OUTCROP
Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists
OUTCROP
Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists
730 17th Street, B1, 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.
2024 OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS RMAG STAFF
PRESIDENT Mike Tischer mtischer@gmail.com
PRESIDENT-ELECT Matt Bauer matthew.w.bauer.pg@gmail.com
1st VICE PRESIDENT Lisa Wolff lwolff@bayless-cos.com
1st VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT Nate La Fontaine nlafontaine@sm-energy.com
2nd VICE PRESIDENT Jason Eleson jason@geointegraconsulting.com
2nd VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT Ali Sloan ali@sloanmail.com
SECRETARY Drew Scherer flatirongeo@gmail.com
TREASURER
Holly Lindsey hrlindsey@bafatoy.com
TREASURER-ELECT
Astrid Makowitz astridmakowitz@gmail.com
COUNSELOR
Steve Crouch scrouch@whiteeagleexploration.com
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The Outcrop is a monthly publication of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists
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Painted Wall at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Photo Credit: Bobby Schoen
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October 20, 2023
We greatly appreciate every Summit Sponsor and Event Sponsor that has contributed to RMAG over the last year. We could not exist without your support
The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists celebrated a year of remarkable achievements, bringing together a global community of over 300 geologists for the Helium Conference for one of the first events exploring Helium production from exploration to processing. Monthly Women's Coffee, Membership Happy Hours, and thematic luncheons provided a supportive networking environment. In these gatherings, experts delved into diverse subjects, with topics that spanned from landslides to the intricate geology of the Permian Basin. RMAG also offered classes on oil and gas property valuation, enriching the skill set of members. A core workshop facilitated hands-on learning, and field trips to quarries, crater impacts and other geologic marvels ignited the spirit of exploration. Notably, the association extended its community impact through outreach at community festivals and classrooms across the Denver Metro area, emphasizing our dedication to advancing geological understanding and appreciation.
2024 brings new opportunities for RMAG Your sponsorship dollars will help RMAG bring to fruition an extensive calendar of continuing education opportunities, an exciting Field Trips season, and a dynamic list of luncheon speakers on topics ranging from the state of the industry to hydrogen and more. These dollars will allow RMAG Members impact the next generation at outreach events throughout the community and provide opportunities for the geoscience community to connect and build their network.
Your sponsorship dollars will also support our excellent publications including the monthly Outcrop newsletter and the quarterly Mountain Geologist journal We recognize your financial commitment with inperson signage, and website and publication advertising, as well as through social media before each online event. With a LinkedIn group of almost 3000 members, we make our sponsors visible to the geoscience community for both virtual and in person events
Thank you to those who are already a Summit Sponsor, we look forward to your continued support in 2024. If you are not already a sponsor, please look at the many complementary benefits included with the sponsorship levels. If our annual sponsorships don't make sense for your company, or you want to sponsor something specific, ask about our single event sponsorship opportunities. Please feel free to contact our staff with questions about sponsorship by email: bcrowther@ rmag.org or by phone at 720-672-9898 ext. 102
We and the staff of RMAG thank you all for your continued support and look forward to seeing you in 2024.
Michael Tischer
Bridget Crowther 2024 RMAG President RMAG Executive Director
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730 17th Street, B1 Denver, CO 80202
By Drew Scherer, Secretary flatirongeo@gmail.com
Summer of 2024 is kicking off in full swing, and we have just completed one of the busiest months of the year for most of our committees, so we have good news overall to report. The Board met on Wednesday, June 19th, 2024, at 4 pm via Zoom. All board members, except for two, were present. The meeting began with Bridget’s report of good attendance at the luncheons, coffee gatherings, and happy hours, along with high monthly readership of The Mountain Geologist and The Outcrop (if you’re reading this, you are helping us continue that positive trend forward).
The Finance committee kicked off the meeting with a positive financial report, showing growth in our internal revenue while supporting our geoscience community with contributions made to outreach events and technical conferences. The Continuing Education committee has a full slate of luncheons scheduled over the next couple of months and is preparing for future RMAG conferences and collaborative partnerships with other industries to introduce innovative and relevant workshops, conferences, and events. Similarly, the Membership committee recently hosted a joint happy hour with the Denver Geophysical Society and has future joint social events in the works. As a reminder from the committee, the annual RMAG Golf Tournament is coming up on August 20th at
Arrowhead Golf Club. Arrowhead is a stunning golf course for geoscientists of all golfing abilities. For those who aren’t inclined to enter the tournament, sponsorships are a great way to network, advertise your organization, and have a great time with the RMAG community at the event. See our website for more details.
