March 2015 Outcrop by The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

Volume 64 • No. 3 • March 2015

2015: Mapping Our Future

Thank you to our 2015 Sponsors! Black Diamond Sponsors

Diamond Sponsors

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Gold Sponsors Anschutz Ballard Petroleum Black Hills E&P Border to Border Exploration Breckenridge Exploration Co Burnett Oil Company Inc

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Silver Sponsors 3D Imaging Technology Applegate Exploration LLC Centenial Resources Flamingo Seismic Solutions Green River Energy Resources Hardin International Processing, Inc iReservoir OUTCROP | March 2015

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Roxanna Oil Company Seisware Inc SpectraSeis Summit Geophysical Unified Geosystems White Eagle Exploration Wireless Seismic

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

PTTC Workshops Brush up on your Skills 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

Rocky Mtn PTTC March Education Week – 5 Great Workshops to Choose From Petra Basics

Monday - Tuesday, March 9-10, 2015, 8:30 am – 5 pm, Colorado School of Mines, Berthoud Hall rm. 201 Fee: $500, includes food at breaks, class notes, and PDH certificate Instructor: Jewel Wellborn

Completions and Stimulations for Geologists

Monday, March 9, 2015, 8:30 am – 5 pm, Colorado School of Mines, Berthoud Hall rm. 241 Fee: $250, includes food at breaks, class notes, and PDH certificate Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Miskimins

Petroleum Geology for Non-Geologists

Tuesday, March 10, 2015, 8:30 am – 5 pm, Colorado School of Mines, Berthoud Hall rm. 241 Fee: $250, includes food at breaks, class notes, and PDH certificate Instructor: Dr. Jan Gillespie

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

Beyond Porosity: Lithology from Logs

Friday, March 13, 2015, 8:30 am – 5 pm, Colorado School of Mines, Berthoud Hall rm. 241 Fee: $250, includes food at breaks, class notes, and PDH certificate Instructor: Dr. Bob Cluff and Dr. Dan Krygowski

Air Emission Analysis for State and Federal Air Compliance

Tuesday, March 17, 2014, 8:30 am – 5 pm, Colorado School of Mines, Ben Parker Student Center Ballroom A Fee: $250, includes food at breaks, class notes, and PDH certificate Instructor: Peter Galusky, Ph.D. P.E. Principal Environmental Eng. Texerra LLC. Class Descriptions and Register Online: www.pttcrockies.org For more information, contact Mary Carr, 303.273.3107, mcarr@mines.edu

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | March 2015

“Producers will work hard to improve efficiency and lower costs” Daniel Yergin, Who will Rule the Oil Market?, New York Times Op-Ed Online, Jan 23, 2015

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Vol. 64, No. 3 | 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 president@rmag.org

Stephanie B. Gaswirth sgaswirth@usgs.gov

Carrie Veatch, MA cveatch@rmag.org

PRESIDENT-ELECT

1st YEAR COUNSELOR

John Ladd john.ladd@discoverynr.com

Jane Estes-Jackson Jane.Estes-Jackson@mcelvain.com

MEMBERSHIP & EVENTS MANAGER

TREASURER-ELECT

TREASURER

Tom Sperr tsperr@bayless-cos.com

Paul Lillis plillis@usgs.gov

2nd VICE PRESIDENT

2nd YEAR COUNSELOR

Chris Eisinger chris.eisinger@state.co.us

Terri Olson tmolson8550@gmail.com

1st VICE PRESIDENT

Mel Klinger melklinger@eurekageologicalconsulting.com

Hannah Rogers hrogers@rmag.org PROJECTS SPECIALIST

Emily Tompkins etompkins@rmag.org ACCOUNTANT

Carol Dalton cdalton@rmag.org MANAGING EDITOR

Will Duggins will.duggins@i-og.net

ADVERTISING INFORMATION

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Rates and sizes can be found on page 5. 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 advertisements that comprise less than one half page. Digital files must be PC compatible submitted in png, jpg, tif, pdf or eps formats at a minimum of 300 dpi. If you have any questions, please call the RMAG office at 303-573-8621.

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The Outcrop is a monthly publication of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

Outcrop | March 2015

OUTCROP | March 2015

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

CONTENTS

OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

22 Lead Story: WSGS Publishes Field Guide to Some of the World’s Best Ancient Stromatolites

8 RMAG January 2015 Board of Directors Meeting

ASSOCIATION NEWS 2 RMAG 2015 3D Seismic Symposium Sponsors 30 RMAG 2015 Summit Sponsors 32 RMAG Foundation 33 RMAG Night at the Zoo 35 RMAG Core Workshop 36 RMAG Annual Golf Tournament

12 President’s Letter 18 RMAG Luncheon Programs: Speaker — Dr. Steven Tedesco 20 RMAG Luncheon Programs: Speaker — Jeremy Boak 28 Welcome New RMAG Members!

