September 2004 HGS Bulletin  in PDF format (3.0 megabytes)
Regular Monthly Articles:

• From the President
• From the Editor
• Webnotes
• HGA/GeoWives

Feature Articles:

• The Barnett in My Backyard—Damnit!
• Houston in the 20th Century Program
• Seismic Considerations for Classifying Proven Resources/Reserves: W. Africa Example
• 2004 HGS Grand Canyon Trip
• HGS Guest Night 2004 a Huge Success with a Mars Rover Theme
• President’s Night 2004
• HGS International Explorationists Group Gives Best Paper Award to Bill Ambrose
• Big Rocks Found in Houston

Abstracts of Monthly Meetings:

• Play Concepts in an Emerging Major Hydrocarbon Province in the Ultra-Deep Water Gulf of Mexico
• High Resolution Aeromagnetic Evidence for Deep Seated Structural and Fault Control on Hydrocarbon Entrapment and New Oil and Gas Targets—East Texas and Northwest Louisiana
• New AVO Classification to Develop High Quality Prospects in the Gulf Coast
• Key Challenges to Realizing Full Potential in an Emerging Giant Gas Province: Nile Delta/Mediterranean Offshore, Deep Water, Egypt
• What is MSD?
• Positioning for Exploration Success in the Upstream Petroleum Business
• Understanding Growth-Faulted, Intraslope Sub-basins and Associated Reservoir Targets by Applying Sequence Stratigraphic Principles: Examples from the South Texas Oligocene Frio Formation
• Predicting Future Product Prices

Houston in the 21st Century Seminar Program
by Richard Howe
The purpose of these seminars is to educate the public on technical issues that affect them and to provide a forum for technical exchange between scientists and engineers in the private sector, academicians, and technocrats.The Engineering, Science, and Technology Council of Houston (ECH) is sponsoring a series of seminars that will address the various technical issues that are affectting and will affect the Houston Metropolitan Area in the 21st Century. This program of seminars is entitled "Houston in the 21st Century." ECH hopes to hold one to two seminars each year. The first seminar of the series is scheduled September 11, 2004 and will address flooding. Other proposed topics include: coastal subsidence, transportation, water resources and distribution, air quality, expansive clays and their impact on construction, emerging health and medical challenges and their impact on the quality of life, and regional energy requirements and power distribution. 
[Note inserted by HGS Webmaster: The seminars are free and reservations are not required.  Seminars in this series will be posted on the HGS Website calendar.]The purpose of these seminars is to educate the public on technical issues that affect them and to provide a forum for technical exchange between scientists and engineers in the private sector, academicians and technocrats. Members of the public with interests specific to the seminar topic, elected officials, the news media, the science and engineering community and science educators are invited to attend. The format of the meeting is non-political and no particular views or ideologies will be advanced. ECH is an umbrella organization of twenty-two engineering, science and technological societies located in Houston. Many of these organizations are local chapters of national societies. ECH''s function is to advance engineering, science and technology through education and interdisciplinary communication. ECH was originally founded in 1948 as the Engineering Council of Houston, hence the "ECH" acronym. Initially an engineering society, ECH expanded its enrollment over the following decades to include scientific and technological societies. In 1995 ECH formally changed its name to the Engineering, Science, and Technology Council of Houston. ECH''s educational efforts include co-sponsoring the Science and Engineering Fair of Houston and summer internships at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. ECH annually presents excellence in education awards for area secondary school science and math programs. ECH is currently developing a mentor program that will foster interest among young people in science and engineering. ECH helped establish the memorial to the crew of Space Shuttle Challenger at Tranquility Park and is currently developing a similar memorial for the crew of Columbia. Claudia Ludwig and Richard Howe are HGS''s representatives to ECH. Claudia is a past-president of ECH and Richard is this year''s president of ECH.

 
August NeoGeos NewsThere are several great opportunities to be had in late August and early September! Check them out!
******************************************************************************************************************************************  
First, we'll be having a NeoGeos end of summer social on Tuesday, August 31st at the Velvet Melvin,
3303 Richmond Ave.  Houston, TX 77001 Phone : 713-522-6798. (There will be drink specials that night. )****************************************************************************************************************************************** 
Packaging and Selling your Prospect:
Geoscience, Land and Financial ReturnA How-To Guide for Presenting Prospectsto Management and Investors
Thursday, September 16, 2004   ****Pre-registration has been extended until August 27th!!****1:00 - 5:00 p.m. George R. Brown Convention CenterYou have a great prospect--so why didn't your management buy it? This course will show you how to package and present your prospect so management and/or investors. The course is designed for early career geoscientists and anyone who wants to improve their prospect presentation skills. How to package your information to show:·       Geoscience information: what to show (maps, seismic, type logs, stratigraphy)·       When and how to present regional information·       Land: what's important, how to show it·       Engineering and financial: what''s important, how to show it.Risk: Understanding the basics and know your audience: How presenting to corporate management is different from presenting to investors, and a primarily technical audience.The instructors will be experienced experts from HGS, SIPES, and AAPG. Pre-registrants will also receive a free pass to APPEX for Thursday morning, 8-12 am.http://www.appex.aapg.orgCost: $100 pre-registration to members of AAPG, HGS, or SIPES $115 pre-registration to non-members $135 walk-up registrationRegister with : Michelle Mayfield Gentzen   --   APPEX/Leadership Service ManagerP.O. Box 979Tulsa, OK 74101ph: 918/560-2618email: mmayfiel@aapg.orgFREE registration is offered to one NeoGeo member who acts as a volunteer for this course!!!Call or email Matthew Boyd for more information on volunteering.
For additional information on the NeoGeos, contact Natalie Uschner.

Houston Geological Society NewsletterAugust, 2004
Notices and Reminders

HGS Activities This Month

Technofest
The 8th Annual HGS Technofest will be August 19th this year, at the Westchase Hilton.
This is a fun and educational way to view the latest technology and research presented by approximately 40 vendors in an exhibit-hall style display. It’s also a great place to see old friend/colleagues, socialize, and network. There will be finger foods, a limited-time sponsored bar (first come first served – one ticket each!)  and a cash bar.
Cost: $5.00 Members, $10.00 Non-Members. Non-members can apply for membership and pay your dues at the door and save $5.00 on the entrance fee!! Pre-register on the HGS Website by noon tomorrow (18 August) for faster entry.
Hope to see you there!!!!

Other Notes

HGS Golf Tournament in September
Make plans now for the HGS Golf Tournament on Monday, September 20th at Kingwood and Deerwood country clubs.
Download the details and registration form, fill in your foursome and course choices, and send it to the HGS office with $125 per person before the deadline. Sign up by the end of August to assure a spot. Reservations will be acknowledged by telephone call during the week of September 5th-11th.  Make checks payable to the HGS Entertainment Fund.
Companies or individuals interested in sponsoring the HGS Golf Tournament should contact Al Filipov or call him at (713) 818-8466 for details.

Houston Flooding Seminar in September
A free seminar on Houston flooding will be held September 11th from 9:00am to 3:00pm at Cy-Fair College. The seminar is sponsored by the Engineering, Science & Technology Council of Houston and Harris County Flood Control District.  Reservations are not required.
For more details, see the HGS September Calendar or download the descriptive flyer.

3rd African E&P Conference in September
The Third African E&P Conference will be held in London September 7th and 8th at the QE2 Conference Center.  Pre-registration is past but you can register at the door.

