May 2021 Outcrop

OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

Volume 70 • No. 5 • May 2021

The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

Summit Sponsors PLATINUM SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

OUTCROP | May 2021

2

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

1999 Broadway • Suite 730 • Denver, CO 80202 • 800-970-7624 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.

2021 OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT

2nd VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT

Cat Campbell ccampbell@caminoresources.com

Mark Millard millardm@gmail.com

PRESIDENT-ELECT

SECRETARY

Rob Diedrich rdiedrich75@gmail.com

Jessica Davey jessica.davey@sproule.com

1st VICE PRESIDENT

TREASURER

Nathan Rogers nathantrogers@gmail.com

Rebecca Johnson Scrable rebecca.johnson@bpx.com

1st VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT

TREASURER ELECT

Courtney Beck Antolik courtneyantolik14@gmail.com

Mike Tischer mtischer@gmail.com

2nd VICE PRESIDENT

COUNSELOR

Peter Kubik pkubik@mallardexploration.com

Jeff May jmay.kcrossen@gmail.com

RMAG STAFF DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Kathy Mitchell-Garton kmitchellgarton@rmag.org DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES

Debby Watkins dwatkins@rmag.org CO-EDITORS

Courtney Beck Antolik courtneyantolik14@gmail.com Nate LaFontaine nlafontaine@sm-energy.com Wylie Walker wylie.walker@gmail.com DESIGN/LAYOUT

Nate Silva nate@nate-silva.com

ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Rates and sizes can be found on page 28. 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 800-970-7624.

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

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

WEDNESDAY NOON LUNCHEON RESERVATIONS

RMAG Office: 800-970-7624 Fax: 323-352-0046 staff@rmag.org or www.rmag.org

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

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

3 3

Outcrop | May 2021 OUTCROP

Webinar Series Members in Transition

2021

Visit Petroleum Pivoters for more resources!

Rockies Members in Transition (MiT) is a joint effort of members of AAPG, COGA, CU Global Energy Manament, DERL, DIPS, DWLS, RMAG, SPE, WENCO, WGA, and WOGA in the Rocky Mountain region to help association members in the midst of a career transition.

May 6 12pm-1pm

Webinars are free and open to all

(MDT)

“The Era of Drone Geoscience” Ronald Bell, Senior geoDRONEologist & Geophysicist Register at dipsdenver.org

Hosted by Denver International Petroleum Society

Rockies MiT Members in Transition

OUTCROP | May 2021

4

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

OUTCROP Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

CONTENTS FEATURES

ASSOCIATION NEWS

12 Lead Story: Geologic Outcrop Studies Using Drones

2 RMAG Summit Sponsors 4 MiT May 6 talk 7 MiT May 20 talk

DEPARTMENTS

9 RMAG May Short Course

6 RMAG April 2021 Board of Directors Meeting

11 RMAG On-The-Rocks Field Trips

8 President’s Letter 22 Online Lunch Talk: Dr. Steven A. Tedesco

15 RMAG Geohike Challenge

COVER PHOTO

17 RMAG Sporting Clay Tounament

Outcrops of the Shannon Sandstone, just east of Wyoming highway 259.

Photo by Emily Erz.

23 2021 RMAG Golf Tournament

26 Online Lunch Talk: David (Randy) Blood 28 Outcrop Advertising Rates 30 Welcome New RMAG Members!

31 In The Pipeline 32 Advertiser Index 32 Calendar

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

5

OUTCROP | May 2021

RMAG APRIL 2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

By Jessica Davey, Secretary jessica.davey@sproule.com

you know that RMAG turns 100 years old next year?

The Publications Committee is hard at work pulling together a special 100th Anniversary edition of the Mountain Geologist to commemorate this significant milestone. The On the Rocks Committee has virtual and in-person field trips on the calendar! Stay tuned for registration details. The Educational Outreach Committee is busy engaging K-12 students and teachers with virtual presentations.

Have you heard the news that there is strong evidence that Earth has an innermost inner core? See this fascinating paper published by AGU. I was disappointed to read that this innermost inner core is neither creamy caramel nor soft nougat, but I am constantly amazed at what scientists are discovering about our wonderful planet!

Happy springtime, fellow rock lovers! We’ve had a handful of lovely warm days lately. Have you been able to get out to do any fieldwork yet?

The 2021 RMAG Board of Directors met virtually at 4 pm on Wednesday, April 21. Everyone was present for the meeting except Treasurer Rebecca Johnson Scrable and Second VP-Elect Mark Millard.

Debby and Kathy continue to manage the RMAG operations remotely from their homes successfully.

The Continuing Education has been super busy and has online lunch talks booked through December. Also, keep an eye out for hybrid in-person/online lunch talks coming soon! The Membership Committee is finalizing the details for the 2021 Geohike Challenge and has some extra fun categories this year…..get your cameras and hiking shoes ready! Did

Webinar Series Members in Transition

2021

Visit Petroleum Pivoters for more resources!

