august 2013 outcrop

OUTCROPNewsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

Volume 62 • No. 8 • August 2013

August 20132Vol. 62, No.8 2

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The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists (RMAG) is a nonprofit organization whose purposes are to promote interest in geology and allied sciences and their practical application, to foster scientific research and to encourage fellowship and cooperation among its members. The Outcrop is a monthly publication of the RMAG.

The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists910 16th Street • Suite 1125 • Denver, CO 80202 • 303-573-8621

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President – Debra Higley-Feldman [email protected]

President-Elect – Matt Silverman [email protected]

1st Vice-President – Larry Rasmussen [email protected]

2nd Vice-President – Laura Mauro Johnson [email protected]

Secretary – Jacinda Nettik Brown [email protected]

Treasurer – Mike Kozimko [email protected]

Treasurer Elect – Reed Johnson [email protected]

Counselor (2 Year) – Laura L. Wray [email protected]

Counselor (1 Year) – John Ladd [email protected]

2013 Officers and Board of Directors

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The Outcrop is a monthly publication of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists910 16th Street, Suite 1125• Denver, CO 80202

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The Board of Directors meeting was held on June 19th, 2013 at the RMAG office. We began this meeting with approval of last month’s minutes and Mike Kozimko followed up with the Financial Report.

An email written by current RMAG President Debra Higley and President Elect Matt Silverman went out to our expired members. It was well received and renewals picked up during the month. RMAG currently has 731 expired members and 1,876 current members. Contacting our expired members has been a priority over the last couple of months.

The Publications Committee is working on a Colorado Oil & Gas Field Publications. We are currently looking for individuals, companies and foundations interested in sponsoring this publication. A resource such as this one will bring value to Colorado oil and gas companies.

A motion was passed to move forward with contract and pricing for GeoScienceWorld e-journals to include RMAG’s Mountain Geologist. This could provide a new revenue stream for RMAG as well as provide a cost effective

way for Mountain Geologist to be provided to our non-member subscribers. The upfront costs can be budgeted and paid in 2014.

The Continuing Education committee is excited about their Sussex Core Workshop being offered in October. Look for details to come. Also, if your company would like to sponsor this workshop that will likely sellout contact the RMAG staff.

Last, for those of you who attended the One Day Carbonate Ichnology Course I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. I walked away with new ideas on what facies of carbonates provide the best permeability for gas production. George Pemberton gave us many great quotes throughout the day, but one of my favorites was one by Aristotle, “Those who know, do. Those that understand, teach.” Pemberton definitely understood well enough to teach. He provided great case studies throughout

the day that had me wanting to run back to the office to do some carbonate exploration.

RMAG June Board of Directors MeetingBy Jacinda Nettik Brown, Secretary ([email protected])

The Publications Committee is working

on a Colorado Oil & Gas Field Publications.

We are currently looking for individuals,

companies and foundations interested

in sponsoring this publication

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OUTCROP

Volume 62 • No. 8 • August 2013

COVER PHOTOEagle Rock in the east flank of the South Park

in Colorado; an erosional remnant of Precambrian metamorphic rocks that rise up through the veneer of Tertiary cover and looks like it is a volcanic neck, which it is not. The meandering stream in the foreground is Tarryall Creek; photo taken a short distance above Tarryall Reservoir on October 31, 2010 by Dean Dubois.

Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

Features 8 Lead Story: Reservoir

Connectivity and Stimulated Gas Flow in Tight Sands

association news13 Authors and Editors

Needed15 September RMAG On-

the-Rocks Field Trip 18 On-the-Rocks Field

Trip to the Ancestral Eagle Basin

28 The 20th Anniversary 3D Seismic Symposium

29 Have you written a book?

30 Thank you to 2012 RMAG Foundation Donors

31 RMAG 2013 Summit Sponsors

34 Connect with RMAG Online!

38 Submit a Manuscript to The Mountain Geologist

40 2013 Scheduled On-the-Rocks Field Trips

42 Studies in Geology 65

Departments 4 RMAG June Board

of Directors Meeting 6 President's Column29 Check it out!32 New Members35 RMAG Luncheon

Program40 In the Pipeline43 Advertisers Index43 Calendar of Events


Amazing Field Trips on the Horizon

President’s ColumnBy Debra Higley

The September field trip will be on the 7th to vineyards and outcrops of western Colorado. Check the events site on the RMAG website for trip details. The AAPG-SPE-SEG URTeC conference (American Association of Petroleum Geologists - Society of Petroleum Engineers – Society of Economic Geologists – Unconventional Resources Technology Conference) on unconventional resources will be held on August 12-14 in Denver (and is all indoors so they won’t get to see rocks in their natural environments).

I want to thank all of you who volunteer your time and expertise to RMAG and other organizations. Based on Bureau of Labor statistics, 26.5% of the people in the U.S. volunteered in 2012. A somewhat smaller number volunteered for RMAG of course. I also wish to acknowledge the numerous companies, academia,

and State and Federal organizations that have allowed their geoscientists to be involved with RMAG planning and goals. These are busy times and your generosity towards RMAG members, events, and the community is very valuable. RMAG would not exist without you and other volunteers. You allow us to provide our publications, continuing education and social events, field trips, networking, technological and prospect events, scholarships, and other contributions. I have received more than I have given by volunteering for RMAG; I’ve learned how to better network and organize projects, the intricacies of publishing and event planning, and that people are very giving of their time and expertise. RMAG volunteers are focused on project goals, instead of themselves. Thank you for your generosity and support.

I volunteer several times a year for face painting kids that have Celiac disease (an immune reaction to eating gluten.) Kids have such perfect skin, which always seems to have a dusting of food crumbs. Amazing how they can wait patiently in line for an hour and then fidget once I start painting their face red (Spiderman) or other colors. I’m getting pretty good at drawing webs on moving targets. My favorite was a Halloween party in which most of the kids wanted to be morphed into zombies. One lovely little girl wore a glittery green mermaid outfit, and she wanted her face painted like a skull with fangs and dripping blood. I made $40 in tips from another gig, so maybe this is a pending second career? Volunteering for RMAG and other organizations has been rewarding.