Volume 64 • No. 3 • March 2015

33 In the Pipeline

COVER PHOTO

34 Memoriam

Wyoming Stromatolite. Formed 1.5 to 2.5 B.y.a. Photo by Dr. David Lageson

40 Advertiser Index 40 Calendar

37 RMAG/DAPL GeoLand Ski Day 38 RMAG Short Course 39 RMAG Symposium - Hot Plays

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | March 2015

RMAG JANUARY 2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

RMAG January 2015 Board of Directors Meeting By Stephanie Gaswirth, Secretary sgaswirth@usgs.gov

and membership renewals continue to be collected by the office staff. If you have not renewed your RMAG membership for 2015, please do so ASAP. There is a short grace period on renewals, after which you will be unable to access many of the member benefits that RMAG provides, such as The Mountain Geologist publication and member rates for RMAG events. RMAG is busy preparing to co-host the 2015 AAPG ACE meeting, to be held in Denver from May 31-June 3. There will be fantastic field trips, technical sessions and events associated with the meeting; registration is now open! There is also a “Night at the Zoo” on June 2, co-hosted by RMAG and AAPG, with Dr. Scott Sampson, the Chief Curator at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (and onair host of Dinosaur Train, for those of you with young children). The first monthly RMAG luncheon of the year, held at Maggiano’s, was a huge success with over 150

The first official meeting of the 2015 RMAG Board of Directors was held on January 21, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. We were well prepared for the meeting by our predecessors on the 2014 Board of Directors, and are grateful to them for the service to RMAG over the previous year. Paul Lillis gave the financial report, and the society remains in good financial standing. Summit sponsorships for the society are still being solicited,

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Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | March 2015

RMAG January 2015 Board of Directors Meeting The board spent the majority of the meeting reviewing the RMAG Strategic Plan, which is nearing completion and approval. This document, which clarifies RMAG’s mission, vision, core values and goals, is the result of the exceptional and hard work of president Marv Brittenham, Executive Director ® Carrie Veatch, the 2014 RMAG Board, PetroFecta fromand the RMAG long-range planning committee. The plan will proFluid Inclusion vide a more clear and focused course of shared govTechnologies ernance direction to the RMAG volunteer leadership, staff, and members. is a unique approach combining

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people in attendance. If you have a suggestion for a speaker, please contact Chris Eisinger (chris.eisinger@state.co.us). There are some terrific RMAG events in the upcoming months, including the RMAG-DAPL GeoLand Ski Day at Beaver Creek on March 6, a Bakken core workshop in Grand Forks, ND, and the Seismic Interpretation for Explorationists spring short course on April 16, 2015, taught by Bruce Trudgill. Reserve your spots!

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OUTCROP | March 2015

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Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | March 2015

PRESIDENT’S LETTER By Marv Brittenham

Relationships… and the 800 pound gorilla

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.

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OUTCROP | March 2015

11/4/14 1:12 PM

The lost oil supply volume has been more than offset by North American unconventional growth, to such extent that the production growth, along with decreased demand and OPEC abandoning controls, has resulted in the current price collapse. The premise in his title is that the lack of significant conventional discoveries over the last five years may result in future short oil supply. Good news in light of our current circumstances, but not so good in terms of future world oil supply. Other than offering that limited ray of sunshine, I can’t shed any light on the depth or duration of this price downturn. Hopefully we’ll have more perspective by the time this appears in a month. But, our domestic production is still growing due to completion lag on wells already drilled; so don’t look for a quick fix. We recognize these cycles are a long term risk to RMAG, which is why we have been building reserves in a “rainy day fund” and are working on a five year strategic plan.

My intention this month was to highlight relationships and RMAG. But, how could I ignore the 800 pound gorilla in the room, plummeting oil prices? If you attended the January luncheon, Pete Stark provided a lot of insight on the drivers of the precipitous price fall in his annual review. He

also gave some perspective on factors that may offset the market over-supply. If you missed his talk, The Exploration Conundrum – Where Will Tomorrow’s Oil Come From, he cites a startling five year decline in worldwide conventional discoveries, numbers and volumes. The abstract is in the January Outcrop.

THE 800 POUND GORILLA

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Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | March 2015

President’s Letter the market crash of 1929. Does that sound like a familiar theme? In fact RMAPG was our association’s original name as it originally focused primarily on petroleum geology. RMAG became an affiliated society of AAPG in 1954. Both organizations have evolved a lot in all those years and we’re both now approaching our 100th anniversaries! AAPG will celebrate its anniversary at its ACE meeting in Houston in 2017. RMAG will kick off its celebration early during the AAPG ACE meeting in

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 RELATIONSHIPS

tracker resou PU

Harriett and I at 40

years, 2 006.

