Greetings, fellow HGS members,
This is the second-to-last Bulletin for me as your editor. I thought I would summarize some of the themes and “advice” that have run through the articles this past season. In September 2024, the first issue, I introduced myself and offered four things I’ve learned over the 46 years I've been in the industry.
1) “Have a passion for your craft. " I mean, attempt to learn something every day, not only in your specialty field but also in the fundamentals of other specialties. These specialties include, but are not limited to, geochemistry, basin modeling, geophysics, rock properties, paleontology, and mud logging descriptions. Understanding the assumptions of your other team members' specialties will help you guide your model more effectively. But try not to fall into the dogmatic trap.
2) Always ask questions, no matter how basic they may seem to you, as that’s where you can advance your learning the most.
3) Are we providing opportunities for others to express their opinions and encouraging them, especially when they perceive things differently? Collaborating together helps everyone learn.
4) Don’t forget dry holes, not just your company's but also those drilled by others. Dry holes will provide critical data, not only at the targeted level but throughout the well. That’s where other play ideas or missed opportunities can also lie.
In writing the feature article this month, I realized some things I hadn’t anticipated. The story I wrote covered the time frame from 1930 to 1973 (when I began my geology undergrad degree). This 43-year period is nearly equal to my career span, or one generation. The advancements made during this generation were remarkable. More importantly, I felt frustrated while researching this article; I wanted to find original references on source rock presence in what we now know are several intervals in the Mesozoic. I did not consider that many of the exploration wells drilled in the early 1930s were “randomly” drilled; or based on a “promoter” who generated his money by overselling shares of an oil well and then hoping for a dry hole. However, many bona fide oil companies used technology throughout the 30s through the 60s. But there was limited documentation of source rock, except for oil found in the Smackover formation, with the assumption that it was the primary source. After all, it lies at the bottom of the section, so what else could charge it unless the presalt formations had a source rock? During that time, wells penetrated the presalt Eagle Mills formation as Shearer (1938) defined, but the sediments were non-source rock and consisted of dry continental deposits.
So, out of desperation, I took my own advice and contacted other experts in the field who might provide insight into my difficulty in finding documentation. Steve Walkinshaw of Vision Exploration LLC, an onshore Mississippi and Gulf Coast expert, told me that there was perhaps a blind spot that I had not considered. In the early days, shallower wells only penetrated fluvial to marginal marine rock, so they didn’t see the deeper water source rocks. But Steve said something else, which I have highlighted: experts informed him during his early career that the Smackover formation was the sole source rock located onshore. Steve said he highly respected these mentors but “was skeptical” of the idea. Maintaining a healthy level of skepticism, complemented by thorough questioning and dialogue, is essential for achieving significant breakthroughs in understanding.
This month, HGS is offering two short courses. Each course provides an opportunity to enhance your subject knowledge. Even if it's not your specialty, you can learn some fundamentals that others use in their craft; a better understanding of their assumptions will improve collaboration when refining a model. On May 19th, you can attend a course titled “Carbonate Reservoir Characterization with Lucia Petrophysics. " This course offers rock typing and integrates geology with petrophysical techniques. The other course this month is on May 29th, which you can attend in person or via Zoom, titled “Analytical Organic Geochemistry for Energy and Environmental Applications.” You can sign up on the HGS website.
Until next month, best wishes to you all.
Ted Godo