1. business and industrial
2. energy
3. coal

OUTCROP
Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists
Volume 64 • No. 1 • January 2015
2015 Summit Sponsors
2015 Summit Sponsors
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Become a 2015 Summit Sponsor.
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B e c o m eJ aa n2u0a1r5y S3u1m
, m
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The deadline to submit 2015 Summit Sponsorship is
January 31, 2015.
OUTCROP | January 2015
2
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
OUTCROP
The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists
910 16th Street • Suite 1214 • Denver, CO 80202 • 303-573-8621
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.
2015 OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RMAG STAFF
PRESIDENT
SECRETARY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Marv Brittenham
[email protected]
Stephanie B. Gaswirth
[email protected]
Carrie Veatch, MA
[email protected]
PRESIDENT-ELECT
1st YEAR COUNSELOR
John Ladd
[email protected]
Jane Estes-Jackson
[email protected]
MEMBERSHIP &
EVENTS MANAGER
TREASURER-ELECT
TREASURER
Tom Sperr
[email protected]
Paul Lillis
[email protected]
2nd VICE PRESIDENT
2nd YEAR COUNSELOR
Chris Eisinger
[email protected]
Terri Olson
[email protected]
1st VICE PRESIDENT
Mel Klinger
[email protected]
Hannah Rogers
[email protected]
PROJECTS SPECIALIST
Emily Tompkins
[email protected]
ACCOUNTANT
Carol Dalton
[email protected]
MANAGING EDITOR
Will Duggins
[email protected]
ADVERTISING INFORMATION
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Rates and sizes can be found on page 4. Advertising rates apply to either black and white or color
ads. Submit color ads in RGB color to be compatible with web format. Borders are recommended for
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in png, jpg, tif, pdf or eps formats at a minimum of 300 dpi. If you have any questions, please call the
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DEADLINES: Ad submissions are the 1st of every month for the following month’s publication.
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WEDNESDAY NOON LUNCHEON RESERVATIONS
RMAG Office: 303-573-8621 | Fax: 303-476-2241 | [email protected] or www.rmag.org
DESIGN/PRODUCTION
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The Outcrop is a monthly publication of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
3
OUTCROP | January 2015
RMAG 2014 NOVEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
RMAG 2014 November Board of Directors Meeting
By Nick Nelson, Secretary
[email protected]
programs and publications that we all rely on. Without these dedicated people we would not be able to
put on such amazing events. If you are interested
in helping with an event or publication please contact the RMAG office, we are always looking for more
help. Most of the positions take only a couple hours
a month and the more people that volunteer the bigger and better these events will be.
By the time you read this, the 2015 board of directors will have taken over and they have a full slate
already set up for the year. You might be sad, but
don’t worry, you will still be seeing all of the 2014
board members at meetings, luncheons and events,
you can’t get rid of us that easy.
I am going to end this last article by giving you
one more piece of advice, be sure to get out of the
office at least once a month to see some rocks, attend an event or even just see the sunshine. I know
you are busy, but the more time you spend in your
office the weirder you get. We all already have an
overwhelming amount of weird, being interested in
geology, so don’t add more on top of that by working alone in your office all the time. Finally, I would
like to thank each and every one of you for reading
along each month and I hope that I gave you a little
insight on what the organization was up to. I would
like to wish you all a productive, happy and healthy
2015.
This month’s board meeting was held on November 19th, 2014. As usual we started the meeting with
the financial report, and the organization continues
to be in good standing. The board approved moving
some additional funds into the savings account, this
end of the year action is in preparation for the 2015
board of directors to take the reins and start the year
off on the right foot. We also discussed that the office has started receiving 2015 membership renewal dues, but there are still a lot of members that have
not renewed yet. If you are like me and really don’t
like getting all those reminder emails, be sure to go
to the RMAG website and renew your membership as
soon as possible.
The next topic of discussion was the 2014 Rockbusters Ball that was held on November 15th. Overall feedback from the event was good, even though
the event was held during that incredibly cold and
snowy week that we had. We had a great turn out;
the silent auction, photo booth and rock candy bar
were all a big hit. I know I must have eaten thirty
of those little gummy dinosaurs, no matter how old
you are there is nothing like biting the tiny gummy
head off of a Tyrannosaurus. I would like to thank
all of the award recipients for their hard work and
dedication to the RMAG organization. As you all
know, RMAG is an organization that relies on the
volunteers in dozens of committees to organize the
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OUTCROP | January 2015
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Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
OUTCROP
Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists
CONTENTS
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
10 Lead Story: Sinkholes and
humans in the Delaware
Basin, southeastern New
Mexico and west Texas
4 RMAG 2014 November
Board of Directors Meeting
6 President’s Letter
19 RMAG Luncheon Program
ASSOCIATION NEWS
2 RMAG 2015 Summit
Sponsors
15 2015 RMAG Symposium
October 8th Hot Plays of the
Rocky Mountain Region
20 In the Pipeline
21 Welcome New
RMAG Members!
