Please submit RESERVOIR articles to the CSPG office. Submission deadline is the 23rd day of the month, two months prior to issue date. (e.g., January 23 for the March issue).
To publish an article, the CSPG requires digital copies of the document. Text should be in Microsoft Word format and illustrations should be in TIFF format at 300 dpi., at final size For additional information on manuscript preparation, refer to the Guidelines for Authors published in the CSPG Bulletin or contact the editor.
Advertising inquiries should be directed to Kim MacLean. The deadline to reserve advertising space is the 23rd day of the month, two months prior to issue date. All advertising artwork should be sent directly to Kim MacLean.
The RESERVOIR is published 11 times per year by the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists. This includes a combined issue for the months of July/August.
FRONT COVER
Mt. Fitzwilliam, Mt. Robson Provincial Park, B.C. Unconformable
between light-coloured carbonates of the Neoproterozoic Miette Group and the dark-coloured quartzose sandstones of the Cambrian Gog
Photo by Mark D. Smith.
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CSPG EXECUTIVE
PRESIDENT
Colin Yeo • EnCana Corporation colin.yeo@encana.com Tel: (403) 645-7724
VICE PRESIDENT
Lisa Griffith • Griffith Geoconsulting Inc. lgriffith@griffithgeoconsulting.com Tel: (403) 669-7494
PAST PRESIDENT
Jim Reimer • Result Energy Inc. jim@resultenergy.com Tel: (403) 539-5207
FINANCE DIRECTOR
Peter Harrington • TAQA North Ltd.
Peter.Harrington@taqanorth.ca Tel: (403) 234-7622
ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR
James Donnelly • ConocoPhillips Canada james.donnelly@conocophillips.com Tel: (403) 260-8000
A message from the Assistant Outreach Director, Greg Lynch, CSPG
Outreach Critical to Earth Sciences and Petroleum Geology
Inevitably you find yourself in a situation where you have to explain to friends and relatives what it is you do in your work as a geologist. Or maybe you have been put on the spot while hiking in a group when confronted with an interesting landform? Most people are naturally interested and want to know more, and geologists by nature are equally enthusiastic and up to the task.
Nonetheless, we sometimes find it difficult to communicate some of the basics, and to do justice to what is a truly fascinating realm of science. Geology can be an abstract topic to a public that has had little or no exposure. And indeed, geologists do see the world through different eyes. Recently, I found myself trying to explain the occurrence of Devonian coral reefs five kilometers below the Alberta foothills, garnering the response “wow, that water sure was deep”. Anyhow, try as I might to tell my Aunt Lilly about the exploration process and what it is we do, I think she still pictures me as a gas pump attendant in a NW Calgary service station.
Among many things, CSPG Outreach involves promoting geosciences to the general public, and strives to place petroleum geology within that context. In this we are all ambassadors. Why is this important? Three things come immediately to mind: geology as a career choice (succession), general public awareness (policy), and esthetics (culture).
In regards to the first item, the widely held consensus is now that the availability of qualified manpower or “human capital” is the single biggest obstacle to sustenance, never mind growth. Tried to hire anyone lately? The old saying “good help is hard to find” has been replaced by “impossible to find”. Like many of my colleagues I stumbled into geology only after taking it as a first-year elective while at university, and then switched my major. Unfortunately, this haphazard approach is way too late in the recruitment game, and is not a viable means to ensure adequate replacement.
Relative to other disciplines in science, geology is at a distinct disadvantage because it is given limited exposure at either primary or secondary school levels. How is an individual supposed to choose geology as a career path if he or she has never been exposed to it? Nonetheless, geology has held its own just because it is such an exciting topic, and because of its central importance to a country such as ours with its vast landmass and seaways. The allure and intrigue of fossils, strata, gems, volcanoes, earthquakes, glaciers, resources, the planets, the outdoors, and the environment – just to name a few – has continued to draw people to geology. CSPG Outreach strives to maintain Earth Sciences in the public eye and give it a profile.
So what are we doing? CSPG Outreach has a large and ambitious program which is run by an enthusiastic and dedicated group of volunteers. The program has grown substantially over the past few years, and the scope of activities ranges from local to national. With this November issue of the Reservoir I can point to a specific event taking place this month: the annual Honorary Address. Keeping in step with this year’s national Arctic theme, the Jubilee Auditorium is booked November 21 with a double bill, comprising slide shows by well known Arctic explorer, Jeff MacInnis, and Director of the Arctic Institute of North America, Benoit Beauchamp.
The Honorary Address promises to be an entertaining evening with stories of human endurance, adventure, and scientific marvels from a unique portion of our planet. Attendees are invited to bring a friend or youngster, enjoy the talks, and mingle amongst the displays during intermission. But the big excitement actually happens during the daytime presentations when primary school students are bused in from Calgary and outlying areas, packing the Jubilee with a broiling mass of young explorers – Outreach at its finest!
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AS OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2007
The Student Industry Field Trip, or SIFT as it is known, celebrated its 30th Anniversary this year, which is incredible. This has been a hugely successful program, and after thirty years the CSPG can now gaze upon its legacy. Numerous SIFT alumni are well entrenched in positions of all levels across the industry, and the program continues to attract new students each year.
