GeoConvention & Core Conference
In This Issue... GeoConvention Session Spotlights Core Conference Abstract Highlights Core Conference Technical Program and Schedule Go Take a Hike
RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: CSPG – 150, 540 – 5th Ave SW Calgary, AB, T2P 0M2
$7.00 MAY/JUNE 2019 VOLUME 46, ISSUE 3 Canadian Publication Mail Contract – 40070050 May 27th May 30th, 2019
Subsurface Data Analysis, Geomodeling & Geostatistics
Instructor: David Garner | TerraMod Consulting CSPG Classroom | CPD Credits: 26
May 30th, 2019
Understanding Naturally Fractured Rocks
Instructors: Marian Warren | Jenner GeoConsulting Inc. Mark Cooper | Sherwood GeoConsulting Inc. geoLOGIC Classroom | CPD Credits: 8
April 30th May 1st, 2019
Basics of Geomodeling An Overview
Instructor: David Garner | TerraMod Consulting CSPG Classroom | CPD Credits: 16
VIEW SPRING EDUCATION INFORMATION ONLINE AT WWW.CSPG.ORG BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2019
CSPG OFFICE PRESIDENT PRESIDENT ELECT #150, 540 - 5th Ave SW Marty Hewitt Jen Russel-Houston Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 0M2 Tel: 403-264-5610 [email protected] Osum Oil Sands Corp. Web: www.cspg.org Please visit our website for all tickets sales and event/course registrations [email protected] Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:00pm The CSPG Office is Closed the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month. OFFICE CONTACTS Membership Inquiries PAST PRESIDENT FINANCE DIRECTOR Tel: 403-264-5610 Email: [email protected] Clinton Tippett Ray Geuder Advertising Inquiries: Candace Jones Tel: 403-513-1238 Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Sponsorship Opportunities: Candace Jones Tel: 403-513-1238 Email: [email protected] Conference Inquiries: Candace Jones Tel: 403-513-1238 Email: [email protected] Accounting Inquiries: Kasandra Amaro Tel: 403-513-1232 Email: [email protected] FINANCE DIRECTOR Education Inquiries: Kristy Casebeer Tel: 403-513-1233 Email: [email protected] DIRECTOR ELECT Laurie Brazzoni Executive Director: Lis Bjeld Kelty Latos Tel: 403-513-1235, Email: [email protected] [email protected] EDITORS/AUTHORS ConocoPhillips Canada Ltd. Please submit RESERVOIR articles to the CSPG office. [email protected] Submission deadline is the 23rd day of the month, two months prior to issue date. (e.g. January 23 for the March/April issue) To publish an article, the CSPG requires digital copies of the document. Text should be in Microsoft Word format and illustrations DIRECTOR DIRECTOR should be in TIFF format at 300 dpi., at final size. Colin Etienne Amy Fox CSPG COORDINATING EDITOR Emma MacPherson, Communications Coordinator, Canbriam Energy Enlighten Geoscience Ltd.. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists [email protected] [email protected] Tel: 403-513-1230, [email protected] The RESERVOIR is published 6 times per year by the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists. The purpose of the RESERVOIR is to publicize the Society’s many activities and to promote the geosciences. We look for both technical and non-technical material to publish. DIRECTOR DIRECTOR The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either in part or in full Travis Hobbs Alex MacNeil without the consent of the publisher. Additional copies of the RESERVOIR are available at the CSPG office. No official endorsement or sponsorship by the CSPG is implied for any advertisement, Encana Corporation Osum Oil Sands Corp. insert, or article that appears in the Reservoir unless otherwise noted. All submitted [email protected] [email protected] materials are reviewed by the editor. We reserve the right to edit all submissions, including letters to the Editor. Submissions must include your name, address, and membership number (if applicable).The material contained in this publication is intended for informational use only. While reasonable care has been taken, authors and the CSPG make no guarantees that any of the equations, schematics, or devices discussed will perform as expected or that they will give the desired results. Some information contained herein may be inaccurate or may vary from standard measurements. The CSPG expressly disclaims any and all liability for the acts, omissions, or conduct of any third-party user of information contained in this publication. Under no circumstances shall the CSPG and its officers, directors, employees, and agents be liable for any injury, loss, damage, or expense arising in any manner whatsoever from the acts, omissions, or conduct of any third-party user. Printed by CBN Commercial Services, Calgary, Alberta.
RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 3 THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS
SAMARIUM SPONSORS TITANIUM SPONSORS
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CORPORATE SUPPORTERS *As of April 1st Cabra Consulting Ltd. Pason Systems Sigma Explorations NuVista Energy Ltd. Canadian Discovery Ltd. Tangle Creek Energy Rocking Horse Energy Services RECON PetroTechnologies Nexen ULC Rockwell Consulting Athabasca Oil Corporation RECOPetro Repsol Oil and Gas Canada Inc. ALT - Advanced Logic Technology Geo-Steering Solutions Inc. Saguaro Resources RIGSAT Commuincations Baytex Energy Ltd. SeisWare Schlumberger Canada Limited Roke Technologies Ltd. Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. Typhoon Energy Ltd. Steeptech Exploration Ltd. Sentinel Wellsite Services Ltd. Cordax Evaluation Technologies Continental Laboratories Ltd. Western Geco RIGSAT Communications Enercapita CAPL CoreSearch PERM Inc. Freehold Royalities Partnership Geo-Steertng Solutions Keitech Consulting Canacol Energy Ltd. RBC Securities Graham Davies Geological Consult- Midwest Surveys Ember Resources Schlumberger ants Opus Energy Consultants Inc. Earth Signal Processing Ltd. Waterline Resources Ikon Science Ltd. Petrocraft Products Ltd. Cossack Land Services Ltd. AAPG - Canada region Iron Horse Energy Services Stoked Oats Geovariances Trican Laboratories McDaniel & Associates Consultants TABLE OF CONTENTS
MAY/JUNE 2019 – VOLUME 46, ISSUE 3
MONTHLY SPONSORS...... 4
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR...... 6
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD ...... 7 TECHNICAL ARTICLE
GeoConvention Session Spotlight...... 9
Core Conference...... 11
Revisiting the Mississippian Alida Beds in the Williston Basin FRONT COVER of Southeastern Saskatchewan...... 13 Coastal cliffs near Antofagasta, Chile. Shelly, shallow marine sands and conglomerates of the Miocene-Pliocene La Correlating Clearwater Sandstones Within the MartenHills and Portada Formation rest unconformably on Nipisi Regions of North-Central Alberta...... 16 Jurassic volcanics of La Negra Formation in Antofagasta in northern Chile. This Core Conference Technical Program & Schedule...... 18 stratigraphic relationship represents a Tertiary transgression onto the remnant of a Jurassic Andean volcanic arc. Go Take a Hike...... 20 The arc itself hosts important copper deposits across northern Chile. UPCOMING EVENTS Photo: Francois Tremblay Technical Luncheon...... 22
Division Talks...... 23 GEOCOMMUNITY TALKS
GeoWomen Luncheon Talk...... 28 SOCIETY NEWS
2019 Honorary Address – An Evening With Dr. Scott Tinker...... 28
West Coast Lecture Tour Wrap-up...... 33
Rock Analysis Workshop...... 34
Stanley Slipper Award Citation For 2018...... 35
R.J.W. Douglas Medal...... 38
RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 5 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Welcome to May/June! The weekly version of the Reservoir, the e-newsletter continues the evolution Ask any golfer about season change and of communications for and with the they will speak lovingly about green geoscience community throughout the greens, fair fairways and tall tees. Or year. Keep those suggestions coming – maybe, the transition from white winter we want to keep our communications to green winter. This is Canada, after all. system tuned to your needs. Kudos Tom Sneddon For petroleum geoscientists, however, to Emma, Candace, Kristy, Kasandra Professional Geologist (Alberta), spring and summer means The Classic. and Lis for the innovations they have Professional Geoscientist (B.C.) retired The Mixed. The Wave and the Doodlebug, supported and to the volunteers who recently as Director of Geoscience and Outreach if they are of the geophysics persuasion. keep the Society show on the road. for APEGA, has been a member of the CSPG The boys and girls of summer are on the for over 40 years, and has pursued a career in links! So Go Take a Hike or a Road Race The Reservoir itself will continue to geoscience since his university days. He has two or a Fun Run. Geo’s are an outdoors roll out those articles and features you degrees – both from Alberta: initially from the lot, be the event a sports festival or a want and need for inspiration and to University of Calgary in 1969 (B.A. Geography), geological field trip, we can be counted further your personal professional and from the University of Alberta (M.Sc. in on to do our thing despite the weather. development plan. This edition features Water Resources, Dept. of Civil Engineering, an attendee’s eye view of the 2019 1981). His initial industry experience was with This month, the Reservoir salutes Honourary Address and notes on the Amoco Canada in 1967-69 as a “Geophysical GeoConvention 2019 our biggest show of Rock Analysis Workshop held in March. Professional Assistant” for seismic data the year. After the golf tournaments, of management, processing, and seismic section course. All the traditional stuff is there: the CSPG is all about continuing education, preparations. trade show, the Old Tymers, the tech talks innovation and connecting the applied and lollygagging on the mall in the sun and academic geoscience world. Since Tom has taken his broad geoscience experience between presentations. The annual Core attending all the Division brown-bag – over 30 years of earth sciences experience, Conference rounds out the week, including talks is a tall order, your editorial staff will including experimental watershed research, the unforgettable Core Meltdown. attempt to tempt the presenters to expand hydrology, hydrogeology, environmental geology, oil their abstracts to a Reservoir-length feature and gas prospect development, drilling programs, • Highlights from GeoConvention Sessions in future editions. There will be more and extensive field work in minerals exploration Bulletin information published as well. and development – in both government and • Core Conference Technical Program industry, and applied it to the promotion of and selected talks are highlighted That rounds out this edition and the professionalism within the geosciences, through 2018/2019 Society Season as well. his role at APEGA. • RJW and Stanley Slipper Award Citations Have a great summer and return to the petroleum geoscience fold refreshed and • Wrap-up article from Colin ready for a busy and autumn as well. Readers of The RECORDER, The Source, the Etienne’s Lecture Tour CSPG Reservoir, and The PEG have seen Tom’s numerous articles on the role of the professional geoscientist.
6 RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD By: Alex MacNeil
OLD OUT! That’s the news for the Elect). And perhaps the icing on the cake to advances in unconventional reservoirs. CSPG Rock Analysis Workshop will be the CSPG Core Conference (May Invited speakers will soon be announced Sthat took place in mid-March at 16-17th) – why? Because it’s the 50th year and registration opens May 1st. As the the University of Calgary. Congrats and for the core conference and the committee meeting is capped at 120 registrants we thank-you to the presenters, sponsors, has prepared a fantastic technical program expect that the meeting will be sold-out, and technical chairs (Stan Stancliffe, Amin that focuses on reservoirs both old and so please register early if you hope to Ghanizadeh, David Robertson, and Ken new. Attention will be paid to some of attend! Overall, 2019 is an exciting year for Glover). The workshop focused on different western Canada’s most famous reservoirs conferences hosted by the CSPG and in methods and recent developments for – the ones that built the industry over partnerships with other societies, so as the both tight-rock and oil sand reservoir past decades, but also new reservoir types Director of Conferences I hope that you characterization. I highlight this workshop that will probably prove to be the future will be able to attend at least some of these as an example of the technical excellence of our industry (think unconventionals). events, and find them to be a valuable and career development opportunities The technical program is too extensive part of your career development. that exist because of the CSPG and its to review here but highlights include membership. core presentations on East Shale Basin Duvernay, the Montney, Clearwater and This year has a number of exciting McMurray Formation case studies, and opportunities for attending CSPG examples of unconventional reservoirs conferences, regardless of any specific from the United States including examples subdiscipline of petroleum geology you from the Permian and Cretaceous of Texas may follow. This year’s GeoConvention (Wolfcamp, Eagleford, Austin Chalk). (May 13-15th) is responding to changing This year’s GeoConvention and Core demographics and play types by including Conference should not be missed, and a series of solicited case-studies that thank you to the society members (Shelley highlight unconventional (Montney, Leggitt, Lindsay Dunn, John Hogg, Tom Duvernay, Spirit River, heavy oil, and Plumridge, Christa Williams, Carson oil sands) reservoirs – from opportunity Renaud, Liese Mclaren, Brent Kuntz, generation to reservoir characterization and Kelsea Pedersen) who have worked with a focus on driving profitability. A hard to plan these important meetings! new feature at this year’s meeting will be a series of solicited “fundamental skills” But the opportunities for technical talks in a mini short-course format that development and networking continue are geared towards younger geoscientists in the fall. On Oct. 3rd, following the hoping to further their skills. On SPE Annual Technical Conference and Wednesday, May 15th, there will also be Exhibition, the CSPG and SPE will co-host an afternoon panel session on the Value a core workshop focused on reservoir of Geosciences. Moderated by Danielle characterization. This will be an excellent Smith, former leader of the Wildrose Party opportunity for CSPG members to view and talk show host on News Talk 770, and discuss cores from different reservoir panelists include Wayne Foo (President types with reservoir engineers from around and CEO, Parex Resources), Rob Morgan the world. More information will be (President and CEO, Cona Resources), available soon on the CSPG website. Lastly, Kevin Angus (Strategic Advisor, Point Loma if you work on tight rock unconventional Resources), Gary Bunio (Director New reservoirs, you will want to attend this Technology, Suncor), Pat Ward (President year’s Gussow Conference (Oct. 15-17th) in and CEO, Painted Pony), and Jen Russel- Banff. The technical chairs (Tristan Euzen, Houston (Vice President Geosciences, Jim Wood, and James Macquaker) have Osum Oil Sands and CSPG President- prepared five technical sessions related
RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 7
www.geoconvention.com GEOCONVENTION 2019
GEOCONVENTION SESSION SPOTLIGHT Skill Fundamentals 101 and Case Studies: Parts 1 and 2 Monday May 13, 2019.
eoconvention 2019 (May 13-17, 2019) will be hosting several topical sessions around the theme of “Building Strong Foundations - Technical Fundamentals and Applications”. A key session will be: Skill Fundamentals 101 and Case Studies: Parts 1 (morning) and 2 G(afternoon) to be held Monday May 13, 2019.