22 RMAG Luncheon Programs:
Speaker – Pete Stark
24 RMAG Annual Golf
Tournament
26 RMAG Luncheon Programs:
Speaker – Paul Lillis
25 3D Seismic Symposium
30 Advertiser Index
27 2014 Summit Sponsors
Interview
30 Calendar
COVER PHOTO
Air bubbles trapped in ice – Emerald Lake,
Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
28 Save the Date! Seismic
Interpretation for
Geoscientists
29 Thank you 2014
Rockbusters Ball Sponsors
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
5
OUTCROP | January 2015
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
By Marv Brittenham
The Bridge –
Continuity at RMAG
Yangtze
River, Ch
ina
2014
members yearly, a potential loss
of continuity. One of the strengths of RMAG
is the degree of continuity it enjoys in the areas of
leadership, volunteerism, funding and membership.
In October last year Harriett and I traveled to
China, in part cruising the Yangtze River through the
Three Gorges where a dam was just completed in
2008 finally taming the Yangtze. It sadly resulted in
the displacement of millions of occupants while relocating cities and villages to high ground in newly
constructed cities and transportation infrastructure.
If you think of China as a sleeping giant, don’t; everywhere we went we saw evidence of how robust China is! One symbol of the sophistication is the design
of dozens of new suspension bridges all uniquely
beautiful. I thought that would be a fitting metaphor
for how year to year continuity happens at RMAG
with the “changing of the guard.”
Last month I transitioned from the crew deck to
the bridge when I undertook the challenge of succeeding Matt Silverman as President of RMAG. I had
the pleasure of serving with him on last year’s board,
benefitting from his leadership and vision. Thank
you Matt for your service and for your continued role
this year chairing Long Range Planning.
It’s important to build bridges across any recognized gaps within an organization. Like many volunteer based organizations, RMAG elects new board
LEADERSHIP
Matt recognized one of the elements of leadership last month by commending the RMAG staff for
their part in what was a very successful year. The
staff is the long term, most permanent, year to year
bridge for RMAG. That system worked well last year
with the seamless succession in Directorship from
Emily Tompkins to Carrie Veatch. Thanks to the previous boards and Emily for the foresight to have such
a qualified internal candidate.
The second leadership bridge is the RMAG Board
of Directors. Although some new officers are elected
»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
Daub & Associates, Inc.
SPECIALIZING IN PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL,
HYDROLOGICAL, GEOTECHNICAL AND PERMITTING SERVICES
Gerald J. Daub, P.G., C.P.G.
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OUTCROP | January 2015
6
President
[email protected]
www.daubandassociates.com
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
with SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology)
31 May – 3 June » Denver, Colorado » Colorado Convention Center
Registration opens
in February
Exhibition
Space and
Sponsorship
Opportunities
Available
Look for the Technical Program and Registration Announcement
with the February issue of AAPG Explorer magazine.
The world’s geosciences community meets at ACE:
Industry strength: As the globe’s preeminent geosciences
organization, AAPG is uniquely positioned to attract a focused
audience of geoscience professionals and leaders from around
the world.
Target audience: Approximately 8,500 geologists, geophysicists
and engineers from around the world will be at ACE.
Technical Content: Peer-selected oral and poster presentations
attract industry experts who appreciate the strength of the ACE
technical program.
AC
E.A
AP
G.O
R
G
International Appeal: On average, 1,350+ geoscientists from
outside the U.S. attend ACE each year making it the perfect
place to make global contacts.
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
7
OUTCROP | January 2015
President’s Letter
FUNDING
»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
each year, two thirds of the officers serve for multiple years. That’s a big commitment, but essential.
Thanks to last year’s Board of Directors with whom
I had the pleasure to serve: Matt Silverman, Mike
Dolan, Michele Bishop, Nick Nelson, Laura Wray,
Reed Johnson, Paul Lillis and Terri Olson. I’m pleased
to announce also the 2015 Board of Directors, some
recently elected: President Marv Brittenham, President Elect John Ladd, 1st Vice President Mel Klinger,
2nd Vice President Chris Eisinger, Secretary Stephanie
Gaswirth, Treasurer Paul Lillis, Treasurer Elect Tom
Sperr, Counselor (1st year) Jane Estes-Jackson and
Counselor (2nd year) Terri Olson.
Many of these officers are committed to serve
additional years as committee chairs, or on committees, or as board liaisons. One key role is Long Range
Planning to be chaired by Matt Silverman. It is comprised of past presidents and is a valuable resource
to the Board and staff for forward thinking.