Although the trip takes place during two weeks in May within plains and Rocky Mountain regions of southern Alberta and British Columbia, it is national in scope in that students from across the country have a chance to participate. To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of SIFT, a short promotional film clip of this year’s trip was produced to distribute to the schools, and captures the excitement and trip highlights.
At the other end of the spectrum, just initiated this year, and like SIFT is also the brainchild of Bill Ayrton (the creativity never stops), is the new “100 Jobs” program. This is to act as a matchmaker between job-seeking students and companies looking for help, which is very practical.
The Outreach Program is also directly involved in the school system, from kindergarten to grade twelve (K12 program), all the way up to the university level (University Outreach, student awards, and scholarships). In spring, CSPG volunteers enter the classroom for geology show and tell sessions, and are received by highly receptive and appreciative audiences. Others have the opportunity to show young students around the displays and trade floor at the CSPG convention.
At the top end, University Outreach is a truly national program supporting student chapters across the country, as well as regional studentled geoscience conferences, such as AUGC, WIUGC, and AESRC. Many have told me of
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the positive impact the student chapters and conferences have had on their development, in some cases giving individuals a first chance to show their knowledge in public, developing confidence and a sense of belonging.
You might by this point be wondering how the CSPG pays for all of this? Although the modest revenue streams of the CSPG cover some costs, a very substantial amount of fundraising is required each year to maintain these programs. Essentially, solicited donations from companies big and small, as well as from individuals make Outreach work. For companies, participating in a named funding program provides visible advertisement, as well as a handy tax break.
However, raising funds is an ongoing preoccupation which saps much of the energy from the hard-working CSPG staff. Consequently, a campaign has been initiated by the CSPG-Trust to raise the appropriate funds, to be held in the Trust, which will finance our programs and liberate staff to focus on delivering these programs. You will hear more about the CSPG-Trust in the months ahead.
Well, as all geologists do, now for the armwave. At this stage in history, hydrocarbons essentially occupy the root position at the base of the economic food chain – much else is a derivative or dependant thereof. For better or for worse, oil also has its sway in world politics, and is of concern to the global environment. Well, guess what discipline and profession occupy a role of central importance in all of this? That would be geology and geologists.
The only problem is there seems to be very little awareness of this association outside of our small circle. This is why it is critical that CSPG-Outreach programs continue to evolve so that we can elevate and support our profession beyond the confines of our society, to the benefit of the greater public. (...Continued
TECHNICAL LUNCHEONS NOVEMBER LUNCHEON
The sky is not falling –debunking the myths of global warming
SPEAKER
Bruno Wiskel
11:30 am
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Telus Convention Centre
Calgary, Alberta
Please note:
The cut-off date for ticket sales is 1:00 pm, Thursday, November 1, 2007. Ticket price is $34.00 + GST.
Due to the recent popularity of talks, we strongly suggest purchasing tickets early, as we cannot guarantee seats will be available on the cut-off date.
All the current fuss about climate change that is capturing so much media attention these days started in December 1997 with the negotiation of the Kyoto Protocol. The first major condition of ratification was met on May 23, 2002 when Iceland signed on as the 55th country to endorse the measures outlined in the agreement. The last condition was met on November 18, 2004 when Russia endorsed the document and brought the total emissions of Kyoto participants to 55% of global emissions.
The emission cuts that form the backbone of the Kyoto Accord originated from the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Composed of governmental and organizational representatives, the IPCC does not carry out any research, but serves to evaluate peer-reviewed published scientific literature and reports its findings. The first was published in 1990 (with a supplementary report in 1992), a second in 1995, a third in 2001, and the fourth in 2006. Each report builds on the previous one, and no later report has ever contradicted a previous one.
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On the surface, both the Kyoto Accord and the IPCC seem legitimate and above-board in every aspect of their being. But if the findings of these entities are scrutinized in the same manner that a petroleum geologist would evaluate an oil and gas prospect, even the most naïve person would quickly realize that the so-called “climate experts” are creating a scam that makes the Bre-X fiasco look like a walk in the park.
Even a cursory assessment of the various IPCC reports reveal so many flaws, inconsistencies, and biases, that it becomes very difficult to believe how so many countries could have been duped into entering into such an absurd agreement, until you realize that out of the 160+ countries that joined, only 22 of the signatory countries (13%) have to make any reductions at all. The rest of the countries, including Russia (that’s why they signed up), can increase emissions ad infinitum without any penalty whatsoever, which gives them an enormous advantage over those countries not hobbled with having to make reductions.
(Continued on page 12...)
TECHNICAL LUNCHEONS NOVEMBER LUNCHEON
The geologic history of the East CoastCanada Jurassic: a tale of rifting, spreading, shifting, shifting deltas, reefs, and salt tectonics
SPEAKER
J.D. Harper
ConocoPhillips Canada, Ltd.
11:30 am
Thursday, November 22, 2007 Telus Convention Centre Calgary, Alberta
Please note:
The cut-off date for ticket sales is 1:00 pm, Monday, November 19, 2007. Ticket Price: $34.00 + GST.
Due to the recent popularity of talks, we strongly suggest purchasing tickets early, as we cannot guarantee seats will be available on the cut-off date.
Rifting and salt tectonics often go hand-inhand. We do not get the opportunity to address issues prompted by the interactions of these two processes. In the case of rifting there is the question of what happens to sediments in the basin once the basin starts to spread apart. What is the nature of deformation of these early sediments? How do the salts respond? What happens as deposition continues before, during, and after the rifting and spreading?
