September, 2001
HGS and Other Selected Meetings

Wyoming Geological Association 2001 Field Conference

Wyoming Gas: Resources & Technology

Call for Papers

HGS General Dinner Meeting

"A Comparison of Two Late Pleistocene Shelf-Edge Deltas (Indonesia and Gulf of Mexico)-Stratigraphic Architecture, Systems Tracts, Bounding Surfaces, and Reservoir Potential"

Abstract:

Thousands of kilometers of high-resolution seismic data have been collected over two late Pleistocene shelf-edge deltas in very different settings, the northern Gulf of Mexico and the eastern shelf of Borneo in Indonesia. Both deltas have been constructed by falling-to-lowstand deposition associated with the latest Pleistocene glacial maximum, the former sourced by the temperate Mobile River, the latter by the equatorial Mahakam River. Four cores provide detailed stratigraphic control for the Mobile River delta while one long boring and numerous piston and vibracores provide stratigraphic control on the Mahakam Delta. Systems tracts and key bounding surfaces have been related to the eustatic sea level curve in both settings. Sequence architectures differ significantly, an important consequence of different depositional settings.

The tropical Mahakam shelf is tectonically active and has low wave energy, strong oceanic currents, upwelling, and a mixed siliciclastic - carbonate depositional system. The resulting falling-to-lowstand clinoforms downlap a highly irregular surface of isolated carbonate bioherms built above a transgressive surface that formed during the preceding sea level rise.

The northeastern Gulf of Mexico shelf is relatively stable, also has low wave energy, but is dominated by siliciclastic sedimentation. Falling-to-lowstand progradation of the Mobile River delta (Lagniappe Delta) has occurred in numerous overlapping and spatially offset lobes incised by a complex channel network. Clinoforms downlap an isotope stage 5 interglacial condensed section. The Lagniappe Delta depocenter has migrated from southeast to west; southeastern lobes show evidence of variable wave influence while the western flank is fluvially dominated. Both the Mahakam and Lagniappe deltas are composed of sand-rich clinoforms and channel deposits that possess excellent potential reservoir properties.

Biographical Sketch:

John Marshall Robalin is currently a geologist in the Deepwater Lease Acquisition Group, Gulf of Mexico, at Marathon Oil Company. He earned a BS degree in geology from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1995 and has recently completed his MS in geology at Louisiana State University.

HGS International Dinner Meeting

"The Petroleum Potential of Egypt and New Exploration Opportunities"

Abstract:

Since the onshore discovery of oil in the Eastern Desert in 1886, the petroleum industry in Egypt has discovered over 15.5 BBOE of reserves.

While the onshore Western Desert may contribute an additional 15-30 TCF in new future resources, the offshore Mediterranean may hold an additional 64-84 TCF above the 25 TCF already discovered, with many new fields in the giant class (>100 MMBOE). The current deep water gas discoveries and activity are relatively unique worldwide and hence may require a substantial learning curve to understand how to drill, complete, develop and optimize deep water gas reservoirs in a cost effective manner.

The offshore Gulf of Suez may yield an additional 1.5-3.3 BBOE. Advances in seismic multiple suppression and development of new "off-structure" play concepts with higher quality seismic data should result in continual new pool discoveries.

Frontier exploration offshore includes the Red Sea rift Province, where deep water and sub-salt imaging remain significant challenges to overcome, and the Gulf of Aqaba.

More remote new exploration areas include the Komombo and other basins in Upper Egypt, currently under re-evaluation by a number of international oil companies.

Despite a relatively complex history, the geological framework of Egypt is highly suited for oil and gas exploration. It comprises eight major tectono-stratigraphic events:

  1. Paleozoic craton
  2. Jurassic rifting
  3. Cretaceous passive margin
  4. Cretaceous Syrian arc deformation and foreland transgressions
  5. Oligo-Miocene Gulf of Suez rifting
  6. Miocene Red Sea breakup
  7. The Messinian salinity crisis
  8. Plio-Pleistocene delta progradation.
Each of these events has created multiple reservoir and seal combinations. Source rocks occur from the Paleozoic through to the Pliocene and petroleum is produced from Precambrian through Pleistocene age reservoirs.

Biographical Sketch:

Mohamed Sami Shaheen is Vice Chairman for Agreements & Exploration and Board member of EGPC (Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation),

He holds degrees in geology and chemistry from Ain Shams University, has held management and technical positions in industry, and has published many papers during his distinguished career in petroleum exploration.

Mr. Shaheen may be contacted at:

EGPC (Egyptian General Petroleum Corp.) , Palestine St., 4th Sector - New Maadi, Cairo, Egypt
Telephone: 011 (202) 518-5019-17, Fax: 011 (202) 706-5359 - 5274
Email: egpcexp@starnet.com.eg

Please consult the EGPC website, [ www.egpc.com.eg ], for background of the oil and gas business in Egypt and some details of the plays and prospects available in the upcoming new tender.

HGS Environmental/Engineering Geology Committee
Dinner Meeting

"Salt Water Contamination of the Chicot Aquifer from Historic OilField Operations, Tomball Field, Harris County, Texas"

Abstract:

A large plume of produced salt water in the Chicot Aquifer is identified in the southwest Tomball Field area of north Harris County. The plume probably affects an area of 1½ square miles or more and as much as 150 feet of the lower Chicot Aquifer. Historic oil field operations are the most probable surface point-source. Local geology of the Pleistocene Lissie/Willis Formations delta-plain depositional environments facilitated the contamination pathway and geometry. The Miocene-aged Evangeline Aquifer (Fleming Formation) is not impacted by the plume, as the Evangeline is geologically isolated from the Chicot by a regional Paleo-Trinity Bay flooding sequence.