APPEX in September
APPEX 2004 , the AAPG Prospect and Property Exposition, co-sponsored by the HGS and SIPES, will be held in Houston at the George R. Brown Convention Center September 14th through 16th.

2004-2005 HGS Dues

HGS dues notices for 2004-2005 were mailed to current members in June.  If you  were current in your dues for 2003-2004 and have not received your renewal notice, contact the HGS office.

Published August 17th, 2004

Use of Well Logs in Seismic Reservoir Characterization
This is a paper given by Dr. Joel Walls to the SIPES luncheon meeting 21 October, 2004.
Abstract
Seismic Reservoir Characterization, also known as reservoir geophysics, has evolved over the past several years into a multi-disciplinary, business-critical function in most ED&P organizations. Sheriff defines reservoir geophysics as "The use of geophysical methods to assist in delineating or describing a reservoir or monitoring the changes in a reservoir as it is produced." Reservoir geophysics is applied across a wide spectrum of the oilfield life cycle from discovery and early development to tertiary recovery. One critical part of this process is careful analysis and understanding of petrophysical properties from well logs and core data (seismic petrophysics).
This presentation will illustrate why seismic petrophysics is so important and to show how carefully constructed synthetic models can help the geoscientist interpret acoustic and elastic impedance inversion from seismic data.

Generalized Seismic Petrophysics Workflow
Seismic Petrophysics can be performed on single or multiple wells and consists of the following basic steps.
Geophysical Well Log Analysis (GWLA)

Collect and organize input data, reservoir conditions, and fluid propertiesPerform geophysical log interpretation for volume minerals, porosity, and fluids over entire wellEdit logs and perform mud filtrate invasion correction (as needed)Generate missing curves (for example Shear Wave Velocity)

Perturb reservoir properties using rock physics effective medium models and compute new Vp, Vs, density curves.

Fluid SaturationPorosityLithologyNet/gross

AVO responseAcoustic impedance (AI) and elastic impedance (EI)Other seismic attributes as needed

Stacked synthetics before and after corrections for mus filtrate invasion and wellbore washout
Biography
Joel Walls obtained his PhD in geophysics from Stanford University in 1983. He has been active in research and technical services related to core analysis, rock physics, and seismic reservoir characterization. Dr. Walls founded PetroSoft Inc. in 1992 to bring rock physics technology to the desktop. Rock Solid Images (RSI) was founded in 1998 from the merger of PetroSoft Inc., Seismic Research Corp., and Discovery Bay. RSI has 30 employees in Houston and Oslo Norway. Dr. Walls is Vice President of New Business Development.

The AAPG's annual award of $5,000 will be given to a K-12 teacher for Excellence in the Teaching of Natural Resources in the Earth Sciences. The award for 2004 will be given at the 2005 Annual Meeting in Calgary and again will be sponsored by the AAPG Foundation.
Details on the award are listed on the AAPG Website.  Mike Deming is the HGS coordinator for selection a local winner.  Get your nominations to Mike well before the November 1, 2004 deadline for submission to Tulsa.

Shushufindi Field, Oriente Basin:  Ecuador’s Giant Revisited
J.FORNEY (Speaker), H.SAN MARTIN, P.ENWERE, J.VEGA, P.ACUNA, J.OCHOACore Laboratories, Houston, TX and Petroproducción, Quito, Ecuador
This is the abstract of a talk given to the HGS International Explorationists Group on October 18, 2004.
ABSTRACT
Shushufindi Field, Ecuador’s giant, was discovered by Texaco in 1970 and has already produced over one billion barrels of oil from Cenomanian and Turonian age estuarine and marginal marine sands of the Napo Formation. The structure is a 30-kilometer long anticline bounded to the east by a north-south trending reverse fault.
When Shushufindi was returned to Petroproducción after 20 years of development and production, the field was experiencing significant water breakthrough and there was little documented understanding of the reservoirs and the field’s compartmentalization.  Now, nearly 30 years after its discovery, a clear model of the field is emerging. Refer to the index map of eastern Ecuador (144kb) for location information. The U and T intervals of the Napo Formation represent two cycles of regression and transgression:  The sequence boundaries at the base of the U Inferior and T Inferior reservoirs are typically erosional events at Shushufindi, associated with Cenomanian and Turonian sea level lowstands.  As sea level started to rise again, estuarine and nearshore facies of the U Inferior and T Inferior reservoirs were deposited in areas within the incised valleys.  The U Superior and T Superior reservoirs, along with the A and B limestones are primarily marine deposits deposited later during the transgression.
Using best practice methods summarized below, a high quality reservoir model has been constructed for Shushufindi Field, which has been used in the reservoir simulation to understand the field’s behavior and to optimize its future production.
Incised valley and channel incisions of the U and T sequence boundaries were defined using 2D seismic. The estuarine reservoirs are deposited within the valleys, partially compartmentalizing the field. 

• 
  An inherited NW and NE structural grain controls the location of incised valleys and channel systems. Local accommodation space and the proximity of the shoreface influence facies distributions.
  
• 
  Six distinct estuarine and near marine facies were identified and characterized based on the core data from 20 wells. These facies correspond closely to the hydraulic units of the field.
  
• 
  A neural network model was developed between the core facies and log data. Facies were then modeled for each well; and facies maps were constructed.
  
• 
  The relationship between porosity and permeability was established for each facies based on core measurements. Using these relationships, permeability curves were computed from the porosity curves. 
  
• 
  Reservoir models were built using well and seismic controlled isopachs and depth maps, coupled with petrophysically-derived hydrocarbon pore volumes. 
  
• 
  Relative permeability data and pressure data were often erratic but interpretable in context of the channel systems and facies:  For example, U Inferior’s pressure histories are more consistent when grouped along a channel system, suggesting partial compartmentalization of the reservoir.

HGS Internationalists NewsletterAugust, 2004

Two Reminders:London Travel and International Directory Update

LONDON: PESGB/HGS Africa04 Conference
 
Make travel arrangements now to attend 3rd PESGB/HGS International Conference on African E & P at QE2 Conference Centre, London, September 7th-8th, 2004 "Africa: The Continent of Challenge and Opportunity”.
 
Full details of program at PESGB website and a link to list of Hotels available from EXPOTEL travel agent.

 Update Your Directory Entry by Monday
 

Data from the HGS Website will be downloaded to create the 2004 version of the HGS International Explorationists Directory on Tuesday morning, August 17th.
 
Please confirm that your information is current before the end of the day, Monday, August 16th.
 
See details and instructions in HGS Internationalists Newsletter -- July, 2004. 

If you have questions please contact:

Al Danforth al.danforth@att.net (713) 502 2766.

