June 2018 Outcrop by The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

Volume 67 • No. 6 • June 2018

2018 Summit Sponsors Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

NORTH RANCH RESOURCES

OUTCROP | June 2018

Vol. 67, No. 6 | 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.

2018 OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT

2st VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT

Terri Olson tmolson8550@gmail.com

Sophie Berglund sberglund@raisaenergy.com

PRESIDENT-ELECT

TREASURER

Tom Sperr tsperr@bayless-cos.com

Robin Swank robin.swank@gmail.com

1st VICE PRESIDENT

TREASURER-ELECT

David Katz davidkatz76@gmail.com

Eryn Bergin eryn.bergin@aec-denver.com

1st VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT

SECRETARY

Heather LaReau heatherthegeologist@gmail.com

Anna Phelps aphelps@sm-energy.com

2nd VICE PRESIDENT

COUNSELOR

Tracy Lombardi tracy.lombardi@inflectionenergy.com

Jim Emme jim_emme@yahoo.com

ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Rates and sizes can be found on page 44. 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. Ad copy, signed contract and payment must be received before advertising insertion. Contact the RMAG office for details.

RMAG STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Barbara Kuzmic bkuzmic@rmag.org MEMBERSHIP & EVENTS MANAGER

Hannah Rogers hrogers@rmag.org PROJECTS SPECIALIST

Kathy Mitchell-Garton kmitchellgarton@rmag.org LEAD EDITOR

Cheryl Fountain cwhitney@alumni.nmt.edu ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Kira Timm kira.k.timm@gmail.com Ron Parker ron@bhigeo.com Holly Sell holly.sell@yahoo.com DESIGN/LAYOUT

Nate Silva nate@nate-silva.com

DEADLINES: Ad submissions are the 1st of every month for the following month’s publication. WEDNESDAY NOON LUNCHEON RESERVATIONS

RMAG Office: 303-573-8621 | Fax: 808-389-4090 | staff@rmag.org or www.rmag.org The Outcrop is a monthly publication of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

3 3

Outcrop | June 2018 OUTCROP

June 7, 2018 8:30am - 5:00pm

Location: Encana, Denver Register online at www.rmag.org. Member Price: $200 Non-Member Price: $250 Student/Unemployed Price: $175

2018 RMAG Spotﬁre Course Courtney Brown - Blue River Analytics

This course provides an introduction to one of the industry's gold standard data analytics software: TIBCO Spotﬁre. During the course we will cover loading industry data, as well as how to build visualizations and interact with the tool. Courtney has been with Blue River Analytics for 2.5 years providing Spotﬁre training and consultative services. Prior to Blue River Analytics she worked at TriZetto, A Cognizant Company as a Customer Success Lead. There she was responsible for her client's implementations, problem management, training and process improvement. Courtney holds a degree in Psychology and Economics & Organizational Management from Agnes Scott College.

email: staﬀ@rmag.org phone: 303.573.8621 OUTCROP | June 2018 910 16th Street #1214, Denver, CO, 80202

fax: 888.389.4090 www.rmag.org Vol. 67, No. 6web: | www.rmag.org follow: @rmagdenver

OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

CONTENTS FEATURES

ASSOCIATION NEWS

20 Lead Story: Colorado’s Hot Spots

2 RMAG 2018 Summit Sponsors

DEPARTMENTS 6 RMAG May 2018 Board of Directors Meeting 12 President’s Letter 34 RMAG Luncheon Programs: Matt Silverman

4 2018 RMAG Spotfire Course 7 RMAG Field Trip: Permian Basin 11 RMAG July Short Course 13 RMAG Dinner: Scott W. Tinker 15 Women in Geology: Documentary Viewing 17 2018 Sporting Clay Tournament

36 RMAG Luncheon Programs: Ali Jaffri, Ph.D.

18 In Memoriam: Paul M. Basinski

COVER PHOTO

19 On The Rocks Field Trips, 2018

38 About the 2018 Outcrop Authors 42 In The Pipeline

23 Call For Papers – RMAG/ DWLS Fall Symposium

Sedona’s infamous red sandstone at Slide Rock State Park in Oak Creek Canyon. Photo by Carson Crow.

42 Corrections

25 RMAG Core Workshop

44 Outcrop Advertising Rates

27 2018 Rockbusters Bash

45 Advertiser Index 45 Calendar

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2018

RMAG MAY 2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING By Anna Phelps, Secretary aphelps@sm-energy.com

RMAG is still slightly ahead on revenue and behind on expenses for 2018. Executive Director Barbara Kuzmic reported that membership continues to increase with current membership at 1,649. There were $450 in publication sales in April. There are already 28 teams signed up for the Golf Tournament. Don’t miss your opportunity to join your fellow rock loving members in a competitive, and potentially boisterous, game of golf this summer. The Continuing Education

OUTCROP | June 2018

do not fret. The On the Rocks Committee has organized a plethora of interesting trips to get you outside and on the outcrops this summer. Check out the trips and sign-up on the RMAG website. Enjoy your outcrop visits and don’t forget to bring your camera, or super smart cell phone, to take photos to share with all of us! The May meeting of the RMAG Board of Directors was held on May 16, 2018 at 4:00 PM. All board members except Tracy Lombardi were present. Treasurer Robin Swank reported that

Greetings rock whisperers! Dare I say it feels like summer? The grass and I (and the elk!) are grateful for all the recent rain on the Front Range. The landscape is suddenly green and lush, and the lilacs are blooming (though somewhat battered by those familiar late spring hail storms). I even saw a hummingbird hovering at my feeder this weekend. And with summer upon us, it’s the beginning of the best time of year: field work and outcrop admiring season! And if you don’t have any field trips planned yet,

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Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

Dr. Rick Sarg, Research Professor Department of Geology & Geological Engineering Colorado School of Mines This field trip will introduce participants to a series of some of the finest outcrop exposures of carbonate and deepwater siliciclastic rocks in the world. Two principle themes of the trip are: (1) to observe the characteristics of a wide variety of sedimentary environments and lithofacies in the Permian section of the Permian basin, including examples of conventional and unconventional siliciclastic and carbonate reservoirs, and organic-rich mudrocks; (2) ) to observe sequence stratigraphic architecture at seismic scale; and (3) to observe reservoir flow unit architecture. Continuous outcrops in West Texas and New Mexico expose the majority of the Paleozoic rocks which are producing both conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons in the Permian basin of West Texas. The field trip will begin in El Paso and will encompass four days in the field focusing on the Permian rocks of the Guadalupe Mountains, including the deepwater basin filling siliciclastics of the Brushy and Cherry Canyon formations, and the stratigraphy, lithofacies, and reservoir architecture of the San Andres and Grayburg formations. The San Andres is the most prolific conventional reservoir in the basin. The basin floor sandstones, carbonate debrites, and organic-rich siltstones comprise the facies involved in the unconventional Wolfberry play of the Delaware basin. The field trip will end with a visit to the world famous Carlsbad Caverns that contains karst features analogous to the ancient karst developed during major Paleozoic unconformities in the region. The physical demands for this trip are MODERATE. Hikes will range from roadside stops, short traverses of less than ½ mile, to 2-3 mile roundtrip hikes over the span of a day. Off-road hikes are on well-maintained Park Service or National Forest trails and encompass relief of 100-600 feet. Weather conditions will be cool to warm, and generally dry. Temperatures typically range the 70-80’s0F. Wind and rain are possible. Layering up is a good idea. The field area is at elevations of 3,000-4,500 feet. A day pack, water bottles (2), hand lens, colored pencils and eraser (we will do several outcrop exercises on photopans), hat, sunscreen, and good hiking boots are necessary.