Denver 2021, followed by the full celebration in 2022. At times we have had a strained relationship; like the last two years when AAPG began the URTEC conferences causing disruption to our fall programs and competition with our Rocky Mountain Section meetings. AAPG has become an international organization and is likely to continue to grow and evolve. In some ways we must also view AAPG as a possible 800 pound gorilla as it is ten times larger than RMAG. There will be uncertainty in how it relates to its affiliated societies as it grows and expands internationally. Fortunately though, RMAG also has had a long history of leadership within AAPG so we often have a voice in how it has evolved. Last year, under the direction of AAPG president and RMAG member Randi Martinsen, AAPG supported the RMAG hosted

RMAG enjoys close relationships with a number of geoscience organizations, but none as long as AAPG. RMAG and AAPG share some interesting early history as related in The Mountain Geologist October 1997, 75 Years of the RMAG. AAPG was organized in 1917 and RMAG in 1922 with some of the same founders. In fact AAPG was first incorporated in 1924 in Colorado, moving to Oklahoma in 1925. Regional AAPG meetings were held in Denver in 1922 and again in 1927 just prior to a worldwide oil glut in 1928 and

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OUTCROP | March 2015

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | March 2015

President’s Letter

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encana

BRINGING ENERGY TO TOMORROW’S MOST PROMISING RESOURCES.

Rocky Mountain Section meeting with a generous cash sponsorship to help offset the effect of the competition from URTEC! For now we have the honor of hosting the 2015 AAPG ACE meeting this spring. By now you have received your announcement and hopefully made your plans to attend. Not only does this meeting bring an exciting international geoscience program to Denver but it also, through our revenue sharing agreement, helps to fund RMAG’s programs into the future! Of course my marriage is my longest term relationship now going on 49 years! My friends know that its duration has been mostly due to my very patient wife. RMAG is a close second though at 42. Feel free to contact me if you have any ideas to make RMAG better. We want to be The Best Place for Rockies Geoscience.

DONATE NOW Please to contribute to the RMAG. Your RMAG contribution supports the calendar of 2015 of RMAG events, including short courses, symposia, social events, monthly luncheons, and more.

Click here to make a contribution online!

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OUTCROP | March 2015

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

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. 3 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | March 2015

RMAG Luncheon programs RMAG LUNCHEON PROGRAMS Speaker: Dr. Steven Tedesco — March 4, 2015

Stratigraphy, geochemistry and production from thin carbonaceous mudstones and carbonates of Pennsylvanian Atokan, Cherokee and Marmaton formations in the southern Denver Basin By Dr. Steven A. Tedesco with 1,450 to 2,100 BTU gas. The thin productive limestone and dolomite reservoirs in the Cherokee Formation are known as “A” and “C”. The Ft. Scott limestone, “A” and “B” zones are productive in the Marmaton Formation. The carbonate rocks that underlie the carbonaceous mudstones in the Atoka Formation tend to lack porosity and permeability. Thin fluvial sandstones of the Fountain Formation can be interbedded with sediments of the Atoka Formation and have been productive historically in the basin. The Atoka carbonaceous mudstones are lacustrine in origin, average 10% TOC, high pour point (>75o), API gravity of 33o to 38o and with associated 1,400 to

The Atoka, Cherokee and Marmaton formations of Middle Pennsylvanian age in the southern Denver Basin are marine and lacustrine sediments containing thin carbonaceous mudstones that are one to eight feet thick and organically rich. These sediments are interbedded on the west side of the basin with alluvial and fluvial sediments of the Fountain Formation. The Fountain represents sediments eroded from the ancestral Rocky Mountains. The carbonaceous mudstones of the Cherokee and Marmaton formations overlie in some areas thin porous and permeable carbonate reservoirs. The Cherokee and Marmaton carbonaceous mudstones are marine in origin, average 11% TOC, low pour point (<-30o), API gravity of 35o to 41o API oil that is associated

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RMAG Luncheon programs R

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2,200 BTU gas. XRF and XRD data indicate distinct differences in environment of deposition for the Atoka, Cherokee and Marmaton formations. Oil production from all these reservoirs tends to be controlled by localized reservoir development where productive that is mostly structural control. A small percentage of some fields are stratigraphic traps. Exploration strategy up until recently assumed these reservoirs have a large areal extent and are continuous. Drilling has proved otherwise. Locating where these reservoirs are productive requires likely migration pathways; basement faulting that extends into the Paleozoic rocks and identifying where areas of optimal reservoir development may occur.

Logs Since 1971

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Dr. Steven Tedesco is the President of Running Foxes Petroleum Inc. which focuses on shale and coal bed methane; conventional production in the Uncompahgre Uplift, Denver, Forest City and Cherokee basins, USA. Mr. Tedesco has a BA in Geology from Northeastern University in Boston, a MS in Geology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, IL, and a PhD in Geology with a minor in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. Mr. Tedesco has over 30 years of experience in coal mining, coal bed methane, shale gas\oil, waterflood projects, petroleum exploration and development. He has help to discover over 124 MMBO. Most recent discovery is the Arikaree Creek and Old Homestead fields in Lincoln County, Colorado, which are presently producing 1,500+ BOPD. Mr. Tedesco specializes in evaluation and development of shale and coal bed methane reservoirs. Running Foxes Petroleum operates over 800 producing wells eastern Kansas, southwest Missouri, southeast Colorado and eastern Utah and has 35+ employees. Mr. Tedesco has published numerous articles and presented several talks at national industry meetings on coal bed methane, surface geochemistry, and stratigraphy. He has published the only textbook specifically on the use of surface geochemistry in petroleum exploration.

