May 2015 Outcrop

OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

Volume 64 • No. 5 • May 2015

The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

2015 Summit Sponsors E x clus ive Lu nc he o n Sp o nso r

G o ld Sp o nso rs

Student Sponsor

Silver Sponsors GEOMARK

Bronze Sponsors

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Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

910 16th Street • Suite 1214 • Denver, CO 80202 • 303-573-8621 The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists (RMAG) is a nonprofit organization whose purposes are to promote interest in geology and allied sciences and their practical application, to foster scientific research and to encourage fellowship and cooperation among its members. The Outcrop is a monthly publication of the RMAG.

2015 OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

RMAG STAFF

PRESIDENT

SECRETARY

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Marv Brittenham president@rmag.org

Stephanie B. Gaswirth sgaswirth@usgs.gov

Carrie Veatch, MA cveatch@rmag.org

PRESIDENT-ELECT

1st YEAR COUNSELOR

John Ladd john.ladd@discoverynr.com

Jane Estes-Jackson Jane.Estes-Jackson@mcelvain.com

MEMBERSHIP & EVENTS MANAGER

TREASURER-ELECT

TREASURER

Tom Sperr tsperr@bayless-cos.com

Paul Lillis plillis@usgs.gov

2nd VICE PRESIDENT

2nd YEAR COUNSELOR

Chris Eisinger chris.eisinger@state.co.us

Terri Olson tmolson8550@gmail.com

1st VICE PRESIDENT

Mel Klinger melklinger@eurekageologicalconsulting.com

Hannah Rogers hrogers@rmag.org PROJECTS SPECIALIST

Emily Tompkins Lewis etompkins@rmag.org ACCOUNTANT

Carol Dalton cdalton@rmag.org MANAGING EDITOR

Will Duggins will.duggins@i-og.net

ADVERTISING INFORMATION

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Rates and sizes can be found on page 52. Advertising rates apply to either black and white or color ads. Submit color ads in RGB color to be compatible with web format. Borders are recommended for advertisements that comprise less than one half page. Digital files must be PC compatible submitted in png, jpg, tif, pdf or eps formats at a minimum of 300 dpi. If you have any questions, please call the RMAG office at 303-573-8621.

Holly Sell holly.sell@yahoo.com Greg Guyer Greg.Guyer@halliburton.com

Ad copy, signed contract and payment must be received before advertising insertion. Contact the RMAG office for details.

Cheryl Fountain cwhitney@alumni.nmt.edu

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

Andre Scheinwald aschein33001@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY NOON LUNCHEON RESERVATIONS

RMAG Office: 303-573-8621 | Fax: 303-476-2241 | staff@rmag.org or www.rmag.org

DESIGN/PRODUCTION

Nate Silva nate@nate-silva.com

The Outcrop is a monthly publication of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

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OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

CONTENTS FEATURES

ASSOCIATION NEWS

23 Colorado Science and Engineering Fair

2 RMAG 2015 Summit Sponsors

28 Lead Story: Rockfalls and Landslides Along CO State Hwy 133, West Central Colorado

41 RMAG & PTTC Short Course

48 New Colorado Geology Movie Premieres on May 31

45 RMAG Symposium Hot Plays

43 RMAG Annual Golf Tournament

46 RMAG & AAPG ACE Events DEPARTMENTS 6 RMAG March 2015 Board of Directors Meeting 10 President’s Letter 18 RMAG Luncheon Programs: Speaker – Daniel A. Krygowski

46 RMAG Scholarship Awards Luncheon 47 RMAG Night at the Zoo 50 RMAG 2015 Publications Sale

COVER PHOTO A view from Monument Road in Colorado National Monument. In the valley are Early to Middle Proterozoic meta-sedimentary rocks. Overlying these are Mesozoic sedimentary, cliff-forming formations are the Chinle and Windgate Sandstone.

53 RMAG Foundation

21 RMAG Luncheon Programs: Speaker – Wesley Ingram

Photo by Mel Klinger

24 Welcome New RMAG Members!

25 In The Pipeline 52 Calendar 53 Advertiser Index

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RMAG MARCH 2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

By Stephanie Gaswirth, Secretary sgaswirth@usgs.gov

SINCLAIR

PETROLEUM

for 2016. Be sure to contact Chris Eisinger (chris. eisinger@state.co.us) with speaker suggestions.

Registration for the Spring Short Course closes April 9; please take advantage of our student or unemployed rates if applicable. RMAG is busy getting ready to co-host the 2015 AAPG-ACE meeting in Denver May 31-June 3. Registration for the meeting, field trips and short courses is open; early registration ends April 6. Be sure to sign up for the Night at the Zoo event on June 2 with Scott Sampson- it is sure to be a “roaring” good time (my feeble attempt at humor!)

The RMAG golf tournament at Arrowhead Golf Course is just a couple months away on June 17. Be sure to register early for this popular and fun day on the golf course. Registration opens April 29. The On the Rocks Committee has been busy planning spring

The March meeting of the RMAG Board of Directors was held on March 25, 2015 at 4 p.m. Treasurer-elect Tom Sperr reported that RMAG remains in good financial standing. The March luncheon was another sold-out success, and spaces for the April luncheon are almost gone. There are only a few open speaker slots left for 2015, and then the continuing education committee will start filling the calendar ENGINEERING,INC.

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john@sinclairengineering.com

THE BOOK CLIFFS, UTAH: A CASE STUDY IN COASTAL SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY

2015 Schedule 20 – 24 April 18 – 22 May 24 – 28 Aug

Course led by: William W. LiLle, Ph.D. InformaOon and sign up at: hLp://liLleww.wordpress.com

Providing Geosteering Services and Software Solutions for Over 20 Years

KC Oren

1.303.249.9965 www.horizontalsi.com OUTCROP | May 2015

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230 Airport Rd. Unit D Heber City, Utah 84032

Ph (435)657-0586 Cell (435)640-1382 email: mbarber@summitmudlog.com

www.summitmudlog.com RMAG March 2015 Board of Directors Meeting

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and summer field trips. The first field trip will be on May 16 to examine rock falls and landslides, led by Christopher Russell of CDOT. In other exciting and completely unrelated news, by popular demand, the Mineral of the Month is returning to the Outcrop! Please send requests for your favorite mineral to Cheryl (Whitney) Fountain (cwhitney@alumni.nmt.edu).

Spring has sprung! Join RMAG for lots of fun upcoming activities!

KES T

C

OSCIENCE L GE , LL RE

Neil H. Whitehead, III Consulting Geologist PhD

303-679-8573

fax 303-679-8574

31634 Black Widow Way

Conifer, CO

neil3@q.com 80433-9610

OUTCROP Daub & Associates, Inc.

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SPECIALIZING IN PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, HYDROLOGICAL, GEOTECHNICAL AND PERMITTING SERVICES

Gerald J. Daub, P.G., C.P.G.