The third bridge for continuity is consistent
funding of RMAG’s programs. Financial support
from Summit Sponsors has become an important element to allow us to maintain consistent programs
from year to year. We are thankful to our Sponsors,
many of whom employ our members and benefit from RMAG’s support of the geosciences. Member dues and program revenues also contribute to
the financial health of our organization. Our relationships with other organizations, like AAPG, allow us to host high impact events which contribute substantial funds to RMAG. In 2014 we hosted
the Rocky Mountain Section AAPG meeting and this
year we will host the AAPG Annual Convention and
Exhibition. Those meetings occur in five to six year
cycles, greatly enhancing the financial sustainability
of RMAG.
MEMBERSHIP
VOLUNTEERISM
The foundations of our bridges derive from our
membership. RMAG has a gifted and diverse membership of geoscientists. Above all, there is a great
sense of belonging to a community within our organization. Be an ambassador; bring a potential member to a meeting.
Feel free to contact me if you have any ideas to
make RMAG better. We want to be The Best Place for
Rockies Geoscience.
I hope you share my view - it is part of what has
kept me engaged for 41 years at RMAG!
An army of volunteers serve RMAG as committee
chairs or members of two dozen committees, as luncheon or symposia organizers or speakers, as field
trip leaders, as editors or authors of publications,
as well as many other supportive roles. We’re very
grateful for the willingness of our members to volunteer and thank them for their service! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Carrie or any
of the officers. I’m sure we can find a role that fits
your interest!
OUTCROP | January 2015
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Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
9
OUTCROP | January 2015
LEAD STORY
By Lewis Land
Sinkholes and humans in the Delaware Basin,
southeastern New Mexico and west Texas
excavated from gypsum and mudstone of the Seven
Rivers Formation by artesian flow from the underlying San Andres limestone aquifer. Overflow from
these cenotes contributes to increased discharge and
salinity in the nearby Pecos River (Land, 2003), and
ultimately helps New Mexico meet its interstate compact obligations with its downstream neighbor, the
state of Texas.
A small but significant number of sinkholes in
Sinkholes formed in evaporitic bedrock are
common features of the greater Delaware Basin region in west Texas and southeastern New Mexico.
New sinkholes form almost annually, often associated with upward artesian flow of groundwater from
karstic aquifers that underlie evaporitic rocks (Land,
2009). The large gypsum cenotes at Bottomless
Lakes State Park, east of Roswell, New Mexico, occur
at the downstream end of the regional groundwater flow system (Figure 1). These cenotes have been
»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
FIGURE 1: West-east hydrostratigraphic section of Roswell Artesian Basin, showing regional groundwater flow through the
artesian aquifer.
OUTCROP | January 2015
10
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
Come in out of the Cold
for PTTC Workshops
Basic Well Log Interpretation
Tuesday – Thursday, January 27-29, 2015, 8:30 am – 5 pm,
Colorado School of Mines, Ben Parker Student Center Ballroom A
Fee: $750, includes food at breaks, class notes, and PDH certificate
Instructor: Dr. Dan Krygowski, The Discovery Group, Denver, CO
•
•
•
•
Offers a “hands-on” approach to basic openhole well log analysis and interpretation;
Focuses on the traditional interpretation targets of lithology, porosity, and fluid saturation;
Introduces a variety of interpretation techniques in the context of the availability of newer, more extensive, data;
Is organized by the targets, or goals of the measurements, rather than by the physics of the measurements.
Hydraulic Fracturing—Measurement, Characterization, and Analysis
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Petroleum Club, Billings Montana
Fee: $250 MGS Members, $275 Non-members, includes food, workbook, and PDH certificate.
Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Miskimins, Baree and Associates
This one-day workshop is intended to demonstrate recent advances in hydraulic fracturing techniques and how they can be
used to characterize the producing reservoir. The basics of hydraulic fracturing are discussed and lead into the complexities
associated with treatment design and analysis. Special issues such as non-Darcy flow, G-function analysis, and “mapping”
techniques are covered. Case studies demonstrating analysis and various fracturing practices (such as “slickwater” fracs) are
presented.
Well-Log Sequence Stratigraphy: Applications to Sandstones and Shales
Tuesday – Thursday, March 10-12, 2015, 8:30 am – 5 pm,
Colorado School of Mines, Berthoud Hall rm. 243
Fee: $750, includes food at breaks, class notes, and PDH certificate
Instructor: Dr. Jeff May
On completion of the course, participants will be familiar with the methodologies and skills to subdivide, correlate, and map
stratigraphic units (reservoirs, seals, and source rocks) through the application of sequence-stratigraphy concepts in the
interpretation of well logs from a variety of nonmarine, shallow-marine, and deep-marine environments in siliciclastic settings
Participants completing this workshop will be able to:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Analyze the major geologic controls and their interaction on the filling of basins.
Comprehend and critically analyze the often-confusing terminology utilized in sequence stratigraphy.
Apply appropriate sequence stratigraphy models to various basin settings.
Analyze and subdivide stratigraphic successions from well logs into packages of increasing or decreasing
accommodation and identify chronostratigraphically significant surfaces.
