March 2013 Outcrop by The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

Volume 62 • No. 3 • March 2013

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Vol. 62, No. 2

March 2013

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The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists 910 16th Street • Suite 1125 • 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.

2013 Officers and Board of Directors RMAG Staff

Executive Director Emily Tompkins etompkins@rmag.org Office & Programs Manager Carrie Veatch, MA cveatch@rmag.org

President – Debra Higley-Feldman higley@usgs.gov

Treasurer – Mike Kozimko mkozimko@yatespetroleum.com

President-Elect – Matt Silverman MSilverman@bayless-cos.com

Treasurer Elect – Reed Johnson reed.johnson@cometridgeresources.com

Accountant Carol Dalton cdalton@rmag.org

Secretary – Jacinda Nettik Brown jacinda@caerusoilandgas.com

Kristine Peterson k.peterson@laramidegeo.com

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Holly Sell hsell@nobleenergyinc.com Catherine Campbell ccampbell@bayless-cos.com

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RMAG Office: 303.573.8621 Fax: 303-628-0546 staff@rmag.org www.rmag.org

Counselor (1 Year) – John Ladd john.ladd@fmr.com

2nd Vice-President – Laura Mauro Johnson lmauro@newfield.com

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Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Column By Debra Higley

3D Seismic Symposium's 19th Anniversary Total Petroleum System (TPS) methodology. As is the case with seismic interpretation, quality of data can vary widely. Well and production data for the Denver Basin Province is fairly clean, and cozy. If you play with data and basins long enough you can develop a fondness. Even though there are more than 45,000 oil and (or) gas productive wells in the Denver Basin Province, the vast majority of these produce from Cretaceous reservoirs; Paleozoic exploration and production is scattered, and recently increasing, near the fringes of the petroleumproductive basin. There are almost no deep well data within the basin (more Denver Basin seismic publications would be helpful). In comparison, the Anadarko Basin Province is very mature with more than four times the number of producing wells than the Denver Basin Province, and the vast majority of these are from Paleozoic reservoirs; Cretaceous Niobrara Shale biogenic gas is present in the northwest basin. Data quality is more variable for the Anadarko Basin Province due mainly to repor ted commingling of production for multiple producing intervals a n d m i s n a m e d r e s e r vo i r formations, which complicates assessment of current reserves and remaining resources (Higley and others, 2011). Further USGS assessment research on the Denver Basin and Anadarko Basin provinces is accessible from http://energy.usgs.gov/, and future

March 5th marks the 19th anniversary of the 3D Seismic Symposium. Hosted by the Denver Geophysical Society and RMAG, this cooperative event meshes geological and geophysical science of new and classic resource plays, technological diversity, and some fabulous 3D images and interpretations. It is fascinating how minor modifications in the properties of the 3D cubes can change the characteristics and resulting conclusions from seismic data. Particularly for those of us that live in the subsurface (at least in terms of our science), our research is commonly data and data-interpretation intensive. The U.S. Geological Sur vey assessment of undiscovered resources for basins across the US and the World utilizes some fairly massive proprietary well history and petroleum production databases in our

Particularly for those of us that live in the subsurface (at least in terms of our science), our research is commonly data and data-interpretation intensive.

Vol. 62, No. 2

March 2013

President's Column Anadarko Basin research will include USGS DDS-69-EE, which is currently in review. Should you be interested in the methodology behind USGS resources assessments, a few sources follow. These and other U.S. and World petroleum resource assessments utilize the TPS methodology (Magoon and Schmoker, 2000); TPS differs from play assessment methodology in its greater emphasis on petroleum sources. TPS is somewhat of a family tree, a genealogy of determining which petroleum source rock(s) fathered which current and potential future reservoir(s). Each TPS contains one or more assessment units (AU) that comprise the reservoir strata, or groups of strata, that are assigned based on a common petroleum source rock(s), contained reservoir unit(s), and major seals and other boundaries that vertically and laterally segregate oil and gas from other AUs. Incorporated into the assessments are areas that are thermally mature for oil and (or) gas generation. Some of these thermal maturation data are derived using the USGS Energy Geochemical Database (http://energy.cr.usgs.gov/prov/ og/). Assessments are further divided into conventional and continuous (unconventional) accumulations (Charpentier and Cook, 2010). Production through time from existing fields is also incorporated as known and grown accumulation sizes (Klett and others, 2011).

Geological Survey method for the assessment of reserve growth: U.S. Geolog¬ical Survey Scientific Investigations Report 20115163, 8 p., accessed August 1, 2012, at http://pubs. usgs.gov/ sir/2011/5163/ (accessed 1/12/2013) Magoon, L.B., and Schmoker, J.W., 2000, The Total Petroleum System—The Natural Fluid Network that Constrains the Assessment Unit: U.S. Geological Survey World Petroleum Assessment 2000 – description and results: U.S. Geological Survey DDS-60, 4 CD-ROMs, 24 p. http://energy.cr.usgs.gov/ WEcont/chaps/PS.pdf (accessed 1/12/2013).

References

Charpentier, R.R., and Cook, T.A., 2010, Improved USGS methodology for assessing continuous petroleum resources, version 2.0: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 547, 22 p. and program. Revised November 2012. http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/547/ (accessed 1/12/2013). Higley, D. K., Gaswirth, S. B., Abbott, M. M., Charpentier, R. R., Cook, T. A., Ellis, G. S., Gianoutsos, N. J., Hatch, J. R., Klett, T. R., Nelson, Philip, Pawlewicz, M. J., Pearson, O. N., Pollastro, R. M., and Schenk, C. J., 2011, Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Anadarko Basin province of Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, and Colorado, 2010: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2011–3003, 2 p. http://pubs. usgs.gov/fs/2011/3003/ (accessed 1/12/2013). Klett, T.R., Attanasi, E.D., Charpentier, R.R., Cook, T.A., Freeman, P.A., Gautier, D.L., Le, P.A., Ryder, R.T., Schenk, C.J., Tennyson, M.E., and Verma, M.K., 2011, New U.S.

