporation in San Antonio and production in North America is harder was general technical program co-chair to pinpoint, but it probably occurred in for the recent AAPG Annual Convention West Virginia, Ohio, Oklahoma and Figure 2 and Exhibition.) other locations in the early 1920s and the 1930s. The early discoveries were serendipitous and tapped into water- free coal beds on structural highs. These early wells were clearly targeted at coal seams, and it appears that at least one operator may have applied the same exploration strategy in Ohio and West Virginia. The Big Run Field in West Virginia was developed in 1932 and produced over 2 bcf (56MMm3) of coalbed methane from 25 or 30 wells, and apparently there are several other fields that also produced coalbed methane. The Excello Shale gas play in Oklahoma also tapped into a thin coal seam surrounded by carbonaceous shale, so it too can be considered an early coalbed methane play. The first coalbed methane wells in the San Juan Basin were drilled by Stanolind (Amoco) in the 1950s along the Ignacio Anticline and did not produce significant amounts of water because the coals were structurally high. Phillips Petroleum also drilled and completed wells in Fruitland coal seams during this time period, and the San Juan 32-7 #6-17 well, completed in 1953, has been producing gas for more than 50 years with minimal decline in reservoir pressure. The first attempt at dewatering coal seams to produce methane was BECAUSE A HEALTHY DIET performed by Amoco in 1977 at the Cahn Gas Com #1 well in the Cedar Hill Field. The IP for the test wells was only 100 Mcfd (2,832 m3d) with 100 DOESN’T GUARANTEE ANYTHING. Bbl (15.9 m3) of water, but this production soon increased to more than 1 Mmcfd (28.2 Mmm3d) by 1979, and the modern era of coalbed methane exploration and development was started. – ANDREW R. SCOTT THE GEOCARE BENEFITS HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT QUALIFIED INSURANCE PLAN. QUALITY BENEFITS AND TAX-DEFERRED SAVINGS. NOW THAT’S SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT. The GeoCare Benefits Health Savings Account (HSA) Qualified Insurance Plan can give you the valuable protection you and your family need, with the added benefit of a savings account that lets you pay for your deductibles and out- of-pocket healthcare expenses using tax-deferred savings. The HSA Qualified Plan. It’s sure to put a smile on your face.

THIS MAY BE THE PERFECT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN FOR YOUR FAMILY. THE GEOCARE BENEFITS HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN. CALL 1-800-337-3140 OR VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.GEOCAREBENEFITS.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION, INCLUDING ELIGIBILITY AND RENEWAL PROVISIONS, EXCLUSIONS, LIMITATIONS AND RATES.

GeoCare Benefits Health Insurance Plans, P.O. Box 189, Santa Barbara, CA 93102-0189, Email: [email protected]. The Health Insurance Plans are underwritten by New York Life Insurance Co. (51 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010). New York Life bears no responsibility for the establishment and administration of any Health Savings Accounts. All coverage is subject to approval by New York Life.

MAY 2008 55

Nearly 1,000,000 documents. Twenty complete collections. One easy-to-use interface. Visit http://payperview.datapages.com/ to sample the breadth and depth of the Datapages archives. Corporate subscriptions start at $500. Tax-deductible, in perpetuity alma mater subscriptions also available.

Participating publishers and societies are as follows: AAPG Bulletin AAPG Special Publications Ardmore Geological Society Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists East Texas Geological Society Fort Worth Geological Society Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Houston Geological Society Bulletin Houston Geological Society Special Publications Indonesia Petroleum Association Journal of Petroleum Geology Kansas Geological Society Lafayette Geological Society New Orleans Geological Society 3DFL¿F 6HFWLRQ $$3* 6SHFLDO 3XEOLFDWLRQV Petroleum Abstracts Discovery Database Oklahoma City Geological Society Society of Sedimentary Geology JSR Tulsa Geological Society Wyoming Geological Society

Coming soon: &LUFXP3DFL¿F &RXQFLOIRU 0LQHUDO DQG (QHUJ\ 5HVRXUFHV DQG the Geological Society of Trinidad and Tobago.

+1 918 560-9430 for a free 30-day trial or try us out at http://payperview.datapages.com/ More science than you can shake a pick at.