Rift zones are somewhat linear in form and quite narrow. As spreading occurs the linear nature of the basin ultimately changes to that of a one-sided basin, one side having drifted far enough away so as to no longer have impact on its counterpart.
The Jurassic of the East Coast of Canada allows such questions to be investigated. The basin started out as a late Triassic-
early Jurassic northeast-southwest rift (the NAMOR rift) with Morocco to the east (210 Ma+). The rift zone was less than fi ve km in some areas and probably not greater than 50 km in others. It was characterized by horsts and grabens both on the North American and Moroccan sides. This discussion will address that portion of the rift that extended from the Laurentian Channel and the Newfoundland Fracture Zone to the northeast and southwest to the Shelburne Basin and the US border.
The earliest phase of deposition was recorded by Eurydice Fm. alluvial fans, braided streams, and lacustrine deposits (210-190/200 Ma). Contemporaneous with these clastic deposits were the Argo Salts of as yet undetermined original thickness and width. This phase of rift graben fi ll was terminated by marine incursion recorded by the early Jurassic Pleinsbachian Iroquois shallow to deep-water carbonates and associated reef growth.
This marine incursion is interpreted to be the record of the beginning of spreading. By 180 Ma the NAMOR Sea was still linear but somewhat less than 100 km wide. The first spreading centre to be recorded is the East Coast Magnetic Anomaly (175 Ma, ~120 km wide) and that occurred after Iroquois time. From Iroquois time through to the end of the Jurassic (190-145 Ma) a major Abenaki carbonate reef complex backed on the west by Mohawk and Mic Mac clastics continued to expand and grow in relief, with some progradational character. By 156 Ma (Oxfordian) the NAMOR Sea was ~800 km wide, almost twice the width of the present Red Sea. One has to ask at what point a sea becomes an ocean? It is a function of current circulation relative to global patterns.
South of the Sable Basin along the continental margin this barrier reef, where free of clastic dilution, continued its growth into the lower Cretaceous. Northeast of the Sable Basin, deeper shelf Jurassic carbonates were deposited on the Banquereau Platform separating the Sable Basin from the Laurentian sub-basin to the northeast. Once the Cretaceous Sable delta began to fi ll in the Sable Basin the deeper Jurassic salts were driven in part from the basin, forming two tiers of salt diapirs and tongues in Cretaceous sediments. By the end of the earliest Cretaceous Berriasian, the barrier reef was progressively drowned and buried by clastic deposits south of
the Sable Basin (137-146 Ma). A major deformation event along the margin during the earliest Cretaceous resulted in large blocks of reef slumping off of the front (~140 Ma).
In the Laurentian Basin the earliest stage of rift basin fi lling was likewise characterized by the “Eurydice clastic/Argo salt/Iroquois carbonate” package. This basin stretched back into the Orpheus Graben. Similar relationships can be observed in the rift grabens of Morocco. Most of the clastics were deposited along the northeastsouthwest axis of this early rift basin, having been sourced in part from the northeast. Post-Iroquois Mohawk and Mic Mac sands were deposited along this axis but as the spreading began sediments were deposited eastward as well as axis-parallel.
Seismic data illustrate that with continued spreading a time of major slumping and deformation of the early Jurassic sediments occurred. Salts began to fl ow eastward from the areas of major clastic deposition. (Continued on page 12...)
11:00 am – 1:15 pm Tuesday, December 11, 2007 Telus Convention Centre Calgary, Alberta
Please note:
The cut-off date for ticket sales is 1:00 pm, Thursday, December 6, 2007. Ticket price is $34.00 + GST.
Due to the recent popularity of talks, we strongly suggest purchasing tickets early, as we cannot guarantee seats will be available on the cut-off date.
After our Annual Christmas Social this year, we are holding a special event in honour of the CSPG’s 80th Birthday. Join us for some great food, wonderful speakers, and more. Last year over 900 tickets were sold, and we are limiting ticket numbers to 1,200 this year. Get your tickets soon because you will not want to miss this event. The CSPG website (www.cspg.org), Newsletter and December Reservoir will have more information, so stay tuned.
Alan Morgan speaking at the 2006 December Luncheon.
The intrepid explorer: James Hector’s explorations in the Canadian Rockies
SPEAKER
Ernie Lakusta
7:30 – 9:30 PM
Thursday, November 16, 2007 Room B108, Mount Royal College
On January 13, 1858, a young medical doctor, barely twenty-three years old, passed over a high knoll known as Gabriel’s Hill and got his first glimpse of the Rocky Mountains. His name was James Hector, the youngest member of the storied Palliser Expedition, and this awe-inspiring sight would forever change his life.
In the next two summers, this intrepid explorer would explore routes through and across the Rocky Mountains following a
network of rudimentary trails relying on native guides for information. James Hector and his colleagues would brave bitterly cold winters, hot summers, unpredictable wildlife, personal conflict, and Native war parties to explore these routes, often with only their wits to keep them alive. His is the first written account of crossing five major passes, and it is an unparalleled story of adventure, hardship, perseverance, and success.