Examine the pitfalls of lithostratigraphic vs. chronostratigraphic well-log correlations.
Correlate well logs using sequence stratigraphy concepts.
Apply reservoir-seal-source rock concepts to sequence stratigraphic cross sections.
Generate maps of genetically related sequence stratigraphic units.
Demonstrate and predict new stratigraphic prospects or previously untapped reservoir compartments.
Determine the influence of chronostratigraphic surfaces on reservoir quality and flow units.
Class Descriptions and Register Online: www.pttcrockies.org
For more information, contact Mary Carr, 303.273.3107, [email protected]
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
11
OUTCROP | January 2015
Lead Story
»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
the Delaware Basin are of human origin, including the wellknown Wink Sinks in Winkler
Co., Texas (Figure 2). The first
Wink Sink formed in 1980 outside the small community of
Wink, Texas, within the giant
Hendrick oil field, destroying
crude oil pipelines and oil field
infrastructure. That sinkhole
ultimately expanded to a diameter of more than 300 feet,
but has been largely inactive
for the past 34 years. In 2002 a
new sinkhole formed less than
two miles south of the original Wink Sink. Wink Sink no. 2
is significantly larger than its
predecessor, with a maximum
width of almost 800 feet and an
»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
Lewis Land, hydrogeologist, New
Mexico Bureau of Geology and
Mineral Resources, and the National
Cave and Karst Research Institute,
New Mexico Institute of Mining and
Technology, 400-1 Cascades Ave.,
Carlsbad, NM 88220, USA, 575-8875508, [email protected]
1 and 2 man Mudlogging
Gas Referencing™
Geosteering
Summit
Mudlogging
Services
Mike Barber
Manager
Serving the Rocky Mountain Region
230 Airport Rd.
Unit D
FIGURE 2: Anthropogenic Heber
sinkholes
(red dots)
City, Utah
84032in
Texas. BLSP = Bottomless Lakes State Park.
Ph (435)657-0586
Cell (435)640-1382
southeastern
New Mexico
and west
email: [email protected]
www.summitmudlog.com
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
31634 Black Widow Way
OUTCROP | January 2015
12
OUTCROP
Conifer, CO
[email protected]
80433-9610
45
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
13
OUTCROP | January 2015
Lead Story
that was pumped to the surface to sell as drilling fluid in nearby oil fields. This process, which creates
a sizeable cave in the salt beds, is common in many
parts of the world. Various engineering and geotechnical methods ensure that the resulting cavities don’t
collapse, but in some cases these strategies are not
entirely successful.
While on location the driver noticed a rumbling
noise and quickly vacated the site. Minutes later, a
large sinkhole abruptly formed, engulfing the brine
well and associated structures. This sinkhole (referred to as the JWS sinkhole from the initials of the
well operator) eventually grew to a diameter of more
than 330 feet, and a depth of about 150 feet. Large
concentric fractures developed around the perimeter of the sink, threatening the integrity of a nearby
»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12
estimated total volume of more than 45 million cubic
feet. Both sinkholes are assumed to have formed by
dissolution of salt beds in the upper Permian Salado Formation, in association with improperly-cased
abandoned oil and water supply wells (Johnson et
al., 2003).
EDDY COUNTY SINKHOLES
Around 8:15 on the morning of July 16th, 2008,
a truck driver for a local water hauling company was
parked at the site of a brine well in northern Eddy
County that his company was operating. The operator had taken over an abandoned oil well and converted it to an injection well, pumping fresh water
into salt beds of the Salado Formation, about 500
feet deep. The salt dissolved into a brine solution
»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
FIGURE 3: JWS sinkhole, two weeks after initial collapse. Note pickup truck in lower right corner for scale.
OUTCROP | January 2015
14
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists
presents: RMAG Fall Symposium
Hot Plays of the Rocky Mountain Region
October 8th, 2015
At the Denver City Center
Marriott
With all the unconventional activity occurring across the globe, it is
time to review what is driving the technical quality of the
“Hot Plays” in the greater Rocky Mountain region. Please mark your
calendars for what is sure to be the “HOTTEST” event of
the Fall 2015 Technical Season. Geological, Geophysical,
Geochemical, Petrophysical, and Structural technical drivers will be
presented, describing what the RMAG membership has
determined to be the Hottest Plays in the Rocky Mountains.
A call for papers is forthcoming (Spring 2015).
If you would like to participate, please email: [email protected]
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
15
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A
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E
D
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OUTCROP | January 2015
Lead Story
county road (Figure 3) (Land,
2013). Less than four months
later, another brine well collapse
occurred a few miles to the east
near the small community of
Loco Hills (Figure 2), forming a
sinkhole of similar dimensions.
