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$4.00JUNE 2016VOLUME 43, ISSUE 06Canadian Publication Mail Contract – 40070050

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CSPG – 110, 333 - 5 Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 3B6

10 Recent Developments in the Eagle Ford Shale: An Operators Perspective

18 Gussow 2016 Clastic Sedimentology – New Ideas and Applications

22 University Outreach: Western Universities Tour

25 Ontario Student Conference a Success!

FEATURED SPEAKERS*

Greg Soule, BrazilUnconventional Resources in Turbidite Sands of the Recôncavo Basin, Onshore Brazil: Core to Seismic Interpretation

Jonathan Garrett, MichiganRegional Chemo- and Sequence Stratigraphic Analysis of the A-1 Carbonate, Michigan Basin, USA

Bryan Turner, OklahomaThe Use of Chemostratigraphy to Refine Ambiguous Sequence Stratigraphic Correlations in Marine Mudrocks. An Example from the Woodford Shale, Oklahoma

Carlos Molinares-Blanco, OklahomaWoodford Shale (Unconventional Resource) Core from the Arkoma Basin, Oklahoma: Litho/Sequence Stratigraphy, Palynology, Chemostratigraphy, Hardness, and Organic Geochemistry

Steve Sonnenberg, North DakotaThe Giant Continuous Oil Accumulation in the Bakken Petroleum System, U.S. Williston Basin

Riley Brinkerhoff, MontanaThe Bakken-Three Forks Petroleum System in the Northern Williston Basin as Displayed by the Douts 4-7 Core, Burke County, North Dakota, USA

Cornelius Rott, GermanyReservoir Quality of a Diagenetically Altered Shallow Marine Carbonate Interval in the Permian Zechstein (Ca2), East Germany – Implications for Porosity Prediction Using Seismic Inversion Data

Rob Sadownyk, TurkeyMezardere Slope Fan Exploration Model, Thrace Basin, Turkey: Integration of Core, Outcrop, Seismic and Well Log Data

Other core locations include British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.

* View full list of speakers at:www.cspg.org/CSPG/Conferences/ACE/Speakers

CORE LOCATIONS

Register today! www.ace.aapg.org/2016 FULL Core Conference: $195 US

Conference Student Price: $35 US Core Meltdown Ticket ONLY: $25 US | June 24, starts at 2pm | Includes two drink tickets and appetizers

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June 23–24 | Core displays, presentations, breakfast, lunch, and 1 Core Meltdown Ticket

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OFFICE CONTACTSMembership Inquiries Tel: 403-513-1234 Email: [email protected]

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EDITORS/AUTHORSJason Frank Co-Editor | [email protected] Hobbs, Co-Editor | [email protected] submit RESERVOIR articles to the CSPG office. Submission deadline is the 23rd day of the month, two months prior to issue date. (e.g., January 23 for the March issue).To publish an article, the CSPG requires digital copies of the document. Text should be in Microsoft Word format and illustrations should be in TIFF format at 300 dpi., at final size.

CSPG COORDINATING EDITOREmma MacPherson, Communications Coordinator Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Tel: 403-513-1230, [email protected] RESERVOIR is published 11 times per year by the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists. This includes a combined issue for the months of July and August. The purpose of the RESERVOIR is to publicize the Society’s many activities and to promote the geosciences. We look for both technical and non-technical material to publish.

The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either in part or in full without the consent of the publisher. Additional copies of the RESERVOIR are available at the CSPG office.

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While reasonable care has been taken, authors and the CSPG make no guarantees that any of the equations, schematics, or devices discussed will perform as expected or that they will give the desired results. Some information contained herein may be inaccurate or may vary from standard measurements. The CSPG expressly disclaims any and all liability for the acts, omissions, or conduct of any third-party user of information contained in this publication. Under no circumstances shall the CSPG and its officers, directors, employees, and agents be liable for any injury, loss, damage, or expense arising in any manner whatsoever from the acts, omissions, or conduct of any third-party user.