Rockies Members in Transition (MiT) is a joint effort of members of AAPG, COGA, CU Global Energy Manament, DERL, DIPS, DWLS, RMAG, SPE, WENCO, WGA, and WOGA in the Rocky Mountain region to help association members in the midst of a career transition.

May 20 12pm-1pm

Webinars are free and open to all

(MDT)

“Facing the Energy Transition: Some Choices and Actions for the Oil & Gas Industry” Register at www.rmag.org

Dr. Raymond Franssen, Synergeo LLC

Rockies MiT Members in Transition

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

7

OUTCROP | May 2021

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

By Cat Campbell

The ‘New Normal’ One issue is that the geosciences overall have been hit hard by the pandemic as can be seen in the figure below from the American Geosciences Institute.

A common transition was from geologist to science teacher, with a few others trying out part time work in other fields and consulting within oil and gas or environmental.

The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new. —SOCRATES We are looming on the precipice of what is being dubbed the “new normal”. Vaccination rates are increasing by the day, restrictions are being lifted across the country, and it seems that more and more people are removing their masks after a year of fighting the pandemic. But, case counts are again rising, variants are threatening vaccine efficacy, and the future still remains uncertain. This uncertainty will define the next several months to potentially the next year pushing off this new normal, or are we already living it?

This month’s column is a dive into emerging trends of the new normal in the workplace based on a little googling and most importantly from us, the workforce, through surveys of 50 people who shared their experiences over the past year. Few companies are going public with their return-to-work plans, but many trends developed from the surveys.

OFFICE/TELECOMMUTING CONUNDRUM

Telecommuting, one of many forms of work-life flexibility, should no longer be viewed as a niceto-have, optional perk mostly used by working moms. These common stereotypes don’t match realityallowing employees to work remotely is a core business strategy today… we need to de-parent, de-gender, and de-age the perception of the flexible worker. —CALI WILLIAMS YOST Forty nine out of 50 people worked remotely for at least a month in the past year. It can be done. In fact, only nine are back to work full time in an office, with some of those working in lab environments where physical presence is mandatory.

The pandemic is causing workers and businesses to reevaluate what is possible and what is optimal, raising the question, how integral to success is having employees present in an office setting for a set time each day?

As workers are beginning to return to offices, companies are exploring hybrid schedules with, most commonly, having 2-3 days in the office and the remaining time as work from home. This enables

UNEMPLOYMENT

The oil and gas sector isn’t just facing a price crunch—it’s facing a jobs bust, too.

[T]his time around, many of the jobs lost aren’t expected to come back…

—KATHERINE DUNN FORTUNE 10/4/2020

One of the most disheartening themes to emerge was people who are losing jobs in the oil and gas sector are leaving to find work in other industries and disciplines. This trend results in companies expecting the same workload from less employees as noted from one individual at a medium-sized independent.

OUTCROP | May 2021

» CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

8

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

RMAG Online Short Course

Unconventional Hydrocarbon Exploration: Methods, Mapping and Risking with Dr. Brian Ruskin

Sr. Exploration Advisor, Applied Stratigraphix About the course: To acquire the best acreage in a hydrocarbon play, and to drill profitable wells, explorers must holistically understand the petroleum system elements at the regional, play and prospect scales. This short course introduces and applies datasets and consistent workflows for assessing new opportunities, planning drilling targets and evaluating data acquisition requirements. We will first address many of the subsurface datasets that can be used to characterize each petroleum systems element, the basin and plays, to define play segments, and support drilling prospects — including potential fields, seismic, well logs and petrophysics, geochemical, thermal, and production data. We will discuss the key unconventional resource play characteristics and requirements for producibility, as well as risks and uncertainties at the exploration and appraisal stages of a resource play evaluation. Methods to define and map volumetric and production “sweet spots” by compositing multiple datasets will be demonstrated and practiced by participants through collaborative mapping exercises focusing on high-grading acreage, addressing risk and uncertainty, and demonstrating the implications for economic development. We will also consider how to choose appropriate geologic models and analogs, evaluate data quality, assess uncertainty with probabilistic estimates, and strategies to mitigate common cognitive biases that can impact explorers’ interpretations.

May 26-27, 2021

9am-12pm each day

$150 Members $185 Non-Members $75 Students Register at rmag.org

email: staff@rmag.org | phone: 720.672.9898

fax: 323.352.0046 | web: www.rmag.org

1999 Broadway, Suite 730, Denver CO 80202

follow: @rmagdenver

» CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Credit:PRESIDENT’S AGI, data derived from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current LETTER Employment Statistics

of C year plea covi

Fund collaboration and the spontaneous conversations that Foun are important to our science of th to take place in person, but Inst also allows flexibility, respecting the employees to maximize their productivity.