The Intrepid Explorer is the story of James Hector’s explorations in the Rocky Mountains from 1858-1860. I plan to take you on his incredible journey through the Rocky Mountains following in his footsteps, and told through his eyes. We will travel the routes he pioneered, visit the passes he crossed, and the mountains he named; inspect some of the detailed geological sketches and maps he created; witness his hardships; and laugh at his follies. Above all, we will marvel at the indefatigable spirit of a true hero of Canadian history.
BIOGRAPHY
Ernie Lakusta was born in Hardisty, Alberta in 1944, but was raised and educated in Calgary. He attended the University of Calgary, where he
received his B. Ed., after which he became a highschool biology teacher and science department head for the Calgary Catholic School Board. Lakusta’s interest in the mountains grew out of his ecological research in Kananaskis Country in fulfillment for his M.Sc. degree from the University of Calgary. An avid hiker and scrambler, Lakusta’s passion for the outdoors has led him to explore, photograph, and write about the Rocky Mountains. His two previous books: Canmore and Kananaskis: History Explorer, and Banff and Lake Louise: History Explorer, is a product of his passion for the mountains.
Lakusta lives in Calgary with his wife, Jean, his inspirational partner. His two daughters Cherelyn and Chrissy, son-in-law Joenel and new grandson Xavier share his love and freedom of the outdoors.
INFORMATION
This event is jointly presented by the Alberta Palaeontological Society, Mount Royal College and the CSPG Palaeontology Division. For information or to present a talk in the future please contact CSPG Palaeontology Division Chair Philip Benham at 403-691-3343 or programs@albertapaleo. org. Visit the APS website for confirmation of event times and upcoming speakers: http://www. albertapaleo.org/.
Although many think of mankind as being apart from, not a part of, the environment, the connection between humans and the environment in which we live has long been recognized by geologists. Everything that enters our bodies does so, directly or indirectly, from the geosphere, hydrosphere, or atmosphere. There is a long history of investigations into the relationships between human well-being and the environment, but they have generally been carried out as isolated studies.
This talk will review recent developments in the interdisciplinary study of the relationship between human health and the environment, and the recognition of the complex relationships that this involves. Some examples will be given. The work of the International Medical Geology Association, which arose from an IUGS working group on Medical Geology, will also be discussed.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Elliott has worked in the oil and gas industry for the last 42 years, and is currently Chief Petroleum Advisor to the Alberta Securities Commission. His interest in the relationship between the earth and human health goes back many years. He was the third chairman of the Environmental Geology Division of the CSPG, and was involved in the publication of the booklet Planning and Managing the Human Environment that was partially sponsored by the CSPG and translated into several languages.
He was a member of IUGS Working Groups on Geological Indicators of Environmental Change and on Medical Geology. He has taught courses on Environmental Geochemistry and the statistical aspects of Environmental Sampling at the University of Calgary for several years. For the last 10 years, he has been editor of the Medical Geology Newsletter of what is now, the International Medical Geology Association. He has bachelor’s degrees in geology and mathematics, and a Ph.D. in geochemistry.
INFORMATION
All lunch talks are free and open to the public. Please bring your lunch. For information or to present a talk for the Environment Division please contact Andrew Fox at andrew.fox@ megenergy.com.
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HOW FAR DOES $100 GO? Report to the Membership
| A note from the CSPG Membership Chair, Ayaz Gulamhussein
If I were to take a quick straw poll around the office, I’m convinced that the sentiment towards the title question would be: “Not far enough.”
Dictionary.com defines value as ‘the amount that is considered to be a fair equivalent for something else.’ American Heritage Dictionary defines value as ‘the worth in usefulness or importance to the possessor.’ With CSPG membership renewal right around the corner, it is a fitting time to show the value of belonging to the CSPG.
The CSPG has two major publications that all of our members receive. The first of these two publications is the Reservoir magazine. The Reservoir is produced eleven times a year (monthly, except for a combined JulyAugust issue). The purpose of the Reservoir is to inform the membership of CSPG events, and to increase their awareness of geoscience issues and research findings. The end product is a high-quality magazine that is comparable to similar publications by other societies.
The second publication that all CSPG members receive is the Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology. This scientific journal is published four times a year and sent internationally to 3,500 geologists and subscribers. The Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology brings a wealth of information to the geological community through technical papers, scientific debates, book reviews, and announcements.
In addition to informing the members through publications, the CSPG also puts on a number of conventions and conferences each year. The 2007 CSPG CSEG Conference was based around the concept of ‘flow’ and
how it is fundamental to our industry. The conference theme reflected the range of our profession from the flow of ideas to the flow of hydrocarbons. The conference focused on the search for hydrocarbon reservoirs, the development of these reservoirs, the need to respond flexibly to evolving markets, changing corporate strategies, and the innovations in geoscience and technology.
The 2008 CSPG CSEG CWLS Conference entitled ‘Back to Exploration,’ is scheduled for May 12-15, 2008. Members will be informed more about this exciting event as details are confirmed.
The Gussow Geoscience Conference is an annual meeting that focuses on new and emerging issues related to the petroleum industry. The conference is intended to bring together recognized experts from diverse disciplines to provide a broad range of perspectives on the conference theme.
The 2007 Gussow Conference which was held last month, addressed the emerging issue of Arctic Energy Exploration. Experts discussed the wealth of energy exploration and development possibilities that exist all along the Mackenzie Valley, in the Mackenzie Delta and the Beaufort Sea, throughout Alaska’s North Slope and adjacent areas, across the Arctic Islands, and bordering the continental shelves of Canada and Greenland. The 2007 Gussow Conference delved into the geoscientific aspects of Arctic energy and examined how business should be approached and conducted in the changing North.
