June 2021 Outcrop by The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

Volume 70 • No. 6 • June 2021

The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

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OUTCROP | June 2021

Vol. 70, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

1999 Broadway • Suite 730 • Denver, CO 80202 • 720-672-9898 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.

2021 OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT

2nd VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT

Cat Campbell ccampbell@caminoresources.com

Mark Millard millardm@gmail.com

PRESIDENT-ELECT

SECRETARY

Rob Diedrich rdiedrich75@gmail.com

Jessica Davey jessica.davey@sproule.com

1st VICE PRESIDENT

TREASURER

Nathan Rogers nathantrogers@gmail.com

Rebecca Johnson Scrable rebecca.johnson@bpx.com

1st VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT

TREASURER ELECT

Courtney Beck Antolik courtneyantolik14@gmail.com

Mike Tischer mtischer@gmail.com

2nd VICE PRESIDENT

COUNSELOR

Peter Kubik pkubik@mallardexploration.com

Jeff May jmay.kcrossen@gmail.com

RMAG STAFF DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Kathy Mitchell-Garton kmitchellgarton@rmag.org DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES

Debby Watkins dwatkins@rmag.org CO-EDITORS

Courtney Beck Antolik courtneyantolik14@gmail.com Nate LaFontaine nlafontaine@sm-energy.com Wylie Walker wylie.walker@gmail.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Rates and sizes can be found on page 10. 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 720-672-9898. Ad copy, signed contract and payment must be received before advertising insertion. Contact the RMAG office for details. DEADLINES: Ad submissions are the 1st of every month for the following month’s publication. The Outcrop is a monthly publication of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists DESIGN/LAYOUT: Nate Silva | nate@nate-silva.com

Vol. 70, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

3 3

Elijah Adeniyi elijahadeniyi@montana.edu Danielle Robinson danielle.robinson@dvn.com Rex Stout rex.stout@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY NOON LUNCHEON RESERVATIONS

RMAG Office: 720-672-9898 Fax: 323-352-0046 staff@rmag.org or www.rmag.org

Outcrop | June 2021 OUTCROP

LET’S GET OUTSIDE!

RMAG On the ROcks Field tRips 2021 Registration is open!

Visit www.rmag.org for details and to register. Downtown Denver Building Stones Virtual Trip Virtual happy hour led by Rob Diedrich & David Schoderbek

¿ August 7 Cripple Creek/Victor Mine Tour Led by Gary Curtiss

¿ July 10 Sweetwater Valley/Eagle Basin Fossil Collecting Trip Led by John McLeod & Dennis Gertenbach

¿ August 20 (Friday) Detroit City Portal Rhodochrosite Mine Tour* Led by mine geologist Dean Misantoni

¿ July 16 (Friday) Paint Mines Interpretive Park Family trip led by Bob Raynolds

¿ September/October, date TBD Corral Bluffs Fossils: Rise of the Mammals* Led by Tyler Lyson & others, DMNS

¿ July 24 Dinosaur Ridge & Morrison Natural History Museum Family trip led by Kermit Shields

¿ October, dates TBD Picketwire Dinosaur Trackways* Overnight trip led by Martin Lockley

¿ June 9 @4pm

*Registration not yet open for these trips, as dates and/or details are yet to be finalized. email: staff@rmag.org | phone: 720.672.9898 OUTCROP | June 2021 1999 Broadway, Suite 730, Denver CO 80202

fax: 323.352.0046 web: Vol. 70, | No. 6 |www.rmag.org www.rmag.org follow: @rmagdenver

OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

CONTENTS FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

12 Lead Story: Carbon Capture & Storage Potential In Colorado

6 RMAG May 2021 Board Of Directors Meeting 8 President’s Letter

ASSOCIATION NEWS

10 Outcrop Advertising Rates

2 RMAG Summit Sponsors

18 Online Lunch Talk: David (Randy) Blood

4 RMAG On-The-Rocks Field Trips 7 RMAG Geohike Challenge

22 Online Lunch Talk: Katherine French

9 RMAG Geohike/Outcrop Photo Contest

23 In The Pipeline

11 RMAG Sporting Clay Tounament 15 2021 RMAG Golf Tournament

Vol. 70, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

24 Welcome New RMAG Members!

COVER PHOTO Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Photo by Nate La Fontaine

25 Advertiser Index 25 Calendar

OUTCROP | June 2021

RMAG MAY 2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING By Jessica Davey, Secretary jessica.davey@sproule.com

OUTCROP | June 2021

also pulling together an extra-special 100-year Anniversary edition to celebrate 100 years of RMAG awesomeness in 2022. The On the Rocks Committee has in-person field trips-Woohoo! Visit the RMAG website to sign up. The Educational Outreach Committee is working hard to get the word out about the Teach of the Year Award as well as engaging K-12 schools in geo-related educational opportunities. The Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion is brand new for RMAG. Keep an eye out for more information as the Committee pulls together the vision. My daughter and I decided that we are going to visit all of the caves open to the public (and do not require advanced spelunking skills) this summer. So far, we have picked out Cave of the Winds, the Fairy Caves in Glenwood Springs, and the Ice Cave near Rifle Gap. My daughter has been learning about the erosional effects of pollution and acidic rain, so what better to demonstrate erosion than these fun karst features! Do you have any favorite cave spots?

Hello fellow rock lovers! We are officially in summer-time weather, which means field season! I hope you have some fun outdoor adventures planned. The 2021 RMAG Board of Directors met virtually at 4 pm on Wednesday, May 19. Everyone was present for the meeting except Second VP-Elect Mark Millard. Treasurer Rebecca Johnson Scrable reported that the RMAG financials are still looking good for 2021. Debby and Kathy continue to manage the RMAG operations remotely from their homes. The Continuing Education Committee is planning to return to in-person luncheons in September (fingers crossed!). Don’t worry, though, if you’ve been loving the online talks, as the plan is to offer both options going forward. Have you registered for the 2021 Geohike Challenge yet? If not, visit register on the RMAG website ASAP! The Membership Committee has been diligently working on pulling all the final details together for this super fun event! Did you check out the April Mountain Geologist? There is some great reading on the San Juan Basin. The Publications Committee is

Vol. 70, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

RMAG GEOHIKE CHALLENGE KICK-OFF JUNE 13TH The 2021 RMAG Geohike Challenge is bigger and better than ever! New scavenger hunt items, new hats & t-shirts, new contests (a photo contest and a kids’ contest), monthly prizes, and a kick-off event on June 13th. Prizes awarded to the winners (gift card to REI, anyone?) and announced at AAPG/SEG in September!

REGISTRATION IS OPEN! See www.rmag.org for details and to register.

#rmaggeohikechallenge2021

Vol. 70, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2021

PRESIDENT’S LETTER By Cat Campbell

these thoughts, this is a huge step towards returning to pre-pandemic normal. One of my favorite parts of the pre-pandemic normal was attending RMAG events (and no, I am not saying this because I am president and my job is to promote RMAG, I just really like you guys). The collaboration, energy, and passion we all share truly makes the RMAG membership a tight-knit community making geoscience even more fun.

If you’ve been fully vaccinated: • You can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic. • You can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart... —CDC GUIDANCE 5/19/2021

Wait…what? My mind is racing. Take my mask off around other people? That phrase goes against everything ingrained in me since last March! This piece of cloth has been my constant companion while navigating the past year and struggling to maneuver through a global pandemic. It represents far more than a protective barrier; it allowed me freedom of movement within society and made some semblance of normal exist despite the crisis gripping the world. Hearing these words from the CDC brings on so many emotions from excitement to fear to confusion, but regardless of

