HGS Calendar Events RSS Feed

HGS General Dinner- New Geochemical Data Show Methane in N.E. Pennsylvania Water Wells is Unrelated to Hydraulic Fracturing on 6-Feb-12 5:30 PM

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:30:00 GMT

HGS General Dinner- New Geochemical Data Show Methane in N.E. Pennsylvania Water Wells is Unrelated to Hydraulic Fracturing
Start Date: 6-Feb-12 5:30 PM
End Time: 6-Feb-12 8:30 PM
Location: Hilton Houston Westchase, Houston, TX 77042
Speaker: Lisa Molofsky

Event Details:

New Geochemical Data Show Methane in N.E. Pennsylvania

Water Wells is Unrelated to Hydraulic Fracturing

speaker : Lisa Molofsky of GSI Environmental

New data demonstrate that, counter to the conclusions of a recent study by Duke University, gas development activities in the Marcellus Shale have not caused widespread methane impacts on water wells in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Test results from over 1700 water wells sampled prior to drilling or hydraulic fracturing operations show that methane is ubiquitous in water wells throughout this region, with no statistically significant difference between gas production areas vs. non-gas production areas. Higher concentrations are observed in valleys (i.e., topographic lows), indicating that the methane is related to natural geologic features, rather than shale gas development. In addition, isotope analyses show the dissolved methane in these water wells to be primarily consistent either with thermogenic gas from the Upper and Middle Devonian formations overlying the Marcellus shale or with biogenic gas from the shallow alluvium - but not indicative of impacts by Marcellus shale gas. Historical records confirm that many shallow wells and springs have encountered natural gas from these same horizons long before the advent of shale gas development.

Consequently, the allegation that hydraulic fracturing of the Marcellus has contributed to widespread water well impacts by deep formation gas is unfounded. This apparent misinterpretation by the Duke study underscores the need for a multiple lines-of-evidence approach during the investigation of stray gas incidents that considers relevant geologic, historical, well construction, and isotopic data.

A new article co-authored by GSI and Cabot Oil and Gas Corporation in the December 5th issue of the Oil & Gas Journal (Molofsky et al., 2011) shows that gas development activities in the Marcellus Shale have not caused widespread methane impacts on water wells in northeastern Pennsylvania. This directly counters allegations made in a recent study by Duke University (Osborne et al., 2011).

Hilton Houston Westchase

9999 Westheimer Road

Houston, TX 77042

HGS E&E Dinner - Near-Surface Geophysical Applications to the Geological Wonders of Central and South Texas. on 8-Feb-12 5:30 PM

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:30:00 GMT

HGS E&E Dinner - Near-Surface Geophysical Applications to the Geological Wonders of Central and South Texas.
Start Date: 8-Feb-12 5:30 PM
End Time: 8-Feb-12 8:30 PM
Location: Black Lab in the Churchill Room, Houston, TX 77006
Speaker: Mustafa Saribudak

Event Details:

The geological wonders are being the Mt. Bonnell Fault of Edwards Aquifer, Main Barton Springs pool and Houston’s active growth faults (Hockley and Long Points).

Black Lab in the Churchill Room

4100 Montrose Blvd.

Houston, TX USA 77006

HGS International Dinner - PSDM imaging of the Petroleum Systems of the South Atlantic on 13-Feb-12 5:30 PM

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:30:00 GMT

HGS International Dinner - PSDM imaging of the Petroleum Systems of the South Atlantic
Start Date: 13-Feb-12 5:30 PM
End Time: 13-Feb-12 8:30 PM
Location: Hilton Houston Westchase, Houston, TX 77042
Speaker: Steven G. Henry, PhD

Event Details:

PSDM imaging of the Petroleum Systems of the South Atlantic

speaker Dr. Steve Henry

co-authors Al Danforth, Consultant, Houston TX

Naresh Kumar, PhD, Growth-Energy, Richardson, TX

Peter Nuttall, ION-GX Technology, Houston, TX

Sujata Venkatraman, ION-GX Technology, Houston, TX

Recently acquired (2004-10) regional (100’s Km dip oriented), long offset (10 Km), long record length (18 sec.) reflection seismic data (SPANs) has been processed to provide pre-stacked depth migrated (PSDM) images (25-40 Km) on both sides of the South Atlantic, and along the South American equatorial margin. Dip oriented lines from Angola, Congo and Gabon (63 profiles) and Brazil (69 profiles ) have been interpreted, with about 20 horizons (sequence boundaries) correlated and tied to 25 wells in West Africa and more than 75 wells in Brazil. The spacing of the dip line ranges from 10 to ~75 Km (Avg. ~50 Km). Long strike lines (1500-5000 Km) on both margins have an average spacing of about 50-100 Km. These constrain and correlate the major sequences boundaries mapped on the dip lines. This data has provided a better understanding of the existing / producing petroleum systems, extending these systems across the South Atlantic, and identifying new potential petroleum systems.