Although conventions and conferences do have a networking component to them, the CSPG also offers its members a number of social events. Some of the social events of the CSPG include the annual Squash Tournament, Mixed Golf Tournament, and the 10K Road Race & Fun Run.
Mixed Golf Mayhem.
The 24th annual CSPG Squash Tournament took place February 8-10 at the World Health Club in Edgemont. Calgary’s longest running squash tournament was highlighted by great squash matches, sore muscles, and a fantastic banquet. Funds raised from this year’s tournament were donated to the CSPG Educational Trust Fund (the Trust).
The 18th annual CSPG Mixed Golf Tournament was held on Friday, August 24 at the D’Arcy Ranch Golf Club. Of the 144 golfers that participated in the event, 108 of the participants were CSPG members. The remaining spots were filled by sponsors and guests. Similarly to the squash tournament, the funds raised by this event were also donated to the CSPG Trust.
The 19th annual CSPG/CSEG Road Race & Fun Run took place on Wednesday, September 12. Starting at the YMCA in Eau Claire, 200 participants ran the 10km route along the Bow River Pathway. After the race, participants gathered together for the postrace social.
CSPG membership also entitles members to a number of exclusive offers. The CSPG membership card will allow you access to corporate rates at Heritage Inns in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. Members are also offered corporate rates at all 90 Travelodge properties across the country. Once you get to your location, both Hertz and National Car Rental offer discounts to members of the CSPG.
For those members who are looking for discounts related to sports and recreation, both Fit Rent Ltd. and Ribtor sales offer CSPG members 10% off regular-priced items.
Other companies that offer exclusive deals to CSPG members include Shaw, Financial Management AB, and Ogden Financial Planners Ltd.
Details on all the offers can be viewed at: www.cspg.org/members/members-benefits. cfm.
To the right is a table that quantitatively shows the advantage of being a CSPG member. Note that this table does not include the value of any publications or discounts offered by friends of the CSPG.
The next time somebody asks you the question, “How far does $100 go?” – You might have to rethink your answer.
Squash players showing their stuff.
Road Race off to a great start.
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WE WANT YOU TO HELP US BUILD THE NEXT ATLAS!
| by Heather Tyminski and Dawn Hodgins
That’s right folks; the CSPG and the Alberta Geologic Survey (AGS) are working together to create an on-line digital version of the Geological Atlas of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, and our vision for this edition is huge.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with this book, it is an atlas of the subsurface geology of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. The atlas is not just a text, but also has a wealth of maps and schematics. With 19 chapters on designated stratigraphic divisions and 16 chapters that address aspects of the general geological, geophysical, geochemical, and geotechnical character of the strata, the atlas is an incredible resource.
In fact, according to the Geological Survey of Canada, the atlas is still used by industry resource explorers, academics and students, environmental analysts, and government scientists and planners as a reference tool. Originally published in 1994 by the CSPG and Alberta Research Council, this reference book has long been unavailable in bookstores.
The atlas, though out of print, is still accessible to any internet user. The AGS has the full text and all the atlas figures on their website for the public’s use. This was a wonderful advancement, as browsers can peruse the atlas with greater ease; one can use the search engine to look up key words. Also, anyone who has seen the book would agree with me when I say that it would be slightly cumbersome to bring to and from the office.
However, the CSPG and the AGS both believe that the atlas can be improved. The Digital Atlas Committee, made up of members from industry, the government, and the education sector, wants to create an atlas that captures new ideas and modified geologic models that have developed since the last edition of the atlas.
Some of the basic functionality we hope to build into this new version includes:
• Geo-referenced high-resolution maps;
• The ability to view all spatially referenced horizons as layers and the ability to turn layers on/off;
• The ability to download maps as ArcGIS shape files – fully attributed;
• High-resolution cross-sections and schematics;
• Geo-referenced base map with hyperlinked cross-sections on any filtered interval;
• Images of type well logs for specific member/formation;
• Links to lexicon descriptions for any filtered formation name;
• And the ability to download formation tops in ASCII format of the control wells.
A few extra perks we would like to provide on this site include:
• High-level descriptions of historic pools from filtered formation names;
• Cross-sections linked to public regional seismic lines illustrating the interpretation;
• Links to recent models of plate reconstructions;
• Links to models of environments of deposition for a specified paleogeography;
• Links to modern-day analogs;
• Links to gravity and magnetic maps;
• Links to current research groups,
consortiums, and recent literature on specified topics;
• And search of publications based on maplink to AAPG, CSPG, GSW, etc.
This is the vision of the Digital Atlas Committee. But this is also an evolving product and we are still in the infancy stage. The list of items above is only some of the points on the committee’s wish list.
We want to know what you think. We would like to poll the geosciences community for more ideas or additional functions that should be included. We have created a survey with a list of functions that could be available, so you (our geoscientists) can tell us what is important to you. The survey is designed so we can assess specific functionality and available data to be used to create this digital atlas. More information will be available on the CSPG website at www.cspg.org.