Saturday August 17th will be the RMAG “On the Rocks” field trip to the Medicine Bow Mountains and Snowy Range of southeast Wyoming. This is a gorgeous trip of mountains, glacial features, stromatolites, and complex tectonics.

»


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August 20138Vol. 62, No. 8

LEAD STORY

Reservoir Connectivity and Stimulated Gas Flow in Tight SandsBy Dag Nummedal, Director, Colorado Energy Research Institute, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO and Kent Perry, VP Onshore Programs, RPSEA, 1650 Highway 6, Suite 325, Sugar Land, TX

A comprehensive research project consisting of multiple tasks in geology, geophysics, petroleum engineering and rock mechanics, all designed to explore the relationships between the architecture of tight gas reservoirs in the Piceance Basin, Colorado, and their fluid flow characteristics was performed by a consortium of researchers led by Colorado School of Mines.

The overall project goal was to improve the predictability in exploration for and the completion and production of these reservoirs. The culture of open exchange of data, ideas and insights between several research universities and organizations and the many companies operating in the region played a huge role in the overall success of the project.

More than 6,000 well logs, several 2-D seismic lines, and 3-D seismic data cubes for the Mamm Creek and Rulison fields were made available to the investigators on this team, from a combination of donated industrial data bases and public resources. Given the unique situation of having a number of large natural gas fields, surrounded on all sides by excellent outcrops of

reservoir-equivalent strata, the team also made sure that all relevant outcrop information was integrated into the project.

What follows is a summary of selected findings from the project. Those interested in the comprehensive final report are directed to:

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Data and analysis of the structural and stratigraphic controls for static reservoir

models were focused on the Mamm Creek Field, specifically, yet the data that were collected and analyzed are of equivalent value also to most other gas fields across the Piceance basin. Outcrop-to-subsurface correlation proved to be a particularly powerful approach to document the size, shape and connectivity of key gas-bearing sandstones in the Williams Fork Formation, the key gas-bearing interval in the basin. This knowledge about sandstone body characteristics was then applied in the modeling of reservoir sandstone bodies as documented in a 3D seismic data cube and logs for parts of the Mamm Creek gas field. A quite

Continued on page 11 »

Photo of cliff in the Piceance basin courtesy of Tom Davis, Colorado School of Mines.

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Lead Story

fundamental discovery was that most of the gas bearing fluvial sandstone bodies in this field are smaller than the distance between wells drilled at 10 acres spacing (labeled “pay” in figure below). Thus, how they are distributed and whether or not multiple sandstone bodies are connected are crucial to the optimal development of the field.

Also investigated were the larger scales of architecture, at the scale of the basin rather than the scale of the reservoir. The largest scale explored was that of the formation of the entire paleogeography of the region at the time of deposition of these gas-bearing strata, at about 80 to 70 million years ago. Subduction of a (now entirely consumed) oceanic plate, the Farallon plate, pulled the western margin of North America down at the time, creating a 1000-mile-wide seaway which connected the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean. The Piceance Basin today occupies a location just west of the western shoreline of this ocean, where sediments were deposited in deltas, related shorelines and river systems draining mountains farther west (in today’s central Utah). The structural deformation of the region, both before and after the deposition of these sediments, is equally important to the understanding of today’s hydrocarbon distribution because it is the vertical movement of the basin over time and the changing temperatures within the basin sediments that determine which organic ‘source rocks’ were cooked to produce gas, when they were so cooked, and how and when they migrated to the gas bearing intervals from where we produce them today.

Several reports prepared as part of this very comprehensive research effort were built on the huge digital well log data set that the industrial partners in this research program provided. Very few research teams have been fortunate enough to get access to this kind

of data for research because most basins do not have that degree of well control.

These comprehensive stratigraphic studies document the basin-specific distribution of reservoirs, seals, and potential migration pathways. They also provide profound new insights into gas charge distribution, role of stratigraphic as well as structural traps, and the timing of gas generation from the major source rocks (mostly

Continued from page 8


Connected-volume images for all sandstone, at 10 acre, 40 acre and 160 acre well spacing. Calculated connectivity (expressed as a %) of the total interval is notated in bold. Figure from Matt Pranter, University of Colorado.

August 201312Vol. 62, No.8 12

Lead Story

coals just above the Rollins Sandstone). The studies indicate that stratigraphic trapping may play a role in the gas distribution, in addition to the previous conventional thinking that pressure gradients alone provided the dominant control on gas distribution.

Also examined were the oldest of all well logging tools, the SP (self-potenti1al) tool. This was pursued because of the curious observation that there is a distinct SP deflection at the abrupt top of overpressure in the gas column and that this signal commonly goes away after several years of gas production and pressure relief. This change is found to be the consequence of a change in the streaming potential (the part of the SP signal that records current related to fluid movement from the rocks to/from the well bore) as the pressure differential across the stratigraphic seal on top of the gas column decreases during production.

Recognition of potential new stratigraphic gas traps would further enhance the predictability (and hence cost effectiveness) of basin gas production, above and beyond what we are already learning from reservoir connectivity analysis.

Yet another research focus was on dynamic models to properly understand flow connectivity in a portion of the Mamm Creek Field. Gas and other fluids drain through a reservoir during production both via connected sandstone bodies as well as through natural and induced fractures. For most unconventional oil and gas reservoirs, these fracture pathways are keys to optimal reservoir production. The effectiveness of such fractures in conducting fluids from reservoir to well bore also changes over



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Authors and Editors Needed: RMAG Oil & Gas Fields of Colorado!

Dean DuBois, Committee Chair 720-876-5366 [email protected]

James Milne 303-894-2100 x5117 [email protected]

James Rogers 303-832-2328 [email protected]

Steve Cumella 720-979-0718 [email protected]

RMAG is working toward the publication of a guidebook dedicated to short field studies of a set of selected oil and gas fields in Colorado. In large part the format will be similar to earlier publications of this type: a several page article that will include a one page summary with a small set of maps and cross-sections adequate to give the reader a lot of information in a short amount of time. The RMAG committee working on this publication has selected 85 fields for review. In addition, we expect to have extended discussion around several large “resource play” areas such as the Piceance Basin or the Greater Wattenberg complex including the recent horizontal Niobrara play.