Published August 13, 2004

Understanding Growth-Faulted, Intraslope Subbasins and Associated Reservoir Targetsby Applying Sequence Stratigraphic Principles:Examples from the South Texas Oligocene Frio Formation
A paper presented at the HGS North American Explorations Dinner on 27 September, 2004.
Robert G. Loucks, L. Frank Brown, Jr., Ramón H. Treviño, and Ursula Hammes. Bureau of Economic Geology, John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, University Station Box X, Austin, Texas 78713-8924.
Abstract:
Detailed analysis of Oligocene Frio Formation intraslope growth-faulted subbasins in the Corpus Christi, Texas, area indicates that deposition during relative lowstands of sea level was the main initiator, or “trigger,” of growth faulting. Lowstand depocenters on the low-gradient upper continental slope comprising basin-floor-fan facies, slope-fan systems, and prograding lowstand delta systems exerted sufficient gravity stress to trigger major sections of outer shelf and upper slope strata to fail and move basinward. The faults sole out deep in the basin, and rotation of hanging-wall blocks mobilized deep-water muds and forced the mud basinward and upward to form mud (shale) ridges that constitute the basinward flank of intraslope subbasins overlying footwall fault blocks.
Lowstand sedimentation associated with third-order falls of relative sea level produced load stress that triggered major regional syndepositional growth-fault systems. Subbasins on the downthrown side of each arcuate fault segment composing a regional fault system were filled during a single lowstand of sea level. Consequently, genetically similar but diachronous lowstand depositional systems filled each successive growth-faulted subbasin trend. The subbasin development and fill extended the Frio shelf edge stepwise into the Oligocene Gulf of Mexico Basin. Thus each successive, basinward subbasin was younger than the previous landward subbasin.
Lithostratigraphic Frio and Anahuac strata comprise six chronostratigraphic, third-order depositional sequences (~32.0–23.38 Ma) and myriad fourth- and fifth-order sequences or parasequence sets. Except for incised valley fills, lowstand tracts comprise off-shelf systems deposited within active, growth-faulted, intraslope subbasins. Off-shelf and on-shelf deposition are temporally unique. Maximum Anahuac flooding (~24.57 Ma) provided a regional, dated marker to which latest published ages of sequence surfaces were calibrated. Maximum flooding surfaces and type 1 unconformities are essentially isochronous, but sand-rich lithofacies are mostly diachronous.
Sequence-stratigraphic analyses of Oligocene (Frio Formation) growth-faulted subbasins in Corpus Christi Bay and offshore Mustang Island demonstrate that current exploration targets compose sand-rich, proximal, deltaic, prograding wedge, and incised-valley-fill sandstones, respectively. Postdepositional crestal faults on rollover anticlines provide reservoir trapping mechanisms. Wireline-log facies of productive reservoirs in the subbasins are genetically similar, but more than 10 mi (> 15 km) apart, and several major faults separate successive subbasins. A methodology is presented that incorporates the sequence-stratigraphic interpretation of each subbasin, which improves correlations of systems tracts between the widely separated subbasins. This methodology consists of composite wireline logs created by splicing unfaulted and relatively conformable log segments from the deepest wells in an area. The composite log provides a stratigraphic record that captures a complete succession of depositional and cyclic history. Site-specific sequence-stratigraphic-section (S5) benchmark charts contain composite logs and additional data that summarize available geologic information for a specific subbasin.
Growth-faulted subbasins all along the Texas coast have been prolific petroleum targets for decades and are now the focus of prospecting for deep, on-shelf gas. Lowstand basin-floor and slope-fan sandstones are the principal gas targets. Understanding the origin of the growth-faulted subbasins and their chronostratigraphic relationships and depositional processes provides a perspective that can improve deep on-shelf exploration.
Speaker Biography:
Robert Loucks is a Senior Research Scientist at the Bureau of Economic Geology, working on siliciclastic and carbonate reservoir characterization. He was the recipient of the 1999 AAPG Wallace E. Pratt Memorial Award for Best Paper, the1982 SEPM Excellence of Presentation Award, and the 1991 SEPM Excellence of Poster Presentation Award. Bob served as the Mideast AAPG Dean A. McGee International Distinguished Lecturer in 1999.

REMINDER:
Make travel arrangements now to attend the 3rd PESGB/HGS International Conference on African E & P at QE2 Conference Centre, London, September 7th-8th, 2004.
 
"Africa: The Continent of Challenge and Opportunity".
 
Full details of program and registration at PESGB website and a link to list of Hotels available from EXPOTEL travel agent.

HGS Members Receive a Complimentary Issue of Geotimes
 
HGS members found a complimentary issue of the July, 2004 Geotimes magazine in their mail published by the American Geological Institute (AGI)  It resulted from an article in the March HGS Bulletin describing new resources available through the HGS Academic Liaison Committee.
 
The article (Academic Liaison Committee Adds Resources and Goes on the HGS Website, March 2004, p. 31-39). discussed the new Earth Inquiry series of web-based learning modules for K-12 students that the Academic Liaison Committeee purchased through the AGI.  Art Berman, Chairman of the Committee and author of the article got a call from Marcus Milling, Executive Director of the AGI, complimenting him on the in-depth description of the Earth Inquiry modules in the Bulletin article. 
 
Dr. Milling proposed that the AGI provide HGS members with a complimentary copy of Geotimes as a “thank-you” to the HGS for the publicity and as a way to stimulate members to join the AGI and receive Geotimes regularly.  While it was easy to agree to his proposal HGS Executive Board approval was required since AGI would have to get a copy of our member mailing list and this falls under our privacy protection bylaws. 
 
The Executive Board unanimously approved the proposal to allow the AGI to use our member mailing list on a one-time basis and encourages HGS members to consider joining the American Geological Institute.  For more information on the AGI go to their website at http://www.agiweb.org/.
 

HGS International Explorationists NewsletterJuly, 2004

Internationalist Directory Will Be Published in September

It’s that time of year again when we start the preparations for the publication of the HGS International Explorationists Group Membership Directory. However, the benefit of this directory to you, the members, is only proportional to the accuracy of the information contained within it.  Especially in recent years it has become clear with so much corporate downsizing, rightsizing and mergers etc., that the information is not as up to date as it might be.  
We would therefore like to urge everyone to take a few moments to visit the HGS website and update their personal information (see instructions below).
The HGS Website's database will be used to update the International Explorationists Group Directory.
 
In order to give the printers sufficient time to generate the publication we ask that your information be updated by August 15.
 
Many thanks for your help.
 
Phil Towle
ptowle@kmg.com (281) 673-6872
phil.towle@earthlink.net (281) 597-9533

Who Will Be In The Internationalist Directory?
The International Directory is prepared annually and lists only the members of  an HGS “user group” called Committee: International Explorationists Group which is maintained on-line at the HGS Website. The Internationalists Directory is separate from the annual HGS/GSH Directory which lists all members of both of those organizations.  The “ International Explorationists Group” is a list of interested individuals who receive a monthly short email about International Group meetings and events and wish to have their name and contact information listed in the International Directory.
You need not be a member of the HGS in order to be a member of the HGS International Explorationists User Group.  However, you must be a registered user of the HGS Website, and we encourage you to renew your membership or to apply for membership if you are not currently a member of the HGS.

How Do I Get In or Out of This Directory?
 
To join, simply update the Group list in your Personal Information at HGS Website:
 
-Go to website and Log in (http://www.hgs.org/en/users/login.asp?/en/users/view.asp)
 
Need help logging in?  Read the help file on the Website.  If you still can't log in, contact the HGS webmaster: Dave Crane webmaster@hgs.org (713)-789-5916.
 
- Choose “My Record” to get to your "Users View"
 
- Click on "Groups" at the top of the page
 
- Click a check mark in the box next to Committee: International Explorationists Group 
 
- Click the “Submit Changes” button at bottom of page
 
To remove yourself from any user group, simply follow the same procedure and remove the check mark next to that user group name.
 