In this presentation we will show seismic data illustrating the pre-salt petroleum system in the Brazilian Santos Basin and the recent (2011) pre-salt discovery on the conjugate margin in the Angolan Kwanza Basin. Analogs for the Equatorial African Jubilee (Sierra Leon) and Venus (Ghana) discoveries in the Early Drift sequences will be shown along the Brazilian Equatorial Margin, along with a recent Early Drift discovery along the NE coast of Brazil. These petroleum systems and their relative timing will be put into context using a new model for the opening of the South Atlantic (Fig. 1). In this model the northward opening consists of a series of stalled extensions with the separation of the cratons taken up in continental strike slip faulting. This model is supported by mapping the age of the first sediments deposited on the newly formed oceanic crust.

Remarkably similar features and the timing of their development are observed on both the West African and South American margins (Fig. 2). Regional mapping (West Africa: 300 x 2000 Km, Brazil: 600 x 3000 Km) of the major features has been critical for understanding the tectono-stratigraphic relationships and have been used to define a model of diachronous rifting. In this model, failed (no ocean crust) episodes of rifting developed during periods of extension, and subsidence, with sag basins forming over the thinned crust. Shown in Figure 2 is the mapped position of sag basins (green) formed over the failed Valanginina rift. These sag basins which only overlie failed rifts, contain rich and laterally extensive source rocks (Brazil: Lagoa Feia, Angola: Organic Bucomazi / Falcao) that drive the petroleum system responsible for the pre-salt discoveries. The successful episode of rifting that separated the continents along this segment of the South Atlantic was in the Barremian (blue dashed line), and the syn-rift for this episode is volcanic with less potential for source rock development.

This regional PSDM data is also ideal for examining the Early Drift and looking for new petroleum systems such as those identified along the African Equatorial margin. As the continents separate, especially along the transform / strike slip segments, the first basins to develop have restricted circulation and therefore have potential for developing source rocks. Recent discoveries along the Brazilian Equatorial and Northeaster margins, illustrates the usefulness of reconstructing conjugate margins and the timing of their openings.

Hilton Houston Westchase

9999 Westheimer Rd.

Houston, TX 77042

HGS Bulletin Deadline for April 2012 Issue on 15-Feb-12 8:30 AM

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:30:00 GMT

HGS Bulletin Deadline for April 2012 Issue
Start Date: 15-Feb-12 8:30 AM
End Time: 15-Feb-12 5:30 PM

HGS Short Course-Critical Analysis of Shale Plays on 16-Feb-12 8:30 AM

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:30:00 GMT

HGS Short Course-Critical Analysis of Shale Plays
Start Date: 16-Feb-12 8:30 AM
End Time: 16-Feb-12 5:30 PM
Location: Marathon Oil Conference Center 10th floor, Houston, Texas 77056
Speaker: Gary Citron

Event Details:

HGS Continuing Education Short Course Critical Analysis of Shale Plays

Thursday February 16, 2012

8:30am to 5:30pm at the Marathon Oil Conference Center

speaker: Gary Citron, Rose and Associates

This one day course provides a brief overview of the comprehensive integrated treatment to characterize shale (and tight sand) plays.

Beginning with practical definitions and geo-formational processes, R&A describes the needed geologic ingredients and how to measure them for use in screening for successful resource plays. This is followed by the techniques to probabilistically estimate the in-place and recoverable resource potential. The geologic ingredients are then revisited in spatial form to address the geologic concerns that form the risk system to grade the plays. The volumetric assessments are complimented with an understanding of how type curves and development will impact the ultimate recovery and how a staged approach focuses the evaluation team on the key decision variables at each stage to properly assess the ultimate value a shale play may contribute to a company’s portfolio.

