■ Dolomites: The Spectrum – Mechanisms, Models, Reservoir Development
■ Dolomites: The Spectrum – Mechanisms, Models, Reservoir Development
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Comprehensive, trusted oil and gas information for the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, Northern Territories, and East Coast. From mineral rights to surface information, E&P data to M&A, AccuMap offers unparalleled data and analysis tools.
New ventures. Exploration. Economics. Exploitation. Drilling. Production. Delivery. Acquisitions and Divestitures. Wherever your opportunities take you, IHS Energy supports you every step of the way.
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CSPG
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GEOCAN Energy Inc.
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Photo by Darran Edwards.
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THE CSPG GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES ITS *CORPORATE MEMBERS:
ABU DHABI OIL CO., LTD. (JAPAN)
ARCHEAN ENERGY LTD.
BAKER ATLAS
BURLINGTON RESOURCES CANADA ENERGY LTD.
CALPINE CANADA
CANADIAN FOREST OIL LTD.
CONOCOPHILLIPS CANADA RESOURCES LIMITED
CORE LABORATORIES CANADA LTD.
DEVON CANADA CORPORATION
DOMINION EXPLORATION CANADA LTD.
DUVERNAY OIL CORP.
ECL CANADA
EL PASO OIL & GAS CANADA, INC.
HUNT OIL COMPANY OF CANADA, INC.
HUSKY ENERGY
IHS ENERGY
IMPERIAL OIL RESOURCES LIMITED
LARIO OIL & GAS COMPANY
MJ SYSTEMS
MURPHY OIL COMPANY LTD.
NCE RESOURCES GROUP INC.
NEXEN INC.
NORTHROCK RESOURCES LTD.
PENN WEST PETROLEUM LTD.
PETRO-CANADA OIL AND GAS
REEVES WIRELINE
SAMSON CANADA
SHELL CANADA LIMITED
SPROULE ASSOCIATES LIMITED
SUNCOR ENERGY INC.
TALISMAN ENERGY INC.
TOTAL E&P CANADA LIMITED
UPTON RESOURCES INC.
*CORPORATE MEMBERS AS OF JANUARY 24, 2003
ConocoPhillips is pleased to announce the recipients of the ConocoPhillips Glen Ruby Memorial Scholarships in Geoscience for 2003.
Dean Knight
Matthew Pronk
Cody Miller
ConocoPhillips would like to wish all applicants the best of luck in their studies and future endeavors.
CSPG Programs are responsible for Continuing Education,Technical Divisions (Basin Analysis,Core and Sample,Emerging Petroleum Resources,Environmental, Geomathematics & Computer Applications, Hydrogeology,International,Paleontology, Reservoir Development,Sedimentology, Sequence Stratigraphy,and Structural Geology),Technical Luncheons,and – in a small way – conference planning.The role of the CSPG Program Director is largely to serve as a liaison between Program committees and the CSPG Executive,as well as a facilitator when new initiatives are being undertaken or new committees and subcommittees are being established or changed.Many of the activities of CSPG Programs are thus,at their root,important sources of technical,scientific,educational, and professional training information for CSPG members – effectively the ‘life blood’ of our petroleum geoscience society.
During the past year as CSPG Assistant Program Director,it became clear that the day-to-day work of the Society is handled by a very competent and effective CSPG office led by Tim Howard (Business Manager) and assisted by Deanna Watkins (Programs & Services Manager),Jaime Croft (Communications Manager),Lori HumphreyClements (Conventions Manager),and Kim MacLean (Corporate Relations Manager). Coupled with the CSPG office and Executive, are a large,dedicated contingent of amazingly effective volunteers ranging from the more visible Program committee chairs (e.g., Continuing Education – Godfried Wasser and Dave Russum;Conventions – George Eynon; Technical Luncheons – Jim Gardner) to the many,many committee members and event volunteers.With people such as these and all the other active volunteers,(and I am sure as many others equally as committed and enthusiastic waiting in the wings to devote their time!),the CSPG should be well placed to be successful not only in the short term,
A MESSAGE FROM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
but also in the long term – ‘visionary’ sort of way.So… please volunteer!
At the end of each fiscal year a general vision for CSPG Programs is presented to the Executive outlining short- and long-term goals in each of the areas for which Programs is responsible.Following is a summary of what was developed by past Program Director Elizabeth O’Neill (kudos to Liz for a superb job!!) and myself,as to where we,and the Executive,believe Programs should be headed:
• General Aim: To improve and modernize technical standards of the CSPG using innovative means to reach out to both professional and academic petroleum geoscience communities.
• Education: To improve and expand the technical and professional abilities of the membership through geoscience education relative to their needs.Specifically,to continue revitalizing the Continuing Education Committee and to support, nurture,and monitor the Geoscience Professional Development Centre.Also,to seek opportunities to forge links with other geological / geotechnical societies for mutual benefit.
• Technical Divisions: To improve the synergy between Technical Divisions. Promote the Technical Divisions on the web site and facilitate inter-division interactions to achieve cross-divisional presentations. Monitor each Technical Division’s performance and provide assistance where it is needed to renew and refresh the volunteer base.
• Technical Luncheons: Provide a wide variety of current and relevant technical and scientific presentations for the CSPG membership under the steerage of the Technical Luncheon Committee.Achieve full schedule of webcasts and promote development of the Technical Luncheon Presentation virtual library through archiving of webcasts.Attempt to make available selected webcasts to up and coming petroleum geologists.
• Conferences: To seek opportunities for thematic,topical mini-conferences and collaboration with other societies on joint conventions.This is now the practical responsibility of the Conventions Committee – ongoing support will be
MARCH LUNCHEON
“If the bus stops at the bus station and the train stops at the train station,what happens at the workstation??”
SPEAKER
Easton Wren, Consultant
11:30 am Tuesday,March 9,2004
TELUS CONVENTION CENTRE CALGARY, ALBERTA
Please note:
The cut-off date for tickets sales is 1:00 pm,Wednesday,March 3rd.
Ticket price is $28.00 + GST.
The huge volumes of 3D datasets recorded in the 1970s created the need for a machine to handle the tasks associated with routine picking of seismic events,their posting,and subsequent mapping.It was not possible to cope with the rapidly escalating data volumes on paper sections.
Just like other early developments of calculating devices (abacus,log tables, slide rule,hand calculator) The early workstations did not have too many frills: simply elementary operations without too much demand for computing power. However,the human operator was always in charge.This is a non-trivial aspect of the human-machine interaction. Also there were no statistical estimates or assumptions with these early operations.They were precise.
Early workstations had no capacity for processing,calibration with and
generation of synthetic seismograms, phase filtering,or inversion.They could not handle anything but the input data volume.The fundamental advantage then became the routine process of pick, post,and map.Contemporary work stations are precise in their ability to pick and transport data to mapping packages.However,contemporary workstations do not always satisfy the seismic interpreter’s objectives to go beyond this pick-post-map process.
Seismic interpreters are forced to produce interpretation maps of multiple data sets in relatively short time.The main complaint from the interpreter is that it is not possible to do everything to fine-tune a seismic prospect with the current crop of workstations.It is desirable to be able to investigate the quality of the seismic data processing and the final seismic product before committing to a well location.Often it is necessary to investigate the pre-stack database (CDP gathers,offset gathers, cross-plotting,etc.) to establish any AVO signature that might be critical in addition to assessing the quality of processing.
Therefore,much of the essential work that should be performed on the workstation cannot be done.
This presentation will take a historical look at the process of computation and suggest where we might be headed in the future with respect to the workstation world.
BIOGRAPHY
Easton Wren is well known in Canada and recognized internationally as an innovative
MARCH LUNCHEON
The two facies of Piscichnus, water-bound vertebrates are Gemini:paleogeography and process ichnology using feeding traces and trace fossils
SPEAKER
Murray Gingras University of Alberta
CO-AUTHOR
Ian Armitage 11:30 am Tuesday,March 23,2004
TELUS CONVENTION CENTRE CALGARY, ALBERTA
Please note:
The cutoff date for ticket sales is
geophysicist who is a leader in the application of new seismic techniques.
He received his B.Sc.(Hons) in Geology in 1960 and his Ph.D.in Geophysics in 1968 from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. His professional experience includes positions with Ray Geophysical Company in Libya,the United Nations in Uganda,Amoco Canada, and PanCanadian Petroleum.In 1978 he founded Petrel Consultants and was President and General Manager of the company until 1986.Since that time he has been an independent consultant.
Dr.Wren is current in state-of-the-art seismic methods,has lectured at U.S.and Canadian universities,has developed and presented industry-oriented training courses to a wide variety of audiences.His “Geophysics for Geologists”has been presented in Calgary annually for over twenty years.
Easton was elected President of the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists for 1981,received the Society’s Best Paper award in 1974,the Meritorious Service Award in 1977,and Honorary Membership in 1988.He has authored several papers on seismic processing and interpretation,is a past editor of the Journal of the CSEG,and Bulletin of the CSPG,and was General Chairman of the joint CSEG-CSPG Convention,Exploration Update,in 1979.
In 1987,he was Distinguished Lecturer for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG).He is also an active member of SEG,CSEG,and APEGGA.He was the host of the CFAC-TV Calgary “Science Spectrum”documentary programme.
1:00 pm,Wednesday,March 17th. Ticket Price is $28.00 + GST.
The trace fossil Piscichnus represents the vestige of subaqueous feeding behavior. The trace fossil typically resembles a conical- or bowl-shaped structure, depending on the caliber and cohesiveness of the sediment.Although
the behavior is normally interpreted to represent water jetting by an animal into a substrate,some types of digging activities might produce similar trace fossils.Drawing from two distinctive examples,this paper contrasts occurrences of modern and ancient Piscichnus and reveals a range of behavioral inferences that might be applied to rock record occurrences of Piscichnus
The first example,observed in great abundance on tidal flats in the Bay of Fundy, comprises a crescent-shaped impression and a plug-shaped excavation.The morphology of the trace strongly links it to foraging Atlantic sturgeon.Surfaces characterized by numerous occurrences of the feeding trace, contain a variety of organisms including mollusks,polychaete worms,and amphipods. Analysis of the distribution and orientation of the feeding traces shows that feeding activity is greatest within 500m of the mean high-tide mark and coincides with the maximum concentration of the amphipod Corophium volutator .Within this zone, voluminous quantities of mud and silt are resuspended by the feeding activity of sturgeon.Extensive soupy substrates result from suspension deposition of silts and muds at slack tide as well as the impoundment of seawater within the feeding excavations. Thus,it is suggested that feeding by the Atlantic sturgeon locally represents one of the chief erosional/depositional agents on the intertidal mudflat zone within the upper reaches of the Bay of Fundy.