Kestrel Geoscience, LLC

OUTCROP | May 2015

PG WY

Rocky Mountain Basins Wellsite to Petroleum Systems ArcGIS

Thomas E. Hoak, Ph.D. Consulting Geoscientist

Structural Geology Seismic Interpretation Magnetic and Gravity Interpretation Basin Analysis and Restoration Regional Desk Studies Integrated Exploration Prospect Generation Presentation Graphics

CPG-AIPG

Littleton, CO USA

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Phone: (303) 933-5805 Cell: (720) 375-3015

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kestrelco@comcast.net kestrelgeoscience.com

8

President

gjdaub@daubandassociates.com www.daubandassociates.com

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PRESIDENT’S LETTER

By Marv Brittenham

More on Career Paths… and the 800 pound gorilla

IT’S PERSONAL

Again, not much has changed over the past month as you can see from the EIA spot price chart; the price continues

think. One way or another, this price stress is affecting us personally, directly or indirectly.

My concern is for the individuals affected, not RMAG as an organization. We are in the process of putting a five year Strategic Plan into place and I want to assure you that RMAG has staying power and good prospects for the future! Through the good management of the Board of Directors, our volunteers and the Staff we have built an appropriate “rainy day fund”. I’ll review the Strategic Plan in a future letter, but for this month I want to elaborate on the “advice column” from last month.

If you missed that column please start there by downloading the April Outcrop which outlines the top ten steps for survival and success in a career in the energy industry. How you utilize those strategies will vary with your situation. There are a large number of RMAG members who are not employed in the energy industry or maybe not directly affected by the low oil price environment. But we are a community of geologists, that’s one of RMAG’s core strengths. This

The 800 pound gorilla is still in the room and definitely not in the closet!

to fluctuate around the $50 range. The news mostly reflects the negative effect this is having on corporations, particularly those with tight borrowing bases. It’s good to see an appearance of price support around that level, but as time stretches on this looks more long term than we’d like to

THE 800 POUND GORILLA — UPDATED

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President’s Letter

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R

information is also important, for instance, if you’re helping a friend or family member though a hard time.

Most of these strategies are common to any career, but particularly those that are based on any commodity and therefore cyclical by nature.

If you’re starting a career or are a student in the geosciences you have the benefit of foreseeing the reality of a cyclical commodity based career. But, virtually any career opportunity will involve uncertainties and cyclic economics. So, even if you choose a geoscience career in some other realm read on!

Logs Since 1971

TEN STEPS FOR CAREER SURVIVAL AND SUCCESS

L OG S G S LO LOGS

1. Take care of yourself and your colleagues Although this is personal to you, we’re all in this together! It’s imperative that you take care of yourself first and keep a positive forward view. If you are family or a colleague, lend your assistance by keeping

OVER 6 MILLION WELL LOGS

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your ideas - we make them happen LEASING - PERMITTING - DAMAGES - ROW

Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

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www.mjlogs.com 1-800-310-6451 11

OUTCROP | May 2015

Our hel opp con

President’s Letter “permanent”. Keep your resume and contact list updated. Use your network and the social media.

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

regular contact, giving encouragement or advice, or simply having lunch or coffee. Stay engaged and stick to a daily work schedule by networking and exploring opportunities.

4. Be patient Your career is a long term proposition. If you have prepared for a break in employment take time to find the best opportunity. Geoscience in the energy industry is still an exciting and rewarding career.

The current price stress will abate, there are good times ahead.

2. Conduct regular self-assessments Is petroleum geoscience your passion; are your skill sets and your track record desirable and marketable; are you contributing to the team; are you indispensable to your employer?

Your employer does regular performance reviews. So use that review for self reflection. This is part of owning your plan because no one else will!

5. Have an agenda for success in your career Lay out a definitive plan for your career that fits your skill set and passion. Pursue opportunities that compliment your agenda. Have some flexibility because technology changes quickly! Stay active in professional societies. This will help you remain current and will provide networking opportunities.

3. Plan for the best, prepare for the worst Build a one year rainy day fund and have a plan to cut expenses. This sounds difficult and it takes self-discipline; but this is so important in enabling your options. Continuously explore alternative employment opportunities. Have some options in mind at all times. Never assume your current job is

6. Find a mentor Choose someone who can advocate for you, advise you and help you through good and bad times.

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How the RMAG supports job seekers: - Search through resume’s on the RMAG Job Board - Post your resume on the RMAG Website - Post your business card in The Outcrop for just $20 (see The Outcrop media kit online for more price points)

- Volunteer at an event, such as the RMAG Golf Tournament

- Connect with other members via the online Membership Directory - Network at RMAG Monthly Luncheons as a walk-in for $10 OUTCROP | May 2015

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

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, QEP Resources, Inc. (NYSE: QEP) is an S&P 500 Index member company.

Learn more at www.qepres.com.

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President’s Letter

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This is a great proactive strategy whenever you make a change or start a new job. Mentors have been instrumental in my career and often sponsored me towards new positions or new jobs. Ask any successful geologist and they’ll accredit a set of mentors.

7. Training and education Find a seminar on job hunting. It’s not a natural skill and we don’t do it often; so get some professional help.

If you have the time and financial capability consider further educational opportunities, advanced degrees or business training. If you need to update your skill set professional society short courses like those from RMAG or AAPG are a great way to keep up.

8. Take control To own your career you need to be more than a geologist. That means you should understand the business and develop your educated view of the risks and opportunities including the company that employs you. You have some unique insight as to your employer’s future so keep an open and not overly optimistic view.

eat Western Great Western Western yntain mountain operator a rocky mountain operator operator 9. Be flexible You may need to make some difficult decisions regarding a future employer, the salary, the job, the location or even a different career. Keep an open mind. Often a small step back in your career agenda may ultimately buy you the time and means to your desired career path. Relocating can be painful, but many of us have and actually gained unforeseen opportunities from it. If you’re passionate about the Rockies there are ways to return.

GreatGreat Western Western O I L & G A S COOI LM & PAGNAYS C O M PA N Y

303-398-0302 303-398-0302 info@gwogco.com info@gwogco.com www.gwogco.com www.gwogco.com

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President’s Letter

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Experience Integrity Professionalism

We, at Decollement, pride ourselves with some of the most experienced Geologists in the �ield. Our Geologists have on Experience average, ten years of Integrity experience. WeProfessionalism have been operational Experience Integrity Professionalism since 1979 in all of the Rocky Mountain basins. We have We, at Decollement, pride ourselves with some of the most assisted hundreds of clients thousands of wells. have on experienced Geologists in theon�ield.

Our Geologists We, at Decollement, ourselves the most average, ten years ofpride experience.

Wewith havesome beenof operational experienced in the Mountain �ield. Our basins.

Geologists since 1979 inGeologists all of the Rocky Wehave haveon www.decollementconsulting.com | 303-578-6875 assisted hundreds of clients on thousands of wells. average, ten years of experience. We have been operational since 1979 in all of the Rocky Mountain basins. We have Décollement www.decollementconsulting.com | 303-578-6875 assisted hundreds of clients on thousands of wells.

Consulting

Décollement Inc. www.decollementconsulting.com | 303-578-6875 Consulting Inc.

Décollement Consulting Inc.

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10. Consider transitioning to another career During the 1986 downturn RMAG and the state collaborated in a career transition center that helped those geoscientist who were interested in changing find other opportunities. There are many teachers, environmental geoscientists and others who found their calling in a new career at that time. When you’re doing your self-assessment consider if you need a major change.