If you have questions please contact:
Phil Towle, ptowle@kmg.com  (281) 673-6872
or
Al Danforth al.danforth@att.net (713) 502 2766 

Published July 21, 2004

Houston Geological Society NewsletterJuly, 2004
Notices and Reminders

Support Earth Science Coursesin Texas Public Schools
The Texas State Board of Education (TSBE) is planning a very important vote next week on either July 15th or 16th.  The new rule under consideration will require all Texas public school children to take four years of science credit in high school . This new rule will  make it possible for Texas students to receive high school graduation science credit for Earth Science courses, something that is not currently allowed.
Please review the letter posted on the HGS Website and write the TSBE and your Texas representatives THIS WEEKEND -- Monday at the latest.  It''s very important that members and friends of the HGS let it be known that science, including earth science, is a very important part of the Texas high school curriculum.
Thank you,
Steve LevinePresident, Houston Geological Society

HGS Activities This Month

HGS/GSH Saltwater Fishing Tournament

Saturday, July 17, 2004 - Fourth Annual HGS and GSH Saltwater Tournament Teakwood Marina, Village of Tiki Island Galveston.  This is the new date for the tournament; it was postponed in June because of bad weather.
Register by Friday, July 16th at 7:00 AM.

Other Notes

On-Line HGS Membership Application
The HGS Website is in the process of implementing an on-line membership application form.  The system is now undergoing Beta Testing.  If you have never been a member of the HGS but want to apply, you may do so at http://hgs.org/en/memberships/.  If you have ever been a member of the HGS, please do not use this new system yet.  Instead, call or e-mail the HGS office to find out how to renew or re-apply.
Please do not attempt to pay your dues renewal on-line; that feature is not yet available.

 2004-2005 HGS Dues

HGS dues notices for 2004-2005 were mailed to current members in June.  If you  were current in your dues for 2003-2004 and have not received your renewal notice, contact the HGS office.

Technofest
The 8th Annual HGS Technofest will be August 19th this year, at the Westchase Hilton.  The date published last month in the June HGS Newsletter was incorrect.  Registration is now open on the HGS Website. We hope to post a list of exhibitors soon.
See you at Technofest!

Published July 9, 2004

A note from Steve Levine,President of the Houston Geological Society
8 July, 2004
 
Attention HGS Members and Friends in Texas:
 
This is a note I just received from Sharon Mosher, professor of geology at  the University of Texas and past president of the Geological Society of America (GSA). It is an appeal for our membership to write our local representatives and the Chair of the Texas Board of Education. The Texas State Board of Education will vote July 15-16, 2004 on a rule that will require all Texas public school children to take four years of science credit in high school . This new rule will  make it possible for Texas students to receive high school graduation science credit for Earth Science courses, something that is not currently allowed. Thank you for reviewing this letter below and  consider sending a note to the appropriate representative listed at the conclusion of the letter.
 
Steve Levine
President Houston Geological Society
LETTERS NEEDED BEFORE JULY 15th:
EARTH SCIENCE IN TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS!
Dear Colleague:
Texas has an immediate opportunity to be a leader in the push for greater science literacy in the U.S. and to address concerns over the loss of U.S. dominance in sciences. At the same time, it will significantly increase the exposure of Texas public school students to the Earth Sciences. I am writing to you as a past president of GSA to ask your help on this important issue.
On July 15-16, the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) will vote on a rule that will require all Texas public school children to take 4 years of science credit in high school for the Recommended or Distinguished Plan. Note: this really means ALL children because the Minimum plan is being phased out. What this new rule does is make it possible for Texas students to receive high school graduation science credit for Earth Science courses, something that is not currently allowed. This is the second and final reading of this rule, so if it passes it will go into effect.
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND THE CHAIR OF THE SBOE, GERALDINE MILLER, BEFORE JULY 15TH (email addresses and FAX # given below).
The science community needs to be heard on this important issue; much opposition to this rule passing is expected. This vote comes as a direct response to the Earth Science community's efforts to reinstate Earth Science as a core science credit for high school graduation.
Below I give some history behind this surprising action by the SBOE in May, the excerpt from the official SBOE actions, and contact information for the SBOE. An article from NSTA Express that provides some relevant information can be found at http://science.nsta.org/nstaexpress/nstaexpress_2004_05_10.htm
Please contact your representative and the chair of the SBOE and pass this email onto whomever is appropriate. We want to encourage as many scientists as possible to correspond with their representative on this issue.
Thank you,
Sharon Mosher

Past President, Geological Society of America
HISTORY: A ROUNDABOUT PATH TO INCREASING SCIENCE & EARTH SCIENCE IN TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Several years ago Earth Science was virtually removed from Texas middle and high schools. In response to the overwhelming insistence by the earth science community, the Texas Board of Education set up a Task Force for Earth Science (ESTF) composed of university professors, practicing geologists, and public school administrators, to evaluate the current curriculum and requirements. After a year of public meetings, the ESTF submitted a final report on 9/03 with a series of recommendations that if enacted would gradually increase the exposure of Texas public school children to earth science and eventually result in 4 years of science being required. The middle school recommendations are being implemented, but the ones for high school are in jeopardy. The first recommendation, that earth science be allowed to count as a science credit for high school graduation, was approved on its first reading in 2/04 by a narrow margin, but in May, the school board substituted the motion listed below, that all children be required to take 4 years of science and earth science could be one of them. One of the impetuses for this surprising vote was a then recent article in the New York Times about the loss of U.S. dominance in the sciences (see NSTA Express article link for an except). Also, this change would effectively implement most of the ESTF's recommendations in one step instead of gradually over a several year period. Because this was a substitute motion, it has to be voted on for a final time in July. Although the Board voted in favor 14 to 1, they have had time to consider how much it will cost and for the opposition to become active. What opposition? Any increase in a requirement cuts into some other areas - band, fine arts, sports and so on, science is too hard, it costs to much, etc. We don't know what the opposition will be or say since this will be the first time they have had an opportunity to speak. But unfortunately it is our last chance to be heard on this issue.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR EARTH SCIENCE?
If this motion passes, a vast majority of the students will take an earth science course of some type. If it fails, the recommendations of the Earth Science Task Force for high school are no longer on the table, and we have to go back to the drawing board. The only maneuver that would work would be if a substitute motion was made for this one and it passed. Given the past history of the SBOE votes on this issue, passing such a substitute motion is highly questionable. In writing my letters, I am strongly supporting this motion, but at the same time stressing that one of the important outcomes is exposing more Texas public school children to Earth Science.