Our second example focuses on Piscichnus observed in gravelly Pleistocene deposits adjacent to Willapa Bay,Washington,which are co-occurent with bivalve trace fossils. The suite of biogenic structures manifest two distinct occurrences:(1) symmetric or asymmetric u-shaped structures with flared limbs containing occurrences of graded bedding (Piscichnus) and (2) vertical to subvertical columns where laminae and bedding deflect downward (bivalve burrows). Piscichnus cross-cut the bivalve-generated structures and are interpreted to represent a predatory relationship.Several animals have been reported to feed on bivalves including:elasmobranch fishes,crabs,sea stars,sea otters,whales,and walruses.In particular,walruses generate distinctive excavations on the sea floor as they root for prey with their snouts and emit a hydraulic jet that liquefies the substrate where a bivalve has burrowed.Earlier documentation of seafloor furrows and pits produced by the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) provides modern analogues for the aforementioned structures.The presence of these trace fossils is significant in that:(1) given the growth rate of likely tracemakers,
the bivalve-made structures probably developed over 20 to 60 years—thereby a temporal significance can be attached to the observed surface;and,(2) if feeding excavations in paleo-Willapa Bay,Washington were produced by walruses,their herds must have wandered along the northern Pacific rim from their present habitat in the Bering Shelf and Chukchi Sea whilst enjoying a colder (glacial?) climate.
BIOGRAPHY
Murray Gingras received his Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology from the
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in 1987, a B.Sc.from the University of Alberta in 1995 and his Ph.D.from the University of Alberta in 1999.Dr.Gingras has worked professionally in the hydrocarbon industry,at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology,and as an Assistant Professor at the University of New Brunswick.His research focuses on using sedimentology and ichnology to interpret sedimentary rock successions.This broad field has strong links to the hydrocarbon industry,is used extensively in paleogeography,and is applied in modern sedimentary environments.
MARCH LUNCHEON
APRIL LUNCHEON
Methane hydrates and climate change:the clathrate gun hypothesis
SPEAKER
Richard J.Behl
AAPG Distinguished Lecturer
AUTHORS
Richard J.Behl
California State University
Long Beach,California
Kevin G.Cannariato
University of Southern California
Ingrid L.Hendy
University of Michigan
James P.Kennett
University of California,Santa Barbara
11:30 am
Thursday,April 8,2004
TELUS CONVENTION CENTRE CALGARY, ALBERTA
Please note:
The cut-off date for ticket sales is 1:00 pm,Monday April 5th.
Ticket price is $28.00 + GST.
What caused repeated,remarkably rapid, global warming events that occurred in less than one human lifespan during the late Quaternary? A likely,but controversial,culprit is methane hydrate (or clathrate),which makes up a vast reservoir of frozen methane in ocean sediments.Destabilization of the reservoir through changes in sea-floor temperature and pressure may release methane (a powerful greenhouse gas) into the ocean and atmosphere,with dramatic climatic consequences.The Clathrate Gun Hypothesis proposes that the marine methane hydrate reservoir was repeatedly reloaded and discharged as clathrates accumulated during cold glacial intervals only to be dissociated when triggered by pulses of warmer intermediate water impinging on the continental slopes.This mechanism could have greatly amplified and accelerated global warming episodes. Could methane hydrates play a role in present and future climatic change,as well? This presentation explores whether the present is always the best key to the past, or whether these dramatic episodes in Earth's history were unique in their sensitivity to certain triggers of climatic and environmental change.
BIOGRAPHY
Richard J.Behl graduated in 1978 with his B.A.in Chemistry with Earth Sciences Specialization from the University of California,he then went on to receive his Ph.D.in Earth Sciences from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1992. Between 1978 and 1987 Richard worked as a wellsite geologist for a number of companies.From 1992 to 1995 Richard was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California.From 1995 to1999 Richard was an Assistant Professor at California State University. Presently Richard is an Associate Professor at California State University.
Richard has authored and co-authored 29 professional papers,54 abstracts,and 1 book on marine sedimentology and stratigraphy,diagenesis of silica- and organic carbon-rich sediments,and paleoceanography.Richard has a special interests in the sedimentary record and diagenesis of the Neogene through Quaternary of the California Margin. Richard is involved with AAPG,American Geophysical Union,GSA,International Association of Sedimentologists,and the Society for Sedimentary Geology.
APRIL LUNCHEON
MARCH LUNCHEON
Tide-dominated sedimentation in an arid rift basin – Cretaceous Qishn Clastics,Masila Block, Republic of Yemen – a billion barrel oil field
SPEAKER
Dale A.Leckie Nexen Inc.
AUTHORS
Dale A.Leckie and Tom Rumpel Nexen Inc.
11:30 am Thursday,April 22,2004
TELUS CONVENTION CENTRE CALGARY, ALBERTA
Please note:
The cut-off for ticket sales is 1:00 pm,Monday,April 19th.
Ticket Price is $28.00 + GST.
This talk begins by illustrating the culture and landscapes of Yemen which leads into a brief discussion of the petroleum geology of Yemen’s Masila Basin.The Cretaceous Qishn Clastics Member was deposited in a rift basin connected to the Paleo-Indian Ocean – an ideal set-up for tidal amplification and domination. Recoverable hydrocarbon reserves are 1.1 billion barrels.Facies associations are consistent with an estuarine system –sand shoals,tidally influenced point bars, mud flats,etc.Lowermost Qishn onlap resulted in deposition of tidal estuarine to bay facies.A sequence boundary truncates the Lower Qishn at the base of the S3,a low-accommodation braidplain deposited close to the shoreline.A flooding surface at the top of the S3 heralds S2 progradational,tidedominated deltaic deposits.Delta progradation culminated in clastic dolomitic deposits on the coastal plain.
With subsequent transgression,S1C deposits show rising water table and a nonmarine flooding surface,overlain by tidal-flat/inlet deposits.Ongoing transgression resulted in waveravinement overlain by shallow shelf clastics and deeper shelf carbonates of the S1B.The overlying S1A comprises bioturbated,clastic shelf deposits related to a drop in sea level.Accommodation was relatively high,except for low accommodation associated with regional sheet sandstone of the S3.
Qishn Clastic sediments meet the criteria of a macrotidal,tide-dominated estuary,yet a more appropriate analog may be the Shatt al-Arab River flowing into the Arabian Gulf.Is the latter a tidally-influenced delta flowing into a gulf - or a large bayhead delta? Application of existing terminologies - estuaries,syn-rift clastics,deltaic,strait,Gulf,bay - is
Magnetics
SERVICES
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Interpretation
Non-Exclusive Data
APPLICATIONS
Petroleum Exploration
Mineral Exploration
Environmental Analysis
Engineering
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Aggregates
Radioactive Waste
UXO
Bathymetry
confusing to the practicing explorationist, particularly when attempting to convey a mental image of the environmental setting of the reservoir.
BIOGRAPHY
Dale Leckie,Chief Geologist at Nexen Inc., has worked on basins in Canada,Yemen, Australia,Colombia,New Zealand and the U.S.He utilizes sedimentological and sequence stratigraphic technologies to
explore for and develop hydrocarbons.He has published over 100 refereed papers and received numerous awards including:AAPG Distinguished Lecturer,SEPM Distinguished Lecturer,CSPG Distinguished Lecturer,CSPG Presidents Award,CSPG Medal of Merit, CSPG Link Award.Dale co-edited AAPG Memoir 55,Foreland Basins and Fold Belts (1992) and CSPG Memoir 15,Sequence Stratigraphy:Surface,Subsurface and Sedimentology.
Tom Rumpel is Staff Geological Consultant at Nexen Inc.,developing the petroleum reserves in Nexen's new Al-Hajr Block in Yemen.In a twenty-nine-year career as a professional geoscientist in the petroleum industry,he has worked in a variety of capacities for several Intermediate and Junior Exploration & Production companies,including field geologist, exploration/exploitation geologist,consulting geologist,Vice President of Exploration,and Chief of Computer Geoscience.
Thank you to everyone who attended the CSPG 2004 Volunteer Appreciation Social on February 10th.
to the 2003 Volunteer Award Recipients and to the 10 Prize Draw Winners
The CSPG is a success due to our dedicated volunteers and we express our gratitude to all of them.
For more details on this event, award recipients, or volunteering click on
@ www.cspg.org
Special Thanks to our Sponsor:
BASIN ANALYSIS DIVISION
The real significance of sequence stratigraphy to subsurface geological work
SPEAKER
Doug Cant
Doug Cant Geological Consulting
12:00 Noon
Wednesday,March 10,2004
EnCana Amphitheatre
2nd Floor, east end of the Calgary Tower Complex 1st Street and 9th Avenue SE Calgary, Alberta
Many industry geologists believe sequence stratigraphy to be of little importance to their day-to-day work,partly because most sequence stratigraphic presentations emphasize esoteric theory and jargon.The real significance for exploration geologists lies in how it allows a completely different approach to well-log correlations.Many geologists still use a layer-cake approach,
pushing all correlations through everywhere,a method almost guaranteed to produce errors.
Correlatable surfaces are recognized by an abrupt lithologic change reflecting a change in deposition.Each represents the surface of the sediment at one time. Correlation patterns therefore should show consistency.A few simple rules for correlation can be applied on a properly hung stratigraphic section:1) correlations should slope seaward;2) marine regressive cycles are continuous and their number changes only at the shoreline;3) units should fine offshore; 4) unit thicknesses should not vary randomly;5) where superimposed units show complementary thickening and thinning,the correlation between them is misplaced.Units may terminate proximally by onlap,distally by downlap.
Unconformities are the most important control on clastic reservoir facies,and they occur extremely commonly.They sometimes can be inferred on a section
PALAEONTOLOGY DIVISION
Unwrapping the Past: Eighth Annual APS Palaeontological Symposium
Saturday March 20,2004
Mount Royal College Science Wing (Lower Level)
4825 Richard Road SW Calgary, Alberta
Alberta Palaeontological Society, Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (Paleontology Division),and Mount Royal College Department of Earth Sciences jointly sponsor the symposium.On Saturday all lectures and poster displays are free and open to the general public.A fossil identification booth and fossil displays will be at the event.Keynote talk is on Leonardo,a mummified hadrosaur excavated in Montana and certified by Guinness as the world’s best-preserved dinosaur.On
Sunday March 21st a pair of limited space workshops will be available to those who register (see below).
SPEAKER SCHEDULE
(All lectures to be held in Jenkins Theatre,Mount Royal College)
9:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Don Henderson,University of Calgary Sauropod Dinosaurs were the Colossal Corks of the Mesozoic.
10:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Lisa Budney,University of Alberta New Technologies Challenge Old Views on the Evolution of Reptilian Dental Morphology and Histology
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Coffee break
10:45 – 11:15 a.m.
Darren Tanke,Royal Tyrrell Museum Discovery of William E.Cutler’s Winter 1919–1920 Fieldcamp, Dinosaur Provincial Park,Alberta
where reasonable correlations cannot be made,particularly where anomalous lowstand sands or channels occur.In conclusion,without the simple concept of numerous breaks in the stratigraphic record,reasonable correlations and interpretations cannot be made on welllog or seismic sections.
BIOGRAPHY
Doug Cant has worked on subsurface geology,particularly the Mannville Group since 1977.Other projects have been located from Argentina to the Mackenzie Delta and the Scotian Shelf to British Columbia.