Seating is limited by the venue to 60
Continuing Education Credits: 8
As usual, a notebook and coffee breaks with pastries are included.
Lunch will be available in the 'Tanglewood Terrace', Marathon's cafeteria, on the same floor.

Marathon Oil Conference Center 10th floor

5555 San Felipe Street

Houston, Texas 77056

HGS Applied Geoscience Mudrocks Conference (AGC) on 20-Feb-12 8:00 AM

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:00:00 GMT

HGS Applied Geoscience Mudrocks Conference (AGC)
Start Date: 20-Feb-12 8:00 AM
End Time: 21-Feb-12 5:00 PM
Location: The Westin Houston Memorial City, Houston, TX 77024
Speaker: Multiple SMEs Government, University and Industry of Unconventional Resources

Event Details:

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

The Houston Geological Society presents (now in it's fifth year)

An Applied Geoscience Conference (AGC) titled:

"Integrated Approaches to Unconventional Reservoir Assessment and Optimization"

Utilizing Mud rock systems characterization and considerations

for improved exploitation of gas and oil from Shale/Hybrid Reservoirs

To view the brochure, click here.

To view the Mudstone Speaker Lineup, click here .

To view Sponsorship opportunities, click here.

To download the Vendor form, click here.

NOTE TO VENDORS: Conference registration is not included.

The Westin Houston Memorial City

945 Gessner

Houston, TX 77024

NAPE Expo and International Pavilion on 21-Feb-12 8:30 AM

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:30:00 GMT

NAPE Expo and International Pavilion
Start Date: 21-Feb-12 8:30 AM
End Time: 24-Feb-12 5:30 PM
Location: George R Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas
Speaker: Spring Prospect Expo

Event Details:

NAPE Expo February 21-24 George R Brown Convention center

NAPE 2012 Schedule of Events

Wednesday, February 22
Business Conference 9am - 5pm
International Pavilion 9am - 5pm
Icebreaker Reception 5pm - 7pm

Thursday, February 23
Expo Open 8am - 5:30pm
NAPE Charities Industry Luncheon 11:45am - 1:15pm

Friday, February 24
Expo Open 8am - 1pm

International Pavilion at NAPE
February 21-24, 2012

Hosted in conjunction with NAPE Expo, the world’s largest prospect and property expo, the NEW 2012 International Pavilion Exhibition will provide an unparalleled showcase of today’s global exploration and investment opportunities. In addition to reviewing industry activity, attendees can preview current and upcoming licensing rounds, as well as make contacts with energy ministries, state licensing authorities and NOC executives. Attendees also will gain exclusive access to speakers on leading international trends and network with other international professionals.

The 2012 International Pavilion will offer an informative opening Global Briefing Session and hosted luncheon on the first day; an exhibition of over 75 exhibitors and detailed presentations of opportunities that span over 35 countries over the two day event; and exclusive networking at the International Pavilion Reception on opening night.

Schedule of Events
Tuesday, February 21
9:00 – 11:00        Opening Session GLOBAL BRIEFING
12:00 – 1:00        LUNCHEON
11:00 – 5:00        International Pavilion EXHIBITION
1:00 – 5:00          THEATRE - Exhibitor Presentations
           (in the Exhibition Hall)
5:00 – 7:00          International Pavilion RECEPTION
         (in the Exhibition Hall)

Wednesday, February 22
8:00 – 5:00           International Pavilion EXHIBITION
8:00 – 5:00           THEATRE - Exhibitor Presentations
           (in the Exhibition Hall)
5:00 – 7:00           NAPE Preview Party

Thursday, February 23
Joint International Pavilion & NAPE Exhibitions
8:00 – 5:00 International Pavilion Exhibition
8:00 – 5:00 NAPE Exhibition

Friday, February 24
Joint International Pavilion & NAPE Exhibitions
8:00 – 1:00 International Pavilion Exhibition
8:00 – 1:00 NAPE Exhibition

GLOBAL BRIEFING
The Tuesday opening session of the International Pavilion will focus on leading international trends from international experts and industry leaders.

IP THEATRE
View high-level presentations on worldwide E&P activities and opportunities from the International Pavilion exhibitors Tuesday and Wednesday.

George R Brown Convention Center

HGS NA Dinner - Source-rock plays and sequence stratigraphy on 27-Feb-12 5:30 PM

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:30:00 GMT

HGS NA Dinner - Source-rock plays and sequence stratigraphy
Start Date: 27-Feb-12 5:30 PM
End Time: 27-Feb-12 8:30 PM
Location: Hilton Houston Westchase, Houston, TX 77042
Speaker: Dr. Bruce Hart

Event Details:

Source-rock plays and sequence stratigraphy: What makes the best part of the best plays?