OUTCROP | June 2021

Companies that invest more in digital transformation actually outperform their peers over time. These companies are more prepared for disruption, better able to monetize new digital channels, and better able to build a bigger user base. What’s more, this phenomenon exists regardless of industry. —GEOFF CUBITT (ISOBAR USA CEO)

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Vol. 70, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

RMAG Geohike Challenge/Outcrop Magazine

Ansel Adams Photo Contest

We want your best photos! It might not be Yosemite (though it could be) and it doesn’t have to be black & white, but we want your best photos from your Geohike Challenge adventures! The Outcrop editorial team is planning a special “Geohike Photography” edition of The Outcrop for October 2021, which will include the best submitted images, with the winning photograph featured on the front cover. We want to showcase the talent of our community, as well as the amazing geology you are surrounded with, wherever you live. So register for Geohike and get your camera (or phone) ready! See the RMAG website for details. Participants must be registered for the 2021 Geohike Challenge to win.

OUTCROP | June 2021

PRESIDENT’S LETTER an incredible opportunity for five people to tour the Detroit City Portal Rhodochrosite Mine, participation will be determined through a drawing open to all RMAG members. Check out the RMAG website for more information and to register for trips!

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Our incredible pivot to online events last spring opened up the transfer of scientific knowledge and ideas to our community as everything around us was closing. We maintained our monthly lunches with little bobbing heads on zoom calls and took online courses covering the gamut of geoscience topics. We found our reach expanded as our presence moved online, with event attendees from throughout the US and the world! This brings up the question of what the future of RMAG events will look like as we remove our masks and begin to interact in person once again. We want to remain nimble as the COVID situation continues to evolve with hopefully more restrictions being lifted as the population is vaccinated. With that being said, our first lunch will be held in September, with additional details to be determined as the time approaches. This lunch and hopefully all future lunches will be hybrid events, allowing for continuation of opportunities for non-local interaction within our society. If you can’t wait until September to see other members in person, the On the Rocks committee has been hard at work creating a fun, educational, and inclusive series of field trips for the summer. We have

A person’s most useful asset is not a head full of knowledge, but a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen and a hand willing to help others. —ATTRIBUTED TO KOTAKU WAMURA

The past year placed us in a world previously unknown to our generation. The difficulties, losses, and challenges are impacting each of us in unique ways and we are each finding coping mechanisms that work for us. As the world opens back up, keep this in mind as we interact with each other. Invite someone who lost a loved one or was laid off to grab a coffee; lend an ear and show the compassion you would want if you were in his or her shoes. Thank you for being a valuable part of the RMAG community and I am excited to see your smiling face in the field or at a lunch this fall.

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OUTCROP | June 2021

Vol. 70, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

G eoloGisTs

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Kiowa Creek Sporting Club | August 5, 2021 • Prizes for individual high score and team 1st, 2nd, & 3rd flights • Includes 1 round of 100 sporting clays, lunch, and door prizes • Does not include ammunition (please bring enough ammo for 100 clays, or you may purchase ammo at Kiowa Creek) • You may rent a gun for $20 onsite (limited quantities)

5 person team (member): $425 5 person team (non-member): $500 Individual (member): $85 Individual (non-member): $100

Registration and sponsorships available at www.rmag.org! Thanks to our Premier Event Sponsor, Confluence Resources! email: staff@rmag.org | phone: 800.970.7624 Vol. 70, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