email: staﬀ@rmag.org phone: 303.573.8621 Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org 910 16th Street #1214, Denver, CO, 80202

RMAG

Field Trip

Permian Permian

Basin Basin September 24-28, 2018

All Inclusive of

Roundtrip Airfare from Denver, CO to El Paso, TX 4 Night Hotel Stay • 1 Night in El Paso, TX • 3 Nights in Carlsbad, NM Transportation from El Paso to Carlsbad and back to El Paso Breakfast and lunch are included

fax: 888.389.4090 web: www.rmag.org OUTCROP | June 2018 follow: @rmagdenver

RMAG MAY 2018 BOD MEETING

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SM ENERGY IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE

Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

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Committee continues to host and plan their many trips for this spring and summer. Upcoming in June is a Spot Fire Basics course that is filling up fast. The Membership Committee hosted a Career Fair in May which was well attended and received positive feedback from members. The Mentorship Program toured the NREL in May and plans to have a BBQ event in July. The Publications Committee reported that there will be two Special Publications in 2018: Piceance Basin Special Publication edited by Paul Weimer and Steve Cumella and GIS Rocky Mountain Cross-Sections edited by Jon Payne, Larry Rasmussen, and Steve Cumella. As mentioned above, the On the Rocks Committee has 9 more exciting field trips this summer. The Edgar Mine Tour in May was a huge success and members enjoyed traveling underground to learn about the mine’s geology, operations, and history. The Science Educational Outreach Committee is continuing to assemble PowerPoints, rock samples, and other materials to take into schools. If you have any PowerPoints or material to take into classrooms, or would like to volunteer in classrooms, please let the committee know. Last month’s Name the Formation was for all you lovers of southeastern Utah stratigraphy and anthropologic history. Did anyone guess the Wingate Formation? If so, you are correct! If you haven’t visited the San Rafael Swell, or more specifically, Buckhorn Wash, hustle out there before it gets too hot to admire impressive eolian sandstones and

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OUTCROP | June 2018

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

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OUTCROP

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Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2018

RMAG MAY 2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING to the 1910’s. The formation is early Eocene age and contains turtles, gar scales, tree fragments, and other bones. Name the Formation! (Photo courteous of Utah geology aficionado, Riley Brinkerhoff.) If you have an inspiring outcrop photo from the Rocky Mountain Region that you’d like to see in the Name the Formation game, please email it to me with a short description. Thanks in advance!

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ancient pictographs. They won’t disappoint! In honor of AAPG ACE and the Rocky Mountain Section meeting being held in Salt Lake City this year, this month’s Name the Formation comes from Gate Canyon, Duchesne County, Utah. This classic marginal lacustrine section outcrops along an old army and pioneer trail and preserves names from the 1870’s

The soluHon for unique and valuable geological informaHon for prospect generaHon

Thank you to the RMAG June Spotﬁre Course room sponsor!

Thank you to the RMAG July Short Course room sponsor!

730 17th Street, Unit B-‐1 Denver, CO 80202 303.825.5614 derlibrary@gmail.com derlibrary.com

VOLUNTEER! OUTCROP | June 2018

If you would like to volunteer for any of our committees or events, please contact the RMAG office at (303) 573-8621 or staff@rmag.org

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

RMAG July Short Course

July 18-19, 2018 | 8:30am-4:00pm

The Denver Place (999 18th Street, Denver, CO 80202) Register online at www.rmag.org Member Price: $300 Non-member Price: $350 Student/Unemployed Price: $150

Geostatistics Course MICHAEL J. PYRCZ, Ph.D., P.Eng - University of Texas at Austin Class will be accessible to geoscientists and data scientists with no previous experience with geostatistics. We will build up from data integration to spatial estimation and simulation along with uncertainty modeling to support decision making. After completion the students will understand: (1) the beneﬁts and uses of geostatistics, (2) the common spatial and uncertainty modeling workﬂows, (3) how to better integrate their domain knowledge into the geostatistical model.

Vol.staﬀ@rmag.org 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org email: phone: 303.573.8621

910 16th Street #1214, Denver, CO, 80202

Short Course

| June 2018 fax: 888.389.4090 OUTCROP web: www.rmag.org

follow: @rmagdenver

PRESIDENT’S LETTER By Terri Olson

The On The Rocks Committee has been busy under the leadership of Rob Diedrich, and has put together an exciting lineup of field trips for the field season. The first, a mine tour, has already happened. Future excursions will feature dinosaur trackways, mineral collecting, ammonite hunting, a guided bike trip in a mining district, a glacial cirque with well exposed Paleozoic rocks, and geology of the Upper Arkansas Valley (Salida to Leadville). There is even a longer Permian Basin trip in the planning stages for September. Go to http://www.rmag.org/field-trips for details and to register. The golf tournament will also have happened when this is published. Planned for Arrowhead

A lot of stuff happens behind the scenes at RMAG, so I’d like to give an update on some of those plus the more visible events that have occurred so far this year as well as highlights of coming attractions. All Aboard! By the time you read this, the first petroleum geology-focused train trip will have been run under the auspices of RMAG. Ben Burke has put together an interesting and scenic trip from Denver to Salt Lake City leading up to the annual meeting of AAPG. Over 60 geologists are signed up; not all from the Denver area.

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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

OUTCROP | June 2018

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

R M A G D I N N E R

S C O T T W. T I N K E R

email: staﬀ@rmag.org

phone: 303.573.8621

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

910 16th Street #1214, Denver, CO, 80202

07 26

The Chophouse Denver, CO

Is Renewable Energy “Good’ and Fossil Energy “Bad” There is a narrative in the US and Western Europe that suggests renewable energy is clean, green and good, and fossil energy is dirty, black and bad. But is any form of energy, at scale, really good or bad, and is that even a useful construct when considering energy? That depends, of course, on what is meant by good and bad. If good means limited emissions at the generation source, then renewables, and nuclear, are good. On the other hand, if good means more land for nature, then the mining, manufacturing, capture and equipment disposal of intermittent, low density renewables and associated backup batteries is not so good. Perhaps good means lifting humans from poverty and maintaining healthy economies to keep the workforce employed and allow for economic investment in the environment. In that case, good is any form of energy that is available, aﬀordable, and reliable, such as coal and oil. But that is changing, slowly. The future energy mix will vary by geopolitical region and be driven by economics, resource availability, politics, technology, and sustainability. Dr. Scott Tinker's passion—bringing academe, government, industry, and NGOs together to address major societal issues in energy, environment, and the economy—has led him to nearly 60 countries where he has presented 700 keynotes and invited lectures to government, industry, academia, and the public. Dr. Tinker is an AAPG Halbouty Leadership Medalist, GCAGS Boyd Medalist, a Fellow of the Geologic Society of America, and has been broadly awarded by AIPG, AGI, AAPG, and TIPRO for his successful eﬀorts to engage the public in science.

fax: 888.389.4090

web: www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2018

follow: @rmagdenver

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

POSITIONED FOR GROWTH With a proud legacy and an exciting future, QEP Resources is an industry leader in crude oil and natural gas exploration and production. We’re focused on some of the most proliﬁc natural resource plays in the continental United States. These include two world-class crude oil provinces — the Permian and Williston Basins and two premier natural gas assets — the Haynesville Shale and the Uinta Basin.