INFORMATION
BASS Division talks are free.Please bring your lunch.For further information about the division,joining our mailing list,a list of upcoming talks,or if you wish to present a talk or lead a field trip,please contact either Steve Donaldson at 403-645-5534, email:Steve.Donaldson@encana.com or Mark Caplan at 403-691-3843,email: Mark.Caplan@shell.ca or visit our web page at www.cspg.org/basin_analysis.html.
Special Presentation 11:15 – 12:15 p.m.
Gerhard Maier,ESSO
African Dinosaurs Unearthed: The Tendaguru Expeditions
12:15 – 2:00 p.m.
Lunch Break & Poster Session
2:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Marisa Gilbert,University of Alberta Approaches in Vocalizing the Science of Palaeontology to the Public of All Ages
2:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Richard McCrea,University of Alberta and Lisa G.Buckley,South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Excavating British Columbia’s First Dinosaurs, and other Palaeontological Projects in the Tumbler Ridge Area
3:00 – 3:30 p.m.
David Eberth,Royal Tyrrell Museum Revising the Edmonton Group: A Framework for Assessing Biostratigraphy and Climate Change
Keynote Talk
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Nate Murphy,Director of Vertebrate Paleontology,Phillips County Museum, Montana
Leonardo,the Virtual Dinosaur
THE WORKSHOPS
Sunday,March 21
9:00 a.m.– 12:00 p.m.
Plant Morphology
INSTRUCTOR: Georgia Hoffman
LOCATION: Geological Survey of Canada, 3303 - 33 St.NW,Calgary.
Learn to categorize plant fossils into morphotypes based on leaf structure. Participants will practice their new skills using Paleocene leaf fossils.
FEE: $15.00.Limit:20 participants.
1:00 p.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Jaw Form and Function:Adaptive Radiation of the Mammalian Masticatory Apparatus
INSTRUCTOR: Dr.Anthony Russell
LOCATION: University of Calgary (building and room to be announced)
This workshop will focus on muscles,bones and joints as they relate to jaw form and function.The workshop is hands-on and includes dissection.Those who do not wish
SEDIMENTOLOGY DIVISION
Stratal pattern and sequence stratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous Upper Colorado Group in southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan
SPEAKER
Karsten Nielsen Nexen Inc.
12:00 Noon, Monday,March 22,2004
EnCana Amphitheatre, Tower Centre Room 498 (TC498) 2nd Floor, east end of Calgary Tower Complex 1st Street and 9th Avenue SE Calgary, Alberta
A method of utilizing closely-spaced resistivity wire-line logs to delineate regional stratal patterns allows a new detailed sequence stratigraphic interpretation of the marine Upper Cretaceous Upper Colorado Group in southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan.The results show thirteen sequences:seven in the lower regressive Carlile Formation and six in the upper transgressive Niobrara Formation.
The large-scale stratal patterns of the thirteen sequences vary considerably in scale and orientation direction.The patterns are explained by changing accommodation space and sediment input through time.Paleo-water depth and changing direction of sediment input are also major factors in the creation of these major shaly and fine-grained sandstone
clinoforms that prograded into the Western Canada Interior Seaway.
The sequences of the Carlile Formation are dominated by low-angled shingled stratal patterns,which reflect a period of low accommodation space and low sediment input to the shelf.The sediments of the Carlile Formation were deposited in an offshore to shelf environment and are dominated by shale and siltstone.Minimal sand-size sediment bypassed the littoral energy fence to the offshore during this period.The main reservoir of this stratigraphic interval is the Cardium Formation in western Alberta,which forms linear reservoir trends tens of kilometres long.
The sequences of the Niobrara Formation are characterized by a general upwards-change in stratal pattern from high-angled to low-angled.
to dissect carcasses should not enroll. FEE: $15.00.Limit:20 participants.
Workshop registration deadline is March 7, 2004.To sign up contact Vaclav Marsovsky at (403) 547-0182 or vaclav@telusplanet.net. Cheques should be made payable to Alberta Palaeontological Society.Payment may be handed to Vaclav or mailed to the APS mailing address,PO Box 35111,Sarcee Postal Outlet, Calgary,AB,Canada T3E 7C7
INFORMATION
For information or to present a talk in the future please contact CSPG Paleo Divison Head 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/
This general trend was modified by rapid fluctuations in the relative sea level,which created a complex sediment infill of the basin. The rate of sediment input and grain size also changed at this time.The Medicine Hat Member was deposited when large quantities of very fine sand bypassed the littoral energy fence and were deposited as pervasive sand sheets in an offshore to shelf environment.In contrast to the linear reservoir trends of the Cardium Formation,the Medicine Hat Sandstones are widespread (up to 3,000 km2) deposits that form excellent reservoirs for biogenetic shallow gas in parts of southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan.
INFORMATION
Talks are free – don’t forget to bring your lunch! For more information about this talk,or about presenting a talk,please call Scott Rose at (403) 875-7673,(email:Scott_Rose@nexeninc.com)
North Dakota Geological Survey and Saskatchewan Industry and Resources
Twelfth Williston Basin Horizontal Well and Petroleum Conference
May 2 – 4, 2004
USA For more information, please call: (701) 328-8000 United States or (306) 787-7662 Canada
Informal talks, poster discussions and workshops on geology, engineering, and geophysics pertaining to new developments in petroleum exploration and production within or applicable to the Williston Basin.
EMERGING PETROLEUM RESOURCES DIVISION
North American “deep” natural gas potential: opportunities in Canadian cratonic and ocean margin basins
SPEAKER
K.G.Osadetz
Geological Survey of Canada
12:00 Noon Wednesday,March 24,2004
ConocoPhillips Auditorium (3rd Floor – west side of building) 401-9th Ave SW (Gulf Canada Square) Calgary, Alberta
The United States recognizes both “Basin Centre” and “Deep” natural gas resources that are not part of the Canadian resource inventory.Characterization of American “Deep” resources allows comparison between Canadian and American basins, suggesting that similar resource may be present in Canada.The U.S.Geological Survey has analyzed potential deep and basin-centre gas accumulations and resources (USGS Bulletins 2184,parts ae).Gas accumulations in the Hanna Basin, Wyoming and in the Columbia Basin, Washington are among the deepest in the U.S.,and they provide insights into the geologic variability of such resources.In the Hanna Basin,gas-charged overpressuring in the Niobrara and Frontier Formations along the southern
margin of the basin may be part of a “basin-center” accumulation that continues into the basin center.In the Columbia Basin,the sedimentary sequence does not appear to be extensively gas-saturated due to factors that prohibited the development of a typical basin-center gas accumulation.
Deep Canadian resources are essentially unassessed;however,geological characteristics suggest that:
1) Some existing Canadian petroleum production comes from settings that were previously “deep” (> 5km) and that these petroleum accumulations have survived both deep burial and subsequent exhumation.
2) Other Canadian sedimentary basins are “deep”,but essentially uncharacterized, including:
• Alberta Basin,where deep reservoirs may exist adjacent to and within foreland fold-thrust belt.
• Intermontane basins,where new discoveries of effective petroleum systems suggest a real potential.
• Cratonic and Oceanic basins of the Atlantic margin,from Nova Scotia to Baffin Bay,where syn-rift,sub-salt reservoirs are but one possible play.
• Mackenzie Delta,where low geothermal and organic maturity
gradients may preserve oil potential to very deep depths.
• Sverdrup Basin,a very deep basin with very encouraging shallow successes.
• Proterozoic basins of northern Interior Platform where thick sedimentary sequences (>15 km) occur east of Mackenzie Mountains. While the potential of these basins should be assessed,it is only by drilling that existence of this resource will be established in Canada.
BIOGRAPHY
Kirk Gordon Osadetz is a graduate of the University of Toronto,Ontario (B.Sc,,1978; M.Sc.1983).Mr.Osadetz is the Manager of the Earth Sciences Sector’s Gas Hydrates –Fuel of the Future? Program;the Head,Energy and Environment Subdivision,at the Geological Survey of Canada’s Calgary Office; and the leader of a project of Petroleum Resource Assessment Methodological Development for the Project of Energy Research and Development.Mr.Osadetz has performed studies of petroleum resource evaluation,as well as having research interests related to petroleum system
INFORMATION
All luncheon talks are free – please bring your own lunch.If you would like more information about future EPRD activities,please join our email distribution list by sending a message with the title “EPRD list”to caddelem@bp.com.
TRENDS IN THE CANADIAN OIL PATCH
A Brief History of Canada’s Natural Gas Production
Natural gas has been the primary driver in Alberta’s growth for the past fifteen years. Figure 1 shows the trend in Canadian marketed gas production (Bcf/d) since 1947 (CAPP Data).The red line is the total production while the brown line is the contribution from Eastern Canada.Even today,with the production of gas from Sable Island,the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) produces 97% of all Canadian gas; Alberta contributes nearly 80% of that supply.
Some of the key dates in the development of Canada’s natural gas industry are listed below (a more complete chronology and extensive bibliography can be found on Geo-Help’s web
site:www.geohelp.ab.ca).Notice the length of time it has taken to bring frontier gas discoveries to market and that our forays into unconventional gas are very recent.Also, according to the AEUB,Alberta’s remaining reserves peaked in 1982 and yet our production peaked in 2001.A detailed understanding of the history of our industry provides insights to better predict future trends.
1859 - Natural gas discovered in New Brunswick;flared as a waste product
1883 - First gas found in Alberta,at Langevin, near Medicine Hat,while drilling a water well for the CPR(!)