Some companies are evaluating the possibility of cutting 75% of office space and rotating teams through this smaller footprint monthly, again optimizing the blend of collaboration with employee flexibility, a nearly unanimous positive Credit: AGI, data derived from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics theme present throughout the surveys.

The most consistent isWhy are you going to the office? sue raised by survey respondents about working I thought you worked here. from home was missing the collaboration and social —MY KIDDO WHEN I TRIED TO GO INTO THE OFFICE THIS WEEK. interactions with coworkers, something Pagethat 2 is re(ALSO MENTIONED BY OTHER PARENTS!) solved with the hybrid schedule.

Monthly geoscience employment trends through February 2021 Several people also commented on the energy sustainability that working from home creates by reCOVID-19 will reshape our world. We don’t yet ducing commutes and multiple working locations. know when the crisis will end. But we can be Office safety is also a consideration with the resure that by the time it does, our world will look turn to physical office spaces. Fresh air circulation in very different. —­JOSEPH BORRELL older buildings is challenging and opening windows in skyscrapers is not an option due to safety and pressure concerns within the buildings. Some comproductive, drive my kiddos to and from school, and panies that introduced open office plans are movhike North Table when I need to think or just need to ing back to individualized spaces to reduce personal move. The collaboration piece still occurs with nearinteraction. Survey respondents also commented on ly daily team check-ins with my coworkers and the changes in the workspace such as directional stairspontaneous screen sharing to discuss a challenging cases and hallways and the abundance of hand sanicross section. tizer stations throughout buildings.

This sentiment is shared by nearly all the survey THE PERSONAL TAKE respondents with only five expressing the desire to work exclusively in an office setting. The big quesCamino closed its offices March 13th last year tion is will we see a cultural shift or just a temporary and remains nearly all work from home at this time with a plan to return to the offices once school change and at this point only time will tell. is back in session in the fall. My personal experiCheck back next month for an update on RMAG ence has been overall a good one working from and other geo-related societies as we continue to home. I love the flexibility to work when I am most navigate the new normal.

OUTCROP | May 2021

10

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

FIELD TRIPS ARE BACK!

RMAG On the Rocks Field Trips 2021 Save the dates! Registration is not open yet, but we hope to finalize plans in May. Please be patient as we navigate this new Covid world. ¿ June 9 @4pm Downtown Denver Building Stones Virtual trip led by Rob Diedrich and David Schoderbek

¿ August 7 Cripple Creek/Victor Mine Tour Led by Gary Curtiss

¿ July 10 Sweetwater Valley/Eagle Basin Fossil Trip Led by John McLeod & Dennis Gertenbach

¿ August 20 (Friday) Detroit City Portal Rhodochrosite Mine Tour Led by mine geologist Dean Misantoni.

¿ July 16 (Friday) Paint Mines Interpretive Park Family trip led by Bob Raynolds

¿ September/October, date TBD Corral Bluffs Fossils: Rise of the Mammals Led by Tyler Lyson & Ian Miller, DMNS

¿ July 24 Dinosaur Ridge & Morrison Natural History Museum Family trip led by Kermit Shields

¿ October, dates TBD Picketwire Dinosaur Trackways Overnight trip led by Martin Lockley

email: staff@rmag.org | phone: 720.672.9898

fax: 323.352.0046 | web: www.rmag.org

1999 Broadway, Suite 730, Denver CO 80202

follow: @rmagdenver

LEAD STORY

GEOLOGIC OUTCROP STUDIES USING DRONES A CASE STUDY ON THE SHANNON SANDSTONE

BY EMILY ERZ

OUTCROP | May 2021

12

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

Outcrop studies have historically been one of, if not the most, valuable tools for geologists working to understand a formation. Examining rocks in-situ gives a person a closer look and different perspective. In the exposed rocks one can see sedimentary structures, determine grain size, lithology changes, deformation, tectonism and more. Additionally, a person can gain a broader understanding by being able to see the variations in the outcrop both vertically and laterally. Features extending and changing over the extent of the rocks may be apparent in outcrop, but impossible to distinguish in core or hand sample. A drawback of core and hand samples is the small sample size and likelihood that some features are not present in the exact location from which the sample was taken. Although the most truly accurate data about the subsurface comes from drilling or coring, these methods are expensive and time consuming, so outcrop studies are often, or at least initially, used as a guide.

The importance of outcrops is indisputable, but as technology advances, and data sharing and connectivity reaches an all-time high, people are beginning to expect simpler and more accurate ways to obtain data without leaving the home or office. This leads to a question: how can we continue to fully utilize the rocks but in a more efficient and cost-effective manner and make visual data widely available?

Drones, technically referred to as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are intended to perform tasks that can range from entertaining to mundane to even hazardous. They are used in countless aspects of life today including environmental monitoring, engineering and construction, emergency services, agriculture, and even to provide wireless internet around the globe. They have become commonplace in many lives as they become cheaper and increase in efficiency and safety.