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Horizontal Bakken, Mission Canyon, Red River, Dupero, Three Forks and Ratcliff formations Joseph H. Large President

www.rpmconsultinginc.com 1600 Broadway, Suite 1510, Denver, CO 80202 (Office) 303 595 7625 | (Fax) 303 595 7628

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RMAG January Board of Directors Meeting

By Jacinda Nettik Brown, Secretary (jacinda@caerusoilandgas.com) The Board of Directors meeting was held on January 17th, 2013 in the RMAG office. This being the first board meeting of the year, we had a big agenda to cover. We began with a review of the Financial Report. The Summit Sponsorship program proved successful. It appears RMAG will beat their Summit Sponsor fundraising goal. Being a Summit Sponsor gives companies exposure while helping RMAG put on the symposia, short courses and speaker series. Summit Sponsors get recognition on the RMAG website, Outcrop, and monthly luncheon meetings. If your company would like to become a Summit Sponsor please contact the RMAG office for details. RMAG Membership is currently at 1,323 paid and current members. There are an additional 1,144 expired members that were active in 2012. If you’re one of these expired members or perhaps your membership has lapsed by more than a couple years please check out the RMAG website, which makes it easy for members to renew or join RMAG. 2013 will be a busy year of RMAG sponsored events. The January 24th Short Course, Source-Rock Kinetics: New Methods of Determining Them, and Novel Applications to Hydrocarbon Exploration, Especially Unconventional, by Doug Waples was well attended. This year the Summer Speaker series has been expanded to provide interesting talks throughout the year, not just limited to the summer months, so look for these

upcoming events. A motion was approved to invite Rusty Riese, AAPG Ethics Lecturer to speak in May; more details to come. Mark your calendars for the annual RMAG/DAPL GeoLand Ski Day, Friday, March 1st. This year RMAG will be hitting Copper Mountain Resort, the ski day is always a fun time. The 3D Seismic Symposium – Making Sounds Decisions is scheduled for March 5th. As the year goes on, I’ll highlight some of the upcoming events in more detail. I mentioned in the last Outcrop, GeoScience World had contacted RMAG to discuss partnering to make RMAG publications available to their subscribers. The BOD had intended to make a decision at the January board meeting. However, GSW did not supply details on royalties and costs so this item was tabled until enough information is received to make an informed decision. The Mountain Geologist published since 1964 is a peer-reviewed, quarterly journal for RMAG members and it goes digital in 2013. RMAG members will be able to access the digital journal with their RMAG login. However, our 200 subscribers will receive hard copies until the details of how universities, government libraries and industrial associates can access the data online are ironed out. The February board meeting will be held at its normal time and location, February 20th at the RMAG office. I hope everyone’s 2013 projects are off to a great start.

Being a Summit Sponsor gives companies exposure while helping RMAG put on the symposia, short courses and speaker series.

Vol. 62, No. 2

March 2013

OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

CONTENTS Features

8 Lead Story: The Art of Logging Horizontal Niobrara Wells in the Denver Basin 30 AAPG Awards Nominations 43 USGS Rocky Mountain Science Seminar

Association News 9 Authors and Editors Needed: RMAG Oil & Gas Fields of Colorado 12 RMAG Foundation Sponsors the Excellence in Teaching of Earth Science Award 13 Connect with RMAG Online! 26 Editorial HELP Wanted 31 "Making Sound Decisions," 3-D Seismic Symposium 38 RMAG 2013 Summit Sponsorship 46 RMAG Source-rock Kinetics 47 ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! 48 Call for Abstracts/Speakers 49 RMAG Advertising Rates and Sizes

COVER PHOTO The top of a Niobrara outcrop being measured by Kelly Bruchez who is completing his Master’s in Geology with Dr. Steve Sonnenberg at the Colorado School of Mines. The outcrop is located along the Blue River on the Jones Ranch approximately 3.5 miles south of Kremmling, Colorado. A large version of the cover photo shown in its entirety is displayed on pages 35 and 36 of this issue. Photo by Larry Rasmussen.

Departments 4 President's Column 6 RMAG January Board of Directors Meeting 3, 9 Outcrop Advertising Rates 22 Moves and Gyrations 24 In Memoriam: Frank P. Sonnenberg

39 In the Pipeline 41 RMAG Luncheon Program 44 Letter to the Editor 45 New Members 50 Advertisers Index 50 Calendar of Events

Volume 62 • No. 3 • March 2013

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LEAD STORY The Art of Logging Horizontal Niobrara Wells in the Denver Basin By Janet Marks, Halcon Resources, Denver Colorado. Introduction Ms. Marks has a BS from the University of Illinois and MS from the University of Wyoming. She formerly performed mudlogged/well site geology on 33 horizontal wells throughout the Denver Basin for Columbine Logging from 2010-2012. Calling the top of formations while drilling vertically and landing the intermediate casing within the exact part of the desired formation is important. After drilling horizontally out of the intermediate casing, it is necessary to know what bed within the formation the bit is located in with respect to the target zone. The target is generally a 5-20 foot thick layer that has the greatest porosity, least gamma, and/or highest resistivity. The well site geologist uses various tools to log critical geological data during real-time drilling of wells to provide formation evaluation, monitor drilling performance and determine the location of the bit in the pay zone. The following article shows examples from the stratigraphic section drilled to the Niobrara target as well as through the target interval. During the time of Niobrara deposition (Upper Cretaceous; late Turonian-earliest Campanian), the continents experienced highstand eustatic sea levels worldwide resulting in shallow epicontintental seas including the Western Interior Sea. To the west in the Cordilleran region, the Sevier orogeny was causing subduction, volcanism and mountain building. Siliciclastic sedimentation and subsidence occurred in the western portion of the seaway. To the east was a relatively shallow shelf that was terrigenous sediment starved. Widespread pelagic and hemipelagic carbonate sedimentation rich in coccolith and planktonic foraminifera were deposited.

Ms. Marks has a BS from the University of Illinois and MS from the University of Wyoming. She formerly performed mudlogged/well site geology on 33 horizontal wells throughout the Denver Basin for Columbine Logging from 2010-2012. She would like to thank Columbine Logging and the various operators for the time spent drilling Niobrara wells that allowed her to gain this knowledge. This ar ticle was par t of a presentation for the AAPG-RMS in Grand Junction, September 2012. Relatively recently, horizontal drilling into basin centered, continuous source rocks has exploded. Without pre-planning of the well path, it is easy to deviate from the formation sweet spots during drilling. Seismic and wellbore control are examined prior to drilling the borehole to anticipate any faults. Using all the available data, the well site geologist helps make timely critical decisions on the borehole path when drilling fast in real time.

Without pre-planning of the well path, it is easy to deviate from the formation sweet spots during drilling.