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, QEP is an S&P MidCap 400 Index member company (NYSE: QEP). Learn more at www.qepres.com.

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Golf Course at the end of May this year, the RMAG tournament is always popular. The Continuing Education Committee, lead by Cat Campbell and Tracy Lombardi, continues to put on quality technical programs, monthly luncheons and frequent short courses. Four short courses have been held so far, all well subscribed: on valuing oil and gas properties, borehole imaging, oil and gas law, and mudrock petrography. Future topics this year include the art of core description, Spotfire, and geostatistics. The April career fair got rave reviews from both attendees and presenters—our Executive Director, Barbara Kuzmic, is already planning a repeat event next year. Barbara has also revamped the association’s bookkeeping approach and services, for significant cost savings. Another less visible activity that is key to association viability is fundraising through Summit Sponsorships. The goal for this year, in line with last year, was $90,000; thanks to Barbara and the Summit Sponsorship Committee, that was exceeded by $23,000! The Mentor Program has grown, with over 40 participants this year. Various activities have been planned, including a May tour of the National Renewal Energy Lab (NREL) in Golden. RMAG did not co-sponsor the 3D Seismic Symposium this year, for the first time. (See my column from last month for details.) The Board of Directors, with input from several past presidents,

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OUTCROP | June 2018

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

in Geology Women

Documentary Viewing “Rock Stars—Pioneering Women in Petroleum Geology” Introduction and Q&A session with Robbie Gries

Price - $20/person

Includes 1 drink ticket and light appetizers

Register online at www.rmag.org "Rock Stars" is an engaging video that examines and celebrates the century-long history of achievements, advancements for women in exploration geology.

August 21, 2018 5:30pm-8:30pm

The American Mountaineering Center

Her (Robbie Gries) most recent publication is the book: Anomalies—Pioneering Women in Petroleum Geology: 1917-2017. This culmination of four years of research beginning with the archives housed in Tulsa by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and continuing until the book was complete as well as the Documentary “Rock Stars—Pioneering Women in Petroleum Geology” were debuted at the 100th anniversary of AAPG in 2017.

email: staﬀ@rmag.org

phone: 303.573.8621

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

910 16th Street #1214, Denver, CO, 80202

fax: 888.389.4090

web: www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2018

follow: @rmagdenver

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

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has revisited the idea of being a sponsor and concluded that it’s not something we want to do. Very little feedback has been received from the membership in support of rejoining as a sponsor. The Long Range Planning Committee is led by the past president of the association, Larry Rasmussen, and consists of other past presidents willing to serve. This year that committee is embarking on a review of the Five-Year Strategic Plan, which commenced in in 2015. Planning has also commenced for RMAG’s 100-year anniversary in 2022, led by two other past presidents, Donna Anderson and Matt Silverman. Two other committees are gearing up: the Educational Outreach Committee has a roster of speakers for schools and other community venues and is putting together presentation materials. The Fall Symposium Committee is actively recruiting speakers for the joint event with DWLS to be held in early October. Last but by no means least, the work of the Publications Committee goes on, with periodical publication of the Outcrop and The Mountain Geologist, and upcoming special publications in progress. RMAG is its people, not some abstract and distant entity. If you’d like to get involved, please contact the office at staff@ rmag.org, the Executive Director at bkuzmic@rmag.org, or me at tmolson8550@gmail.com. Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

2018 Sporting Clay Tournament

Registration is open! www.rmag.org

September

Kiowa Creek Sporting Club • Prizes for individual high score and team 1st, 2nd and 3rd ﬂights. • Includes one 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 also rent a gun for $20 onsite.

5 Person Team (member): $425 5 Person Team (non-member): $500 Individual (member): $85 Individual (non-member): $100

email: phone: 303.573.8621 Vol.staﬀ@rmag.org 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org 910 16th Street #1214, Denver, CO, 80202

fax: 888.389.4090 web: www.rmag.org OUTCROP | June 2018 follow: @rmagdenver

IN MEMORIAM

Paul M. Basinski March 27, 1954 - April 4, 2018

OUTCROP | June 2018

a heart transplant. He was 64 and had battled heart trouble for years. He was a former Town of Tonawanda resident who graduated in 1972 from Sweet Home High School, where he was known to friends as “Buzzy.” He was a fun-loving student who was a top performer on the swim team and was fascinated by physics, geology and other scientific studies. In 1976, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University at Buffalo’s School of Geology. He earned a master’s degree in geology from the University of Nevada, and then embarked on a career in oil and gas exploration that took him all over the world. He worked for companies in Oklahoma, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas, which led him to spend the last 25 years of his life in Houston. Mr. Basinski and his wife of 36 years, the former Rene Schorzman, were enthusiastic supporters and donors to the Houston Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra is giving a special performance in Mr. Basinski’s honor on May 20, with a party to follow. In addition to his wife and brother, Mr. Basinski is survived by two other brothers, John and Philip.

Geologist Paul Basinski worked in Denver at Chevron from 1979-1980 and then changed companies to Tesoro from 1980-1981, also in Denver. He then moved to Grace Petroleum in Oklahoma from 1981 - 1993. The following is taken from an obituary by Dan Herbeck in the Buffalo News: Buffalo-born geologist Paul M. Basinski has been called “one of the pioneers of fracking” in news articles and energy industry publications. His biggest project was the Eagle Ford oil basin in Texas. Paul was very proud of all the jobs and entrepreneurship that fracking brought to a part of Texas that was on a very serious downslope. Mr. Basinski had most recently worked with a company called Burgundy Xploration, where he was the founder and chief executive officer. His last project was called “Operation Icewine,” a huge effort in Alaska to begin fracking in a 700,000-acre site inside the Arctic Circle. If the Alaska project was a success, Mr. Basinski planned to donate most of the proceeds to charity, his wife said. Mr. Basinski, a Houston resident, died April 4 in a Houston hospital, never regaining consciousness after

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

Save the Dates! June 9, 2018 Front Range Geo-Hazards

Location: Front Range/Golden, CO

June 30, 2018

July 1, 2018

! T U O SOLD

Mineral Collecting - Calumet Iron Mine

Mineral Collecting - Sedalia Copper Mine

Location: Salida, CO

July 14, 2018

August 4, 2018

Leadville Mining District Tour

Ammonite Fossil Trip

Location: Leadville, CO

August 25, 2018

Location: Kremmling, CO

September 8-9, 2018

Horseshoe Cirque

Upper Arkansas Valley

Location: Fairplay, CO

Location: Salida, CO

October 27-28, 2018 Picketwire Canyonlands Dinosaur Trackways Location: La Junta, CO

Trip details, pricing and registration information can be found at

www.rmag.org.

email: staďŹ&#x20AC;@rmag.org

phone: 303.573.8621

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

910 16th Street #1214, Denver, CO, 80202

fax: 888.389.4090

web: www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2018

follow: @rmagdenver

LEAD STORY

Colorado’s Hot Spots Research uncovering new potential for Colorado’s geothermal resources Originally published on the Colorado Geological Survey (CGS); http://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/energy-resources/geothermal-2/ of companies actively looking at the potential for generating electricity from geothermal in several parts of the state.