This session is an introduction to a variety of geological and technical concepts and applications. It is intended for both new and experienced explorationists and development geoscientists. The session will include concepts and applications in Sequence Stratigraphy, Ichnology, Core - Wireline Log Correlation, Geochemistry, Hydrodynamics, and Geomechanics, presented by experts in their respective fields. This session will be delivered in a “bootcamp” style, with an over-arching theme of “going back to the basics.” CSPG members have indicated a critical need for new graduates and recent-hires to be exposed to the basic integrated concepts that are utilized in day to day work.
Topics to be covered and presenters include:
Concept: Sequence stratigraphy using well logs and cores, a systematic approach: Dr. J. Battacharya
Application: Integrating Ichnology with Sedimentology to Solve Sequence Stratigraphic Problems: Case Study of a Forced Regressive Asymmetric Delta, Viking Formation, Kaybob-Fox Creek, AB: Dr. J. MacEachern
Concept: Fundamental Skills in Core to Log Correlations in Unconventional Resource Plays: Examples from the Montney Formation: Dr. T. Moslow
Application: Core to log correlation of Montney members and stratigraphic surfaces: Dr. J.P. Zonnefeld
Concept: Tight Oil Geochemistry: Dr. D. Jarvie
Application: In situ versus produced hydrocarbons in unconventional reservoirs: insight from produced and mud gas geochemistry (Montney resource play, Western Canada): Dr. T. Euzen
Concept: Petroleum Hydrodynamics Fundamentals: Dr. P. Esslinger
Application: What’s hydrodynamics done for me lately? Select case studies from the Conventional and Unconventional Montney Formation: Dr. K. Rahkit
Concept: The Importance of Hydrodynamics in the Geomechanical Understanding of Oil and Gas Plays: Upper Mannville Case Study: Dr. A. Fox
Please join us for the session named: Skill Fundamentals 101 and Case Studies: Parts 1 and 2 to be held Monday May 13, 2019 at Geoconvention 2019.
Sincerely, Session Chairs Brian Zaitlin and Shelley Leggitt
Brian A. Zaitlin, Ph.D., P. Geol., C.P.G. Shelley Leggitt, MSc., P. Geol. Zaitlin Geoconsulting Ltd. NAL Resources e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] 403-701-7313 403-294-3600
RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 9 GEOCONVENTION 2019
GEOCONVENTION SESSION SPOTLIGHT Big Data and Artificial/Augmented Intelligence Applications to Geoscience Chair(s): Farrukh Akram & Edward Little
anada’s lands contains abundant natural resources that form the foundation of our Canadian economy. For the energy sector, this means petabytes of data collected each and every day, with only a small fraction of that data being used to make our decisions! As Cwe move along this pathway of ever-increasing speed and volume of data accumulation, capture, storage and synthesis, it is quite apparent that we will need to change how we interact with big data. When big data is combined with new machine learning savvy skills sets of our employees, improved computer power and algorithm development, and cloud-based interfaces, the realm of machine leaning and artificial/augmented intelligences is here now and is transforming how we all do business.
This session will explore the applications of Machine Learning and Artificial/Augmented Intelligence to BIG Data in the fields of geology and geophysics. In these sessions, our colleagues will be presenting on topics that range from Quantum Computation Applications in Exploration Geophysics, through to Automatic Velocity Analysis, Unsupervised Facies Classifications, Nano-scale Rock Characteristics in Tight Formations and Machine Learning Methods to Predict Well Productivity—just to name a few!
Presentation Information An Organic Porosity Evolution Model through Machine Learning, Example from Upper Devonian Duvernay Formation, Western Canada Sedimentary Basin Zhuoheng Chen, Jon Liu, Edward Little, Jijin Yang, Yu Zhou & Dennis Jiang
Machine Learning Strategies to Facies Classification Marcelo Guarido
Unsupervised machine learning applications for seismic facies classification Satinder Chopra, Ritesh Kumar Sharma and James Keay
Use of theory-guided neural networks to perform seismic inversion Jonathan E. Downton and Daniel P. Hampson
A comparison of Machine Learning methods for seismic inversion to estimate velocity and density Yexin Liu
Data Driven Models Using Machine Learning Methods to Predict Well Productivity in Montney Formations Shengnan Chen and Shuhua Wang
An active role for quantum computation in exploration seismology Shahpoor Moradi, Daniel Trad, and Kristopher A. Innanen
Convolutional Neural Network with Transfer Learning for Automatic Velocity Analysis Min Jun Park and Mauricio D. Sacchi
Probabalistic Clustering of a Discrete Fracture Network from Microseismic Data Scott H. McKean, Jeffrey A. Priest, Jan Dettmer, David W. Eaton
Application of Independent Component Analysis and Gaussian Mixture Models in micro-seismic signal detection Amir Shamsa and Mehdi Paydayesh
A deep learning perspective of the forward and inverse problems in exploration geophysics Jian Sun, Zhan Niu, Kristopher Innanen, Junxiao Li, Daniel Trad
Deep learning approach to automatically detect faults and fractures from magnetic data using convolutional neural network (CNN) Hassan H. Hassan and Serguei Goussev
10 RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 CORE CONFERENCE
ver the last 50 years, the geoscientist as conventional and unconventional. Creek in Central Alberta, to the Variability has been witness to the many Delegates can expect to learn how from Micro to Macro scale in the Montney, Ochallenges that have shaped the oil through various analyses, technology and and how that influences productivity and and gas industry. We have seen the price of applications, the geoscience community sweet spot delineation. As well, we have oil fluctuate from $3.32 (1969) to $127.77 helps our industry adapt and overcome the a few fascinating talks that range from the (July 2008) per barrel and from less than issues and demands of the future. This year Coaeval deposition of the Viking in Central $0/GJ up to $8/GJ in the natural gas market. the geoscience community will celebrate AB, the Ichnology, Sedimentology and The role the geoscientist plays is crucial the successes and failures of years past, and Stratigraphy of Cambrian Sands in the in understanding how we extract the vast the knowledge, learnings and refinements North West Territories, and the Dinosaur crude oil and natural gas resources and we have all been able to share as a result. Park – Bearspaw FM Transition in West the impact they have on our economy. It is The conference will showcase over 25 core Central Alberta. with this mantle of responsibility, that our presentations from across the Canadian understanding has evolved and continues provinces as well as the Permian and Austin Historical to guide our success, as we exploit the Chalk/Eagle Ford basins in the United In recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the resources found within the unique States. Following the overall historical inaugural core conference, we will feature reservoirs we work with everyday. theme, we look forward to the many several talks and core, which encompass insights this year’s presentations will bring the learnings we as scientists, have gained The increased implementation of extended and the contributions that will be gained for over the years. Jon Noad will speak to the reach horizontal wells and multistage years to come. evolution of the Upper Cretaceous and fracturing in tight sand and shale resource reservoir development using the Belly plays, have allowed our industry to extract Heavy Oil/Oil Sands River as an example. In addition, we will hydrocarbons from geological horizons The Heavy Oil and Oil Sands presentations see John Lake, speaking to the changing that were traditionally considered will feature new technology its impact ideas on sedimentology, stratigraphy impermeable seals for the conventional. on Mannville Heavy Oil in South Central and diagenesis, and how that has shaped Important emerging liquid rich plays, like Alberta, where several exciting new the exploitation of the Alida Beds in SE the Montney and the Duvernay continue pool discoveries have been made in the Saskatchewan over the decades. Lastly, to yield good results and attract global Edmonton-Leduc region. Presenters will there will be a special presentation by the investment. Our advance in drilling and discuss the opportunities around low Core Conference Committee, looking at hydraulic fracturing techniques continues resistivity bitumen plays, as well as cap some interesting trends in the conference to see success in some of the more mature rock integrity and the characterization of itself over the last 50 years, and a tribute to Canadian reservoirs, such as the Cardium discontinuities. We can also look forward those who have made this conference what in west-central Alberta and the Viking in to a few presentations which challenge it is today. east-central Alberta. Furthermore, we see conventional thought in what are established activity and novel exploitation techniques reservoirs. This includes the redefinition Carbonates in our foundation of Clastic and Carbonate of pay in the McMurray In-Situ regions of The lineup of Carbonates talks for this reservoirs and the renewed application of Athabasca, and the stratigraphy of the Lower years Core Conference is very robust, with technology and core geotechnical research Mannville -Clearwater Sandstone, located at presentations covering classic reservoirs within our Oil Sands and Heavy Oil plays. Marten Hills and Nipisi. and new insights in some poorly understood horizons. You can expect to find discussions On May 16-17th, 2019, we celebrate the Tight/Conventional on the Sequence Stratigraphy of the Swan 50th anniversary of the inaugural core Our Tight and Conventional talks cover a Hills in its relation to the Beaverhill Lake conference in 1969. We will see the span multitude of different topics from the Facies of reservoirs both old and new, as well productivity variation within the Rock (Continued on page 12...)
RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 11 TECHNICALCORE CONFERENCE ARTICLE
(Continued from page 11...) Group and a wholesome, outcrop, cutting Wolfcamp, as well as the Texas Gulf Coast as an industry and look back to where we and core evaluation of the Mississippian shales, Eagleford and Austin Chalk. Our came from and shed some light on what reservoirs, Banff, Exshaw and Pekisko. Duvernay discussions will feature topics we can look forward to for our science and Furthermore, we are excited to showcase like completions techniques like soaking industry. We hope that all participants will talks highlighting the Middle Triassic and the impact it has on productivity, learn from the varying ideas presented Sunset Prairie Fm. of BC, which looks at parasequence expression in the organic regarding interpretation, analysis, the clues Ichnology provides regarding the rich mudstones of the Duvernay at Kaybob, stratigraphy, exploitation techniques, Permian Mass Extinction event, and the and the evidence we have highlighting the reservoir characterization and exploration. Sedimentology and Petroleum Evaluation productive potential of the East Shale Basin Delegates are sure to come away from the of the Devonian Duperow Fm. in SW Duvernay in the Ghost Pine and Twining conference with a refreshed perspective Manitoba, which has been notoriously areas. We can then contrast these to the and some new ideas to use in their day-to- underdeveloped despite its potential depositional and sedimentological traits day work. upside for hydrocarbon production. that exist in the Wolfcamp-Spraberry and Eagleford-Austin Chalk, that allow them to We are excited for the presentations this Unconventional support such a high density of horizontal year and look forward to seeing you in May! The unconventional talks lined up for this development wells. year’s Core Conference are focused on 2019 CSPG Core Conference Committee some of the hottest shale plays in North This year’s CSPG Core Conference will not Tom Plumridge – Co-Chair America. We are excited to bring to our be one to miss. It is once again held at the Christa Williams – Co-Chair attendees the opportunity to compare world class AER Core research facility, and Liese Mclaren both the Kaybob and East Shale Basin with core examples from various play types Carson Renaud Duvernay with prominent US shale across the continent, this is sure to be an Kelsea Pedersen plays. We will have core from both the excellent 2-day event. The presentations Brent Kuntz West Texas Permian Spraberry and will showcase the success we have seen
12 RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 TECHNICALCORE CONFERENCE ARTICLE
REVISITING THE MISSISSIPPIAN ALIDA BEDS IN THE WILLISTON BASIN OF SOUTHEASTERN SASKATCHEWAN John H. Lake, Lake Geological Services Inc., and Arden Marsh, Saskatchewan Geological Survey
Summary The Alida Beds have been exploited for oil and gas since the 1950’s. This paper reviews how our ideas on sedimentation, stratigraphy and diagenesis have changed since initial discovery. We also look at the upside potential of the Alida for further development and exploration.