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

Vol. 62, No. 2

Conifer, CO

neil3@q.com

Continued on page 10 Âť

80433-9610

March 2013

Authors and Editors Needed: RMAG Oil & Gas Fields of Colorado! 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. Please volunteer! Committee contacts below:

The RMAG committee working on this publication has selected 85 fields for review. James Rogers, 303-832-2328 jim_rogers1@comcast.net Steve Cumella, 720- 979-0718 steve.cumella@endeavourcorp.com Marshall Deacon, 303- 228-4215 mdeacon@nobleenergyinc.com

Dean DuBois, Committee Chair; 720-876-5366 dean.dubois@encana.com

Tom Feldkamp, 303- 228-4146 tfeldkamp@NobleEnergyInc.com

James Milne, 303- 894-2100 x5117 james.milne@state.co.us

Chris Martin, 720- 440-6134 CMartin@bonanzacrk.com

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Lead Story

Continued from page 8

Cretaceous Transgressive/ Regressive Cycles

Figure 1: From Longman, Luneau, and Landon, 1998 The Niobrara Formation represents 4 large-scale, chalk rich sedimentary cycles reflecting synchronous transgressive/ regressive pulses largely eustatic in origin (Scholle and Pollastro, 1985). These carbonate benches were thick enough to form regionally extensive, homogeneous chalk and marl sequences. G.K. Gilbert (1895) was the first to describe these rock. He also was first to recognize these cycles as likely related to periodic variations in the Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s orbit or what is now known as Milankovich cycles. Continued on page 14 Âť

Vol. 62, No. 2

March 2013

Spring PTTC Workshops

Source Rocks 101 - What the Exploration Geologist, Geophysicist, and Production Engineer Should Know about Petroleum Source Rocks

Thursday – Friday morning, March 7-8, 8:30 am – 5 pm Thursday and 8:30 – 12:30 Friday, Petroleum Club, Billings Montana Fee: $350 MGS Members, $375 Non-members, includes food, workbook, and PDH certificate. Instructor: Dr. Nick Harris, Associate Professor, Earth and Atmospheric Science, University of Alberta

This 1.5 day course will focus on course work the first day and participant provided data the second day. Source rocks are the foundation of the petroleum system. This course will provide a succinct overview of the characteristics of source rocks, the processes involved in source rock deposition and hydrocarbon generation and how to evaluate source rocks. Attendees will learn through lecture and exercises how to evaluate and predict source rock quality and the amount and quality of hydrocarbons generated from these source rocks. Topics to be covered: What is a source rock? How do you evaluate a source rock? Relationship between source rock type and the hydrocarbons they generate. Models for source rock deposition. The role of thermal history in source rock generation and migration will be discussed. Participants are encouraged to bring their own source rock data (TOC/pyrolysis, etc.) to work through Friday morning. Data that can be worked in a class example is preferred, but instructor will be available to work though data on an individual basis as well.

Tectonic History of the Rocky Mountain Region

Thursday, April 4, 2013, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM Colorado School of Mines, Ben Parker Student Center Ballroom A Fee: $250; Includes: refreshments, workbook, and PDH certificate Instructor: Dr. Chuck Kluth, Colorado School of Mines

This one day short course will review the tectonic framework and history of the Rocky Mountain region. It will begin with a short review of tectostratigraphic analysis and tectonic maps. The tectonic analysis will begin at the bottom of the geologic column with a brief discussion of the basement underpinnings of the region and Lower Paleozoic cratonic-shelf setting. These shelf deposits are variably preserved in the region but in some areas provide hydrocarbon reservoirs. This cratonic-shelf was interrupted by crustalscale intraplate deformation in the late Paleozoic, that resulted in widespread development of the Greater Ancestral Rocky Mountains. The uplifts produced arkosic sediments but the voluminous Late Paleozoic sands are from a distal source. The early Mesozoic represents a return to the stable cratonic-shelf that, in late Jurassic, begins to reflect orogeny to the west. The data support the presence of a low-dipping subduction zone along the western plate margin that resulted in crustal shortening and the development of the Cordilleran thrust belt and the basement-cored 'Laramide' Rocky Mountain uplifts and basins. Hydrocarbons, generated by the earliest subsidence related to thrusting began migrating toward the craton, only to be captured by the Laramide structures. Erosion of the uplifts filled the adjoining basins to spillpoints. Later Cenozoic regional uplift or climate changes have resulted in exhumation of the basins. This process is continuing today and was accelerated during the Pleistocene glacial event. Class Descriptions and Register Online: www.pttcrockies.org For more information, contact Mary Carr, 303.273.3107, mcarr@mines.edu

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RMAG Foundation Sponsors the Excellence in Teaching of Earth Science Award

Breaking News: COGCC Rule 609 requires Baseline Water Quality Monitoring.

In 2000, the RMAG Foundation instituted an award to honor elementary or secondary school teachers who have promoted teaching of earth science to K-12 students. The winner receives a commemorative plaque and a $1000 cash award provided by the RMAG Foundation, and is recommended as the RMAG’s candidate to compete for the AAPG Rocky Mountain Section, Teacher of the Year award. This award honors the best earth science teacher in the Front Range area from either an elementary or secondary school. If you are a teacher or know a of teacher who could be a candidate please contact the K-12 Public Outreach Committee through the RMAG office at 910 16th Street, Suite 1125, Denver, CO 80202, by telephone at 303-573-8621, or email at staff@rmag.org to receive an application form. The application deadline this year is Friday May 3, with the winner to be announced on or before May 11.

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Connect with RMAG Online!

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Lead Story

Continued from page 10

Stratigraphy and Type Log

Figure 2: After Sonnenberg, 2011 and Longman, Luneau and Landon, 1998. This is a type log of northern Denver Basin showing gamma ray, combination resistivity and compensated neutron-density logs. This data is used to subdivide the Niobrara into ten intervals that can be correlated across the Denver Basin and into adjacent areas. The chalks exhibit lower gamma and higher resistivity. Also note the neutron/density cross over in the B and C Chalks, usually the horizontal drilling reservoir targets. The chalks are generally high in CaCO3 (70-80%), low in clays and very brittle leading to natural fracturing and greatly enhanced reservoir porosity. The marls are higher in gamma, higher in organic carbon and are thought to be the source rocks of the Niobrara. The marls have less CaCO3, more clay and are therefore more ductile for fracturing. Also note the Sharon Springs Member of the Pierre Shale just above the top of the Niobrara with the high gamma marker bed.

Vol. 62, No. 2

March 2013

Lead Story

Figure 3: LPlot mud log of the Sharon Springs (base of Pierre Shale) to Niobrara A Marl. I am going to break from conventional wisdom and discuss these layers in the order that you see them as a well is drilled versus in ascending order of time and deposition. The Sharon Springs Bentonite Marker Bed occurs 15-30 feet TVD above the top of the Niobrara. The characteristic double peak (red arrow) of the gamma ray goes up to 250 API at the marker bed. At the top of the Niobrara is a thin unnamed marl, 15-30 feet TVD thick with a gamma around 150 API. The A Chalk (Upper Chalk) is generally 10-30 feet thick TVD with low gamma around 100-115 API. Beneath the A Chalk, the A Marl (Upper Chalky Shale) is 35-60 feet TVD thick where the gamma goes back up to 130-150 API. The higher gamma often is related to bentonite beds (high radioactive potassium) or high Uranium content associated with high organic content. Continued on page 16 Âť