Both of the Eddy County
sinkholes formed in the middle of a giant oil field where
the population of pump jacks
far outnumbers the population
of human beings. In the aftermath of these events the city of
Carlsbad discovered the I&W
brine well, located within the
city limits (Figure 2) and with
a similar geologic setting, depth,
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OUTCROP | January 2015
16
highly fractured and brine-saturated intervals that may have
been caused by sagging and
collapse into underlying cavities (Figure 4) (Land and Veni,
2012) . These low resistivity
zones extend to the north beneath the intersection of highways 285 and 62-180, and south
beneath residential areas south
of the Carlsbad Irrigation District South Canal. The resistivity
profiles also indicate that solution mining of the Salado Formation has caused significant
upward stoping into overlying
Rustler strata (Figure 4).
Following the collapse of the
JWS Sinkhole, the state ordered
closure of the I&W brine well
and the operator declared bankruptcy. Geotechnical monitoring of the site has been continuous since 2008, consisting of an
array of tilt-meters and related devices that measure shifts,
subsidence, and cracks in the
immediate vicinity of the brine
well. Geotechnical investigations indicate that upward stoping and roof fall are occurring
at a rate of about one foot per
year, and in the absence of any
remediation, failure will occur
in 10 to 25 years. Remediation
strategies that have been proposed include filling the cavity
with grout, aggregate or mine
tailings, reinforcement of the
cavern ceiling with supporting
beams, or a controlled collapse.
No decision has been made yet,
but whatever remediation strategy is ultimately employed, it
will not be cheap.
and pumping history. However, this potential sinkhole is sited beneath the intersection of
two major highways, an irrigation canal, a feed store, a mobile home park, and a Jehovah’s
Witnesses church. Needless
to say, a catastrophic collapse
would inflict extensive damage
to individual property and civic infrastructure, and possibly
cause fatalities.
Electrical resistivity surveys
of the I&W brine well site indicate that the area is underlain by
extensive low resistivity zones
that represent either open cavities filled with brine in the Rustler and Salado Formations, or
»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14
»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
17
OUTCROP | January 2015
Lead Story
FIGURE 4: Electrical resistivity profile across I&W brine
well site. This line passes within 6 feet of the wellhead,
crossing directly over the subsurface cavity excavated
during solution mining operations. Low resistivity zones,
shown in blue and purple, indicate brine-filled cavities or
brine-saturated breccia zones.
ge 43
REFERENCES
LOCATION
we’ll lease it, permit it, gather it and sell it
unity
arch
her
n the
that
p as
nter.
nued
What
nto a
t.
rdan,
Myths
of the
lletin,
ures,
sal of
G.S.,
Years
ogical
your ideas - we make them happen
LEASING - PERMITTING - DAMAGES - ROW
303-279-0789
OUTCROP | January 2015
Lario Oil & Gas Company
»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16
18
Johnson KS, Collins EW, Seni SJ. 2003. Sinkholes
and land subsidence owing to salt dissolution
near Wink, Texas, and other sites in western Texas and New Mexico. In: Johnson KS, Neal JT, editors. Evaporite Karst and Engineering/Environmental Problems in the United States. Norman
(OK): Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 109.
p. 183-195.
Land L. 2013. Evaporite karst in the Permian Basin
region of west Texas and southeastern New Mexico: The human impact. In: Land L, Doctor DH,
Stephenson JB, editors. Proceedings of the Thirteenth Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes
and the Engineering and Environmental Impact
of Karst, Carlsbad, New Mexico. National Cave
and Karst Research Institute Symposium 2. Carlsbad (NM): National Cave and Karst Research Institute. p. 113-121.
Land L, Veni G. 2012. Electrical resistivity surveys
of anthropogenic karst phenomena, southeastern New Mexico. New Mexico Geology 34 (4):
117-125.
Land L. 2009. Anthropogenic sinkholes in the Delaware Basin Region: West Texas and southeastern
New Mexico: West Texas Geological Society Bulletin 48: 10-22.
Land L. 2003. Evaporite karst and regional ground
water circulation in the lower Pecos Valley. In:
Johnson KS, Neal JT, editors. Evaporite Karst and
Engineering/Environmental Problems in the
United States. Norman (OK): Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 109. p. 227-232.
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
Sample Menu
For a full schedule list please
visit our events page at
www.rmag.org
Questions
email: [email protected]
call: (303) 573-8621
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Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
19
OUTCROP | January 2015
IN THE PIPELINE
JANUARY 7, 2015
JANUARY 20, 2015
RMAG Luncheon.
Speaker Pete Stark.
“The Exploration ConundrumWhere Will Tomorrow’s
Oil come from?” Held at a
new location: Maggiano’s
Restaurant, Downtown
Denver.
DWLS Luncheon.
Speaker Shreya Ley.
“Bringing Seismic Ideas to
Acoustic Logging.”
JANUARY 9, 2015
DIPS Luncheon.
Speaker Jim Granath.
“Mexico.”