Introduction Figure 1: Stratigraphic cross section across Alida Unit. Note: location of 101/03-01-006-33W1/00 core Our ideas of carbonate sedimentation on display. There are three cycles of sedimentation up to the Highstand Systems Tract (HST). Erosion in Epeiric Seas have changed over the occurred on the TSE to create a stratigraphic trap in the Algal Zone. Datum is top of Tilston Beds (MC-2). decades. The models of deposition, porosity preservation, hydrocarbon trapping, marine regressions and contemporaneous tectonic during movement of water off the tidal activity have all changed. The ramp model flat, as the tide went out. We end up of carbonate deposition was popular with a with a calcareous algae grainstone often concept of shallowing and brining upwards preserving primary interparticle porosity sedimentation. Marine transgressions preserved within a low energy regime. The were not part of carbonate sedimentation reflux model of dolomitization has lost models back in the day. The prevailing favour as we recognized that magnesium models suggested that the hydrocarbons came out of normal seawater rather than were trapped by evaporites capping porous from evaporites. In addition, the tidal carbonates in a regressive regime for each movement of normal salinity seawater was strata in the Mississippian. The “Carbonate responsible for dolomitization of the inner Fear Factor” model (Lake, 2015) suggested tidal flat environment. Vuggy porosity and an alternate hypothesis involving marine anhydrite plugging was originally thought transgressions infilling incised valleys with to occur within the deep burial realm but the evaporites being buried by open marine we now know that it occurs as a result of carbonate sedimentation. Satellite images exposure and dissolution; anhydrite infill of restricted circulation in Hamelin Basin, of pores occurs below the water table in the Shark Bay, Western Australia, followed marine phreatic environment. All of these by open tidally-influenced circulation in changes came about as we gained access Sabkha Faishakh, west coast of Qatar were to the third dimension through horizontal Figure 2: Core Description and photo of 101/03- the modern analogues. Oil is trapped within drilling. Water depths of the basin were in 01-006-33W1/00 Alida Beds core on display. the confines of the incised valley as well as the order of 5 metres and deeper facies are Core represents the entire Alida Beds section at in older sediments adjacent to evaporite- only encountered on the western margin the Alida pool. Note: TSE, Flood and HST. The filled incised valleys. A Transgressive of the continent in the Rocky Mountains of HST is represented by a porous microcrystalline Surface of Erosion (TSE) at the base of western Montana. dolomite. Each interval represents a separate the Alida Beds in Handsworth pool traps hydrodynamic system with separate oil/water 10.486MMm3/65.96MMbbls OOIP (Lake Original exploration for the Alida pools contacts and should be treated as such when and Seifert, 2003). The pebble lag at the used isopach thins of the overlying Lower exploiting this reservoir. The section above the TSE is reminiscent of the Viking Formation Watrous/Red Beds to identify the parallel HST has” Attic Oil” trapped by the “Caprock”. pebble lag within the Cretaceous. north-north-east-trending ridges for There are two more exposure surfaces in this drilling targets. The Rosebank, Nottingham interval, but they cannot be correlated for any We have learned that Epeiric Seas and Alida pools were all discovered using distance because erosion on the flanks of the were tidally influenced and some of this technique. A few “dusters” off-trend pool. our best quality reservoirs are related confirmed the geomorphology of the pools. to drainage channels winnowing fines St. Onge and Strachan, (2003) emphasized (Continued on page 14...)
RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 13 TECHNICALCORE CONFERENCE ARTICLE
(Continued from page 13...) the importance of preserving the Alida Beds section in structural lows at the East Gainsborough pool. Gainsborough is north of the parallel Alida pool ridges and is younger in age according to the transgressive nature of sedimentation.
Early workers thought that the continental Figure 3: Model of marine transgressions showing location of the Williston Basin made it the effect of vertical permeability barriers on oil exempt from the stress associated with and water distribution. mountain building. Subsequent work has outlined a basin and range extensional tectonic regime with lateral offsets and Figure 6: Core photo of calcareous algal grainstone extension similar to Miocene movement channel fill marking the TSE on top of the Algal in Nevada, U.S.A. Blocks have both a Zone. 101/03-01-006-33W1/00 at 1143.9m; dextral and vertical sense of movement 3x magnification. along the faults contemporaneous with sedimentation. The individual blocks record a horst and graben geometry similar to Nevada. This, together with an east- west-trending breached anticline west of the Weyburn pool is part of the Late Mississippian Antler Orogeny. The sense of Figure 4: Core photo of micromoldic and movement would suggest that the Williston intercrystalline porosity within the HST dolomite. Basin was influenced by the Ellsemerian 101/03-01-006-33W1/00 at 1130.0m; 3x Orogeny in the Canadian Arctic during the magnification. Mississippian.
Theory and/or Method Figure 7: Core photo of pelletal-fenestral tidal flat Four cores from Alida Unit were logged in mudstone of the Algal Zone marking the initial detail and stratigraphically correlated to flooding event above the MC-2/Tilston Beds. gain a sense of lateral facies changes and Note: vuggy porosity development. This reservoir trapping. was exposed to erosion and disappears updip Conclusions in the next section, which is in response to the TSE. This is an excellent example of exposures The Alida Beds form a deepening upwards and transgressions creating stratigraphic and succession in response to marine hydrodynamic traps in carbonates. 101/03-01- transgression within Alida Unit pool. 006-33W1/00 at 1145.2m; 3x magnification. Sedimentation is periodically broken Figure 5: Core photo of crinoid bivalve wackestone by hiatuses of varying duration. Each hydrocarbons. The next hiatus marks the stacked package should be interpreted in quiet lagoonal facies, typical of the regional facies blanketing the TSE. The rock has been reversal from deepening to shallowing as a separate dynamic fluid system with event. The uppermost hiatus marks tidal separate oil/water contacts. Because these partly dolomitized. 101/03-01-006-33W1/00 at 1138.3m; 3x magnification. flat sedimentation overriding offshore rocks are transgressive in nature, the lower sediments in the highstand environment. beds may have higher oil saturations than downwards upon compaction has created The 101/03-01-006-33W1/00 core contains the beds above. We can see the effects of an “attic oil” situation which has trapped a dolomitized mudstone reservoir and subtle structural movements as we move oil structurally above the maximum shows evidence of accommodation space up section. The sequence of beds above flooding surface. This phenomenon occurs corresponding to stacked channels at the the maximum flooding surface have along the Paleozoic subcrop edge and is underlying hiatus surfaces. This dolomite repeated erosional events which mimic responsible for trapping hydrocarbons contains intercrystalline porosity and is the morphology of the preserved buried elsewhere as well. The Alida Beds flooded similar to the Midale Marly in terms of high on the Mississippian unconformity. and deepened upwards from the Tilston reservoir quality. This was not accidental, but rather was a Beds exposure (MC2). Sedimentation was function of subtle crustal flexures. disrupted twice before finally reaching the The Alida Beds reservoirs have undergone highstand surface. The first disruption partial dolomitization, which enhances The “Caprock” effect of Triassic-sourced in sedimentation included erosion. porosity and accounts for their prolific Lower Watrous/Red Bed sulphates Porosity within the “Algal Zone” thins production histories. This likely results and magnesium-rich fluids escaping to zero to create a stratigraphic trap for from restricted circulation. Anhydrite
14 RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 CORE CONFERENCE
pseudomorphs of crinoid ossicles are permission to use his StraTerra Log Manager Well Potential of the Lower Alida common throughout the section and are software to describe the core. Thanks also Beds at Handsworth Pool, Southeast reminiscent of dolomitization within the to Dr. Murray Gingras for showing us the Saskatchewan; 11th International Williston tidal flat diagenetic environment. The core ichnological evidence for tidal influence in Basin Horizontal Well and Petroleum on display is used to indicate how quickly the Mississippian of the Willsiton Basin. Conference Core Workshop Volume, lateral facies change in these stratigraphic Saskatchewan Geological |Society Special traps. The idea that we are not accessing all References Publication No. 16. of the oil with our horizontal wells attests Lake, J.H., 1989, Mississippian to the upside potential for revisiting this Transgressive Cycles, Nottingham Unit, St. Onge, A., and Strachan, E., 2003, East reservoir (Shtand, 2018). Southeast Saskatchewan; Canadian Society Gainsborough, Saskatchewan: a Prairie of Petroleum Geologists Core Conference, Evaporite salt dissolution and Mississippian Acknowledgements September 21 and 22, 1989, p5-1 to 5-22. erosional trap, Canadian Society of The authors would like to acknowledge Petroleum Conference, June, 2003. the early workers in the Williston Basin to Lake, J.H., 2015, Carbonate Fear Factor, whom laid the foundation for our present 23rd Williston Basin Petroleum Conference Shtand, J.E., 2018, Don’t call it a comeback understanding for what is going on. Drs. Core Workshop Volume, Saskatchewan - Delivering the Goods in the Alida Unit, J.G.C.M. Fuller, J.W. Porter, Ralph Edie, Don Geological Society Special Publication 23, SE Saskatchewan, CSPG GeoConvention Kent, Michael Hendricks and Tom Heck April 23, 2015 p21-42. 2018. were pioneers in stratigraphy and basin modelling. Thanks to Robert Norris for Lake, J.H., and Seifert, S., 2003, Horizontal
Our mission is: To advance the professions of the energy geosciences - as it applies to geology; foster the scientific, technical learning and professional development of its members; and promote the awareness of the profession to industry and the public. CSPG is a not-for-profit corporation registered under the NFP Act.
Directors hold office for two years; commencing December 2019. Nominations for Directors close September 13th, 2019.
CSPG is seeking nominations for: nd rd President Elect – who will continue to serve as President in the 2 year and Past President in the 3 year nd Finance Director Elect – who will continue to serve as Finance Director in the 2 year Two Directors At Large – who will serve a 2 year term on the Board of Directors
Please note that only FULL Members of CSPG can be nominated
The Nomination Process: Nomination forms are available on www.cspg.org/Society/Governance
*There are two methods to make a nomination:
1. Submit the Nomination Form for consideration to the CSPG Nominations Committee (shorter process whereby your nomination is considered).
2. Complete the Nomination Form requiring 25 Voting Member signatures. Your candidate will stand for election.
Deadline for submission September 13th, 2019 to [email protected] RE: CSPG Board Nomination
Please direct any questions to Lis Bjeld, CSPG Executive Director at 403-513-1235
RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 15 CORE CONFERENCE
CORRELATING CLEARWATER SANDSTONES WITHIN THE MARTENHILLS AND NIPISI REGIONS OF NORTH-CENTRAL ALBERTA Cole L. Ross, Murray K. Gingras, Scott W. Hadley, Michael J. Ranger University of Alberta
Summary The primary aim of this discussion is to compare and contrast 2 cores within the study region (Twp 71-78, Rge 21W4-8W5). The 2 cores studied (102-16-11-75-25W4 and 1336-76-7W5) were selected based on facies variability, regional coverage, and complete cored intervals of the Clearwater sandstone units. Through an extensive core evaluation of over 50 Clearwater core, 10 recurrent facies have been described based on sedimentological and ichnological characteristics. The presented cores demonstrate the variability observed between stratigraphic units of the Clearwater Formation within the Marten Hills and Nipisi regions of north-central Alberta. In addition, this comparison provides evidence that multiple stratigraphic intervals offer significant exploration potential. A stratigraphic framework displays interpreted unit Figure 2 thicknesses along strike vs. dip, and Figure 1 correlates sub-units of the Clearwater Formation. on trace features which can be described Introduction contested. A lack of scientific literature and further based on; ichnogenera, overall The Lower Cretaceous Clearwater discrepancy in interpreted depositional abundance, ichnofossil size, crosscutting Formation within north-central Alberta systems accentuates the need for a detailed relationsips, overprinting, diversity, and has recently experienced a rapid increase analysis of the sedimentology, stratigraphy, intensity of bioturbation. The core was then in exploration efforts. Extensive horizontal ichnology and reservoir distribution divided into facies and facies association drilling programs within the Marten Hills throughout the study region. where 10 recurrent facies were interpretted and Nipisi regions (Twp 71-78, Rge 21W4- based on grainsize, physical structures, 8W5) are aimed at exploiting the medium Methodology ichnology, and bioturbation intensity. to lighter oil reserves within Clearwater 50 cored Clearwater wells within the These facies were then used to construct 3 sandstones. Although production efforts study region were described at the AER facies associations which provided insight have yielded significant recoveries, the Core Research Center using the software into potential depositional settings present region is devoid of scientific literature aside AppleCore which takes geologic features within the study region. from regional generalizations (Jackson of the core and indexes them to specific 1984, Smith et al 1984), and literature depths for each well. Sedimentologic Within the Marten Hills and Nipisi regions focused on the Wabiskaw member (e.g. observations focused predominantly of north-central Alberta, over 5500 vertical Bradley and Pemberton 1992). Throughout on characteristics such as physical and deviated wells penetrate the Clearwater the Marten Hills and Nipisi regions, the sedimenatry structures, variations of grain Formation. Gamma ray, spontaneous Clearwater Formation contains thick, size, sorting, bed thickness, contacts, potential, neutron/density, photoelectric, laterally continuous sandstone intervals. and penecontemporaneous deformation sonic, and resistivity logs were all used The sedimentary environments associated structures. Ichnological attributes were in the interpretation of lithologies and with the deposition of these sand bodies are also recorded which focused primarily reservoir attributes.