Deepwater Symposium in New Orleans
August 19th and 20th, 2004
 
The theme of this year''s symposium is how the GOM deepwater development has evolved over the last 25 years, and will include case studies of field developments, lessons learned, and their application for future discoveries, as well as presentations of new technologies and developments.It''s been 25 years since the first GOM deepwater production began at Shell''s Cognac field in 1979.  It took another 5 years before the next deepwater field, Exxon''s Lena development, came on line.  Both developments relied on extending the limits of platform technology used to develop the GOM shallow water areas.  However, in the late 1980s, more technology began to emerge.  A patent for deepwater spar technology was obtained in 1987 and in 1988, the world''s tallest pile supported fixed steel platform was installed at Shell''s Bullwinkle field.  In 1994, the Auger TLP was the first floating production facility.  In 1996, the world''s first spar platform was installed at Kerr McGee''s (ORYX) Neptune field, in almost 2000'' of water.  In 2001, the first Truss Spar was installed at Kerr McGee''s Nansen field, in 3675'' of water.  Shell''s Na Kika development of 6 separate fields now holds the record for the deepest Gulf of Mexico water depth at 7300''. Many of the earlier fields are undergoing further reexamination, including possible secondary and tertiary recovery methods which will extend their economic lives.  In addition, as infrastructure extends into deeper and deeper waters, the advances in subsea technology allow once marginal fields to be developed.Although the traditional mini-basin play is far from mature, technology and infrastructure is in place to exploit the play.  However, the Mississippi Fan Fold Belt, Perdido Fold belt, and Tertiary Fan/Mesozoic plays still represent exciting frontier areas, where new discoveries lead to challenges in technology and economics. The Agenda The two-day symposium will include sessions with presentations covering Well Completions and Interventions, Reservoir and Economics, Geoscience, Drilling Technology, Production Systems and Flow assurance, and Health Safety & Environmental / Regulatory.  The symposium will also include a luncheon key-note speaker on day 1 and on day 2, a panel discussion composed of Deepwater Industry Leaders.
 

2004 HGS Awards
The 2004 HGS Awards Dinner was held June 26th.  Outgoing president Craig Dingler presented them in the presence of more than 100 invited guests composed of HGS officers, volunteers and staff.
Click on the name of the recipient for their contact information.  You will need to be registered on the HGS Website and logged in to see their member-directory entry.
Gerald A. Cooley Award   Jeffrey W. Lund
Honorary Life Membership
   Dr. Richard "Dick" Bishop
   Claudia Ludwig
 
Distinguished Service Award
   Richard Howe
   Dr. Inda Immega
   Larry Bartell
   Al Danforth
  
President's Award
   Glenn Lowenstein
   Rosemary Mullin
   Dr. Carl Norman
   Robert Hubbell
   Evelyn Medvin
 
Rising Star Award
   Sherrie Cronin
   Elizabeth Fisher
   Jennifer Burton
   Jim Grubb
   Valdis Budrevics
   Natalie Uschner
 
Corporate Star Award
   Noble Energy
   ConocoPhillips
   Kerr-McGee

Unauthorized Use of the HGS Website
For the first time in the recent history of the HGS Website, someone has been calling HGS members with commercial solicitations and even representing himself as being associated with the HGS.  Obviously, this is in direct violation of HGS policy and the HGS does not sell or otherwise authorize the use of your personal information for purposes of telephone solicitation.  Nor does having your number on the Texas and National No Call Lists seems to dissuade him.  I received a call at home the evening of 23 June, 2004 and my number has been on both lists since their inception.  I know of several other HGS members who have received similar calls.
These calls all seem to be coming from the same securities broker at Morgan Stanley. He has been warned by several members of the HGS Executive Committee and has been reported to the appropriate authorities with copies to his west Houston branch manager.  He has been told that his self-registration on the HGS Website has been blocked and that he can no longer read the member''s directory on line.
If you receive any unauthorized telephone solicitations, we suggest you ask where they got your phone number.  If you can trace it to unauthorized use of the HGS Website, please report it to the current HGS President with a copy to me, the Webmaster.
Dave CraneHGS/GSH Webmaster

This abstract is for a talk given in Houston, TX at the July 15, 2004 SIPES Luncheon.
Geophysics, Metaphysics,and the Independent GeologistJohn F. Parrish
Abstract:Finding and producing subsurface hydrocarbon reservoirs requires an adept combination of the arts of interpretation, geophysical science, geological science, and engineering. Each of these aspects is necessary; however, all of them may not be enough. What else does the classical artist, scientist, or engineer bring to bear on this problem?
A recent article (Henry, 2000) in The Leading Edge declares that "The primary goal of seismic interpretation is to make maps that provide geologic information (reservoir depth structure, thickness, porosity, etc.)." Is this a statement of the art of interpretation, the science, or the engineering? It is None of the above! It is a philosophical meta-statement about the purpose of seismic acquisition, processing, and interpretation. Several articles from the January 2004 issue of The Leading Edge can be used to exemplify this philosophical dimension of geosciences applied to upstream oil and gas business.
Reservoir characterization uses elements from geology, geophysics, petrophysics, and rock physics. A philosophy (meta-geoscience?) is needed to apply the business and economic constraints. For example, seismic sections reveal an impedance image of the subsurface which can be compared with well logs of sonic and density observations. However, economic constraints generally limit logging to observation like gamma-ray and resistivity that more closely related to fluid and formation properties. Comparisons of such non-impedance logs to seismic are appropriate when structure controls the hydrocarbon trap. Stratigraphic control requires impedance, plus dip, offset, and velocity. In order to more fully characterize reservoirs these seismic and well log observations should be supplemented with dynamic estimates like absorption, pore pressure, and reservoir variability.
There are no good or bad well ties. Ethics and Esthetic criteria determine "fit for purpose" comparisons. Recognizing and characterizing hydrocarbon reserves are the result of the geoscientist-engineer''s imposition of esthetic criteria combined with scientific and artistic rules. Quantitative comparisons require auditable processing of seismic data together with well logs that yield elastic properties. The comparisons should be weighted by time gates, space (location), and frequency.
A self-consistent philosophy of reservoir characterization, including well to seismic comparisons, must ask the following meta-geosciences questions:1. WHY do you want to compare seismic with a well measurement?2. WHAT observations are available?3. WHERE are the well (path), the logging interval, and the corresponding seismic?4. HOW were the various elements modified to enhance the comparisons?5. WHO has established the esthetic criteria of good vs bad?6. ARE there additional observations that will add both scientific-interpretative value and economic value to a reservoir characterization?
Biography: John F. Parrish is a licensed Professional Geoscientist (Geophysics #5073) in Texas and is currently serving the GSH as First Vice President. He is also Program Chairman for SIPES (Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists). As an independent consulting geophysicist (PeriSeis Company), since leaving Shell (SEIP) E&P Technology in 1999, he has consulted on seismic interpretation patents, ocean bottom cable patents, vector fidelity, and provided geophysical advice for processing data from the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, West Africa, Red Sea, and other areas. He is a member of SEG, AAPG, EAGE, ASEG, GSH, and HGS. His interests include 3D deconvolution, relative entropy deconvolution, quantitative signal processing for seismic imaging, quantitative comparison of seismic with well log synthetics, suppression of multiple interference, and processing/interpretation pitfalls. John F. Parrish received an S. M and a Ph. D. in Physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For 30 years, he worked on diverse projects within Shell Oil Company. He has served Shell as land party-chief, inventor (several patents), technological prognosticator, geophysical programming supervisor, and chief geophysicist of Pecten Geophysical Company (a start-up processing subsidiary of Shell Oil Company). In 1996, John received the Shell E&P Technology Company Achievement Award as a member of the Shallow Water-Flow Control Team (URSA #4). He has processed or interpreted seismic data from both land and marine plays in the U.S.A. (including Alaska and Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, West Africa, and China.

Houston Geological Society NewsletterJune, 2004
Meeting Notices and Reminders

HGS Meetings

Saturday, June 19, 2004 - HGS Skeet Shoot (Greater Houston Gun Club, Missouri City)
There will be some fabulous door prizes this year thanks to the generous sponsorship of Diversified Well Logging, Roxar, Schlumberger, The Mudlogging Company, Landmark Graphics, APEX Oil & Gas, Petrolog, Ralph E. Davis, Output Exploration, Exploration Data Services, Baker Hughes, ATP Oil & Gas, Cheyenne Petroleum. and TGS NOPEC. 