Although UASs and UAVs cannot compete with an ideal field study (one that is not limited by time, weather or money) they offer many

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

benefits and can certainly add information to create a more complete understanding of a formation. The data presented here, including pictures and models, was collected as part of a master’s thesis project in 2017.

INTRODUCTION

STUDY AREA AND THE SHANNON SANDSTONE

The Shannon Sandstone outcrops in the Powder River Basin in the Salt Creek oil field, Natrona County, Wyoming. It is up to 108 feet (36 meters) thick in this area and is often in near-vertical cliff faces. This formation is colloquially referred to as the “Rimrocks.” This locale was chosen for this study because it is one of the largest and most completely visible sections of the formation and has been evaluated numerous times.

As a member of the lower Campanian Cody Formation, the Shannon Sandstone can range from 80 feet to 260 feet (~24-79m) in overall thickness. The Shannon Member may contain as many as five distinct sands, and where the Shannon does not contain discrete sand bodies, it consists of very fine-grained sandstones and siltstones interbedded with shale (Watson, 1980). The Shannon Sandstone was deposited in shallow water on the western margin of the Cretaceous Interior Seaway. Sediments deposited in shallow marine environments tend to be some of the most difficult strata to understand in terms of their depositional history and the Shannon Sandstone is no different. There are two well-recognized depositional environment hypotheses. One suggests that the Shannon was deposited as offshore bars, and the other suggests that deposition occurred as a lowstand shoreface.One suggests that the Shannon was deposited as offshore bars, and the other suggests that deposition occurred as a lowstand shoreface.

The Shannon Member is encased in the rich source rock of the Cody Shale and has been producing oil since August 1890 when oil was found in the Shannon Sandstone just north of Salt Creek Field. According to the Wyoming Oil

» CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

13

OUTCROP | May 2021

LEAD STORY

» CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

& Gas Conservation Commission, the Shannon produced 3,179,558 bbl of oil and 2,552,893 Mcf of gas in 2020.

THE RESEARCH

The Shannon Sandstone Member is an ideal example for this mapping and modeling project because it has multiple extensive, well-exposed cliffs. It was chosen as the subject because it has been thoroughly examined and very well-documented so the data could be compared for accuracy. The detailed documentation is important to verify the quality of models produced.

The field work was completed during the summer 2017 as part of a master’s thesis. Bear in mind that UAS and UAV technology has greatly increased over the past four years.

The images in this article were taken using a DJI Phantom 4 drone camera.

They were processed and compiled into three-dimensional models using Agisoft PhotoScan software. After images were collected and transferred to a storage device, they were imported into the model builder. The images were then aligned and stitched together, followed by construction of a dense FIGURE 1: Model of an outcrop after interest point matching and cloud and ultimately a fully detailed photo alignment. image model.

The DJI Phantom 4 Pro UAV used for this study is a quadcopter that is (red-green-blue) format. lifted and propelled by four rotors mounted on the Agisoft PhotoScan is relatively simple to use, but top of the device. This machine comes equipped can be cumbersome and slow while running. Phowith a camera and gimbal system, and sensors on toScan models are generated in only a few steps all sides. The sensors allow for front, rear, right, using multiple algorithms. The software works by and left obstacle detection and avoidance, as well searching for interest points, a point or feature that as sensors on the top and bottom for vertical destands out, in each image and studying the area tection and avoidance. The camera has a 1-inch 20-megapixel complementary metal oxide semiconaround the points called the local neighborhood. ductor (CMOS) sensor and supports both images and Then interest points are matched based on their videos. Images taken with this camera were in RGB CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

»

OUTCROP | May 2021

14

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

KICK-OFF JUNE 13TH RMAG’s Geohike Challenge is back for 2021!

The 2021 RMAG Geohike Challenge is going to be bigger and better than ever!

Get ready for new scavenger hunt items, new hats & t-shirts, monthly prizes, and a kickoff event on June 13th (with COVID precautions in place as necessary).

Registration opening soon— watch www.rmag.org for details.

Get your hiking boots ready! #rmaggeohikechallenge2021

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

15

OUTCROP | May 2021

LEAD STORY

» CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

local neighborhood comparison (Figure 1). Agisoft recommends having 80% forward overlap and 60% side overlap of images from aerial photography. Providing this much overlap allows the software to find interest points in many images and has a broader view of the local neighborhood that leads to more accurate alignment and more detailed dense point clouds.

Points that are stable under viewpoint and lighting variations are detected in photos and a descriptor is generated for each point based on the points local neighborhood. These descriptors detect correspondence between photos later. Orientation is solved using a broad algorithm to find approximate camera locations which is refined later with a bundle-adjustment algorithm. Dense cloud surface reconstruction is solved based on either pairwise depth map computation or a multi-view approach. PhotoScan parametrizes the surface and blends together source images to create a texture atlas. The end result of this workflow is a3D model constructed from the pictures. These models can then be saved, shared, and studied. The ability to view outcrops as a 3D model instead of simple picture format allows a better understanding of the lithology variations and perhaps even depositional environments.