16 RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 TECHNICALCORE CONFERENCE ARTICLE
region display sedimentologic variability, The cored intervals listed above provide a which can be attributed to multiple brief insight into the variability observed reservoir-quality stratigraphic intervals. within the Clearwater sedimentology throughout the study region. Applying Core 1 (102-16-11-75-25W4) is taken from all accessible cores within the region the Marten Hills region and displays a is essential in obtaining a detailed 33m interval that contains the primary interpretation regarding depositional productive Clearwater “C” sandstone. This systems. In addition, tying well log core is interpreted to represent a transition signatures to observable core features will from marine mudstones and siltstones drastically improve interpretations where into the reservoir sandstone unit of the core control is less abundant. Clearwater “C”, and includes the uppermost transition back into a marine setting. Core 2 Figure 1 and 2. Figures show lithologs (13-36-76-7W5) is from the Nipisi region. taken from wells 102-16-11-75-25W4 and This core contains two separate 9m-cored 13-36- 76-7W5 representing the Marten intervals, both of which contain oil stained Hills and Nipisi regions, respectively. sandstones. Stratigraphic correlations show AppleCORE software was utilized to log that these sandstones are representative the cored intervals, including physical of two separate intervals within the sedimentary structures, lithologic Clearwater Formation (Clearwater “C” accessories, and ichnology. Bioturbation and “B”), although both contain reservoir intensity was also included. In addition quality sandstones. Sedimentological to the lithologs, wireline gamma ray and and ichnological characteristics vary resistivity logs are also displayed to show Figure 3 dramatically between the 2 Nipisi how core observations relate to wireline log cored intervals with the lowermost unit signatures. containing a significantly higher degree Results of bioturbation. This contrast between 2- Ten recurrent lithofacies are defined cored intervals in separate stratigraphic for this study. The lithofacies occur in units appears to be linked with varying repeating vertical successions (i.e. Facies reservoir quality. Associations) and represent a range of sedimentary environments from offshore, Conclusions to shoreface and delta. Preliminary The establishment of a stratigraphic stratigraphic interpretations subdivide the framework within this region of interest is Clearwater Formation above the Wabiskaw essential to accurately evaluate Member into 7 main stratigraphic units. Based on the current stratigraphic reservoir distribution, especially when framework, production in Marten Hills multiple reservoirs are present. Variability is focused within the Clearwater “C” within reservoir characteristics for different sandstones. These sandstone intervals stratigraphic intervals may result in varying range from <5m to >25m in thickness production quality and as such should be and extend laterally along depositional incorporated into exploration models. By strike throughout much of the region. first establishing a stratigraphic framework, In Nipisi, a combination of Clearwater and correlating the proposed stratigraphy “C” and underlying Clearwater “B” both with core characteristics, a more detailed contain reservoir-quality sandstones. evaluation of reservoir sandstones is Cored intervals predominantly target permitted. The heterogeneity observed the Clearwater “C”, and the analyses of between sedimentology observed within sedimentology and ichnology provide Marten Hills and Nipisi as well as the significant detail in the interpretation of stratigraphic variability observed on depositional settings. Structural highs wireline logs, leads to strong evidence that and laterally extensive stratigraphic seals multiple reservoir sandstones exist within both actively play a role in the reservoir the study region. This opens the possibility distribution of these sandstone units and to future exploration on a regional scale aid in the overall interpretation of reservoir where potential additional sandstones may sand development in Marten Hills and have developed along depositional strike of Nipisi. Two cored intervals within the study the current known production fairway.
RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 17 TECHNICALCORE CONFERENCE ARTICLE
CORE CONFERENCE TECHNICAL PROGRAM & SCHEDULE MAY 16TH, 2019 DAY 1 SCHEDULE
Time Speaker Presentation Title Theme 8:15 Welcome & Introductions Colleen Flynn & 8:25 Matthew Caddell Oil Sands Devon Canada, BP Low Resistivity Bitumen Pay, Pike Field, Athabasca Oil Sands Canada Energy Group ULC Sean Horner & Application of a Revised Stratigraphic Framework for the Mc Murray 8:50 Yanh Peng Formation, Southeastern Athabasca Oil Sands Oil Sands University of Calgary Region, Alberta Ed Mathison Anatomy of a Fluvial to Estuarine Valley Fill, North Cactus 9:15 Oil Sands Alethia Geologica Lake McLaren Reservoir Sean Kostenuk, Dino Upper Mannville Formations in Leduc Woodbend Area of 9:40 Zelantini, et al., Alberta Unconventional Oil within Conventional Rock Developed Oil Sands Blackspur Oil Corp. with Unconventional Techniques 10:05 BREAK Cole L. Ross, Murray K. Correlating Clearwater sandstones within the Marten Hills and 10:30 Gingras, et al. Oil Sands University of Alberta Nipisi regions of north central Alberta Kevin Gillen & Patrick Faults and Natural Fractures in Clearwater and Wabiskaw 10:55 McLellan Oil Sands Vox Terrae and McLellan Caprocks in an Athabasca Oilsands SAGD Project Energy Advisors Inc. Dave Herbers, Doug Facies Architecture and Sequence Stratigraphy of the Triassic 11:20 Stewart, et al. Montney Formation, Alberta Deep Basin: Fundamental Controls Tight/Conventional Husky Energy on the Distribution of Liquids Rich Sweet Spots 11:45 LUNCH Peter Aukes, Gerry The Jurassic Rock Creek Member in West Central Alberta – a 1:00 Reinson, et al. Conundrum of Sequence Stratigraphic Complexity, Depositional Conventional Westbrick Energy Ltd. Facies Variability, Reservoir Predictability and Productivity Sarah K. Schultz, James Coeval deposition of regressive and transgressive stratal packages: 1:25 A. MacEachern, et al. An example from a structurally controlled area of the Viking Conventional Simon Fraser University Formation in east central Alberta Chad Glemser, Alison The Montney at Waskahigan – Understanding Reservoir Quality 1:50 Essery, et al. Tight/Conventional Tangle Creek Energy Ltd. of a Prolific Tight Oil Field in West Central Alberta, Canada 2:15 BREAK Matthew J. Sommers, Subsurface Sedimentology, Ichnology and Sequence 2:35 Murray K. Gingras, et al. Stratigraphy of Cambrian Mount Clark and Mount Cap Conventional University of Alberta Formations Beneath the Colville Hills, Northwest Territories Meagan M. Gilbert The Dinosaur Park Bearpaw Formation Transition 2:55 University of in the Cypress Hills Region of Southwestern Conventional Saskatchewan Saskatchewan, Canada
Brad W. Barrie Hybrid Event Beds in the Lower Triassic Montney Formation 3:15 Conventional Sinopec Canada Energy Ltd. Unconventional Play of the Elmworth Area, Western Alberta Evolving landscapes of the Upper Cretaceous, and potential 3:40 Jon Noad Historical Gran Tierra Energy reservoir development 4:05 Closing Remarks
4:30 7:00 AGAT Core Meltdown
18 RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 TECHNICALCORE CONFERENCE ARTICLE
MAY 17TH, 2019 DAY 2 SCHEDULE Time Speaker Presentation Title Theme 8:15 Welcome & Introductions Jean-Yves Chatellier, Am- The use of cores, cuttings and outcrops to complement and jed Cheema, et al. 8:20 Carbonates Tecto Sedi Integrated Inc., refine our geological and structural understanding of the Pro-Geo Labs Banff, Exshaw and Pekisko formations Peter Bauman , Chris Barton, et al. Mineralogic Analysis of a Carbonate Oil field, Central 8:45 Carbonates Chinook Petroleum Ser- Alberta, Canada vices, Shadow Energy Inc Nancy Chow, Kerry B. Bates, et al. Sedimentology and Petroleum Evaluation of the Upper Devonian 9:10 University of Manitoba, Red Carbonates River Energy Consultants Duperow Formation, Southwestern Manitoba Ltd. Carolyn M. Furlong, Integration of Ichnology and Geochemistry: Evidence for Oxygen Murray K. Gingras, et al., 9:35 Carbonates Ichnology Research Group, Fluctuation During the Deposition of the Middle Triassic Sunset University of Alberta Prairie Formation, British Columbia, Canada 9:55 BREAK Sequences and Cycles in the Carson Creek North Buildup (Swan Joel F. Collins & Pak K. 10:10 Hills Formation) and their Relationship to Regional Beaverhill Lake Carbonates Wong Group Stratigraphy, Western Canada Basin John H. Lake & Arden Marsh Revisiting the Mississippian Alida Beds in the Williston 10:35 Lake Geological Historical Services Inc., Saskatchewan Basin of Southeastern Saskatchewan Geological Survey Carolyn Currie Extended Shut in/‘Soaking’ – Will it help the Lagging Duvernay in 11:00 Unconventional Core Laboratories Willesden Green? Raphael Wust & Corey 11:25 Twemlow Duvernay East Shale Basin Unconventional AGAT Laboratories 11:45 LUNCH Steve Alm, Travis Hobbs, 1:00 et al., Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk: Resilience and Revival Unconventional Encana The East Shale Duvernay – An Overview of the Ghost Pine Embay- 1:25 Rachel E. Lea Unconventional Core Laboratories ment Guy C. Grierson, Blair S. Duvernay East Shale Basin/Ghost Pine Embayment 1:50 Rosquist, et al., Mature and excellent rock quality at the eastern edge of the Ghost Unconventional Outlier Resources Ltd. Pine Embayment Ryan Macauley, Ryan Parasequence Expression in Organic Rich 2:15 Wilson, et al., Mudstones: Examples from Duvernay Formation Core in the Kaybob Unconventional Chevron Energy Area 2:40 BREAK David Katz, Nicole 3:00 Allen, et al., A Tale of Two Cores: Wolfcamp and Lower Spraberry Unconventional Encana 50 Years of Core Conference A look back on the 50th 3:25 Christa Williams & Tom Historical Plumridge anniversary of the inaugural Core Conference in 1969 3:55 Closing Remarks/Awards Presentation
POSTER ( in Lobby Area) Arman Ghanbari, Steven Characterization and Evaluation of Deltaic Sandstone Student Poster M. Werner, et al., Reservoirs of the Dunvegan Formation, Kaybob South Presentation University of Calgary
RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 19 TECHNICAL ARTICLE
GO TAKE A HIKE Rockport - Cape Maringouin, New Brunswick Dave Keighley
Trailhead: Route 106 runs between Moncton and Sackville, New Brunswick. Route 935 forms a coastal loop south of 106 between Dorchester and West Sackville. From the West Sackville end, take 935 south for ~18 km (last ~ 7 km unpaved). Where 935 turns 90 degrees west, continue south along a dead-end road a further 3.9 km to Wilbur Cove. The coast to the east is accessed via a short hike over the marsh. The hike can be done in the opposite direction by continuing along the dead-end dirt road (not maintained - high clearance 4WD only) to Slack's Cove. Recently, local hikers have proclaimed a "Maringouin Trail" through woods starting at Slack's Cove and continuing west.
Distance: 4.8 km, one way (plus 2.8 km return along the dirt road).
Elevation change & difficulty: All coastal. Mostly boulder-covered wave-cut platform with numerous ledges to climb and sloping (40o dip) bedding surfaces to traverse. Moderate to difficult hike. Above: Sea-stack of Boss Point Formation The Bay of Fundy is home to the world's highest fluvial sandstone topped by a now ruined tides and as well as being the location of several lighthouse, Rockport, New Brunswick impressive coastal geo-hikes. In New Brunswick, the coastline around Rockport was settled in 1763 by the first Baptist immigrants from Massachusetts, with quarrying of sandstone and gypsum the main industry. A short hike from the trailhead around Ward's Point reveals a ruined lighthouse (built 1890) atop a sea-stack and adjacent to an abandoned wharf.
Taking in the entire, near-5 km, hike encompasses crossing over 400 m-thickness of strata, all of which are assigned to the Boss Point Formation. At this eastern end of the Maringouin Peninsula the sandstone of the Boss Point Formation is medium to coarse grained and commonly planar bedded, which made it a useful export for miller's grindstones and flagstones as well as the building of sea-walls. Top and bottom surfaces of flaggy sandstone often display an impressive variety of ripple marks or parting lamination interpreted as fluvial in origin. On the cliffs of the sea-stack, and all along the coastline, the sandstones also contain large 'cannonball' concretions and thick lags of fossilized plant stems (ancient river log jams), some up to 30cm diameter and 3 m long, dated to the Early Pennsylvanian. Closer to Slack's Cove, Browne and Plint (1984) have logged the presence of a tree fossil entombed in life position within a grey mudstone. On a clear day, looking along strike east across Cumberland Bay (an arm of the Bay of Fundy), the ~ 1 km thick type section of the Boss Point Fm. is visible and overlain to the south by the strata forming the Joggins Fossil Cliffs.