Our Publications committee has many interesting and insightful articles in the pipeline for both the Mountain Geologist and the Outcrop, so stay tuned for our upcoming issues! Also, if you are interested in helping with the Publications committee, we are looking for a couple of additional committee members to fill some open positions. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Nate LaFontaine or Lisa Wolff for more information. The GO committee would like to thank our volunteers who showed up to help with Cinco de Mayo, Pridefest, and Juneteenth, all of which recorded outstanding levels of engagement with the community! Finally, OTR has two field trips scheduled for late July: first, the “Building Stones of Capitol Hill, Denver,” on Friday, July 26th, and “Pedals & Peaks: A Mountain Bike Geology Trip” on Saturday, July 27th. We hope you can make it to one or both of these wonderful excursions!
I hope you enjoy reading the rest of the Outcrop! Rock on!
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
By Mike Tischer
Dear RMAG Members,
Deus Ex Machina
As we continue to advance our understanding of the Earth, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the geosciences is opening new frontiers in research and application. AI technologies, particularly machine learning algorithms, are proving to be invaluable tools in processing and analyzing the vast amounts of data generated in our field. From predicting seismic activities to enhancing our understanding of climate change, AI is transforming how we interpret and utilize geological data. By automating complex data analysis, AI allows geoscientists to identify patterns and make predictions with unprecedented accuracy and speed, ultimately leading to more informed decision-making and innovative solutions to longstanding challenges.
Did the start of this letter sound weird to you? Did you notice anything strange? I have to admit, this opening is actually not bad, I would even say that I agree with a lot of the content. “Of course”, you’d say, “you wrote it”. Well…not really. You see, this opening was created by ChatGPT after I asked a simple question: “Write a couple of paragraphs of a member newsletter discussing the use of artificial intelligence in the geosciences”, I’m just showing the first paragraph here.
Most of you have probably heard of ChatGPT and Large Language Models or LLMs. It’s part of the current Artificial Intelligence (AI) hype and it’s EVERYWHERE. These days, you can’t open a piece of software without AI integration. Open up Microsoft Office and there is Copilot, “Your everyday AI companion”. Whatever happened to Clippy? Open up a pdf document with Adobe Acrobat and you can use the AI Assistant to generate a list of the 5 most
important points, create an email summary of the document or let the AI tell you what this document is all about.
But AI is not only available through software. It’s all over the web. Go to scienceOS and you will find an LLM solely dedicated to scientific publications, a science ChatGPT if you will. Their slogan is: “Chat with 220 Mio papers, your library, or just one PDF”. Nuts! These examples are just scratching the surface. I have been fascinated by the breadth, capability and speed with which the AI landscape is evolving. When you look at today’s business or science news there isn’t a day that goes by without someone offering a new AI application or a company announcing their custom AI integration that will help you be more efficient in your work. But is AI really that great? Or will it be the doom of us all?
I have been working with AI and its cousin Machine Learning (ML) in the geosciences and data sciences field for the last few years. I think what’s going to happen is what the Harvard Business Review stated in the title of an article from August 2023: “AI won’t replace humans – but humans with AI will
Geologist at the Arrowhead golf course. Rendered by DALL-E (ChatGPT).
replace humans without AI.” Meaning, folks who don’t know how to use AI or ML tools will be at a disadvantage finding jobs in geoscience and many other fields in the future. That makes sense to me. Think about it, would you hire anybody today who doesn’t know how to use a computer? So, I don’t think the threat of AI replacing us is as big as it’s made out to be by some folks, as long as you are able to adapt. Overall, AI/ML will be very useful, in my opinion.
However, there is always a flip side, and there are a couple of things related to AI that do concern me. Energy consumption is one of them. AI/ML tools are often linked to large data centers which can consume collectively the same energy as small countries. Due to the lack of transparency on the side of the companies who provide AI/ML tools and the lack of an established process on how to measure it, estimating energy consumption is not trivial (see this Verge article for some insight). I have to assume that if the use of these tools becomes common at work and at home (at the time of this writing, ChatGPT has about 100 million weekly users) energy consumption will skyrocket.
But there may be a bigger problem on the horizon, that of copyright infringement. LLMs draw from many potentially copyrighted sources. How these copyrights are enforced is not clear. You can find many articles about it online, just search for AI and copyright infringement. There are already a number of lawsuits pending. This issue has recently reached the geosciences community as well involving Deeptime Digital Earth’s (DEE) GeoGPT (see the recent article in the Geoscientist magazine titled ‘Geoscience AI in Crisis?’ for more details).
No matter what you think about AI or LLMs, these tools are here to stay and they will become an integral part of our daily life. They will also become important in the geosciences, not replacing humans but helping them refocus their work on more complex, more impactful tasks. RMAG should tap into this development and provide support to our community, offer training and provide a stage to showcase new developments.
I want to close this month’s letter with a shoutout to the upcoming RMAG golf tournament held on August 20 at Arrowhead Golf Club (see image). If you play golf or don’t, this is your chance to spend a day with friends in one of the greatest settings along the Front Range. You don’t want to miss it. Check our website to sign up.