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Lead Story

Continued from page 15

Figure 4: Pierre Shale: 6450â&#x20AC;&#x2122; TVD The Sharon Springs right above the top of the Niobrara. Note: all TVDs are approximate as these photographs are taken from numerous wells across the Denver Basin and I am correlating them back to the example mudlog. Note the pyrite (yellow arrow) and oil sheen (black arrow) that can sometimes be visible and the bentonite that fluoresces (red arrow). The Sharon Springs is a dark gray to black shale that organic rich, slightly bituminous, and deposited in an anoxic marine environment. When drilling above the Sharon Springs Marker the gamma is still below 100 API. As you approach the top of Niobrara, the Pierre Shale gets very platy and generally does not effervesce with HCl. The sandstone stringers that were abundant below the Tepee Buttes and just above this sample disappear and the shale appears organic rich. The Sharon Springs readily collapses and can give the drillers lots of problems. Big coarse platy chunks can be visible on the shaker screens. It is important to get the mud weight up around 10.5 to prevent sloughing. If the flaking off is abundant, the mud engineer may use Soltec or Baritrol (an asphalt product). This powder dissolves/melts if hot enough (above 126Â° F) and becomes part of the borehole wall cake. It is important to have the Intermediate Casing cover all of the Sharon Springs.

Vol. 62, No. 2

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Lead Story

Figure 5: Pierre Shale: 6470' TVD The Sharon Springs Marker Bed with abundant bentonite (red arrows) that brightly fluoresces. This bentonite marker bed is generally 15’- 25’ TVD above the top of the Niobrara and usually has disseminated pyrite (yellow arrow). It is not thick, but because the drilling is at an angle, it appears thicker. The gamma correlation shows a characteristic highly radioactive-high gamma double peak up to 280-300 API for 2 feet. This correlates with the Ardmore Bentonite, a 1-2” bed of yellowish-orange bentonite with biotite that is interbedded with dark gray shale. The type section is named after a quarry in Ardmore, SD and is used as a marker for Cretaceous rocks of the Great Plains. The bentonite is a volcanic ash derived from the Sevier Orogenic Belt in Utah, Nevada, Idaho and Western Wyoming. Continued on page 16 »

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Lead Story

Continued from page 17

Figure 6: Sharon Springs Marker Bed under ultra violet light. You can see the pieces of bentonite under the microscope as in the previous figure, but when in the fluorescent light box, they glow. The sample will have little or no effervescence with HCl.

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March 2013

Lead Story

Figure 7: 6495' TVD, Top of Niobrara. Note the framboidal pyrite crystals (yellow arrow), bentonite (red arrow) and the mottled chalk (blue arrow). The calcium carbonate of the Niobrara causes violent effervescence with HCl. Continued on page 20 Âť

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Lead Story

Continued from page 19

Figure 8: 6520' TVD Niobrara A Chalk Note the mottled chalk (blue arrow) and platy bentonite (red arrow). It is described as: Lt olive-black chalk, lt brown, lt gray, buff, m lt-m gy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; m brn, sft â&#x20AC;&#x201C; firm, subplty-sbblky, motstri, earthy luster, arg, calc mtx, cln fiz, tr pyr, sme-occ bent and bri yel mnrl flor. The Niobrara A Chalk is dark compared to B Chalk, i.e. it is not as clean as the B Chalk. The gamma drops from high (250 API) to low (110-115 API), but is higher gamma than B Chalk.

Figure 9: 6550' TVD A Marl The A Marl is dark gray to dark brown, silty, with little or no mottling. The gamma increases to 130-150 API. The marls were deposited in more anoxic conditions than the chalks and have higher organic content. The log description is: m dk brn-gy, mod sft-firm, sbplty- sbblky, lam, slty ip, gty, arg tex, org/calc mtx, tr pyr, sme bent w/ lt yel flor, sme dism pyr. In outcrop, it is paleyellowish-brown, fissile, chalky shale that contains many beds of bentonite and large concretionary masses of shaly limestone.

Vol. 62, No. 2

March 2013

Lead Story

Figure 10: 6560' TVD A Marl with 10% bentonite. About 10-15’ TVD below the top of the A Marl there is a bentonite layer (red arrow) that is pale grey to white gray with brilliant yellow fluorescence. There are abundant disseminated pinpoint cubic pyrite and framboidal pyrite (John Witner, personal communication, 2010). In addition there are very few fossils in the A Marl. Also note the Lubrabeads (black arrow) in the center of the photograph, an additive to help with sliding. In weathered outcrop, there are hundreds of thin layers of rusty red bentonite clay from the fall of ash from repeated eruptions of volcanoes to the west – Nevada and Utah. These ash deposits can be traced for miles across the chalk-marl beds. They are used as marker units in describing the stratigraphy of the formation (Hattin, 1981).

Figure 11: 6570' TVD. Niobrara A Marl. Note the large framboidal pyrite crystal (yellow arrow) and the lack of fossils or bentonite.

Continued on page 26 »

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Moves and Gyrations State Geologist and Director of the Colorado Geological Survey, Dr. Vince Matthews, retired on January 1, 2013. For CGS business: contact Karen Berr y, Acting State Geologist and Division Director at karen.berry@ state.co.us and/or 303-8662611, ext 8315. Duncan McBane has moved to a new suite, McBane Energy Company, 100 N. 27th., Suite 330, Billings, MT, 59101. duncan@mcbaneenergy.com.

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Short Courses Basic Tools for Shale Exploration Pittsburgh, PA (with AAPG Annual Meeting)

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Integrating Data to Evaluate Shale Resources Pittsburgh, PA (with AAPG Annual Meeting)

May 18-19, 2013

Faults in the Northern Appalachian Basin and Their Effects on Black Shale Pittsburgh, PA (with AAPG Annual Meeting)

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Application of Organic Petrology for Shale Resource Evaluation Pittsburgh, PA (with AAPG Annual Meeting)

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In Memoriam: Frank P. Sonnenberg by Dudley W. Bolyard

Frank P. Sonnenberg, a longtime member of RMAG, passed away January 12, 2013. Born August 18, 1923 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Frank was an Eagle Scout, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, serving in the Asia-Pacific theater and receiving the rank of lieutenant, and later earned B.A. and M.S. degrees in geology from the University of Cincinnati. While he was still a student, Frank began an amazing career in petroleum geology as Assistant Geologist with the United Fuel Gas Company. In 1949 he joined Amerada Petroleum Corporation as a geologist for the Billings, Montana District. Frank is well remembered for his association in 1951 with the No. 1 Iverson well, which was the first oil discovery in the U.S. portion of the Williston Basin. He remained

Vol. 62, No. 2

in Billings until 1958, serving Gulf Oil Corporation as District Geologist and Herman and George R. Brown as Rocky Mountain Representative, and becoming President of the Billings Geological Society. Frank was involved in both foreign and domestic exploration and development from 1958 until 1975. He served many companies, including Chaco (Tenneco), Union Texas, Monsanto and Murphy, in a variety of managerial capacities. In 1973 he became Vice President and Regional Manager in London for Champlin Petroleum Corporation, directing activities in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Frank returned to Denver with Champlin in 1975. In 1978 he became Rocky Mountain District Manager with Michigan-Wisconsin Pipeline Co. and later was elevated