The committee is currently looking for authors to do field studies and to put together material for publication. Each author may contribute one or multiple field studies. We will also need a group of editors for both technical and copy (grammatical and graphical) review.

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Lead Story

time during field production as pressures change and fractures ‘evolve’. The performed research demonstrates how an integrated approach leads to more realistic 3D geologic and dynamic models that are consistent with static data and historical production performance. Such models are useful for estimating the impact of complex sandstone connectivity on early and long-time performance, including well interference, long-term recovery and optimal spacing. When the dynamic (flow) simulation runs for the Mamm Creek Field were validated against historical production data, and tied back to the static models of sandstone body distribution, it was found that the best match was obtained by considering only clean sandstones in depositional systems such as point bars, channel fills and marine sand bodies as pay.

Bcf/AcreAn additional research effort was to move reservoir

connectivity analysis beyond the empirical and towards a predictive science based on the mechanics of failure in rocks subject to stress. Predicting f a i l u r e , a n d t h e geometry of resulting fractures, is greatly complicated by the fact that real rocks have very heterogeneous composition in terms of mineral grains, c e m e n t b o n d i n g strength and size and shape of connecting pores. To approximate these complexities, we chose discrete element models (DEMs) for the numerical modeling of such rocks because t h e s e c o d e s a r e designed to handle complex mechanisms, material heterogeneity and fai lure events at a range of scales. The models now in place as a result of this RPSEA project do

allow prediction of the actual mechanical conditions for crack initiation, the effects of varying volumes of weak vs. strong rock layers, confining pressures, porosity of different beds, and bedding geometry.

Included in this comprehensive study of tight gas sandstone reservoirs in the Piceance

Basin are four geophysical studies built around an evaluation of vertical seismic profiling for improved reservoir imaging, improved accuracy in locating microseismic events and understanding of the fundamental properties of the self-potential field in basin-center gas accumulations and the advancement of seismic shear wave anisotropy analysis to characterize fracture orientation and possibly other anisotropic reservoir properties.

3-D VSP (vertical seismic profiling) using shear waves were assessed and found that this tool offers significant data improvements compared to recording by



A 3D dynamic simulation technique was developed based on detailed static geologic and petrophysical models and hydraulic fracture properties. Figure from Reinaldo Michelena, iReservoir.com.


September RMAG On-the-Rocks Field TripVineyards and Adobes and Gravels - Oh My!

Western Colorado's North Fork Valley is home to the West Elks American Viticultural Area, and some of the highest vineyards in North America. High elevation, low humidity, warm days, cool nights, and a short growing season impart a distinctive character to the red and white wines produced here. This climate is also conducive to a vibrant fruit growing and organic farming and ranching industry.

Not surprisingly, the geology and landscapes of the North Fork Valley have a great influence on the terroir, or the effects of the local environment upon the wines and agricultural products. The valley contains many landscapes, ranging from river canyons to bleak, "Adobe" clay badlands to pyramidal laccolith peaks, to remnant river terraces and extensive gravel fans.

This field trip features the best of the valley. We will enjoy wine tasting at several of the area's foremost vineyards. Our lunch stop will include fruit-picking at an orchard. Along the way, at scenic overlooks, Dr. Dave »

Noe will share descriptions of the geology of the varied landscapes, and knowledge gained from mapping in the area by the Colorado Geological Survey.


A Wine-Tasting and Geologic Exploration of the North Fork ValleyBy Sandra Mark

Trip Leader: Dave Noe, Colorado Geological Survey Date: September 7, 2013

The beautiful North Fork Valley, with its laccolith sentinels, Mount Lamborn and Landsend Peak. Photo by Dave Noe.

August 201316Vol. 62, No.8 16

geological perspectives. A critical geophy-sical issue was addressed in this study, in which the investigator developed a new approach to determine the precise location of each microseismic event (its ‘hypocenter’). Traditionally, people pick P and S wave arrival times at multiple receivers and then triangulate to determine the location of the event’s hypocenter. The data is usually quite noisy, however, so hypocenter locations become prone to substantial errors. Instead, the new method developed in this study is based on reconstructing the entire wave field as seen from sets of receivers sensing waves arriving from different directions.

What s t i l l r ema ins i s an open question, however, it is the determination of what exactly the seismic event represents. Does it truly record the location of a fracture tip, or does it represent a seismic shock wave associated with stress release that did not necessarily result in an open fracture?

There was a very large team of professional researchers and students from many Colorado institutions engaged in this project, of which the following must be mentioned. Paul Weimer and Matt Pranter (University of Colorado, Boulder), Rex Cole (Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO), Jim Gilman and Reinaldo Michelena (iReservoir.com), Piret Plink-Bjorklund, Jen Aschoff, Bruce Trudgill, John Berger, Graham Mustoe, Tom Davis, Paul Sava, Andre Revil, Ilya Tsvankin (Colorado School of Mines).

means of surface geophones. These advantages include: 1) improved image quality from VSP records because of their broader bandwidth and the low noise environment as compared to surface seismic recordings; 2) the depth migrated images tie better with the well logs; 3) the VSP images discern more

Lead Story

subtle stratigraphic features, and 4) there is better imaging of structural features, especially faults, which were previously unnoticed on surface seismic data, and 5) differences in reflection amplitudes between sets of split shear waves appear to indicate fractured zones.

Microseismic tools to locate seismic events during fracturing operations were i n v e s t i g a t e d b e c a u s e t h i s a p p r o a c h h a s b e c o m e ubiquitous, yet rarely crit ical ly examined from geophys ica l or

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to be driven by designated drivers. Unlike most RMAG On-the-Rocks field trips, there will be a fee for this trip to cover the rental vans and a box lunch. The fee is $55.