MAY 2008 56

acquisitions and funding of exploitation, production, and accounting procedure. ******************** POSITION AVAILABLE development, and (if appropriate) exploration. The • Willingness to travel to Canada and South successful candidate will participate in acquisitions America as needs of job dictate. Small TSX Listed Canadian and support closing negotiations. • 5-10 years of finance, accounting, and/or audit International E & P Company Small TSX Listed Canadian The VP will selectively cultivate relationships with experience. Experience in accounting in the (W/Offices in California, Columbia, International E & P Company debt and equity sources, investment and exploration and production industry is desired. Brazil, & Canada) (W/Offices in California, Columbia, commercial banks, other financial institutions, and • Experience in financial reporting, budgets, VP Exploration Operations / San Clemente, CA Brazil, & Canada) value appraisal firms. The final candidate will be a forecasting, and management reporting as it VP Finance / San Clemente, CA “hands-on” financial strategist and tactician, pertains to the oil & gas industry. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the providing for future funding and evaluating use and • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance. successful candidate will provide oversight and allocation of capital to enhance shareholder value CPA a must and a Masters in Accountancy a leadership for all drilling and production operations; Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the while maintaining options for new opportunities. plus. provide leadership in process analysis, successful candidate will lead and manage the The VP will assure commercial bank credits as • Superior GAAP and SOX compliance performance management, cost and budget financing; risk profiling, controllership, financial needed and with the CEO co-lead external capital- knowledge. management, identifying opportunities for improving analysis, information systems, and administrative raising efforts. The VP will support timely and • Excellent computer skills, especially with performance, effectiveness and efficiencies within support functions. meaningful communication of company Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint required. the scope of operations. This individual will be The VP Finance will determine and provide for performance to investors, lenders, and investment • Strong organizational skills and ability to multi- responsible to provide oversight and guidance in capital requirements and work closely with debt and bankers as appropriate. The VP will have had fairly task required. overall drilling and production operations including equity sources to assure funds to support growth. recent access to debt and/or equity capital markets, • Strong work ethic, positive attitude, strong environmental and safety compliance. Additionally, He/She will direct preparation of monthly including existing relationships with investment and communication skills, and results oriented. the successful candidate must have experience in consolidations, capital return and allocation reports, commercial bankers. • Ability to work overtime as required to meet business process analysis/re-engineering, financial budget comparisons against plan, tax, and other The Vice President of Finance will manage the build- internal and reporting deadlines. analysis and modeling, and related activities. meaningful internal and external reports to measure out of a competent accounting and finance team. • Based on prior experience, have access to The successful candidate must have strong performance against the business plan and return domestic and selected international capital analytical, presentation, and communication skills on capital expectations. Position Requirements sources and markets. as well as significant experience managing and The successful candidate will advise the CEO leading complex projects in foreign office and field and the management team in the capital allocation • This position requires a current certification in For more information please contact Marek locations. process providing the financial return analysis to the state of California and a familiarity / Helstrom at (661) 319-1700 or email at determine use of equity and/or debt capital in general understanding of Canadian finance [email protected]. Position Requirements: • Willingness to travel to Canada and South America as needs dictate. • Bachelor’s or Graduate degree in Engineering with strong functional understanding of Oil & Gas exploration and development. • General petroleum engineering experience – American Association of Petroleum Geologists specifically: • Well Intervention & workover; • Well completions; • Production operations; • Ability to suggest and manage improvements to drilling, operations and service activities; • Small-scale construction project capability; International Conference • Supervision of service personnel; • Broad understanding of subsurface issues (Prospect generation & target definition; Drilling; In-place volume estimation; Reservoir management); and Exhibition • Ability to work with and influence operators to represent Company views as non- operator. • Significant successful experience in Oil & Gas 26–29 October, 2008 | Cape Town, South Africa | www.aapg.org/capetown field operations in foreign locations. • Experience in Oil & Gas operational budgeting, forecasting, and management. • Exceptionally strong communication skills with the ability to work in a fast paced and sometimes stressful environment. • Self-starter with the ability to anticipate and proactively manage problems and situations. • Strong organizational skills and the ability to Wide-ranging, global program: multi-task required. • Ability to work as required to meet internal and reporting deadlines. • Deepwater Reservoir Systems–A Global Perspective • Strong work ethic, positive and coachable attitude, with an eye for personal and • Global Advances in Geosciences professional growth. • Next Generation Tools and Techniques • Team skills absolutely essential. For more information please contact Marek • The New Business of Energy: Global Coal, CBM, Helstrom at (661) 319-1700 or email at [email protected]. Gas Hydrates, Uranium, CO2 and Remediation Gondwana and Pangean FOR SALE • Petroleum Systems: Africa, Middle East, South Mudlogging units with easy to learn software. Atlantic, Caspian, Mediterranean, Arctic and Very reliable, full featured, portable units. Contact Automated Mudlogging Systems Asia-Pacific (303) 794-7470 www.mudlogger.com