Until then, enjoy this new issue of the Outcrop. And don’t worry, I promise I will write the remaining president’s letters for the rest of the year myself…or will I?
FROM DATA TO DISCOVERY
The Significance of Kinetic Study in Unconventional Resources
BY CHIOMA ONWUMELU, PHD
GAINING A HOLISTIC OVERVIEW
of hydrocarbon generation and accumulation in a petroleum system is a journey that mirrors the systematic synthesis of complex geological puzzles. Each data point, analysis, and result obtained during oil and gas exploration endeavors is pivotal in interpreting the Earth’s complex geological history. How we derive meanings from data is therefore essential in this journey since it provides the basis for building hypotheses, testing theories, making discoveries, and advancing knowledge. With this notion in mind, and taking the Bakken Formation as a case study, we witness the significance of Kinetic data synthesis in shaping our understanding of intricate geological processes.
OVERVIEW OF THE BAKKEN FORMATION AND ITS PETROLEUM SYSTEM
The Bakken Formation (Late Devonian to Early Mississippian) in the Williston Basin underlies parts of Montana, North Dakota, and the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (Figure 1). Bakken lies on a regional unconformity with the underlying
Three Forks Formation and is conformably overlain by the thick, tight Lodgepole Limestone. Bakken Formation has four members, including the upper and lower shale members and an intervening mixed siliciclastic and carbonate member (Figure 2). Also, the fourth member, Pronghorn (or Bakken silt member), is a discontinuous unit that occasionally contains thin limestone and basal sandstone.
The Bakken Petroleum System is extremely unique because its primary oil generation occurs in both upper and lower shale source rocks, making it the first example of a Basin-Centered Petroleum System at the regional level (Magoon and Schmoker, 2000). Consider a situation where an oil-producing source bed is surrounded by porous reservoir rocks that are not very permeable. These rocks’ interfacial capillary pore pressures prohibit the generated oil from escaping and migrating freely, leading to hydrocarbon accumulations that are unaffected by traditional stratigraphic and structural controls. This results in a Petroleum System where buoyancy and the corresponding density differences between formation oil and waters do not control the system. As a result, the Basin-Centered Petroleum System can effectively
store released oil in reservoirs that are close to the sources. Thus, determining where to find oil in such systems will depend on understanding the oil generation process rather than conventional stratigraphic or structural controls.
The exploration of Bakken has led to a significant increase in discoveries of reservoir zones within the Middle Bakken Member and underlying Three Forks. According to Dow (1974), Schmoker and Hester (1983), Webster (1983), Meissner (1978), Price and LeFever (1994), the estimated basin-centered petroleum system for the Bakken source rocks may have expelled between 10 to 413 billion barrels of oil, charging both unconventional and conventional reservoirs. As Bakken reservoir zones are discovered, an effort to understand the sub-basin Petroleum Systems requires modern techniques such as Kinetic study to evaluate the oil generation process and determine future production.
FIGURE 1: The extent of the Williston Basin and the extent of the Bakken Formation. The red star is the location of the representative stratigraphic column from 2-BRENDEN 9-33 1-M, NDIC # 24883 in Figure 2 (modified from Gerhard et al., 1982).
THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF KINETICS IN UNCONVENTIONAL PETROLEUM RESOURCES
Kinetics is the study of reaction rates and mechanisms that control oil and gas generation in a given petroleum system. Kinetics data are crucial to unconventional petroleum resources evaluation because they can help us understand the dynamic physiochemical processes that take place deep inside the Earth and act as a tool for deciphering their timing. Kinetics study extends beyond laboratory experiments and data analysis, carrying broader geological implications. They have proven to be instrumental in petroleum exploration, reservoir modeling, and optimizing strategies for efficient hydrocarbon recovery. Understanding hydrocarbon generation in a Basin-Centered Petroleum System like the Bakken thus requires a solid understanding of kinetics. The vital roles kinetics play in solving the mystery surrounding the enormous hydrocarbon deposits within unconventional petroleum reservoirs are further summarized below.
• Complexity of Organic Transformation: Kerogen and other complex organic compounds that
undergo extensive transformations throughout maturity are frequently found in unconventional reservoirs. Through kinetic studies, geoscientists can understand the rate at which these conversions take place and gain insights into the processes involved in the generation of hydrocarbons.
• Insight into Temperature-Dependent Processes: Kinetics study allows geoscientists to investigate how temperature affects chemical reactions in source rocks. Understanding the dynamics of organic materials reactions that vary with temperature allows us to forecast a reservoir’s thermal history, providing vital details regarding the formation of hydrocarbons.
• Differentiating Source Rock Types: Kinetics aids us in distinguishing between various types of source rocks. Different kerogen types exhibit distinct kinetic behaviors, and studying these patterns allows geoscientists to categorize source rocks based on their thermal evolution. This differentiation is crucial for assessing the potential of source rocks to generate oil and/or gas.