JANUARY 27-29, 2015
PTTC Rockies Short Course.
“Basic Well Log
Interpretation.” Colorado
School of Mines, Golden, CO.
FEBRUARY 4, 2015
RMAG Luncheon.
Speaker Paul Lillis.
“Timing of Generation and
Migration of Phosphoria Oils
in the Bighorn Basin Using
Re-Os Geochronometry.”
FEBRUARY 5, 2015
RMAG/DGS 21st Annual 3D
Seismic Symposium.
Colorado Convention Center.
MARCH 4, 2015
RMAG Luncheon.
Speaker: Dr. Steven A. Tedesco
Talk: Stratigraphy,
geochemistry and production
from thin carbonaceous
mudstones and carbonates
of Pennsylvanian Atokan,
Cherokee and Marmaton
formations in the southern
Denver Basin.
MARCH 6, 2015
Geoland Ski Day
Risk Mitigation
seRvices
You take plenty of risk in your Business every day. Do you have
any idea how much risk your investment portfolio has?
Contact me for a Complimentary Portfolio Risk Review.
Michael SliShinSky, crpc
Vice President - Financial Advisor
Office: (303) 595-1157
[email protected]
www.michaelslishinsky.com
There’s Wealth in Our Approach.™
APRIL 16, 2015
RMAG Short Course:
Seismic Interpretation for
Geoscientists Submit
your events!
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 the RMAG office at
[email protected].
A division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.
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OUTCROP | January 2015
11/4/14 1:12 PM
20
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
WELCOME
NEW RMAG MEMBERS!
R
Khaled Ahmed
is a Technical Advisor at Halliburton in Colorado
Caroline Charles
works at Weatherford Labs in Colorado
John Detring
Logs Since 1971
is a Geologist at Baker Hughes Inc. in Colorado
L
OG
S
G
S
LO
LOGS
Nika Fritzler
works at Schlumberger in Colorado
Todd Gibbs
is an Exploration Manager at Anadarko in Colorado
OVER 6 MILLION WELL LOGS
FROM THE ARCTIC TO THE GULF OF MEXICO
Abby Jones
is an Operations Manager at WellDog in Colorado
MP
CA
WOLF
Timothy Kelly
DIU
M
Darren Kirkwood
EAGLEFORD
lives in Colorado
Y
LBAN
NEW A
Lisa Quoy
works in Business Development at
Running Foxes Petroleum in Colorado
MONTNEY
Monte Swan
FAY
ETT
EVI
works at Magmachem Associates, LLC in Colorado
LLE
BAKKEN
LE
VIL
S
E
N
Y
HA
WOODFORD
IVER
R
N
HOR
DUVERN
AY
Joe Taglieri
BARNETT N
IOBRARA
UTICA
is a Geologist at Running Foxes Petroleum in Colorado
Kelli Trujillo
is a Geologist/Paleontologist at Uinta
Paleontological Associates, Inc. in Wyoming
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
T
CAR
works at Colorado State Land Board in Colorado
KS
FOR
E
E
R
H
www.mjlogs.com
1-800-310-6451
21
OUTCROP | January 2015
Vol. 63, No. 12
Our b
helpin
oppor
contin
RMAG LUNCHEON PROGRAMS
Speaker: Pete Stark — January 7, 2015
OUTCROP | January 2015
22
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
RMAG Luncheon programs
The Exploration Conundrum – Where
Will Tomorrow’s Oil Come From
By Pete Stark, Senior Research Director and Advisor, IHS
additions, on the other hand, have greatly exceeded international conventional oil discovery volumes
and the U.S. has led the world in annual oil production growth since 2008. The remarkable U.S. oil supply growth combined with a slowdown in global oil
demand has even generated excess oil supplies and a
25% slump in oil prices since June 2014.
The combination of ample oil and gas supplies
and moderate oil and gas prices certainly are a comfort for North America but the long term global outlook is a concern. Current world oil consumption is
about 33 billion barrels per year and is projected to
Global conventional oil and gas discovery volumes have decreased since 2010 and 2013 marked
the lowest volume of annual oil discoveries since
1952. Through October 2014, the number of discoveries, oil discovery volumes and total Boe volumes
trail 2013. Without a surge in year-end discoveries,
2014 will set a new low mark for post 1952 annual oil discovery volumes - perhaps as little as 4.5 billion barrels. Outside of North America, conventional
exploration and appraisal drilling activity has averaged more than 5,000 wells per year since 2009 but
the number of discoveries of any size has decreased
by almost 50%. North American tight oil resource
»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
Project Planning | Acquisition | Permitting | Surveying | Safety Compliant | Results
All crews utilizing
OYO GSX Wireless System
and AHV-IV 364 Commander
Vibrators or Shothole
www.breckex.com
Texas Office • Ph: 254-559-7566 • Fax: 254-559-6337
2301 US Hwy 180 East • P.O. Box 789 • Breckenridge, TX 76424
Denver Office • Ph: 303-563-5301 • Fax: 303.260.6401
600 17th Street, Suite 2800 S • Denver, CO 80202
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
23
OUTCROP | January 2015
RMAG Luncheon programs
reserve growth in historic conventional fields have
offset consumption. Is this discoveries slump merely
a temporary “perfect storm” in the exploration cycle
or does it signal a possible paradigm shift for future
oil supplies? Where are the potential future conventional oil hotspots and can they source a rebound
in conventional oil discoveries? If not conventional,
what are the options? A recent IHS study looked at
the future global oil potential in four domains – conventional, unconventional, not-so-tight reservoirs in
mature fields and heavy oil. This presentation will
summarize the findings with respect to meeting projected oil demand.