Houston, TX
February 11-15, 2008
Courses will include:
Thinking on Your Feet—Making Effective Business Presentations
Creativity Petroleum Exploration
Secrets of Career Success as a Professional Petroleum Geologist
Risk, Uncertainty and Decision-Making in Unconventional Resource Plays
Introduction to Coalbed Methane
Assessment of Unconventional Shale Resources Using Geochemistry
Geologic Interpretation of Seismic Data
Seismic Amplitude Interpretation—Lithology and Pore Fluid Estimation
Seismic Geomorphology & Seismic Stratigraphy
Seismic Stratigraphy & Seismic Geomorphology
Basic Openhole Log Interpretation
Formation Evaluation of Thinly-Bedded Reservoirs
Quick Guide to Carbonate Well Log Analysis
HOSTED BY THE NORRIS CONFERENCE CENTER 9999 RICHMOND AVE., SUITE 102 HOUSTON, TX 77042 713-780-9300; FAX: 713-780-9490
SPECIAL AAPG GROUP RATES AT NEARBY HOTELS!
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(...Continued from page 33)
The COGEH Volume 3 “Detailed Guidelines for Estimation and Classification of CBM Reserves and Resources” is in draft stage at the time of writing this article. This huge undertaking is likely the first publication dealing specifically with classifying, defining, and quantifying unconventional reserves and resources.
• Reserves Evaluator Training
The SPEE/WPC/AAPG and SPE have formed the Joint Committee on Reserves Evaluator Training (JCORET) to investigate training courses for reserve evaluators that focus, in part, on reserves and resources definitions, classification, and applications. Discussions on qualifications and standards for professional reserve evaluators and auditors are ongoing.
CONCLUSION
The reason for NI 51-101 and COGEH is to provide the shareholder/investor/ stakeholder with consistent and reliable reserves information using standardized reporting guidelines in a format that can be widely understood. While the COGEH framework allows for definitions and classifications for current conventional and unconventional reserves and resources, the classification and definition of reserves is an ever-evolving process. COGEH will continue to be modified to adapt to new technology and standardization in a global economy.
REFERENCES
Kemirmen, Ferruh, 2007. “Reserves Estimation: The Challenge for the Industry,” Society of Petroleum Engineers Paper #103434, In Journal of Petroleum Technology May 2007, P80-89.
Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook, First Edition, November 1, 2005, Volume 2, Detailed Guidelines for Estimation and Classification of Oil and Gas Resources and Reserves. Section 6: Procedures for Estimation and Classification of Reserves, 2005.
Oil and Gas Reserves Committee, Mapping Subcommittee Final Report – December 2005: Comparison of Selected Reserves and Resource Classifications and Associated Definitions, 2005. Richardson, Texas: Society of Petroleum Engineers. http://www.spe.org/web/ogr/OGR_mapping_ Final_Report_15Dec05.pdf.
Look for our next article on “Volumetric Estimation” in the December issue of the Reservoir. This article was contributed by Fekete Associates, Inc. For more information, contact Lisa Dean at Fekete Associates, Inc.
Figure 3. Multi-Well Gas Pool Example Reserves Classification (Sourced from Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook, Volume 2, Section 6 Procedures for Estimation and Classification of Reserves, Figure 6-2B).
Figure 4. Aggregation (summation) Issues (Sourced from: Kemirmen, Ferruh, Society of Petroleum Engineers Paper #103434, Figure 10).
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All abstracts must by submitted through the conference website
EXTENDED ABSTRACT DEADLINE
May 1,2008
Extended abstracts for accepted papers must be submitted by this date
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COURSES
Practical Salt Tectonics
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CORE WORKSHOP
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SEISMIC DATA ROOM
Latest Central Atlantic Programs & Profiles
PROGRAM INFORMATION
David E.Brown dbrown@cnsopb.ns.ca
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LOGISTICAL INFORMATION
Trudy D.Lewis trudy.lewis@ns.sympatico.ca
On the 8th day, God created Gerry and then He had a beer.
| by Heather Tyminski
“ You are a member of one of the best geological societies in the world, so get involved.”
GERRY REINSON, 2007 GUSSOW CONFERENCE CO-CHAIR
Employer: Reinson Consultants Ltd.
Position: President and Principle Geologist Number of Years as a CSPG Volunteer: 33 years
What are your current responsibilities as the Gussow Conference Co-Chair?
As the title implies I am, along with Benoit Beauchamp, responsible for organizing and facilitating this “Specialists” Conference. This includes 1) formulating the entire technical program by soliciting presentations and overall participation, 2) setting budgets, negotiation fees and deadlines, 3) generating advertising layouts and brochures, 4) overall scheduling, and 5) recruiting sponsors. Of course, none of these activities would be possible without the administrative and logistical support of our Conventions and Corporate Relations staff (Shauna Carson, Tanya Santry, and Kim MacLean).
What other volunteer positions have you held in the past at the CSPG?
I guess I have been a volunteer almost continuously ever since I’ve been a member.
I started by serving on various Core Conference Committees, the Graduate Thesis Committee, and the Education Committee, as well as session chair/logistics volunteer/presenter for several annual CSPG Conferences. I gradually became even more involved by chairing two annual Core Conferences (including the 2005 CSPGAAPG joint event), and serving two terms as an Associate Editor of the Bulletin. I thought my volunteerism culminated with my tenure as CSPG Vice-President/President and Past President from 1995-1997, but it did not. I served as General Chair for the 2002 75th Anniversary Conference, and subsequently as Issue Director (representing the CSPG) on the Canadian Geoscience Council (CGC) from 2004-2007. I like to think I played some part in re-tooling the CGC into its present form, the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences (CFES).