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Above: On the sea stack and adjacent cliffs large cannonball concretions are embedded in the sandstone. 15-cm yellow ruler for scale. Below, left: Regularly oriented hollows on top surfaces of rectangular sandstone blocks are the product of prior shaping and fitting of bricks in a now abandoned sea wall - modern anthropogenic traces. 15-cm yellow ruler for scale. Below, right: Coalified plant fossils interpreted to have been deposited in a fluvial log-jam. 15-cm yellow ruler for scale.
Safety: Be mindful of the tide schedule so that you do not become trapped on the beach. High tides around promontories can cut off access and exit. Commence any hike on a falling tide. A hike should be completed at least 3 hours prior to high tide. Many areas of the coast are covered in very slippery seaweed and, or, mud, including large wobble-prone boulders. Wear appropriate footwear. Thick mud stuck to footwear reduces traction. Beware falling rocks.
Federal government tide data: tides.gc.ca/eng/station?sid=190.
Reference: Browne, G.H. & Plint, A.G. (1994), Alternating braidplain and lacustrine deposition in a strike-slip setting: the Pennsylvanian Boss Point Formation of the Cumberland Basin, Maritime Canada. Journal of Sedimentary Research, B64, 40-59.
RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 21 TECHNICAL LUNCHEON
Is There A New Energy Norm- and If So How Do I Play the Game?
SPEAKER growth in basins once thought as mature Bob Fryklund, Chief Strategist with some seeing reserves increase by 20- Upstream, IHS Markit 30 times.
Time: 11:30 am doors open This talk will look at the two groups – who Date: May 13, 2019 they are and what new strategies they are Location: Hyatt Hotel, Imperial applying. Ballroom 5/7/9, 700 Centre BIOGRAPHY Street SE, Calgary AB T2G 5P6 Bob Fryklund, Chief Upstream Strategist, Energy, IHS Markit, has over 38 years of Ticket price: $60.00+gst industry experience focusing on global Table of 10 price: $600.00+gst upstream strategic leadership and has Please note: The cut-off for ticket advised on many of industries most sales is 4:00pm, May 7, 2019 revolutionary projects over the last two decades. He has held various executive ABSTRACT leadership positions at both majors and As the energy transition progresses leading independents. A recognized companies are faced with dealing with a Thought Leader on upstream oil and very dynamic and volatile world with up gas, he frequently speaks at key industry and down commodity prices, changing meetings, such as the World Economic geopolitical landscapes and major shifts Forum, CERAWeek by IHS Markit, Agency; the Libya-US Council, a bilateral in markets for which to plan. the Offshore Technology Conference, trade association; and American School APLA, and the American Association of Tripoli. Mr. Fryklund is a member As a result, companies are adjusting of Petroleum Geologists Conference. of the Houston Geological Society and their strategies to be competitive for the He is also an established media the American Association of Petroleum future. Moreover, we are starting to see consultant and source for both print and Geologists and has published numerous companies split into several camps— television. Mr. Fryklund serves or has articles in three languages. Mr. Fryklund North American independents and global served on several boards and executive holds an AB from Hamilton College, players (the majors and some national oil committees, including the Association has completed advanced studies at the companies). But for both the priority is of Petroleum Geologists Advisory Board; University of Houston and the University focus and short cycle projects which they the Independent Producers Association of Tulsa, and holds an advanced certificate can dial up and down capital spending of America; the Brazilian Petroleum in management. as market conditions change. This has Institute; the International Energy in turn lead to the rise of the specialist – companies who focus on one play or basin like the Permian, or one region like the North Sea.
But what about exploration? Exploration too is undergoing a reset. New venture exploration has tailed off with the total number of new field wildcats dropping below 500 for the last two years and continuing the deep decline since 2014. The result has been the lowest amount of oil discovered since 1952.
As a result, exploration is being re- defined, with a smaller and smaller group still participating in new venture exploration 1602 – 5th St N.E. and the dominant group focusing on T.I.H. Consulting Ltd. Calgary, AB. T2E 7W3 exploration in proven basins. Geologic Well-Site Phone: 403-233-7729 Supervision www.tihconsulting.com This has resulted in some remarkable e-mail: [email protected]
22 RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 DIVISION TALKS
PALAEONTOLOGY DIVISION TALK
You are what you eat: using dietary trace elements to examine the life histo- ries of dinosaurs and other fossils
SPEAKER carbon, and oxygen, however a number degrees in astrophysics and geology. David Terrill, PhD Candidate, Department of other elements can be found in trace of Geoscience, University of Calgary amounts. From 2010 to 2017, David worked seasonally as a parks interpreter at Time: 7:30 pm For my work, I primarily focus on Dinosaur Provincial Park, where he had Date: Friday, May 10, 2019 strontium, a substitution element for many opportunities to join scientists from Location: Mount Royal calcium in bones and teeth. Similar to the Tyrrell museum and University of calcium, strontium in the body primarily Alberta on field excursions in and around University, Room B108 comes from dietary sources. This means the park. He completed an MSc. in 2015 the isotopes of strontium and overall studying sulfur preservation in conodonts, ABSTRACT abundances preserved in fossil enamel attempting to clarify the relationship of the When considering the nature of reflect the diet of the animal. As strontium mysterious group of fossils as they relate paleontological remains, the first images in the environment is strongly linked to other vertebrates. Currently David that come to mind are usually that of to the eroding bedrock in a given area, is a PhD candidate at the University of preserved skeletons, which can include the isotopes preserved in the enamel Calgary studying dinosaur migration and vertebrate bones, the exoskeletons of can be linked through the animal’s diet conodont ecology, and will once again arthropods such as trilobites, the hard back to the location where the animal be guiding hikes to the Burgess Shale this shells of molluscs and brachiopods, the had been feeding. Using this property of coming summer. calcitic skeletons of corals, and many strontium, I have attempted to reconstruct others. These hard tissues often form the the migratory behaviours of hadrosaurs DIVISION INFORMATION basis of our understanding of life in the from the Late Cretaceous of Alberta. The This event is presented jointly by the distant past, as we use them (sometimes relative abundance of strontium preserved Alberta Palaeontological Society, the with the help of exceptionally preserved in the enamel can also be used to estimate Department of Earth and Environmental soft tissues like skin and feathers) to where approximately an animal may fit Sciences at Mount Royal University, and reconstruct the animals from which in the foodchain. I have applied this to a the Paleontology Division of the Canadian they came. We then combine this with separate project on Silurian conodonts, Society of Petroleum Geologists. For information obtained from the rock record which are small eel-like fish fossils. details or to present a talk in the future, such as fossil tracks and traces, pollen, Though well-studied, little is known about please contact CSPG Palaeontology and geological information to help us the ecology of these animals; through Division Chair Jon Noad at jonnoad@ understand what the environment was strontium analysis, I hope to be able to hotmail.com or APS Coordinator Harold like and how these animals may have lived show how different conodont species Whittaker at 403-286-0349 or contact during that time. may have exploited different types of food [email protected]. Visit the sources. Finally, I will present a few ideas APS website for confirmation of event One, often, overlooked source of for future paleontological studies using times and upcoming speakers: http:// information that has been gaining traction similar techniques. www.albertapaleo.org/ in the last two decades is chemical data. While the process of fossilization often BIOGRAPHY replaces original biological tissues with Growing up in Calgary, David had many other minerals, certain fossils retain at opportunities to visit the Royal Tyrrell least a small portion of their original Museum in Drumheller and was an composition. Of all the fossils known, avid fan of dinosaurs growing up. After perhaps the best source of original beginning a BSc. In astrophysics at the biological materials is the enamel of University of Calgary, David picked up a vertebrate teeth. Enamel is incredibly summer job working at the museum, where hard and resistant, to the point where it he rekindled his fascination with all things is virtually unchanged in fossils dating paleontological. A few summers later, several hundred million years. The David began leading hikes to the Burgess primary components of enamel include Shale fossil beds in the Field BC area. He elements such as phosphorous, calcium, graduated in 2010 with undergraduate
RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 23 DIVISION TALKS
OPERATIONS DIVISION TALK
AER – Regulatory Data Submission Requirements (Wells)
SPEAKER data available for making decisions about BIOGRAPHY Abi Adeniran | Manager, Well Data regulating energy development within its Abi Adeniran has a BSc in Geology and a Services, Information Management Branch jurisdiction. The mission of the AER as it Diploma in Petroleum Engineering from Alberta Energy Regulator pertains to Information management revolves the University of Ibadan (Nigeria). He is a around being agile and constantly improving member of APEGA and started his oil field Time: 12:00 pm processes through which data is collected career working on drilling well-sites as Date: May 21, 2019 in an efficient, effective and transparent company representative supervising service manner while providing access to the data by operators performing well logging, well Location: geoLOGIC Classroom Albertans and industry stakeholders at large. data acquisition and a host of completion (2nd Floor), Aquitaine Tower, operations. His career progressed into the 540-5th Avenue S.W. This presentation will outline the key elements service industry specializing as drilling of the various types of data the AER collects optimization specialist, leveraging downhole ABSTRACT during the construction and completion data and tool analysis for performance The business of collecting of geophysical, phase of a well and explain the regulator’s improvements for well delivery. He joined well drilling, completion and abandonment compliance requirements and guidelines. the Regulatory Submission and Compliance data has been a vital and critical enabler of We will also discuss current submission group of the AER in 2011, as lead for the the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER)’s ability mechanisms (Digital Data Submission tool well data services and has been involved in to successfully execute its mandate ever & the new OneStop portal) and introduce the implementing Directive 59 provisions as well since it came into existence 80 years ago. governing regulations, applicable directives, as helping industry stakeholders understand Alberta’s energy regulator or any regulator the support teams as well as some helpful tips and meet AER’s Infrastructure well data filing for that matter will only be as successful as or resources that were created to aid industry requirements. the relevance, quantity and quality of the stakeholders and the public in general.
REGISTRATION OPENS JUNE 2019 Workshop Overview In conjunction with the 2019 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, the CSPG is conducting a one day core workshop focused on refining and improving reservoir characterization and geomodel inputs using information gathered from core. Engineers and geologists will demonstrate how basins and reservoirs can be better characterized by using examples from Montney, Oil Sands, Source Rock Plays and Tight Sands plays.