1889 - Eugene Coste drilled in Essex County, Ontario for natural gas to supply nearby communities
1901 - First commercial gas field developed at Medicine Hat
WATER RESOURCES & ENERGY DEVELOPMENT WATER RESOURCES & ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
MARCH 19 - 20, 2004
Abstract Submission Deadline: December 10, 2003
Registration Opens On-Line Monday, January 5, 2004
BY DAVE RUSSUM
1907 - Rudyard Kipling visited Medicine Hat and described it as having "all hell for a basement"
1909 - "Old Glory" well drilled at Bow Island;largest gas well to that time in Canada;drilled by the CPR,reportedly on the wrong location
1912 - Gas pipeline built from Bow Island to Calgary (275 Km) by Canadian Western Natural Gas
1914 - First discovery of Gas-condensate reservoir at the Dingman #1 in Turner Valley (from Cretaceous)
1923 - Edmonton converted to Natural gas
1924 - Gas condensate reservoir discovered in Mississippian at Turner Valley
1930 - Bow Island field exhausted,having produced 336 Bcf into the Calgary market
1938 - Alberta Petroleum and Natural Gas Conservation Board formed by Social Credit Government;significantly reduced flaring of natural gas as a by-product of oil production
1944 - Jumping Pound discovered by Shell;first efforts to recover sulphur from sour gas
1957 - First gas exported by Westcoast Transmission Company via Vancouver to US markets
1957 - First gas exported to Eastern Canada by Trans Canada Pipelines
1967 - Sable Island gas discovered by Shell
1969 - First drilling by Panarctic resulted in the discovery of Drake Point gas field (nearly six Tcf) at Melville Island in Canadian Arctic
1972 - Parsons Lake discovered by Gulf Canada in McKenzie Delta (1.8 Tcf)
1976 - Discovery of Elmworth and concept of Deep Basin Gas by Masters and Gray of Canadian Hunter
1982 - Amoco Dome Brazeau 13-12-48-12W5 blew out creating a stink across Alberta
1982 - Pre-build section of Alaska Pipeline opened
1982 - Alberta’s remaining natural gas reserves peaked at 65 Tcf
1985 - Western Accord by Brian Mulroney's Conservative Government started process of Deregulation of the Oil Industry
1986 - Discovery of Caroline Swan Hills Field by Shell
1995 - Alberta's Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) changed name to Energy Utilities Board (EUB)
1999-2000 - Ladyfern Slave Point Field discovered by Apache,Murphy,and Beau Canada
2000 - First gas production from Sable Island; first Canadian offshore gas development
2000 - First shipment of gas on Alliance Pipeline
2000 - (December 11th) - Spot price for Alberta gas closed at a record $16.95 (Cdn) per gigajoule
Figure 1 - Canada’s Gas Production 1947 to 2003 showing the four main phases in the development of the industry.(Data adapted from CAPP and other sources)
2001 – Alberta gas production peaked at 14 Bcf/day marketable gas
2002 - (January) - Experimental gas hydrate project at Malik in the McKenzie Delta by an industry / government consortium
2002 - (August) - Encana announces plans for the first commercial Coalbed Methane project in Canada
2003 - (August) - Access Northeast Energy Inc.announced plans to build an LNG terminal at Bear Head,Nova Scotia 2003 - (September 1) - 337 gas wells (about 100 MMcf/d) in the Fort McMurray area
shut-in by the AEUB to preserve reservoir pressure for future bitumen extraction
In 2003 a record number of gas wells were drilled in Canada;however,it appears that this activity is still insufficient to sustain current levels of production.We live in a world of ‘just-in-time’ delivery but are we doing enough to ‘deliver’ in the future?
BIOGRAPHY
Dave Russum has spent more than 25 years exploring for hydrocarbons.He recently completed
2004 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
DATE: March 19-20,2004
EVENT: Water Resources & Energy Development - William C.Gussow Geoscience Conference (A CSPG Seminar)
LOCATION: Raddison Hotel,Canmore,Alberta
INFORMATION: SESSIONS:
Water resources for petroleum exploration and production (Dr.Kevin Parks,Alberta Geological Survey - Chair);Resources for waterfloods,steam generation,etc.
Resource Conflict (Dave McGee,Alberta Environment - Chair):Industrial impacts on surface and shallow groundwater resources. Handling and disposal of produced water (Dr.Ian Hutcheon,University of Calgary - Chair); Coalbed Methane waters,co-produced freshwaters from shallow gas,SAGD produced water,treatment and compatibility,disposal of acid gases into aquifers,etc.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
Dr.Marios Sophocleous,Kansas Geological Survey
Dr.Bill Gunter,Alberta Research Council
Dr.David Percy,Dean of Law,University of Alberta CALL FOR POSTERS:
Oral talks will be by invitation only.However delegates are welcome to submit abstracts for poster presentations pertaining to the subject of the three main themes of the conference.For more information,registration,and electronic submission of abstracts contact Lori Humphrey-Clements at (403) 264-5610,Ext.202 or email to lori@cspg.org.
DATE: April 18-21,2004
EVENT: AAPG Annual Convention
LOCATION: Dallas,Texas
INFORMATION: For more information visit www.aapg.org
DATE: May 2 - 4,2004
EVENT: Twelfth Williston Basin Horizontal Well & Petroleum Conference
LOCATION: Holiday Inn Riverside,Minot,North Dakota
INFORMATION: Informal talks,poster discussions,and workshops on new technology and developments in petroleum exploration and production within or applicable to the Williston Basin.Conference is co-sponsored by the North Dakota Geological Survey and the Saskatchewan Industry and Resources.For information call either (701) 328-8000 or (306) 787-7662.Registration information and forms available at www.state.nd.us/ndgs or www.ir.gov.sk.ca.
an exhaustive study of Canada’s future gas supply and demand.He has developed some unique approaches to both shorten the timeframe and improve the results of exploration activities.More information can be found at www.geohelp.ab.ca
INFORMATION
This is part of a series of snapshots of the Canadian industry designed to provide up-to-date information and give possible insights into the future of oil and gas exploration.The comments are strictly the views of the author;your views and feedback are encouraged (dave@geohelp.ab.ca).
DATE: May 10-13,2004
EVENT: 2004 CSEG National Convention Theme:Great Explorations – Canada and Beyond
LOCATION: Calgary,Alberta
INFORMATION: For more information visit www.csegconvention.org
DATE: May 17-20,2004
EVENT: SIPES Annual Meeting
LOCATION: San Antonio,Texas
INFORMATION: The San Antonio Chapter of the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists will host the 2004 National Convention at the Plaza San Antonio Hotel on S.Alamo St.The theme of the meeting will be "The Economics of Being an Independent";papers presented will deal solely with the business life and times of independents in the oil and gas business,and how to make them more profitable.Stewart Chuber will chair these sessions, and presenters will be several proven independent "players".A field trip to the gorge formed by spillway overflow from Canyon Lake on the Guadalupe River during the 2002 flood will be an option for attendees – as will barge rides on the San Antonio River,golf, tennis,lunch at New Braunfels (Gruene) for field trip attendees,and Mission tours.Of course,the Convention will start off with an Ice Breaker.
We expect about 150 members and their guests to attend,representing SIPES chapters from Denver to New Orleans.If you would like to attend any or all of the program,please contact Don McGregor, Convention Chairman,at 210-826-6668,or visit the SIPES website at www.sipes.org.
INFORMATION: For more information watch the Reservoir and CSPG website (www.cspg.org).
DATE: September 19-22,2004
EVENT: ICAM 2004,8th International Congress on Applied Mineralogy
LOCATION: Aguas de Lindoia,Brazil
INFORMATION: For more information contact EPUSP,Av.Prof. Luciano Gualberto,Trav.3,nº 380,05508-900,Sao Paulo,SP,Brazil;(55) 1130915420;fax (55) 38145909;www.icam2004.org.
JACK PORTERVIGNETTES OF CANADIAN PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
Continued from the February Reservoir
The Controversy Surrounding Henry Kelsey’s Inland Journey of 1690-1692
Henry Kelsey and his Indian boy companion (Thomas Savage) had returned from the Barrens to York Factory following their unsuccessful search for the Northern Indians (Chipewyan) during a fifty-three-day absence in the summer of 1689.Their wandering, across this inhospitable landscape was one of extreme privation for it was devoid of wood which would have afforded shelter and fuel for warmth and food preparation as well as providing smoke to deter the incessant hordes of mosquitoes.Despite the failure of the two teenagers to fulfill Governor Geyer’s directives through no fault of their own,he, nevertheless was impressed with young Kelsey’s performance.Geyer had recognized that Henry Kelsey possessed an aptitude for adventure,empathy toward natives,and a resilience to nature’s vicissitudes. Accordingly,in 1690,he reported to the Governor and Committee at Beaver House in London,in reply to their urging him to select one of his servants to leave York Factory for a journey inland;that:“I sent up Henry Kelsey up into the Country of the Assinae Poets (Siouan speaking Assiniboins), with the Captain (Chief) of that Nation,to call,encourage and invite the remoter Indians to trade with us.” (Ibid.,1939, Morton,Arthur S.,p.111).
The controversy,concerning the credibility of Henry Kelsey’s inland expedition during 1690-1692 was argued,amongst other allegations,before a committee of the British House of Commons in April of 1749.Arthur Dobbs had instigated the inquiry in his attempt to prove that the Hudson’s Bay Company had not fulfilled its obligations as set forth in the Royal Charter granted to the Company by King Charles II on May 2,1670. The Company,in its defense,submitted hitherto undisclosed documents supporting its claim of adherence to the provisions set forth in its Charter to conduct exploration in the interior.Their testimony that the Company’s marine exploration along the northwest coast of Hudson Bay by Company owned and operated vessels in search of the North West Passage,was self-evident of their accountability.As well,Kelsey’s journals were resurrected from their archives and figured prominently in the hearing as further proof
that the Company had met its preconditions to conduct exploration into the interior of its Rupert’s Land.
One of the witnesses testifying in support of Dobbs’ case was Joseph Robson,a disillusioned former employee of the Hudson’s Bay Company,who had spent six years as surveyor and stonemason supervising the initial construction of Fort Prince of Wales (Fort Churchill).Although,during the inquiry,his testimony was ineffectual,he nevertheless had published,some three years after the Parliamentary Committee’s inquiry,a book expunging the Company’s assertion of its compliance with the provisos of its Charter.(1752,Robson,Joseph:Accounts of the Six Years Residence in Hudson’s Bay,17336 and 1744-7,pub.London.) The contents of this book was a vitriolic attack on the Company,having at its roots an antagonism engendered towards York Factory’s residence governor,Richard Norton.The latter’s unwarranted interference in the early construction of the massive stone fort was considered by Robson to be an affront to his engineering ability.
The events relating to Henry Kelsey’s twoyear absence from York Factory during the period June 12,1690 to July 15,1692 were purported by Robson to have been gleaned from legendary accounts of Kelsey,originating from former Company servants who had been Kelsey’s associates.Much of the accounts were biased and were derived from unsubstantiated hearsay.
Robson,in his book,correctly portrays Kelsey’s character in describing him as a high-spirited young lad,ever enjoying the companionship of the natives and in doing so,learned to converse in both the Algonquian tongue of the Cree and Siouan tongue of the Assiniboins.In the first decade of the eighteenth century,Henry Kelsey had compiled an English/Cree dictionary.The Committee in London had his manuscript published and in 1710 sent him printed copies with a complimentary acknowledgement which stated:“You doe well to Educate the men in Literature but especially in the Language that in time we may send them to travell if wee see it convenient.” and further,“We have sent you your dictionary Printed that you may better instruct the young Ladds with you,in ye Indian Language.” (1936,MacKay,Douglas:A
History Of The Hudson’s Bay Company,pub., McClelland and Stewart,Toronto,p.65).