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FRONT COVER

Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah. Gooseneck in the Colorado river. Exposure is from Permian Moenkopi Formation at river level to the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone. Ryan Simpson – [email protected]

JUNE 2016 – VOLUME 43, ISSUE 06

ARTICLES

Recent Developments in the Eagle Ford Shale: An Operators Perspective ........................ 10

Gussow 2016 Clastic Sedimentology – New Ideas and Applications ............................... 18

2015 Partner Tracks Award ....................................................................................................... 19

33rd Annual CSPG Squash Tournament Wrap-up .................................................................21

University Outreach: Western Universities Tour .................................................................22

CSPG Road Race ..........................................................................................................................24

Ontario Student Conference a Success!.................................................................................25

DEPARTMENTS

Message from the Board ............................................................................................................. 5

Rock Shop ......................................................................................................................................17

RESERVOIR ISSUE 06 • JUNE 2016 3

Each year the CSPG awards the Medal of Merit to authors of the best peer-reviewed paper published during the previous year on a subject related to the petroleum geology

of Canada. A sterling silver medal is presented to each of the authors. The list of previous winners can be seen under awards on the CSPG website.

The Medal of Merit Committee searches the literature for potential candidates and

selects the best paper, favouring well written and illustrated papers with novel ideas that have relevance to Canadian petroleum geology and/or the broader practice of petroleum geology. The committee will be evaluating papers published during the

calendar year 2015 for the 2016 award. In addition to papers from academic journals, papers which form part of a special publication are also eligible. If you know of a 2015 peer-reviewed paper that the committee should consider, please submit the details by

July 31, 2016 to:

Ross Kukulski, Chair Medal of Merit Committee [email protected]

(403) 234-5450

Medal of Merit Call For Nominations

CSPG BOARD

PRESIDENTGreg Lynch • Shell Canada Ltd. [email protected] Tel: 403.384.7704

PRESIDENT ELECTMark Cooper • Sherwood Geoconsulting Ltd. [email protected]

PAST PRESIDENTTony [email protected]

FINANCE DIRECTORScott Leroux • Long Run [email protected] Tel: 403.766.5862

FINANCE DIRECTOR ELECTShelley Leggitt • NAL Resources Ltd. [email protected]

DIRECTORMark [email protected]

DIRECTORJen Russel-Houston • Osum Oil Sands [email protected] Tel: 403.270.4768

DIRECTOREric Street • Jupiter [email protected] Tel: 587.747.2631

DIRECTORJohn Cody • Statoil Canada [email protected]

DIRECTORRyan Lemiski [email protected]

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORLis Bjeld • [email protected] Tel: 403.513.1235

Message from the BoardA message from the Executive Committee Tony Cadrin, Past President; Greg Lynch, President; Mark Cooper, President Elect; Scott Leroux, Finance Director ; Shelley Leggitt, Finance Director Elect

The current environment of low oil prices not only spells trouble for the economies and spending plans of major oil-producing economies like Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United States but also for Canadian oil companies. With $100 per barrel fast becoming a distant memory, our industry needs a price rebound in 2016-2017 however this is clearly beyond our control.”

The membership should be aware that the Executive Committee and Board of Directors planned a budget with a loss of $306,000 for the fiscal year ending August 2016. This was based on the premise that we were in for a short, sharp price shock followed by a quick rebound. As we all now know the low is going to be more prolonged and our current projected loss is anticipated to be in excess of the budgeted number. CSPG has built a ‘Rainy-Day Fund’ over the years in order to weather situations like this and to protect the long term future of the society. However, this fund is finite and will only sustain us through a few lean years before it is exhausted.

Steps have been taken this year to control expenses including reducing staff and other overhead expenses. We have cut some of our events and developed collaborations on others. Now, we need you, the members, to support your ‘professional home for life’ by attending as many events as possible! For instance, this month CSPG hosts ACE 2016 but we need YOU to support CSPG by attending Short Courses, Field Trips, International Core Conference, Stampede Round-Up, the Glenbow Reception and to participate in the ACE 2016 Technical Program. If each member came to one of these events; you would help reduce the CSPG deficit. This enables us to maintain the infrastructure required to provide you with opportunities for professional development

and networking.

As we embark on planning the program of activities for the fall and winter we anticipate that further consolidation and cost-cutting will be required. Now, more than ever, we need your support as a Member, to be a valued Volunteer, to advocate at our events, and to encourage colleagues to become involved. CSPG will survive with your help.

The CSPG office has been working hard on a telephone campaign to encourage members who did not renew to do so; the staff has been very successful in improving retention. CSPG is also providing help with dues to members in transition and is now working with instructors and companies willing to provide PD at reduced rates to members.

