WTGS Fall Symposium 2012

Welcome to Midland, TX! Midland/Odessa is the dynamic focal point of oil and gas exploration and development in the Permian Basin and a major hub for the United States onshore effort to produce liquid rich hydrocarbons from mature U.S. petroleum basins. As of 8/29/12 the US rig count was 1,898 of which 490 were located in the Permian Basin.

We are very excited to have you here in the “Tall City” as our guest! The symposium should prove to be an excellent opportunity to consider new methods in geology, exploration, and production from different points of view, hobnob with friends, and participate in social-mixers with an outstanding group of folks.

This year’s theme is “Don’t Get Stuck in a Conventional World”. This theme represents our industries movement towards new technologies in hydrocarbon recovery. The potentially bygone era of simple vertical completions in specific hydrocarbon bearing zones within the Permian Basin has now reached beyond conventional thinking into a new phase of understanding and development. Our Keynote Speaker this year is Dr. Scott Tinker, Director of the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas in Austin. His presentation title is “Unconventional Gas: Mountain or Molehill?” and he will be showing a film called, “Switch” at Hollywood Theaters Tuesday evening prior to the symposium. Our Ethics Luncheon Speaker is Hermann Eben from Trim Tab Solutions. His presentation title is “The Path of Least Resistance to Unethical Behavior”. Over the next three days you will have the opportunity to hear nearly 30 oral presentations including a “Discovery Forum”, view numerous posters, and visit 40 vendor booths. You will also have the opportunity to attend a core workshop Friday morning. San Andres, Granite Wash, and Wolfcamp cores will be available to view.

We owe this symposium and core workshops success to a dedicated number of hard working folks. Please take notice of all those listed in this directory.

Thank you for your participation and attendance, Jesse Garnett White - General Chair

The 2012 Fall Symposium Pamphlet Is sponsored by:

West Texas Geological Society

Executive Board 2012-2013

West Texas Geological Society

2012 Fall Symposium Committee

*Note: Detailed Schedule of Presentations on pages 34-37.

Schedule of Events*

Inside Back Cover and Back Cover Sponsor Logos

WTGS Fall Symposium

Attention to Symposium Attendees, Speakers, and Vendors Concerning the Drought

As you visit Midland this year to attend the WTGS symposium please consider the current drought conditions that Midland, Odessa, and West Texas are facing. Please consider conserving over the next three days while staying in your hotel rooms. It is very much appreciated by your friends here at the WTGS and the kind folks of Midland.

As of 7/30/12 the CRMWD (Colorado River Municipal Water District) website reported that the surface water resources of West Texas continue to suffer exceptionally low levels due to the drought. Lack of significant rainfall, high evaporation rates, and municipal usage are promoting the drop. It should be noted that the good folks of Midland and Odessa have significantly reduced water usage over the past year and they should be praised for their efforts.

Lake J.B. Thomas is 0.8% full and 55.3 ft below the spillway. E.V. Spence Reservoir is pathetically low at a mere 0.3% full and 85.89 ft below the spillway. O.H. Ivie Reservoir continues to plummet from this time last year losing 10% of capacity in a years’ time and now sits at 14.01% and is 43.98 ft below the spillway. Although the CRMWD has 5 water well fields, only 4 are currently active and those four are used primarily during peak periods in summertime. The O’Barr field near Big Spring is inactive. The Odessa, Snyder, Martin County, and Ward County water well fields are active but are not the primary source of our water supply because these fields are renewed slowly compared with the potential for recharge of surface reservoirs.

So please conserve water while you visit the Tall City and enjoy the symposium!

Thank you,

Jesse Garnett White - General Chair

The Path of Least Resistance to Unethical Behavior

Gamma Spectrometry and Geochemical Investigation of the Mississippian (Chesterian) Fayetteville Shale and IMO Shale, Arkoma Basin, Arkansas

Adetola O. Alase, Department of Geology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater.