The best bottom line advice is to own your career. Be proactive and prepared. Don’t let circumstance or fate determine your future!

I would appreciate any feedback. If you have questions I’m available at president@rmag.org and at most RMAG events.

UPCOMING

There is still time to register for the 2015 AAPG ACE meeting May 31st though June 3rd. This is an excellent international venue for networking. Be sure to treat yourself to A Night at the Zoo and Dr. Scott Sampson’s lecture hosted by RMAG Tuesday evening June 2nd. It will be a fun night!

Also RMAG has a number of events scheduled for this summer. Check them out on the new re-designed website.

Feel free to contact me if you have any ideas to make RMAG better. We want to be The Best Place for Rockies Geoscience.

Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

“Producers will work hard to improve efficiency and lower costs” Daniel Yergin, Who will Rule the Oil Market?, New York Times Op-Ed Online, Jan 23, 2015

DIG CAN HELP

Geochemistry for Energy digforenergy.com

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TM

303.531.2030 OUTCROP | May 2015

RMAG LUNCHEON PROGRAMS Speaker: Daniel A. Krygowski — May 6, 2015

Pattern Recognition in a Digital Age: A Gameboard Approach to Determining Petrophysical Parameters Daniel A. Krygowski, Robert M. Cluff The Discovery Group, Denver, CO, USA determine the parameters needed in Archie’s water saturation equation(1942), so that the parameters and associated well log data can be used to calculate water saturation in much more detail and with more precision than before.

An extension of those graphical techniques is shown here, where Hingle, Pickett, and Buckles (1965) plots (Morris and Biggs, 1967) are displayed simultaneously. In this “gameboard” display in Excel (© Microsoft), data is displayed on all the plots.

The selection and modification of computational

Graphical pattern recognition interpretive techniques have been part of petrophysics since quantitative interpretation began, as a way to quickly determine properties of interest with a minimum of calculations. When calculators and computers were introduced to petrophysics, the focus of the techniques changed from determining the quantities themselves to determining the parameters needed to calculate those quantities. As an example, Hingle plots (1959) and Pickett plots (1966, 1973), first used to quickly determine water saturation for a few points in a reservoir, can now instead be used to

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Daniel A. Krygowski is a Senior Petrophysical Advisor at The Discovery Group, in Denver, Colorado, USA. In this role, he has worked petrophysical interpretation projects in a variety of international and US domestic locations.

Currently he is spending the majority of his time providing and developing courses in basic and intermediate openhole petrophysics. The courses include the common instructor-led formats, as well as longer-term, lower intensity formats that allow participants to spend more time with the course material while delving deeper into areas of personal interest.

Since the late Cretaceous, Dan has taught the AAPG Basic Well Log Analysis course with Dr. George Asquith.

In 2004, the AAPG published Basic Well Log Analysis, co-authored by Dan and George, with Steve Henderson and Neil Hurley, the second edition of George’s similarly-named book which was one of AAPG’s all-time best sellers.

Dan earned a BA in Physics from the State University of New York at Geneseo. He then earned MS and Ph.D. degrees in Geophysics from the Colorado School of Mines, where he focused on petrophysics under George R. (Dick) Pickett.

After completing his formal education, Dan worked for Cities Service Company (now part of Occidental Petroleum), Atlantic Richfield (now part of BP), Petrophysical Solutions, Landmark Graphics (a Halliburton company), and Chevron. At several of those companies, he held positions in petrophysics and petrophysical software development, with both technical and management responsibilities. He joined The Discovery Group in late 2006.

Dan has been active in the Denver Well Logging Society, serving two terms as Director, and terms as Vice-President Technology, and Vice-President Membership. Dan is a member of SPWLA, AAPG, SPE, SEG, DWLS, and RMAG. OUTCROP | May 2015

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One-Day Workshops to Improve Your Skills GeoGraphix Training: An Overview and Refresher Course

Tuesday, May 19, 2015, 8:30 am – 5 pm, Colorado School of Mines, Berthoud Hall Rm. 201 Fee: $250, includes food at breaks, workbook, and PDH certificate.

Instructor: Fred Poland, Littleton, CO

This full-day hands-on computer training course is designed for the person who has had some past experience with GeoGraphix and would like to get some basic training in the functionality of the newest version. It may also serve as a demo for those considering the purchase of GeoGraphix. GESxplorer and PRIZM modules will be utilized. New users will acquire tips and tricks to create projects, maps and cross sections, employ zone manager, perform multi-well log analysis, and more

PETRA – Intermediate Mapping

Thursday, May 21, 2015, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Colorado School of Mines, Berthoud Hall room 201 Fee: $250, includes food at breaks, workbook, and PDH certificate. Limit 20 people Instructor: Jewel Wellborn, Hydrocarbon Exploration & Development, Inc.

The Intermediate Mapping class is designed for those participants who have completed the Petra Introductory course and are ready to advance their use of mapping features, gridding, and computational options available in the PETRA Map module.

Workflows using contouring algorithms, gird to grid manipulations, computations, residual and curvature processes will be discussed. Map options such as directional well posting, drainage radii, rose diagram and lineament analysis, dip and strike calculation and presentation, 3D visualization, and posting of engineering data may be offered as class participants request. A discussion of overlay options and management may also be reviewed. (This class is designed with professional Geoscientist in mind).

PETRA – Intermediate Cross-sections

Friday, May 22, 2015, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Colorado School of Mines, Berthoud Hall room 201 Fee: $250, includes food at breaks, workbook, and PDH certificate. Limit 20 people Instructor: Jewel Wellborn, Hydrocarbon Exploration & Development, Inc.

The Intermediate Cross Section class is for those participants who have completed the Petra Introductory course and are familiar with the basic uses of the Petra Cross Section Module. Workflows designed for detailed structure and stratigraphic analysis, correlations, fault placement, color fill and log displays will be discussed. Raster log review, maintenance, ad display options will be covered. Exercises using the Raster Correlation tool, Log Correlation Module, Directional Well Module and the Slip Log option will be used. (This class is designed with the Professional Geoscientist in mind).

Come Join PTTC at the AAPG Convention – http://ace.aapg.org/2015 Carbonate Depositional Systems and Seismic Sequence Stratigraphy

Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31, 2015, 8:30 am – 5 pm, Denver Athletic Club, Petroleum Room Fee: $600, course notes, lunch and PDH certificate (16 hrs) Instructors: Dr. John Humphrey and Dr. Rick Sarg

Confessions of a Frac Engineer:

200 Field Studies Prove our Frac Jobs are Not Optimized Thursday June 4, 2015, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Denver Athletic Club, Petroleum Room Fee: $300, course notes, lunch and PDH certificate (16 hrs) Instructor: Mike Vincent, Fracwell, LLC

Class Descriptions and Register Online: www.pttcrockies.org

For more information, contact Mary Carr, 303.273.3107, mcarr@mines.edu 19 OUTCROP | May 2015

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BRINGING ENERGY TO TOMORROW’S MOST PROMISING RESOURCES.

parameters is immediately reflected all plots, leading to a more coherent prediction of those parameters than from the same plots used independently.