********************

BOOKS. Rare and out-of-print books and periodicals on geology and related sciences. Large stock on all phases of the oil industry, domestic and foreign covering geology, history, engineering, logging, geophysics, etc. Catalogs available. The Hannum Company. Box 1505-B, Ardmore, OK 73402. [email protected]

MISCELLANEOUS

Want to purchase minerals and other oil/gas interests. Send details to: P.O. Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201. Registration, hotels and guest tours open in May. www.aapg.org/capetown SAMPLES TO RENT International Sample Library @ Midland – formerly Midland Sample Library. Established in 1947. Have 164,000 wells with 1,183,000,000 well samples and cores stored in 17 buildings from 26 states, Mexico, Canada and offshore Australia. We also have a geological supply inventory.

Phone: (432) 682-2682 Fax: (432) 682-2718 J

Host Society Diamond Sponsor Geological Society of South Africa

MAY 2008 57

Two Lectureships Department of Earth Sciences

Salary is in the range £35,913 to £42,469 inclusive depending on experience.

We seek to appoint two Lecturers (equivalent to Assistant Professor level): (1) in seismic processing, seismic interpretation or reservoir geophysics; and (2) in structural geology, remote sensing/GIS, reservoir geology or petroleum systems. Exceptional candidates in other areas will be considered. Links with the hydrocarbon industry would be an advantage. See www.es.rhul.ac.uk for details of the Department of Earth Sciences or contact Professor Mary Fowler. Posts will be available from August 2008 onwards. Applications for part-time positions and job shares will be considered.

Further details and an application form are available from the Personnel Department, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX; tel: 01784 414241; fax: 01784 473527; www.rhul.ac.uk/Personnel/JobVacancies.htm Please quote the reference KB/514

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 16 June 2008

We positively welcome applications from all sections of the community.

MAY 2008 58 Foundation Initiative Launched

By RICK FRITZ The following are our key areas of Meeting Challenges – Assuring he ﬁnancial campaign is designed to focus and programs: Success! Support opportunities for students This is the theme for the fundraising Tassure the Foundation’s mission is and teachers to study geology. campaign of the AAPG Foundation, Provide financial assistance to whose mission is “to provide a source of students of all over the globe. funding to support educational, succesful well into the future. Fund geoscience research and charitable and scientific objectives that publications. directly and indirectly benefits the Fund professional education geologic professional opportunities. and general public.” Facilitate the preservation and This financial campaign in the AAPG EXPLORER to dissemination of geoscientific knowledge campaign is designed define the Foundation’s programs and *** – especially in digital format. to assure the mission is objectives. The next step in the public phase is to successful well into the The survey also queried members I am writing this column a few weeks provide all members with the opportunity future. about their interest in certain programs before we formally announce the to be part of the fundraising program. We first considered and topics. Based on the survey, the campaign at the AAPG Annual Look for announcements in the the program three years areas of greatest interest are K-12 Convention and Exhibition in San EXPLORER, BULLETIN, special mailings, ago under the guidance education, public outreach and support Antonio. Already the committee has town meetings, and on the AAPG Web of then-Foundation of students and teachers. Of course, raised another $3.5 million mostly from site home page for information on how Chairman Jack Threet. Fritz there also was great interest in science only 70 Trustee Associate members. you can participate. As a result, the AAPG and dissemination of technical data. Most important, the Financial AAPG also will talk to industry and Foundation started planning a financial After Bill Fisher became chairman of Committee members have planted seeds other institutions to provide immediate program to increase funding for its key the Trustees, a Financial Campaign for future giving. Many AAPG members funding to jump start key projects. programs and emerging new Committee was established with Jack have responded with great interest, and opportunities. Threet and Larry Funkhouser as co- we expect to announce other major gifts *** The goal was to double the chairs. Marta Weeks was asked to join in the near future. Foundation portfolio, which at that time the campaign, along with Bob Ardell, Bill We sincerely appreciate all of the work Giving is contagious. I am always was valued at a little over US$16 million. Crain, Mike Party and Ed Picou. The accomplished by the committee amazed how one gift leads to another. We initiated the program by hiring a remaining Foundation Trustees – John members and their tremendous service We invite all AAPG members and the consultant to conduct an audit and Amaruso, Bill Barrett, Marlan Downey, to both the Foundation and Association general public to give to the future of our survey of selected AAPG Trustee Jim Gibbs and Bill Gipson – are key as well as the general pubic. profession, industry and society. Associates. We were not surprised that members of the committee. the survey indicated the Foundation had The “quiet phase’ of the campaign *** a good reputation, but we were very began in July 2005. Shortly after, Austin surprised to find that most members Weeks bequeathed $10 million to the The “public phase” of the campaign is were not familiar with Foundation AAPG Foundation. Marta Weeks agreed officially open. Our goal is to build the activities or support. for its use as the lead gift in the portfolio mostly with endowments for As a result we started a major ad campaign. future generations. Resource beginning to be tapped globally Coalbed Methane’s Role Growing