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

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Vol. 63, No. 12

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RMAG Luncheon programs RMAG LUNCHEON PROGRAMS Speaker: Jeremy Boak — April 1, 2015

Oil shale and shale oil: Some myth busting, some crosscutting ideas, and the state of oil shale development in the world By Jeremy Boak, Director, Center for Oil Shale Technology and Research, Colorado School of Mines, Golden CO technology, barriers and concerns in the Western United States and the world, and offer a cautious prognosis for future progress in developing this multi-trillion barrel resource. In addition, the talk

Oil shale is the Rodney Dangerfield of the petroleum family. Starting with its name, myths surrounding oil shale and production of shale oil from it are legion. This talk will address some of these common myths, talk about oil shale projects, prospects,

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Sponsorship opportunities for the annual RMAG Golf Tournament are available! Visit rmag.org to learn more.

OUTCROP | March 2015

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

RMAG Luncheon programs this complex lacustrine system. Drawing on the work

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will discuss what we know and don’t know about the formation of the richest source rock in the world, the Eocene Green River Formation, and what these rocks may be able to tell us about the formation of organic rich sources rocks beyond the confines of

of the Center for Oil Shale Technology and Research

over the past seven years, the talk will highlight mineral and chemical evolution of the Green River Formation, primarily in Colorado.

Jeremy Boak is the Director of the Center for Oil Shale Technology and Research (COSTAR) at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM), Co-Chair of the Oil Shale Symposium, 2006-2014, and a member of the Board of San Leon Energy. Before CSM, he was a project manager in environmental and nuclear materials management at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and project manager for the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) for performance assessment of Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Boak also served as the DOE’s representative to the Performance Assessment Advisory Group of the Radioactive Waste Management Committee of the OECD’s International Energy Agency. Prior to working for DOE, Boak was an exploration geologist at ARCO Oil and Gas, Inc., in Anchorage, Denver, and Bakersfield. Dr Boak received his doctorate in Geological Sciences from Harvard University in 1983, for work on some of the oldest shale on earth, the 3.8 billion year old Isua supracrustal suite, West Greenland. He received MS degrees from Harvard and the University of Washington, and his undergraduate degree from Harvard, all in Geological Sciences.

MARCH LUNCHEON! Dr. Steven A. Tedesco March 4, 2015

Check in: 11:15 am Lunch: 12:00 pm Talk: 12:20 pm Maggiano’s Little Italy Downtown Denver (500 16th Street Mall #150 Denver, CO) CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION.

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Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, QEP Resources, Inc. (NYSE: QEP) is an S&P 500 Index member company. Learn more at www.qepres.com.

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | March 2015

LEAD STORY By Chamois Andersen

WSGS Publishes Field Guide to Some of the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Ancient Stromatolites

OUTCROP | March 2015

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

arth has an astonishingly long geologic time span, but evidence of early life forms on our planet can still be seen today in the form of distinctive bodies of rock called “stromatolites.” The Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) has published a new field guide, “Selfguided Walking Tour of the Paleoproterozoic Stromatolites in the Medicine Bow Mountains, Wyoming,” which provides a guided tour to many of the best outcrops found in the Medicine Bow Mountains, west of Laramie.

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ON LEFT: Large hemispheric stromatolite. Photo by David R. Lageson.

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

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Lead Story

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“Our guided tour will take people to some of the best examples of ancient stromatolites in the world, found right here in southeastern Wyoming,” said co-author Don Boyd, professor emeritus with the University of Wyoming’s Department of Geology and Geophysics. The WSGS website features a stromatolite page containing the downloadable report, an interactive Google Earth map of the tour stop locations (with photos) and a video with additional photos of each stromatolite outcrop addressed in the guide. The 24-page color guide includes photos, illustrations, maps and GPS coordinates to lead the user to stromatolite outcrops dotting the high-alpine landscape. A stromatolite looks like a cross between a cauliflower and a rock. The delicate lamination and internal structure can be seen on the weathered surface of rocks. “The

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OUTCROP | March 2015

December 2014

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

Lead Story

ABOVE: Outcrops of evenly bedded tan dolomite. Photo by David R. Lageson. communities of bacteria and bacteria-like organisms that dominated a shallow marine environment long before an oxygen-rich atmosphere and the appearance of animals. “In our interpretation, the distinctive layering of a stromatolite was created by repeated colonization of a sea-floor mound by microbial mats that both trapped sediment and precipitated cement,” Boyd said. “The unequal contribution of organic and inorganic processes produced a diversity of stromatolite shapes and sizes.” The primary organism that built stromatolites is believed to have been cyanobacteria,