The Pickett plot, with bulk volume water lines added as suggested by Greengold (1986), Hingle plots with additional bulk volume water lines, and Buckles plots (both linear and logarithmic scales) can predict in a common environment the following parameters: Matrix parameters to derive porosity from density or sonic logs, Archie porosity (cementation) exponent, m, saturation exponent, n, and water resistivity, Rw, and irreducible bulk volume water, BVWirr.

The display uses three common plots (Hingle, Pickett, and Buckles) not commonly displayed simultaneously, adds bulk volume water lines to the Hingle plot, and has the plots linked so that changes made to the parameters displayed in one plot are reflected in the other plots and the computations derived from those plots.

By being able to change the values of any of the parameters while seeing how those changes impact the other parameters and the calculated porosity, water saturation, and bulk volume water, the user can quickly try different interpretive scenarios and determine which results best honor all the data at hand.

encana.com/communities/usa/djbasin

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RMAG LUNCHEON PROGRAMS Speaker: Wesley Ingram — June 10, 2015

Multimineral modeling using new core scanning technology

By Wesley Ingram be up-scaled to match traditional wireline logs for regional assessment. Core-scanning also provides rich chemical datasets, and in the case of XRF yields up to 30 elements, including majors and traces – this greatly exceeds that of industry standard core gamma scans (K, U and Th).

The integration of both core scanning techniques (XRF and DECT) can also be used to generate

Recent advances in core-scanning technology have provided the necessary data to model unconventional reservoirs at extremely high resolution using non-destructive techniques. These include Dual Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), which measure bulk density and chemical composition (rock matrix), respectively. These fine-scale core scanning methods resolve geologic thin-beds (cm-scale), and output data can

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DONATE NOW Please to contribute to the RMAG. Your RMAG contribution supports the calendar of 2015 of RMAG events, including short courses, symposia, social events, monthly luncheons, and more.

Click here to make a contribution online!

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RMAG LUNCHEON PROGRAMS

-

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Stay in the Zone

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Maximize Target Penetration Maximize Production Avoid Costly Redrills Senior geosteering staff on call 24/7 to keep you in-zone and respond to structural stratigraphic changes www.horizontalsi.com Denver, Colorado

KC Oren 303.249.9965

Carrollton, Texas 972.416.1626

high-resolution reservoir models.

Bulk density and elements from XRF scanning are used to solve for mineralogy, total porosity, clay bound water and effective porosity. Continuous kerogen estimation is also possible by calibration of elemental proxies, and is critically important for organic-rich source beds. Summation of the calculated mineral volumes and kerogen, if present, defines solid-phase matrix density, which can be combine with bulk and fluid densities to calculate reservoir storage along with bound versus free fluids in the reservoir. This multimineral model is calculated using core scanning results; hence has utility for comparison to log-based petrophysical solutions.

Ingram, Wesley C., Ph.D., is a geochemist at Weatherford labs in Golden CO, with a primary focus on X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) technology and interpretation of elemental data.

His expertise includes sedimentary geochemistry, biogeochemistry, and petrophysics. Prior to Weatherford, he worked at Devon Energy in exploration and development as a geologist and petrophysicist. Within Weatherford, he is involved with developing new XRF core scanning services and reservoir evaluation techniques. He received his undergraduate and masters from Florida State University in Geography and Geological Sciences and his doctorate from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in Oceanography.

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COLORADO SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR

By Susan Wager The Colorado Science and Engineering Fair was held at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, April 9-11, 2015. Regional junior and senior high school winners from across Colorado participate in this event. The RMAG grants awards to exceptional projects in the earth sciences. Susan Wager and Richard Louden represented the RMAG as Special Awards Judges. The RMAG awards Certificates of Excellence and a cash award of $250 from the RMAG Foundation to each of the winners.

This year, the winners were: Antonio Campos (8th grade) for Why is Venice Sinking?, Max Warnock (7th grade) for Testing the Viking Sunstone Legend, and Ivo Erben (11th grade) for The Effect of Climate on a Glacier’s ELA and Ablation Gradient.

There were many fine projects and it is always a pleasure to interview the students and give them an opportunity to discuss their work.

Congratulations to the all participants of this year’s Colorado Science and Engineering Fair.

Sponsorship opportunities for the annual RMAG Golf Tournament are available!

Visit www.rmag.org to learn more.

Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

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Risk Mitigation seRvices You take plenty of risk in your Business every day. Do you have any idea how much risk your investment portfolio has?

Contact me for a Complimentary Portfolio Risk Review.

WELCOME NEW RMAG MEMBERS!

Michael Bartholomew lives in Boulder, CO.

Leszek Bednarski

works for Global Geophysical Services in Lakewood, CO.

Jack Borski

Michael SliShinSky, crpc Vice President - Financial Advisor Office: (303) 595-1157 michael.slishinsky@rbc.com www.michaelslishinsky.com

lives in Denver, CO.

Christian Christofferson

There’s Wealth in Our Approach.™ A division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC. 14-DV-1574_4.875x4.875 c ad.indd 1

11/4/14 1:12 PM

is a Geologist for Encana Oil & Gas (USA) in Denver, CO.

Andrew Clift

lives in Rapid City, SD.

Olivia Coats

is a Geologist for Emerald Oil, Inc. in Denver, CO.

Shane DePInto

works for Terra Guidance in Denver, CO.

Lauren Kinney

is a Geoscientist for Pulliam Oil & Gas, Inc. in Winter Park, CO.

William Little

works for W.W. Little Geological Consulting, LLC in Rexburg, ID.

Corrine Lytle

is a Payroll/HR/Benefits Coordinator for Resource Strategies, LLC in Golden, CO.

»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

IN THE PIPELINE MAY 6, 2015

MAY 16, 2015

RMAG Luncheon.

Speaker Dan Krygowski.

“Pattern Recognition in a Digital Age: A Gameboard Approach to Determining Petrophysical Parameters.”

Location: Maggiano’s Little Italy, Downtown Denver.

On the Rocks Field Trip. Trip Leader: Christopher Russell from the Colorado Dept. of Transportation.

“Rockfalls and Landslides along CO State HWY 133, West Central Colorado: HighTech Monitoring & Extensive Mitigation along the McClure Pass-Paonia Reservoir Corridor.” sandra@themarkfarm.com or 303-810-7827 for reservations.

MAY 8, 2015 DIPS Luncheon. Speaker Debra Gomez.

“Southern Madagascar.” For reservations, RSVP to aeglerd@ directpetroleum.com or 303285-9136.

Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

MAY 19, 2015

Using Spectroscopy, Dielectric Dispersion and NMR for the Characterization of Shale Plays.”

MAY 19-21, 2015 Hart DUG. Permian Basin. Fort Worth, TX. MAY 27, 2015 Oilfield Christian Fellowship.

For reservations, RSVP to OCFDenverChapter@pxd.com or 303-675-2602.

MAY 30, 2015

DWLS Luncheon. Speaker Anas Al Marzooq from Saudi Aramco.

“An Integrated Workflow

25

RMAG & AAPG ACE Field Trip.

Toward an Understanding

»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

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WELCOME NEW RMAG MEMBERS!

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

Allison Ramsay lives in Golden, CO.

John Ricardo

is a Geologist Advisor for Baker Hughes in Denver, CO.