We are about to host the AAPG at ACE 2016 at the BMO Centre. With over 5,500 attendees arriving in Calgary from around the world, CSPG members have the opportunity to make new contacts, be introduced to new technical concepts, and to learn about the latest software tools from the Exhibit Floor. CSPG will be hosting the International Core Conference, running short courses and field trips. We have reduced pricing for in-transition members and corporate pricing deals to help encourage you to register. For more details go to www.cspg.org.

We have looked for niche opportunities that provide benefits to CSPG members. As one of the major partners of GeoConvention, CSPG members were helped with free Exhibit Passes, Interview Sessions, and volunteer opportunities. CSPG, in conjunction with SPE Canada, has brought to industry “Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences Workshop” – a four day Bootcamp – removing the internal

(... Continued on page 7)


For more information and to register go to ACE.AAPG.org

June 18-19, 2016 Instructors: Matthew Pranter & Lisa Stright Fee: 850 USD ACE SC 9 | From Rocks to Models: Geological Reservoir

Saturday June 18, 2016 Instructor: Andrew Miall Fee: 800 USD ACE SC 8 | Principles of Stratigraphy

June 15-17, 2016 Instructors: Mark Cooper & Marian Warren Fee: 1,050 USD ACE SC 1 | Seismic & Geological Interpretation in Structurally Complex Settings

Friday June 17, 2016 Instructor: Dr. Rick Sarg Fee: 750 USD

ACE SC 3 | Producing Low Permea-bility, Micro-porous Carbonate Reservoirs: The Next Generation Carbonate Reservoir

Friday June 17, 2016 Instructors: Euan Macaulay & Alan Vaughan

Fee: 600 USD

ACE SC 4 | Fractured Reservoirs in Compressional and Adjacent Foreland Basin Settings

ACE 2016 SHORT COURSES

PRESENTED BY:

Register today for Bulk Ticket Pricing for CSPG Short Courses at AAPG ACE 2016

3 - 4 Registrations from the same company =

10% off total registration

5 Registrations from the same company = Pay the listed price in Canadian

dollars

6 RESERVOIR ISSUE 06 • JUNE 2016

corporate burden to educate those new to the team. This workshop ran in May 2016 and is also available in the fall for company bookings.

CSPG is looking ahead but we need your input! What is it that Geoscientists across Canada now need and want from CSPG? We have set up a simple short survey allowing you to have your say and contribute

your ideas that will be emailed to the membership on June 6th. Alternatively, call Lis at 403.513.1235 and she will connect you with one of the CSPG directors.

We are stronger together!

(... Continued from page 5)

CORPORATE SPONSORS

SAMARIUMCSPG FoundationgeoLOGIC systems ltd.

TITANIUMAGAT LaboratoriesAlberta Energy RegulatorTourmaline Oil Corp.

PLATINUMWeatherford Canada Partnership

GOLDImperial Oil ResourcesLoring Tarcore Labs Ltd.Progress Energy Ltd.

SILVERNexen ULCChinook ConsultingMEG Energy Corp.Shell Canada Energy

BRONZEPulse Seismic IncMJ SystemsCanada Brokerlink Inc.Belloy Petroleum ConsultingRepsol Oil and Gas Canada Inc.Seitel Canada Ltd.Husky Energy Inc.IHS Global Canada LimitedCSEG FoundationPro Geo ConsultantsBirchcliff Energy Ltd.Core LaboratoriesGLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd.Murphy Oil Company Ltd.

As of April 29, 2016

Strengthen Your Geoscience Career by Joining “GeoMatch”

More and more professionals are actively pursuing mentoring

to advance their careers. Whether you are participating as the mentee or mentor, these types of partnerships can benefit your career and develop your skills. Once CSPG has enough interest,

we will contact applicants for further information, make matches and email details to participants.

There are four different categories as outlined below.

MENTEES:

Young Geoscience Professionals (35 years old and younger) – who wish for a mentor to accelerate their career

Women in Geosciences – for career networking and support In-Transition (unemployed) - seeking skills clarification and networking

opportunities Recent Immigrants – professionals who have arrived in Canada within the

last 12 months

MENTORS:

Retirees and experienced geoscientists who wish to mentor as a consultant to mentees in the categories above

To sign up for the program please visit www.cspg.org/geomatch and make your selec-tion (please ensure you are signed in to the website), or send an email to member-

[email protected]. This program is only open to CSPG members in good standing.