The North Fork Valley is a 4.5 – 5 hour drive from the Denver metro area, so lodging or camping for one or two nights must be arranged and paid for by individual participants. A block of rooms at two area motels are being held until August 15 for the nights of September 6 and 7 under the name “RMAG”. There is also a campground with tent sites that will be convenient to the trip.

Registration for the trip is via the RMAG website. Go to “Events”, then on the pull-down menu click “On the Rocks” to fill out your information and pay the fee. There is additional information on the website to assist you in making arrangements for lodging or camping, and area information on wineries and restaurants. Please contact Sandra Mark for logistical questions: [email protected] or 303.810.7827.

The trip will begin and end in Paonia, Colorado, a delightful little coal-mining town where music, art, and locally raised food are abundant. We encourage participants to spend the night here after the field trip (especially after a day of imbibing wine!), to savor some more of the good life. We will provide you with information about local brew pubs, restaurants and cafes, and nightlife.

September RMAG On-the-Rocks Field Trip»


We will meet at the Paonia Public Library, 2 3rd Street, Paonia, CO 81428 at 9 am, September 7, 2013. Park along the street and not in the library lot. Bring jacket, sunscreen, water, camera. There will be short hikes that are not strenuous. We will return to the library at approximately 6 pm.

Because wine tasting is a part of this field trip, the participants will be required to ride in rental vans

"Adobe" clay badlands at the western edge of the North Fork Valley. Grand Mesa to the right. Photo by Dave Noe.

August 201318Vol. 62, No.8 18

By Connie KnightOn-the-Rocks Field Trip to the Ancestral Eagle Basin

Figure 1: Paleogeography of the Eagle basin region in Des Moines time (W.W. Mallory, 1971). Pattern areas show areas where Pennsylvanian rocks are not present. (Newer regional interpretations of Desmoinsian aged rocks have been presented by Ron Blakey, Chuck Kluth, and others. However, this map served as a handy reference guide for our field trip.)

On June 22, a group of RMAG geologists spent a day in the field investigating the Pennsylvanian-Permian aged Eagle Basin of central Colorado. The weather was perfect; the geology was magnificent; and the group synergy was brilliant!

Continued »


On-the-Rocks Field Trip to the Ancestral Eagle Basin

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Our field trip leader was Bob Raynolds. Field trip organizers were Ron Pritchett, Phyllis Scott, and Dennis Foley.

The ancestral Eagle Basin formed between high mountain ranges of the Ancestral Rockies. Eagle Basin fill deposits include conglomerates, sandstones, limestone beds, black shale beds, and evaporites. Coarse redbed basin-fill sediments that formed on the flanks of the Eagle Basin grade into finer grained basin- center deposits of mudstones and evaporites. Field-trip participants studied the facies patterns proximal, intermediate, and distal to the ancestral mountain front. Figure 1 (previous page) shows our field trip area superimposed on W.W. Mallory’s 1971 interpretation of the ancestral Rocky Mountain uplifts and the Eagle Basin.

Field trip geologists included Pennsylvanian rock veterans Don Rasmussen and Noel Waechter. Don gave the trip magnanimous thumbs up when he said: “Even I learned something new!” If you have not yet participated in an “On the Rocks” field excursion, I suggest that you sign up for one. You can’t beat the price – FREE.

A big THANK YOU goes to Bob, Ron, Phyllis, and Dennis. (Photos on the following pages are by Ron Parker, Ron Pritchett, and Connie Knight.)



August 201320Vol. 62, No.8 20

Mount Holy Cross, Sawatch Range.

Passive margin deposits of the Cambrian Sawatch Quartzite, Redcliff Area.

On-the-Rocks Field Trip to the Ancestral Eagle BasinContinued from page 19



Noel Waechter points to the contact between the Precambrian basement and the Cambrian Sawatch Quartzite.

Who says old boys can’t learn new tricks --- or wear tights?






Spectacular example of tower karst topography at the top of the Mississippian Leadville Formation, along the Colorado River.

Gilman Mine and Ron Parker

Geologists study the steeply dipping “proximal” facies of the Minturn Formation. Proximal to the Ancestral Rocky Mountain Front Range, the Minturn Fm. is dominantly comprised of sandstone beds. Distal to the ancestral mountain front, in the subsurface, Minturn equivalent rocks produce oil and gas from a succession of penesaline carbonate, black shale, and anyhydrite rocks. This thick section of Desmoinesian aged rocks is considered a large underdeveloped resource play for oil, condensate, and high NGL gas.





John Webb shares his interpretations and insights.

Al Heinrich points to the coarse grained basin fill strata of the clastic Maroon Formation, which occurs statigraphically above the Minturn Formation.

Our dedicated and fearless Leader Bob Raynolds.

The Pennsylvanian Belden Formation, near Dotsero, is comprised of black shale and carbonate beds. In areas, such as the Colorado mining district, the Belden Formation is over-mature as a hydrocarbon source rock. However at other locations the Belden is considered a potential shale-gas reservoir.



August 201324Vol. 62, No.8 24

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Come to Workshops Before and After the URTeC Conference in August!!

Stimulating Shale Oil/Gas Wells: Permeabilities from Matching Microseismic and Gas Rates, Defining the Fracture Network, and Implications for Proppant Sunday August 11, 2013, 1:00pm – 5:00 pm, Denver Athletic Club Fee: $75 (includes food at breaks, workbook, and PDH certificate) Instructor: Dr. Ian Palmer (Higgs-Palmer Technologies)

Confessions of a Frac Engineer: 200 Field Studies Prove our Frac Jobs are Not Optimized Thursday August 15, 2013, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Denver Athletic Club, Fee: $250 (includes food at breaks, workbook, and PDH certificate) Instructor: Mike Vincent, Fracwell, LLC

Come Join PTTC at RMS-AAPG in Salt Lake City, Utah Register online: http://rmsaapg2013.com/