Dr. Bruce S. Hart, ConocoPhillips

Stratigraphic analyses of a variety of mudstone-dominated units demonstrate that the best production from source-rock plays (i.e., the reservoir is also the source rock) is usually from thermally mature, pelagic-rich strata that can be assigned to the transgressive systems tract and condensed section (TST/CS). They are often referred to as “black shales”, although clay minerals can form 20% or less of the rock. A high TOC content (typically Type I/II) made these strata potential source rocks, and biogenic silica and/or carbonate produced “brittle” rock that is suitable for hydraulic fracture stimulations. Where deposition from suspension dominated, relatively thin (< 10 m thick) stratigraphic units can be correlated over several to many 10s of km and generally show draping to divergent/convergent geometries. Rock properties are therefore unlikely to change significantly over the length of a typical horizontal completion (~ 1 km) in these suspension deposits, unless other complications (e.g., fractures) are present. However, changes in thickness, mineralogy, thermal maturity or other stratigraphic/geologic parameters over distances of several km to 10s of km will affect hydrocarbon generation, storage and production.

The lithologic and stratigraphic characteristics of the TST/CS strata differ considerably from progradational mudstones of the highstand systems tract (HST) and the lowstand systems tract (LST). The latter are characterized by higher clay contents and more detrital silicate/carbonate as silt or coarser grain sizes. The clay content generally makes these shales less brittle than the TST/CS units. These HST/LST mudstones have lower TOC contents than the TST/CS mudstones, and the organic matter is relatively enriched in terrestrial (Type III) constituents. These strata tend to be more heterolithic than the TST/CS mudstones, and may be arranged into submarine failure complexes, prodelta lobes or other stratigraphic features that can show rapid lateral variations in lithology and thickness. These characteristics generally make these HST strata poorer source rocks and more complex to development using horizontal wells than TST/CS mudstones.

Although the descriptions and interpretations presented above have general applicability (i.e. they are the “simple case”), these concepts commonly need to be modified to account for the wide variability in depositional setting, depositional history, and geologic age, represented by gas-productive mudstones.

Hilton Houston Westchase

9999 Westheimer Road

Houston, TX 77042

HGS General Lunch - Coastal Geomorphology Across the Northern Gulf of Mexico on 29-Feb-12 11:30 AM

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:30:00 GMT

HGS General Lunch - Coastal Geomorphology Across the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Start Date: 29-Feb-12 11:30 AM
End Time: 29-Feb-12 1:00 PM
Location: Petroleum Club of Houston, Houston, TX 77002
Speaker: Bryan P. Stephens

Event Details:

Basement Controls on Subsurface Geologic Patterns and Coastal Geomorphology Across the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Implications for Subsidence Studies and Coastal Restoration

speaker Bryan P. Stephens

United States Department of the Interior - BOEM

Of all the processes that have contributed to the depositional architecture and ongoing subsidence of the Mississippi Delta, tectonic subsidence is probably the least understood. Localized vertical movements in southeast Louisiana are, in part, manifestations of ordered, basin-scale structural patterns that have exercised a profound level of control on all subsequent geological processes, including recent coastal environments and ongoing

subsidence patterns.

The arrangement of structural elements across the northern Gulf of Mexico suggests the continental margin is segmented by northwest-southeast trending transfer fault zones related to Mesozoic rifting. Observations from a diverse collection of studies are used to document a framework of fourteen major transfer-fault delimited structural corridors, 25 to 40 miles in width, thought to be characterized by varying degrees of extension, crustal attenuation and tectonic subsidence. The corridors are more finely segmented by minor transfer fault trends which also exhibit regular and predictable lateral and vertical offsets that are reflected in the overlying Tertiary cover.

This study incorporates a seismic traverse from a recent proprietary offshore 3-D survey which images offsets in the basement surface corresponding to the transfer faults that trend into southeast Louisiana. Offshore examples illustrate the structural patterns resulting from the interaction of the basement structure, salt systems and Tertiary faults and can be used as analogs for the subsurface of South Louisiana.