By ANDREW R. SCOTT EMD Coalbed Methane Committee Coalbed Methane Production U.S.) Co-Chair Unconventional resources such as coalbed methane will become progressively more important worldwide as population continues to grow at an unprecedented – and possibly unsustainable – rate. As a result, coalbed methane and other unconventional resources undoubtedly production, which was 1,732 Bcf (49.0 will play an important Bm3) from an estimated 54,000 wells role in supplying energy (figure 1). needs to both Coalbed methane reserves decreased economically developed slightly from 19.892 Tcf (563.3 Bm3) in and emerging nations 2004 to 19.620 Tcf (555.6 Bm3) in 2006, worldwide in the representing a decrease of only 72 Bcf Scott foreseeable future. Figure 1 (7.7 Bm3) (figure 2). *** region, which includes China, ranges from Canadian basins. Coalbed methane now *** 646 to 3,360 Tcf (18 to 95 Tm3). represents 9 percent of 2006 dry-gas Preliminary worldwide coalbed The rate of coalbed methane resource production and 9 percent of proved dry- There are two important facts to methane resources are estimated to development within individual countries gas reserves in the United States, with the remember: range between 5,800 and 24,215 Tcf (164 will be highly variable due to local major producing areas located in the San Demand for natural gas in the United to 686 Tm3). economic factors and government energy Juan, Powder River, Black Warrior, Raton, States is expected to increase 50 percent The largest potential resources, which priorities and policies. Central Appalachian and Uinta (Ferron over the next 20 years as additional co- also have the largest degree of The United States remains the world and Book Cliffs) basins. generation power plants and natural gas uncertainty, are in the Former Soviet Union leader in coalbed gas exploration, Other U.S. areas with significant electric power generation facilities are with 4,000 to 16,116 Tcf (113 to 456Tm3). booked reserves and production, exploration or production are the constructed. North America ranges between 951 to although coalbed methane production is Cherokee, Arkoma, Illinois, Hanna, Gulf The global demand for energy will 4,383 Tcf (27 to 124 Tm3), whereas South expanding internationally – particularly in Coast and Greater Green River basins. continue to increase regardless of the America and Europe range from 15 to 32 Canada and Australia, and commercial Annual coalbed methane production in current economic downturn as the middle Tcf (42 to 91 Bm3) and 161 to 269 Tcf (4.6 production from India will undoubtedly the United States continues to increase, classes of emerging economies such as to 7.6 Tm3), respectively. Africa ranges accelerate in the near future. but not as rapidly as in previous years. China and India continue to expand. between 27 to 55 Tcf (760 to 1,557 Bm3), In North America, there is commercial The annual 2006 coalbed methane Therefore, development of and the Middle East has no coalbed coalbed gas production or exploration in production was up slightly (1,758 Bcf; methane resources. The Asia Pacific approximately 12 U.S. and several 49.8 Bm3) from 2005 coalbed methane See Coalbed Methane, page 54 MAY 2008 59

MAY 2008 60

Expand your opportunities …

WEM and Kirchhoff Migration Coming soon . . . E-Cat Beam Migration

Announcing E-Bear our Newest Gulf of Mexico Seismic Imaging Product.

Experience the industry-leading beneﬁ ts of WesternGeco survey design, marine acquisition, and state-of-the-art processing – designed to enhance your western Gulf of Mexico subsalt image requirements.

Delivering both anisotropic WEM and Kirchhoff volumes:

Processing and remigration of six legacy surveys spanning 428 OCS blocks

High-quality time imaging using relative amplitude anisotropic prestack time migration along with high-quality structural images utilizing anisotropic prestack depth migration.

Excellence in technology – Experienced professionals.

To learn more about our Gulf of Mexico Multiclient products and our new acquisition projects, call +1 713 689 1000. www.slb.com/westerngeco Multiclient to the Power of E

MAY 2008