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picturesque patterns were brought into relief by weathering during thousands of years of exposure since the last glacial event,” Boyd said. “We created this walking tour to satisfy the many people who have heard about these unusual life forms found in the rocks but did not know where to look,” said co-author David Lageson, professor of geology at Montana State University. Based on comparison with similar features forming today and the work of geologists studying similar Precambrian structures, the co-authors conclude that the 2-billion year old Medicine Bow stromatolites were built by Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

OUTCROP | March 2015

Lead Story

ABOVE: Outcrops of evenly bedded tan dolomite. Photo by David R. Lageson. Included in the field guide are directions to representative outcrops with descriptions of stromatolite features of interest at each location. The geology behind these ancient records of life on Earth is also described in the guide. Wyoming’s Paleoproterozoic Nash Fork Formation, the major unit in which the stromatolitic beds occur in the Medicine Bow Mountains, is approximately 2 km (1.2 miles) thick and consists of tan stromatolite-bearing dolomite with thick interbeds of pyritic black

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

which are prokaryotic bacteria (domain of life Eubacteria). As photosynthesizers, they played a major role in oxygenating the Earth’s oceans and atmosphere. The field guide by Boyd and Lageson describes a wide variety of stromatolites. “Some are classic microbial growth structures of various shapes and sizes and are typical of similar forms found in Precambrian and younger rocks in other parts of the world,” Lageson said. Others, however, tell a different story. “It depends on the stromatolite being observed.” OUTCROP | March 2015

»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

eat Western Great Western tountain Western » » ky mountain operator a rocky mountain operator operator Lead Story

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

argillite and phyllite, and some quartzite. Stromatolitic zones are most common in the lower 700 meters of the Nash Fork Formation; they are found in massive dolomite and silicified dolomite intervals. The largest stromatolites (true giants) are found in the “silicified domal digitate stromatolite facies association” in the lower Nash Fork Formation between 100-200 meters and 300 and 400 meters from the basal thrust fault contact. Well-known Wyoming geologist, S.H. Knight, extensively studied the Nash Fork Formation stromatolites, producing research that garnered major international attention. The walking-tour guide includes many of the outcrops illustrated in Knight’s research paper published in 1968. Together with most of his contemporaries, Knight believed stromatolites exhibit the original size and shape produced by the organisms that built them. While the authors of the field guide, Boyd and Lageson, agree that this is true for some of the Medicine Bow stromatolites, they describe abundant evidence at outcrops visited in the tour for major alteration of stromatolite shape and dimensions by post-depositional processes, such as soft-sediment deformation (sliding and slumping) and perhaps storm events. “Our intent with this field guide is for the user to ponder the evidence as they visit each stromatolite outcrop,” Boyd said. Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

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O I L & G A S COOI LM & PAGNAYS C O M PA N Y

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OUTCROP | March 2015

WELCOME NEW RMAG MEMBERS!

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Hilario Aguirre Jr.

is a Sales Executive at Cable & Supplies Inc. in Stafford, TX

Jeffrey Bader

is a Subsurface Geologist at the North Dakota Geological Survey in Bismarck, ND

Krista Burke

is a Data Analyst at EnergyIQ in Littleton, CO

Richard Davis

is a Geophysicist at EPI Group USA Inc. in Denver, CO

Rachel Debaillon is a Geologist at PDC Energy in Aurora, CO

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Thomas Dekeyser

works at Technically Write Consulting in Harrisburg, OR

Dean Feller

lives in Wheat Ridge, CO

Stephanie Fochtman works at Dolan Integration Group in Westminster, CO

Rachel Grande

is a Geologist at Liberty Resources in Denver, CO

»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

OUTCROP | March 2015

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

WELCOME NEW RMAG MEMBERS!

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

Robert Harriss

is a Senior Scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund in Boulder, CO

Frank Hearn

is a Senior Geological Advisor at Baker Hughes in Denver, CO

Ron Hietala

is an Exec VP at BlackShale Resources Inc. in Calgay, AB

L Roger Hutson

is the President at HRM Resources II, LLC in Denver, CO

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Wesley Ingram

is a Geochemistry/Petrophysics Advisor at Weatherford in Denver, CO

Bryant Kosanovich

is a Geologist at ChemEOR in Denver, CO

Barrett Lavergne

is a Geophysicist at Inflection Energy in Lakewood, CO

Scott Matthews lives in Denver, CO

James McNutt

is a Geologist at Stelbar Oil Corporation, Inc. in Wichita, KS

»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | March 2015

The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

2015 Summit Sponsors E x clus ive Lu nc he o n Sp o nso r

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Student Sponsor

Silver Sponsors GEOMARK

Bronze Sponsors

OUTCROP | March 2015

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

WELCOME NEW RMAG MEMBERS!