More than 250 gamma-ray spectrometry measurements were collected from the Mississippian (Chesterian) Hindsville, Fayetteville, Pitkin and Imo formations, northern Arkansas and analyzed to provide insight into radionuclide buildup and concentration of organic matter in these important natural-gas-bearing rocks. The primary goal of this study was to integrate gamma-ray spectrometry, geochemistry and lithofacies distributions to interpret sediment source and depositional settings of the Fayetteville Shale and the Imo Shale.

The black lower Fayetteville shale is organically rich, fossiliferous and contains laterally continuous micritic limestone beds. The black shale is radioactive and has an average TOC content of 4 wt.%. The rhythmic upper Fayetteville shale is an alternating succession of limestone and black to dark-gray shale that is organically rich, fossiliferous, pyritic, radioactive and has an average TOC content of 4.5 wt.%. The Fayetteville Shale at Marshall is relatively low-clay content and interpreted as relatively deeper-marine and anoxic as evidenced by a higher uranium content compared to thorium. The changes in U:Th ratio and TOC across the Fayetteville Shale demonstrate that it contains two shoaling-upward sequences: the lower one terminating at the base of the highly radioactive upper Fayetteville Shale; the upper one culminating with the onset of Pitkin deposition.

The Imo Shale at Peyton Creek is subdivided into four units using lithology and total gamma-ray. The Imo Shale is relatively clay rich, fossiliferous, radioactive and organically rich with average TOC content of 3.0 wt.%. The Imo contains black shale that transitions upward to gray shale, which is succeeded by sandstone and dark gray shale with thin dark limestone beds. U, Th, TOC and gamma-ray decrease upward from the basal black shale to the sandstone. Above the sandstone, as a result of dilution by terrigenous sediments, TOC and U concentrations decreases and gamma-ray correlates to Th rather than U. Across the Imo, TOC and U positively correlate, suggesting a marine source for organic carbon. The results indicate that API gamma-ray responds to U and Th and consequently may not be a reliable indicator of TOC concentration. However, U correlates positively with TOC across all units and is viewed as a reliable tool for estimating their gas-sourcing potential.

The Importance of Mineralogy in the Calculation of OOIPstb in a Permian Wolfcamp Orgainic—Rich Shale: Southeast New Mexico

G.B. Asquith, TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Using log data from only resistivity (Rt), neutron porosity (ФNls), and bulk density (ρb) Rick Lewis with Schlumberger has derived a method to analyze potential shale reservoirs by applying simultaneous equations. The results from the analysis include: 1.) Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Volume of Kerogen (Vke), Volume of Quartz (Vqtz), Volume of Clay (Vcl), and Total Porosity (Фtotal). The equations are listed below:

TOC = (156.956/ρb) – 58.271 Vke = (TOC*ρb*Kvr)/ρke

Vqtz + Vcl + Vke + Фtotal = 1.0

Vqtz*ρqtz + Vcl*ρcl + Vke*ρke + Фtotal*ρf = ρb

Vqtz*ФNqtz + Vcl*ФNcl + Vke*FNke + Фtotal*ФNf = ФNls

ρf = ρwater*1.1 + [ρoil*(1 -Sw)] ФNf = ФNwater*1.0 + [ФNoil*(1-Sw)]

Next effective porosity [Фe = Фtotal – (Vcl* Фclay)], effective water saturation (Swe), and oil-filled porosity (Фoil) are calculated. Finally permeability and OOIPstb are determined using the equations listed below:

ka = [(0.0108*Фoil) - 0.000256]*10^6 cut-off >100nD

OOIPstb = (7758*Фoil*h*AREA)/BOI

BOI = 1.2 low shrinkage oil or 1.4 high shrinkage oil

Using the above equations and recommended default values in the analysis of a Wolfcamp organic-rich shale in southeast New Mexico resulted in an OOIPstp of 427,809 BO (BOI = 1.4). The default values assume the matrix is quartz (ρqtz = 2.65 g/cc and ФNqtz = -0.05) and the clay is predominantly illite (ρcl = 2.71 g/cc, ФNcl = 0.35 and CEC = 0.14). However, a lithodensity MID Plot indicates that sufficient carbonate (calcite and dolomite) maybe in the Wolfcamp shale. Adjusting the matrix for equal percentages of quartz, calcite and dolomite (ρmatrix = 2.74 g/cc and ФNmatrix = 0.02) results in an OOIPstb of 964,332 BO (BOI = 1.4).