FOR MORE WORKSHOP INFORMATION VISIT WWW.CSPG.ORG/C2C
24 RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 DIVISION TALKS
INTERNATIONAL DIVISION TALK
Vampires, Goulash and Hydrocarbons: Some History, Geology and Exploration Success from the Pannonian Basin
SPEAKER set the stage for generation, migration with seismic wiggles in over 50 basins Gary W. Paukert | VP Geosciences - and entrapment of the hydrocarbon and worldwide, plus haunting the oil patches Canadian International Energy Corp hydrothermal resources. of Denver, Midland, Calgary, Aberdeen, Abhi Manerikar | Independent Stavanger and Bogotá. His passion is Consultant – Tiger Consulting Great opportunities arise in oil and gas for rolling around in seismic data and exploration in ‘eddy areas’ which become generating prospects. Currently he is VP 12:00 pm cut off from technological advancements, Geosciences for Canadian International May 8, 2019 capital investment and the free flow of Energy Corp., a new junior start-up in For location details please visit ideas for long periods of time. With the Calgary. www.cspg.org opening of borders in eastern Europe at the end of the 20th century, exploration in the ABSTRACT Pannonian region began to surge ahead, It’s certainly not the first place we think applying new ‘leap-frog’ technologies to of when someone says, ‘Oil Patch.’ But areas left relatively fallow for over 50 years. the Pannonian Basin has a rich – if at A handful of companies - some quartered times obscure – human, geologic and in Calgary – have found good hunting in hydrocarbon history. And a promising this relatively obscure basin. future, even if likely not one in ten Calgary explorationists can point to it on a map. BIOGRAPHIES
Located at a crossroads of human history, largely in Hungary and Romania, the development of this Miocene-age back- arc basin resulted in the Great Hungarian Plain. That great plain subsequently was the corridor through which swept the armies of history – Ancient Rome, the Mongol Hordes, and the Ottoman Empire. Abhi Manerikar has worked in the oil In the 20th century, the tanks of the and gas industry for 35 years, in a variety Austro-Hungarian Empire, Nazi Germany of technical roles as a geophysicist and Soviet Russia sped across its flats as followed by management positions at those empires lusted for the hydrocarbon large and small companies. His career resources hidden beneath it and at its has provided the opportunity to work and crumpled margins. find hydrocarbons on every continent (except Antarctica) and has spanned Those hydrocarbon resources were the spectrum of activities from frontier emplaced by a fascinating geologic history Gary Paukert has B.S. degrees (Physics and exploration to field development. He has that began with complex plate tectonic Earth Science) from Whitworth University recently returned to Calgary after a 4-year interactions, obducted sea-floor flysch, and an M.Sc. (Geophysics) from the term as an exploration executive with a and oddly enough, significant crustal University of Calgary. He spent the first private equity backed start-up exploration extension just a stone’s throw from decade of his career as a geophysicist company in central Europe, where he one of the world’s great compressional working for that cartoon tiger, followed by built an exploration team and executed a orogens. This extension created the great 16 years with several Canadian mid-sized successful exploration program. ‘hole in the ground’ that, when filled in, independents. For the past decade he has became the great plain so impactful upon prospected for a string of junior explorers, human history. As the basin filled, strike- often as not focused on South American slip shearing, structural overprinting, exploration. Most recently he was part deposition of a vast thickness of lacustrine of Bankers Petroleum’s New Ventures fill and high heat flow due to volcanism team exploring the Pannonian Basin. and the thin crust ensued. These, in turn, All this work has resulted in familiarity
RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 25 DIVISION TALKS
GEOMODELING DIVISION TALK
The importance of multi-scale geomodels which address various challenges faced across the Montney black oil window
SPEAKER deliver fantastic wells within this corridor. Pippa has a bachelor’s degree in Geology Pippa Murphy | Velvet Energy Limited from Kingston University in the United From a geomodelling perspective we’re Kingdom. Pippa developed a passion Time: 12:00 Noon trying to answer 2 questions: for data integration and geomodelling Thursday, May 30, 2019 through her ten years with Schlumberger 1. When does the water become too risky globally, during which time, she had Husky Conference Room A, 3rd and is this mappable from a regional the honor of working with many highly Floor, +30 level, South Tower, 707 perspective? technical geoscientists across a multitude 8th Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta of challenging areas. In 2015 Pippa joined 2. Can we customize our completions Velvet where she is now focused on ABSTRACT to contact less water and more utilizing geomodels to help the team build At Velvet Energy we have focused our hydrocarbon? a better technical understanding across the exploration efforts on the Montney black company’s exploration portfolio. oil window, looking for areas where the During this discussion we’ll share how liquids content is plentiful, and the product we’re utilizing all available data and Information is relatively sweet. building geomodels at multiple scales to There is no charge for the division talk. We get us closer to being able to address these also welcome non-members of the CSPG. With this strategy comes risk, and as we challenges. Please bring your lunch. For details or to approach the subcrop edge of the middle present a talk in the future, please contact Montney, that risk is water. We’ve proven BIOGRAPHY Weishan Ren at [email protected]. through production results that, although Pippa Murphy is the Geomodelling Lead water cuts can be high, it is still possible to at Velvet Energy Ltd, based in Calgary. BASS DIVISION Duvernay Core Workshop
Friday September 6, 2019 1pm 4pm | AGAT Laboratories
REGISTRATION OPEN NOW! Limited space available– register early For speaker details and to register please go to www.cspg.org/BASSCORE
26 RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 GEOCOMMUNITY TALKS
GEOWOMEN LUNCHEON TALK
Canadian Oil and Gas Production and Costs Outlook
SPEKAER Dinara sits on the Editorial Committee Dinara Millington | Vice of the Institute’s Energy Quarterly Report President, Research at CERI and Geopolitics of Energy journal and provides economic commentary for CBC, Time: 12:00 pm Global TV, The Globe and Mail, the BNN Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2019 and other local, national and international Location: geoLOGIC Classroom, news outlets. +15 Level, 2nd Floor, Aquitaine Dinara graduated with a Masters of Arts Tower, 540 – 5th Avenue SW degree in Economics from the University of Calgary, specializing in Econometrics Free Event – No registration required – and Time-series Analysis. She also holds Everyone is welcome! a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with minor in Finance. Ms. Millington ABSTRACT spent some time studying at Masarykov Join GeoWomen of Calgary for a University in Brno, Czech Republic, as well presentation by Dinara Millington, Vice as worked and lived abroad in Kazakhstan. President Research at the Canadian Energy Research Institute. CERI’s mission DIVISION INFORMATION is to provide relevant, independent and For more information on GeoWomen of objective economic research of energy and Calgary, please visit www.geowomen.org environmental issues to benefit business, government, academia and the public. GeoWomen of Calgary is a GeoCommunity of the CSPG www.cspg.org BIOGRAPHY Dinara Millington joined CERI in February GeoWomen of Calgary is a member of 2004 and assumed her current role as a Vice AWSN www.awsn.org President, Research in April 2014. Dinara is responsible for managing the Institute’s research agenda including leading the oil sands projects, assisting in the production
of market research, economic analysis and economic modeling. Ms. Millington has participated in various projects involving oil sands, crude oil, natural gas, LNG, and renewable energy.
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Digitize The World katalystdm.com
RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 27 SOCIETY NEWS
2019 HONORARY ADDRESS – AN EVENING WITH DR. SCOTT TINKER By Victoria Wallace and Ken Wallace
Brief Summary of the Honorary opposing premises: 1) climate change can be overcome, this can improve Address: is the major issue of our time and fossil access to many things we often take for The 2019 CSPG Honorary Address by fuels are the problem, and 2) poverty is granted, such as: food/nutrition, clothing, Dr. Scott Tinker was held on February the major issue of our time and fossil fuels shelter, clean water, food storage (i.e. cold 28th at Mount Royal University and was are the solution. These very polarizing, storage), education, healthcare/medical moderated by Danielle Smith (radio host divisive topics appear to be at odds with services, decreased birth rates, decreased of Afternoons on NewsTalk770 in Calgary). each other, but does a compromise exist? unemployment rates, decreased crime, enhancement and empowerment of Dr. Tinker joined the University of Texas at The developed world has leveraged women and reduced rates of migration Austin’s Jackson School of Geosciences in energy to create a (largely) prosperous for 2.5 billion people of the world. That is 2000. Prior to this appointment, he worked society. Developed nations (including over one third of the world’s population. in the oil and gas industry for 17 years. Canada) have primarily done so using Is this segment of the world not entitled to Currently he is the Director of the Bureau non-renewable energy (fossil fuels for prosperity and a better standard of living? of Economic Geology, the State Geologist the most part). Now, the developing As Dr. Tinker states, electricity does not of Texas and a professor holding the Allday world is trying to achieve the same level end poverty but poverty cannot be ended Endowed Chair at the University of Texas of prosperity enjoyed by the West. Dr. without electricity. It is time to give power at Austin. His passion is education and Tinker began his presentation reviewing to the people. Of course this is no easy feat, actively engages amongst often opposing several case-examples of struggles and as one of the greatest barriers to ending groups – industry, government, academia challenges faced by communities in energy poverty is corruption. and non-government organizations developing countries, but a combination of (NGOs) – addressing difficult challenges in remoteness, lack of existing infrastructure, Electricity-use, associated-carbon and the attempt to find a ‘radical middle-ground’. politics and corruption and related issues, environment are at the heart of the climate His latest education project is the Switch have historically been too great for them change-versus-energy discourse. The Energy Alliance, more information can be to overcome. Many of these problems increase in CO2 emissions from the Asia- found at SwitchOn.org can be solved using 21 century solutions, Pacific region has grown from less than 1 often in different, innovative and creative gigatonne to a staggering 16 gigatonnes in Forward: ways than has been done in developed 50 years, whereas the rest of the world’s In a time where many Albertans are countries. CO2 emissions has remained relatively frustrated with the progress to regain constant (or in some cases, decreased economic strength in one of our core Dr. Tinker postulates that economic slightly) over the same period. A large industries – oil and gas, to attract global poverty is tied to energy poverty, since factor in this increased CO2 emissions investments and more importantly, to gain poverty decreases people’s chances of in the Asia-Pacific region stems from the access to global markets (#buildthatpipe) access to energy. Scott provides several fact that more than half of the electricity is - this year’s Honorary Address provided alarming statistics. Approximately one supplied from coal. some much needed food for thought. billion people in the world do not have Western Canada has vast resources, yet we access to electricity. The distribution The Asia-Pacific region is not completely struggle to develop it as vigorously as our of something as simple as electricity is to blame, as they have become the southern neighbour. Despite the fact that shocking “[the average North American] world’s preference for out-sourcing developing our resources is good for the fridge consumes nine times more energy manufacturing. Many of the world’s entire country, there are many opposing than one person in Ethiopia”. And this is countries off-load their carbon dioxide views often vilifying the oil and gas sector. only talking about one realm of energy – production onto China and other countries Is this just a classic example of NIMBYism electricity. in the Asia-Pacific region. Should the (not in my back yard), is there a huge clients of these countries not be held disconnect from industry to the average You cannot say “eat your whole plate of responsible for the carbon emitted in the person, or perhaps both? food, because [someone in the world] is making of the products they purchase? starving” – that does not address poverty Perhaps manufacturing-focused countries Summary: in the slightest. And you cannot be mad should charge a carbon levy to compensate Poverty, climate change, and energy are at a farmer for producing food, because for the carbon emitted associated with the interconnected global challenges. Dr. they are addressing a need, and same production of the goods they make? Tinker’s presentation is based on two goes to energy makers. If energy poverty
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Transportation is also an important topic in to the energy discussion. In 2016, less than 2% of light-duty vehicles were plug- in electric vehicles. Granted the electric vehicles will become more affordable, however is it really greener? Electrek. com states that the battery pack of a 70kWh Tesla Model S weighs 1000 lbs and estimates that it contains approximately 63kg of lithium. What happens when these batteries die? Cars die/get replaced? How will they be disposed of? But a better question yet – where is this electricity coming from? Electric vehicles shift simply CO2 emissions from the tailpipe to the power plant.