»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23
increase. Recent international conventional oil discoveries have averaged about 6 Bbbl per year. Even if
North American tight oil has added 10 Bbbl per year
the combined additions replace less than half the
current consumption. Moreover, about 60 MMb/d of
production is needed to replace declines in historic production and to meet projected future demand.
Adding to the challenge is a significant drop in return
on capital employed for majors and large independents since 2008. Company returns have decreased
in a relatively high priced oil environment.
Historically, conventional discoveries plus
Philip H. “Pete” Stark is Senior Research Director and Advisor for IHS Energy in Englewood, Colorado. Prior to joining IHS
in 1969, Stark was an exploration geologist for Mobil Oil. Dr. Stark has authored papers on E&P databases, hydrocarbon shows,
horizontal drilling, US natural gas, global oil and gas resources, global E&P trends, giant fields and unconventional O&G. He coauthored special IHS studies of North American gas supplies, unconventional gas supplies, North American and global tight oi. Pete
has participated in the AAPG Resources
Committee and AAPG-SPE and Hedberg
resource research conferences. He
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
serves on the AAPG Corporate Advisory
Board and has served on the boards
The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists’
of the AAPG International Pavilion.
Annual Golf Tournament
Previously, he was chairman of the
At Arrowhead Golf Club
Board of Visitors for the University
of Wisconsin Department of Geology
and Geophysics. Dr. Stark holds a
BSc in geology from the University of
Oklahoma and MSc and PhD degrees
in geology from the University of
Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin
Department of Geology and Geophysics
honored Dr. Stark’s contributions to
the university and profession with a
Distinguished Alumni Award. Pete also
received a 2011 Honorary Member
Award from the American Association
of Petroleum Geologists and a 2011
IHS Chairman’s Award. Pete was
Stay Tuned for Details
2015
named to the Denver and Houston
RMAG Golf
www.rmag.org
Tournament
staff@rmag.org | 303.573.8621
Business Journal’s 2013 “Who’s Who in
Energy” publications.
OUTCROP | January 2015
24
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
21ST Annual
3D Seismic: Mapping Our Future
Keynote: Scott Key, CEO of IHS
Kickoff: R Randy Ray, President R3 Exploration
Speakers: Tom Bratton, Dr. Bob Hardage,
Dr. Heloise Lynn, and many more
Basins: Appalachia, DJ, N. Louisiana, Permian, Williston, others
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Colorado Convention Center
Downtown Denver
Registration, exhibitor, sponsor forms
www.3dseismicsymposium.com
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
25
OUTCROP | January 2015
RMAG LUNCHEON PROGRAMS
Speaker: Paul Lillis — February 4, 2015
Timing of generation and migration
of Phosphoria oils in the Bighorn Basin
using Re–Os geochronometry
By Paul G. Lillis, U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25046, MS 977, Denver
Federal Center, Denver, CO, 80225, USA [email protected]
Idaho–Wyoming–Utah thrust belt. The oil migrated eastward along regional dip, was trapped in a regional stratigraphic trap (or series of traps) by the
updip impermeable evaporites of the Goose Egg Formation, and then re-migrated into structural traps
formed by the Laramide orogeny. Generation and
migration occurred prior to the Maastrichtian (Late
Cretaceous; ~70 Ma) because the tectonic barriers
from the Laramide orogeny later blocked the migration pathways into successor basins such as the
Bighorn Basin. Proposed timing of the beginning
of oil generation and migration from eastern Idaho
and western Wyoming ranges from Late Triassic to
Late Cretaceous.