Tuesday, June 14, 2015 | 12:00 Noon Centennial Place, West Tower

Bow River Room 3rd Floor Conference Area

250 – 5th St SW | Calgary, AB

The Orphan Well Association is a unique not for profit organization that is funded by the upstream oil and gas industry in the province of Alberta. The mandate is to manage the abandonment of orphan wells, pipelines,

facilities and the reclamation of associated sites. Ms. Payne will provide up-to-date information on the current state of

orphan wells and reclamation efforts in Alberta.

The Current State of Orphan Wells and Reclamation Efforts in AB

ENVIRONMENT DIVISION TALK

Speaker: Patricia Payne, P. Eng., Manager, Orphan Well Association


at

Join the CSPG International Division and CGEF for a fun evening of Calgary Stampede hospitality at the Palomino Smokehouse. The Palomino is Calgary’s favorite downtown smokehouse that offers authentic smokehouse fare and

distinctive local brews and a Western experience that is second to none.

MONDAY, JUNE 20TH

REGISTER ONLINE TODAY AT WWW.CSPG.ORG

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Location: The Palomino Smokehouse Charge: Professionals/ Guests $15 each Includes: Smokehouse appetizers + 1 Drink Ticket

Our Current Top Sponsors:

Email Kristy Casebeer ([email protected]) for more sponsorship opportunities


RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE EAGLE FORD SHALE: AN OPERATORS PERSPECTIVE| By Paolo Grossi, P. Geo, Talisman Energy USA (a part of Repsol)

OverviewThe Eagle Ford Shale, a 200 ft (60 m) thick section of Cretaceous calcareous mudrocks, has transformed nearly 200 miles (322 km) of South Texas ranch country into the largest oil field in the United States (Figure 1). Amazingly this astounding feat has been realized in only seven short years, with peak production volumes reaching 1700 Mbbls/day of oil and 7 bcf/day gas, with an expected ultimate technically recoverable resource of 17 Tcf gas and 4.2 Bbbls oil (EIA, 2014 and 2015). To put this into perspective, the Eagle Ford produces 1.2 times more oil per day and holds approximately equivalent oil reserves as all of Canada’s conventional oil fields (production and reserves excluding oil sands) (CAPP, 2015).

The Eagle Ford has rightfully earned it’s placed within the ‘big three’ of unconventional shale plays (Bakken and Marcellus being the others) ushering in the ‘shale age’ of oil and gas. This industry phenomenon has transformed the North American energy landscape and will continue to do so across the globe.

It is now no longer sufficed for shale operators to prove that their shale assets

‘can produce’ with one-off well results glamourized in press releases. Instead, operators are being forced to quickly high grade and optimize their assets and demonstrate that they can deliver consistent and repeatable economic development. Fundamentally a simple goal exists; to drill the best wells first and space wells appropriately to recover the maximum amount of hydrocarbons.

With over ten thousand wells drilled and producing in the Eagle Ford to date, the main play drivers controlling the ‘sweet spots’ are known and behave hierarchal in their effect; the most important factors regionally being absolute reservoir pressure and hydrocarbon phase with asset level controls being the natural and hydraulically induced fracture networks and other local reservoir heterogeneities.

Defining the ‘Sweet Spot’One of Talisman Energy’s development areas resides in east central La Salle County, Texas. Initial development within the field (2009-2013) was based largely on lease retention and prompted by continuous drilling obligations. As such, wells were drilled throughout the field,

generally targeting the upper 100 ft (30 m) of the Lower Eagle Ford and crossing various structural features. Within this area northeast-to-southwest regional normal faults with throws of 50-150 feet (25-50m) segment the field. Several stages of fault propagation, largely driven by underlying salt movement, have created varying stress and fracture orientations particularly within transfer zones where relay ramp structures have developed. Relay ramps occur between overlapping normal faults and accommodate displacement transfer between adjacent structures (Figure 2).

Stress variation dictates fracture geometries; where the ratio of maximum-to-minimum horizontal stress (SHmax/SHmin) is greater than 1, fractures will tend to develop parallel to regional normal faults. Conversely, fractures typically develop perpendicular to these faults in areas with SHmax/SHmin stress ratios that approach 1 (Figure 2).