2: Stratigraphic section and log from NDIC file 24883. Sec. 33, T.164N., R77E. CORINTHIAN EXPLORATION (USA) CORP., 2-BRENDEN 9-33 1-M located by the red star on the map (Fig. 1 above). The green star is the sampled depth from Onwumelu and Nordeng (2023).
• Understanding Maturation Levels: We can determine a Kerogen maturation level based on the linear correlation of activation energy (Ea) and frequency factor (A) from kinetic results. With increasing thermal maturation of a source rock, the kinetic parameters are modified. By examining these variations, we can deduce the reservoir’s thermal history and gain an important understanding of its potential as a prolific source of hydrocarbons.
• Predicting Oil and Gas Yields: Petroleum geoscientist experts can forecast the potential oil and gas outputs from a given reservoir using information from kinetic studies. This predictive approach can greatly benefit oil exploration companies when
evaluating the economic feasibility of unconventional plays.
• Enhanced Exploration Strategies: Exploration geoscientists can determine the extent of petroleum generation within a potential source rock when accurate kinetic models are incorporated into the sedimentary basin evaluation. A better understanding of the kinetics of a reservoir allows for a targeted exploration effort, increasing the likelihood of discovering economically viable hydrocarbon deposits.
FIGURE
Learn about the early history of Denver and about the geology of the quarries where these unique rocks were extracted We will venture inside the State Capitol to view the Liesegang-banded Beulah Marble, one of Colorado’s most exquisite building stones. Other formations seen on the tour include the Yule Marble, Pike’s Peak and S. Beaver Creek Granites, Castle Rock Rhyolite and Manitou Sandstone.
KINETICS EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES
In order to simulate the geological processes that occur in the Bakken Formation, we utilize various Kinetics experimental techniques. Below is a summary of each of these processes with examples of how we extracted kinetic data on some samples taken from the Bakken Formation at the University of North Dakota (UND) Petroleum Research Laboratory.
Pyrolysis Experiments
Pyrolysis experiments are a common technique that includes heating shale samples to specific temperatures to monitor the release of hydrocarbons. These experiments provide vital information for understanding the organic material’s thermal behavior within the formation and provide information into the processes shaping its hydrocarbon reservoirs. Utilizing programmed pyrolysis, the UND lab uses the source rock analyzer to determine the apparent activation energy (Eaa) and associated apparent frequency factor (Aa). Seven heating rates (2, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 50 °C/min) are usually used for each determination, with temperature increasing progressively from 250 °C to 650 °C. The flame ionization detector (FID) records the mass of hydrocarbon vapor released together with temperature and time for every experiment. Nonlinear interpolation determines the peak reaction temperature (Tp) with a precision of 0.1°C. Linear regression of time-temperature data is used to validate and refine the experimental heating rates. Apparent activation energies (Eaa) and frequency factors (Aa) are determined by plotting ln(α) against (1/T), obtaining the slope and intercept. The negative slope of the linear trendline is equal to Ea/R, and the intercept is equal to Ln(AR/Ea). Aa is multiplied by the gas constant (R), and Eaa is determined by inserting all variables into the intercept expression and solving for it.
Kissinger Equation
The Kissinger Equation is an essential tool in kinetic studies because it
establishes a crucial link between the reaction rate constant and temperature. The process of oil generation involves breaking bonds within macromolecules to form mobile and soluble hydrocarbon fragments. These fragments mix to form mobile crude oil and natural gas or immobile bitumen. Even though the processes and mechanisms of oil generation are complex, there is general consensus that overall reaction rates are consistent with the Arrhenius Equation. In 1957, Kissinger provided an exact solution to the Arrhenius equation for first-order reactions under constant rates of non-isothermal heating. His method equates the shift in peak reaction temperature (Tp) at different heating rates (β) to activation energy and frequency. This equation becomes crucial for calculating the frequency factor (A) and activation energy (Ea) in the Bakken study. Applying the Kissinger Equation gives profound insights into the temperature-dependent kinetics of hydrocarbon generation. This, in turn, advances our understanding of the geological dynamics of the Bakken Formation.
Embark on an exhilarating journey through the rugged landscapes and rich geological history of the Rocky Mountains with our geology mountain bike field trip on the Sheep Creek loop, just outside of Fairplay, Colorado As we traverse this high-elevation terrain, we'll unravel the fascinating story of the region's geological evolution, exploring formations such as the Minturn, Leadville, and Belden. From the dramatic cliffs of the Minturn Formation, revealing ancient marine deposits and fossils, to vast washes filled with glacial till of the Pinedale Glaciation, every turn of the trail offers a glimpse into the Earth's dynamic past.