FIGURE 2: Model after dense cloud construction. View facing east.

RESULTS

(Figures 2, 3 and 4) show the modeled outcrop. These models were compared to the detailed

FIGURE 3: Model after dense cloud construction. View facing east southeast.

» CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

OUTCROP | May 2021

16

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

of

G eoloGisTs

n i g Cl t r o a p

y

S

T he R ocky M ounTain a ssociaTion

8/5/21 to

urname

t n

Kiowa Creek Sporting Club | August 5, 2021 • Prizes for individual high score and team 1st, 2nd, & 3rd flights • Includes 1 round of 100 sporting clays, lunch, and door prizes • Does not include ammunition (please bring enough ammo for 100 clays, or you may purchase ammo at Kiowa Creek) • You may rent a gun for $20 onsite (limited quantities)

5 person team (member): $425 5 person team (non-member): $500 Individual (member): $85 Individual (non-member): $100

Registration and sponsorships available at www.rmag.org!

Thanks to our Premier Event Sponsor, Confluence Resources! email: staff@rmag.org | phone: 800.970.7624 Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

1999 Broadway, Suite 730, Denver CO 80202

17

fax: 323.352.0046 | web: www.rmag.org OUTCROP | May 2021

follow: @rmagdenver

LEAD STORY

» CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

descriptions of the outcrop from the 1984 study by Tillman and Martinsen. (Figures 10 and 11) show a comparison of the advancement of photographs from a camera in 1984 and a drone camera in 2017. Using these models and photos, it was possible to pick out specific facies and structures described by Martinsen and Tillman. It was possible to identify rip-up clasts and concretions (Figures 5, 6 and 9) cross bedding, laminations (Figures 7 and 8), and variations of shale abundance (Figures 5, 6 and 7) in different sandstone sequences which were all features describe by MartinFIGURE 4: Model after dense cloud construction. View facing north. sen and Tillman. Today, accurately describing these facies from the BENEFITS drone footage alone would not produce the same accuracy, but as cameras continue to produce better The benefits of drone use for mapping may be images, eventually it may be. The goal of the study countless, but top of the list is obviously safety. Imwas not to determine the method of deposition, but proved efficiency is another advantage. Field studies to use this outcrop to illustrate the value and ease of commonly take many months or years, while image drone use for mapping.

CONTINUED ON PAGE PB

»

FIGURE 5: View of west facing outcrop. Used to show the detail provided (Figures 6 through 9) when zooming in from a large

scale model.

OUTCROP | May 2021

18

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

LEAD STORY

FIGURE 6:

Enlarged view of the red box in Figure 5.

FIGURE 7:

Enlarged view of teal box in Figure 6.

FIGURE 8:

Enlarged view of teal box in Figure 7. Shows laminar detail and bedding planes.

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

19

OUTCROP | May 2021

LEAD STORY

» CONTINUED FROM PAGE PB

entertainment, why would we as geoscientists not use them to make our jobs easier? Furthermore, if drones can now hold and transport items for Amazon and grocery stores, it would only take an Estwing hammer attachment for a geologist to collect and deliver samples of the outcrops safely to a person on the ground.

Studying an outcrop should not be based solely on the ability to be physically next to it. Think of the numerous steep, friable, dangerous outcrops who FIGURE 9: Enlarged view of Figure 6. Red arrow points to a readily identifiable concretion stand lonely, viewed only above a lag deposit. from below, above or afar, and what we might learn from close-up research. If locations of interest that have time or travel restricyou are a practiced mountaineer, perhaps you could tion. As with any kind of research, utilizing only one climb from the bottom or repel from the top, but method will not yield complete insight, but combinhow much longer until regulations and safety standards do not allow for these risks? Some gorges, ing different studies can create a robust understandcliffs, canyons, and peaks may never get the analysis ing with numerous applications. Drones have the and study they deserve. Even hazardous mine walls ability to give us a broader knowledge base and do or rock faces behind and near waterfalls could be imso quickly and safely. aged and modeled in detail with drones.

Differentiating between specific amounts of REFERENCES sands and silts or silts and clays is problematic without having contact with the rocks, but observing latSundell, E. (2017). Outcrop Mapping Using Uneral and vertical changes in general lithology as well manned Aerial Systems and Modeling of as specific features such as lag deposits or truncation the Shannon Sandstone in the Powder Rivis absolutely possible. Large scale features are more er Basin, [master’s thesis]. [Grand Forks, ND]: obvious, while small variations may be more difficult North Dakota. to properly classify.