The relatively late timing of relay ramp associated fracture sets and the current regional far-field stress state suggests that these features are likely open and conductive compared to the regional

Figure 1. Modified from EIA Top 100 U.S. Oil and Gas Fields, displays the geographic location of the Eagle Ford Shale relative to other major US fields. 2013 proved reserves volumes are shown as orange bubbles. The Eagle Ford has surpassed the once thought untouchable Prodhoe Bay Field in Alaska, which in now in third place behind the Spraberry Trend of West Texas.

Figure 2. A) Regional structural elements of South Texas (modified from Ferrill et al. 2014 in Grossi 2015) with South Texas Upper Cretaceous stratigraphic column, red star denotes study area B) Top Buda subsea structure map of study area as interpreted from 3D seismic, regional NE-SW normal faults interpreted (light blue polygons) and horizontal wells studied shown in black. C) Schematic displaying a relay ramp structure. Where stress ratios (SHmax/SHmin) >1, fractures will tend to develop parallel to normal faults, whereas in areas with stress ratios (SHmax/SHmin) ~=1, fractures will tend to develop perpendicular to regional normal faults.


SHmax parallel sets. In addition, within a structural domain of low stress bias (stress ratio approaching 1.0) fracture complexity can be more prevalent during hydraulic stimulation, which can dramatically increase the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV), and more specifically, the stimulated surface area.

Utilizing 3D seismic, surface-derivative mapping of dip azimuth and dip angle on the Buda horizon (directly underlying the Eagle Ford) was found to be the most useful attribute in discerning major structural features (Figure 3). The numbers on the figure 3 denote examples of the main structural features that were identified:

• A relay ramp transfer zone with a southwest-dipping ramp with orthogonal (SHmin parallel) fault/fracture features (1);

• Regional, through-going (SHmax parallel), large-displacement normal faults marked by the dashed black lines (2);

• A transfer zone with a regional southeast dip (3); and

• A steeply dipping monocline (4).

Geologic DatasetDrilling reports and mud logs were reviewed to identify major gas kicks or related well control issues, as well as gas chemistry variations (gas wetness ratios), and assessed by normalizing total mud gas by dividing total gas by the drilling rate of penetration. A scan line analysis was also performed on the normalized mud gas data. These results were then correlated to the mapped structural features identified by 3D seismic.

It was found that a discernable portion of the wells in the field encountered gas kicks or well control issues. In a majority of these cases, well paths traversed seismically resolvable northwest-to-southeast features within interpreted relay ramp structures. In a few cases, well paths crossed northeast-to- southwest features within steeply dipping monocline features. This was also consistent with the subset of wells which were identified through scan line analysis in having systematic fracture frequencies (Grossi. 2015).

For wells that crossed major regional northeast-to-southwest features, gas ratios tended to indicate decreased gas wetness,

which is interpreted to be a result of regional normal fault systems creating the necessary pathways for highly mobile lighter hydrocarbons (methane) to migrate from deeper stratigraphic sources. This assumption was later confirmed through the use of carbon 13 (13C) isotopes analysis on wellhead produced gas which identified several high thermal maturity gas anomalies (Grossi 2015).

Visual fracture identification from core and formation micro-imaging (FMI) played a key role in validating the structural interpretations within the field. Utilizing 150 ft (46 m) of continuous core and 1000 ft (305 m) of FMI images, numerous fractures were interpreted and classified; with extension and conjugate shear fractures trending in two dominate directions (strike 60 and 150 degrees) (Figure 4).

Multi-disciplinary IntegrationHydraulic fracture flowback data was analyzed by cross plotting the produced oil-gas-water ratio (OGWR) and produced water salinity (chlorides part per million, ppm). The three observed OGWR- salinity relationships (denoted as regions in figure 5) correspond to three distinctive groups of wells located within varying inferred structural features. This ‘boomerang’ shaped relationship was mirrored when cross plotting OGWR and estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) per well. The connection between variations in flowback water salinity and interpreted structural features suggests that early time salinities are a direct indicator of hydraulic fracture growth, complexity, extent and

interactions with pre-existing features with the resultant SRV dictating well productivity.