Geothermal energy, or heat from the earth, is an excellent resource. It is sustainable, works 24/7, and has a minimal carbon footprint. One should be clear when discussing geothermal energy about which type is being discussed: direct use, electrical generation, heat pumps, or enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). Historically, Colorado has been considered to have geothermal resources suitable only for direct-use applications. Until very recently, Colorado’s geothermal potential for generating electrical power has been assigned little promise. This appears to be based more on a lack of study, rather than on sound science. Prior to the 21st Century, the Colorado Geological Survey published 33 reports on various aspects of the State’s geothermal energy resources. With today’s improved technology, we are taking another look at our geothermal resources and are in the process of issuing revised and updated maps. It is exciting to see a number

WHAT IS IT?

Geothermal is, literally, earth-heat (Greek: geo – therme). Heat is a form of energy. Geothermal becomes an energy resource when we can use this heat to our advantage. Most of the Earth’s heat is deep inside the Earth, beyond the reach of technology to extract the heat. At relatively shallow depths, depending on the temperature, the heat may be economically extracted and used. At shallow depths the Earth may be used as a heat reservoir. In terms of magnitude, the Earth receives more than a thousand times more energy from the Sun than it loses from its internal reserves. However, the solar energy is lost back to space on a daily and seasonal basis. Except for small microclimates around hot

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The Colorado Geological Survey (CGS) is a state government agency within the Colorado School of Mines whose science-driven mission is to: help reduce the impact of geologic hazards on the citizens of Colorado; promote responsible economic development of mineral and energy resources; provide geologic insight into water resources; provide geologic advice and information to a variety of constituencies. By providing sound information and new knowledge, the Colorado Geological Survey contributes to economic growth and improvement in the quality of life for Colorado’s citizens. OUTCROP | June 2018

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

The Chalk Cliffs at the base of Mount Princeton in Colorado, stand in stark contrast to the surrounding landscape. They were created when hot springs water percolated through kaolinite. Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2018

LEAD STORY

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FIGURE 1

HOW DOES IT FORM?

springs and active volcanoes, the Sun controls the temperature of Earth’s surface and this temperature generally decreases with latitude from the equator to the poles and with elevation. Soil and rocks are poor conductors of heat and below a couple of meters (about 7 feet) below the surface, the annual and seasonal variations in surface temperature are damped out and the temperature is steady at approximately the mean annual ground surface temperature. Although this temperature is defined by the solar energy balance, it is soil and rock properties that make this zone good for use as a heat reservoir. Ground-Source Heat Pumps (or Geoexchange Heat Pumps) use this zone for heat storage and retrieval (see Figure 1). Where subsurface temperatures are significantly hotter than the surface temperatures heat may be extracted for surface use. This situation would occur where the geothermal gradient increases the temperature above the surface temperature. This difference may be as little as a few degrees above winter surface temperature for some direct use applications, to a few hundred degrees Celsius for geothermal electricity generation (see Figure 1). A further requirement for “elevated” subsurface temperatures to be a resource is that there must be a mechanism by which the heat can be brought to the surface. For some resources the mechanism may be natural, such as hot springs or artesian (naturally flowing) wells. Other sites may require the drilling of a well and pumping. At many sites, high subsurface temperatures are found but the rocks lack sufficient permeability (pathways for fluid flow). These rocks may require artificial fracturing or down-hole heat-exchangers to extract the heat. Research on new technologies to extract heat from potential geothermal reservoirs is continuing.

The interior of the Earth is hot. Volcanoes are a dramatic reminder that there is heat in the Earth. Miners who work in deep mines know that the deeper the level, the higher the temperatures. Oil-well drillers also know that the drill pipes are hot when they are pulled from a deep well and the oil is hot as it rises to the surface. What is the source of this heat? An early theory was that all of this heat was primordial, or remained from the formation of the Earth. However, with the discovery of radioactivity an additional source of heat was found. Unstable isotopes of uranium (235, 238U), thorium (232Th), and potassium (40K) exist in sufficient quantities in most rocks to supply a significant fraction of the heat that is lost from the modern Earth. The total, present-day rate

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Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

RMAG DWLS Fall Symposium What have we learned from unconventional reservoirs that could be applied in any petroleum system?

The American Mountaineering Center

Email abstracts to

Ginny Gent

ginny_gent@eogresources.com

Sam Fluckinger

10 02 18

sďŹ&#x201A;uckiger@sm-energy.com

email: staďŹ&#x20AC;@rmag.org

phone: 303.573.8621

Vol.16th 67, No. 6 #1214, | www.rmag.org 910 Street Denver, CO, 80202

fax: 888.389.4090 23

web: www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2018 follow: @rmagdenver

LEAD STORY

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of heat loss from the Earth is estimated to be 46 TW (terawatts or million billion watts), or the equivalent of approximately 69,000 average-sized US coal-fired power plants (average power generation capacity 667 MW).

PLATE TECTONICS

OUTCROP | June 2018

FIGURE 2

granitic rocks, contain significantly more heat production than other rocks. These high heat production rocks can produce local warm spots in the crust.

The Earth is simmering in geologic time. These heat sources are not sufficiently concentrated to form a volcano or a geothermal resource directly, but are like a burner on low on a range top. Given enough time, they can bring soup to a simmer. The result is movement of the tectonic plates, a solid crust on the simmering pot of the Earth, broken into pieces that move relative to each other along their boundaries. Most geologic interactions, volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain building, occur close to these boundaries, although there are some important exceptions. Isolated volcanic centers, such as Yellowstone and the Hawaiian Islands pierce the plates far from their edges, while sedimentary basins continue to develop long after they have an association with a plate boundary. Plate tectonics is an important process for geothermal resources in a number of ways. Most volcanoes are associated with plate boundaries and high-temperature geothermal resources are usually found close to active volcanoes. Mountain belts are generally formed in association with plate tectonics. Sometimes the association is obvious, such as the collision of the Indian subcontinent with Asia to form the Himalayan Mountains. Sometimes the association is less clear, such as the origin of the current elevation of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. However, topographic variations and young faults often allow water to circulate deep in the earth (a few km or a couple of miles) and rise to the surface as a hot spring/thermal resource. Finally, mineral resources can become concentrated in association with melting and recycling of the crust during the plate tectonic cycle. The minerals include those that contain the heat-producing isotopes and some rocks in the continental crust, particularly

GEOTHERMAL GRADIENT

The rate of increase in temperature with depth in the crust is called the geothermal gradient (see Figure 2). In most areas the geothermal gradient is in the range of 15 to 30°C/km (0.8 to 1.6°F per 100 feet). The average temperature gradient in Denver is about 10°C (50°F), so with these gradients you would need to go down between 2.8 and 5.7 km (between about 5,600 and 11,150 feet) to reach a temperature of 95°C (202°F), the average temperature at which water boils at the elevation of Denver. [The boiling temperature of water decreases by about 1.1°C (2°F) for every 300 meters (1,000 feet) increase in elevation above sea level.] These depths are relatively deep to drill for such modest temperatures. In some areas geothermal gradients are significantly higher than others. These areas are usually associated with plate boundaries, but can also be associated with high concentrations of heat producing radiogenic isotopes in the upper crust, thick sections of sedimentary rocks that conduct heat poorly, or hot