1999 Broadway, Suite 730, Denver CO 80202

fax: 323.352.0046 | web: www.rmag.org OUTCROP | June 2021

follow: @rmagdenver

LEAD STORY

CARBON CAPTURE & STORAGE POTENTIAL IN COLORADO BY SUSAN HOVORKA AND EMILY MOSKAL

OUTCROP | June 2021

Vol. 70, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

long-term storage. For geologists, CCS is an attractive option. Upon capture, storage in sedimentary basins is a key component of the process. Many options are available for capture. The higher the CO2 concentration, the more attractive the supply. Nearly pure CO2 is available as the off-gas from ethanol manufacturing and from gas processing and gas purification for LNG. Other high concentration sources can be derived from refined products such as hydrogen or ethylene oxide. Unlike these high concentration options, conventional combustion dilutes the CO2 with air. Options to capture CO2 from such dilute mixtures include chemical and physical processes that effectively concentrate CO2, or alternatively, re-engineering energy production processes in various ways to produce a concentrated CO2 stream. CO2 from direct air capture (DAC) is the most dilute of sources, and this endeavor requires favorable engineering and clever processes to lower energy costs. In all cases, upon capture, CO2 is compressed to a dense phase and shipped via pipeline to a permitted storage site. Selecting a storage site requires a geologist’s expertise, while designing the injection process is in the domain of subsurface engineers. The skills needed are similar to those in hydrocarbon exploration and production, with interesting reversals and modifications. It may be useful to repurpose a depleted oil or gas field; however, management of the isolation of many wells can be onerous and lead to high long-term leakage risks. It is therefore also desirable to consider storage in areas that never trapped hydrocarbons, known as deep saline formations (DSF). Other sequestering options such as CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) are well established in depleted hydrocarbon fields. More novel options such as storage in fractured shale or cleated coal, mineral trapping, or various forms of enhanced reaction or dissolution also require geotechnical skillsets; however they are not the focus for our discussion here. Scoping a suitable storage site must be done with care as the natural characteristics of the injection area provide most of the assurance of

ARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) IS THE by-product of fuel combustion (coal, oil, gas, or even wood) that produces energy as heat or electricity. In addition, other non-combustion processes such as liquefying natural gas, manufacturing cement, producing steel, refining, and petrochemical manufacturing produce CO2. Heating and cooling associated with these processes also produces CO2. CO2 released to the atmosphere from point sources is a growing concern for industries – for example, investors are increasingly shopping for ventures with reduced CO2 liability, and incentives for CO2 emission reduction are developing. In order for the world to meet its climate targets and prevent a rise of global temperatures by 1.5 degrees Celsius, carbon neutral and negative emission technologies need to be developed at a large scale. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world’s leading authority on the topic, carbon capture and storage (CCS) needs to account for 13% of emissions reduction by 2050. The International Energy Agency states that we need to upscale carbon capture and storage by two orders of magnitude from where it is now by 2050. Geologists have a prime opportunity and the skillset to contribute to the success of climate change mitigation. There are many attractive options for CO2 reduction, from energy conservation to renewable energy source development. CCS is an emerging technology, with projects developed in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, Brazil and other countries. Although no projects have been developed in Colorado, the state’s geology is amenable to CO2 injection and suggests that CCS should be pursued by geologists in the state. The two basins discussed here are potential targets for injection, given various properties that lend to high injectivity. CCS requires geology that has a variety of properties, allowing for easy injection without risk of pressure buildup, ensuring that CO2 is retained in the reservoir. Parameters like porosity, permeability, depth, isolation from other natural resources, and others ensure that a rock formation is a likely candidate for safe,

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OUTCROP | June 2021

LEAD STORY

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during development. Not all the reservoirs in the Rocky Mountains have been assessed for CO2 storage. Some samples can be considered in the University of Texas’ database at: https://www.beg.utexas.edu/gccc/ CO2-data/ data-main.

long-term storage. Top selection criteria are a suitable high transmissivity (high permeability over a suitable thickness) with sufficient lateral continuity to accept large amounts of CO2. Injection of 0.5 to 1.5 million metric tons per year per well, is generally required to provide favorable economics. As more wells are required to obtain the injection rate, the value of storage resource drops. If the reservoir has not held hydrocarbons, the issues of viability of a seal becomes important to assess. However, CO2 is more soluble than hydrocarbons and has approximately equivalent migration losses because of pore-scale trapping. Reservoirs that greatly retard migration of CO2 over 1,000year time frames may be acceptable, even though they did not retain oil over geologic time scales. In addition, many other factors such as protection of freshwater and other resources and avoidance of induced seismicity require geotechnical consideration