Compensation Effects
Compensation effects, which demonstrate linear relationships between activation energy and frequency factor, are crucial to hydrocarbon discoveries e.g. in the Bakken studies. However, measuring Tp can introduce experimental errors that make it difficult to directly use these variables in the Arrhenius Equation, causing compensating errors in Ea and A. Barrie (2012) proposed the term statistical compensation effect to describe this phenomenon. At the temperatures used for source rock kinetics, the statistical compensation effect is usually elongated, almost forming a line in the error ellipse that encloses it for a given confidence level (Barrie, 2012). These effects provide insight into underlying physiochemical processes and enable us to distinguish experimental artifacts from genuine geological phenomena. Nordeng (2019) concluded that the product of the gas constant and the harmonic mean of the Tp provided a good description of the slope of the compensation effect between Ea and the natural logarithm of A (ln(A)) through his nonisothermal experiments. Nordeng’s findings are comparable to Barrie’s isothermal experiment when slope and intercept are substituted from the linear regression of the Kissinger Equation. Understanding compensation effects is therefore vital for refining our knowledge of hydrocarbon generation, as it enhances the reliability and accuracy of kinetic interpretations.
FIGURE 3: Trends in the distribution of kinetic parameters from Onwumelu and Nordeng (2023). Solid lines represent the best-fit regression for each sample.
FIGURE 4: Linear KCEs present in the data from Dieckmann (2005), high gradients are shown as diamonds, and circles show high gradient and low gradient KCEs obtained from the selected Bakken wells.
Extended Kinetic Method
The extended kinetic method is an advanced approach that has been applied in Bakken Petroleum System studies. This method analyzes different heating periods during experiments and provides a nuanced understanding of how compensation effects evolve.
In 2005, Dieckmann evaluated a non-isothermal
analysis of Type II and Type III kerogen at different fractions of the total reaction progress using the modified version of the Kissinger approach. Dieckmann’s study demonstrates that when kinetics are examined at different phases of transformation, activation energies and frequency factors differ. This difference appears to form the Kinetic Compensation Effect (KCE), which is not statistically forced. This shows that using a single-frequency factor method could lead to significant interpretation problems.
Data from our extended kinetic models (Onwumelu and Nordeng, 2023) also contain KCE, which are not statistically forced and exhibit a range of behaviors that may be attributed to a complex combination of organic provenance and reaction paths (Fig. 3). An apparent KCE is present in the distribution of single pairs of kinetic properties between widely distributed cores of the Bakken Formation, and this effect is non-statistical. The compensation effect aligns with the compensation effect reported by Dieckmann for Type II kerogen (Fig. 4). A significant difference in the magnitude of the slope helps distinguish between immature and mature Bakken Shale based on the slope of the regression line between Ea and ln(A) parameters obtained from the extended kinetic method. The extended method exhibited three sets of behavior. With increased thermal maturation, the linear maturation series found with the immature sample becomes nonlinear and forms recumbent curves consisting of limbs that parallel trends established by the immature sample and another with a gradient significantly steeper than the statistical compensation effect. As the samples become over-mature, they return to a nearly linear trend with a steeper slope than the statistical compensation. The Bakken is a Type I/Type II source rock. As a result, the kinetic compensation effects reported
in Onwumelu and Nordeng, (2023)’s study are consistent, at least partly, with Dieckmann’s contention that provenance primarily controls this type of compensation effect.
IMPLICATIONS OF KINETIC STUDIES IN THE BAKKEN
Kinetic studies of the Bakken Formation have enabled the determination of reaction temperatures linked with their critical points. This has helped to facilitate hydrocarbon generation predictions, describe key transitional phases in the Bakken Formation’s geological evolution, and grasp the conditions under which hydrocarbons are formed and evolving in the system. Kinetics provides a roadmap to the discovery of enormous reserves concealed beneath the surface and will continue to play a critical role in helping us solve our planet’s subsurface mysteries as we explore and exploit unconventional reservoirs.
2024 2024 CCS Workshop
October 17, 2024
Denver West Marriott
Join the Rocky Mountain Association for a workshop on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). With a diverse range of insightful and comprehensive presentations covering a diverse range of technical and non-technical considerations for the permanent subsurface storage of CO2. This workshop is designed for geoscience professionals interested in CCS, offering a balanced mix of expert knowledge and practical case studies.
REFERENCES
Barrie, P. J. (2012). The mathematical origins of the kinetic compensation effect: 1. The effect of random experimental errors. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 14(1), 318-326.
Dieckmann, V. (2005). Modelling petroleum formation from heterogeneous source rocks: the influence of frequency factors on activation energy distribution and geological prediction. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 22(3), 375-390.
Dow, W. G. (1974). Application of oil-correlation and source-rock data to exploration in Williston Basin. AAPG bulletin, 58(7), 12531262. doi:10.1306/83d91655-16c7-11d78645000102c1865d
Kissinger, H. E. (1957). Reaction kinetics in differential thermal analysis. Analytical chemistry, 29(11), 1702-1706. doi:10.1021/ ac60131a045
Magoon, L. B., & Schmoker, J. W. (2000). The total petroleum system–the natural fluid network that constrains the assessment unit. US geological
survey world petroleum assessment, 31. Meissner, F. F. (1978). Petroleum geology of the Bakken formation Williston basin, North Dakota and Montana.