Robson purposely distorts the reason for Kelsey’s departure inland from York Factory. According to Robson,Kelsey had violated the Company’s strict code of conduct applicable to its servants.Although,point of fact,he had fraternized with the natives and,in so doing, learned to converse in their language.This familiarity with the natives by Company servants was seen to place in jeopardy the Company’s regimen of conduct governing its trading practices.It was because of this questionable misdemeanor that Robson was able to concoct a spurious account of Kelsey’s motivation for his subsequent inland departure.Robson contrived that Kelsey’s behavior had earned the wrath of Governor Geyer and was,accordingly,administered a whipping.Having resented the governor’s discipline,Kelsey took it upon himself to desert York Factory.This he did on June 12, 1690 in the company of some Indian friends. The following year Governor Geyer received
Application to Canadian Tight Gas Exploration & Development NATURALLY-FRACTURED TIGHT GAS RESERVOIRS OF THE SANJUAN BASIN
Petrel Robertson Consulting Ltd. will host a four-day field seminar to examine structural and stratigraphic controls on fracturedevelopment in "tight" (matrix permeability <0.1 md) Cretaceous sandstones of the San Juan Basin in new Mexico and Colorado. Field work and discussions will focus on:
Outcrop fracture occurrences as models for subsurface reservoirs
Seismic characterization offracture"sweet spots" Exploration and development examples and analogues in the West. Can. Sedimentary Basin
Trip begins and ends in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with stays near Chama, N.M. and Durango, CO. Dates: Sun. May 2 – Thur. May 6, 2004.
Instructors:
Dr. Bruce Hart, McGill University
Dr. John Lorenz, Sandia National Lab
Dr. Brad Hayes, Petrel Robertson Consulting Ltd.
Visitwww.petrelrob.com or contact Brad Hayes at bhayes@petrelrob.com or call 403-218-1607.
a letter from Kelsey,written with charcoal on birch bark and dispatched by an Indian messenger.Its contents contained an apology by Kelsey,in which he requested a pardon and permission to return to York Factory. Upon receiving a reply from the governor, granting his pardon,Kelsey,along with his native wife,as well as a party of Indians,left for the fort.On arriving there,Kelsey requested that his wife be allowed to live with him within the fort’s interior.Governor Geyer initially refused his request but acquiesced after Kelsey threatened to resign from the Company,protesting that he would not be separated from his wife.
Arthur Dobbs’ unsubstantiated published account of Henry Kelsey’s rational for deserting York Factory for the interior was exposed 174 years later with the revelation of the Kelsey Papers.The authenticity of the handwriting in these documents has been verified as that of Kelsey and were written by him in the period 1689 to 1722.His papers surfaced in 1926,after having been ensconced in Castle Dobbs,Carrickfergus,Northern Ireland presumably since the Parliamentary Committee’s inquiry of 1749.They were donated to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland by Major A.F.Dobbs – no doubt of the Arthur Dobbs lineage (Kelsey, Henry:The Kelsey Papers,eds.Doughty,
Arthur G.and Martin,Chester,with introd.to the 1929 ed.,p.xxvii).Suffice to say,they refute Dobbs’ assertion that Henry Kelsey had run away from York Factory because of Governor Geyer having punished him.
The most revealing of the various papers contained in the collection include Kelsey’s 1689 journey to the Barrens with his young Indian companion,Thomas Savage,as well as Kelsey’s journal of 1691.The latter contains, as an introduction,a somewhat doggerelstyle verse which serves to summarize his inland expedition.Most captivating are his records,in quaint prose,of the daily events which occurred during his journey to the prairies,commencing from Deering’s Point on July 15,1691 and continuing until September 12,1691.Apart from his diary records,Kelsey’s journal of 1691-1692 includes fascinating accounts of the customs which were peculiar to the Plains Indians of that period.Their behavior was solely influenced by superstition.Some of their beliefs involved the adornment of distinct talismans to prevent their enemies from killing them in battle or for the procurement of food;the treatment of the sick by singing; and the dreaming of their two deities,namely: the buffalo and the eagle,which happening
Continued on Page 22 ...
Advancing the process of reservoir management
was to portend the fulfillment of a wish by the dreamer.The exclusion of the women in the performance of many of the rituals was indicative of their subservient role within the tribal organization.
Deering’s Point was the site of a rendezvous station for natives conveying their furs down to York Factory or returning with bartered articles to their inland habitats.Kelsey named the site in honour of Sir Edward Dering,the third Deputy Governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company,during the period of 1685-1691.He took possession of Deering’s Point on July 10,1690 and recorded the event in a poetic style;to quote:
“At deering point after the frost I set up their a Certain Cross In token of my being there Cut out on it ye date of year And likewise for to veryfie the same added to it my master sir Edward deerings name.”
(Ibid.;Kelsey Papers --- p.3).
Prior to the emergence of the Kelsey Papers in 1926,the location of Deering’s Point,let alone other mysteries concerning Kelsey’s water and land routes,remained speculative. It was originally assumed that Kelsey and his Assiniboin (Stone Indians) companions had ascended the Nelson River system and that Deering Point’s was positioned on Split Lake
(an enlargement of the Nelson River) where a conjoining of the Burntwood and Grass Rivers occur.It had,historically,been a locale for the natives engaged in trafficking in furs to rendezvous.The name “Kelsey” marks the termination of a railway spur line which joins the main branch of the Canadian National’s route to Churchill,manitoba.It is positioned near the Nelson River at the south end of Split Lake.Dr.Arthur P.Low of the Geological Survey of Canada (1882-1907), Director,1906-1907) had postulated that Deering’s Point was associated with Split Lake since one of Governor Geyer’s reports had indicated Deering’s Point to be located on the Nelson River (1908,Burpee, Lawrence J.:The Search For The Western Sea,pub.The Musson Book Company, Toronto,pp.104,105).
Following critical examinations of the Kelsey Papers,most historians,as well as other researchers,came to the common conclusion that Deering’s Point lay on the bank of the Saskatchewan River near The Pas.Its probable location can be credited to the late Dr.Arthur S.Morton,formerly of the Department of History,University of Saskatchewan.He states that:“As the point at which they (Kelsey and the Assiniboins) left the Saskatchewan was eighteen miles above Deering’s Point,it follows that the Point was the sharp bend of the river about twelve miles below the present The Pas.” (1939, Morton,Arthur S.:A History Of The
Canadian West To 1870-71,pub.Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd.,Toronto,p.111).This, now generally accepted Saskatchewan location,would appear to be in Lsd.5,Sec.36, Twp.55,Rge.25 W3M,some six miles north of Kelsey Lake and approximately 238 miles southwest of Low’s proposed location at Split Lake/Nelson River.
To be continued ...
KEEPING TRACK
WAYNE DWYER
New:
Contract Operations Geologist at Anadarko Calgary Alberta
Pr evious: Senior Operations Geologist at ConocoPhillips, Calgary, Alberta
DOLOMITES: THE SPECTRUM – MECHANISMS, MODELS, RESERVOIR DEVELOPMENT
On January 13th through 15th 2004 the CSPG Fall Conference on Dolomites was held.By all accounts this fully-subscribed technical meeting was an unqualified success,and the organizing committee would very much like to express its appreciation to the many geoscientists (and their respective parent organizations) who made oral and core presentations.The depth and breadth of coverage of the contributions was outstanding and collectively have made this enigmatic reservoir rock a little less mysterious!
The proceedings of the conference will presently be available to the general public through the CSPG bookstore.The proceedings consist of a CD of seven extended abstracts on dolomitization concepts,models,and constraints,as well as 34 short papers (synoptic case histories,each averaging 20
pages with many full colour illustrations) on specific dolomitized reservoirs or strata, principally from the WCSB.
The technical conveners would particularly like to thank Professor Eric Mountjoy of McGill University for serving as our honourary chairman at this conference,and as well,for his on-going role as mentor to so many of us,on subjects "dolomitic".
Finally the organizing committee would like to recognize and extend its sincere thanks to our corporate sponsors.Your involvement was critical to the successful staging of the conference,and we enthusiastically applaud your committment to geotechnical excellence.
Jeff Packard and Graham Davies Conference Chairs
THE CSPG AND ITS MEMBERS – THE SOURCE OF SO MUCH!
BY JON DUDLEY, CSPG PUBLIC AFFAIRS CHAIR
As a petroleum geologist,have you ever thought of yourself as “the Source” of much of the world’s quality of life? Do you see the CSPG as “the Source” of many of the services and activities you need to fulfill your role as a petroleum geologist? Few of us in our busy lives and careers pause to think about these perspectives.Without successful petroleum geologists,there would be no petroleum industry and, therefore,many of the everyday things we take for granted in lives;no polar fleece,no nylon,no plastics,no paved roads,much less provincial revenue going toward services for the common good! We don’t think about these things because we wake up with them everyday – as articulated in the ‘60s,we commonly “don’t know what we have ‘til it’s gone”1
In the last year you may have noticed “the Source” as a recurring theme in CSPG materials.It first appeared as a large banner over the CSPG Centre at the 2003 Annual Conference and is now on the website as the Career Source,Volunteer Source,the Source for Promotional Opportunities through Corporate Relations,and the Source for Geoscience Publications on the Publications Catalogue.It occurs with a stylized oil drop as an instantly recognizable symbol reflecting the message that the CSPG and its members are “the Source” of many critical products.
To its members,the CSPG strives to be “the Source” of the essential services of Networking,Public Awareness,and Professional and Career Development.
Networking is critical for the sustenance and vitality of one’s career and the CSPG is the Source for numerous networking opportunities.It provides the ever-popular social events at the Annual conference,annual squash,golf and hockey tournaments, monthly news in The Reservoir,services such as group insurance and member discounts, and website services such as the member Directory and Career Source information.
Public Awareness is critical to ensuring the vitality of both our profession and industry. If the Public doesn’t know what we contribute and how exciting and diverse a career in petroleum geology can be,apathy will prevail and few students will be attracted to our profession.
The CSPG,commonly through the CSPG Educational Trust Fund,is the Source of many
public outreach activities.It sponsors awards at the annual Calgary Youth Science Fair.It is a long-standing sustaining supporter of the national EdGeo program.Each year EdGeo provides funding to workshops on Earth science for Canadian teachers from coast to coast.Through teachers,and their students, EdGEO seeks to cultivate a heightened awareness and appreciation of our planet.
A highlight of the CSPG’s outreach activities is the Annual CSPG-CSEG Honorary Address which over the years has exposed its audiences of adults and elementary and secondary school students to a wide range of scientists and scientific topics including anthropology,space exploration,weather, deep sea exploration,and dinosaurs.
Many members use the CSPG rock and mineral kits to share their passion for geology with classrooms of eager young minds.
The CSPG also reaches out to university geology students through its sponsorship of inter-university geology conferences,panCanadian lecture tours,and numerous academic scholarships and awards.Each year the Student Industry Field Trip (SIFT) introduces industry professionals and undergraduate geology students who share an amazing voyage into the world of the petroleum geologist.Many students go on to pursue a career in the industry as a result of their SIFT experience.
Regardless of the stage of your career (a seasoned veteran or in your first job as a petroleum geologist),the CSPG is your Source of professional development opportunities which help you maintain and develop new skills.The Annual Conference offers over 100 technical talks and posters as well as field trips, short courses,core displays, and service provider information and contacts.In addition to the conference are the 19 technical luncheon talks and over 50 free talks sponsored by 11 society divisions.The Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology contains 20-30 articles per year and the Publications Catalogue lists the
numerous memoirs,lexicons,and field guides published by the CSPG.These sources of technical information are there for CSPG members year after year.Pause a moment …imagine your career without them!