The Re and Os isotope data of the Phosphoria
oils plot in two general trends: (1) the main trend
yielding a Triassic age but with significant scatter
(239 ± 43 Ma), and (2) the Torchlight trend yielding
Rhenium–osmium (Re–Os) geochronometry
is applied to crude oils derived from the Permian
Phosphoria Formation of the Bighorn Basin in Wyoming and Montana to determine whether the radiogenic age reflects the timing of petroleum generation, timing of migration, age of the source rock,
or the timing of thermochemical sulfate reduction
(TSR). The oils selected for this study are interpreted to be derived from the Meade Peak Phosphatic Shale and Retort Phosphatic Shale Members
of the Phosphoria Formation based on oil-oil and
oil-source rock correlations utilizing bulk properties, elemental composition, stable carbon and
sulfur isotope values, and biomarker distributions. Oil was generated in the Phosphoria basin
in eastern Idaho and western Wyoming as a result
of burial by the subsequent deposition of Mesozoic sediments, although some oil generation may
have been influenced by the development of the
»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
KES
T
C
OSCIENCE
L GE
, LL
RE
Thomas E. Hoak, Ph.D.
Consulting Geoscientist
Kestrel Geoscience, LLC
Structural Geology
Seismic Interpretation
Magnetic and Gravity Interpretation
Basin Analysis and Restoration
Regional Desk Studies
Integrated Exploration
Prospect Generation
Presentation Graphics
OUTCROP | January 2015
26
Littleton, CO USA
Phone: (303) 933-5805
Cell: (720) 375-3015
[email protected]
kestrelgeoscience.com
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
We look forward, in the new year,
to the continuing education, fellowship,
and enjoying all the outside events, i.e. Golf
Tournament, Sporting Clays, Skiing,
and Rockbusters Ball.
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
27
OUTCROP | January 2015
RMAG Luncheon programs
had minimal or no effect on the main-trend regression. The four Phosphoria-sourced oils from Torchlight and Lamb fields yield a precise Miocene age
Re–Os isochron that may reflect the end of TSR in
the reservoir due to cooling below a threshold temperature in the last 10 m.y. from uplift and erosion
of overlying rocks.
The mechanism for the formation of a Re–Os
isotopic relationship in a family of crude oils may
involve multiple steps in the petroleum generation
process. Bitumen generation from the source rock
kerogen may provide a reset of the isotopic chronometer, and incremental expulsion of oil over the
duration of the oil window may provide some of
the variation seen in 187Re/188Os values from an
oil family.
»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26
a precise Miocene age (9.24 ± 0.39 Ma). The scatter
in the main-trend regression is due, in part, to TSR
in reservoirs along the eastern margin of the basin.
Excluding oils that have experienced TSR, the regression is significantly improved, yielding an age
of 211 ± 21 Ma. This revised age is consistent with
some studies that have proposed Late Triassic as the
beginning of Phosphoria oil generation and migration, and does not seem to reflect the source rock
age (Permian) or the timing of re-migration (Late
Cretaceous to Eocene) associated with the Laramide
orogeny. The low precision of the revised regression
(± 21 Ma) is not unexpected for this oil family given
the long duration of generation from a large geographic area of mature Phosphoria source rock, and
the possible range in the initial Os isotope values of
the Meade Peak and Retort source units. Effects of
re-migration may have contributed to the scatter,
but thermal cracking and biodegradation likely have
REFERENCE
Lillis, P.G. and Selby, D. 2013. Evaluation of the rhenium–osmium geochronometer in the Phosphoria
petroleum system, Bighorn Basin
of Wyoming and Montana, USA:
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta,
v.118, p. 312-330. http://dx.doi.
org/10.1016/j.gca.2013.04.021
April 16, 2015
Save the Date
The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists
Presents a 1-Day Short Course
Seismic Interpretation for Geoscientists
Instructor: Bruce Trudgill
Professor in Petroleum Geology at CSM
This course is aimed at petroleum geologists and engineers seeking an
introduction to the interpretation of seismic reflection data. The basic
concepts of the seismic reflection method will be addressed, but the course
will focus on the practical geological interpretations of seismic reflection
data applying structural and stratigraphic concepts to a number of seismic
interpretation exercises.
OUTCROP | January 2015
28
Paul Lillis is a petroleum geochemist
with the Central Energy Resources
Science Center of the U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS) in Denver, Colorado.
He received a B.A. in geology from
San Jose State University, an M.S.
in geology from San Diego State
University, and a Ph.D. in geochemistry
from Colorado School of Mines. He
was a petroleum exploration geologist
with Atlantic Richfield for eight years
(1978 to 1986) in Colorado, California,
and Texas, and has been with the USGS
in Denver since 1987. His research
focuses on the application of petroleum
and source-rock geochemistry to
identifying, characterizing, and mapping
petroleum systems.
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org
29
OUTCROP | January 2015
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CALENDAR | JANUARY 2015
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
9
10
NEW
YEAR’S DAY
4
5
6
7
8
RMAG
Luncheon
11
18
25
DIPS Luncheon
12
13
14
15
16
17
21
22
23
24
30
31
19
20
MARTIN
LUTHER
KING DAY
DWLS
Luncheon
26
27
28
29
PTTC Rockies
Short Course
PTTC Rockies
Short Course
PTTC Rockies
Short Course
OUTCROP | January 2015
30
Vol. 64, No. 1 | www.rmag.org