DENVER BASIN, LYONS FORMATION

Two Colorado injection targets are considered here (Figure 1). In the south-central part of the Denver Basin, the Permian Lyons Sandstone was evaluated based on a literature review of CO2 storage potential. Overlying the Lyons Formation, the porous sandstone units from the Triassic (Dockum sandstone), the Triassic-Jurassic (Jelm-Entrada sandstone), and the Cretaceous Dakota Group likely favor CO2 injection as well, making the Denver Basin a highly favorable “stacked storage”

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FIGURE 1: A GIS map of the depth of the Lyons Formation shows the regional

extent of the formation in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming.

OUTCROP | June 2021

Vol. 70, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

S EPTEMBER 25 2021

New Date!

2021

RMAG GOLF

TOURNAMENT

8:00am Shotgun at Arrowhead Golf Club Registration includes entry, 18-holes of golf, cart, breakfast, lunch, & entry to win great door prizes

Thank you to our Premier Event Sponsor!

Registration open!

Teams of 4 and Individuals are welcome to register Member Team: $780 Non-Member Team: $880

email: staﬀ@rmag.org

phone: 720.672.9898

1999 Broadway, Ste. 730, Denver, CO, 80202

Member Individual: $195 Non-Member Individual: $220

fax: 323.352.0046 follow: @rmagdenver

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LEAD STORY

FIGURE 2: A GIS map of the depth of the Morrison Group shows the

regional extent of the formation in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.

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prospect. The Lyons sandstone occurs at favorable depths (2,400 to 400 ft) for CO2 storage and has suitable thickness (200 to 600 ft) with high-net sandstone to the south. The well-sorted near-shore and eolian depositional environments likely create high injectivity. Further study is needed to assess the stratigraphic complexity that favors trapping. In addition, the diagenetic history of calcite, quartz and iron oxide precipitation that limit injectivity are barriers to some parts of the Lyons Formation. 25 to 160 feet of Triassic-age Lykins red shale and siltstone, evaporite, and carbonate are likely to form a good quality top seal on the Lyons. The interference or benefit from major producing fields such as the Black Hollow and Pierce fields would need to be evaluated. As is typical of many Rocky Mountain basins, the flow system in the Lyons Formation is dynamic. Fresh water less than 10,000 M/L TDS is protected from CO2 injection. It would be critical to assess if this standard can be met.

OUTCROP | June 2021

SAN JUAN BASIN, MORRISON GROUP The San Juan Basin (Figure 2) is another prospective storage location. To explore its potential, we consider the stratigraphically complex Morrison Group. The Morrison Group has favorable transmissivity of up to 5 m/day, excellent thickness of 50 to 350 m, and is most suitable for storage at depths of 1.5-3 km. Reservoir complexity is expected to be high where the depositional environments are fluvial. This is favorable for trapping CO2 but will require sufficient exploration to locate “sweet spots’’ for injection. Mudrock zones within the Morrison Group can serve as confining layers. For example, the Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation, composed of green, olive, and maroon mudstones, is a suitable top seal. Because the mudrock zones are variable in thickness and lithology, detailed study would be needed at the site-scale to identify permissible storage sites. Like the units in the Denver basin, the hydrocarbon resources in the

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LEAD STORY

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Creek units. However, in most areas, the units occur at too shallow a depth to be suitable for storage and also have active fresh water recharge so that fresh waters would be protected and unavailable for injection. More exploration is needed to assess the structurally deepest part of these units as well as the suitability of older units beneath them.