March 2013

In Memoriam: Frank P. Sonnenberg

North America’s Next Big Light Oil Resource Play

to Director of Exploration for that company in Houston. He returned to Denver in 1981 as Vice President of Natural Resources Corporation. In 1984 he became a consulting geologist. Canadian Discovery’s Three Forks Project confirms the He joined AAPG in 1948 and received the excellent development potential of this impressive Pioneer Award in 2000. He chaired the DPA’s unconventional reservoir. board of certification for several years, received its Distinguished Service Award in 1994, and served in 5 oil play types ranging from Manitoba Saskatchewan the House of Delegates from 1988 until 1991. While unconventional resource plays to more conventional subcrop plays in Singapore, Frank was a founder of the Southeast Bakken STUDY are identified. Studies Asia Petroleum Exploration Society and became its first AREA Montana president. He was an active member of RMAG, serving Contact Cheryl Wright to Subscribe North Dakota on several committees and on the Board of Directors 403.269.3644 | info@canadiandiscovery.com South Dakota Wyoming as Counselor from 1998 to 1999. He also was a Fellow www.canadiandiscovery.com of the Geological Society of America and a member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists and the Society of Economic Mineralogists and Paleontologists. Canadian Frank also published several professional papers Discovery Ltd. concerning the Appalachian, Rocky Mountain, and Bolivia regions. Fluent in Spanish, Frank always carried a small dictionary and notepad to increase his vocabulary. On trips to Mexico, he was quick to make friends with native people, who would share AS OUR TOUCH GETS LIGHTER… with him almost everything they knew about the local geography, culture, food and drink. He also had the ability to quickly understand the geology of places he had never seen before, and to appreciate how the archaeology THE OPPORTUNITIES GROW LARGER. and modern history related to the geology. Frank is survived by three sons: Stephen, a second generation petroleum geologist and past president and Honorary Member of both RMAG and AAPG, Golden, CO; Daniel, a landscape architect, Houston, TX; and Our business is about more than exploration and production. It’s about improving the lives of those around us by helping the communities in which we live and work grow and prosper. It’s about providing our employees with David, CLU, CHFC, San Antonio, TX. opportunities to make positive contributions and constantly challenging ourselves to fﬁ ind better solutions. It’s about Frank also has one grandson, W. Case continuously striving to be a better industry partner and leaving behind a legacy of sustainability wherever we can. Sonnenberg, Landman, Golden, CO.

Sanish/Three Forks

Energizing the World, Bettering People’s Lives ®�

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Lead Story

Continued from page 21

Figure 12: LPlot mudlog of bottom of the A Marl to the B Chalk. The B Chalk Bench (Middle Chalk) is 25-35â&#x20AC;&#x2122; TVD thick in Denver-Julesburg Basin. The B Chalk is cleaner than the A Chalk with low gamma (70-80 API). Usually the gas goes up. The log description for the B Chalk is: m-m lt gy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; brn, sft- firm, sme brit, sbplty-sbblky, mottled-striated, tr wh frag, earthy luster, clean fiz, tr pyr. The upper part of the B Chalk has characteristically more marl content, higher gamma and is a darker chalk. The bottom half of the B Chalk is the main target zone (between the two red arrows).

Editorial

HELP Wanted

Vol. 62, No. 2

Can you help edit the Outcrop? One of the editors needs a three to four month leave starting in April. Please contact one of the editors listed on page 3 if you can help.

March 2013

Lead Story

Figure 13: Oil shows under fluorescent light. 6300-6900’ MD. The Sharon Springs Member of the Pierre Shale (6300-6550’ MD) does have some weaker oil shows, but there are strong oil shows when drilling in both the chalks and marls of the Niobrara. Continued on page 28 »

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Lead Story

Continued from page 27

Figure 14: 6600â&#x20AC;&#x2122; TVD Niobrara B Chalk with White Specks (blue arrow). The white specks are coccolithrich fecal pellets, probably formed by pelagic copepods that thrived during times of high sea level as water circulated through the seaway (Longman, Luneau and Landon, 1998).

Figure 15: 6615â&#x20AC;&#x2122; TVD B Chalk with some bentonite with disseminated pyrite.

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March 2013

Lead Story

Figure 16: 6625’ TVD B Chalk Target Zone. The target zone is the bottom half of the B Chalk. It is an approximately 16’ TVD thick porous zone that has high resistivity and a cross over area between the neutron and density curves. It is mottled white (blue arrow).

Figure 17 6640’ TVD Niobrara B Chalk base/Top of B Marl with Inoceramus and trace bentonite with disseminated pyrite (red arrow). At the bottom of B Chalk/top of B Marl interface there are abundant Inoceramus and fossils (white arrows). In outcrop it is a gray hard platy chalk separated by beds of gray hard fissile chalky shale.

Continued on page 32 »

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AAPG Awards Nominations

The RMAG Professional Awards Committee is seeking recommendations to present to AAPG for its 2014 Award Recipients for the following summarized categories. Please submit nominations to triciabeaver@comcast. net by March 15, 2013. For complete award descriptions and nomination forms, go to http://www.aapg.org/business/honors_awards/ nominations/index.cfm Sidney Powers Memorial Award – given in recognition of distinguished and outstanding contributions to petroleum geology. Michel T. Halbouty Outstanding Leadership Award – given in recognition of outstanding and exceptional leadership in the petroleum geosciences. Honorary Member Award – given to those who have distinguished themselves by their service and devotion to the science and profession of petroleum geology and to the AAPG. Outstanding Explorer Award – given in recognition of distinguished and outstanding achievement in exploration for petroleum or mineral resources.

L OG S G S LO LOGS OVER 6 MILLION WELL LOGS FROM THE ARCTIC TO THE GULF OF MEXICO

CA WOLF

CAR

EAGLEFORD

Distinguished Service Award – given to those who have distinguished themselves in singular and beneficial longterm service to AAPG.

LBAN NEW A

MONTNEY

Grover E. Murray Memorial Distinguished Educator Award – given in recognition of distinguished and outstanding contributions to geological education.

F AY

RKS

E FO THRE

DIU

Robert R. Berg Outstanding Research Award – given in recognition of a singular achievement in petroleum geoscience research.

ETT EVI L

BAKKEN LE

SVIL E N Y A H

WOODFORD

IVER R N HOR

DUVERN

Special Award – given to recognize individuals or organizations that do not qualify for one of the existing awards.