The very important question to ask is which is the correct answer? This question can only be answered by a determination of the mineralogy from laboratory analysis or a geochemical log (open or cased hole). The analysis can be rerun adjusting for the more complex mineralogy.

Detailed Mapping of Mariscal Mountain anticline, Big Bend National Park

M. Justin Cartwright, Trent R. Bieberly and Joseph I. Satterfield, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX, Daniel P. Miggins, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO

Mariscal Mountain, southern Big Bend National Park, exposes a large plunging Laramide anticline (MMa) that contains Tertiary intrusions and abandoned cinnabar mine workings. 1:12,000-scale mapping in a small, 9 km² area of northernmost Mariscal Mountain reveals a previously unmapped high-angle fault and two or three phases of map-scale and outcrop-scale folds. Our work generally confirms recently published mapping (Dickerson and others, 2010, scale 1:24,000; Turner and others; 2011, scale 1:75,000). We distinguished ten Cretaceous-Quaternary geologic map units, including Tertiary mafic and felsic intrusions. One mafic sill has been dated at 46.7 ± 0.3 Ma (U-Pb on zircon, Miggins, 2009). An eastern felsic sill is likely 32-33 Ma. Paleomagnetic fold tests show mafic sills were not folded even though they crop out on both limbs of MMa (Harlan and others, 1995). Within our map area MMa axial plane strikes 329-002 and dips 68NE-76W while the 329-002-trending fold axis plunges from 36 to 3 to 20 to 7 from north to south. Outcrop-scale folds trend NNW, NW, and NE. A NNW-striking subvertical fault cross-cuts MMa west limb. Previous work and current geologic mapping suggest this sequence of events: 1) Cretaceous units deposited, 2) Cretaceous units folded into MMa and outcrop-scale folds at same orientation as Sierra del Carmen Laramide folds (Satterfield and Dyess, 2007), 3) Broad NE-trending folding produced MMa fold axis plunge variations, 4) Mafic sills intruded (46.7 Ma), 5) High-angle fault crosscuts MMa and possibly offsets mafic intrusions during Basin and Range extension, 6) Erosion, then Quaternary sediments deposited.

Mapping Subsurface Faults in Highly Urbanized Area in Huecco Bolson, El Paso, Texas

Pawan Budhathoki, Anita Thapalia, Diane Doser, Richard Langford and Niti Mankhemthong Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso

Since there are limited geophysical methods to map out subsurface faults in highly urbanized areas, we attempted to trace out these faults by using microgravity that will also be constrained by petrophysical and geochemical data. In particular, we aim to understand structural and stratigraphic mechanisms controlling the fresh-brackish water contact in the northern Hueco Bolson Aquifer (HBA), El Paso, Texas. The faults also serve as important barriers to regional groundwater flow. In our preliminary study, we were able to trace the location some faults in the subsurface by using gravity data. Also, we observed that total dissolved solids (TDS) increase towards the north, but decrease towards the northwest. This study is an extension of previous study that used a combination of water well logs, well cuttings and micro-gravity data in the central Hueco Bolson near the El Paso International Airport to locate important faults that appear to separate zones of fresh and saline water.