Rob Selover

lives in Denver, CO.

Buddy Simonis

is an Associate Geologist for QEP Resources in Denver, CO.

Evan Walters

is a Geoscientist for Dolan Integration Group in Boulder, CO.

Christopher Wenman lives in Fort Collins, CO.

William Westerfield

works for Platte River Associates, Inc. in Boulder, CO.

Dr. Tiffany Yesavage

is a USGS volunteer in Lakewood, CO.

OUTCROP | May 2015

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Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

IN THE PIPELINE

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 of Denver’s Mountain Front Structure and Petroleum Potential.

MAY 31, 2015 RMAG & AAPG ACE Short Course.

“The Bakken and Exshaw Petroleum Systems in the Williston and Southern Alberta Basins: An Emphasis on the Pronghorn Member and the Three Forks Formation.”

VOLUNTER!

MAY 31-JUNE 3, 2015

JUNE 10, 2015

AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition. Denver, CO.

RMAG Luncheon.

Speaker: Wesley Ingram.

“Multimineral Modeling Using New Core Scanning Technology”

JUNE 2, 2015 RMAG & AAPG ACE Social Event. Night at the (Denver) Zoo.

JUNE 17, 2015 RMAG Golf Tournament at Arrowhead Golf Club.

JUNE 4, 2015 RMAG & AAPG ACE Field Trip.

4D Laramide Crustal Detachment and Thrust Tectonics, With Applications to Natural Fractures in Resource Plays.

Lario Oil & Gas Company Established 1927

As a diverse community of individuals working towards a worthy cause, we believe that your unique talents can bring us all forward. Volunteers are always needed and welcome!

WWW.LARIOOIL.COM

UPCOMING EVENTS THAT NEED VOLUNTEERS: • Golf Tournament • Continuing Education • Membership Committee • Long Range Planning • Publications Committee If you would like to volunteer for any of these committees or events, please contact the RMAG office at (303) 573-8621 or staff@rmag.org

Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

Proud sponsor of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists 27

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LEAD STORY

Rockfalls  and Landslides Along CO State Hwy 133, West Central Colorado: High-Tech Monitoring & Extensive Mitigation Along the McClure Pass - Paonia Reservoir Corridor OUTCROP | May 2015

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EVENT DETAILS WHAT: RMAG On-the-Rocks Field Trip WHERE: Paonia State Park, Anthracite

Area picnic tables, below the Paonia Reservoir dam (a short distance up the turn-off to Crested Butte/ Gunnison) WHEN: Saturday, May 16, 2015 CONTACT: Sandra Mark via email at

sandra@themarkfarm.com, or call 303.810.7827

L

aunch your summer outdoors in beautiful Colorado by attending the first field trip of the 2015 season! Our state is home to many troublesome highways, and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) geotechnical professionals work to anticipate and correct hazards presented by mass-wasting processes.

Colorado State Highway 133 (SH 133) connects the communities of Carbondale and Hotchkiss, cutting across the northwest corner of Gunnison County. As it climbs over Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

McClure Pass, the eastern side offers stunning vistas of the Elk Mountains above Marble, but one’s eyes are also drawn to extensive netting on the road cuts to catch rockfalls. Descending the pass on the west, landslide terrain is everywhere and, at one point, cars are required to slow to 20 mph to skirt a particularly insidious slide.

Continuing west, one encounters one of the largest landslides in the state; it necessitated a realignment of the highway to the other side of Muddy Creek. Watch out for rocks in the road as you cruise along the edge of Paonia Reservoir.

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Lead Story

FIGURE 1: Inflating the aerostat.

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

The long-term goal that CDOT has in mind is periodic scanning/ monitoring of its highway corridors through time using change-detection remote sensing methods to identify features that may be moving.

Here follows a description of on-going work along SH 133 by two members of the CDOT Geohazards and Geotechnical Team, Christopher Russell and Jamie Javier:

SH 133 PHOTOGRAMMETRY STUDY

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remote sensing method. An aerostat was used to collect photographs of the slope at different points in time to create a model that compared past and future photographs to detect movement (Figures 1 & 3).

The use of the aerostat makes data collection a fairly quick process and it has the potential of being an efficient way of moving through highway corridors effected by geological hazards. For our trial, the aerostat took photographs along a 7-mile stretch of SH

A photogrammetry project that took place on SH 133 was part of a series of experimental projects launched by CDOT to evaluate methods of remote sensing that could be used to detect small-scale slope movements that lead to rockfall. The long-term goal that CDOT has in mind is periodic scanning/monitoring of its highway corridors through time using change-detection remote sensing methods to identify features that may be moving. If identification of potentially unstable slope features is successful, this information can then be used to target mitigation, justify additional monitoring or instrumentation efforts, and help guide decision making processes with respect to geohazard management statewide.

This particular project explored the option of using photogrammetry as a potential change-detection

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Lead Story

FIGURE 2: DSLR camera in the mount that will be attached to the aerostat.

133 in June and September of 2014. These photographs were then processed using photogrammetry methods to detect changes or displacement of individual features within the slopes. The aerostat operation, photo acquisition, and processing were provided by Sky Sentry.

Prior to collecting the photographs, several control points were installed through the corridor (6inch diameter white spheres/globes that are anchored into the ground. The control points were anchored into features in the slopes that were believed to be stable and also anchored into preset bolts in the road. After installation, these control points were GPS surveyed which allow the photographs (and features within the photographs) to be geo-referenced. Once the control points were set and surveyed, the aerostat was inflated and driven down the highway at a rate of 4 mph. A DSLR camera was attached to the aerostat and was programmed to take pictures at a rate of one photograph every two seconds (Figure 2). The camera was controlled by a remote which allowed it to point in any direction on the slope. The camera was used to achieve a target Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

of approximately 50 percent horizontal and vertical overlap of the images.

Sky Sentry processed the photographs using AGISoft PhotoScan Pro, which generates a mesh that models the slope surface. To detect changes/displacement in the slope materials, the model from each run is compared using the program Cloud Compare. Sky Sentry found that there were some variables that affected the accuracy of the models and made it difficult to detect movement of individual features. These variables included changes to the vegetation cover changes in snow cover, which lead to inaccurate readings of the actual slope surface (i.e. soil and bedrock). Despite these drawbacks, the photogrammetry method proved to be an effective tool that can be used to detect displacement within a slope, and the method can be improved with increased overlap and shorter distances for data collection. In addition, the aerostat proved to be a useful method for collection of the photographs that are used for processing. CDOT intends to continue researching different methods of remote sensing

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30

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Lead Story

FIGURE 3: Aerostat being towed down SH 133.

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

applications to detect small-scale displacement in an attempt to identify and manage our geohazards state wide.

SH 133 ROCKFALL HAZARDS

The SH 133 corridor from Paonia Reservoir (approximately MP 23) to the east side of McClure Pass (MP 45) has historically been characterized by a high rockfall hazard (Figures 4 - 7). CDOT first initiated a Rockfall Hazard Rating System in 1994 (Andrew, 1994). When the Rockfall Program completed rating and ranking all of their slopes state wide, 4 cuts within this stretch of highway ranked in the top 20 most hazardous rockfall sites in the state (out of 752 sites). A total of 63 rockfall-related vehicle accidents were reported on this stretch of highway from 1976 to 2012. Based on discussion with maintenance personnel that work in the region, we understand that rockfall occurs on a daily basis through this corridor; with increased activity during the spring snow melt

»»

FIGURE 4: Rockfall related accident at approximate MP 26,

January 31, 2015.