Morrison are both a benefit and a risk. To the former point, they provide high-value, dense data, not only on rock properties but the flow of fluids within them. Additionally, depleted fields like the San Juan Basin can be considered as EOR candidates or for proven storage volumes. However, the quality of wells that penetrate the Morrison are a containment risk that must be evaluated with care, as any interference with remaining hydrocarbon resource may limit the conflicting use of the subsurface. Like the Lyons sandstone, fresh water recharge areas at the basin margins require protection and will also limit the viable injection targets, although the deep basin is quite saline. Lastly, the mineralogically complex rocks may react with CO2, providing additional trapping potential.

SOME BACKGROUND ON GULF COAST CARBON CENTER (GCCC)

GCCC is a research consortium in Austin, Texas that is a world leader in CO2 storage technology. Researchers at GCCC study the pressure buildup and migration of the fluid through the potential storage reservoirs to ensure safe storage that complies with local and federal regulations. The GCCC is a research consortium within the Bureau of Economic Geology, the state geological survey, at the University of Texas at Austin. The GCCC has been around since 1998 and initiated the first U.S. CO2 injection not intended for oil recovery as part of the Frio Brine Pilot Experiment, funded by the Department of Energy.

ADDITIONAL STORAGE SITES

The Glen Canyon Group in Western Colorado is more problematic. The rock properties of the thick, clean eolian sandstones in the group are excellent for injection, with a suitable top seal in the Carmel-Twin

Vol. 70, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2021

ONLINE LUNCH TALK

FREE!

Speaker: David (Randy) Blood June 2, 2021 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

BERS MEM Y ONL

Creating Giants Insights into the depositional and diagenetic pathways that created two of the most prolific unconventional reservoirs in the U.S., the Ordovician Utica Shale/Point Pleasant Limestone and the Devonian Marcellus Shale By David (Randy) Blood, DRB Geological Consulting Applied Stratigraphix developed on core retrieved from both formations. The Marcellus exhibits enrichments in redox sensitive trace elements, a framboid population detailing abundant small, <5 µm framboids, with subordinate large framboids, and occasional bioturbation. These observations suggest that sediments accumulated under dominantly anoxic to euxinic bottom waters that were occasionally subjected to periods of (dys) oxia. The high total organic carbon content of the Marcellus Shale is largely the result of increased preservation due in part, to favorable oxygen-depleted conditions,

Appalachian Basin “shale gas” has become a significant component of U.S. natural gas production. Indeed, the EIA reports that the Devonian Marcellus Shale and Ordovician Utica/Point Pleasant accounted for 85% of the U.S shale gas production growth since 2012. While these two shale plays display similar production mechanisms (organic matter-hosted pores are the major source of porosity), the conditions under which these deposits accumulated were markedly different, and should be considered when exploring and identifying sweet spots. Vertical chemostratigraphic profiles and pyrite morphology trends were

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RANDY (DAVID) BLOOD is a geologist and petrophysicist based in the greater Pittsburgh area working on various aspects of Paleozoic strata in the Appalachian Basin. His current interests include evaluating sedimentary features within mudstones and how they affect hydrocarbon transport, drilling and completions, and the distribution and accumulation of critical minerals and rare earth elements. Before starting DRB Geological Consulting, he worked for EQT Production and Chesapeake Energy evaluating their unconventional assets, defining horizontal landing zones, and using inorganic geochemistry data to model facies, estimate rock mechanics, and help solve wellbore stability issues. He also has experience evaluating unconventional assets and sedimentary successions in basins across the United States and abroad.

OUTCROP | June 2021

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Proudly developing Colorado’s energy potential through innovation, safety and a commitment to our community l e a r n m o r e at : w w w . c r e s t o n e p e a k r e s o u r c e s . c o m

Vol. 70, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2021

ONLINE LUNCH TALK: JUNE far in excess of that observed in the Marcellus. While expulsion fractures, including Mode I vertical catagenic fractures, are common to the Marcellus, they are infrequent to absent in the Point Pleasant study area. One explanation is that the pressure needed to overcome the compressive stress carried by higher modulus, carbonate-rich sediments was never achieved, thus limiting fracturing and hydrocarbon expulsion and preserving its high pressure. Conversely, stress build-up from pore pressure resulting from hydrocarbon generation in lower modulus, more clayrich Marcellus sediments exceeded the tensile strength of the rock causing it to fracture and release hydrocarbons, subsequently lowering reservoir pressure.