Pre-Convention Short Course #2: Petrophysical Evaluation of Unconventional Resources Sunday, September 22th 8:00 AM-5:00 PM (Morning and afternoon snacks provided) Fee: $225 (Professionals) $125 (Students); Instructors: Robert Cluff, The Discovery Group, Inc.; Michael Holmes, Digital Formation, Inc. Limit: 60 persons Course description: The course will cover the petrophysical approaches to the evaluation of Shale Oil, Tight Gas Sands, and Shale Gas Techniques using both open and cased hole logs. Attendees will learn basic interpretation procedures to determine porosity, hydrocarbon saturation, TOC, volumes of in-place hydrocarbons, recoverable hydrocarbon estimates, and net pay criteria. Worked examples from a number of North American reservoirs will be part of a comprehensive workshop manual to be provided to all attendees. PETRA – Intermediate Mapping Monday-Tuesday, October 14 and 15, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Colorado School of Mines, Berthoud Hall room 201 Fee: $500, includes food at breaks, workbook, and PDH certificate. Limit 20 people Instructor: Jewel Wellborn, Hydrocarbon Exploration & Development, Inc. The Intermediate Mapping class is designed for those participants who have completed the Petra Introductory course and are ready to advance their use of mapping features, gridding, and computational options available in the PETRA Map module. Workflows using contouring algorithms, gird to grid manipulations, computations, residual and curvature processes will be discussed. Map options such as directional well posting, drainage radii, rose diagram and lineament analysis, dip and strike calculation and presentation, 3D visualization, and posting of engineering data may be offered as class participants request. A discussion of overlay options and management may also be reviewed. (This class is designed with professional Geoscientist in mind).

Class Descriptions and Register Online: www.pttcrockies.org For more information, contact Mary Carr, 303.273.3107, [email protected]



Group shot. Basin centered evaporite facies north of the town of Gypsum.

Don Rasmussen, who has spent much of his career studying Desmoinsean aged Pennsylvanian rocks, particularly those of the coeval Paradox Basin.

Our field trip organizers: left to right – Ron Pritchett (black shirt), Phyllis Scott (foreground), and Dennis Foley.


Weatherford Labs helps you get more from your core by combining an unsurpassed global team of geoscientists, engineers, technicians and researchers with the industry’s most comprehensive, integrated laboratory services worldwide. From core analysis, sorption, geochemistry and isotopic composition to detailed basin modeling and comprehensive data packages, we provide you with real reservoir

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OTR Field Trip to the Ancestral Eagle Basin...the weather was perfect; the geology was magnificent; and the group synergy was brilliant!

August 201326Vol. 62, No.8 26


Salt Lake City, Utah - September 22-24, 2013

AAPG - Rocky Mountain Section Annual Meeting

Registration Now Open

Technical Program Highlights • Lacustrine Basins

• Unconventional Resource Plays

• Great Oil/Gas Fields of the Rocky Mountains: A Historical Perspective

• Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage • New Resource Plays • Geothermal Resources of the Rocky Mountains

• Microbial Carbonates: Modern and Ancient

rmsaapg2013.com

Other Convention Events

• ACL: Roving the Red Planet: A Field Geologist Explores Gale Crater Dr. Rebecca Williams, Mars Scientist, Planetary Science Institute • Night at the new Natural History Museum of Utah • Guest hospitality suite and 3 days of special activities

• 5 Utah-based eld trips and 4 short courses

SALT LAKE CITY2013

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SEPTEMBER 22-24

photo credit: Eric Schramm

Neil H. Whitehead, III Consulting Geologist

PhD CPG-AIPG PG WY

Rocky Mountain Basins

Wellsite to Petroleum Systems ArcGIS

303-679-8573 fax 303-679-8574 [email protected] 31634 Black Widow Way Conifer, CO 80433-9610


The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologistsand the

Denver Geophysical Society

Cordially invite you to

for a very special event:Save the Date

The th AnniversaryD Seismic Symposium

203

Friday, February 14, 2014Sheraton Downtown Denver Hotel

Denver, CO

Join us for a celebration of all things D Seismic!Same venue as this past year,

with expanded exhibitor and social area.

More details Autumn, 2013.

3

To discuss or submit a presentation:Jim Thorson

jim.thorson catamountexploration.com@

For general information:staff rmag.org(303) 573-8621

@


Check it out!The Insider, Tisha

Schuller’s Journey from environmental activist to industry champion in the fracking wars. Westward, June 13-19, Volume 36, Number 42. Westword.com.

Midnight Sun, Artic Moon: Mapping the Wild Heart of Alaska, M a r y A l b a n e s e , Smashwords Edition, 2012. Available on Amazon.com, $14.95.

Have you written a book?We would like to do a feature on books written by

RMAG members in a future issue. Send the editors a scan of the book cover with a brief summary of the topic, publication date, publisher, price and availability.

»

»

CanadianDiscoveryLtd.

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August 201330Vol. 62, No.8 30

THANK YOU TO 2012 RMAG FOUNDATION DONORS

The Trustees of the RMAG Foundation wish to acknowledge the generous support of the Foundation’s donors in 2012. Approximately $35,000 was raised for student scholarships and the general fund which supports geologic endeavors within the geologic community at large. The Foundation, a tax-exempt organization under section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code (Tax ID # 84-0730294), relies on these donations for its ongoing contributions which are made each year from the interest accrued by the fund.

In addition to the individuals, companies, and corporations on the facing page who gave in 2012, the Foundation would like to recognize a major gift to the scholarship funds by the RMAG Golf Tournament contributors. Thank you to all who organized and played in that tournament!

If any donor has failed to be thanked individually by letter, please contact:

RMAG Foundation, #165 Independence Plaza 1001 16th Street, B-180 Denver, CO 80265


www.rmag.org31OUTCROP www.rmag.org31OUTCROP

August 201332Vol. 62, No.8 32

New Members Welcome to New RMAG Members...

www.breckex.comTexas Office • Ph: 254-559-7566 • Fax: 254-559-6337

2301 US Hwy 180 East • P.O. Box 789 • Breckenridge, TX 76424Denver Office • Ph: 303-563-5301 • Fax: 303.260.6401

600 17th Street, Suite 2800 S • Denver, CO 80202

Project Planning | Acquisition | Permitting | Surveying | Safety Compliant | Results

All crews utilizing OYO GSX Wireless System

and AHV-IV 364 Commander Vibrators or Shothole

John Bilbo works for Norwest Corporation in Palisade, CO.