BARNETT N IOBRARA UTICA

Public Service Award – given to recognize contributions by members of AAPG to public affairs and to encourage geologists to take a more active part in such affairs.

www.mjlogs.com 1-800-310-6451

Continued on page 39 »

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Logs Since 1971

March 2013

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Lead Story

Continued from page 29

Figure 18 6650â&#x20AC;&#x2122; TVD B Marl with some white specks. Black arrow points to a walnut shell (Lost Circulation Material). The white piece on the right is a fossil. The B Marl is the most oilprone source rock of the Niobrara Formation.

Figure 19 6690â&#x20AC;&#x2122; TVD B Marl with abundant bentonite (light pieces) with trace disseminated pyrite (red arrows). There is also some calcite and fossils (white arrow). In the B Marl, the bentonite is generally devoid of pyrite, or if present it has very fine grained pinpoint cubes (John Witner, personal communication, 2010).

Vol. 62, No. 2

March 2013

Lead Story

Figure 20 B Marl Inoceramus (white arrow) in outcrop Near Pueblo Science Center. Note the interbedded, more massive bioturbated section (chalk) versus the fissle, laminated, nonbioturbated section (marl) where the Inoceramus are well preserved.

Figure 21: Close up of an Inoceramus in same outcrop with long structural prisms (white arrow). The brown is probably oxidized pyrite.

Continued on page 34 Âť

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Lead Story

Continued from page 33

Figure 22: 6700â&#x20AC;&#x2122; TVD Bottom of B Marl with abundant Inoceramus prisms (white arrows). There is also abundant bentonite with trace pyrite that fluoresces (red arrows). You generally do not see this many fossils in the A Marl. Note Lubra beads (black arrow).

Figure 23 6720â&#x20AC;&#x2122; TVD C Chalk with Inoceramus prisms (white arrows). The C chalk does not have a distinct top, but is very interbedded with marl. This description is: 80% CHK: m - m lt gy - brn, sft - firm, sbplty -sbblky, mot-stri, rthy lstr, arg, calc mtx, cln fiz, v calc; 20% MRL: m dk - m gy - brn, mod firm - sft, brit, sbplty -sbblky, mot-lam, rthy lstr, slty ip, tr Inoc, n bent, v calc.

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March 2013

Lead Story

Summary • Sharon Springs – Ardmore bentonite marker with double peak high gamma and brilliant mineral fluorescence, very little effervescence with HCl, hot shale, anoxic, platy, dark gray to black shales, bituminous, large pieces on the shale shaker, 1530’ TVD above top of Niobrara, not thick but drilling at a high angle

and higher gamma than chalks, silty, organic rich, 35-60’ TVD thick • B Chalk – cleaner than A or C Chalks, white specks, some fossils, target zone in lower half, mottled, lighter color, trace to some bentonite, base has some fossils + Inoceramus prisms, 25-35’ TVD thick • B Marl – more interbedded with chalk, bentonite with pinpoint disseminated pyrite, abundant fossils especially near the bottom with Inoceramus prisms, darker and higher gamma than chalks, silty, organic rich, 35-50’ TVD thick

• Top of Niobrara – violent effervescence with HCl indicating calcareous, lighter in color than the Sharon Springs, smaller pieces, 15-30’ TVD thick unnamed marl

• C Chalk – interbedded with marl-especially in the top, some fossils, Inoceramus prisms, target zone also in lower half, 30-40’ thick

• A Chalk – not as clean as B Chalk, few fossils if any, some bentonite, mottled, lighter color, 10-30’ TVD thick

• Chalks – 70-110 API gamma; Marls – 120-150 API gamma

• A Marl – large framboidal pyrite crystals and bentonite bed, little or no fossils, truly a marl, darker

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Continued from page 35

References Cited

Kauffman, Earl G., 1977, Second Day, Upper Cretaceous Cyclothems, Biotas and Environments, Rock Canyon Anticline, Pueblo, Colorado, RMAG, MG14, 3-4, p129-152. King, Phillip B., 1959, 1977, the Evolution of North America, Princeton University Press, 197 p. Longman, Mark W., Barbara A Luneau and Susan M. Landon, 1998, Nature and Distribution of Niobrara Lithologies in the Cretaceous

Gilbert, G.K. 1895, Sedimentary Measurement of Cretaceous Time, Journal of Geology, V.3, p. 121-127. Hattin, Donald E., 1981, Petrology of the Smoky Hill Member, Niobrara Chalk (Upper Cretaceous), in Type Area, Western Kansas, AAPG B65 5, p. 831-849. Kauffman, Earl G., 1977, Geological and Biological Overview: Western Interior Cretaceous Basin, RMAG, MG14, 3-4, p. 75-99.

Lead Story

Western Interior Seaway of the Rocky Mountain region, RMAG MG35 4, p. 137-170. Scholle, Peter A. and Richard M. Pollastro, 1985, Sedimentology and Reservoir Characteristics of the Niobrara Formation (Upper Cretaceous), Kansas and Colorado: Rocky Mountain Carbonate Reservoirs, a Core Workshop: SEPM Core Workshop 7, p. 447482.

Sonnenberg, Stephen A., 2011, The Niobrara Petroleum System: A New Resource Play in the Rocky Mountain Region, Chap. 1 of EstesJackson, Jane E. and Donna S. Anderson, RMAG Revisiting and Revitalizing the Niobrara in the Central Rockies, p. 13-32. Witner, John, 2010, personal communication, Columbine Logging.

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Lead Story

COVER PHOTO (IN ITS ENTIRETY) The top of a Niobrara outcrop being measured by Kelly Bruchez who is completing his Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in Geology with Dr. Steve Sonnenberg at the Colorado School of Mines. The outcrop is located along the Blue River on the Jones Ranch approximately 3.5 miles south of Kremmling, Colorado. Photo by Larry Rasmussen.

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March 2013

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RMAG 2013 SUMMIT SPONSORS DIAMOND LEVEL

PLATINUM LEVEL

GOLD LEVEL

SILVER LEVEL NORTH RANCH RESOURCES

BRONZE LEVEL ANSCHUTZ EXPLORATION CORP BAKER HUGHES CORE LABORATORIES CAERUS OIL & GAS IHS GLOBAL INC Vol. 62, No. 2

MCELVAIN ENERGY INC PROLIFIC PETROLEUM STEPHENS ENERGY CORP TGS 38

March 2013

In the Pipeline March 1, 2013 RMAG GeoLand Ski Day. Copper Mountain Resort.

DGS ExCom Meeting. FairfieldNodal Offices, Downtown Denver. Contact Ashley Tompkins office@ denvergeo.org.

March 4, 2013 DGS Student Challenge Bowl. Hard Rock Café.

March 14, 2013 DGS Monthly Luncheon. Wynkoop Brewery. Presentation and Speaker TBD.

March 5, 2013 DGS and RMAG 3D Seismic Symposium. Sheraton Hotel – Downtown Denver. 19th Annual 3D Seismic Symposium. See page 31 for more information.