Several examples along the northern Gulf Coast from Florida to southwest Louisiana are used to examine the apparent relationship between the transfer-fault delimited structural corridors and coastal geomorphology. Vertical movements related to these subsurface geologic patterns appear to influence the spatial arrangement of Holocene coastal environments.

Recognition of the ordered arrangement of basement structures, faults and salt systems may provide new insights into the depositional architecture of the Mississippi Delta. Subsurface geologic templates can serve as useful analogs for understanding subsidence patterns in southeast Louisiana and the relative contributions of compaction, faulting, salt withdrawal, and isostatic adjustments. Identification of areas of relative geologic stability may influence the selection of coastal restoration projects and inform plans for a sustainable coast.

Petroleum Club of Houston

800 Bell St Ste 4300

Houston, TX 77002

South-Central Section, GSA on 7-Mar-12 8:30 AM

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:30:00 GMT

South-Central Section, GSA
Start Date: 7-Mar-12 8:30 AM
End Time: 9-Mar-12 5:30 PM
Event Details:

CALL FOR PAPERS

Abstract deadline: 6 Dec. 2011
Contact:
Dee Ann Cooper, BS, MS, PG
Research Fellow, Non-vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory,
Texas Natural Science Center, University of Texas-Austin
Cell: (409 651-7619)
Address: 17890 Nonie Lane, Lumberton, TX 77657
Alternative email: deeanncooper@mail.utexas.edu

Please submit your abstract online (form will be available in October). An abstract submission fee of US$10 for students and US$15 for all others will be charged. If you cannot submit an abstract online, please contact Linda Battan, +1-303-357-1018, lbattan@geosociety.org. For any other questions, please contact the Technical Program Chair, Jim Whitford-Stark.

Symposia and Theme Sessions are listed below; we also welcome abstract submissions to discipline sessions.

SYMPOSIA

1. Big Bend National Park and Vicinity: A Decade of Research. Don Corrick, Big Bend National Park; Dee Ann and Roger Cooper, Lamar University and the Texas Natural Science Center, The University of Texas at Austin.
Big Bend National Park is well known for its spectacular geologic diversity, with rocks spanning in age from the Ordovician to the Quaternary and structures representing three major orogenies (Ouachita-Marathon, Laramide, and Basin and Range). This multidisciplinary session is intended to bring together researchers who have been working in and around Big Bend National Park, and to highlight new geologic information learned and mapping completed since the last meeting in Alpine in 2002. Both oral and poster sessions are planned.

THEME SESSIONS

1. Tectonic History of the Trans-Pecos Region.

A billion years of tectonic history are exposed in the Trans-Pecos region of far west Texas and southern New Mexico, from Precambrian Grenville rocks and structures to the Cenozoic Rio Grande Rift. This session will focus on work in petrology, structural geology, and geophysics that have contributed to our understanding of this tectonically complex and controversial region over the past decade.

2. The Rio Grande and Its Tributaries in the Big Bend Region: Hydrology, Water Quality, and Restoration Efforts.
Jeff Bennett and Joe Sirotnak, Big Bend National Park.

This session will focus on recent important work in the Big Bend region regarding hydrology and the environment. Presentations should focus on geomorphology, water quality/quantity and habitat restoration.

3. Long-Term Biogeochemical Responses to Global Change.

John Zak, Texas Tech University

4. The Permian of the Southwest.

This session is designed to focus on recent research in the Permian of west Texas and surrounding areas.

5. Aquifers of West Texas.

James Ward, Angelo State University.
This session will bring together recent research regarding the complex aquifer system of west Texas.

6. Geoarchaeological Investigations in the Big Bend Region, Southwestern Texas.

Andy Cloud, Center for Big Bend Studies, Sul Ross State University.

Recent archaeological and geoarchaeological investigations sponsored by the Center for Big Bend Studies of Sul Ross State University have greatly facilitated our understanding of human occupational zones within late Pleistocene and early to middle Holocene deposits in the Big Bend region of Southwestern Texas. This session will concentrate on findings dated through radiocarbon assays from the Early Paleoindian, Late Paleoindian, Early Archaic, and Middle Archaic periods, roughly spanning 7,000 years (ca. 11,000–4,000 B.P.).