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Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

November 5-6, 2018

USGS - Denver Federal Center Register online at www.rmag.org Price: Member - $350 Non-member - $400 Student/Unemployed - $175

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Junaid Sadeque & Ali Jaffri This is a 2-Day course in which participants will learn the technical specifics of core-description evenly distributed between siliciclastic and carbonate environments. The primary objective of this hands-on core workshop will be to help participants learn how to identify facies and depositional environments from core-interpretation, and predict reservoir geometry and connectivity. The training will be accomplished through a combination of class-room lectures and hands-on core description sessions. Participants will learn the best practices/workflows for tying core-derived stratigraphic data with porosity-permeability, fluid properties, XRD and other relevant data for comprehensive reservoir characterization.

email: staﬀ@rmag.org

phone: 303.573.8621

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

910 16th Street #1214, Denver, CO, 80202

25EMAG v e n t Workshop Core

fax: 888.389.4090

web: www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2018

follow: @rmagdenver

LEAD STORY meters (663 feet) or 150°C (300°F) water at 700 meters (2,300 feet). The shallow warm water could be used for direct use; the deeper hot water could be used for electricity generation. Geothermal gradients are a good indicator of geothermal resources, but other exploration is required to determine the magnitude and potential uses of the resource.

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

spots resulting from mid-plate volcanism. Water flow can increase the geothermal gradient at shallow depths: upward flow increases the gradient, downward flow decreases the gradient. Water flow may raise the gradient in addition to other mechanisms that increase the gradient. Where these increases in gradient occur, geothermal resources exist. Young volcanic activity is commonly associated with geothermal resources, but is not a requirement.

Primary sources and controls of heat loss from the Earth that produce geothermal resources. The outer shell of the Earth, the plates of the lithosphere, is relatively rigid and heat flows into the base of this layer from below. In some areas, temperatures are high enough to cause melting allowing additional heat transfer with the upward flow of molten rock, or magma. Within the plates, heat is generated by the radioactive decay of uranium, thorium and potassium isotopes. These radioactive isotopes are present in very small concentrations, typically less than 1 to no more than 20 parts per million. However,

WHERE IS IT FOUND?

The most economic geothermal resources are found where geothermal gradients are significantly higher than average. Gradients as high as 200°C/ km (11°F per hundred feet) or higher are common in geothermal areas. These high gradients are usually associated with water flow bringing heat toward the surface. Unfortunately a 200°C/km gradient may be caused by 50°C (122°F) water at a depth of 200

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LEADERS IN PETROLEUM GEOCHEMISTRY

Oil Geochemistry for the Geoscientist 2-Day Short Course Learn to describe the origin and history of individual oils! Wednesday/Thursday, 9&10 May 2018 Grand Hyatt Denver Harold Illich / Dr. John Curtis

CONTACT GeoMark FOR MORE INFORMATION

REGIONAL STUDIES - GEOCHEMICAL DATABASES – ANALYTICAL SERVICES WWW.GEOMARKRESEARCH.COM / DENVER - DR. JOHN CURTIS (303) 619-0372

OUTCROP | June 2018

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

Rockbusters Bash 2018 Professional Awards Celebration

Join the RMAG for an evening of heavy hors dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;oeuvres, drinks, a live auction, and most importantly, honoring professional award winners.

Ticket Price

$45/Person

11 08 18 4:30pm - 7:30pm | The Maven Hotel at the Dairy Block Details and registration can be found online at www.rmag.org. email: staďŹ&#x20AC;@rmag.org phone: 303.573.8621 Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

910 16th Street #1214, Denver, CO, 80202

fax: 888.389.4090 web: www.rmag.org OUTCROP | June 2018

follow: @rmagdenver

LEAD STORY

FIGURE 3

good thermal conducting properties, which are usually below the water table. They may be prohibitively expensive to install where the water table is deep and the near surface materials are dry. In addition, they operate more efficiently if the mean annual surface temperature is close to the average of the heating and cooling requirements of the system. If heating significantly exceeds cooling, or vice versa, the ground around the loops will cool down or heat up, respectively, and the system will become less efficient during the season of the dominant cycle. If the dominant cycle is heating, a system’s efficiency may be significantly increased by extracting heat from low-temperature resources during the heating season, but a separate loop, or an alternating cooling system, such as evaporative cooling, must be used. For direct use, low-temperature applications may be found at any location where natural groundwater circulation brings warmed water to the surface

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when present in a layer 10 km (6.25 miles) thick, the effect of even small concentrations becomes significant. Heat from the radiogenic decay of these isotopes roughly doubles the heat flow that enters the base of the plates on average, but concentrations of these isotopes vary leading to irregular surface heat flow. In the near surface (the upper crust), heat flow may be changed dramatically by transport of heat by magma, often associated with volcanoes, and heat transfer by groundwater. Ground-water flow may be driven by heat from magmatic intrusions or by gravity-driven flow (see Figure 3).

HOW IS IT USED?

Ground source heat pumps do not use heat from the Earth and do not require a geothermal resource for operation. In theory they may be installed at any location. In practice they operate more efficiently where their ground loops are buried in materials with OUTCROP | June 2018

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Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

Applied Learning-PTTC Workshops Applied Concepts in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs

Wednesday-Thursday, June 13-14, 2018, Location: Colorado School of Mines, Berthoud Hall rm. 243 Fee: $500, includes snacks, class notes, and PDH certificate Instructor: John Lorenz and Scott Cooper

This is a hands-on class anchored with a 65-piece plus teaching collection of natural and induced fractures in core that students will work with during class exercises. The class provides insights into fracture mechanics and the origins of fractures, and uses those concepts in a very applied sense to instill an understanding of natural fractures and their potential effects on reservoirs. Discussions, lectures and exercises include differentiating fractures by type and the effects of different fracture types on reservoir permeability, and the fracture types expected in different structural domains and reservoirs. Course modules also include how to differentiate natural from induced fractures in cores and the use of image logs and their calibration with core. We will also discuss the interactions between natural fractures, in situ stresses, and stimulation fractures. Students will come away from the class with an appreciation of the wide range of structures that fall under the basket term â&#x20AC;&#x153;fractureâ&#x20AC;?, and an understanding that different fracture types do not have the same effect on hydrocarbon reservoirs.

Spotfire Workshop

Thursday, August 2, 2018, Location: Colorado School of Mines, Fee: $250, includes snacks, class notes, and PDH cert. Instructor: Bryan McDowell, Colorado School of Mines

Volumes and Risks Assessment for Conventional and Unconventional Plays and Prospects

Tuesday-Thursday, August 7-9, 2018, Location: Colorado School of Mines, Berthoud Hall rm. 403 Fee: $750, includes snacks, class notes, and PDH certificate Instructor: Dr. Alexei Milkov, Colorado School of Mines, Geology Dept.