Nordeng, S. H. (2019). The statistical compensation effect in nonisothermal kinetics: Theory, simulations and experimental evidence. Organic geochemistry, 127, 124-135.
Onwumelu, C., & Nordeng, S. H. (2023). Assessing the impact of thermal maturation on the evolution of organic chemistry of Bakken Shale: Insights into oil generation. International Journal of Coal Geology, 280, 104388.
Price, L. C., & LeFever, J. (1994). Dysfunctionalism in the Williston Basin: the Bakken/mid-Madison petroleum system. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, 42(2), 187-218.
Schmoker, J. W., & Hester, T. C. (1983). Organic carbon in Bakken formation, United States portion of Williston basin. AAPG bulletin, 67(12), 2165-2174.
Webster, R. L. (1982). Analysis of petroleum source rocks of the Bakken Formation (Devonian and Mississippian) in North Dakota.
Denver, Colorado ~ April 9-10, 2025
CONSIDER PUBLISHING IN THE
We invite you to contribute to the vibrant and dynamic Outcrop, where your geological discoveries can find a home among like-minded professionals. Whether you have a compelling geological story, ground breaking research, insightful book reviews, or something else looking for it’s geologic home, the Outcrop is the ideal space to share your expertise with the geological community. Our publication process ensures a swift transition from submission to publication, allowing your work to reach a global audience in a timely manner. Additionally, every published lead article is entered to win the Outcrop article of the year, and entered to win a free RMAG field trip.
Join us in fostering knowledge exchange and advancing the field of geology by considering The Outcrop as the premier outlet for your valuable contributions.
Contact the outcrop Editor Nate La Fontaine with your submission at nlafontaine@sm-energy.com
Speaker: David Godsey
Date: August 7, 2024 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The Permian Basin
A Review of the Geologic History, Stratigraphy, Productive Trends, Hydrocarbon Generation and Current Industry Focus Plays
Presenter: David Godsey
The Permian Basin has been producing for over 100 years and is the most prolific producing basin in the United States. This presentation is a review of the basin’s structural, depositional, and burial history and how it created a vast multi-objective Oil-prone province. This
has resulted in the basin being rich in Source Rocks in the oil and oil-condensate maturation window. Today’s activity is dominated by horizontal objectives in both conventional and unconventional plays.
DAVID GODSEY is a retired geologist and oil industry executive having 41 years of industry experience, with over 30 years focused on the Permian Basin.
He retired in December 2018 as Sr. Vice President Exploration and Geology from Energen Resources after a total of 41 years in the Petroleum Industry. He received a BS in Geology from SFASU in 1977 and worked extensively on both conventional and unconventional plays in eight basins in North America. His varied background includes working for Energen Resources, Chesapeake Energy, EOG Resources, Matador Petroleum, TXO Production, Threshold Development, and Core Laboratories. He has extensive expertise in prospect generation, play analysis, exploration and exploitation - from the initial stages of hands-on technical evaluation up through top-level executive management.
Arlene Cutler from Boulder, Colorado
Daniel Collins with White Rhino LLC, from Grand Junction, Colorado
Marcus Hinricher with Antero Resources, from Lakewood, Colorado
Stephen Luthy from Castle Rock, Colorado
Pennsylvanian-Permian eolian/ fluvial system along the northern Colorado Front Range
Lyons, CO to Lory State Park – Saturday, September 7, 2024
Field trip leaders: Marshall Deacon, John Webb, Steve Fryberger, Ginny Gent
Field trip coordinator: Laura Wray
The Lyons Sandstone was discussed in an RMAG lunch presentation in November 2023 by James Hagadorn and Steve Fryberger, as well as during a field trip in June 2024 to Red Rock Canyon Open Space in Manitou Springs, led by Sharon Milito. Now four prominent geologists studying the Lyons Sandstone and the older Fountain through Lyons stratigraphy, will share their research and field observations along the northern Colorado Front Range.
FIRST STOPS:
Hall Ranch Open Space near Lyons, CO and examination of the Upper Fountain through Lyons rocks along Highway 7. An overview for the day will be presented at the gathering spot in Lyons with opportunities for coffee, snacks, and restrooms. One possible alternative stop in Left Hand Canyon may be added.
NEXT STOPS:
Photo opportunities will be available in Eden valley along N CO Road 29 (Fountain-Owl Canyon) and in the Bobcat natural area (Owl Canyon - Lyons), CO Road 32C.
LUNCH STOP: Lory State Park Visitors’ Center on south side of the lake.