When next you see “the Source” oil drop, take a moment to imagine your world if “the Source” dried up! Imagine the world without geologists finding petroleum,without plastics, without polar fleece! Imagine being a petroleum geologist without the CSPG. Without “the Source”,many good things would quickly dry up.Don’t take it for granted - use it,support it and nurture it!
1 Joni Mitchell,Big Yellow Taxi
I.C.E. 2004 FIELD TRIPS AND SHORT COURSES
FIELD TRIPS
The following is a preliminary list of field trips planned in conjunction with the I.C.E.2004 Joint Conference.Detailed descriptions of each trip along with costs are available at www.cspg.org, www.choa.ab.ca,and www.cwls.org
Coal and CBM in the Fernie Area Mines, southeastern B.C.
Geological Walking Tour - The Building Rocks of Calgary
INSTRUCTOR: Bill Ayrton
DATE: June 2nd 2004 (half day – afternoon)
Basics of Oil and Gas - Calgary to Canmore
INSTRUCTOR: Al Kimmel
DATE: May 28th 2004
Geology of the Athabasca Oil Sands
INSTRUCTORS: Mike Ranger and Murray Gingras
Date:May 23rd through May 25th 2004
Sedimentology,Stratigraphy,and Ichnology of Modern and Pleistocene Deposits at Willapa Bay,Washington State,U.S.
INSTRUCTORS: Ed Clifton and Murray Gingras
DATE: June 5th through June 9th 2004
Sand-rich Submarine Fan Deposystems; the Upper Cretaceous Nanaimo Group on Denman and Hornby Islands,B.C.
INSTRUCTORS: Peter Mustard,James MacEachern,Deanne Katnick,and Kevin Treptau
DATE: May 29th and 30th 2004
A Revised Stratigraphy For The Edmonton Group and its Potential Sandstone Reservoirs
INSTRUCTOR: Dave Eberth
DATE: May 30th 2004
Mt.Stephens Fossil Beds hike,Field BC
INSTRUCTOR: Randle Robertson
DATE: June 5th 2004
Exploration Targets in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Foothills:Calgary to Moose Mountain,a Helicopter Supported Field Trip.
INSTRUCTORS: Andrew C.Newson & Deborah Sanderson DATE: June 5th 2004
Marginal Marine Depositional Environments and Facies in the Bearpaw-Horseshoe Canyon Formation Transition,Drumheller,Alberta;A Field Trip for Students
INSTRUCTORS: Jason Lavigne and Dave Mundy DATE: May 30th 2004
Coal and Coalbed Methane in the Alberta Plains:A Comparison of Coal Geology and characteristics of the Ardley and Drumheller Coal Zones.
INSTRUCTORS: Andrew Beaton and Willem Langenberg,Alberta Geological Survey (Alberta Energy and Utilities Board)
DATE: May 29th 2004
SHORT COURSES
The following is a preliminary list of short courses planned to either precede or immediately follow the I.C.E.2004 Joint Conference.Detailed descriptions of all courses are available at www.cspg.org,www.choa.ab.ca and www.cwls.org
CSPG PROPOSED SHORT COURSES
Modern Industrial PaleontologyChronostratigraphic And Paleoenvironmental Applications For 21st Century Petroleum Exploration And Production
INSTRUCTOR: Paul Sikora,(Energy & Geoscience Institute,University of Utah) DATE: June 8th 2004
Geological Interpretations Of The McMurray And Wabiskaw Oil Sand Deposits
INSTRUCTORS: Murray Gingras (University of Alberta) & Mike Ranger (Consultant)
DATE: May 27th and 28th 2004
The Architecture of Fluvial Systems:A Short Course And Core Workshop
INSTRUCTORS: Andrew D.Miall (University of Toronto) and Peter Putnam (Petrel Robertson)
DATE: June 7th through June 9th 2004
Rock Fabric Approach to Carbonate Reservoir Characterization
INSTRUCTOR: F.Jerry Lucia (University of Texas at Austin)
DATE: May 27th and 28th 2004
Siliciclastic Sequence Stratigraphy
INSTRUCTORS: Henry Posamentier and David James,Anadarko Canada
DATE: May 26th and 27th 2004
3-D Seismic Visualization – Workflows and Applications
INSTRUCTOR: Henry Posamentier,Anadarko Canada
DATE: June 7th 2004
3-D Seismic Interpretation
INSTRUCTOR: Bruce Hart (McGill University)
DATE: May 25th and 26th 2004
Clastic Facies and Depositional Environments In Core
INSTRUCTOR: Bill Arnott (University of Ottawa)
DATE: May 24th through May 26th 2004
Structural Styles and Interpretation Techniques in Fold-Thrust Belts
INSTRUCTOR: Shankar Mitra (University of Oklahoma)
INSTRUCTORS: David James,John Nieto,Ross McLean (Anadarko Canada Corp)
DATE: May 28th 2004
The Integrated Solution in Coal Bed Methane Reservoirs
INSTRUCTORS: Barry Ryan (BC Ministry), Satyaki Ray,Joseph Frantz,Charles Boyer, Salman Khalid (Schlumberger)
DATE: May 28th 2004
Principles of Formation Testing
INSTRUCTORS: Steve Burnie,Andy Chen (Consultant)
DATE: June 3rd 2004
CHOA SHORT COURSES OUTLINE
The CHOA is offering a set of Short Courses designed to provide an overview of the varied sectors of the heavy oil industry.The Short Courses will address technical issues at a high,introductory level and present a wonderful opportunity for participants,who are new to the industry or who are focused in a specific specialty area,to gain an understanding of the broad spectrum of technical knowledge accumulated over the history of heavy oil development.
The topics to be covered include:
• In Situ Recovery and SAGD presented by K.C.Yeung,Suncor Energy Inc.
• In Situ Facilities Design presented by Mark Doig,Colt Engineering Corporation
• Oil Sands Mining and Processing presented by Bob Tipman,Shell Canada,and John Sharpe,Canadian Natural Resources
• Upgrading Technologies presented by Bharat Bansal,KBR Inc.
The CHOA Short Courses will be held on Thursday,June 3,2004,conveniently scheduled to immediately to follow the Technical Program held from May 31 – June 2.The venue will be the ConocoPhillips Theatre on the 3rd Floor, 401 – 9th Avenue S.W.,Calgary.
This year’s conference is fast approaching and so is your opportunity to register!
Registration opens on Thursday April 1, 2004.
Beat the line-ups and save a stamp by registering online for: Technical Program • Poster Displays • Core Conference
Field Trips • Short Courses • Exhibit Hall • Special Events
Registration fees for this year’s conference are as follows:
Early Bird Regular On-Site
RegistrationRegistrationRegistration
Deadline: Deadline May 31-June 2, April 23, 2004May 19, 20042004
Member$250$350$450 (CSPG/CHOA/CWLS)
Non-member$350$450$550
Retired Members$150$150$200 (CSPG/CHOA/CWLS)
Student$50$100$150
Day Pass – Exhibition Hall
*On site only
$50/day
Luncheon Tickets$50 each
Additional Icebreaker Tickets$25 each
On-site registration will be located outside the Exhibition Hall in the Round Up Centre, Stampede Park. The hours for on-site registration are:
Monday, May 31, 2004: 7:30 am to 6:30 pm Tuesday, June 1, 2004: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Wednesday, June 2, 2004: 7:30 am to 12:00 pm
Payments may be made online with credit cards only (VISA, MC or AMEX).
To pay by check or money order, please make payable to 2004 CSPG/CHOA/ CWLS Conference. Send payment with registration form(s) to:
I.C.E. 2004: CSPG CHOA CWLS Joint Conference C/O Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists 160, 540-5th Ave SW Calgary, AB T2P 0M2
For Registration and more information regarding the I.C.E. 2004 CSPG-CHOA-CWLS Joint Conference please visit: www.cspg.org www.choa.ab.ca www.cwls.org
‘PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES SERVE TO ENRICH YOUR CAREERS…’
An
interview
with Presidents of geotechnical/professional societies and associations
This is the second and final part of an article that originally appeared in the December issue of the CSEG Recorder.Permission to reprint the article is gratefully acknowledged.The first part of the reprint appeared in the February issue of the Reservoir.
The RECORDER Editors recently approached the Presidents of a variety of geotechnical/professional societies and associations.The aim was to get their views on a wide range of topics,and gain an understanding of issues that members appear to be curious or doubtful about.Our questions elicited interesting and insightful responses from these industry leaders.(Please note just as this article goes to print in October/November the 2003 SPE President Andrew Young hands over to the new 2004 President Kate Baker).
8How do the professional societies reflect the effect of occasional downsizing in the petroleum sector,by way of mergers,etc.?
Peter Duncan,President SEG:
The SEG has seen 10 years of year-on-year decline in membership.This has to be a reflection of the contraction in our industry on both the buy and sell side.That trend has been
reversed this year with a slight increase in members.Interestingly,the growth is largely outside the US.For the first time in history a majority of our members are living or working outside the US.I believe other societies are seeing the same trends.
Bill Goodway,President CSEG:
Beyond the obvious impact on the membership numbers I suspect there is little change in the activity of professional societies beyond a general commiseration amongst members who are either laid off or still hanging on to dead end jobs. From my own experience and observation there is little or no interest in professional societies shown by the management who control these downsizing or “rightsizing” cycles.In fact I think they are unaware that these societies exist and that some of their employees have volunteered to help run them with the aim of encouraging the technical aspects of our profession.
John Hogg,President CSPG:
We find it hard to keep up with the demand placed upon the society for the training of the younger geologists in the industry because that type of training is no longer found in the midsized independents.The training for the
“downsized” members for support of their future careers,is also a concern and I think most societies struggle with how to help their members who have become unemployed through corporate mergers and acquisitions.
Steve Sonnenberg,President AAPG:
We see the effect in our total membership numbers.Our membership in 1985 was 45,000 whereas currently it is approximately 30,000.In addition,we see the membership changing geographical areas to relocate in the important oil and gas centers like Houston,TX.
Andrew Young,President SPE:
SPE membership has not been affected by the current downsizing in the sector.Actually our membership has been growing steadily for the past few years to its highest level since 1986, albeit the demographics of membership have changed substantially with nearly 50% of members now residing outside of the USA. Notwithstanding some downsizing,around the globe the aggregate number of people working in the industry is increasing and SPE’s reach to the global E&P community is increasing.
Continued on Page 28 ...
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INTRODUCTION to LOG ANALYSIS
Date: April 26 - 30, 2004
Cost: C$1800* inc. GST
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Cost: C$ 1800* inc. GST
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INTEGRATING LOG, CORE AND TEST DATA
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Mike Smyth,President APEGGA: APEGGA has not been particularly impacted by these moves as industry restructures itself; there continues to be opportunity and need for qualified,licensed professionals.
9
In the salary surveys conducted by different professional societies,e.g.SPE,AAPG,CSPG, SEG,CSEG,APEGGA,what differences do you perceive? Do some groups see themselves as better or worse paid than others?
Peter:
Sorry but I haven’t seen the other salary surveys so I can’t comment.