The course enables participants to transform qualitative geological descriptions of plays and prospects into quantitative success-case and risked volumetric models. Obtained learnings will help participants to evaluate the geological probability of success (PoS) for exploration plays, segments, prospects, wells and portfolios and to assess the range of prospective petroleum resources in exploration projects. Examples and case studies come from both conventional and unconventional plays and prospects around the world. The learning objectives are achieved through well-illustrated lectures, numerous hands-on exercises and active class discussions. By the end of the course participants will be able to 1) Use Play Based Exploration approach, tools and products (Common Risk Segment mapping, Field Size Distributions, Creaming Curves, Yet-to-Find etc.) to locate sweet spots in and define remaining potential of conventional and unconventional plays, 2) Assess and justify ranges and probabilistic distributions for input parameters used in volumetric calculations, 3) Assess geological risks and probability of success (PoS) for conventional and unconventional exploration prospects, 4) Use industry software (GeoX) to run MonteCarlo simulations and estimate success-case and risked probabilistic volumes for exploration plays, segments, prospects and wells, 5) Recognize biases and logical fallacies common in exploration assessments and know how to correct them, 6) Aggregate segments into a prospect, use dependencies between segments to calculate PoS and volumes for prospects and wells, 7) Aggregate prospects and wells into exploration portfolio. Predict the outcomes of portfolio drill-out, 8) Evaluate drilling results, establish main reason(s) for well failure, use learnings from successes and failures in future projects.

Class Descriptions and Register Online: www.pttcrockies.org For more information, contact Mary Carr, 303.273.3107, mcarr@mines.edu

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2018

LEAD STORY

FIGURE 4

or wells are sufficiently deep for pumped water to be sufficiently hot for thermal use. Many low-temperature thermal springs (<35°C; <95°F) are the result of deep water circulation and have no association with anomalous deep heat source. For higher temperature natural springs there may or may not be a deep heat source, but there generally is a requirement that the pathways to the surface for the thermal waters are kept open. Hot water typically deposits minerals as it cools, clogging the fractures and other permeability through which it rises to the surface. The most common mechanism by which fractures remain open is by fault movements, which generate small to moderate earthquakes. Higher temperature hot springs are commonly found in association with young (<20,000 years) faults and/or historical or modern earthquake activity. These areas are typically also associated with minor earthquake activity. Not only is there a relatively shallow heat source, but open fractures allow water circulation. Higher temperature geothermal resources may also be found at many locations at depth of 2 to 4 km (6,500 to 13,000 feet) where the geothermal

OUTCROP | June 2018

gradient is above average. Most of these locations are in sedimentary basins where boreholes often already exist from oil and gas exploration and production. At present, production from these resources is uneconomic, but they may be a resource for the future. The highest temperature geothermal resources are generally found in areas with young (<20,000 years) volcanic activity. Most of these resources are on plate boundaries or volcanic hot spots in mid plate regions (see Figure 4). The Geo-Heat Center at the Oregon Institute of Technology identified 15 communities in Colorado that are within five miles of a geothermal resource with a temperature of 122°F or more, making them good candidates for community district heating or other geothermal applications. Areas in Colorado that are prime for new exploration include the Rico Dome structure in southwest Colorado, Mount Princeton Hot Springs, Wuanita Hot Springs, and the San Luis Valley. These exploration targets represent potential sites with high heat flow. There are currently no geothermal electrical power generating facilities in Colorado.

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Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

Inflow intelligence to improve well productivity at a fraction of PLT costs.

Know more, spend less with Inflow, the smarter way to gather data from your reservoir. A Tracer Production Log™ gives long-term data to help you optimize field development: • Maximize full field potential at a dramatically lower cost than a PLT • Determine clean out efficiency • Obtain years of oil inflow data along the length of a wellbore by surface sampling • Identify position and quantify water inflow over several years • Measure packer / plug / sleeve integrity

Know where you are and where you want to be. 31 www.tracerco.com/reservoir-characterisation

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2018

LEAD STORY

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30 HEAT FLOW MAPS The Interpretive Geothermal Heat Flow Map of Colorado depicts the movement of heat from the Earth’s interior to its surface in Colorado. The geographic distribution of heat flow is one of several indicators of the location of potential geothermal resources in Colorado. Heat flow data are merely one of several types of data that indicate the quality of geothermal resources in an area. Other data types also useful in assessing geothermal resources are geothermal gradient, geothermometry, geophysical data (electrical, magnetic, magnetotelluric, gravity, remote sensing), shallow-depth ground temperature measurements, and others. This map compiles the most recently available data regarding heat flow in Colorado by using geothermal databases from Southern Methodist University, University of North Dakota, and University of Michigan. In addition, the Colorado Geological Survey calculated 40 additional heat flow values from borehole temperature-depth logs and other published gradient data. It includes two plates, an Excel-based heat flow database, a database description and database reference list. This information is useful for geothermal resource exploration, especially when used in conjunction with other types of geological, geophysical, and hydrogeological data. Funding for this project was provided jointly by the Governor’s Energy Office (contract C900537) and the Colorado Geological Survey from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources Severance Tax Operational Fund. Severance taxes are derived from the production of gas, oil, coal, and minerals.

Editor’s Note: The updated Colorado Geothermal Map is not yet published on the CGS. OUTCROP | June 2018

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2018

RMAG LUNCHEON PROGRAMS Speaker: Matt Silverman | June 6, 2018

Tiger Mike Davis: Denver Oilman, Las Vegas Legend, and the Toughest Boss in the World Matt Silverman

OUTCROP | June 2018

Houston in 1975, and he built Tiger Drilling into a substantial rig, pipe and barge business in Louisiana over the next few years. After gambling extravagantly in Las Vegas and hob-knobbing with A-list celebrities there like Frank Sinatra, Johnny Carson and Joe Lewis, he moved to Sin City in the 1990s. Not all his bets were winners. Following an SEC investigation in the late 1970s, Davis filed for bankruptcy. A quarter-century later, he put billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian into a drilling deal with Denver’s Delta Petroleum that failed. In 2012 Kerkorian and Davis privately settled lawsuits against each other. Mike Davis may have been best known for his notorious office memos, in which he provided infamous professional direction for his employees. Among his gems: “Do not speak to me when you see me. If I want to speak to you, I will do so.” And “Don’t take advantage of me, because I am going to be looking down your throat. You need the job – I don’t!” He died in 2016 at 85 from complications of prostate cancer. At the memorial service, one mourner told the bereaved, “Mike Davis put the F.U. in funeral.”