Saturday, June 19, 2004 – HGS Guest Night (Houston Museum of Natural Science and HMNS IMAX Theatre)
The reservations and payment deadline is this Friday, June 11th. No one will be admitted at the door without a paid reservation. You can reserve and pay on the HGS Website at http://www.hgs.org/en/cev/?132 until Friday at 4:00 PM.
Dr. Gordon McKay, NASA Astromaterials Office, Johnson Space Center.NASA will discuss the Mars Exploration Rover Mission Results: Gusev Crater (Spirit Mission) and Meridiani Planum (Opportunity Mission).

Monday, June 21, 2004 - HGS International Explorationists Meeting (Westchase Hilton). Reservations deadline for $25 tickets is the preceeding Friday. Or you may pay $30 at the door.
"Agbami Field, Nigeria; Addressing Challenges and Uncertainty"
Exploration history, seismic data issues and reservoir modeling of this world-class deepwater discovery, offshore Nigeria will be presented by ChevronTexaco.

Saturday, June 26, 2004 - Fourth Annual HGS and GSH Saltwater Tournament Teakwood Marina, Village of Tiki Island Galveston)
Register by Friday, June 25th.

 Other Notes

HGS dues notices for 2004-2005 will be mailed to current members this month.  If you are current in your dues and have not received your renewal notice by 1 July, contact the HGS office.

The 2004-2005 HGS Executive Committee has been elected.  They will take office on the first of July.  Congratulations to the new officers of the HGS.
Note that this year the website gives you their phone numbers but you have to log into the website and check their member record to find their e-mail address.  We have done this to foil robots harvesting addresses to spam.

HGS Technofest will be July 28th this year, probably at the Westchase Hilton.  There should be something in your dues notice on the subject and we will open on-line registration as soon as pricing and other details are announced..

Published June 9, 2004

June, 2004 HGS Bulletin in PDF format (2.4 megabytes)
Regular Monthly Articles:

• From the President
• From the Editor
• Webnotes
• HGA/GeoWives

Feature Articles:

• Guest Night 2004 Mission Results from the Spirit and Opportunity Mars Rovers, Featuring Dr. Gordon McKay, NASA Johnson Space Center
• 2003–2004 Houston Geological Society Awards
• The Energy Cycle—The 2004 MS 150
• Embrace the Future—Celebrate the Past: The 2004 AAPG Annual Convention
• Oil and Gas Proven Reserve Reductions: Is Certification Necessary?
• Looking Ahead Outreach Events for Fall 2004

Abstracts of Monthly Meetings:

• Where’s the P in LLC?
• Agbami Field, Nigeria—Addressing Challenges and Uncertainty
• Meeting the Energy Challenges

Meeting the Energy Challenges
 
A presentation for the May 26th, 2004 HGS Luncheon.
 
Abstract:
Energy is essential to life.  Low cost and abundant supplies of energy contribute to a country’s standard of living and economic well being.  The history of energy use in any country is one of diversity and transformation.  The progression in the United States has seen various energy sources replaced or supplemented by other more efficient energy sources over time.  Muscle power, fuelwood, wind, and waterpower were the primary sources in our independence year, 1776.  Fuel shortages, economic forces, and westward expansion encouraged and led to finding other sources of energy such as coals.  Petroleum got its start as an illuminant and became a premier fuel with the advent of gas and diesel engines.  Nationwide electrification created demand for coal and petroleum-fired generation.  Demand for natural gas increased as it replaced coal in household ranges and furnaces.  Environmental issues surrounding power plants have put natural gas into a prominent role today. Most the energy in the United States today still comes from coal, natural gas, and crude oil (the fossil fuels).  The demand for energy in the future coupled with environmental forces will continue the evolution in energy sources.  Diversity and transformation will without a doubt continue.
 
Energy is consumed in four broad sectors: residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation.  Demand is increasing from all these sectors.  Many energy sources, including petroleum, nuclear energy, coal, hydroelectricity, and renewable supplies such as wind and solar energy will contribute to future supplies.  The natural gas industry will likely meet a large part of this demand.  A few of the challenges facing the industry include the following: surviving in an evolving and volatile marketplace; sustaining science and technology progress; solving the “permission to do business” issues (e.g., surface land use conflicts, increasing legal and regulatory requirements, land access, etc.); environmentally responsible development; and human resource shortages.  Meeting these challenges will require human ingenuity and cooperation amongst competing forces in a dynamic marketplace.
 
Speaker Biography:
 
Dr. Stephen A. Sonnenberg specializes in sequence stratigraphy, tectonic influence on sedimentation, and petroleum geology.  A native of Billings, Montana, Sonnenberg received BS and MS degrees in geology from Texas A&M University and a Ph.D. degree in geology from the Colorado School of Mines.  He has over twenty years experience and is the Exploitation Manager, Northern Division for Westport Resources in Denver, CO.
 
Steve has served as President of several organizations including the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists and Colorado Scientific Society.  He also served on the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from 1997-2003 and was the Chair of the Commission from 1999-2003. He is currently the President of AAPG.
 
He is the recipient of the Young Alumnus Award, Outstanding Alumnus Award, and Mines Medal from the Colorado School of Mines, Distinguished Achievement Medal from Texas A&M University, distinguished service awards from AAPG and RMAG, and honorary membership awards from RMAG and the Colorado Scientific Society.
 

HGS International Group Meeting June 21, 2004
Westchase Hilton, 9999 Westheimer, Houston Social Hour 5:30 PM, Dinner 6:30 PM
Agbami Field, Nigeria – Addressing Challenges and Uncertainty
David Grimes (speaker), Elliott Ginger, and John SpokesChevronTexaco Overseas Petroleum
Register for this event
Agbami Field was discovered in late 1998, approximately 105 km offshore Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea. The field is located in Blocks OPL216 and 217 in approximately 1500 meters of water. The structure is a northwest to southeast trending detachment fold anticline covering an area of 180 km2 at spill point. The discovery well, the Agbami No. 1, was drilled by Star Deep, a wholly owned subsidiary of Texaco, Inc. acting as technical advisor to FAMFA, an indigenous Nigerian oil company. Star Deep brought Petrobras in as a partner and followed the discovery with three appraisal wells and one sidetrack in Block OPL216, plus Statoil drilled the Ekoli 1 well into the same structure in adjacent Block OPL217. In late 2003 and early 2004, drilling resumed with ChevronTexaco, also through Star Deep, adding the first 2 wells from the development plan. After a short drilling pause to acquire seismic data, these wells will be followed by further development drilling later in 2004. All wells to date have penetrated oil bearing sands. The field is a world class development opportunity with significant resources.
 