AFTERNOON STOPS:
Lyons outcrop at the Visitors’ Center, followed by outcrops on the north side of the State Park. Included in those stops will be a 1-mile hike with small inclines and some cliffy sections at the Lyons. Hiking poles are recommended as needed.
To register, go to the RMAG website (www.rmag. org). Click on Events and Field trips, then select “Register” for this trip. Please note important trip details, costs, and required waivers.
1: Hall Ranch Open Space
2: Hall Ranch vertical section
3: Ingleside at Owl Canyon
4: Ingleside Dunes
5: Fountain to Ingleside, Lory State Park
6: Lyons Sandstone, Lory State Park
Meet Sarah Compton
Geoscientist
RMAG’s Publications Committee is featuring a monthly Member Corner. We hope you’ll enjoy learning about the diverse community of Earth scientists and wide variety of geoscience disciplines that comprise our membership. If you would like to appear in an upcoming column, or if there is someone you would like to nominate, please contact staff@rmag.org.
HOW DID YOU END UP INVOLVED IN THE GEOSCIENCES?
I’ve always been interested in Earth Science. It started with a fear of storms when I was about four or so, and I’d somehow gotten it in my head that people are afraid of what they don’t understand. Thus, I set out to learn and understand everything I could about storms and tornadoes. I was dead set on storm chasing as a career until around high school when I realized I wanted to travel beyond tornado alley and see a bit more of the world. So, I made the hop over to geology and volcanoes. I was probably one of the only declared geology majors as a day one freshman, and I got hooked on my first bit of field work over Christmas break in Joshua Tree National Park.
WHAT JOBS HAVE YOU HAD DURING YOUR CAREER?
A shorter list might be which ones I have not had. You’d be hard pressed to find someone with a similar array of jobs and experience. Let’s just get the list going. I’ve done geosteering both at an operator and at a service company, done a few different science and lookback projects, consulted for a couple of very small operators; one of which I was in the office doing mostly geological housekeeping and another that was a full-on very cool raw exploration project that I learned a ton from. I’ve swam in the world of data analytics either running/supervising data input teams or doing it myself, geotech work, asset development and planning work, I’ve built custom software for a client and supervised third-party developers to build software, and I’ve done product management work which involves a lot of product ideation, budgeting, project management and more. It’s been a very exciting decade or so of my career, and 100% unlike
The author in her storm chasing phase.
anything I could have ever seen coming nor planned for. I’ve learned so much and am intrigued to see what the next couple of decades have in store.
WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED SO FAR?
Up to this point, the best lesson I’ve learned so far is to take control of my own career while not letting it define who I am as a person and what I’m worth. Oil and gas can be a brutal industry, especially for geoscientists, and putting too much stock in things you don’t control is unwise. I’m running my consulting business – even though I’m currently working full time for a service provider – and I’m fiercely protective of my family and personal time. We’re also very conservative with our money, knowing full well how capricious my job has been and will continue to be.
WHAT BARRIERS HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME ON YOUR PATH TO BECOMING A GEOSCIENTIST?
The biggest one came about a week before my dissertation defense when my outside committee member ducked out off the committee, which meant I couldn’t defend. That set me back a month while we searched for a new committee member and brought him up to speed. It also set other things in motion. First, we had a new department chair who decided she wasn’t sure summer defenses should be allowed despite it never being a problem before. We fought her on that and won. But more importantly, it also set my work start date back a month because I couldn’t start until I’d graduated (wise policy!). Noble Energy, at the time, didn’t pay out their signing bonus until you got your first paycheck. We’d lost my graduate stipend once the spring semester ended, and my husband quit his job to move out to Denver to hold our rental, which we had to live in as a stipulation of the lease. Thus, our income was nearly zero and had been for a little while, but our expenses had expanded drastically beyond what we had planned because we had an extra month of covering two places to live since our old place hadn’t sold yet (plus first and last month’s rent!). I remember pulling into a gas station in Kansas with literally no money left. I had to call my parents to wire us some cash so we could get gas in the truck to physically get
us to Denver. One Noble manager called not long after we got settled asking if I was sure I was ready to start my career and didn’t want to take some time off instead. Of course I’d have loved to have taken time off! But we absolutely needed that first paycheck and signing bonus ASAP. Lesson for companies if they’re still doing signing bonuses, please pay at signing!
WHERE WAS YOUR FAVORITE FIELD TRIP IN SCHOOL?