Born in rural hard times during the Depression and without a high-school education, Edward “Tiger” Mike Davis became one of the richest, most colorful oilmen in America. Tiger Mike’s story is hard to tell without four-letter words, as his swearing was the stuff of legends. No G-rated abstract can do him justice. In 1947 he dropped out of high school in Nebraska and joined the Army. After serving in Europe he came to Denver, driving trucks and “swamping” in bars until lightning struck. He answered a blind ad for a chauffeur in 1956 and became the driver for Helen Bonfils, a fashionable socialite and heir to the Denver Post fortune. In 1959 Davis (28) married “Miss Helen” (69), and she set him up in the oil business. Not long thereafter he began a lifelong love affair with Phyllis McGuire, youngest of the pop trio, The McGuire Sisters, most famous for their #1 hits Sincerely and Sugartime. “Miss Phyllis” was also involved at the time with Sam “Momo” Giancana, heir to Al Capone as Boss of the Chicago Mob. Pugnacious and generous, profane and shrewd, above all Mike Davis was a wildcatter. Among his greatest financial successes were the sales of his oil and gas assets in the Rockies, including his interests at Bell Creek, MT (1967); Red Wing Creek, ND (1972); and Spotted Dog, CO (2007). He was thrilled by the chase and the gamble, but never one to hang on to a producing asset for long. Davis and Helen Bonfils divorced in 1971. Tiger Oil Company’s headquarters moved to

Matt Silverman was RMAG’s President in 2014 and is Exploration Manager for Robert L. Bayless, Producer in Denver. He also serves as Chair of AAPG’s History of Petroleum Geology Committee. The subject of this presentation, Edward “Tiger Mike” Davis, was legendary for his wildcatting and his profanity, so Parental Guidance is advised. 34

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

NETWORKING EVENTS IN THE UPSTREAM OIL AND GAS TECHNOLOGY COMMUNITY NETWORKING EVENTS IN THE UPSTREAM OIL AND GAS TECHNOLOGY COMMUNITY NETWORKING EVENTS IN THE UPSTREAM OIL AND GAS TECHNOLOGY COMMUNITY Technical Education Series

& BEER&LEARN BEER&LEARN

BEER LEARNSeries Technical Education

With Jason Harms from Total Depth Geosteering Technical Education Series

With Jason Harms from Total Depth Geosteering

The Wright Room, partner of Appaloosa Grill •Total 535 16thDepth Street Mall at Welton • Denver, CO With Jason Harms from Geosteering

Thursday, June 21 l 3:30 to 5:30 pm The Wright Room, partner of Appaloosa Grill • 535 16th Street Mall at Welton • Denver, CO

Thursday, June 21 l 3:30 to 5:30 pm The Wright Room, partner of Appaloosa Grill • 535 16th Street Mall at Welton • Denver, CO Blue River ANALYTICS

Blue River

A N A L Y T I C S Our

Blue River

Thursday, June 21 l 3:30 to 5:30 pm

events are graciously paid for by our members thus free for attendees

ANALYTICS

Our events are Space graciously paid for by our members Limited  RSVP: www.leeds.group thus free for attendees

American Institute of Professional Geologists Our events are graciously paid for by our members Limited Space  RSVP: www.leeds.group thus free for attendees

AIPGAmerican 55th Annual Conference American Institute of of Professional Geologists Institute Professional Geologists Limited Space  RSVP: www.leeds.group

AIPG 2018 AIPG 2018

55 Annual Conference AIPG AIPG 55th Annual Conference th

AIPG 2018

urplePurple Mountain Majesties Mountain Majesties Purple Mountain Majesties

• September Colorado Springs, 8-11 • September ColoradoColorado Springs, Colorado 8-11 Colorado Springs, Colorado • September 8-11

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th Plan on attending AIPG’s 55 Conference on attending AIPG’s 55thNational National Conference

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th Plan onTechnical attending AIPG’s National Colorado Springs Marriott 55 • Colorado Springs,Conference CO Presentations • Field Trips • Poster Sessions • Social Events Opportunities • Exhibitors • CEU’s and so much CO Colorado Springs Marriott Springs, TechnicalNetworking Presentations • Field Trips •• Colorado Poster Sessions •more!! Social Events Networking Opportunities • Exhibitors • www.aipg.org/events CEU’s and so• Social much Events more!! Technical Presentations • Field Trips Poster Sessions For additional information go• to

Networking Opportunities • Exhibitors • CEU’s and so much more!!

For additional information go to www.aipg.org/events For additional information go to www.aipg.org/events

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2018

RMAG LUNCHEON PROGRAMS Speaker: Ali Jaffri, Ph.D. |

July 11, 2018

Virtual Field Trip to the Modern Indus Delta Ali Jaffri, Ph.D.

The Indus River drains the Himalayas and creates one of the largest deltas and deepwater fans in the world. The delta is often used as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;classicâ&#x20AC;? example of a tide-dominated system. The first part of this presentation will take the audience on a virtual journey through the Indus Delta. We will compare the upper and lower delta plains of abandoned versus active lobes and will finally reach a terminal distributary mouth bar in the delta front. The second part of the talk will go over some lessons from the Indus Delta we can import to local sandstone reservoirs.

Ali Jaffri, Ph.D. is the founder of Applied Stratigraphix LLC, and has eighteen years of experience in sedimentology and stratigraphy projects. He has worked several onshore US Basins, North Sea, Lower and Middle Indus Basins, Barents Sea, Offshore East and West Africa, Taranaki Basin, Offshore Mid-Norway, and Kohat-Potohar Basin. He has a doctorate from Colorado State, Masters from Oklahoma State and Bachelors from University of Colorado. Equally proficient in carbonates and clastics, he has trained over 500 oil and gas professionals from 30 companies in 7 different countries.

Providing geoscience expertise and technology to the field and office since 1981

Well Site Geology Geosteering - On site & Remote Rock Analytics Geologic Prognosis/Mapping Oil Field Safety Training - PEC Regulatory Representation

sunburstconsulting.com

406.259.4124 OUTCROP | June 2018

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

About the 2018 Outcrop Authors we rely on; the health of our ecosystems and environment; and the impacts of climate and land-use change. The USGS scientists develop new methods and tools to supply timely, relevant, and useful information about the Earth and its processes.

January issue, pp 28-34 POWELL POWER Bureau of Reclamation Originally published on the Bureau of Reclamation website: https://www.usbr.gov/main/about/mission.html

March issue, pp. 26-32

Established in 1902, the Bureau of Reclamation is best known for the dams, powerplants, and canals it constructed in the 17 western states. These water projects led to homesteading and promoted the economic development of the West. Reclamation has constructed more than 600 dams and reservoirs including Hoover Dam on the Colorado River and Grand Coulee on the Columbia River. Today, they are the largest wholesaler of water in the country. They bring water to more than 31 million people, and provide one out of five Western farmers (140,000) with irrigation water for 10 million acres of farmland that produce 60% of the nation’s vegetables and 25% of its fruits and nuts. Reclamation is also the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States. Their 53 powerplants annually provide more than 40 billion kilowatt hours generating nearly a billion dollars in power revenues and produce enough electricity to serve 3.5 million homes.

APPLICATION OF UAV-BASED PHOTOGRAMMETRY FOR OUTCROP CHARACTERIZATION OF FLUVIAL DEPOSITS OF THE BURRO CANYON FORMATION, PICEANCE BASIN, COLORADO Javier Tellez, Matthew J. Pranter, Rex D. Cole Originally published on the University of Oklahoma website: http://www.ou.edu/mcee/geology/about_us Javier Tellez is a Ph.D. candidate at Conoco Phillips School of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1900 by Charles Gould, the School has been a leader in the Geological Sciences for over a century. […] The School of Geology and Geophysics has and continues to be a leader in education and research in petroleum-related fields. [They] have graduated over 5,000 practicing geologists and geophysicists. Today, the School continues to rank among top universities nationwide in placement of graduates in the energy industry.