Since 2009, a majority of wells in the field have been monitored utilizing a permanent microseismic buried array. Lineament analysis of the microseismic events (event trends through time) suggests that the most dominant orientation of fracture growth is NE-SW, between 30-60 degrees. However, in certain areas of the field an additional lineament orientation is also observed which trends orthogonal to the dominant direction, that is: NW-SE, between 130-160 degrees which parallels surface attribute features that occur in interpreted relay

Figure 3. A) Dip azimuth (0-360 degrees) top Buda. B) Dip angle (filtered 0-2 degrees) top Buda. Contours on both A and B are top Buda subsea ft, CI 100 ft. Numbers denote examples of main interpreted structural domains ; 1) Relay ramp transfer zone, SW dipping ramp with orthogonal (SHmin parallel) fault/fracture features 2) Regional (SHmax parallel) through going large displacement normal faults (note dashed black lines), 3) Transfer zone with regional SE dip, 4) Steeply dipping monocline.

(Continued on page 12...)

Figure 4. Examples of fracture types interpreted from whole core and FMI. Extension and conjugate shear fractures trending in two dominate directions (strike 60 and 150 degrees) were observed.


ramp structures. This suggests that within these features low stress bias and/or an orthogonal NW-SE joint set allows for complex fracture growth.

Microseismic event counts and amplitudes (event-amplitude ratio, abbrev: event/amp) were also related to the rate transient analysis (RTA) parameter Sqrt(km)*Acm (abbrev: Arootk, being defined as the product of total matrix surface area draining into the productive fracture system (Acm) and the square root of matrix permeability (km)). When cross plotted two distinct well populations emerge, a high Arootk vs. event/amp trend corresponding to wells within relay ramp structures and a low value trend relating to wells on the edge of such features or within transfer zones with dominant NE-SW (regional) attribute orientations (Figure 6).

Natural fractures and differing stress conditions play a significant role on well productivity within this Eagle Ford development area. As illustrated in (Figure 7), these findings were summarized by what was defined as a fracture classification model characterized by three distinct fracture types:

• Class 1, hydraulically induced fractures;• Class 2, stratigraphically bound/

confined natural fractures, and;• Class 3, unconfined and non-

stratigraphically bound or out-of-zone natural fractures.

This model is currently being used predictively, high grading well inventory to maximize class 2 fracture types and minimize the negative effects of class 3 types. These learnings have been critical in delineating sweet spots, and are playing a key role in future full field development planning.

Optimizing Field Recovery Through DownspacingThe recovery of hydrocarbons in unconventional shale reservoirs is dependent on induced hydraulic fractures. The technological capabilities and economics of this recovery method are important to recognize when trying to discern recovery efficiencies in such plays.

An industry review of Eagle Ford estimated ultimate well recoveries (EUR) was compiled with internal values to create an Eagle Ford dataset. This data was then compared to hydrocarbon in-place


Figure 5. A) OGWR vs. estimated ultimate oil-equivalent recoveries (EUR Mboe). B) Oil-gas-water ratio (OGWR) vs. produced water flowback salinity. The “boomerang” curves that develop suggest a clear relationship between early and routine flowback information and long term well productivity. For example, shown are new wells E and F and their respective predicted EURs

Figure 6. A) Sqrt(km)*Acm (abbreviated: Arootk) versus event/amp ratio. Well populations on cross plot are denoted in map with corresponding colours (B). Two distinct well populations emerge, a high Arootk vs. event/amp trend corresponding to wells within relay ramp structures and a low value trend relating to wells on the edge of such features or within transfer zones with dominant NE-SW (regional) attribute orientations.

Figure 7. Schematic displaying the defined fracture class model which is used to summarized the positive and negative effects of fault/fractures within the field.


(HCIP) mapping of the Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk and a recovery factor (RF) computed and grouped by main phase (Figure 8). The trend that develops clearly shows that recovery factors decrease with increasing volumetrics, in both the oil and gas cases. Under the assumption of a linear relationship between in-place volumetrics and reservoir height, it is interpreted that in low volumetric areas (limited reservoir height) hydraulic fractures reach or nearly reach their full effective extent resulting in high calculated recovery factors. Whereas if the same fracture extent is reached in high volumetric areas, a larger volume of rock will be under stimulated, resulting in a lower computed recovery factor. This work, along with further work utilizing RTA analysis and the review of numerous published analogues (Grossi et al., 2015), suggests that the recovery factor in hydraulically stimulated reservoirs is dynamic and fundamentally related to fracture geometry, stimulation effectiveness and reservoir (net pay) height.