Inspired by these numbers, the authors did some additional research to link “zero emission” electric vehicles to Alberta. According to the National Energy Board, the 2017 electricity-mix in Alberta was The global energy equation is varied and resources of such fuels are vast. Growth sourced approximately 50% from coal, 39% complex. Politics, economics, and passion of renewable energy sources has not from natural gas, and the balance, 11%, run deep on all sides of the environment increased as quickly as growth of non- from renewable sources such as wind, and poverty debate. It is difficult to hold a renewable energy sources. Energy hydro, and biomass – meaning electric civil energy discussion in a debate where transitions are achievable, but energy vehicles in Alberta are primarily powered often the loudest voices get the most transitions take time. No sizable form by fossil fuels. attention. Perhaps a starting point could of energy, whether renewable or not, be the following three questions: 1) Does comes without environmental impact. Moving on to the topic of renewable every person on this planet deserve what But – we can get better. We can improve, energy, Dr. Tinker concedes that renewable so many of us take for granted? 2) Is the become more efficient and advance our energy is an important component of the environment important? 3) Is the global technologies to ensure that each and every future energy-mix, but that wind, solar, demand for energy increasing? If the person can enjoy this great planet today and hydroelectricity all have their implicit answer to the previous three questions and in generations to come. challenges. Each renewable energy source is YES, then a middle ground must be requires vast areas in order to make reached. A compromise: a balanced As geoscientists our contribution, impact significant energy contributions. They approach that is achievable, energy- and perspective to this discussion is suffer from intermittent reliability due to efficient, and works in favour of the crucial. Educate with facts and data, naturally occurring changing conditions majority. This idea may seem radical; and put forward thought-provoking in wind, overcast, and precipitation. a “radical middle” as Dr Tinker puts it. interpretations to act as a basis for civil Furthermore, not all renewable energy But maybe instead of seeing it as radical, discussions to proceed. As Dr. Tinker sources work everywhere; the challenges it should be viewed as the “pragmatic summarized, energy sources will vary by with reliable renewable energy can middle”. region, and no form of energy is “good” or increase with increasing distance from the “bad”, but energy itself underpins modern equator. Additionally and perhaps most How is this compromise achievable? The economies and helps lift the world from importantly, while the sun and rain are path to success is long and challenging; poverty. renewable energy sources, the materials there is no easy answer. But it may start used to harness said energy are not. Many with awareness and education. Most different metals and rare earth elements people do not know where energy comes are utilized in the materials to make such from, but they think they do. Therefore, items as wind towers and solar panels, and it is so important to enlighten people not only are these generally mined for, with facts and data. Us, the experts, must but we also need to mindful of the way we engage in energy education. We must help dispose of them. Dr. Tinker summarizes those around us understand that energy renewables so eloquently “[you think] powers our lives. renewable energy is green – it’s not. It just shifts the effect from the atmosphere to the The truth is, demand for non-renewable land.” fossil energy remains strong; and
RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 29 Session 1 Diagenetic controls of reservoir quality in tight rocks Session Chairs: Joe MacQuaker | ExxonMobil + Kitty Milliken | Bureau of Economic Geology TITLE SPEAKER AFFILIATION Clay mineral factories prior to the evolution of land plants: Dario Harazim University of Calgary sedimentary processes and diagenetic products Links between lake chemistry, organic matter, microbial processes, and dolomitization in the Green River Formation Max Pommer Colorado School of Mine (Eocene), Uinta Basin, Utah Element cycling in the middle late Triassic Shublik Fm.: mineralization vs recycling of biolimiting nutrients in an Kate Whidden USGS organic carbon rich mudstone Silica diagenesis and its role controlling storage capacity The University of Kev Taylor in unconventional reservoirs Mancherster
Session 2 Origin and Impact of Organic Matter in Unconventional Reservoirs Session Chairs: Wayne Camp | Anadarko Petroleum Corp + Hamed Sanei | Aarhus University TITLE SPEAKER AFFILIATION Petrographic characterization of kerogen, bitumen and Sedimentary Solutions, residual oil from SEM electron micrographs: examples from Lyn Canter the Cretaceous Niobrara Formation, DJ Basin, Colorado USA LLC, Denver, CO
Solid bitumen in shale reservoirs: a challenge in organic David Misch Montan Universitaet, petrography and geochemistry Leoben, Austria Evidence for the priming effect and alteration of transported Dane Synnott University of Calgary, refractory organic carbon Calgary, AB New techniques and applications of organic petrography and US Geological Survey, Paul Hackley spectroscopy: insights for shale petroleum systems Reston, VA Possible effect of structural deformation on shale reservoir properties: An example from Lower Cambrian shales of Geological Survey of Yong Ma Canada, Calgary, AB Eastern Upper Yangtze Platform, South China Geochemical fractionation of organic matter in the Gdansk University of Argentinian Jurassic Cretaceous Vaca Muerta shale Aleksandra Malachowska Technology University, Gdansk, Poland A new porosity prediction method for unconventional Anadarko Petroleum Wayne Camp mudstone reservoirs Corp, Houston, TX Session 3 - The role of structure in unconventional plays Session Chairs: Julia Gale | Bureau of Economic Geology + James Wood | Calaber1 Resources TITLE SPEAKER AFFILIATION A new generation of stress maps for development of unconventional oil and gas plays in the conterminous U.S. Mark Zoback Stanford University Implications of constraining natural fractures and in-situ stress trends for field development strategies in David Forand Chevron USA unconventional reservoirs: Examples from the Permian basin A tale of three earthquakes: New insights into fault activation in light of recent occurrences David Eaton University of Calgary Geomechanical simulation of different conceptual models for microseismic interpretations Shawn Maxwell Encana Corporation Direct observation of hydraulic fractures in the Hydraulic Fracture Test Site (HFTS) slant core, Midland Basin, Texas: Bureau of Economic insights into distribution, morphology, and interaction with Julia W. Gale Geology natural discontinuities Influence of spatially-varied natural fracture properties on hydraulic fracture growth Andrew Bunger University of Pittsburgh Natural and induced structural fabrics in drill-cores from the Montney Formation, western Canada Kevin Gillen Vox Terrae
Session 4 - Geological controls and impact of fluid distribution in resource plays Session Chairs: John Curtis | GeoMark Research + Tristan Euzen | IFP Canada TITLE SPEAKER AFFILIATION Tight Hydrocarbon Plays: How Source, Reservoir and Fluid Dependencies Control their Formation Tim Matava GGIM Topic: Biomarker Applications John Curtis GeoMark Research Connection between PVT realities and petroleum geochemistry Kevin Ferworn GeoMark Research Meter-scale Lithofacies Cycle and Controls on Variations in Bureau of Economic Ge- Oil Saturation, Wolfcamp A, Delaware and Midland Basins Tongwei Zhang ology Integrated Geochemical Studies of Produced Water from Unconventional Petroleum Reservoirs, Permian Basin, Christopher Laughrey Weatherford USA – Utility and Applications Topic: Flowback water geochemistry L. T Bryndzia Shell International E & P Application and use of Time Lapse Geochemistry in Uncon- ventional Resource Appraisal and Development Elizabeth Watt ConocoPhillips
Session 5 - Geological controls and impact of fluid distribution in resource plays Session Chairs: Stephen Sonnenberg | Colorado School of Mines + Ruben Dominguez | Shell Canada TITLE SPEAKER AFFILIATION Advanced Resources Step-Change Advances in Shale/Tight Oil Well Performance Vello Kuuskraa International Carrier Beds as Unconventional Reservoirs Gretchen Hough University of Wyoming
Putting It All Together: Understanding the Value and Impact Darren Arcuri Shell Canada Ltd. of Data
Identifying Opportunities through Value Mapping of the Mary Lee Shell Canada Ltd. Alberta Montney Wet Gas Fairway Topic: Wolfcamp Delaware Basin topic Jacquie Colborne CSM Topic: Denver Basin Niobrara topic Anne Grau WPX Energy TH 58 ANNUAL CSPG CLASSIC Elbow Springs Golf Club • Wednesday June 19, 2019
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8 8 t 1 h 0 C 2 cspg.org L A S S I C
Tournament Information Schedule: Wednesday June 19, 2019 would like to 6:00am Breakfast 8:00am Shotgun Start: Match 1&2 PRICE REDUCED 1:00pm Lunch Break thank the 2:00pm Shotgun Start: Match 3 4:30pm 19th hole following 5:30pm Awards Dinner
2018 sponsors: Where: Elbow Springs Golf Club Format: 2-person teams - Enter with partner of any skill level for three 9-hole Diamond Sponsors matches against other teams of equitable skill level AGAT Laboratories Cost: Member’s Price - $149 +GST geoLOGIC Systems Non-member’s Price - $169 +GST 403-262-9229
Little Rock Printing Schlumberger Canada Online registration and payment only. To register, go to the CSPG website and select the following tabs: Typhoon Energy Ltd. “Events,” “Sporting Events,” and “Classic Golf.” or Classic Golf on the home page. Weatherford Canada Registration limited to 64 players, please register early. Emerald Sponsors 27 holes of golf with powercart, driving Chinook Consulting Services What you get: range & awards BBQ, golf shirt, skill prizes door prizes, on-course refreshments Gold Sponsors Registration Opens March 15, 2019 Belloy Petroleum Consulting M J Systems Prior to starting registration Pason Systems Corp. please have the following Pro Geo Consultants information: RBC Dominion Securities Trimble Engineering Associates Ltd. Name / Company / Phone / Business Email / Personal Email Silver Sponsors Handicap: HCP/Index/Score Continential Labs + Selfie Photo Cordax Evalution Technologies Geo-Steering Solutions Keitech Consulting Partner’s info if registering individually: Rockwell Consulting Roke Technologies Partner’s Name / Company / Phone / Business Email / Personal Email Sponsorship Welcome, + Selfie Photo Contact Ryan Axani All submitted personal information remains private and will not be divulged for commercial purposes such as email addresses [email protected] and telephone numbers. This information will be used by the tournament only for communications purposes. However images 403.999.3048 taken during the tournament might be used for publicity purposes.
For 2019, the charity selected is the CSPG Foundation. SOCIETY NEWS
WEST COAST LECTURE TOUR WRAP-UP By: Colin Etienne
he final lecture tour of the 2018/2019 his time with the CSPG, Colin’s work has the potential to reduce carbon emission academic year was sent out to the focused on supporting students and new intensity around the Pacific Rim, and how Twest coast, and the earth science graduates, so when he was presented with the energy industry’s ability to diversify programs of British Columbia. Colin the opportunity to go speak to students markets has a direct impact on the career Etienne, the CSPG’s Outreach Director, was directly he seized the opportunity. This prospects of geologists. sent out to connect with students to discuss tour also had the added benefit of having the new opportunities for geologists in Colin return to UVic, where he studied, and Between the three schools attendance the energy sector and how the industry connect back to the BC schools that played varied from a small number of highly has been evolving over the past decade. an integral role in his career. engaged students during one lecture, On his tour Colin visited the University of to a large group filling a classroom with Victoria, the University of British Columbia The talk focused on the evolution of backgrounds comprised of undergraduate in Vancouver, and Simon Fraser University geologists roles within the industry as as well as graduate students within in Burnaby. Colin has observed them. Starting with the departments. It brought together a broad discussion of the “conventional” geoscientists who want to work in the Colin has been working at Canbriam workflows for geologists, Colin then took energy sector, as well as those focusing on Energy since April 2014, where he spent the students through an operational case the mineral exploration and environmental 4 years working in various capacities as a study that he has developed to highlight the sectors as well. Being able to bring together geologist before moving into his current atypical yet critical role of geologists during people from disparate backgrounds role as a Corporate Planning Analyst. development of unconventional reservoirs. and specialties in earth sciences led to Within the CSPG Colin has been involved Following this technical discussion, Colin fascinating discussions about the geology in the University Outreach committee since provided his assessment of the state of the contained in the talk, as well as in depth March 2014 in various roles. He also founded global energy industry and how Canada discussions on challenges the Canadian the Young Geoscience Professionals in can play a role in it going forward. This industry and graduates face going forward. 2017, has been a long serving member of led to a broad array of discussions that This tour wraps up the program for the year, the SIFT Committee of which he is currently are necessary to the future of the energy ending on a high note. a co-Chair, and also now serves in the dual sector. The discussions ranged from the roles of Outreach Director and Trustee evolving understanding of social license, of the CSPG Foundation. Throughout how a growth in the Canadian industry has
RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 33 SOCIETY NEWS
ROCK ANALYSIS WORKSHOP, MARCH 21-22, 2019
he 2019 Rock Analysis Workshop was This year’s workshop was extremely well a 2-day affair, with the first day at attended, with 161 registrations. If the Tthe U of C MacEwan Hall lower level attendance figure is representative of the conference hall and the second day at the level of interest amongst CSPG Members, Alberta Energy Regulator Core Research the organizers feel it is well worth Centre. David Robertson delivered the presenting another workshop over the next welcoming message and introduced the year or two, perhaps themed to follow a Day 1 session chairs. more academic-oriented conference. If you like the idea, please let the CSPG staff Day 1 focused on theory and Day 2 at the know. lab was primarily concerned with sampling and analytical methods, although both days featured papers on both.
The workshop was organized by Amin Ghanizadeh and Stan Stancliffe, who did an outstanding job of constructing an agenda consisting of 38 papers and somehow managed to write and deliver papers of their own. Amin deserves applause by authoring and delivering 3 papers. Stan presented one of his own. The two of them also participated as session chairs. An outstanding performance by any measure. Photo taken by: Candace Jones Photo taken by: Amin Ghanizadeh
2019 CSPG Squash Tournament
2019 CSPG Squash Tournament Registration Open!
RegistrationMay 30-June 1, 2019Open!
Bow Valley MayClub 30 |- June250-6 1, ave 2019 SW Calgary Bow Valley Club | 250 -6 ave SW Calgary For more information and to register online go to www.CSPG.org/squash For more information and to register online go to www.CSPG.org/squash
RegistrationRegistration deadline deadline isis May May 23, 23, 2019 2019
34 RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 SOCIETY NEWS
STANLEY SLIPPER AWARD CITATION FOR 2018
The Stanley Slipper Medal is amongst the That winter, during a track meet (indoors) in highest honours awarded by the Canadian Edmonton, Grant went knocking on doors. Society of Petroleum Geologists. The medal In the HR office at Syncrude he realized is presented annually for outstanding his resume was destined for the trash. He contributions to petroleum exploration went to the geology department to speak to and development either in Canada or by a geologist and ended up with an offer as a Canadian-based petroleum geologists surficial geologist. working internationally. In 1979 he joined Syncrude working in Fort The recipient of the Slipper Medal for McMurray and Edmonton. Geologists had 2018 is Grant Douglas Wach, Professor complete core control and wireline logs at in the Department of Earth Sciences at 100 m intervals in the oil sands mine area Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia but every six months they “mined out their and Director of their Basin and Reservoir miscorrelations”. Syncrude provided an Laboratory. exceptional opportunity of learning about oil reserves and mining production. They Grant was born on May 16, 1955 in were working inside an oil reservoir. Washington, D.C., United States. Grant’s father was in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Grant had a great boss, Neil O’Donnell, who stationed with the Canadian Embassy. allowed him to take Miles Hayes’ AAPG of Alberta. They constructed a Trace When Grant was two months old his family seminar on Modern Clastic Environments Fossil Atlas that became the basis of returned to Canada. A childhood of moving in South Carolina that had a great impact Pemberton’s schools and the SEPM trace to bases in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, on him. On the overflight and through fossil volume. They did field work in the Quebec, Germany and Ontario prepared vibracoring the coastal estuaries, Grant Book Cliffs with John Van Wagoner and the him for the nomad’s life of a geoscientist. realized the complexities of subsurface Clastics Research Group and a lot of core Camping and scouting gave him a strong reservoirs – and wondered if they could description. Grant also completed studies interest in the outdoors. He hiked a good ever be correlated. He spoke to Hayes and in the Bohai and Tarim basins in China and portion of the Bruce Trail when he was formulated a M.Sc. project to investigate studies in the Gulf of Mexico and western fifteen. At seventeen he was a Junior Forest the depositional environments of the United States. Ranger for the Ontario Department of McMurray Formation. Lands and Forests and came back from the Grant moved to Texaco Upstream “Bush” hooked on becoming a forester. He In 1983 Grant took educational leave to Technology in 1996 where he continued as inquired from a professor in Forestry at the attend the University of South Carolina. a specialist in reservoir characterization, University of Toronto where they did their He constructed depositional models of stratigraphy and sedimentology providing field work and was told there were a lot of the McMurray and Clearwater formations technical support to business units parks and cemeteries. from core and well logs from the Syncrude worldwide including Gulf of Mexico, leases. He wrote his thesis in his “spare the continental USA (e.g. Delaware and Grant decided to study at Western time”, graduated with an M.Sc. in Geology Permian basins), West Africa, Colombia, University in London rather than pursuing in 1984 and returned to Syncrude. Trinidad, China, the Middle East and SE cemeteries and parks in Toronto. Summers Asia. Many of these studies involved field were spent working for the Ontario Grant left Syncrude in 1986 to study work and Grant led many field seminars. Geological Survey first in the Red Lake with Harold Reading at the University of Grant preferred to work as a technical District with Fred Breaks and Bill Bonds on Oxford. He studied the sedimentology specialist and enjoyed learning from the a 1:250,000 mapping project. To diversify and sequence stratigraphy of the Lower geoscientists and engineers on the teams his experience he next worked for the OGS Cretaceous in the Wessex and Channel with whom he collaborated. He was very doing surficial geology in the Ottawa Valley. basins on the south coast of England. involved with the West Africa discoveries He completed his Honours thesis research and Trinidad exploration and development. in his spare time in the Valley working on After completing his doctorate in 1991 a Pleistocene ice contact delta with a series he joined Exxon Production Research in In 2001 Texaco was purchased by Chevron. raised beaches, remnants of the receding Houston where he worked worldwide as Grant elected not to be redeployed to Champlain Sea, for his thesis. Grant a sedimentologist and stratigrapher. One California and 2002 took up a new position graduated in 1979 with a B.Sc. (Honours) in of his first assignments was working with at Dalhousie University as Professor of Geography (Minor in Geology). George Pemberton from the University (Continued on page 36...)