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while concentration was controlled by dilution from clastic influx. Conversely, the Point Pleasant comprises mudstones and marls largely devoid of redox sensitive trace elements, minimal pyrite, a paucity of iron, and a number of in situ shell bed horizons. These observations suggest the Point Pleasant accumulated under oxic to dysoxic bottom water conditions. Further, the lack of iron-a biolimiting nutrient, and lower preservation potential due to oxidation of organic matter, yielded a formation of lower organic carbon concentration, where preservation occurred by rapid burial. It is noteworthy that, despite the lower organic carbon content, locally the Point Pleasant hosts a pore pressure gradient

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Mallard Exploration is a Denver-based upstream Oil & Gas Exploration and Production company focused on the DJ Basin of Colorado. We are building a successful business with strong ethics, hard work and industry-leading technology.

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OUTCROP | June 2021

ONLINE LUNCH TALK

FREE!

Speaker: Katherine French July 7, 2021 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

BERS MEM Y ONL

Geochemistry of the Cretaceous Mowry Shale in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming By Katherine French distal depositional environment. These samples were analyzed for bulk organic geochemistry, major and trace element geochemistry, and mineralogy. Samples from one of the drill cores were further analyzed for extractable organic matter composition, biomarkers, and stable organic carbon isotopic signatures. The results from these analyses were integrated to evaluate the stratigraphic variation in organic matter source and composition and depositional redox chemistry to determine drivers of organic- and hydrogen-richness in the Mowry Shale. Finally, the organic stable carbon isotopes were further evaluated to determine whether the oceanic anoxic event 1d (OAE 1d) influenced the deposition of the Mowry Shale.

The Cretaceous Mowry Shale, which is notable for its siliceous composition, is one of the major source rocks for petroleum in the central Rocky Mountain region. The hydrocarbon potential of the Mowry Shale has been recognized for years, but the Mowry Shale has generated renewed interest as a potential unconventional oil reservoir. The goal of the study presented in this talk is to refine our understanding of the conditions and processes in the Mowry Sea during the late Albian–Cenomanian that led to the deposition and organic enrichment of the Mowry Shale. Accordingly, samples were collected from three thermally immature cores drilled west of the Casper arch in the Wind River Basin of central Wyoming, which represents an intermediate to

KATHERINE (KATE) FRENCH is a research geochemist in the Central Energy Resources Science Center at the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver, Colorado. She received a B.S. in chemistry from Yale University in 2009, completed a Ph.D. in geochemistry from the MIT/WHOI joint program in chemical oceanography in 2014, and joined the USGS in 2017. She was a Fulbright Scholar in Germany from 2009 to 2010 and an Agouron postdoctoral fellow at WHOI from 2015 to 2016. Her research expertise is in organic geochemistry, specifically molecular characterization of organic matter preserved in sediments. She has applied her research across multiple fields, including petroleum system studies and resource assessments, geobiology of early earth, paleoenvironmental characterization of mass extinctions and oceanic anoxic events, and carbon cycle modeling of organic matter transported from land to sea. Her research emphasizes improved analytical methods and better understanding of how to interpret biomarkers in the sedimentary record. She has been consulted as an expert on organic biosignatures on Earth and other planets and advised on contamination requirements for the Mars Sample Return program. She is an associate editor for the journal Deep-Sea Research Part I.

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IN THE PIPELINE JUNE 2, 2021

JUNE 11, 2021

RMAG Online Luncheon. Speaker: Randy Blood. “Creating Giants: Devonian Marcellus Shale and Ordovician Utica/Point Pleasant.” Online via RingCentral Meetings. 12:00 PM-1:00 PM.