7. Issues in Earth Science Education.

2012 Oil History Symposium on 8-Mar-12 8:30 AM

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:30:00 GMT

2012 Oil History Symposium
Start Date: 8-Mar-12 8:30 AM
End Time: 10-Mar-12 5:30 PM
Location: Hess Tower, Houston, Texas 77001
Speaker: Distinguished Speaker Panel

Event Details:

2012 Oil History Symposium – March 8-10, 2012

Hess Tower - Houston, Texas

register by mail --more information at www.petroleumhistory.org

Thursday (8th) evening icebreaker at the downtown Four Seasons Hotel

Oral & Poster Presentations, Friday (9th) at the Hess Tower

Friday evening (9th), Annual Awards Dinner (Four Seasons):

Saturday (10th) field trip (preliminary)

(Bus to depart Four Season Hotel @ 8:30 am)

Houston Museum of Natural Science's Weiss Energy Hall

Overview of Goose Creek oilfield: then and now

Ocean Star Rig Museum in Galveston

Oral & Poster Presentations, Friday (9th) at the Hess Tower

(Preliminary list of presentations):

THE HISTORY OF CRUDE OIL EARTHERN STORAGE IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS, 1901-1930- Mary L. Barrett

REVIVING THE ‘DEAD SEA': THE THIRTY-YEAR EFFORT TO TAP OIL IN THE DEEPWATER GULF OF MEXICO - Tyler Priest

THE HISTORY AND PETROLEUM SYSTEMS OF THE HUMBLE FIELD, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS - Daniel M. Jarvie

PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS AND A SMALL TOWN NEWSPAPER’S COVERAGE OF A LOCAL OIL BOOM – THE RACCOON BEND OIL FIELD, AUSTIN COUNTY, TEXAS - Jeff A. Spencer

OILFIELD MOVIES, THEIR THEATER POSTERS AND LOBBY CARDS – SELECTIONS FROM PRE-1975. (Poster Presentation) - Jeff A. Spencer

MAX STEINEKE (1898-1952): A PIONEER AMERICAN GEOLOGIST IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF OIL EXPLORATION IN SAUDI ARABIA - Rasoul Sorkhabi

“DISCOVERY THINKING” AND “GEO LEGENDS” IN THE VIDEO/DIGITAL AGE---IF A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS, A VIDEO IS WORTH A MILLION! - Charles A. Sternbach

CHERRY GROVE FIELD, WARREN COUNTY, PA: THE 646 "MYSTERY" WELL AND ITS AFTERMATH" - Ray Sorenson

P.C BOYLE ("THE VOICE OF OIL") - William Brice

HOW STANLEY WEINER GAVE THE PLANET A PLETHORA OF ENERGY - (Poster presentation) Charles Weiner

Friday evening (9th), Annual Awards Dinner (Four Seasons):

Herbert Hunt and Bill Gipson, honored with the COLONEL EDWIN L. DRAKE LEGENDARY OILMAN AWARD

Mary Barrett and Charles Sternbach, recipients of the SAMUEL T. PEES KEEPER OF THE FLAME AWARD

Marilyn Black and Maureen Leech, recipients of the DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

The mission of the PETROLEUM HISTORY INSTITUTE is to pursue the history, heritage and development of the modern oil industry from its 1859 inception in Oil Creek Valley, Pennsylvania, to its early roots in other regions in North America and the subsequent spread throughout the world to its current global status. The PETROLEUM HISTORY INSTITUTE is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, and all donations are thereby tax deductible. For more on the creation of the PETROLEUM HISTORY INSTITUTE, please see "Passing the Torch" by Larry Woodfork, Oil-Industry History, v. 4 (2003), p. 2.

To promote public awareness of the history and heritage of the international oil and gas industry through OIL-INDUSTRY HISTORY, the only journal devoted exclusively to this history, symposia of professional presentations, guided field trips through regions rich in oil history, and through a re-print series of out-of-print books that have played an important role in the development of the industry.