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(Continued from page 35...) Petroleum Geoscience and Stratigraphy. only with microscope and hammer, but innovation in play concepts he has brought Thus, started a new and important chapter also in software applications. He pushes to the fore will benefit the region for a long in Grant’s professional life - but he still had his students to be the best they can be, time to come. One of the critical roles Dr. one foot firmly in the industry door with encouraging them to master every tool. Wach has played at Dalhousie University is the intention of helping to guide Dalhousie In today’s harsh market, this has greatly the linkage of industry with academia. Like Earth Sciences students into rewarding benefited his students: most of us, if not all, no other in this region, he has managed industry careers. studying under him have not struggled for to engage industry in support of student work since the downturn and that is simply training and academic research that applies Grant’s academic roles and contributions because he has always placed his students’ to the petroleum industry.” Dave Brown to his students at Dalhousie are legion and success first. He is a credit to the world of (Canada- Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum have been summarized by his students and geoscience.” Board) provides an additional perspective: colleagues. “The Conjugate Margins conference series Career mentorship: According to Grant, was initiated by Grant and his colleagues in Professor Emeritus Marcos Zentilli “We are providing students with the skills government. They have been tremendous comments that: “Many of our students they need to get not just a job but to have a successes and forums for his students to work in the petroleum industry, yet none career and become leaders. If students can interact with industry.” of our faculty had that practical experience. have fun doing it, even better”. Grant speaks Grant changed all that in a hurry, and we highly of his students. “Companies realize Industry-related competitions: The were soon offering expert education that our students are bright and have a great American Association of Petroleum put Dalhousie on the oil industry map. attitude.” Carla Skinner (M.Sc. student, Geologists (AAPG) Imperial Barrel Award Grant created the Basin and Reservoir Shell) notes that: “Challenge. Trust. (IBA) Program, and the FIELD and CO2 Lab, brought specialized software and Respect. These are important qualities in competitions by the European Association equipment, and has become a sought- a supervisor and mentor, and ones that Dr. of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE) after mentor. Grant is one of the most Wach excelled at. He challenged me to learn are intensive competitions requiring generous and dedicated professors that I more, to work harder, and to reach higher. recommendations for exploitation and have ever met. He will do anything for his He trusted me to think for myself and to ask delineation of fields. The competitions students, and his enthusiasm is infectious. questions when I needed more guidance. pit Dal’s mainly undergrad teams against Despite having arrived at the university at He respected me and my opinions, allowing graduate student teams from across a time with the petroleum industry was me the safe space to express myself without Canada and the world. The teams have under social snub and having been treated fear of judgement. He provided me with done very well finishing 1st and 3rd in this with polite rejection as an outsider to the countless opportunities for experiential worldwide competition. It’s a benchmark of academic world, Grant has always made learning through field trips, for professional accomplishment on a resume. sure that the substantial funds he attracted growth through internships, and for did benefit all, not just his group. Thanks to personal growth through lecturing. I would Field Schools and Field trips: Grant is well him we have a lecture room and drill core not be the geologist I am today without his known for leading local field trips to the display facility for students to use.” teaching, mentoring, and support.” Bay of Fundy, Rainy Cove, Five Islands and the Joggins Fossil Cliff site. He also leads Teaching and Research: Grant’s courses Industry, Government and Academic the Trinidad field seminar every February have been aligned with the needs of students interfaces: Dr. David Mosher (Geological – a one-week trip that has students visit seeking to join the petroleum industry and Survey of Canada and United Nations) field exposures and do activities in small include stratigraphy, petroleum geology, summarizes his experience as: “Dr. Wach’s teams integrated with the University of advanced petroleum geoscience and enthusiasm for earth sciences and his West Indies and Young Professionals. petroleum geoscience field methods. Grant commitment to students – not just his “Trinidad is the best place in the world has authored or co-authored approx. 250 students but to students in all of Earth to learn about petroleum systems,” Grant technical papers and talks, many with his Sciences and Engineering is impressive. says. “It’s a natural lab – beautiful expanses students. The retinue of graduates that He goes beyond the call of duty in of sand cliffs that are analogs for oil and he has mentored is extensive numbering organizing amazing student field trips for gas reservoirs, and a lake of pitch the size 14 B.Sc., 19 M.Sc., 9 Ph.D. and two post- petroleum systems studies (e.g. Texas and of this campus. When students go into the doctoral fellows. Trinidad). He trains teams for student workforce, they think back to what they’ve competitions and he employs students learned in these field courses.” Charlie Carlisle (M.Sc.) adds: “The Basin to give them experience. These activities and Reservoir Laboratory is without a doubt are well beyond the scope of his teaching Grant does not neglect the social side of “State-of-the-Art”; it has only grown to be responsibilities. Dr. Wach immediately set education and the building of community so under Grant’s tacit determination for a about to tackle local issues and to study and he hosts many events at his home for facility in which no student’s work would the conjugate margins in Europe and students and colleagues. be hampered by limited lab resources. North Africa to bring better light on to the Today it is important to be trained not petroleum potential of this region. The Professor Grant Wach has mentored several
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generations of petroleum geologists and our own peers and mentors. They help to has paved the way for their future roles in shape our careers and we, in turn, shape our industry. He is a worthy recipient of the our students through our research, the Stanley Slipper Gold Medal. classroom and field. This mentorship is often more valuable than any paper we Note: Readers are requested to read write. Grant’s full citation on the CSPG website. It includes numerous endorsements from The ideal student project has a subsurface students and colleagues. dataset of core, well logs and seismic, linked to outcrop analogs, so that student GRANT’S LIFE LESSONS FOR researchers can understand the complexity GEOLOGY STUDENTS of the subsurface. Grant looks beyond resumes and transcripts in perspective students - do they Geology is the best degree you can get. You have a passion for geology? That passion learn the sciences, to critically read, and gets them through the rough patches in write your research. You learn to articulate their research when they may have doubts. your ideas; all key skills, even if you decide to leave geology. Try different jobs as an undergraduate to see where your desire lies as geologist. Keep going to the field. Study the outcrops Study abroad for a year or go to another where you can test the subsurface concepts institution for graduate work. you find help you to develop new ideas to explore. The leadership we provide is learned from
YGP/Summer Student Field Trip
Burgess Shale: Mount Stephen – Trilobite Beds Hike
July 20th, 2019
VISIT CSPG.ORG TO REGISTER TODAY
CSPG Student Rate: $ 70 + GST YGP CSPG Member Rate: $170 + GST YGP Non Member Rate: $200 + GST
Field Trip Description: If you are new to the Burgess Shale and wish to see abundant and obvious Cambrian fossils, this is the hike to do. The site is strewn with rock slabs containing appendages of the Cambrian predator Anomalocaris canadensis; trilobites Ogygopsis klotzi, Olenoides serratus and Elrathina cordillerae as well as brachiopods and sponges.
The Mount Stephen Fossil Beds were discovered in 1886, after railway workers reported finding what they called "stone bugs" in the talus on the slopes of Mount Stephen. Learn about the environment in which these creatures lived and perished and why many of the species that are found here do not occur at the Walcott Quarry site. This is a great hike for kids who will enjoy studying the rocks to find relatively large, easily recognizable fossils
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R.J.W. DOUGLAS MEDAL
The R.J.W. Douglas Medal was established and quantitative petroleum resource by the Canadian Society of Petroleum assessments of these strata. Geologists in 1980 to honour the memory of one of Canada's outstanding geologists, Dr. Embry has also looked at larger, circum- Dr. Robert J.W. Douglas. It recognizes those arctic geological issues and by working with who best emulate the scientific qualities of geoscientists from other Arctic countries, this extraordinary geologist. This medal is has made stratigraphic correlations of the awarded annually by the Canadian Society Canadian Arctic Phanerozoic succession of Petroleum Geologists to an individual with basin successions throughout the for outstanding scientific contributions to Arctic. This work has allowed Arctic- the understanding of sedimentary geology wide paleogeographic reconstructions, and, just as importantly, commending including the recognition of a previously major contributions to regional tectonics unknown land area to the north of the and structural geology that are important to Sverdrup Basin, and has provided solid petroleum geology in Canada. constraints for proposed tectonic models for the development of the Amerasia Basin Dr. Ashton F. Embry is a most worthy portion of the Arctic Ocean. recipient of the R.J.W. Douglas Medal. Based on 50 years of field and subsurface research, Dr. Embry has written extensively on and through collaborative work, he has sequence stratigraphy methodology, eluciated the stratigraphy, sedimentology, terminology and application. His has led to the suggestion that many of the depositional history, tectonic development practices are currently employed by many tectonic episodes recognized in the Arctic and paleogeographic evolution of both geologists in a variety of basins. He has may occur in basins on other continents. the Middle-Late Devonian, Franklinian also demonstrated the existence of discrete Dr. Embry has also designed a classification Foreland Basin and the Mesozoic portion of tectonic episodes in the Phanerozoic system for reefal carbonates and this has the Sverdrup Basin in the Canadian Arctic succession of Arctic Canada and has become a widely used nomenclature for Archipelago. This work has led to highly provided criteria for the recognition of coarse grained carbonates. significant and widely used qualitative tectonic episodes in basins. This work
31st Annual CSPG/CSEG/CAPL 10km/5km Road Race and Fun Run Thursday, September 19, 2019
To register please go to www.cspg.org– Events– Road Race & Fun Run
38 RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 30th Annual CSPG Mixed Golf Tournament August 23, 2019
Mark your calendars, and get ready for the 2019 CSPG Mixed Golf tournament on 23rd August at Lynx Ridge Golf course, celebrating 30 years of social golf with your Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists.
The four golfer, best ball tournament includes a round of golf, meals, plenty of hospitality and good times, and a chance to network with your colleagues and industry sponsors. This year we trust that we return to the typical August golf, where the course is at its finest, with the inviting fairways, smooth greens, spectacular mountains and the ever beckoning water hazards and sand traps to capture errant golf shots, instead of smoky skies that only clear because of the rain!!!
To register please go to www.cspg.org, Events, Mixed Golf Tournament
Member rate: $100+gst Non-member rate: $140+gst Team registration available!
Questions? Contact Kristy Casebeer [email protected]
RESERVOIR ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2019 39 The theme behind this year’s conference will focus on reservoir both old and new, and how the marriage of technology and geological evaluation has unlocked hidden potential or breathed new life into what had been forgotten. We are looking to the re examination of previous core presentations, showcasing the classic reservoirs of our history that established our resource. As well as, the new plays that have been born out of the learnings and insights we have gained from our rich geological history.
Advanced Registration Closes: May 10
General Delegate Registration: $190.00 *Core Meltdown ticket included
Group Registration
Group of 3 Registrations $540.00 *Core Meltdown ticket included
Group of 5 Registrations $800.00 *Core Meltdown ticket included
Group of 10 Registrations $1200.00 *Core Meltdown ticket included
Day Rates
May 16th Day Rate $100.00 May 17th Day Rate $100.00
Register online today! www.cspg.org/coreconference