Rocky Mountain Pipeliners Club Golf Tournament. Fossil Trace Golf Club. Golden, CO. 7:00 AM-5:00 PM.

JUNE 9, 2021

RMAG GeoHike Challenge.

RMAG Virtual Field Trip & Happy Hour. “Denver Downtown Building Stones.” Online via RingCentral Meetings. 4:00 PM-6:00 PM.

JUNE 16, 2021

JUNE 13 - SEPT. 15, 2021

COGA Colorado Rule Overview Webinar. 1:00 PM-4:30 PM. Happy Hour to follow at 5:00 PM. Register at www. coga.org

2019.3.2 Available for Download Peter Batdorf

CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT MANAGER

Vol. 70, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

Senior Account Manager (GeoGraphix by LMKR) C : + 1 724 919 2506 | P : + 1 412 795 1271 pbatdorf@lmkr.com

OUTCROP | June 2021

WELCOME NEW RMAG MEMBERS!

Colleen Bridge

is a Senior Staff Geologist at Berry Corporation and lives in Bakersfield, California.

H Brown III

is Manager at Alpine Resources LLC and lives in Denver, Colorado.

Bianca Maibauer

Lauren Robinson

works at Chevron and lives in Evanston, Wyoming.

is a Geology Consultant and lives in Houston, Texas.

Zaid Nadhim

Nicolas Rodríguez Oria

Bailey Nelson

is a Senior Project Geoscientist at Centennial Resource Development and lives in Denver, Colorado.

is a Ph.D student and lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

is a student and lives in Chile.

Ali Sloan

John Buggenhagen

is a Senior Geologist at Felix Energy and lives in Silverthorne, Colorado.

lives in Gunnison, Colorado.

is a Geologist-Geophysicist at Elk Mesa Energy LLC and lives in Littleton, Colorado.

is a student and lives in Marlow, OK.

is a Staff Geologist at Groundwater and Environmental Services and lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Haley Thoresen

lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Erica Evans

Mary Harlan

is a student at Prescott College and lives in Redstone, Colorado.

Rachel Krueger

works at Golden Software and lives in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

Emily Lange

is a Senior Asset Geologist at Tap Rock Resources and lives in Evergreen, Colorado.

Michelle Lund

is a new RMAG member.

Charles O’Melveny Luke O’Sadnick Abbey Padgett

is a Geologist at Aethon Energy and lives in Dallas, Texas.

James Phelps

is a Senior Geologist at Berry Corporation and lives in Bakersfield, California.

Kailee Smith

Stephen Sullivan

lives in Foxfield, Colorado. is a student at the University of Idaho and lives in Moscow, ID.

Haley Thorson

is a student at the Colorado School of Mines and lives in Golden, Colorado.

Rachel Toner

is a Project Geologiist at Wyoming State Geological Survey and lives in Laramie, Wyoming.

Well Log Digitizing • Petrophysics Petra® Projects • Mud Log Evaluation Bill Donovan

Geologist • Petroleum Engineer • PE

(720) 351-7470 donovan@petroleum-eng.com OUTCROP | June 2021

Vol. 70, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

ADVERTISER INDEX

• Crestone Peak Resources �� 19

• LMKR �� 23

• Daub & Associates �� 24

• Mallard Exploration �� 21

• Donovan Brothers Inc. �� 24

• Schlumberger �� 21

• GeoMark Research �� 17

• Seisware �� 6

• Great Western �� 20

• Tracerco �� 19

CALENDAR – JUNE 2021 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

RMAG Online Luncheon.

Rocky Mountain Pipeliners Club Golf Tournament.

RMAG Virtual Field Trip & Happy Hour.

RMAG GeoHike Challenge Kick-off.

COGA Colorado Rule Overview Webinar.

RMAG GeoHike Challenge: June 13 - Sept. 15, 2021

Vol. 70, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2021

June 2021 Outcrop

Articles inside

Lead Story: Carbon Capture & Storage Potential In Colorado