The pay intervals at Agbami field consist of two principal zones.  The primary reservoirs are in the 17 million year (MY) sands and contain about 80% of the reserves. These objectives include slope channel, slope fan, and basin floor fan facies that offer both stacked and isolated reservoir objectives. Secondary reservoirs are present in the 13MY/14MY/16MY sands. These shallower productive zones are comprised of channel and levee-overbank facies.
Click here for a larger Image
 
Seismic Data Issues
The seismic reflections from the shallower, secondary reservoirs occur above the water bottom multiple and are of relatively good quality. Amplitude extractions of both near and far angle data match predicted AVA models. We can interpret stratigraphic and fluid changes from the seismic data at this level.
However, the seismic data from the deeper, main pay intervals in the 17MY interval suffer from several data limitations. Principal among these is significant multiple energy contamination. Multiple generating surfaces exist not only at the water bottom, but also at other shallow horizons below mudline. The energy from these multiples occurs at the same time as the main pay interval primary reflections over much of the field, seriously degrading the data, especially in the pre-stack domain. Earlier processing of the data during the exploration and appraisal phases of the field, while attenuating the multiples, did not adequately resolve the problem. Consequently, extracted amplitudes from the 3D seismic data did not follow expected Class II AVA behavior. Recent reprocessing efforts by ChevronTexaco using a Gaussian beam method for attenuation of the multiples have given encouraging results that should allow better characterization of the reservoirs from seismic in future reservoir models.
Additionally, wavelet estimations from the seismic data indicate that the frequency content is relatively low, limiting the ability of the seismic to resolve pay sands. Multi-sand intervals tend to image as low frequency, high amplitude far-angle reflectors with typically two or three sands imaged by one peak-trough-peak seismic event.  The minimum sand thickness detectable at the main pay intervals in these data is about 30 meters.
Also, reflectors from the inboard limb of the fold at the northwest end of the structure have diminished stacked amplitude responses and in general, the inboard limb is less well imaged than the outboard limb. Shallow toe thrusts north of the field appear to be masking far offset traces which would normally contribute to the expected high amplitude far angle reflections of oil bearing sands. To record higher angle traces in this area, and hence better map the sand distribution, we are proposing to re-acquire data parallel to this thrust front.
 
Reservoir Modeling
With the limited frequency content of the seismic data, stratigraphic information from seismic was restricted to the identification of thick, sandstone-prone fairways that were mapped throughout the field area as architectu

Special HGS Newsletter
Announcing the Grand Openingof theHouston Research Centerof theBureau of Economic Geology

You are invited to attend the Grand Opening of the Houston Research Center of the Bureau of Economic Geology at 9:00 AM on Friday morning, June 4th.  There is no charge for the event, but you must RSVP no later than Monday, May 24, 2004.  Lunch will be served. 
RSVP by Monday, May 24, 2004, in one of the following three ways:

• 
    Call 713-466-5461
  
•   E-mail hrc@beg.utexas.edu
  
•   Fax your response to (512) 471-0140

1. Your Name
   
2. Your Company Affiliation
   
3. Number of people in your party, including yourself

Published 18 May, 2004

The Houston Research Centerof the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas
The Bureau of Economic Geology of the University of Texas has a research facility in Houston located at 11611 West Little York Rd., west of Beltway 8 and south of US 290.
The BEG's Houston Research Center is a public facility for core research which was donated by BP. It has a full technical library (donated by Unocal), and three conference rooms.  30,000 sq ft of the 120,000 sq ft facility is the core layout room, office space, and meeting areas.  The remaining 90,000 sq ft houses over 500,000 boxes of geologic material (core, cuttings, thin sections, outcrop samples, and paleontology samples) all accessible to the public and searchable online. The HRC''s online database includes the entire BEG core holdings totaling 1.7 million boxes. 
But the HRC is more that just a core warehouse. It can serve HGS members by providing easy access to geologic material with two geologists on staff for assistance, providing a facility for short courses or society meetings, and a full geologic, geophysical, and engineering library with a technical librarian on staff. 
There have been a couple of write-ups on the facility in the HGS bulletin (April, 2003 and February, 2004.)  The attached brochure and the HRC description on the BEG website contain additional information about the HRC.

HGS International Group Meeting
May 17th 2004
Westchase Hilton, 9999 Westheimer, Houston
Social Hour 5:30 PM, Dinner 6:30 PM
 
Sequence Stratigraphy and Reservoir Prediction of the Giant Tengiz Field, Kazakhstan
 
By  L.J. (Jim) Weber, ExxonMobil Exploration Company, Houston, TX,
Coauthors:B.P. (Brent) Francis, ExxonMobil Development Company, Houston, TX, P.M. (Mitch) Harris, ChevronTexaco E & P Technology  Company, San Ramon, CA, and Michael Clark, ChevronTexaco, London, UK
 
The super-giant Tengiz field of western Kazakhstan produces oil from an isolated Devonian and Carboniferous carbonate platform that extends over 160 km2.  Seismic and well data clearly show two principle regions within the buildup – platform and flank – that directly relate to reservoir quality and production characteristics. 
 
The supersequence stratigraphic framework was developed through an integrated interpretation of seismic, core, log, and biostratigraphic data.  An initial broad Late Devonian platform was followed by punctuated backsteps during the Tournaisian and Viséan.  The Serpukhovian is characterized by several kilometers of platform progradation. Drowning in the Early Bashkirian halted carbonate platform growth.  Paleotopographic relief from the top of the Bashkirian platform to the basin floor approaches 1,500 meters.
 
 
On the platform, hydrocarbons are produced from Upper Viséan through Bashkirian grainstones and mud-lean packstones. Multiple porosity types are recognized, but matrix permeability is controlled primarily by intergranular porosity.  Within the flanks, in-place, upper slope, microbial boundstone and transported lower-slope boundstone debris, form thick and areally extensive mappable reservoirs. Late Viséan and Serpukhovian reservoirs have distinctive seismic facies, and production/performance characteristics. Fractures contribute to non-matrix permeability in these boundstones.
 
 
The coarse stratigraphic architecture was used to further subdivide the platform portion of the reservoir for better reservoir characterization and for reservoir modeling. The temporal and spatial variability in reservoir quality of the platform, as shown by cross sections and maps, is directly related to stratigraphy. The reservoir is also partitioned based on geographic position along a platform-to-basin profile. Time-slice mapping of synchronous depositional facies provides the basis for predicting reservoir distribution and continuity.

If you have Power Point, the New Tengez Geologic Model is easier to read in the original Power Point figure. 
 
Acknowledgements
This study was very much a team effort.  The ExxonMobil “Tengiz team” is anknowledged for their hard work and many discussions of all aspects of Tengiz geology. Kevin Putney created porosity and isopach maps for the various reservoir layers; Steve Bachtel interpreted seismic cross sections and maps; and Tom Kane analyzed well production data.  Ray Garber and Phil Bassant (ChevronTexaco) provided core descriptions, which were instrumental in our work. We warmly thank Jeroen Kenter (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam), Paul Brenckle (Consultant), and Tom Heidrick (TengizChevroil) for the many stimulating technical discussions in the core warehouse facility at Tengiz.  Jeroen’s knowledge of modern and ancient carbonate slope settings, and Paul B

Regular Monthly Articles:

• Webnotes
• HGA/GeoWives
• Members on the Move

Feature Articles:

• Gov. Rick Perry Announces Grant to Texas Energy Center
• 2003–2004 Outstanding Student Awards
• Guest Night 2004, Saturday, June 19, will feature NASA scientist Dr. Gordon McKay on the topic “Results From Spirit and Opportunity: Twin Rover Geologists on Mars”
• Oil and Gas Proven Reserve Reductions: a Geologist’s Perspective

Abstracts of Monthly Meetings:

• Rethinking the Global Carbon Cycle with Gas Hydrates and Seafloor Methane Throughout Time
• Ambiguity and Sensitivity of Rock Properties under Different Reservoir Conditions
• Sequence Stratigraphy and Reservoir Prediction of the Giant Tengiz Field, Kazakhstan
• Knowledge, Resources, Respect: Flood Damage Reduction and Our Community
• Upper Ordovician Montoya Sequence Stratigraphy and Chert Porosity in the Southeastern Delaware Basin, West Texas
• Meeting the Energy Challenges

Oil and Gas Reserves ReductionA Geologist's Perspective
This article in the May, 2004 HGS Bulletin written by Art Berman has generated some controversy.  Comments about the article or subject should be sent to Art Berman, HGS Bulletin Editor-elect, for possible publication in future issues of the HGS Bulletin.
Caution: the article is over 300kb.