Thomas Belis is a Geologic Advisor for Cabot Oil & Gas.

Erik Borchardt is an Engineer with Schlumberger.

Richard Boyce is a Geologist in Dallas, TX.

Travis Call is a Geologist with Newfield Exploration.

Julie Daughtery is an Account Manager with LMK Resources.

Michael Delvaux lives in Denver, CO.

John Dodds is a Geologist with Chesapeake Energy Co. in Oklahoma City, OK.

Dan Driscoll lives in Pueblo, CO.

Lisa Fisher works for Escalante Mines Inc, Tomassuk Natural Resources LLC.

Alex Gibson is a Graduate Student at the Colorado School of Mines.

Antara Goswami works for ION Geophysical in Houston, TX.

Oren Gottlieb is a Senior Geologist with Cypress Energy LLC in Carmel, IN.

Dr. Ali Jaffri works for Applied Stratgraphix.

Troy Johnson is a Senior Geologist with Chesapeake Energy in Oklahoma City, OK.

Chad Killcrease lives in Brighton, CO.

Steve Ladner is a District Geologist with Range Resources in Oklahoma City, OK.

Ray Mays works for SES in Houston, TX.

Craig Phillips works for Weatherford Wireline.

Benjamin Schupp lives in Superior, CO.

Hunter Snyder lives in Denver, CO.

Mark Tomasso works for Merit Energy CO in Dallas, TX.

William Whitty works for Freeport-McMoRoan Copper & Gold in Oro Valley, AZ.

Brett Wisler works for CGG in Houston, TX.

Mark Zellman works for Fugro William Lettis and Associates. »


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August 201334Vol. 62, No.8 34

CONNECT WITH US ON LINKEDIN!

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!

Connect with RMAG Online! You can now connect to the RMAG on Linkedin, Twitter, and Facebook.

Learn More

digforenergy.com 303.531.2030

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U.S. Geological Survey Assessment of Undiscovered Resources in the Bakken and Three Forks Formations, Williston Basin, North Dakota, Montana, and South Dakota, 2013By Stephanie B. Gaswirth and Kristen R. Marra, August 7

For unconventional oil resources, the USGS estimated a total mean resource of 3.65 billion barrels of oil (BBO), and 4 MMBO for conventional resources.

» »

RMAG Luncheon Programs – August 7th & September 4th

Luncheon will be held at the Marriott City Center at California and 17th St. Please check the event listing in the lobby for the room. Check-in/walk-in registration begins at 11:30 a.m., lunch is served at 12:00 noon, and the talk begins at 12:20 p.m. The luncheon price is $30.00. To listen only to the talk, walk-in price is $10.00. If you make a reservation and do not attend the luncheon, you will be billed for the luncheon. Online registration closes at 4:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the luncheon. Cancellations are not guaranteed after that time.

LuNCheoN ReSeRvATioNS & iNFoRMATioN

Call 303-573-8621, email [email protected], or register online.

Your attendance is welcomed and encouraged. Bring a guest or new member!

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has reassessed the undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources of the U.S. Williston Basin in the Devonian-Mississippian Bakken Formation. The Bakken Formation was last assessed by the USGS in 2008, and required a reevaluation due to improved geologic knowledge and increased production information related to the substantial growth in the number of Bakken wells since 2008. The underlying Devonian Three Forks Formation was not assessed by the USGS in 2008, and similarly warranted assessment based on significant increases in drilling and production in this formation. Since the 2008 USGS assessment, over 600 million barrels of oil (MMBO) has been produced from the Bakken and Three Forks Formations in the United States.

In 2008, five unconventional (continuous) assessment units and one conventional assessment unit (AU) were defined for the Bakken Formation. These AU lines were based on structural elements, source rock maturity of the Upper Bakken Shale, and resistivity data. For unconventional oil resources, the USGS estimated a total mean resource of 3.65 billion barrels of oil (BBO), and 4 MMBO for conventional resources. The reassessment of the Bakken Formation redefines the AUs based on updated thermal maturity data, structural controls, and the mapped extent of Bakken source rocks. Continuous assessment units are refined using new production and


August 201336Vol. 62, No.8 36


RMAG Luncheon Programs – August 7th & September 4thContinued from page 35

A new methodology for basin temperature modelling has been developed that utilizes a large amount of properly indexed and QC’d bottom-hole temperature data for a basin or area. To construct the temperature volume, we first define a curve (depth varying function) that depicts the envelope of the maximum bottom hole temperature cloud for each major lithostratigraphic unit to define the interval geothermal gradient. We then construct the temperature volume by stacking the interval geothermal gradient layers for the basin or area. We can apply a lithologic thermal conductivity shift to the interval geothermal gradient layers to more closely approximate formation temperature, if necessary. Results for the Delaware and Midland Basins are shown.

BiographyPete Dotsey is the North and South America Business Development Manager

for the TGS Geological Products Division. Pete attained an MS in Geology from Stephen F. Austin State University in

1983. His professional career includes:

3 years working for Sohio Petroleum Company in exploration; •

9 Years working in the environmental field as a hyrdo-geologist and project • manager;

4 years working for Landmark Graphics Corporation as a geoscience • application consultant; and

13 years working with his current employer, TGS.•

We can apply a lithologic thermal conductivity shift to the interval geothermal gradient layers to more closely approximate formation temperature, if necessary.

MaxG Basin Temperature Modelling By Ian Deighton and Pete Dotsey with TGS, September 4

geologic data, especially in the areas of the central basin, northeast Montana, and northwest North Dakota. The Parshall and Sanish fields have also been substantially developed since 2008, providing longer production histories and more accurate estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) data. The Three Forks Formation assessment also incorporates thermal maturity data, extent of the Three Forks Formation subcrop, and structural controls to define assessment unit boundaries. One continuous AU and one hypothetical conventional AU were defined for the Three Forks Formation. The technically recoverable undiscovered oil resource was estimated to be a mean of 3.6 BBO for the Bakken and 3.7 BBO for the Three Forks, for a combined resource assessment total of 7.4 BBO.

