January, 1999 HGS Meetings Calendar

January, 1999HGS Meetings

HGS Dinner Meeting
Preserving geology in reservoir modeling; a prectical application of stochastic modeling in heterogeneous reservoirs

Author: Jeffrey Yarus, PhD (Smedvig Technologies)Date: Monday Jan. 11, 1998 Place: Westchase Hilton, 9999 Westheimer Time: 5:30 Social 6:30 Dinner

Abstract:
Reservoir characterization is a difficult task particularly in the presence of limited well data. For example, modeling a field with good vertical resolution can present a problem if there are few wells, even in the presence of a 3D seismic survey. This, however, does not necessarily change the demand for immediate detailed information due to imposing deadlines for field development, limited time-windows of rig availability, seasonal constraints, or foreign government requirements. In the presence of such imposing deadlines, it is not uncommon to find the geologic model poorly constructed or even bypassed in lieu of a petrophysical model, the primary input to a reservoir simulator. Numerous pitfalls lie in a hasty approach, and resulting models are often found to be less than satisfactory and potentially the cause of a costly mistake.
The key to modeling such data is in the judicious use of geostatistics, blending both qualitative and quantitative information. For example, quantitative information from the well data can be used to supply vertical detail while seismic data and/or conceptual geologic models can supply information about horizontal continuity, geologic trends, or sequence stratigraphic constraints. The result is a detailed three-dimensional computer model that can be used for constructing reservoir fluid flow studies and a plan of development. While integrating the geologic detail into the model takes time, it is more efficient and less costly than running the model a second time, correctly. In this presentation, different methodologies are demonstrated from actual case histories.
Biographical Sketch:
Jeffrey M. Yarus was born in 1951 in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1969, he began his formal studies in Geology at the College of Wooster in Ohio. During his junior year, Yarus was awarded an opportunity to study geology at the University of Durham, England. Upon completion of this special program, he returned to Wooster and received his B.A. degree with honors in 1973. In September of that year, he Yarus began his graduate studies at Michigan State University under the supervision of Dr. Robert Ehrlich. At Michigan State, Yarus first developed his interest in computer mapping and numerical and statistical analysis.
Yarus followed Ehrlich to the University of South Carolina, where he finished his M.S. degree and continued through the Ph.D. program in geology. Yarus joined Amoco Production Company in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1977 as a production geologist for the Gulf Coast Region. In 1980, he left Amoco and moved to Denver, Colorado, where he worked in the independent oil business for eight years. As an independent, Yarus worked a variety of domestic basins in the Rockies, mid-continent, and the Appalachian regions.
In 1988, Yarus was hired by Marathon Oil Company''s Petroleum Technology Center as a Senior Mathematical Geologist. At Marathon, he played a major role in instituting the desktop computer mapping and geostatistical technology. He was responsible for providing training and consulting in this area for the entire company. Yarus left Marathon Oil Company in 1994 and joined GeoGraphix, Inc. as Manager of Customer Services. In 1996, he Joined GEOMATH, Inc. as the manager of Reservoir Characterization. Yarus has written a variety of papers and taught courses on computer mapping and applied statistical methods. His professional contributions are many, and include the AAPG edited volume entitled, Stochastic Modeling and Geostatistics; Principles, Methods, and Case Studies. Today, he works for Smedvig Technologies, Inc. in Houston, Texas where he is the Manager of Advanced Reservoir Characterization, support and services.

HGS Environmental / Engineering Section Dinner Meeting
"TITLE RESEARCH: Unraveling the Environmental Record"

Author: Ms. Kelli Gorman, Co-owner of BAST Research Services, Inc. Date: January 13, 1999 Place: Jalapeno''s - 2702 Kirby (at Westheimer) Time: 6:00 - 7:00 PM - Dinner; 7:00 - 8:30 PM Lecture, Career Opportunities, and NetworkingCost: $16.00 per person for a full dinner including tip. Dinner is optional.

Abstract:
Title research is the examination of public records to disclose facts regarding the ownership of real estate. The title, or evidence of ownership, is recorded for public record at the county courthouse. Determining a property''s title history requires an examination of all documents filed for public record on the subject property. This includes the records of the Appraisal District, County Clerk, County Tax Assessor, and can include a review of deeds, mortgages, wills, litigation, and property taxes. The challenge is the ability to find these documents and construct a chain-of-title when provided only a minimum of information and working with a public record system that can be vague and inconsistent.
Fight the post-holiday blues and come have dinner with us as we dress as Sherlock Holmes and explore the dark, musty basements of public civil service (Flashlight not needed).
Biographical Sketch:
Ms. Gorman founded BAST Research Services, Inc. in 1994 and has worked in the title industry for twelve years specializing in researching titles for real estate transactions.
At the conclusion of the lecture, all interested people are invited to attend a meeting to outline the design of a compendium of geology for the City of Houston. This is an important project that will need volunteers to research and write on various topics such as depostional history, structure, stratigraphy, and geomorphology as they apply to the area we live in work in.

International Dinner Meeting
The Western End of the Jebilet High Atlas System, the Onshore and Offshore Essaouira Basin (Morocco), and the Virtually Unexplored Cap Tafelnay Folded Belt

Authors: Mohamad Hafid, University Ibn Tofail, Kenitra, Morocco.Albert W. Bally, Rice University, Houston Date: Monday Jan. 18, 1999 Place: Westchase Hilton, 9999 Westheimer Time: 5:30 Social 6:30 Dinner

Abstract:
Note: The figures from the Bulletin article did not reproduce well here on this web page. Please refer to the January, 1999 issue of the Bulletin to view the figures.
Introduction
East of Marrakech, the High Atlas of Morocco splits into a northern Jebilet and a western High Atlas branch. The onshore Essaouira basin is between these two branches (Fig. 1). Gas and condensate production is from structures involving Triassic-lower Liassic siliciclastics in the Meskala and Zelten fields and from fractured Jurassic carbonates in the Toukimt, Jeer, N''dark, and Kechoula fields. The same fractured carbonates produce oil in the Sidi Rhalem field. Anhydrites form the seal of these petroleum traps. Broughton and Trepanier (1993) established the presence of Carboniferous and Oxfordian petroleum source beds onshore.
Offshore, the Atlas system intersects the Atlantic passive margin of Morocco. A Mesozoic carbonate shelf margin paral- lels the coast, but locally changes into an E-W direction at the latitude of Essaouira (Fig. 1). The right-angle intersection of a folded belt with a coeval passive margin is unusual and rai