Houston Geological Society NewsletterMay, 2004
Meeting Notices and Reminders

HGS Meetings

Monday, May 10, 2004 – HGS General Dinner Meeting (Westchase Hilton)
“Underbalanced Casing Drilling Enhances Well Economics in South Texas Vicksburg”  Rich Dilla* and Doug Gordon, Shell Oil.
The corrected title of this first HGS meeting in May includes "Underbalanced." Note also that the abstract did not reach the May HGS Bulletin in time for publication.  You can read the complete abstract on-line.

Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - HGS Environmental and Eng''g Dinner Meeting (Rudy Lechners Grill)
"Rethinking the Global Carbon Cycle; Gas Hydrates and Sea-Floor Methane Throughout Time"  Dr. Gerald R. Dickens, Rice University.

Monday, May 17, 2004 - HGS International Explorationists Dinner (Westchase Hilton)

"Kazakhstan: Sequence Stratigraphy and Reservoir Prediction of the Great Tengiz Field" L. James Weber et al, ExxonMobil.

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - HGS Northsiders Dinner (The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center)

"Knowledge, Resources, Respect; Flood Damage Reduction and Our Community" Michael D. Talbott, P.E., Director of the Harris County Flood Control District. 

Friday, May 21, 2004 - HGS Tennis Tournament (Houston Racquet Club)

NOTE: The Tennis Tournament is not on the May HGS Bulletin calendar, but there is a mail-in form on page 54.  Or you can print the form from the HGS website, fill it out, and mail it to Ross Davis with your check for $40.00.

Monday, May 24, 2004 - HGS N. A. Explorationists Dinner (Westchase Hilton)
"Upper Ordovician Montoya Sequence Stratigraphy and Chert Porosity in theSoutheastern Delaware Basin, West Texas" Dave Thomas, Tom Brown, Inc. 

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - HGS Luncheon (Petroleum Club)
"Meeting Energy Challenges" Stephen Sonnenberg, AAPG President 2003-2004.

Other Notes
HGS Guest Night will be Saturday, June 19, 2004: "Mission Results from the Spirit and Opportunity Mars Rovers," featuring Dr. Gordon McKay, NASA Johnson Space Center. 
This year’s HGS Guest Night will be at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, starting at 6:30pm and continuing until 10pm. Dr. Gordon McKay of NASA will give a talk entitled  “Results from Spirit and Opportunity: Twin Rover Geologists on Mars” in the IMAX theater at about 8pm. The night’s activities will include a buffet dinner catered by Goode Company Barbeque, a real Mars meteorite on display, a free planetarium show and group access to the HMNS science exhibits. Sign up by June 11th on the HGS website using a credit card.  Or use the reservation form on the website,  or on p.18 of the May HGS Bulletin and send the form with your check to the HGS office by June 11. 
There will be NO TICKET SALES AT THE DOOR.
NASA has had incredible success since January 2004 with landing and maneuvering the two Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity over vastly different areas of Mars. Dr. Gordon McKay is manager of the Astromaterials Research Office, part of the Space and Life Sciences Directorate at the Johnson Space Center, Houston.  The night will be fun and informative for geoscientists and guests of all ages interested in the exploration of space.

The annual Offshore Technology Conference will be held in Houston from May 3rd through May 6th.

The monthly SIPES Luncheon will be held Thursday, May 20

Houston Geological Society NewsletterApril, 2004
Meeting Notices and Reminders

HGS Meetings

April 12, 2004 – HGS General Dinner Meeting (Westchase Hilton)
“The Overton Field - Creating Value in East Texas”  Alan Stubblefield et al, Southwestern Energy Production.
Come join us for our April general dinner meeting at the Westchase Hilton.  Alan Stubblefield, Vice President of Production with Southwestern Energy will present the story of their successful directed acquisition and development of the tight Jurassic Cotton Valley Taylor Sands at Overton Field in East Texas.  Through an iterative interpretation of geology and engineering, as well as improved drilling and completion techniques, Southwestern Energy has drilled in excess of 100 wells since the 2000 acquisition and has taken the field production from 1.5 MMCFPD to 60+ MMCFPD.

April 13, 2004 - Northsiders Luncheon (Greenspoint Sofitel)
"Coalbed Methane Exploration Concepts - Where is The Next Big Play?"  Andrew R. Scott, Altuda Energy Corporation.

April 13, 2004 - Environmental and Engineering Dinner (Rudy Lechners)

"What's New In Risk Assessment In The Environmental Geosciences?" Dr. Ben Thomas, RAM Group.

April 26, 2004 - North American Explorationists Dinner (Westchase Hilton)

"Stratigraphic Entrapment of Hydrocarbons in the Upper Cretaceous Lewis Shale and Lower Fox Hills Sandstone, Eastern Green River Basin, Wyoming" Dave Muller, BP.

April 28, 2004 - HGS Luncheon (Petroleum Club)
"Gas Hydrates in the Gulf of Mexico’s Complex Geologic Setting: Future Energy Resource or Just Another Geohazard?" Professor Harry Roberts, LSU.

Other Notes
The HGS International Explorationists will not meet in April.  Join them Monday, May 17th for a look at the "Stratigraphy of the Tengiz Field in Kazakhstan."
Don't forget the AAPG Convention in Dallas April 17th through 21st.
The annual Offshore Technology Conference will be held in Houston next month from May 3rd through May 6th.
The HGS/GSH office will be closed on Good Friday, April 9th.

The HGS Newsletter is now accepting sponsors.  See our ad rates for details.

Published April 6, 2004

Regular Monthly Articles:

• From the President
• From the Editor
• Webnotes
• HGA/GeoWives
• Members on the Move Feature Articles
• Before Long, Russia Won’t Be Able to Satisfy the World’s Oil Thirst
• An Aging Question: The Discovery of Radioactivity was Pivotal to Scientifically Determining the Age of the Earth
• Book Review: Gorgon—Paleontology, Obsession and the Greatest Catastrophe in Earth’s History
• Mars Exploration Day at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
• 2004 North American Prospect Expo (NAPE) Upbeat
• Abstracts of Monthly Meetings
• Creating Value in East Texas
• Latest Developments in Coal-bed Methane
• Stratigraphic Entrapment of Hydrocarbons in the Upper Cretaceous Lewis Shale and Lower Fox Hills Sandstone, Eastern Green River Basin, Wyoming
• Gas Hydrates in the Gulf of Mexico’s Complex Geologic Setting: Future Energy Resource of Just Another Geohazard?