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Lead Story

FIGURE 5: Rockslide at MP 29, May 5, 2013.

Approximately 1,000 cubic yards of material released. Highway closure for 1 week to scale and remove material. Blasting was required to down-size the boulders on the highway for removal.

FIGURE 6: Rockslide at approximate MP 45, May 16, 2014. Several hundred cubic yards of material released. Draped mesh installed

at the site resulted in most of the material being contained within the catchment ditch. CDOT Maintenance cleared the highway lane within 1 hour.

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Lead Story

FIGURE 7: Rock slide at approximate MP 24, above the Paonia Reservoir spillway on April 24, 2006. Approximately 650 cubic yards

of material released. An additional 400 to 600 cubic yards of unstable material was removed using trim blasting immediately following the failure. A similar failure occurred from the same cut in August 2000, and another failure is currently developing in the same location. and freeze-thaw periods. Our program is frequently responding to rockfall emergencies in the corridor (multiple times a year).

The rock formation present in most of the cuts where frequent rockfall occurs is the Cretaceous Mesa Verde Formation – interbedded sandstone, siltstone, shale, and claystone (with coal at depth) (Ellis & Freeman, 1984; Goodwin, 1968). The main geological conditions present that contribute to a high rockfall hazard in the corridor include differential weathering and kinematically admissible plane shear failures (i.e. rock slides). Several of the rock

Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

cuts are characterized by layers of massive, strongly cemented sandstone that exceed 20 feet thick which are underlain by layers of very low strength, slake susceptible shale, siltstone, and claystone. Over time, repeated wet and dry cycles and freeze thaw cycles result in softening and differential weathering of these weaker units. Overhangs created in the overlying sandstone units from this differential weathering process frequently measure 10 feet or more. The most hazardous cuts are characterized by a highly persistent joint set that dips between 70 and 80 degrees out of the slope face; and strikes subparallel to

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32

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Lead Story involved design and construction of nearly 300,000 square feet of rolled cable net over the rock cuts on the east side of the pass to reduce the potential for rocks to launch into the roadway and to help direct falling rock and rockslides into the catchment ditch. The project also included installation of tensioned rock anchors to improve the stability of thick sandstone slabs, and installation of shotcrete and rock reinforcement to protect slake-susceptible beds of low strength shale from weathering and erosion.

From 2013 to 2014, CDOT managed the design of additional rockfall mitigation for the cuts

adjacent to Paonia Reservoir (MPs 24 to 25) and this project is expected to go into construction this spring and summer.

This project will include installation of over 57,000 square feet of anchored mesh to retain over-steepened colluvial deposits and interbedded units of sandstone and shale. This will be the first application of anchored mesh by CDOT along a state highway for rockfall mitigation. Trim blasting will be used to remove over 5,000 cubic yards of massive, undercut sandstone slabs within two rock cuts.

In addition, a 1,000-foot long soil nail wall is going to be constructed at the base of one of the cuts to allow for construction of a 25-foot wide rockfall catchment ditch.

the cut slope face. As differential weathering removes support from the overlying sandstone slabs, large-scale failures along these joint planes occur initiating rock slides with volumes on the order of hundreds to thousands of cubic yards.

More recently, the CDOT Geohazards Program has initiated design and construction of rockfall mitigation to proactively reduce the overall hazard within the corridor. From 2012 to 2013, the CDOT Geohazards Program managed the design and construction of rockfall mitigation on the east side of McClure Pass from MPs 44 to 49. This project

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

SH 133 EMBANKMENT FAILURES AND LANDSLIDES

In addition to rockfall, the SH 133 corridor is also prone to landslides and embankment failures. Dozens of landslides have been documented and mapped along the highway corridor (Goodwin, 1968) and several of these have had a direct impact on the highway. Of particular note is the Muddy Creek Slide Complex on the east side of Muddy Creek. This geomorphic feature is a massive landslide complex that measures over 13,000 feet long and 7,000 feet wide; extending from the base of the Ragged Mountains down to Muddy Creek adjacent

»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

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Lead Story

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 36

to SH 133.

The geologic unit within the corridor that is prone to slope instability and land sliding is the Tertiary Wasatch Formation (Appel & Butler, 1991). The Wasatch Formation is composed of layers of claystone, mudstone, shale, sandstone, and conglomerate. Geotechnical investigations by the CDOT Geotechnical Program have found that weathered claystone deposits of the Wasatch Formation within active landslides are characterized by shear strengths with friction angles as low as 20 degrees. A combination of steep slopes, geological materials present with low shear strength, high precipitation amounts (20 to 40 inches of rainfall annually – Appel & Butler, 1991) and resultant high groundwater

»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

Office Space Wanted Sublease preferred 500 sq ft to 1400 sq ft which would be 1 to 5 empty office spaces.

Downtown only prefer LoDo end to The Capitol end.

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by Keystone Geophysical (Seismic Processing) Contact: Rich Olver 303-888-6118 by phone or text

Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

Professional Short Courses from a Leading Research University in Energy, Earth and Environmental Sciences

OPTIMIZING FRACS (and REFRACS!) in a Low Price Environment Mike Vincent’s popular “Understanding and Optimizing Fracs” course has been modified to include opportunities to cut costs and maximize value given low commodity prices. This course is highly focused on field examples and very practical design changes which will improve productivity at a reduced cost.

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Organized for managers, engineers, geologists, landmen, scientists, accountants and others concerned with evaluating investments, this course relates to the economic analysis of income producing and service producing investments using discounted cash flow analysis criteria and procedures.

www.csmspace.com Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

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Lead Story

FIGURE 8: Dammed water and sediment accumulating behind the earthen dam formed by displacement of the central lobe of the

Muddy Creek Slide Complex in April of 1986 (Appel & Butler, 1991). conditions combine to create unstable slope conditions and landslides.

In 1986, rapid movement of the central lobe of the Muddy Creek Slide Complex resulted in the formation of a dam of East Muddy Creek, and resulted in damage to SH 133 between approximate MPs 29 to 31 (Figure 8). Three active portions of the slide complex were documented by the Colorado Geological Survey; and all three exhibited movement from 1986 to 1987 (CGS, 1987). On April 26th, movement of the central lobe was on the order of 9 to 12 feet per day, which continued until June of 1986. Total lateral displacement of the central lobe was measured at 230 feet, and the northern lobe moved approximately 75 feet (Appel & Butler, 1991). Movement of the landslide lifted the elevation of the stream bed of Muddy Creek approximately 30 feet and damaged SH 133. CDOT Maintenance personnel continually worked to remove material from the toe of the landslide; which permanently changed the OUTCROP | May 2015

gradient of East Muddy Creek in the area (Appel & Butler, 1991).