February issue, pp 34-38

GEOLOGICAL ADVENTURES IN THE ARKANSAS RIVER VALLEY, CENTRAL COLORADO

Originally published on the University of Oklahoma website: http://www.ou.edu/mcee/geology/people/ faculty/matthew_pranter

Karl Kellogg Originally published on the USGS website: https:// www.usgs.gov/ Karl S. Kellogg is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Emeritus. The USGS provides science about the natural hazards that threaten lives and livelihoods; the water, energy, minerals, and other natural resources

OUTCROP | June 2018

Matthew J. Pranter is a Lew and Myra Ward Chair in Reservoir Characterization and Professor at ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma. His

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Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

Experience Experience truly truly integrated integrated 3D interpretation 3D interpretation with truly integrated truly integrated with industry's most industry's most advanced advanced 3D with 3D interpretation interpretation with geoscience geoscience system industry's most industry's system most advanced advanced geoscience system geoscience system GVERSE Geomodeling 2017 GeoGraphix 2017 GVERSE Geomodeling 2017 GeoGraphix 2017

GVERSE

Anthony Ford Account Executive, LMKR GeoGraphix

Email: aford@lmkr.com P: +1 (303) 996-2153, C: +1 (720) 210-8889

Anthony Ford Account Executive, LMKR GeoGraphix

GVERSE

Email: aford@lmkr.com P: +1 (303) 996-2153, C: +1 (720) 210-8889

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

R TM

www.lmkr.com www.lmkr.com

OUTCROP | June 2018

ABOUT THE 2018 OUTCROP AUTHORS project management and academic research and teaching. He is a registered professional geologist in Wyoming. Previous employers include Unocal Corporation, Multi-Mineral Corporation, Bendix Field Engineering Corporation, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and Asarco Corporation.

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38

areas of interest include Reservoir Characterization and Modeling, Sedimentary and Petroleum Geology, Fluvial Stratigraphy and Reservoir Characterization, Carbonate Stratigraphy and Reservoir Characterization, and 3-D Seismic Interpretation. [His] research focuses on questions to address how the characteristics of sedimentary rocks (and processes that form them) at different scales impact heterogeneity in conventional and unconventional reservoirs. This multidisciplinary research involves the “field scale” analyses of depositional systems, stratigraphic architecture, and sedimentology as applied to petroleum reservoir geology and geophysics. To explore these questions, [his] students and [he] analyze and integrate various types of data (e.g., outcrop, subsurface) and use a range of “tools” (e.g., 3-D reservoir modeling) to evaluate the stratigraphic and sedimentologic controls on reservoir quality and therefore, reservoir productivity.

April issue, pp. 28-42

GAS RATE FORECASTS FOR 10,000 FT. LATERALS IN THE SAN JUAN BASIN MANCOS DRY GAS PLAY Robert Brooks Robert Brooks is a consulting senior reservoir engineer at KH&S Ltd specializing in optimizing development of unconventional reservoirs using DCA, RTA, simulation and economic models.

May issue, pp. 46-61

Originally published on Colorado Mesa website: https://www.coloradomesa.edu/directory/physical-environmental-sciences/rex-cole.html

HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE REAL GLOBAL PRICE OF OIL William DeMis

Rex Cole, PhD, is a professor of geology. He teaches Geology of Colorado, Principles of Historical Geology, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy and Survey of Energy-Related Natural Resources. Geology requires a strong connection between theory, as expressed in the classroom, and examination of geologic features in the field. Cole also believes that to be an effective university teacher, you must be strongly engaged in research. His main interests include sedimentology, stratigraphy and energy and mineral resources. He has more than 35 years of post-doctoral experience involving petroleum research and development, synthetic fuels research, uranium exploration, minerals exploration,

William DeMis is President of Rochelle Court, LLC, a geoscience consultancy. He has held positions of Exploration Manager for Marathon Oil Company, Exploration Vice President for Roxanna Oil Company, and Chief Geologist for Goldman Sachs. This paper was presented at AAPG’s national convention in 1996, where it won Best Paper – DPA division, and was an invited presentation at AAPG national convention in 2000, where it won Best Paper – EMD division. Mr. DeMis is an AAPG Charles Taylor Fellow, AAPG Books Editor, and Associate Editor of the AAPG Bulletin. He is a Trustee Associate of the AAPG Foundation and a member of the AAPG, HGS, and RMAG.

OUTCROP | June 2018

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

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OUTCROP | June 2018

IN THE PIPELINE JUNE 4-6, 2018 SPWLA Annual Symposium. London, England.

Toughest Boss in the World.” Maggiano’s Little Italy in Denver. Contact: staff@ rmag.org.

JUNE 9, 2018

JUNE 5, 2018

JUNE 7, 2018

RMS-SEPM Luncheon. Speaker: Charlie Harman. “Quantified Facies Architecture and Sequence Geometry of the Yates Formation, Slaughter Canyon, New Mexico.”

Spotfire Course. Encana.

RMAG On the Rocks Field Trip. Trip leader: Paul Santi. “Front Range Geo-Hazards.” Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.

JUNE 8, 2018

JUNE 13-14, 2018

DIPS Luncheon. Members $20 and non-members $25. For more information or to RSVP, email kurt.reisser@gmail.com.

PTTC Rockies Short Course. “Applied Concepts in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs.” Lakewood, CO. For more information contact Mary Carr (mcarr@ mines.edu) 303.273.3107

JUNE 6, 2018 RMAG Luncheon. Speaker: Matthew Silverman. “Tiger Mike Davis: Denver Oilman, Las Vegas Legend, and the

JUNE 30, 2018 RMAG On the Rocks Field Trip. Trip leader: Don Bray. “Mineral Collecting- Calumet Iron Mine.” Salida, CO. JULY 1, 2018 RMAG On the Rocks Field Trip. Trip leader: Don Bray. “Mineral Collecting- Sedalia Copper Mine.” Salida, CO.

CORRECTIONS MAY ISSUE: • p. 49 second column, line 10 (DeMis, 2000) • p. 50 second column, line 13 (DeMis, 2000)

OUTCROP | June 2018

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

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Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

Geological Wellsite Supervision Supervised Remote Geosteering Integrated Petrophysical Analysis Oil and Gas Geological Studies Conventional and Unconventional Expertise

OUTCROP | June 2018

Are You a Photographer?

Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists would like to invite you to submit your digital images that capture the geology of the Rocky Mountain region. Pore Throat to Outcrop, Modern Analogs, Oilfield Activity (Rigs), Dinosaur Trackways. These images will be used on the cover of the Outcrop and a select number will be used in a forthcoming RMAG Calendar.

• All images will be accredited to the photographer • A brief description of the image (location, formation, significance) • The file size must be 300dpi or greater and be in TIFF or JPEG format. • Limit 10 images/person

Submit images to: Cheryl Fountain, cwhitney@alumni.nmt.edu

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OUTCROP | June 2018

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

ADVERTISER INDEX

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• Discovery Group Inc. (The) � 43

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CALENDAR | JUNE 2018 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

5 RMS-SEPM Luncheon.

6 RMAG Luncheon.

7 Spotfire Course. Encana.

8 DIPS Luncheon.

SPWLA Annual Symposium.

9 RMAG On the Rocks Field Trip. “Front Range Geo-Hazards.”

PTTC Rockies Short Course.

30 RMAG On the Rocks Field Trip. “Mineral CollectingCalumet Iron Mine.”

Vol. 67, No. 6 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | June 2018