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

James Milne

works at Ancient Oceans Energy, Ltd. in Louisville, CO

Frans Mollemans

lives in Kailua Kona, HI

Mark Noonan

lives in Fort Collins, CO

Josiah Strauss

is a Stable Isotope Geochemist at Dolan Integration Group in Boulder, CO

Eric Sundstrom lives in Superior, CO

Steven Sypher

Lario Oil & Gas Company Established 1927

is a Sr. Dir. Global E&P Content at IHS Energy in Englewood, CO

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Elizabeth van Diepen

is a Wellsite Geologist at Columbine Logging in Golden, CO

Mary Welker-Haddock

is a Consultant in Centennial, CO

Proud sponsor of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | March 2015

RMAG FOUNDATION

2013-14 +

SCHOLARSHIPS CONTRIBUTIONS

McKenna Fund

Babcock Fund

Stone/Holberg Fund

CSU Fund Bolyard Fund

Veterans Fund

Colorado School of Mines

Colorado College

SCHOLARSHIPS CU Boulder

Rocky Mtn region Universities awarded to veterans attending Rocky Mtn Region Universities

University of WY Fund

AAPG - Imperial Barrel

Morrison Natural History

AAPG Student Leadership

PTTC Futures in Energy

Friend of Dinosaur Ridge

Denver Public Schools

Rocky Mtn Section Rocky Mtn Section

Inner City School attendance Rocky Mtn Section

Golden Pick Award RMAG

Guidebook contribution AAPG Sectional meeting Rockbuster Ball awards

Studying Rocky Mtn Structural Geology Golden

Foster

Studying Rocky Mtn Geology

RMAG Student Summit sponsor CO Science Teacher of the Year CO State Science Fair winners

CONTRIBUTIONS

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Contibutions can be made at https://www.rmag.org/i4a/ams/publicLogin.cfm for RMAG members RMAG Foundation | 910 16th Street Mall, Suite 1214 | Denver, CO 80202

How the RMAG supports job seekers: - Search through resumes on the RMAG Job Board - Post your resume on the RMAG Website - Post your business card in The Outcrop for just $20 (see The Outcrop media kit online for more price points)

- Connect with other members via the online Membership Directory - Network at RMAG Monthly Luncheons as a walk-in for $10 OUTCROP | March 2015

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

IN THE PIPELINE MARCH 4, 2015

MARCH 19, 2015

RMAG Luncheon. Speaker Steven Tedesco. “Stratigraphy, Geochemistry and Production from Thin Carbonates of Pennsylvanian Atokan, Cherokee and Marmaton Formations in the Southern Denver Basin.”

RMAG Bakken-Three Forks Core Workshop - North Dakota.

MARCH 6, 2015 RMAG & DAPL GeoLand Ski Day. Beaver Creek. MARCH 9-13, 2015 PTTC Rockies Mini-Education Conference. CSM, Golden, CO.

MARCH 25, 2015 Oilfield Christian Fellowship. For reservations, RSVP to OCFDenverChapter@pxd.com or 303-675-2602.

Hart DUG. Bakken and Niobrara. Denver, CO. APRIL 1, 2015 RMAG Luncheon. Speaker: Jeremy Boak “Oil Shale & Shale Oil, Some myth busting, some crosscutting ideas, and the state of oil shale development in the world”. APRIL 16, 2015

MARCH 31, 2015 RMS-SEPM Luncheon. Speaker Kitty Milliken. “Proposed Compositional Classification of Fine-Grained Sedimentary Rocks.”

RMAG Short Course. “Seismic Interpretation for Explorationists”

MARCH 13, 2015 DIPS Luncheon. For reservations, RSVP to aeglerd@directpetroleum.com or 303-285-9136. MARCH 17, 2015 PTTC Rockies Short Course. “Air Emission Analysis for State and Federal Air Compliance.” CSM, Golden, CO. DWLS Luncheon. Speaker Terri Olson. “Applications of Digital Rock Technology to Shale Plays.”

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Speaker: Dr. Scott Sampson

Recipient of the AAPG Geosciences in the Media Award

Rewilding Revolution

Reconnecting Humanity & Nature in the 21st Century

Dinner, Drinks, & A Talk Registration will be handled through AAPG $50 Student Ticket | $75 General Ticket Buses departing from and returning to the Hyatt will be provided

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

6:30 -10:00 PM at the Conoco Zoo Gardens at the Denver Zoo

OUTCROP | March 2015

MEMORIAM

AL NELSON

Al Nelson at Trafalgar Square, London, October, 1944. leave the Army as a mere Private First Class, Al said, “I think it was because I lost two bazookas.” Upon his discharge at the end of WW II, Al returned to the University of Texas where he graduated in 1947, receiving his BS in Geology. He went to work for Texaco during the early days of the Weber Sandstone boom 34

at Rangely, Colorado in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Al sat dozens of wells there, and then went to Denver for the DJ Basin boom. Al met and courted Ruth Virginia Kentta, a former Army nurse, and they were married June 25, 1954 at Augustana