Several operators are currently attempting to unlock theses “stranded resources” (Pioneer Natural Resource Investor Presentation, 2014) by testing multi-zone vertical downspacing throughout the entire Eagle Ford trend. Vertical downspacing involves drilling horizontal wells within multiple stratigraphic layers/zones, commonly in what is referred to as a staggered (chevron pattern or W-pattern) well configuration. This “stack and frac” (Marathon Oil Investor Presentation, 2015) methodology is feasible in areas with high in-place hydrocarbon volumes; achieved by thick sections containing Lower Eagle Ford, Upper Eagle Ford, and Austin Chalk (Figure 9). Within Talisman Energy’s operated area the greatest in-place volumes are found in the Lower Eagle Ford section, with overall reservoir thickness

ranging from 200-230ft (60-70 m) and average field recoveries typically <15%. It was within this area that an initial six well staggered downspacing test was implemented.

The six well staggered test was implemented in Q1 2014, a vertical pilot well was drilled to collect data to quantify reservoir heterogeneity and establish/verify horizontal landing (target) zones. It was then followed by three horizontal wells drilled off of two pads. The two groups of wells were drilled in mirrored staggered configurations, with wells within the same target zone spaced 500 ft (152 m) apart and vertical zone to zone spacing of approximately 100ft (30 m) (Figure 10). Additionally, a new completion design was

tested on pad 2 to determine completion effects on the staggered configuration.

A full wireline log suite with formation micro-imaging (FMI) log, surface logging (C1-C8 mudgas chromatography, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Source Rock Analysis (SRA)), rotary side walls cores, unconventional core analysis and petrographic analysis (reflected light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)) was collected and analyzed from the pilot hole. Surface array microseismic was acquired during the zipper frac completion of the six wells, with analysis provided by a third party which gave estimates of overall fracture geometry (height and length), specifically determining estimates of propped (PSRV) versus un-propped stimulated reservoir volume (SRV), and well to well interaction behavior.

Reservoir CharacterizationThe Lower Eagle Ford section has average total porosities ranging from 6-12% and TOC 4-7 wt%. Total volumetrics were computed at 120-140 bcf/640 acres or 0.6 bcf/ft/640 acres. Mineralogical variation within the Lower Eagle Ford is significant, with carbonate content ranging from 40-80% (cuttings and core samples). The section is dominated by various calcite-rich lithologies (calcareous mudstone, marlstone and chalk) along with thin interbedded volcanic ash.

The complex geomechanical relationships within the Eagle Ford were analyzed by integrating wireline dipole sonic measurements with FMI images. This allowed for high resolution lithology dependent stress units to be modeled within a commercially available 3D hydraulic

Figure 8. Compiled Eagle Ford dataset displaying the relationship observed between estimated ultimate recoveries (EUR), volumetrics (hydrocarbon in-place - HCIP), and recovery factor (RF). Low recoveries in high volumetric areas suggest enhanced recovery methods (additional wells) are needed to optimize recovery; Talisman development area indicated by red star. Analogue published recovery factors in naturally fractured reservoirs are also shown.

Figure 9. Figure from Marathon Oil, September 2015, illustrating the “stac and frac” methodology being employed in Karnes County. Similar development strategies are taking place throughout the Eagle Ford trend as operators continue to optimize recovery.

Figure 10 Gun barrel” (lateral heal to toe) view of staggered test pads displaying well configurations and microseismic propped fracture volume (PSRV). Microseismic demonstrated that having staggered wells allows for better vertical stratigraphic fracture coverage within the Lower Eagle Ford section, with minimal PSRV overlap seen in wells within the same target zone.



fracture model. The model confirmed effective fracture initiation and propagation in both the upper and lower target zones, with vertical fracture growth limited by the imposed bed boundaries and high vertical stress anisotropy (Grossi et al., 2015).

XRF and SRA analysis was conducted on 5 ft (1.5 m) cutting intervals and several core plugs within the vertical pilot. XRF allowed for the differentiation of numerous major and minor elements, which were calibrated with XRD analysis to confirm bulk mineralogy as well as used with geochemical datasets to predict TOC distribution, paleoredox conditions, and overall depositional conditions. Overall enrichment of V, Ni, Mo, and Zn is observed in the upper section of the Lower Eagle Ford, with Cu and Cr enrichment in the lower section of the Lower Eagle Ford (Figure 12). The V association of elements corresponds to overall higher carbonate content and is positively correlated to S1/TOC, which is commonly used as proxy for free hydrocarbons. Cu and Cr enrichment is associated with more clay-rich lithologies, and is positively correlated to TOC, effective porosity and gas wetness. The observed elemental associations are interpreted to correspond to similar associations described in modern upwelling pelagic shelf settings, which through space and time have been shown to record cyclic disoxic to euxinic conditions.