Bill:
I think that the CSEG is probably the most financially efficient society to which Canadian geoscientists might consider joining.By efficient I do not mean the cheapest but rather offering more for the membership subscription than comparable societies.
In the area of technical exchange,we manage to rival societies with two to three times our budget through national conventions and extensive continuing education.We also have recently created a world-class publication in the form of the Recorder that rivals the SEG’s Leading Edge.
So CSEG members might feel that they get better value from their society,but I don’t believe there’s much effort to compare CSEG members’ salaries with those of other societies’.
John:
In general,at most levels in Calgary,geophysicists are paid at a slightly higher rate than geologists with the same level of experience and education. The most extensive salary survey in Alberta, APEGGA’s survey,also confirms this assessment.
Steve:
I have not looked at salary surveys from the other organizations.In general,I believe that engineers are paid more than geoscientists.
Andrew:
I really cannot give you a quantified answer at this time,not having the data at hand.
Mike:
Our 2003 employer salary survey has just been released.Data on salaries paid within different employment sectors is reflected in that data.
There could be some variance in salaries due to the nationality of the respondents being non-US or non-North American. Do you agree with that?
cost of living between countries that may be more significant.Some form of comparison based on buying power would probably show less variance.
John:
CSPG does not look at surveys outside the Canada market.
Steve:
The cost of living and salaries vary around the world.The total compensation packages also vary (vacation,salary,benefits,etc.).For that matter, salaries vary from large companies to small companies.International companies generally pay more than the National Oil Companies.
Andrew:
Again I cannot give you a quantified answer, however certainly qualitatively salaries in many parts of our Industry around the globe are significantly lower than in the North America, however one needs to take into account the local purchasing power for a thorough comparison.
Mike:
products and services are probably the most diverse offered by any scientific society.
Andrew:
Members of SPE receive many tangible and intangible benefits,that all lead to giving them the knowledge that they need to stay abreast of new information and technology in the E&P world.For instance,SPE members receive discounted rates to more than 50 meetings and conferences worldwide annually;they receive a monthly issue of the Journal of Petroleum Technology,access to SPE.org,free access to internet-based Technical Interest Groups,a monthly e-newsletter,a quarterly printed newsletter,participation in local Section activities,and professional development and continuing education opportunities.All this in addition to the invaluable networking.
Mike:
Peter:
I don’t have data by nationality.Our own surveys show average salaries to be higher in the USA with the exception of a couple of overseas locations.
Bill:
I agree there is probably a significant variance in salaries but there is an associated variance in the
We have no data to support or refute such a variance. 11
Peter:
In what way(s) does your society/association help the individual members?
SEG provides a wealth of opportunities for members to stay current with the science of geophysics,to stay current with what the vendors are offering,to stay current with what other geophysicists are doing in their careers and to be active members of a community of like minded professionals,professionals who have a great love of the earth and a great love of the science of exploring the earth.
Bill:
Primarily we follow our mandate to encourage the technical exchange of ideas through a variety of avenues such as conventions,seminars and continuing education.We also have a strong and active membership network that helps create opportunities for employment and new ventures.
John:
Training,Luncheons,Conferences,Publications, Social Events,Volunteering Opportunities, Networking,Membership Lists,Website, Employment Database online for prospective employers are all ways the CSPG tries to deliver additional services to the membership.
Steve:
We offer many products and services to our membership.Our products include publications (such as the AAPG Bulletin,Bulletin Archives Online,Search and Discovery e-journal,AAPG Explorer,and other memoirs and special publications).We also have mid-career training centres set up in various locations.We have distinguished lectures for our membership.We offer conferences,field trips and short courses for our members.We also have personal member programs such as the Retirement GeoVest Program,Health Care Programs.Our
Besides the professional recognition granted, there is a long list of benefits of membership in APEGGA.The opportunity to participate in a self-governing profession is top-most and there are over 500 opportunities to do that within APEGGA.I have already mentioned our involvement in continuing professional development.APEGGA members can benefit from sponsored benefits such as insurance programs,RRSP and the like from approved service providers.We continue to investigate additional membership benefits that meet approved criteria of the Council.
12
Serving as a volunteer or appointment to Committees or Boards on a professional society enables you to meet other active people in the industry.What are the other benefits one gets on serving as an Executive of the Society?
Peter:
It’s not all about benefits.For me there is a certain sense of wanting to give back to a profession that has been a source of great personal fulfillment.Holding an office is just another facet of that fulfillment.Serving on the SEG Exec has been like a trip to summer camp.You make new friends.You do some service work.The change from the normal routine is relaxing.Sometimes you get to start a project and see it grow within the society and become meaningful to others.Frankly, most of those I have served with have all felt the same way.
Bill:
In my particular situation I have become more aware and can better relate to the traditional Canadian industry within Alberta,B.C.and Saskatchewan,as this is outside my focus at work, which is primarily outside western Canada.
John:
Experience with management of a company, Budget,Operations experience,Staff management,and working with senior leaders and most of all serving with a great bunch of professional Geologists that make running the Executive Committee fun every two weeks at our meetings.
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Steve:
Other benefits include helping shape policy decisions for the organization.Each new president has an agenda.This year I’m focussing on:promoting Professionalism;enhancing student programs;promoting international development;increasing AAPG’s digital products;increasing Public Outreach;increasing intersociety programs;and creating a new long range plan for the organization.
Andrew:
Someone who volunteers in SPE’s activities is able to help shape the society’s mission, therefore helping get information out to other industry professionals.All SPE activities require a certain amount of volunteerism.SPE would not function without its volunteers - they make the society work by reviewing papers,organizing technical programs,making board-level decisions,making presentations,managing committees,authoring papers and books,and much more.Volunteers have the added benefit of being involved in a Society that is respected as the premiere organization in the industry.
However,the overarching tangible fringe benefit of being actively involved in SPE,is for one’s personal technical and managerial development which will add value to the company.Every manager should be made aware of this attribute, noting that much of the volunteer work is done in the individual’s own time.
Mike:
Meeting a variety of people with similar commitments to leadership of professional associations in Canada is a huge benefit to me both personally and professionally.Working with committed,dedicated volunteers and association permanent staff gives active involvement and "hands-on" opportunity in nonprofit leadership and governance.
Are geo-science / geo-engineering adapting to the changes going on around us and positioning for a future in a changed world?
Peter:
Absolutely.I see all the professional societies changing to address the reality of globalization, to cope with the changing age demographics of their membership,and to attract and retain the entry level professionals as members.
Bill:
I believe that in the geosciences we have embraced and lead the world in applied computer technology involved primarily in imaging,inversion and visualization.As an example,within my career we have moved from two-pass post-stack 3D time migration to the verge of economically viable 3D pre-stack finite difference depth migration that incorporates anisotropy.This has occurred through the use and encouragement of significant improvements in computing power specifically driven by demands within the seismic industry.
John:
In general,the younger geoscientists seem much more adaptable to the integration of the
disciplines of geology,geophysics,and engineering.With many of the lines of each discipline becoming mixed,mostly through technology advancement,I think it’s a good thing for our industry.
Steve:
At AAPG we are working on a new long-range plan to incorporate the changes occurring around us.We want to continually assess the changes so that we may move to make changes to meet the needs of our membership.We are also working on several projects with our sister societies (e.g.,SEG and SPE) to help meet changing industry needs.
Andrew:
I believe that the industry is becoming more technologically driven.We are finding that companies like Intel,Microsoft,and HP are developing sectors that cater to the energy industry.These companies offer innovative ways to move into the future of the industry,with new technologies,software,communications and developments.Communication technology, particularly,is enabling the dissemination of knowledge in a very different paradigm to even just five years ago.The society also is becoming more global by opening new decentralized offices to service members in areas that before did not have direct contact with SPE staff.
Finally it is noted that the Society’s strategy is all embodied in a periodically reviewed Long Range Plan which is the road map which guides the Board’s governance.This LRP is available for all members to review and have input to.
Mike:
Absolutely.From such world-impacting issues such as climate change to the impact of technology on daily life,we must adapt or else surrender to becoming irrelevant.APEGGA and its members are adapting to such changes as a normal part of professional life.
14
Are there demands (by members,the public perception,or regulators) for common professional guidelines, standards or certification or licensing? In Alberta for example,there been new requirements by the Alberta Securities Commission for evaluations of reserves by independent professional evaluators.APEGGA has issued new guidelines for serving as a witness in court,relying on the work of others,and initiated requirements for developing Professional Practice Management Plans to ensure due diligence for applied science practices.
geology.However,these legal requirements are mitigated by allowing qualified registered professionals to oversee and conduct due diligence regarding the work of non-registered but competent professionals.I believe professional societies such as the CSEG are playing a more significant role in encouraging and facilitating the continued education of geophysicists than APEGGA.
John:
Across Canada the same new requirements apply for geologists to be registered to protect the public.I believe that most of the other provinces follow very similar rules to Alberta where we all have an obligation to be registered with APEGGA.
Steve:
We offer the public a means to recognize properly educated and trained professionals. Our membership requirement includes the following:1) a three-member sponsorship (attesting to the high ethical character of the member),2) adequate education,and 3) adequate experience levels.We also offer several certifications (Certified Petroleum Geologist,Certified Coal Geologist,and Certified Geophysicist).The certification programs offer reciprocity to other organizations that have similar requirements (SIPES,AIPG).The new demands in Alberta will probably have a ripple effect to other areas.So far,we have not seen any new demands, legislation,etc.
Andrew:
SPE,together with the AAPG and WPC,many years ago jointly developed and approved of a global standard for Oil & Gas Reserve Definitions.In 2000 SPE further developed a set of Resource Guidelines for use in our industry world-wide.The Reserve Definitions have been accepted by the SEC in US and by equivalent organizations in many other countries.
SPE assists in setting exams for registration of Petroleum Engineers in US,and is currently addressing the wider issue of certification of Engineers in other countries following the demand from members around the globe.
Mike:
Peter:
I don’t see this very much in my travels.For example,geoscientists have only become licensed this year in Texas,years behind Alberta and other jurisdictions,and the exploration business is exempt from that licensing.
Bill:
In an ideal world,APEGGA expects total compliance for professional and technologist registration within engineering,geophysics and
Much of what APEGGA does,and you have picked out a few of them,comes from demands from the public,other regulators,and members for common standards.In many instances an organization that has authority such as the Alberta Boiler Safety Association,Alberta Environment,or municipal organizations such as cities and towns will insist there be professional authentication of work that is submitted to them for approval. 15
Peter:
What message would you like to send out to members of different societies/associations?
Professional associations exist only because of their members.The programs of each are usually the direct result of some individual
member’s initiative.If you see a good opportunity that is being missed by your association don’t ask why,rather ask how you can help make it happen.It’s your association.
Bill:
I would like to encourage members of other societies to attend and interact more frequently with the CSEG’s technical functions such as luncheons,conventions,continuing education and workshops.This would bring a new perspective and enthusiasm for the challenges that face exploration and development of oil,gas and other mineral resources.