Tillman, R. W., & Martinsen, R. S. (1984). The ShanTechnology advances nearly exponentially each non Shelf Ridge Sandstone Complex Salt year and those advances should be used to our benCreek Anticline Area Powder River Basin, The Sociefit. Drones clearly provide multiple benefits for the ety of Economic Paleontologists and advancement of geologic research and proliferate Mineralogists (SEPM) Siliciclastic Shelf Sediments data. Are they as accurate as physically studying the (SP34). outcrop in the field? Obviously not at this time, but WOGCC. (2021). No Title. Retrieved from http:// they are a good alternative that provides enhanced wogcc.state.wy.us/. safety, as well as remote study for projects and

OUTCROP | May 2021

20

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

LEAD STORY

FIGURE 10:

(left) Image from Tillman and Martinsen (1984) of Shannon outcrop. “Basal unit (below arrow) is a Bioturbated Shelf Siltstone, Unit 5. Between arrows is an Interbar Sandstone Facies, Unit 6. At the top is Bar Margin Facies (Type 2), Unit 7.”

FIGURE 11:

(below) Image taken with the drone. This is a picture of the same outcrop as seen in Fig. 10, but in much higher resolution.

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

21

OUTCROP | May 2021

ONLINE LUNCH TALK

FREE!

Speaker: Dr. Steven A. Tedesco May 5, 2021 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

BERS MEM Y ONL

Helium Opportunity or False Hope for Operators

By Dr. Steven A. Tedesco the natural gas stream is the additional expense for a cryogenic plant for generally limited reservoirs are small portable units that can vary from $750,000 (US) to $3,000,000 (US). The majority of remaining deposits in Canada and the US are relatively small in area extent, high grade and limited in helium reserves such as Harley Dome, Pinta-Navajo Springs-Navajo Springs East, Ryersee, Las Animas Arch, Rattlesnake, Keyes, Arrowhead, and Dinah-Bi-Keyah to name a few. The likelihood of finding a substantially large in areal extent (township or bigger) deposits such as Reichel, Otis-Albert, Big Piney-La Barge, Hugoton and Texas Panhandle are remote considering the intensity of drilling that has occurred throughout US and Canadian petroleum basins. Exploring for helium has not proven to be simple as applying petroleum basin analysis techniques.

The source of helium has been ascribed to the mantle, crustal and sedimentary rocks

Helium recovery in the US and Canada present unique but a difficult opportunity for oil and gas operators. Helium is an inert molecule, with the lowest temperature in which it will turn to liquid, does not combine with other elements or forms any compounds except at high temperatures and pressures. Helium is a critical element whose demand is constantly rising especially in semi-conductors, refrigeration, health care, welding and fusion. Production worldwide is generally from the US, Algiers, Qatar, Russia, Australia, Poland and Canada. Present helium prices are hovering around $300 an MCF and prior to the pandemic there was a significant and growing shortage. The majority of helium production in the US is from the Big Piney-La Barge Platform, Wyoming as the Cliffside Facility in the Texas Panhandle Field has shut down.

Helium is extracted from the natural gas stream when it can be done economically. The cost of recovering helium from

» CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

DR. STEVEN TEDESCO is Managing Partner of StarFox Helium, Owner of Running Foxes Petroleum Inc. and President of Atoka Geochemical and has over 40 year’s experience in oil and gas, waterflooding, coalbed methane, renewables, nuclear and mining. Dr. Tedesco has a PhD from the Colorado School of Mines, MS from Southern Illinois University, a BS from Northeastern University in Boston. Dr. Tedesco has written several articles on surface geochemistry, operations related to coalbed methane, gas production, Pennsylvanian geology of the Cherokee, Forest City and southern Denver Basins, a textbook on surface geochemistry in petroleum exploration and an up an upcoming textbook to be published by Elsevier that is titled Helium, Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen deposits later this year. Dr. Tedesco has found several oil and gas deposits such as the Arikaree Creek Field in Lincoln County, Colorado, found new reserves in several fields in the Mid-Continent, and developed a number of waterfloods such as Devon Field in Kansas and Thomas Field in Missouri to name a few.

OUTCROP | May 2021

22

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

S EPTEMBER 25 2021

New Date!

2021

RMAG GOLF

TOURNAMENT

8:00am Shotgun at Arrowhead Golf Club Registration includes entry, 18-holes of golf, cart, breakfast, lunch, & entry to win great door prizes

Thank you to our Premier Event Sponsor!

Registration open!

Teams of 4 and Individuals are welcome to register Member Team: $780 Non-Member Team: $880

email: staff@rmag.org

phone: 720.672.9898

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

1999 Broadway, Ste. 730, Denver, CO, 80202

23

Member Individual: $195 Non-Member Individual: $220

fax: 323.352.0046

web: www.rmag.org

OUTCROP | May 2021

follow: @rmagdenver

ONLINE LUNCH TALK: MAY available is to use surface geochemistry that specifically analyzes for helium. This sometimes is followed by seismic to define the structural relief and highest point of the target.