A Case of Mistaken Identity, The Barnett Shale in the Central Midland Basin

Clark Osterlund

Texas Christian University

Fine-grained units underlying the Strawn Formation in the Central Midland Basin have historically been interpreted as Pennsylvanian (Atokan) or Mississippian (Chesterian) strata. Recent palynology data suggest that the shale was deposited during the late Mississippian (Osagean-Chesterian), making it equivalent to the Barnett Shale. The trend of the Barnett was studied in a 20-mile² (~30 Km².) area straddling the corners of Andrews, Ector, Martin, and Midland Counties in West Texas where, depths to the Barnett range from 9,900 feet (3,000 meters) to 11,500 feet (3,500 meters).

In the study area, siliceous-calcareous shales dominate the Barnett shale; however, resistivity changes allow division of the shale into an upper and lower unit. The upper unit can be further subdivided into six subunits by distinct log curve markers, which are interpreted as gravity flow deposits consisting of silty bioclastic debris. Resistivity logs show an elevated response from the gravity flow deposits, while gamma ray and neutron density logs show a funnel shaped, upward coarsening electrofacies. Isopach maps of the flow deposits suggest a source to the north, coinciding with the Chesterian platform margin located in northern Andrews County. Preliminary TOC analyses, using the inverse relationship between the gamma ray and resistivity logs, suggest that the upper Barnett section is relatively TOC lean, whereas the lower Barnett has higher values. Exploration focus can be enhanced with the detailed mapping of flows for the upper Barnett, and mapping high resistive, calcareous units in the lower Barnett.

Evaluating Reservoir Characteristics Using Mass Spectrometer Gas Analysis

Becky Roberts

Crown Geochemistry, Inc

The availability of a portable, stand alone Mass Spectrometer has added a new dimension to oil and gas exploration. Mass Spec chemical profiling performed at the drill site is an exceptional method for acquiring hard data, especially when traditional logging tools are not cost or risk efficient. As an evaluation tool, Mass Spec Gas Analysis works in oil based mud and is delivered within a week of TD. The geologic attributes derived from the data can be predictors of wettability, bulk porosity, primary permeability, micro-fracturing, compartmentalization, relative water saturation, depletions and bypassed reservoirs

Depositional Facies and Cycle Stratigraphy of the San Andres and Lower Greyburg Formations in the Residual Oil Zone, Main Pay and Gas Cap Intervals in the Goldsmith Landreth San Andres Unit, Goldsmith Field, Ector County, Texas

Emily L. Stoudt, Toyly Abdullayev, and Robert Trentham, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

About 1000 feet of core was described from 5 wells from the Landreth San Andres Unit in Goldsmith Field, Ector County, Texas. The wells were cored in the San Andres and Greyburg Formations. The described sections cover the gas cap, main pay and the residual oil zone. Out of these 5 wells, only three wells will be displayed in the core workshop. These are the #126 R, #204 R, and #190. The lithology of gas cap, main pay, and residual oil zone in these three wells are mostly dolomites, but some of the lower ROZ and the water leg are only partially dolomitized.

The #190 well was cored entirely in the water leg and “Residual Oil Zone” in partially and completely dolomitized fusulinid pack-stones and grainstones. The #204R well was cored within the ROZ, “Main Pay” and the lower part of the gas cap and displays more traditional dolomitized fusulinid and oolitic packstones and grainstones with one thin tidal flat capped cycle at the top. The #126R is entirely dolomitized, contains fusulinid pack-stones and grainstones in its lower one third, but is predominantly oolitic packstones and grainstones and well developed tidal flat capped cycles at the top. The San Andres/Greyburg contact occurs in the upper 10-15 feet of the #126R core.

Individual cycles in the fusulinid and oolitic packstones and grainstones average 10-20 feet thick, frequently display a thin wackestone base, and cross-bedded grainstone caps that contain the best porosity and permeability in the cycle interval. Tidal flat capped cycles are much thinner (@ 3 to 6 feet thick), are characterized by mudstone to wackestone bases and cycle tops that contain fenestral textures, stromatolitic algal laminations, mud cracks, rip-up clasts, root traces and other indications of exposure. The porosity and permeability in the tidal flat capped cycles is much less that in the fusulinid and oolitic capped cycles.