Biographical Sketch:

Bob is a Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission staff geologist providing geological recommendations to the Texas Railroad Commission on Gulf Coast ground water protection in oil and gas drilling operations and statewide salt water disposal. He also prepares special geological recommendations to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for the drilling and completion of water wells in areas of ground water contamination. He has a BS in Geology from Lamar University and is a Certified Petroleum Geologist with AAPG, a Certified Professional Geologist with AIPG, a member of HGS, GSA, IAH, AEG, and the Ground Water Protection Council. Before coming to work for TNRCC in 1994, he spent more than 20 years as a petroleum geologist in the Texas oil and gas industry.

John is a staff geologist in the Surface Casing Team of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. He provides geological recommendations for the protection of usable-quality ground water to the Texas Railroad Commission in North-Central Texas. He also performs ground-water quality evaluations from geophysical logs and is the staff computer programmer for the Surface Casing Team. In the last three years, John has been responsible for developing a Geographic Information System (GIS) for the team to eventually replace the current 45-year old linen maps. He has a BS in Geology (1978) from Sul Ross State University. Prior to joining the TNRCC's predecessor agency, the Texas Water Commission, in 1987, John worked as an oil exploration geologist/geophysicist in west and north Texas for 9 years. He is a charter member of the AAPG Division of Environmental Geosciences and a 19-year member of the SPWLA.

HGS General Lunch Meeting
Dinner Meeting

"Evolution of Pawnee Field (Edwards Formation),Bee County: A Horizontal Love Story "

Abstract:

The Lower Cretaceous Edwards Formation associated with the Pawnee Field in south Texas has historically been developed through the drilling of vertical wellbores. However, lateral and vertical reservoir heterogeneity suggested the field held significant potential for additional reserves through development by horizontal drilling.

Since 1996, 15 horizontal wells have been drilled in the Edwards reef complex with varying results; 12 of the 15 wells have been completed since November 1999. Before and during this on-going development program, a multi-disciplined approach was used to integrate geophysical and geological interpretations, core analysis, reservoir engineering data, and drilling and production information to construct a coherent but evolving picture of the Edwards reservoir.

Early attempts were made to optimize horizontal wellbore orientation and targeting with emphasis on porosity distribution. A mix of fracturing and porosity development had always been considered critical to successful production in Pawnee Field, with earlier horizontal wells targeting the highest available porosity. Porosity-based maps, however, exhibited little correlation to recoverable gas volumes. Study of the available cores indicated that the best porosity-permeability relationship was found in the reef-detritus grainstone facies, and that fractures were a much more significant factor than previously thought. Subsequent attention shifted away from porosity toward fracturing and facies distribution as the key aspects that impact production. Current activity focuses on mapping reservoir facies and characterizing the orientation and density of open fractures.

Biographical Sketch:

Kevin Schmidt is a staff petrophysicist and exploitation geologist with Pioneer Natural Resources in Irving, Texas. Prior to joining Pioneer in 1999, he spent eight years with Union Pacific Resources as a roving project petrophysicist and as a geologist in Austin Chalk operations and south Louisiana exploration. He holds a BS and MS in geology and an MBA from Texas Christian University.

HGS NeoGeos Dinner Meeting

"The Future For Early Career Geoscience Professionals: A Discussion Forum"

Abstract:

The NeoGeos September meeting will be a discussion forum moderated by Kelly Latter and Andrea Adams. The main topics discussed will be the direction and focus of NeoGeos for 2001-2002, the common concerns for early career geos in the workplace, and how we can participate as a group at the AAPG Annual Meeting this March in Houston. Come prepared to meet some friendly faces, participate in discussion in an informal setting, and enjoy some great food!

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you will enjoy this energetic and interesting discussion forum! You are invited to send questions or comments in advance to neogeos@ev1.net As always, NeoGeos meetings are open to everyone.

National Association of Black Geologists and Geophysicists
NABGG 2001 Conference

Theme: Celebrating 20 Years - Reflecting on Our Past, Focusing on the Future

Event Description:

NABGG celebrates its 20th anniversary by “Reflecting on our past and focusing on our future” . Presentations on Thursday and Friday at the Pan- American Life Center will focus on oil field development, environmental issues, and earth science education. Breakfast and luncheon speakers from Shell, MMS, and from the Assoc. of Financial Planners Group Networking will give advice on geology and finances. The reception at the International House Hotel, 7:00 pm Wednesday evening, will be an informal, relaxed beginning to the conference.

The Taste of New Orleans Social held at the Praline Restaurant on Thursday night will allow participants to “savor the flavor” of the host city. One NABGG goal is to provide financial assistance to Earth Sciences minority students. Therefore, scholarship recipients and key individuals will be acknowledged at the Scholarship and Awards Banquet at the City Energy Club on Friday evening. As part of our goal to expose the earth sciences to students, there will be a tour of the Shell Visualization Center for high school students.

On Saturday morning, there will be two post-conference events: a flight over the Mississippi Delta field trip and volunteering at the Star of Hope Mission. You can register for the banquet, Mississippi field trip, and Taste of New Orleans Social separately from the conference.