»



PetroFecta® from Fluid Inclusion Technologies is a unique approach combining XRF (PDQ-XRF ®), Trapped Fluid Analysis (FIS®),

and High Resolution Photography (RockEye ®) of the entire wellbore from well cuttings or core samples of any age. All analyses are conducted on the same 1 gram sample

(up to 575 samples per well) with an analytical cycle of four days. Data provided on a DVD with previewer software.

Information about PetroFecta ® and the umbrella of FIT services, call 918.461.8984 or visit www.fittulsa.com

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August 201338Vol. 62, No.8 38

The Mountain Geologist is a quarterly, online, peer-reviewed

journal published by the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

since 1964. Circulation is about 2600. Editors for The Mountain

Geologist welcome manuscripts that focus on or relate to geology

of the U.S. Rocky Mountain region and environs.

When writing a manuscript for The Mountain Geologist, please

refer to the downloadable “Author Style Guide” found under

“Publications – The Mountain Geologist” on the RMAG website: www.

rmag.org It is important to write your manuscript according to this

style guide to mitigate revision time for both authors and editors.

The style guide is being updated in 2013; please send inquiries to

the Executive Editor at [email protected] or refer to issues published

in 2012-2013 when questions arise.

Back issuesA bibliography and index is available on the RMAG website (1964-

2009, see The Mountain Geologist web page, www.rmag.org). See

also, “Cumulative Bibliography and Index to The Mountain Geologist,

1999-2010” by Michele Bishop, The Mountain Geologist, July 2011,

v. 48, no. 3, p. 59-80 .

Back issues of the journal are available on DVD (The Mountain

Geologist 1964-2005 except 1985, v. 22, no. 4; The Mountain

Geologist 2006-2010 with 1985, v. 22, no. 4) available through the

RMAG office, 303-573-8621, or online on the RMAG website. Some

issues in hard copies are also available from the RMAG office for

$15.

»Submit a Manuscript to


August 5 8, 2013 at the CSM:

Risk, Uncertainty & Economic Analysis for Resource Assessment &Production Forecasting in Shale and Tight Clastic Plays

Covers the assessment methods required for thetechnical and economic evaluation of drillingprograms in Unconventional resource plays

Designed for Geoscientists, Engineers, and BusinessAnalysts charged with creating value fromunconventional resources

Uses realistic games and exercises to illustrateprinciples of good estimating as well as analyticalprocedures used to identify, quantify and managethe uncertainty and risk associated withUnconventional resource assessment,development and production

Open Enrollment Tuition: $2,600 per registrant10% discount with three or more registrations

http://www.roseassoc.com/[email protected] 528 8422

August 201340Vol. 62, No.8 40

In the Pipeline

If you have any events that you would like to post in this column, please submit via email to Holly Sell at [email protected] or to the RMAG office at [email protected] for consideration.

August 5, 2013COGA 27th Annual Golf Tournament.

August 5-8, 2013COGA Rocky Mountain Energy Summit. Colorado

Convention Center.August 5-8, 2013

PTTC Course. “Risk, Uncertainty & Economic Analysis for Resource Assessment & Production Forecasting in Shale, Tight Clastics and Coal,” CSM, Golden, CO.August 7, 2013

RMAG Luncheon. "U.S. Geological Survey of Undiscovered Resources in the Bakken and Three Forks Formations, Williston Basin, North Dakota, Montana, and South Dakota, 2013." Speaker: Stephanie Gaswirth, Denver City Center Marriott. Check in 11:30 a.m., lunch 12:00 p.m., talk 12:20 p.m. Please note: online registration for this event closes on Thursday, August 1, 2013 at 4:00 p.m.!August 8, 2013

DGS Luncheon.

August 11, 2013 PTTC Course. Instructor Dr. Ian

Palmer. “Stimulating Shale Oil/Gas Wells.” Denver Athletic Club.August 13, 2013

Desk and Derrick Luncheon. For reservations, please contact [email protected] 14-16, 2013

NAPE Summer Expo. Houston, TX.

2013 SCHEDULED ON-THE-ROCKS FIELD TRIPSMonth/Day

August 17th

Sept. 7th

Topic/Destination

Medicine Bow, Snowy Range, WY

Vineyards, Adobes, and Gravels – Oh My! Wine-tasting and geologic exploration of the North Fork Valley of the Gunnison,

Western Slope, CO

Leader(s)

Art Snoke, University of Wyoming

Dave Noe, Colorado Geological Survey

RMAG OTRLogistics Contact

Cat Campbell

Sandra Mark

August 15, 2013 PTTC Course. “Confessions of a Frac Engineer,”

Speaker Mike Vincent. Denver Athletic Club.August 15-16, 2013

Denver SPE Continuing Education. “Mastering the Art of Negotiation.”August 17, 2013

RMAG On the Rocks Field Trip. Medicine Bow, Snowy Range, WY.August 21, 2013

Oilfield Christian Fellowship Luncheon. To RSVP call Barb Burrell at 303-675-2602 or e-mail [email protected].

»

August 201342Vol. 62, No.8 42

Studies in Geology 65Application of Structural Methods to Rocky Mountain

Hydrocarbon Exploration and DevelopmentEdited by C. Knight, J. Cuzella, & L. Cress

Co-published byTulsa, OK and Denver, CO

www.aapg.org/www.rmag.org

With increasing industry emphasis on developing “unconventional” tight reservoirs and on enhancing recovery from existing fields, geologists are facing new challenges. Identifying fracture characteristics within petroleum systems is essential. Understanding the timing of tectonics and the formation of structures is

important, as these factors strongly influence hydrocarbon generation, migration, entrapment, and preservation. As a means of addressing complex interrelationships between structural geology and hydrocarbon exploration and development, the editors are pleased to present this compilation of key papers.