Iceland, hands down! We did a warmer trip to Mexico for my master’s that created some great memories, but Iceland is such a beautiful country in every aspect. The people and culture are very interesting. You can enjoy some drinks at night then go to the same tavern in the morning and get practically bottomless bacon with your eggs. While that alone “It’s time for a few small repairs, she said” (from Sonny Came Home).
was amazing, it was also concerning because I don’t recall seeing that many pigs…Anyway, Reykjavik is hard to beat as far as towns go, and what they’ve been able to do with geothermal power is inspiring. Obviously, the geology there is second to none, and there’s a little something for everyone! I got to go there to help put seismometers on Hekla that would play a key role in data collection to generate a geomechanical profile I could build into my FEMs of Hekla for my dissertation. I also collected rock samples with the goal of using my igneous petrology background to either utilize or create a geothermobarometer that could validate my models, but in true research fashion, such a development never progressed! Regardless, there’s so much awesomeness crammed into such a tiny island. I think every geologist should take the opportunity to go there (and Hawaii!) if they can.
WHAT IS THE GREATEST RISK YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
I’m in the middle of it! With the developments I’m making and plans I have for my consulting business, I’ve needed to stop applying for full-time geology roles with operators. I can still work as a consultant for them or full-time for vendors, but I need to be aware of and avoid conflicts of interest if I want to pursue my next step(s). Following through on that has been both risky and depressing because there was a short period of time where there were several open geology positions at operators here in town I was well qualified for and had a good network in the department, but I didn’t apply for them. Odds aren’t great when applying anyway, but to not even throw a hat in the ring was a gut check. I’m fortunate to have still found some good work with my current employer, though, but I’ve initiated a career path change, and I has a real possibility of being a complete failure.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?
Yes. One Great Pyr who is very protective of our airspace and warns against wild birds and low-flying satellites. Two children under seven, and recently one wild little bird who’s basically given our dog the middle finger and made a nest under our deck. It
has been dubbed “BB” by one of the aforementioned small children.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
League of their own. Loved it when I was little. Love it more as an adult and can understand the other 50% of the movie.
WHAT
3 TRAITS BEST DESCRIBE YOU?
Energetic. Honest almost to a fault. Resilient.
WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING ON NETFLIX RIGHT NOW?
Watching Netflix? Bahahahahah! People have time for that? We have a subscription, but it’s like a lot of people’s Pelotons after COVID. Mostly good for hanging clothes off of.
WHAT FOOD DO YOU DISLIKE THE MOST AND WHY?
Pineapple, and I have no idea why. I tried, very hard, for many years to like it. I had to realize that the reason I was making the face I made and had to force myself to take another bite was because I didn’t actually like it.
The fierce bird dog before his growth spurt.
production
IN THE PIPELINE
JULY 10, 2024
RMAG Luncheon.
Speaker: Neil Bockoven, Talk Title: “Paleo Cave Art Mysteries.” In Person or Online. Denver Earth Resources Library, 730 17th Street, B1, Denver.
JULY 18, 2024
RMAG Coffee Hour.
10:00 -11:00 AM. Blue Sparrow Coffee, 1615 Platte St., Ste. 135, Denver.
JULY 26, 2024
RMAG On the Rocks Field Trip. Trip Leaders: Rob Diedrich and David Schoderbek. “Stories in Stone: The Building Stones of Capitol Hill.” Denver, CO.
JULY 27, 2024
RMAG On the Rocks Field Trip. Trip Leaders: Drew Scherer and Jordan Renner. “Pedals and Peaks.” Sheep Creek Loop, Fairplay, CO.
JULY 30, 2024
RMAG Happy Hour. 4:00-6:00 PM. Green Mountain Beer Company, 2585 S. Lewis Way, Lakewood, CO.
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2023 Donors
The RMAG Foundation expresses gratitude to the following donors in 2023 whose generosity has provided for an increase in financial support for scholarships and monitary contributions to earth science programs and organizations. Thank you.
• Rachel Aisner
• Donna Anderson
• Charlie Bartberger
• Jean Bolyard
• Lou Bortz
• Richard Brinkhaus
• Marv Brittenham
• Elmo Brown
• Arthuer Butler
• Mary Carr
• Sue Cluff
• Jane Crouch
• Rob Diedrich
• EOG Resources
• Jane Estes-Jackson
• Frank Ethridge
• Robert Gardner
• Ginny Gent
• Gibbet Hill Fndn
• Shawna Gilbertson
• Ernest Gomez
• Tien Grauch
• Robbie Gries
• Thomas Groves
• Maria Henry
• Debra Higley-Feldman
• Holly Huyck
• Tanya Inks
• Patricia Irwin
• Bob Lamarre
• Leslie Landefeld
• Patricia Lech
• Holly Lindsey
• Jeff May
• Don McKenna
• Elizabeth McKenna
• Phil Moffitt
• Jim Mullarkey
• Davud Nelson
• Glenda Norton
• Terri Olson
• Ira Pasternack
• Ron Pritchett
• Kurt Reisser
• Russell Robinson
• Nate Rogers
• Rick Sarg
• Matt Silverman
• SM Energy grant
• Steve Strachan
• Bill Stephens
• David Taylor
• Bob Tucker
• Rachel Williams
• Lesli Wood
• Laura Wray