John:
With continuation of the aging of our professions,it is imperative that all of our societies remain vigilant in the promotion of our profession to the youth of the world.We should also look for ways to work together,as societies and have our industry help the professional associations and societies promote the message of our industry to the students that the industry will,in five to ten years,lose upwards of 50% of the professional staff as the baby boomers of the fifties start to retire.
Steve:
The petroleum industry will remain vital for world energy and other societal needs.The future looks very bright for new students entering the business.AAPG has many programs that we offer to our membership. Please consider joining our society.
Andrew:
My message is to become involved in your society at every level possible.My time as the president of SPE has been most gratifying and has opened my eyes to the many benefits of membership.Moreover,I have been astounded at the enthusiasm and passion professionals have for their work and the industry all over the world.In addition I have seen wonderful cooperation between various international and national societies.I encourage this,as I see enormous value to be gained between the SPE,the AAPG,the SEG,the EAGE and others. It is only logical that these societies,and others can mutually benefit from linking websites,e-libraries,workshops,conferences, distinguished lecturers and short-courses.I encourage every individual involved in the E&P industry to learn about their society and the opportunities available to them.It can only enrich their career and help them in their professional development.
Mike:
APEGGA is pleased to collaborate with related associations and societies.There are hundreds of excellent technical societies to which our members belong. The chief purpose of most of these societies in providing professional development opportunities to professional engineers and geoscientists is entirely in tune with APEGGA's mission to serve society and protect the public by regulating,enhancing and providing leadership in the practice of the professions.
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE OIL INDUSTRY
BY BEN MCKENZIE
The oil industry,despite its history and continued image of rugged individuals going out to pound on rocks,is a very high-tech business. In the constant quest for finding hydrocarbons cheaper and faster,the industry is frequently on the leading edge of technological advances.This is done to gain an edge – a strategic advantage – over a company’s competitors.Over time, technology to do this has ranged from highly specialized modeling programs (and the hardware to run them) to software that allows for more efficient scheduling of meetings.It is a rare situation where an oil company employee doesn’t use or have access to some kind of computer technology.However,a major component of the business (like any other industry) deals with mundane day-to-day activities and what was once considered cuttingedge technology is now frequently incorporated into standard business operations.
An article by Nicholas G.Carr (IT Doesn’t Matter,Harvard Business Review,May,2003, Vol.81,Issue 5,p.41-49) espouses the concept that as Information Technology becomes more common,its strategic advantage decreases. The following is a review of that article.As used in this context,information technology is
CSPG VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity within the CSPG,Blythe will be happy to help you find your volunteer niche.
She can also provide information about any of the Society’s numerous committees if you require it.
Blythe will also assist with finding replacements for current committee volunteers who need a change and help them to find different volunteer opportunities in the Society,if desired.
Blythe Lowe can be reached in Calgary at 403-645-3516. Give her a call!
one component of an information system (the others being people,data,and procedures) and generally deals with hardware and software.
According to Carr,in the past 35 years,capital expenditures by U.S.companies for information technology rose from less than 5% to nearly 50%.The commonly held belief behind this growth appears to be that as IT’s potency and ubiquity increased,so did its strategic value. However,this misses the fundamental point that what makes a resource strategic is not its ubiquity but its scarcity.What defines a competitive advantage is the possession or ability to do something that one’s competitor can’t have or do.Additionally,as information technology becomes more common,the competitive advantage becomes a negative reenforcer.That is,you can lose without it but can’t win with it.It becomes an additional cost of business as everyone tries to keep up with the latest and greatest technology.
Generally speaking,technology can be classified as proprietary or infrastructural.With proprietary technology,a single company can effectively control the related business advantage,e.g.,through a patent.The advantage exists as long as the proprietary aspect remains in place.In contrast to proprietary technology, where a company tries to keep the technology to themselves,infrastructural technology works best when shared so that it becomes an integral part of the business.The advantage goes to the company that either controls the infrastructure or makes best use of it.
There tends to be a natural progression from proprietary to infrastructural technology.As long as access is limited – through cost,lack of standards,legal limits,etc.– the competitive advantage exists.As the technology spreads, costs drop,standards evolve,and the strategic advantage decreases.However,it is possible that a new strategic advantage can be created by identifying new ways to use the technology or by recognizing its broader implications.For example,the expansion of railroads led to the growth in large-scale,mass-production factories to take advantage of an expanded consumer market.Economies of scale allowed them to edge out the small plants that had previously dominated local markets.
Infrastructural technology follows a fairly uniform growth pattern.Frequently,it begins as a proprietary technology,where physical limitations,cost,or lack of standards allows one company to use it to advantage over its rivals.As the more efficient aspects of the new technology become wider known,more and more companies rush to take advantage of it.
This leads to the second stage of the technology cycle,termed the build-out phase,where huge amounts of capital are invested in developing or acquiring it.Thus,the window of opportunity in which a company can gain an edge from the new technology is open only for a short while.The rush to join leads to greater production / capacity and increased competition,which in turn,leads to lower prices.This results in making the technology much more accessible and affordable to smaller companies.
The third stage of the cycle arises as the technology becomes broadly adopted.During this period,technical standards become uniform and the best practices are built into the system.This effectively removes the benefit of proprietary systems.At this point in the lifecycle,the technology has become a commodity.
Carr believes that IT is an infrastructural technology – it transports,processes,and stores its goods (i.e.,digital information) just as railroads do with raw products and manufactured goods or as the power grid does with electricity.Like the infrastructural technology life-cycle,IT has progressed through the proprietary stage to wide-spread standards adoption and acceptance to the commodity stage where it can easily be acquired.At this point,there is little incentive from a cost or competitive advantage viewpoint for a company to build proprietary systems.Moreover,as the growth of the internet increasingly provides an improved delivery system,the need to own entire application suites decreases.The individual software components most important to a company’s business become increasingly available and cost-effective as ‘web-services’.
As mentioned above,the window of opportunity during which a company can benefit from a new technology is relatively narrow.In the information technology world,the window is even smaller because of the speed at which new innovations are replicated and become part of the standard.While the resource is essential to remain competitive,it has little strategic value.This is a crucial turning point.
At this stage,the goal of information technology management is less one of growth and development and more of security and efficiency.Because the use of IT is highly entwined in the operations of a company,any disruption potentially can paralyze its performance to varying degrees.While security is an obvious concern,safeguards exist that,if used effectively,will minimize disruption issues. More important is the capital cost aspect of IT.Hardware wears out,software becomes
outdated,and companies will grow.All these factors require constant attention to costs versus benefits.The competitive nature of the hardware and software industries leads to ever-changing prices.Likewise,new ways of conducting business,such as out-sourcing, partnerships,and web-services,can lead to cost savings.
One way that companies can save on IT is by cutting out waste.The majority of employees typically use only a fraction of the computing power or applications available to them.Yet, companies,particularly the larger ones,have established on-going across-the-board hardware and software upgrade programs. Likewise,data storage,which can account for a significant portion of the IT expenditures,is poorly used.According to Carr,the bulk of what’s being stored on corporate networks has little to do with making products or serving customers.Much of this archived material consists of saved e-mails,internet spam,MP3s, video clips,and outdated files.An estimate by Computerworld suggests that as much as 70%
of the storage capacity of a typical windows network is wasted.This represents an enormous unnecessary expense.
As information technology matures,a new set of rules for its management is developing:
1) Spend less (i.e.,spend wisely). As IT becomes more of a commodity and less of a strategic advantage,purchases need to be questioned on a cost / benefit basis.
2) Follow,don’t lead. Typically,the longer you wait to make an IT purchase,the more you’ll get for your money.This also decreases the risk of buying something technologically flawed.
3) Focus on vulnerabilities,not opportunities. It is difficult to gain a competitive advantage from a mature infrastructural technology,but even a brief disruption in its availability can be devastating.
EXECUTIVE COMMENT
provided as needed.Monitor and elevate technical and scientific quality of conferences through discussion with,and recommendations to,Conventions Committee.
A central theme of many of these points is continued collaboration and interaction between the CSPG and other scientific and technical societies for both conferences and continuing education.Last year’s highly successful CSPG Annual Convention was an example of such co-operation with the meeting being jointly hosted with the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.This year’s annual convention (May 31 - June 4) will even go further,cooperating with the Canadian Heavy Oil Association ,and the Canadian Well Logging Society .As for societal cooperation in the more focused,thematic Gussow mini-conferences series,a current proposal being considered by the Committee On Conventions for the next miniconference on Coal Bed Methane could involve the CSPG, Canadian Society for Unconventional Gas,The Society for Organic Petrology, and The Canadian Society for Coal Science and Organic
Petrology.The last two societies are not large in terms of total membership,but it is precisely small geoscience societies such as these that offer new scientific ideas and highly specialized techniques many in the petroleum industry may not be overly familiar with.And, speaking of mini-conferences,the organizers and contributors of DOLOMITES 2004 are to be congratulated for very successful seminar and core sessions.I would suggest, however,that perhaps the focused miniconference seminars close with a speaker reviewing what was presented,summarizing where we are and what needs to be researched,with respect to the theme. Nonetheless,DOLOMITES 2004,and all those involved,Well Done!
Lastly,if you would like to give a talk in any of the technical divisions,please contact the Technical Division Chairs (contact information at cspg.org),who are particularly keen on trying to achieve cross-divisional cooperation with talks showing multidisciplinary and applied technical and scientific methods.
Lavern D.Stasiuk CSPG Executive Program Director
When Carr’s article came out last year,there was an enormous outcry from the Information Technology sector,generally negative.An extreme example is the 126page book that was written in rebuttal to Carr’s eight-page article (Smith,Howard and Peter Fingar,2003,IT Doesn’t Matter –Business Processes Do:a Critical Analysis of Nicolas Carr’s I.T.Article in the Harvard Business Review,Meghan-Kiffer,ISBN 0929652-35-5).Admittedly,Carr’s title was designed to provoke a response and while the points he makes are valid,the article shouldn’t be seen as a blanket condemnation of information technology.As mentioned above,IT is just one component in an information system.It is still possible to obtain a competitive advantage through the smarter / better / less common use of existing information technology and related systems. With declining reserves and increasing competition,oil companies have to cut costs and become more efficient in finding and producing hydrocarbons.Innovative use of information technology will assist in this goal.
available for import into ACCUMAP and other mapping programs:
1) Mississippian Subcrops and Devonian Reef Edges – Alberta, NE BC, Sask. and NWT - completely updated in 2003/04 2) Glauconitic Channel Trends – Southern and central Alberta 3) Colony Reservoir Trends – East-central Alberta
Bluesky-Dunlevy Reservoir Trends – NE BC 5) Halfway-Doig Shoreline Trends – NE BC, NW AB 6) Charlie Lake Siphon, Cecil and North Pine Reservoir Trends – NE BC
-all edges are formatted as map features and as editable annotation lines and regions
For more information contact Mike Sherwin at 262-1151 Email mike@sherwingeological.com or view at www.sherwingeological.com
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email: rod.hall@roxar.com or info@houston.roxar.com or visit www.roxar.com