There is potential growing helium supply from the Amur in Russia and Qatar that will come on line in 2021 and 2022 but it is probably a short-term solution. Areas such as South Africa and Tanzania while prospective, these types of deposits are either limited in repeatability and have production issues, the former, or already been historically tested, the latter. Then there are issues of governmental interference which typically occurs in non-democratic based economies such as the Middle East, Tanzania, Russia or China. Helium is a critical and strategic element that provides a unique opportunity but it takes significant exploration effort to find new reserves.

» CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

which all do contributed and the percentage of each types involvement in an accumulation tends to be area specific. Association with some helium accumulations and basement intrusions has been documented but many deposits show no relationship. There is no set exploration model to follow and each area has different characteristics that actually are not always easily defined. Helium has a strong association with nitrogen in the gas stream but the reverse is not true as indicated by the nitrogen rich gas fields in Germany. Exploration methods has at many times been limited to published gas analysis by the USGS and USBM data which has focused helium drilling in certain areas such as Kansas, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Traps are generally structural or stratigraphic-structure as helium tends to accumulate in the highest point of the reservoir. Defining a potential target if no gas analysis for existing wellbores is

OUTCROP | May 2021

24

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

REACH Further, higher.

Advertise in The Outcrop

The Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists combines the industry's most advanced technology, precise targeting and a quality network to deliver results for advertisers & publishers.

For more information on how you can advertise in upcoming issues of The Outcrop, including basic information, how to submit an ad, size options, advertising rates, and the agreement, click on the link below.

Visitwww.rmag.org/outcrop-advertisingtolearnmore!

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

25

OUTCROP | May 2021

ONLINE LUNCH TALK

FREE!

Speaker: David (Randy) Blood June 2, 2021 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

BERS MEM Y ONL

Creating Giants Insights into the depositional and diagenetic pathways that created two of the most prolific unconventional reservoirs in the U.S., the Ordovician Utica Shale/Point Pleasant Limestone and the Devonian Marcellus Shale

By David (Randy) Blood, DRB Geological Consulting Applied Stratigraphix abundant small, <5 µm framboids, with subordinate large framboids, and occasional bioturbation. These observations suggest that sediments accumulated under dominantly anoxic to euxinic bottom waters that were occasionally subjected to periods of (dys)oxia. The high total organic carbon content of the Marcellus Shale is largely the result of increased preservation due in part, to favorable oxygen-depleted conditions, while concentration was controlled by dilution from clastic influx. Conversely, the Point Pleasant comprises mudstones and marls largely devoid of redox sensitive trace elements, minimal pyrite, a paucity of iron, and a number of in situ shell bed horizons. These observations suggest the Point Pleasant accumulated

Appalachian Basin “shale gas” has become a significant component of U.S. natural gas production. Indeed, the EIA reports that the Devonian Marcellus Shale and Ordovician Utica/Point Pleasant accounted for 85% of the U.S shale gas production growth since 2012. While these two shale plays display similar production mechanisms (organic matter-hosted pores are the major source of porosity), the conditions under which these deposits accumulated were markedly different, and should be considered when exploring and identifying sweet spots. Vertical chemostratigraphic profiles and pyrite morphology trends were developed on core retrieved from both formations. The Marcellus exhibits enrichments in redox sensitive trace elements, a framboid population detailing

» CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

RANDY (DAVID) BLOOD is a geologist and petrophysicist based in the greater Pittsburgh area working on various aspects of Paleozoic strata in the Appalachian Basin. His current interests include evaluating sedimentary features within mudstones and how they affect hydrocarbon transport, drilling and completions, and the distribution and accumulation of critical minerals and rare earth elements. Before starting DRB Geological Consulting, he worked for EQT Production and Chesapeake Energy evaluating their unconventional assets, defining horizontal landing zones, and using inorganic geochemistry data to model facies, estimate rock mechanics, and help solve wellbore stability issues. He also has experience evaluating unconventional assets and sedimentary successions in basins across the United States and abroad.

OUTCROP | May 2021

26

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

Mallard Exploration is a Denver-based upstream Oil & Gas Exploration and Production company focused on the DJ Basin of Colorado. We are building a successful business with strong ethics, hard work and industry-leading technology.

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

27

OUTCROP | May 2021

ONLINE LUNCH TALK: JUNE Point Pleasant study area. One explanation is that the pressure needed to overcome the compressive stress carried by higher modulus, carbonate-rich sediments was never achieved, thus limiting fracturing and hydrocarbon expulsion and preserving its high pressure. Conversely, stress build-up from pore pressure resulting from hydrocarbon generation in lower modulus, more clay-rich Marcellus sediments exceeded the tensile strength of the rock causing it to fracture and release hydrocarbons, subsequently lowering reservoir pressure.

» CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

under oxic to dysoxic bottom water conditions. Further, the lack of iron-a biolimiting nutrient, and lower preservation potential due to oxidation of organic matter, yielded a formation of lower organic carbon concentration, where preservation occurred by rapid burial. It is noteworthy that, despite the lower organic carbon content, locally the Point Pleasant hosts a pore pressure gradient far in excess of that observed in the Marcellus. While expulsion fractures, including Mode I vertical catagenic fractures, are common to the Marcellus, they are infrequent to absent in the

Well Log Digitizing • Petrophysics Petra® Projects • Mud Log Evaluation Bill Donovan

Geologist • Petroleum Engineer • PE

(720) 351-7470 donovan@petroleum-eng.com

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 2021

28

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

Proudly developing Colorado’s energy potential through innovation, safety and a commitment to our community l e a r n m o r e at : w w w . c r e s t o n e p e a k r e s o u r c e s . c o m

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

29

OUTCROP | May 2021

WELCOME NEW RMAG MEMBERS!

Ryan Allen

Cole Heap

is a student at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

is a Geologist and lives in Clovis, California.

is a student at Iowa State University and lives in Ames, Iowa.

is a Head of Eagle Ford JV Relations at BPX and lives in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

Edward Berke Melisa Bishop

is a Lab Geologist at City of Aurora - Materials Testing Lab and lives in Aurora, Colorado.

Luke Gezovich

is a student at Colorado School of Mines.

Kjetil Jansen

Michael Krenek

is a Business Development and Technical Operations Manager at Field Geo Services and lives in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Kathleen Maher

is a Dir Account Management at IHS Markit and lives in Lone Tree, Colorado.

Drew Stephon

is a Petroleum Geologist at Morning Gun Exploration LLC and lives in Denver, Colorado.

Brian Velardo

is a Geologist at Chevron and lives in Magnolia, Texas.

Sandy Werren works for Camino Natural Resources.

WE ARE GREAT WESTERN AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO:

PEOPLE

EXCELLENCE

TEAMWORK

GROWTH

STEWARDSHIP

RESILIENCE

WE ARE #CommittedtoColorado OUTCROP | May 2021

30

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

IN THE PIPELINE MAY 5, 2021 RMAG Online Luncheon.

Speaker: Dr. Steven Tedesco.

“Helium-Opportunity or False Hope for Operators.” Online via RingCentral Meetings. 12:00 PM-1:00 PM. MAY 6, 2021 MiT Online Talk Speaker: Ron Bell “The Era of Drone Geoscience” MAY 14, 2021 West Slope Colorado Oil & Gas Association 41st Annual Charity Golf Tournament.

Adobe Creek & Tiara Rado Golf Courses. Fruita and Grand Junction, CO. 8AM5PM.

DIPS Luncheon.

Speaker: Jason Eleson.

“Indications of Exploration Risk from a Recent Exploration Well in the Deepwater Turbidite Play of the Guyana Basin, Guyana.”

MAY 25, 2021 DWLS Webinar.

Speaker: Harry Xie. “Characterization of Kerogen and Solid Organics of Unconventional Source Rocks Using Solid-Type 20 MHz NMR Techniques.” Call Dominic Holmes at 303-7704235. Or register online.

MAY 17-19, 2021 SPWLA 62nd Annual Symposium.

Boston, MA.

MAY 26-27, 2021 RMAG Online Short Course.

Instructor: Dr. Brian Ruskin.

“Unconventional ExplorationMethods, Mapping and Risking.” 9AM-12PM. Online via RingCentral Meetings.

MAY 20, 2021 MiT Online Talk Speaker: Raymond Franssen.

“Facing the Energy Transition”

2019.3.2 Available for Download Peter Batdorf

CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT MANAGER Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org

Senior Account Manager (GeoGraphix by LMKR) C : + 1 724 919 2506 | P : + 1 412 795 1271 pbatdorf@lmkr.com 31

OUTCROP | May 2021

ADVERTISER INDEX

• Crestone Peak Resources ���������������������� 29

• LMKR ����������������������������������������������������� 31

• Daub & Associates �������������������������������� 28

• Mallard Exploration ������������������������������� 27

• Donovan Brothers Inc. ��������������������������� 28

• Schlumberger ���������������������������������������� 24

• GeoMark Research ���������������������������������� 6

• Seisware ����������������������������������������������� 29

• Great Western ��������������������������������������� 30

• Tracerco ������������������������������������������������� 27

CALENDAR – MAY 2021 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1 2

3

4

5 RMAG Online Luncheon.

9

10

11

6

7

8

14

15

MiT Online Talk

12

13

West Slope Colorado Oil & Gas Assn. Golf Tournament.

DIPS Luncheon.

16

17

18

19

24

25 DWLS Webinar.

30

OUTCROP | May 2021

21

22

28

29

MiT Online Talk

SPWLA 62nd Annual Symposium.

23

20

26

27

RMAG Online Short Course.

31

32

Vol. 70, No. 5 | www.rmag.org