March 19 DWLS Luncheon. Relationship between Porosity and Water Saturation: Methodology to Distinguish Mobile from Capillary Bound Water and/or Differing Rock TypesMichael Holmes Digital Format.

March 6, 2013 RMAG Monthly Luncheon. Denver City Center Marriot Speaker: Terry Gerlach Topic: Volcanic Versus Anthropogenic CO2.

March 26, 20136 RMS-SEPM Luncheon. Stratigraphic trapping mechanisms in the Iles Formation Steve Cumella and Mark Kirschbaum. Reservations must be made by 10:00 AM the Friday prior. For additional information: RMSSEPM website.

March 7, 2013 AAPG Young Professionals Happy Hour. 4:30 p.m., Paramount, email RMSGeoYP@gmail.com for more information.. March 7-8, 2013 PTTC Course “Source Rocks 101.” Petroleum Club, Billings Montana.

March 28, 2013 SIPES Luncheon. Speaker: Orion Skinner. “The Pronghorn Discovery in the Bakken Play. For reservations, call 303.730.2967.

March 8, 2013 DIPS Luncheon. Utica Shale Exploration in the Lake Champlain Region of Southern Quebec Kevin Corbett. Contact Anders Elgerd: aeglerd@directpetroleum.com.

If you have any events that you would like to post in this column, please submit via email to Holly Sell at hsell@nobleenergyinc.com or to the RMAG office at staff@rmag.org for consideration.

March 12, 2013

AAPG Awards Nominations Continued from page 30

Pioneer Award – given to long-standing members who have contributed to AAPG and who have made meaningful and significant contributions to the science of geology. Geosciences in the Media Award – given in recognition of notable journalistic achievement in any medium which contributes to public understanding of geology, energy resources, or the technology of oil and gas exploration.

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Vol. 62, No. 2

March 2013

RMAG Monthly Luncheon Program – March 6th

Volcanic Versus Anthropogenic CO2 By Terry Gerlach

On average, humanity’s ceaseless emissions release an amount of CO2 comparable to that of the 1980 Mount St. Helens paroxysm every 2.5 hours, the 1991 Mount Pinatubo paroxysm every 12 hours, and the estimated annual global volcanic CO2 every 2.5 days.

The climate change debate has revived the belief, widespread among climate change skeptics, that volcanoes emit more CO2 than the 37 billion metric tons per year from human activities. In fact, CO2 emissions from human activities dwarf all published estimates of the annual global volcanic CO2 emission rate—i.e., annual CO2 output from divergent plate, intraplate, and convergent plate subaerial and submarine volcanoes. In 2010, human-generated CO2 was about 140 times greater than global volcanic CO2. On average, humanity’s ceaseless emissions release an amount of CO2 comparable to that of the 1980 Mount St. Helens paroxysm every 2.5 hours, the 1991 Mount Pinatubo paroxysm every 12 hours, and the estimated annual global volcanic CO2 every 2.5 days. The claim that volcanic CO2 exceeds anthropogenic CO2 requires either unbelievable volumes of magma production or unbelievable concentrations of magmatic CO2. Scaling up volcanism to the hypothetical intensity required to generate CO2 emissions at anthropogenic levels suggests that humanity’s CO2 emissions may already exceed the annual CO2 emissions of several continental flood basalt eruptions or the CO2 output of 1-10 explosive super eruptions every year.

Luncheon Reservations & Information 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 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the luncheon. Cancellations are not guaranteed after that time.

Call 303-573-8621 email staff@rmag.org, or register online.

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

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March 2013

USGS Rocky Mountain Science Seminar (Lecture BuildingFederal 25, 10:30 am)10:30 a.m. Lecture Hall, BuildingHall, 25, Denver Center,

Date

Speaker

Title Linking geology and health to help understand a

Geoff Plumlee Seminar Already Held deadly outbreak of childhood lead poisoning from

1/8/13

(USGS Denver)

artisanal gold mining, northwest Nigeria

Potential links between climate change and water Andy Manning Seminar Already Held (USGS Denver) quality degredation in a mineralized watershed

1/15/13

Zach Sharp

1/22/13

(U of New Mexico)

Chlorine isotope geochemistry of Earth,

Seminar Already Held Moon, and beyond

Epeirogeny of eustasy? the rise and fall of continental SeminarDeciphering Already Held interiors and implications for mantle dynamics

2/5/13

Becky Flowers

2/19/13

Distal Facies Variability within the Upper Triassic Kate Whidden Seminar Already Held

( U of Colrado)

(USGS Denver)

part of the Otuk Formation in Northern Alaska

David John

Miocene volcanoes, hot springs, and gold deposits in the Bodie Hills, California and Nevada

3/26/13

Christian Teyssier

Oceanic and continental core complexes

4/9/13

Julie Roberge

Petrogenesis and metal budget of the Chichinautzin monogenetic field, Mexico: A melt inclusion study

Joe Colgan

Regional tectonic setting of Miocene extension and magmatism in the northern Great Basin

5/14/13

Dirk Wallschlaeger

Soluble arsenic-sulfur compounds in ambient waters - where geochemical knowledge gaps and analytical problems collide

5/28/13

Darius Semmons

Where's the value? New approaches to mapping the benefits we derive from nature

3/5/13

(USGS Menlo Park)

(U of Minnesota)

(Mexican Polytechnical Inst.)

4/23/13

(USGS Menlo Park)

(Trent University)

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www.rmag.org

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor:

How to spell “frack” Here is a suggestion. Don’t spell it. Don’t say

it, either.

Don’t use the pejorative slang. Instead – as you write and speak – use more informing descriptions like: “hydraulic fracturing” “reservoir stimulation” “reservoir enhancement” “production improvement” “revenue improvement” “added value” “tax revenue enhancement” “job creation” Take every opportunity to frame the process for what it is – a technique that improves oil and gas recovery, creating a revenue benefit for communities with minimal harm to aquifers. Tell the truth about the process in its constructive role. Wordsmiths who war against prosperity and the petroleum industry, are expert at emphasizing risks with slang and slop py ideas. They raise fear and loathing in “low-information” citizens who vote. Geoprofessionals can lead, in discussions and writing, toward an appreciation of the benefits of hydraulic frac turing in true perspective. The facts support a huge benefit-to-harm ratio . Best regards,

Ro n W. Pritchett

Ron W. Pritchett Lone Tree, Colorado 80124 o) 303-228-4168 c) 303-829-9606

Vol. 62, No. 2

March 2013

New Members

Welcome to Our New RMAG Members... Paul Baclawski Paul works at Devon Energy as a Geologist.

Bruce Kaiser Bruce works as a Business Development Manager.

Adriana Barrios Adriana works at Venoco Inc. as a Geology Technician.

Maxwell LaFon Maxwell works at Slawson Exploration Company, Inc as a Geologist.