OUTCROP | March 2015

G. Allan Nelson passed away January 21, 2015 in Boulder, Colorado. He was 92. Al was born May 6, 1922 in Summit, New Jersey to Gustaf Albert and Olga Elizabeth Olson Nelson. He graduated from Summit High School in 1940 and studied Geology at Upsala College and the University of Texas, until joining the United States Army in May, 1943. Al was a bazooka man in a rifle company in the 99th Infantry Division. His unit first saw combat at the Battle of the Bulge on the initial day of the German assault in December 1944. Al’s company took 70% casualties at the Bulge, many of those at Elsenborn Ridge, a brutal, confused battle that lasted for days, but resulted in a stunning, if costly, victory for the U.S. 1st Army. In March 1945, Al’s unit crossed the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, Germany, under fire. Al was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he received near there, at a skirmish in which his foxhole-mate was killed. After recovering, Al returned to active duty and served as a bodyguard for the Commanding General of the 99th Infantry. He was very proud of his service but laughed easily at his own stories. When asked years later how he managed to survive the Bulge, march across Europe, cross the Rhine at Remagen, and vanquish the Nazis, but still

»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

March

2015

8:00 AM -5:00 PM Grand Forks, North Dakota Lunch is included

RMAG Bakken-Three Forks Core Workshop Instructors: Julie LeFever, Michael Hendricks, Steve Sonnenberg

As a follow-up to the RMAG Core Workshop held in Denver last October, we are oďŹ&#x20AC;ering an extended review of Bakken and Three Forks cores in Grand Forks, ND at the North Dakota Geological Survey Core Depository. The cores include most or all of the Three Forks, but many of the cores include part or all of the Bakken as well. Cores from the center of the Williston Basin and the southern and northern edges of the basin will be displayed. There will be one or two short talks, and hopefully, many discussions on each core.

We will be examining the following cores: State # Well Name Location 22327 Natalie 2-142-99 22493 Bernice 20-150-99 22809 Baja 15-163-99 24123 Mariana Trust 20-149-97 24694 Kovash 31-143-95 24779 Sirp 12-153-92 26194 Olson 31-156-96 26223 Rundle Trust 29-136-99 26443 Ellison 3-143-103 26582 Maus 26-141-104

Registration Closes March 11th Member Price: $200 Non-Member Price: $250 Julie LeFever: jlefever@nd.gov RMAG Email: staďŹ&#x20AC;@rmag.org 35 OUTCROP | March 2015 Michael Hendricks: mike@hendricksoil.com RMAG Phone: (303) 573-8621 Steve Sonnenberg : ssonnenb@mines.edu RMAG Fax: (303) 476-2241

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

memoriam

Lutheran Church in Denver. He became a consultant in 1957 and worked in this capacity most of the rest of his life: mapping, generating prospects and watching hundreds of wells in Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming. Al was particularly pleased to have been an independent consultant for 55 years and that he worked until he was 90. Two oil discoveries of about one million barrels each were the result of his prospects: Grandview in Banner County, NE, and High Pockets (named for Al) in Washington County, CO.v Al served as President of the

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OUTCROP | March 2015

17th Street sidewalk, filled with friends he stopped to see. After sharing 53 years of marriage, Al’s beloved wife, Ruth, passed away in 2007. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Robert Nelson. Al is survived by his two children, Elizabeth “Libby” Nelson Crouch (husband, Scott) and Jon Nelson (wife, Jennifer); and five grandchildren, Morgan Crouch, Max Crouch, Henry Crouch, Brooklyn Nelson and Byron Nelson. Al had a genius for making and keeping friendships across the generations. He was generous with his many long yarns, his keen understanding of wellsite geology and his astonishing memory. He lived 70 years after his service in combat, drawing the life lesson that, “I get up every morning and know it’s going to be a good day because my feet are dry, I’m going to get a hot breakfast, and no one will be trying to shoot me.” A celebration of Al’s life was held on January 28 at Augustana Lutheran. A graveside service with military honors followed at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Al’s family has asked that donations in his memory be directed to Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains (http:// www.lfsrm.org), the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org), or the Veterans Memorial Scholarship of the RMAG Foundation (http:// www.rmag.org/i4a/pages/index. cfm?pageid=3307).

Denver Round Table, Presidents Round Table, Petroleum Pioneers, and the Remagen Bridge Society. He was Executive Vice President of Big Brothers of Colorado, National President of the 99th Infantry Division Association and a member of the Denver Jaycees. Al also was a longtime active member of RMAG, WGA, AAPG, and the Denver Well Logging Society, becoming its first (and only) Honorary Lifetime Member. He loved fishing and skiing in the Rockies. Al was a regular at the RMAG/DAPL Geoland Ski Day well into his 80s. His lean 6’6” frame was unmistakable on skis or from blocks away down a

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Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

RMAG ♦♦ DAPL GeoLand Ski Day 2015 REGISTRATION FORM: BEAVER CREEK RESORT – Friday, March 6, 2015 Deadline for reservations is Monday 3/2/15 ♦♦ No refunds after Friday, 2/27/15

**Ski Downhill – Snowboard – Cross Country – Snow Shoe**

Name: Affiliation:

RMAG/Geologist

Ski Pass:

Epic/local

DAPL/Landman

Super Pass

Other:

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Company: Address: Phone:

E-mail:

Please Reserve:

Downhill Lift Tickets, Bus Ride and Après Ski Party Downhill Lift Tickets and Après Ski Party (No bus) Bus Ride and Party Only Après Ski Party Only

# # # #

x $175 = x $140 = x $105 = x $ 70 =

$___________ $___________ $___________ $___________ *Door Prizes*Complimentary Food & Wine/Beer*Cash Bar Available*Silent Auction* Total $___________

Pay online with a credit card via PayPal: www.DAPLDenver.org OR mail check to: RMAG/DAPL GeoLand Ski Day, 535 16th Street, Suite 850, Denver, CO 80202

�� Submit form to DAPL (303-446-2253): dapl@integra.net, fax 303-595-9701 �� Schedule of Events 7:10 am

12:00 pm 3-‐5:30pm 7:30pm

Buses Depart

RTD Federal Center Station in Lakewood Denver Federal Center 11601 W. 2nd Pl. Lakewood, CO 80228 http://www3.rtd-‐denver.com/elbert/PNRMap/ *24 hours of free parking for Denver County residents ($4 for non-‐residents -‐ eligibility check: http://www.rtd-‐denver.com/HowToPark.shtml) *Coffee/donuts provided* Skiing/Riding Nastar race (details provided on bus) Lunch Re-‐group at Spruce Saddle (top of Centennial Lift) Après Ski Party Westin at the bottom of the Riverfront Express Gondola from the Beaver Creek Landing Buses Arrive RTD Federal Center Station in Lakewood

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | March 2015

April 16, 2015 The RMAG and PTTC Present a 1-Day Short Course Held at Newfield Exploration 1001 17th Street #2000, Denver, CO 80202

Seismic Interpretation for Explorationists

Instructor: Bruce Trudgill

Associate Professor at the Colorado School of Mines PhD in Structural Geology from Imperial College, London 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 interpretation of seismic reflection data, applying structural and stratigraphic concepts to a number of seismic interpretation exercises. Outline of Topics covered • The seismic reflection method: Advantages and Pitfalls • Key geophysical concepts for seismic interpretation • A geological approach to seismic interpretation • Methodologies for interpreting faults in seismic data • Rift systems: Seismic packages and evolution • Salt Systems: Key concepts and strategies • Fold and Thrust Systems and Foreland Basin: interpretation strategies in structurally complex regions • Inverted Basins: rifting followed by shortening • Passive margins: large-scale evolution of linked systems

Teaching Currently Professor Trudgill teaches both undergraduate and graduate classes at CSM in applied structural geology as well as field and seismic interpretation courses for industry through Nautilus. Research Professor Trudgill’s main research interests are in the evolution of geological structures through time and how this influences depositional systems. Currently he is working on both sub-surface and field-based projects from around the globe.

Registration Closes April 9th at 4:30 PM

OUTCROP | March 2015

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

S A V E

presents: RMAG Fall Symposium

rmag fall symp T

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.

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | March 2015

H E D A T E

ADVERTISER INDEX • AAPG �� 9, 15

• Johnson Geo-Consulting, LLC �� 10

• Alliance Insurance Agency �� 29

• Kestrel Geoscience, LLC �� 10

• Anschutz Exploration �� 28

• Lario Oil & Gas Co. �� 31

• Bowler Petrophysics �� 29

• Louis J. Mazzullo, LLC �� 8

• Breckenridge Exploration Co., LLC �� 17

• Mineral Appraiser, LLC �� 10

• Crown Geochemistry �� 8

• MJ Systems �� 19

• Daub & Associates, Inc. �� 8

• Nautilus �� 31

• Devon �� 6

• Neil H. Whitehead III �� 10

• Dolan Integration Group �� 4

• PTTC �� 3

• Donovan Brothers Inc. �� 8

• QEP Resources �� 21

• Encana �� 16

• RBC Wealth Management �� 12

• Fluid Inclusion Technologies �� 13

• Samson Energy �� 20

• GeoMark Research, LTD �� 24

• Stephens Production Co. �� 28

• Geosteering, LLC �� 17

• Stoner Engineering, LLC �� 11

• Great Western Oil & Gas �� 27

• Stratochem Services �� 13

• Horizontal Solutions Intl. �� 8, 27

• Tracker Resources �� 14

• iBall Instruments �� 6

• T-Rex Oil Inc. �� 10

• James C. Karo Associates �� 24

• Weber Law Firm, LLC �� 10

CALENDAR | MARCH 2015 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

RMAG & DAPL GeoLand Ski Day.

RMAG Luncheon.

9 PTTC Rockies Conference.

PTTC Rockies Conference.

PTTC Rockies Short Course.

PTTC Rockies Conference. DIPS Luncheon.

RMAG BakkenThree Forks Core Workshop

DWLS Luncheon.

Oilfield Christian Fellowship.

RMS-SEPM Luncheon. Hart DUG. Bakken and Niobrara.

OUTCROP | March 2015

Vol. 64, No. 3 | www.rmag.org