Hess Tower

1501 McKinney

Houston, Texas 77001

HGS General Dinner- Outer Shelf Deposits in a Gas-Shale Reservoir Analog on 12-Mar-12 5:30 PM

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 22:30:00 GMT

HGS General Dinner- Outer Shelf Deposits in a Gas-Shale Reservoir Analog
Start Date: 12-Mar-12 5:30 PM
End Time: 12-Mar-12 8:30 PM
Location: Hilton Houston Westchase, Houston, TX 77042
Speaker: Daniel Minisini

Hilton Houston Westchase

9999 Westheimer Road

Houston, TX 77042

HGS Bulletin Deadline for May 2012 Issue on 14-Mar-12 8:30 AM

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:30:00 GMT

HGS Bulletin Deadline for May 2012 Issue
Start Date: 14-Mar-12 8:30 AM
End Time: 14-Mar-12 5:30 PM

HGS E&E Dinner - Due Diligence for Sustainable Development of Unconventional Oil & Gas Resources on 14-Mar-12 5:30 PM

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:30:00 GMT

HGS E&E Dinner - Due Diligence for Sustainable Development of Unconventional Oil & Gas Resources
Start Date: 14-Mar-12 5:30 PM
End Time: 14-Mar-12 5:30 PM
Location: Black Lab in the Churchill Room, Houston, TX 77006
Speaker: William C. "Bill" Spence, EWM

Event Details:

The shale industry is under scrutiny. The new operating environment requires company exercise a higher standard of care in conducting operations. This presentation will address the need to perform due diligence and describe ERM’s unique front end loaded approach to due diligence to sustainable development of unconventional oil and gas resources. Bill Spence has provided transaction oversight to approximately 20 unconventional oil and gas plays in North America.

Black Lab in the Churchill Room

4100 Montrose Blvd.

Houston, TX 77006

HGS Int'l Dinner - Stratigraphy of the Barents Sea on 19-Mar-12 5:30 PM

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 22:30:00 GMT

HGS Int'l Dinner - Stratigraphy of the Barents Sea
Start Date: 19-Mar-12 5:30 PM
End Time: 19-Mar-12 8:30 PM
Location: Hilton Houston Westchase, Houston, TX 77042
Speaker: Heather Stilwell

Event Details:

New insights on stratigraphy of Triassic / Jurassic sequences in the Barents Sea.

speaker: Heather Stilwell , Chemostrat

The Barents Sea is a complex mosaic of basins and platforms that have been the recipients of intracontinental sediments from early Triassic (c.240mya) to ealy Cenozoic (c. 60mya). In Norwegian waters there is proven resources of 260-300 billion cubic meters of gas and minor oil, with most reserves being in Jurassic, and to a lesser extent Triassic sandstones. Historically, development of the area has been slow, due largely to its gas-prone system. However, with the continued development of new and improved LNG technologies, gas-prone areas, such as the Barents Sea are experiencing a rapid increase in exploration activity.

The oldest successions (Lower Triassic) consist of NE-SW trending, distal marine shales occurring in the centre of the basin, with shallow marine to deltaic and coastal deposits being found on its north-western and south-eastern flanks. There were repeated cycles of deltaic progradation to the west during middle to late Triassic times and by the middle Jurassic, the deltaic deposits had filled the basin, with the establishment of an extensive coastal plain. A lack of well control, marked lateral facies variations, multiple sediment input points and a paucity of biostratigraphic markers all combine and to result in a stratigraphically challenging basin. Without a well define and robust stratigraphic framework, understanding any basin development is impossible and exploration risks are high.

A major stratigraphic study, the results of which will be detailed in this presentation, has been undertaken to improve the understanding of Triassic to Middle Jurassic stratigraphy in the Barents Sea, The primary stratigraphic method employed is chemical stratigraphy, a tool that lends itself to basins such as the Barents Sea, where sediments are largely continental in nature. Additional information on lithostratigraphy, mineralogy, provenance, sediment input points will all be discussed and integrated into the stratigraphic model. This work has provided the building blocks for a stable reference framework into which exploration and development wells can be placed this new, but challenging petroleum province.

Hilton Houston Westchase

9999 Westheimer Road

Houston, TX 77042

HGS NA Dinner - The Impact of Chicxulub on the Deep-Water GoM on 26-Mar-12 5:30 AM

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:30:00 GMT

HGS NA Dinner - The Impact of Chicxulub on the Deep-Water GoM
Start Date: 26-Mar-12 5:30 AM
End Time: 26-Mar-12 8:30 PM
Location: Hilton Houston Westchase, Houston, TX 77042
Speaker: Erik Scott

Hilton Houston Westchase

9999 Westheimer Road

Houston, TX 77042

HGS General Lunch - Sub-aerial Basins Below Sea Level Provide Unexpected Reservoirs on 28-Mar-12 11:30 AM