Why do you volunteer for the CSPG? Because it is my duty to give back to my profession. I feel fortunate, not entitled, to do what I do as a professional geologist. I have met, and continue to meet wonderful
people. I get to interact with my peers and even to be a mentor to younger geologists in many instances. I view my profession as a career, not just as a job.
What are some memorable moments you have had as a volunteer?
The 2002 75th Anniversary Conference was memorable because it was a resounding success due in large part to the people who were on my committee. Individuals such as Craig Lamb, Memory Marshall, Shannon Nelson Evers, Pauline Chung, Jim Barclay, Tim Bird, Astrid Arts, Kirk Osadetz, Shawn Alspach, Wayne Dwyer, and James Duggan have gone on to serve in higher positions on the CSPG Executive and CSPG committees. The camaraderie and dedication of the 2002 Committee was unbelievable – I have to say the meetings and get-togethers were wonderful and remain unforgettable.
Also, I am extremely proud to have served as the CSPG President during a time when the society had to evolve both administratively and organizationally in order to move forward into the 21st century.
Could you offer some words of wisdom to our CSPG members?
You are very lucky to be in the profession you are in. Make a career of it – live it. You are a member of one of the best geological societies in the world, so get involved. You are obligated as a professional to do so, and you will be surprised how rewarding it can be. If nothing else, you make life-long friends and, most of all, you grow as a person.
What is your opinion of current volunteerism in the CSPG?
In my view, there are not enough people volunteering these days. Many individuals are not active in the Society because they feel their employers may frown upon it. This thinking is somewhat of a “cop-out” and a ready excuse, since corporate support of the Society seems to be at an alltime high at present. We, as petroleum geologists, have more to contribute to the environmental/climate change debate than any other professional sector, yet we seem to be content to be labeled as a bunch of “rednecks”. We must promote our industry and profession to the public, and what better way to do so than getting involved in the CSPG.
Photo by Clark Hanna
GREEN CREEK
Northeastern British Columbia, 94-G-10
| by Canadian Discovery Ltd.
Operator of Note:Anadarko Canda (now ConocoPhillips)
Play:Mississippian Debolt Structure Gas
Production of Note:
Anadarko’s b-56-A Outpost recorded an impressive IP of 5.4 mmcf/d of gas, in a large area with no Debolt or other Mississippian production. Up section is equally impressive established Baldonnel gas production.
This article is reprinted with permission from Canadian Discovery’s CEO map series (4thQ 2006). For information on products offered by CDL, please visit www.canadiandiscovery.com or call 269-3644
RECENT ACTIVITY AND ESTABLISHED PRODUCTION
Anadarko Canada (now ConocoPhillips) is an important land holder in the Green Creek Field region of northeastern British Columbia (Figure 1). The company discovered a significant Mississippian Debolt Formation gas pool through drilling a 2,440m MD (2,043m TVD) Outpost test in April and May 2005 at b-56-A/94-G-4. In June 2006, that deviated well was perforated and acidized between 2,312m and 2,371m MD (~1,956m and ~1,996m TVD), an interval comprised of variably dolomitized Debolt carbonate (Figure 2, page 43). The discovery went on stream in August and recorded a very impressive initial production (IP) rate of 5.4 mmcf/d of gas. To August 2006, Outpost b-56-A had flowed just over 1.0 bcf of gas and in that month was producing gas at 876 mcf/d. Formation water inflow has been very low, averaging 4 bwpd over the life of the well.
The Green Creek Field and its immediate surroundings is best known for its Triassic gas production (Baldonnel and Halfway formations). The first discovery in that field was the Halfway A Pool, found in May 1979 by BP Canada. However, despite several wells drilled in that pool, only the discovery well (a-25-I/94-G-7) briefly flowed a minor amount of gas during February 1980. Much more substantial gas production was put on stream following the discovery in March 2000 of the Baldonnel B Pool (the Baldonnel A Pool was found in March 1998 and after testing gas at small rates never went on stream). That four-well pool has flowed over 7.1 bcf of sour gas (1.18% H2S) since its first two wells went on stream in November 2004 and in August 2006 the pool produced gas at just over 15 mmcf/d. Water inflow is minimal. Baldonnel B Pool wells are drilled directionally and their true vertical total depths are relatively shallow and range from 1,331m to 1,417m into, for the most part,
Figure 1. Green Creek Activity.
the Baldonnel or the underlying Triassic Charlie Lake Formation. A one-well Bluesky A Pool is listed as having been discovered, also in March 2000, but has not been put on stream.
The directional Debolt discovery at b-56-A offsets a horizontal development drilled by Anadarko at a-57-A/94-G-10 in March/April 2005 to tap the aforementioned prolific Baldonnel B Pool, On a map, their bottom hole locations are about 200m apart. The a-57-A horizontal development well went on stream late July 2005 and recorded an IP rates of around 4.2 mmcf/d of Baldonnel gas, flowing 1.4 bcf during its first year of operation. The 273 ha lease on which both wells were drilled and completed was purchased by Anadarko in January 1994 for $228/ha. The company paid a penalty to continue this lease past the January 2004 expiry. The rewards came in the form of two outstanding gas wells.