Currently, two large landslides have been identified that have a direct impact on SH 133. One is at MP 40.5 just west of McClure Pass, and a second has been identified at MP 39.7 (Figures 9 & 10). The CDOT Geotechnical Program has been involved at the MP 40.5 landslide since 2005; and have only this past year been approved for funding to conduct a subsurface investigation, laboratory testing, and instrumentation program to characterize the landslide.

Conceptual level mitigation alternatives have been developed to mitigate the landslide and selection and final design of the preferred alternative is still in progress and dependent on construction costs and available funding. The second landslide at MP 39.7 has not been studied in detail at this time.

In addition to landslides, the corridor is also prone to shallow embankment failures. Particularly the stretch adjacent to Paonia Reservoir, where

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38

»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

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Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

RMAG & PTTC Short Course: Seismic Interpretation for Explorationists Instructor: Bruce Trudgill

Thank you to our sponsor.

RMAG Email: sta@rmag.org RMAG Phone: (303) 573-8621 RMAG Fax: (303) Vol. 64, No.476-2241 5 | www.rmag.org

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Lead Story

FIGURE 9: Aerial photograph of the MP 40.5 landslide. Progressive migration of the head scarp has required re-alignment of

the highway to the west several times over the last 10 years. The vehicle parked in the photograph is located on the original highway alignment.

FIGURE 10: MP 40.5 landslide impact to travel lanes. Photograph taken March 24, 2014.

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Lead Story

FIGURE 11: Shallow embankment failure typical along the stretch of roadway above Paonia Reservoir. Over-steepened fill sections

and rapid drawdown of the reservoir combine to create unstable embankments through the corridor. tables, below the Paonia Reservoir dam (a short distance up the turn-off to Crested Butte/Gunnison).

Bring a lunch and meet fellow field trippers and the CDOT leaders. Hardhats and safety vests will be issued and carpools will be formed. The trip will make several stops, traveling eastward, and end about 5 pm at MP 46, the turn-off to Marble. To complete your adventure, consider a dip in Penny Hot Springs (near MP 55), an undeveloped hot springs on the Crystal River with free public access.

Paonia is approximately 4 hours from the Denver Metro area, so it would be possible to attend the field trip for the day. However, the area is spectacularly

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40

rapid drawdown of the reservoir annually results in slope instability and shallow embankment failures (Figure 11). Most of the embankment failures that have occurred through the corridor were limited to the shoulders and have not had a major impact on travel lanes. However, pavement distress above Paonia Reservoir suggests that embankment failures are currently impacting travel lanes.

ON-THE-ROCKS FIELD TRIP LOGISTICS The trip will begin at noon, Saturday, May 16, 2015 at Paonia State Park, Anthracite Area picnic OUTCROP | May 2015

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Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

2015 RMAG Symposium October 8th

Hot Plays The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists presents: the RMAG Fall Symposium

Hot Plays of the Rocky Mountain Region October 8, 2015 at the Denver City Center Marriott

Kick off Speakers: Mark Sonnenfeld & Lyn Canter

Seeking Sponsors!

Exhibitor Registration and Sponsorship Registration Open on May 6th!

Please visit www.rmag.org for more information.

With all the unconventional activity occurring across the globe, it is time to review what is driving the technical quality of the “Hot Plays” in the greater Rocky Mountain region. Please mark your calendars for what is sure to be the “HOTTEST” event of the Fall 2015 Technical Season. Geological, Geophysical, Geochemical, Petrophysical, and Structural technical drivers will be presented, describing what the RMAG membership has determined to be the Hottest Plays in the Rocky Mountains.

email: staff@rmag.org

phone: 303.573.8621

Vol. No. 5 | www.rmag.org 91064, 16th Street #1214, Denver,

CO, 80202

fax: 303.476.2241 45

web: www.rmag.org

OUTCROP follow: @rmagdenver

| May 2015

Lead Story Landslide Complex on Sediment Discharges and Loads in the Muddy Creek Drainage Basin and Deposition into Paonia Reservoir, West Central Colorado, 1986-87: United States Geological Survey Water Resources Investigation Report 90-4173.

Colorado Geological Survey, 1987, Atlas of topographic profiles – Muddy Creek Slide Complex: Denver, Colorado; 3 folios.

Ellis, M.S., and Freeman, V.L., 1984, Geologic Map and Cross Sections of the Carbondale 30’ X 60’ Quadrangle, West-Central Colorado: United States Geological Survey Coal Investigations Map C-77-A; scale 1:100,000.

Goodwin, L.H., 1968, Geologic Map of the Chair Mountain Quadrangle, Gunnison and Pitkin Counties, Colorado: United States Geological Survey Map # GQ-704; scale 1:24,000.

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beautiful, and it is highly recommended that participants plan to spend Saturday night camping or enjoying local lodging and restaurants.

Registration for the trip is via the RMAG website where you will fill out the release form and pay the $15 fee. You will also find additional trip details and some information about the area. Space is limited to 8 vehicles, or about 30 people so register early.

Please contact Sandra Mark for logistical questions: sandra@themarkfarm.com or 303.810.7827.

REFERENCES

Andrew, R.D., 1994, Colorado Rockfall Hazard Rating System: Colorado Department of Transportation and Colorado Geological Survey Report # CTI-CDOT-2-94.

Appel, C.L., and Butler, D.L., 1991, Effects of a

RMAG & AAPG ACE Events Short Courses The Bakken and Exshaw Petroleum Systems in the Williston and Southern Alberta Basins with an Emphasis on the Phronghorn Member and the Three Forks Formation

Sun., 31 May 8 am - 12 pm Sun., 31 May 1 pm - 5 pm

Field Trips Toward an Understanding of Denver’s Mountain Front Structure and Petroleum Potential

Sat., 30 May, 7:30 am - 6 pm

Unconventional Reservoirs and Stratigraphy of Sat. 30 May, 7 am Sun., 31 May, 5 pm Southern Denver Basin: Graneros, Greenhorn, Sold Out Carlile and Niobrara Formations Laramide Basin Evolution and Drilling Activity in the Sat. 30 May, 7 am Cancelled Sun., 31 May, 5 pm North Park - Middle Park Basin, Colorado 4D Laramide Crustal Detachment and Thrust Tectonics, With Applications to Natural Fractures in Resource Plays

Thurs. 4 June, 7 am - 6 pm

For Pricing and Registration please visit ace.aapg.org/2015

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Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

Speaker: Dr. Scott Sampson

Recipient of the AAPG Geosciences in the Media Award

Rewilding Revolution

Reconnecting Humanity & Nature in the 21st Century

Registration will be handled through AAPG Vol. 64, No. 5 |

Prices Ticket: $75 www.rmag.org Student Ticket: $50

Buses departing from Conoco Zoo Gardens at the and returning to the 47Zoo

OUTCROP Hyatt will be provided Denver

| May 2015

NEW COLORADO GEOLOGY MOVIE

New Colorado Geology Movie Premieres on May 31 You’ll see video and computer animations highlighting: • Geologic origin of the state’s National Parks and Monuments • Stegosaurus – the State Fossil of Colorado munching Late Jurassic vegetation • The Yule Marble – Colorado’s State Rock, used to build the Lincoln Memorial

You’re invited to the premiere of a new movie-“A Brief History of Colorado Though Time” -- immediately before the AAPG Convention’s Opening Ceremony in Denver on May 31.