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:30:00 GMT

HGS General Lunch - Sub-aerial Basins Below Sea Level Provide Unexpected Reservoirs
Start Date: 28-Mar-12 11:30 AM
End Time: 28-Mar-12 1:00 PM
Location: Petroleum Club of Houston, Houston, TX 77002
Speaker: Martin Cassidy

Petroleum Club of Houston

800 Bell St Ste 4300

Houston, TX 77002

HGS General Dinner- TBA on 9-Apr-12 5:30 PM

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:30:00 GMT

HGS General Dinner- TBA
Start Date: 9-Apr-12 5:30 PM
End Time: 9-Apr-12 8:30 PM
Location: Hilton Houston Westchase, Houston, TX 77042

Hilton Houston Westchase

9999 Westheimer Road

Houston, TX 77042

HGS E&E Dinner - TBA on 11-Apr-12 5:30 PM

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:30:00 GMT

HGS E&E Dinner - TBA
Start Date: 11-Apr-12 5:30 PM
End Time: 11-Apr-12 8:30 PM
Location: Black Lab in the Churchill Room, Houston, TX 77006
Speaker: TBA

Black Lab in the Churchill Room

4100 Montrose Blvd.

Houston, TX 77006

HGS Northsiders Lunch - TBA on 17-Apr-12 11:30 AM

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:30:00 GMT

HGS Northsiders Lunch - TBA
Start Date: 17-Apr-12 11:30 AM
End Time: 17-Apr-12 1:00 PM
Location: Crownn Plaza Greenspoint, Houston, TX 77060
Speaker: TBA

Crownn Plaza Greenspoint

425 NORTH SAM HOUSTON PKWY E

Houston, TX 77060

HGS Calendar Events RSS Feed

HGS General Dinner- New Geochemical Data Show Methane in N.E. Pennsylvania Water Wells is Unrelated to Hydraulic Fracturing on 6-Feb-12 5:30 PM

New Geochemical Data Show Methane in N.E. Pennsylvania

Water Wells is Unrelated to Hydraulic Fracturing

HGS E&E Dinner - Near-Surface Geophysical Applications to the Geological Wonders of Central and South Texas. on 8-Feb-12 5:30 PM

HGS International Dinner - PSDM imaging of the Petroleum Systems of the South Atlantic on 13-Feb-12 5:30 PM

HGS Bulletin Deadline for April 2012 Issue on 15-Feb-12 8:30 AM

HGS Short Course-Critical Analysis of Shale Plays on 16-Feb-12 8:30 AM

HGS Applied Geoscience Mudrocks Conference (AGC) on 20-Feb-12 8:00 AM

NAPE Expo and International Pavilion on 21-Feb-12 8:30 AM

NAPE 2012 Schedule of Events

International Pavilion at NAPE February 21-24, 2012

HGS NA Dinner - Source-rock plays and sequence stratigraphy on 27-Feb-12 5:30 PM

HGS General Lunch - Coastal Geomorphology Across the Northern Gulf of Mexico on 29-Feb-12 11:30 AM

Basement Controls on Subsurface Geologic Patterns and Coastal Geomorphology Across the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Implications for Subsidence Studies and Coastal Restoration

South-Central Section, GSA on 7-Mar-12 8:30 AM

2012 Oil History Symposium on 8-Mar-12 8:30 AM

HGS General Dinner- Outer Shelf Deposits in a Gas-Shale Reservoir Analog on 12-Mar-12 5:30 PM

HGS Bulletin Deadline for May 2012 Issue on 14-Mar-12 8:30 AM

HGS E&E Dinner - Due Diligence for Sustainable Development of Unconventional Oil & Gas Resources on 14-Mar-12 5:30 PM

HGS Int'l Dinner - Stratigraphy of the Barents Sea on 19-Mar-12 5:30 PM

New insights on stratigraphy of Triassic / Jurassic sequences in the Barents Sea.

speaker: Heather Stilwell , Chemostrat

HGS NA Dinner - The Impact of Chicxulub on the Deep-Water GoM on 26-Mar-12 5:30 AM

HGS General Lunch - Sub-aerial Basins Below Sea Level Provide Unexpected Reservoirs on 28-Mar-12 11:30 AM

HGS General Dinner- TBA on 9-Apr-12 5:30 PM

HGS E&E Dinner - TBA on 11-Apr-12 5:30 PM

HGS Northsiders Lunch - TBA on 17-Apr-12 11:30 AM

International Pavilion at NAPE
February 21-24, 2012