NEARBY DEBOLT PRODUCTION
Other than the b-56-A discovery, there is no current Debolt production in the Green Creek Field and vicinity (Outpost a-26-I/94G-7, which was drilled to the Mid-Devonian Watt Mountain Formation in 1Q 2003 by BG Canada, is perforated in the Debolt but has not produced). On trend is Bougie in 94-G-15, 40 km NNW (2.5 bcf of gas), and Beg in 94-B16, 70 km SSE (7.8 bcf of gas), which have been producing since the mid to late ‘90s. Much more prolific is the better established Debolt production 30 to 50 km SW of the Green Creek discovery deeper into the Foothills. This production includes Grassy and Buckinghorse in 94-G-7 (38 bcf of gas), Pocketknife in 94-G-6 (59 bcf of gas) and, especially, Sikanni in 94-G-6 (266 bcf of gas).
A COMPLEX PLAY
The Green Creek discovery lies at the northern end of the broad Debolt Structural play (Figure 3, page 43), near the leading edge of the Rocky Mountain disturbed belt, as defined by Canadian Discovery in its Strategy 2005 report. There, hydrocarbons are primarily trapped by complex thrust faults and related folds associated with the Laramide Orogeny. Usually there is also a stratigraphic trapping component affecting reservoir quality and distribution. The pools are mapped as NW-SE trending, narrow, linear features. Many of the producing
(Continued on page 43...)
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Geologists Geophysicists Engineers
(...Continued from page 41)
reservoirs are in single or multiple (stacked) fault-bend fold “thrust sheets,” and in detachment-type structures. Fracturing has played a considerable role in enhancing many reservoirs with limited matrix reservoir. The reservoirs are comprised of dominantly dolomitized packstones and grainstones that were deposited in shallowwater open marine to restricted marine environments and have a complex history of diagenetic alteration. Dolomitization is most often related to the fracturing, faulting, or proximity to the unconformity. Sour gas is the dominant hydrocarbon in the Mississippian Rundle Group carbonates.
Enormous gas potential remains in this play and new pools are being discovered through better understanding of rock mechanics and its contributions to reserves, refinements in seismic imaging and interpretation, and enticement offered by favourable longerterm high commodity price forecasts.
Figure 2. Reference logs for b-56-A/94-G-4.
W Traps Related to Paleozoic Disturbed Belt E
Figure 3. Debolt structure play.
19TH ANNUAL CSPG CSEG ROAD RACE takes OFF with a Bang
| by Chris Manion
The rain stopped, the wind died down, and 141 runners sprinted off at the start of the 19 th Annual CSPG/CSEG 10K Roadrace and Fun Run held on the evening of September 12. The course started at Eau Claire and took runners along the Bow River pathway on the south side of the river on an out and back route. Despite the numerous DEEP puddles along the gravel sections of the path, runners came through the finish line with smiles on their faces. The race was so much fun that it even caused some to kick up their heels in joy!
As always, there was a mix of runners from strong competitive runners to those runners out to enjoy the experience for their first time. Member participation was up, which was encouraging to see. As well, there was a greater number of runners in the under 29 category. As in past years, the evening wrapped up with beer and pizza at Quincy’s. Awards and many prizes were handed out and the ever popular sock toss provided everyone with something to take home!
I would like to thank all the volunteers. You guys are great! I would also like to thank our sponsors, many of whom ran the race. Without you, this event would not be possible. Your support and generosity is much appreciated. Lastly, great job runners! Hope to see you back next year!
Finally a huge thank-you to the group of people on the committee that helped me this year: Stuart Mitchell, Matt Hall, Kathy Taerum, Kathy Waters, Mike Cardell, Cindy Koo, Fiona Katay, and Kim MacLean.
The results can be found by clicking on the link at http://www.cspg.org/events/eventssocial-funrun.cfm.
We look forward to seeing you next year for our 20 th run; the race date will be September 10, 2008.
Race Director for 2008: Christine Manion chris@forsaw.ca.
Here’s a summary of the CSPG, CSEG, and CAPL winners from this year’s race:
Louis Blinn is enjoying the race and the lovely weather.Steve Glavac and Andy Williamson are not running out of steam yet.
Leaders in lnnovation
Program Lead, Unconventional Gas Calgary
The Alberta Research Council seeks a Program Lead who will be responsible for unconventional gas research and development activities. The program will focus on innovation and adaptation of technology to improve resource recovery.
As Program Lead you will implement the research program, manage human and financial resources, strengthen industry and government networks, oversee technical service contracts and program projects, encourage creative thinking of program team, and work collaboratively with other ARC business units and industry partners to expand and improve delivery of technical projects.
Candidates require a minimum of a Masters degree in a related field (Geology, Geochemistry, Reservoir Engineering), at least 10 years industry experience, and have a strong understanding of the unconventional gas industry including the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Proven leadership, team performance, and interpersonal skills are required.
For further detailed information on this exciting opportunity, go to www.arc.ab.ca.
Anthony Steenbergen, First Place Winner in the CSEG Male Category.
And the winner of the race is Curtis Sampson.
Lorna Hawley, First Place Winner in the CSEG Female Category.
Matt Hall, First Place Winner in the CSPG Male Category.
Justine Sagan, First Place Winner in the CSPG Female Category.
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