This movie shows how Colorado’s famous landscapes evolved through geologic time. Designed for geologists such as RMAG members, this movie sets the scientific scene for many of the AAPG convention’s talks and field trips.

»»CONTINUED ON PAGE 49

EVENT DETAILS WHEN: Sunday, May

31, 2015, 2:30pm WHERE: AAPG

Convention, Colorado Convention Center, Mile High Ballroom.

WHO: All are invited

to attend!

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Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

The movie was produced by the Interactive Geology Project at the University of Colorado, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and Colorado Plateau Geosystems. Various versions of this movie are part of a larger outreach program.

The film includes many surprising facts — even for the most experienced geologist!

»»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48

• The Late Cretaceous Coastal Plain sediments of the Book Cliffs, complete with Triceratops • Cenozoic igneous history, including mineral and ore deposits • Neogene evolution of the Rio Grande Rift and regional uplift of Colorado • Glaciations during the past 1,000,000 years

Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

49

OUTCROP | May 2015

New Colorado Geology Movie

40% off

SALE RMAG 2015

Publications Sale!

May 15 - June 15

staff@rmag.org

OUTCROP | May 2015

|

(303) 573-8621 50

| www.rmag.org

|

@rmagdenver

Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

2005 Gas in Low Permeability Reservoirs in the Rocky Mountain Region 2008 Hydrocarbon Systems and Production in the Uinta Basin, Utah 2008 Shale Gas in the Rocky Mountains and Beyond 2009 The Paradox Basin Revisited: New Developments in Petroleum Systems and Basin Analysis 2011 Bakken Guidebook 2011 Revisiting and Revitalizing the Niobrara in the Central Rockies The Mountain Geologist 2006-2010 Geologic Atlas of the Rocky Mountain Region - CD

2003 Piceance Basin Guide Book CD The Mountain Geologist 1964-2005 - DVD Set The RMAG Library 1937-2001 13 CD Set The RMAG Library 1937-2001 DVD Set TRAILWALKERS GUIDE to the Dinosaur Ridge, Red Rocks and Green Mountain Area

RMAG Member Only Sale

CALENDAR | MAY 2015 SUNDAY

3

MONDAY

TUESDAY

4

5

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

6

11

12

13

SATURDAY

1

2

8

9

7

RMAG Luncheon

10

FRIDAY

DIPS Luncheon

14

15

16 On the Rocks Field Trip

17

18

19 DWLS Luncheon Hart DUG. Permian Basin.

24

25

26

MEMORIAL DAY

20

21

Hart DUG. Permian Basin.

Hart DUG. Permian Basin.

27

28

22

23

29

30

Oilfield Christian Fellowship

RMAG & AAPG ACE Field Trip

31 RMAG & AAPG ACE Short Course.

AAPG ACE

AAPG ACE

AAPG ACE

AAPG ACE

OUTCROP ADVERTISING RATES 1 Time

2 Times

6 Times

12 Times

Full page (7-1/2” x 9-1/4”)

$330

$620

$1,710

$3,240

2/3 page (4-7/8” x 9-1/4”)

$220

$400

$1,110

$2,100

1/2 page (7-1/2” x 4-5/8”)

$175

$330

$930

$1,740

1/3 page horizontal (4-7/8” x 4-7/8”)

$165

$250

$690

$1,200

1/3 page vertical (2-3/8” x 9-1/4”)

$165

$250

$690

$1,200

1/6 page (2-3/8” x 4-7/8”)

$75

$120

$330

$600

Professional Card (2-5/8” x 1-1/2”)

$20

$34

$84

$144

OUTCROP | May 2015

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Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

ADVERTISER INDEX • AAPG ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 14, 33 • Alliance Insurance Agency ������������������������������������������������������������� 23 • Anschutz Exploration ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 24 • Breckenridge Exploration Co., LLC ���������������������������������������������������� 7 • Colorado School of Mines �������������������������������������������������������������� 39 • Crown Geochemistry ������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 • Daub & Associates, Inc. �������������������������������������������������������������������� 8 • Décollement Consulting Inc. ����������������������������������������������������������� 16 • Devon ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 25 • Dolan Integration Group ����������������������������������������������������������������� 17 • Donovan Brothers Inc. ����������������������������������������������������������������������� 8 • Encana ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 20 • Enerplus �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4 • Fluid Inclusion Technologies ������������������������������������������������������������� 9 • GeoMark Research, LTD �������������������������������������������������������������������� 7 • Geosteering, LLC ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4 • Great Western Oil & Gas Company ������������������������������������������������ 15 • Horizontal Solutions Intl. ������������������������������������������������������������ 6, 22 • iBall Instruments ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 13 • James C. Karo Associates �������������������������������������������������������������� 11 • Johnson Geo-Consulting, LLC ����������������������������������������������������������� 8 • Kestrel Geoscience, LLC ������������������������������������������������������������������� 8

• Keystone Geophysical ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 38 • Lario Oil & Gas Co. �������������������������������������������������������������������������� 27 • Louis J. Mazzullo, LLC ����������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 • Mineral Appraiser, LLC ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 8 • MJ Systems ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 11 • Nautilus ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 10 • Neil H. Whitehead III ������������������������������������������������������������������������ 8 • PTTC ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 19 • QEP Resources �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 13 • RBC Wealth Management �������������������������������������������������������������� 24 • Samson Energy ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 22 • Sinclair Petroleum Engineering, Inc. ������������������������������������������������� 6 • SM Energy ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 36 • Stephens Production Co. ����������������������������������������������������������������� 23 • Stoner Engineering, LLC ������������������������������������������������������������������ 37 • Stratochem Services ������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9 • Strike Oil & Gas, LLC ����������������������������������������������������������������������� 26 • Tracker Resources ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 21 • T-Rex Oil Inc. ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 8 • Whiting Petroleum Corporation ������������������������������������������������������ 38 • William W. Little, Ph. D. ������������������������������������������������������������������� 6

RMAG FOUNDATION

2013-14 +

SCHOLARSHIPS CONTRIBUTIONS

McKenna Fund

Babcock Fund

Stone/Holberg Fund

CSU Fund Bolyard Fund

Veterans Fund

Colorado School of Mines

Colorado College

SCHOLARSHIPS CU Boulder

Rocky Mtn region Universities awarded to veterans attending Rocky Mtn Region Universities

University of WY Fund

AAPG - Imperial Barrel

Morrison Natural History

AAPG Student Leadership

PTTC Futures in Energy

Friend of Dinosaur Ridge

Denver Public Schools

Rocky Mtn Section Rocky Mtn Section

Inner City School attendance Rocky Mtn Section

Golden Pick Award RMAG

Guidebook contribution AAPG Sectional meeting Rockbuster Ball awards

Studying Rocky Mtn Structural Geology Golden

Foster

Studying Rocky Mtn Geology

RMAG Student Summit sponsor CO Science Teacher of the Year CO State Science Fair winners

CONTRIBUTIONS

mineral sets

Contibutions can be made at https://www.rmag.org/i4a/ams/publicLogin.cfm for RMAG members RMAG Foundation | 910 16th Street Mall, Suite 1214 | Denver, CO 80202

Vol. 64, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

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OUTCROP | May 2015