Alex Behrens Alex works at Weatherford as a Technical Sales Representative.

Weston LaFon Weston is a student member. Heather LaReau Heather works at Encana as a Geologist.

Gregory Bell Greg works at Coal Gas Technology Co.

Blaine Martin Blaine works at Bill Barrett Corp. as a Geological Technician.

Remelle Burton Olson Remelle works at Summit Gas Resources, Inc. as a Geologist.

Bob Petty Bob works at Nautilus as a Technical Manager.

Glenda Chapman Glenda works at Agri Land Mineral Management, LLC.

Justin Pierson Justin works at Pioneer Natural Resources.

Justin Deal Justin works at Decollement Consulting as the Business Development Director.

Erin Reagen Erin works at The Reagen Group as a Sr. Consultant.

Bob Flournoy Bob works at Energy Investment Partners, LLC.

Natasha Rigg Natasha works at Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.

Patrick Fothergill Pat works at Schlumberger as a Principal Geologist.

Joseph Sertich Dr. Sertich works at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Gregory Gromadzki Gregory works at QEP.

Continued on page 46 »

Simon Hughes Simon works at Weatherford Laboratories.

DONOVAN BROTHERS INCORPORATED Wellsite Drilling Engineering • Well Plans • Geomechanics Formation Evaluation • Optimize Drilling Using Logs

Gregory Jennings Greg works at Energen Resources.

Bill Donovan

Geologist • Petroleum Engineer • PE

780 E. Phillips Dr. S. • Littleton, CO 80122 (720) 351-7470 (voice) • (303) 794-7470 (message) donovan@petroleum-eng.com www.petroleum-eng.com

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RMAG Source-rock Kinetics

New Members Continued from page 45

David Smith David lives in Denver, Colorado. Isaac Smith Isaac works at Columbine Logging as a Geologist. David Stich Dave works at True Oil LLC as a Geologist. Andrew Tipton Andy works at Noble Energy, Inc. as a Senior Petrophysicist.

Listening intently to Douglas Waples, PhD at the January 24, 2013 RMAG Source-rock Kinetics: New Methods of Determining Them, and Novel Applications to Hydrocarbon Exploration, Especially Unconventional course.

David Velozzi David works at NEOS GeoSolutions as a Geoscientist. Michael Walsh Mike works at Arcadis. Matthew Ward Matt works at Fidelity Exploration and Production as a Senior Geologist.

Editorial

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One of the editors needs a three to four month leave starting in April. Please contact one of the editors listed on page 3 if you can help.

Vol. 62, No. 2

JLog® Petrophysical Software Consulting and Training

Jack Bowler – Bowler Petrophysics, Inc. 303 860 1641 www.jlog.biz jack@bowler-petrophysics.com

March 2013

ALL

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are in Color at No Extra Charge! Adver tising doesn't go unnoticed, and by having your business card or larger ad in color, the impact is much greater to potential customers. Since there is no additional charge for color for our online publication, you can use full color for any ad without any additional charges. See page 3 of this issue for our ad rates and contact the RMAG office today for more details on how to submit your ad.

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Color DOES make an impact! Geologic Art Show

Contact the RMAG office today for more information! RMAG Office: 303-573-8621

Fax: 303-628-0546 staff@rmag.org • www.rmag.org Executive Director Emily Tompkins etompkins@rmag.org

47 47

Office & Programs Manager Carrie Veatch, MA cveatch@rmag.org

www.rmag.org www.rmag.org

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS/SPEAKERS for the

RMAG 2013 SPRING SYMPOSIUM Call for abstracts/speakers for the RMAG 2013 SPRING SYMPOSIUM “MAKING MONEY WITH SCIENCE” Tuesday, April 23 at the Denver Marriott City Center RMAG is accepting additional Speakers to present case studies on: Using Science to Profitably Explore for or Develop Oil and Gas Fields Chris Wright – CEO of Liberty Resources will be Keynote Speaker Also presenting is Dick Leonard and Maynard Johnson reviewing case studies utilizing production logging, proppant and fluid tracers to optimize completion effectiveness Deadline for abstract submittal is February 22

staff@rmag.org

RMAG 910 16th Street, Suite 1125 Denver, CO 80202 www.rmag.org Vol. 62, No. 2

March 2013

RMAG ADVERTISING SIZES & RATES for The Outcrop

ADVERTISEMENT SIZES

Full Page

WIDTH 7½” 8¾” 4⅞” 7½” 4⅞” 2⅜” 2⅜” 3½”

2/3 Page 1/2 Page

x x x x x x x x

DEPTH 9¼” 11¼” 9¼” 5” 4⅞” 9¼” 4⅞” 2”

ADVERTISING RATES Ad Size

1/3 Page Horizontal

1/3 Page Vertical

SIZE Full Page (inset) Full Page (bleeds all edges) 2/3 Page 1/2 Page 1/3 Page Horizontal 1/3 Page Vertical 1/6 Page Professional Card

1/6 Page

Cost Per Insertion

1 Time 2 Times (each) 6 Times (each) 12 Times (each)

Full page

$330

$310

$285

$270

2/3 page

$220

$200

$185

1/2 page

$175

$165

$155

$145

1/3 page

$165

$125

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1/6 page

$75

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Business Card $17

$17

$14

$12

OUTCROP

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Advertisers Index AAPG..............................2, 23, 40

Donze, Terry................................6

PTTC......................................... 11

Bowler Petrophysics............... 46

Geosteering............................. 12

Quantum Water Consulting.... 13

Breckenridge Expl. Inc........... 42

Karo, James C......................... 13

RPM Geologic, LLC....................5

Canadian Discovery................ 25

Kestrel Geoscience, LLC........ 27

SPE, AAPG, SEG.........................2

Core Lab.................................. 24

Kluth and Associates.................5

Decollement Consulting, Inc. 13

Leaverite Exploration Inc....... 18

Vista GeoScience, David Seneshen...................... 39

Discovery Group...................... 19

MJ Systems............................. 30

Vista GeoScience, John V. Fontana..........................6

Dolan Integration Group......... 12

Mazzullo Energy Corp............. 35

Whitehead, Neil H., III................8

Donovan Brothers Inc............. 45

Noble Energy........................... 25

March 2013

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

DGS Student Challenge Bowl

DAYLIGHT SAVING (start)

ST. PATRICK'S DAY

DGS/ RMAG 3D Seismic Symposium

RMAG Luncheon, Speaker: Terry Gerlach

GeoLand Ski Day

7 AAPG Young 8 Professionals Happy Hour

DIPS Luncheon

SATURDAY

PTTC Course

DGS Luncheon

DGS ExCom Meeting

FRIDAY

DWLS Luncheon

25 31

26 RMS-SEPM Luncheon

SIPES Luncheon

EASTER

Vol. 62, No. 2

March 2013