Studies in Geology 65Table of Contents

Using Free-hand 3-D Drawings • to Clarify and Verify Subsurface Structural Interpretations — D. Stone

Introduction to Low-temperature • Thermochronologic Techniques, Methodology, and Applications — S. L. Peyton & B. Carrapa

Overview of Low-temperature • Thermochronology in the Rocky Mountains and its Application to Petroleum System Analysis — S. L. Peyton & B. Carrapa

Using Detrital Zircon • Geochronology to Solve Complex Structural Problems: Application with Pitfalls in the Helena Salient of the Montana Disturbed Belt, West Central Montana — P. T. Doughty, K. R. Chamberlain, & M. C. Pope

Regional and Local Fractures of • the Bakken Petroleum System, Williston Basin: Integrating Field Studies and 3-D Seismic Analysis — S. Angster & F. Sarg

Role of Wrench Faults and • Fractures in Creating “Sweet Spots” in Tight Gas Exploration and Production at Rulison Field Colorado — T. L. Davis & R. D. Benson

Fracture Control of P-wave • Azimuthal Anisotrophy in a Laramide Basement-cored Anticline at Casper Arch, Wyoming: Insights from Correlations with Surface Analogs and Curvature Analyses — R. D. Cooley & E. Erslev

Natural Fractures and Strain • Accommodation in the Tensleep Formation at Beer Mug Anticline — S. P. Cooper

Natural Fracture Patterns in • Folded Tensleep Reservoirs, Wyoming — S. P. Cooper & J. C. Lorenz

Fractures, Hydraulic Injections, • and Strain Accommodation in the Tensleep Formation at Flat Top Anticline, Carbon County, Wyoming — J. C. Lorenz

Beaver Creek Detachment • System: Syn-Laramide Gravity Detachment and Folding Oblique to Regional Compression — S. Smaltz & E. Erslev

The American Association of Petroleum Geologists

The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

Coming in the near future!


August 2013

Studies in Geology 65Application of Structural Methods to Rocky Mountain

Hydrocarbon Exploration and DevelopmentEdited by C. Knight, J. Cuzella, & L. Cress

Co-published byTulsa, OK and Denver, CO

www.aapg.org/www.rmag.org

With increasing industry emphasis on developing “unconventional” tight reservoirs and on enhancing recovery from existing fields, geologists are facing new challenges. Identifying fracture characteristics within petroleum systems is essential. Understanding the timing of tectonics and the formation of structures is

important, as these factors strongly influence hydrocarbon generation, migration, entrapment, and preservation. As a means of addressing complex interrelationships between structural geology and hydrocarbon exploration and development, the editors are pleased to present this compilation of key papers.

Studies in Geology 65Table of Contents

Using Free-hand 3-D Drawings • to Clarify and Verify Subsurface Structural Interpretations — D. Stone

Introduction to Low-temperature • Thermochronologic Techniques, Methodology, and Applications — S. L. Peyton & B. Carrapa

Overview of Low-temperature • Thermochronology in the Rocky Mountains and its Application to Petroleum System Analysis — S. L. Peyton & B. Carrapa

Using Detrital Zircon • Geochronology to Solve Complex Structural Problems: Application with Pitfalls in the Helena Salient of the Montana Disturbed Belt, West Central Montana — P. T. Doughty, K. R. Chamberlain, & M. C. Pope

Regional and Local Fractures of • the Bakken Petroleum System, Williston Basin: Integrating Field Studies and 3-D Seismic Analysis — S. Angster & F. Sarg

Role of Wrench Faults and • Fractures in Creating “Sweet Spots” in Tight Gas Exploration and Production at Rulison Field Colorado — T. L. Davis & R. D. Benson

Fracture Control of P-wave • Azimuthal Anisotrophy in a Laramide Basement-cored Anticline at Casper Arch, Wyoming: Insights from Correlations with Surface Analogs and Curvature Analyses — R. D. Cooley & E. Erslev

Natural Fractures and Strain • Accommodation in the Tensleep Formation at Beer Mug Anticline — S. P. Cooper

Natural Fracture Patterns in • Folded Tensleep Reservoirs, Wyoming — S. P. Cooper & J. C. Lorenz

Fractures, Hydraulic Injections, • and Strain Accommodation in the Tensleep Formation at Flat Top Anticline, Carbon County, Wyoming — J. C. Lorenz

Beaver Creek Detachment • System: Syn-Laramide Gravity Detachment and Folding Oblique to Regional Compression — S. Smaltz & E. Erslev

The American Association of Petroleum Geologists

The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

Coming in the near future!

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

Advertisers Index

RMAG Luncheon: Stephanie Gaswirth

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Desk & Derrick

Luncheon

DGS Luncheon

Oilfield Christian

Fellowship Luncheon

COGA 27th Annual Golf Tournament

COGA Rocky Mt. Energy Summit

On-the-Rocks Field Trip

PTTC Course

PTTC Course

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Canadian Discovery ...................... 29

Columbine Logging ....................... 14

Decollement Consulting, Inc ....... 29

The Discovery Group, Inc. ................6

Dolan Integration Group ............... 34

Donovan Brothers Inc. .....................4

Donze, Terry ......................................8

Fluid Inclusion Technologies .19, 37

Geosteering ....................................27

Horizontal Solutions Intl. ........10, 34

Karo, James C. .............................. 15

Kestrel Geoscience, LLC .............. 40

Kluth and Associates .................... 11

Knight, Connie Dodge, PhD .......... 12

Leaverite Exploration Inc. ............ 16

MJ Systems ................................... 13

Mazzullo Energy Corp. ...................17

Neurolog ...........................................2

Noble Energy ................................. 10

PTTC ............................................... 24

Quantum Water Consulting .......... 15

RMS/AAPG .....................................27

RPM Geologic, LLC ....................... 16

Rose & Associates ......................39

SEG ................................................. 7

SPE ................................................. 7

Stoner Engineering, LLC .............26

Summit Mudlogging Services ...... 8

TGS ................................................. 9

Vista GeoScience, David Seneshen ............................ 4

Vista GeoScience, John V. Fontana ...........................27

Weatherford Laboratories ... 25, 33

Weber Law Firm, LLC ..................12

Whitehead, Neil H., III .................27

Denver SPE Continuing Education

NAPE Summer Expo

PTTC Course

august 2013 outcrop

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