Focused ion beam milling scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) was employed to further characterize pore networks utilizing over 150 2D images and four 3D volumes. The dominate pore network observed is organic associated spongy pores with pendular (bubble) pores being secondary. Inter and intragranular pores are typically created by disseminated coccolith tests and are most prevalent in carbonate-rich intervals. The largest pores (pore diameters of >0.5um) are associated with pendular organic and calcite inter and intragranular pores, both of which tend to dominate in the upper portion (upper target) of the Lower Eagle Ford (Figure 11). The high frequency of chemostratigraphic and geochemical data and its strong correlation to log-core parameters and SEM pore metrics enabled stratigraphic zones of what is interpreted to be relatively high versus low matrix deliverability units (Figure 12, SRA track “unit” log). From this interpretation the high degree of potential flow segregation or compartmentalization within the Lower Eagle Ford is evident, with relatively high deliverability units being no more then 10-50 ft (3-15m) thick.

Staggered Downspacing Test ResultsMicroseismic shows similar propped fracture volume on each pad; with an estimated

propped xf of 290 ft (88 m) for pad 1, as compared to185 ft (56 m) for pad 2, and a propped h of 125 ft (38 m) for pad 1 as compared to 85 ft (26 m) for pad 2. Despite this roughly 30% decrease in height and length, both pads were able to generate near identical productive fracture surface areas of approximately 11 MMsqft (1 MMsqm). From both tests it is also clear that having staggered wells drastically increases the vertical coverage (SRV and PSRV) within the entire Lower Eagle Ford section, with minimal PSRV overlap seen in wells within the same target zone (Figure 10).

Production and production forecasting (decline curve analysis (DCA) and rate transient analysis (RTA)) were used to understand long term productivity and its implications on ultimate field recovery. Currently pad 1 wells have been producing for over 15 months, with pad 2 wells producing for 13 months (Figure 13). Both pads are interpreted to match a b factor of 1.2 with early decline rates of 55-65%. Pad 2 is displaying better productivity than pad 1, which is interpreted to be a combination of the completion design and the structural geologic setting which both favor the creation of complex near-wellbore fractures (i.e. improved near-wellbore surface area).

Figure 11. Backscatter FIB-SEM image within the upper target of the Lower Eagle Ford. Light grey to white coloured material consists largely of disseminated coccoliths. The remaining dark grey material is organic (likely bitumen) with associated porosity (black in colour).

Figure 12. Log display and property summary table of the upper and lower targets within the Lower Eagle Ford. Log curves left to right: gamma ray, log derived and XRF facies, log-cuttings TOC, log porosities ( log-core and ELAN with red shaded effective porosity), 2D SEM total porosity and percentage of porosity associated with organic matter, key XRF trace elements, SRA dataset utilized to describe “matrix deliverability” units and GC mudgas (total gas (TG) and gas wetness (WH/BH))



Future production behavior was modeled utilizing a commercially available 3D DFN planar fracture model. The model was run for the case of: A) single well, B) two wells in the same stratigraphic target zone, and C) three wells in a staggered configuration (Figure 9). The results suggest that despite a per well EUR loss in cases B and C, both cases display minimal loss compared to the single well drainage scenario over 30 years; the two well single zone case is 2% less per well, and the three well staggered case is 7% less per well (Grossi et al., 2015). This therefore suggests that on a field basis recovery can be enhanced considerably by implementing a staggered lateral development strategy.

SummaryThe Eagle Ford Shale is an immense resource that now requires operators to high grade inventory and boost recoveries utilizing numerous multi-disciplinary techniques. Doing so requires understanding of the regional and asset level drivers of the play, and tailoring data acquisition, data analysis and development planning according.

Talisman Energy’s development as of 2014 has been in line with this approach. First, in investigating controls on asset level ‘sweet spots’ by focusing on multidisciplinary methods to explore complex interactions between hydraulic and natural fractures and its effects on well productivity. Secondly, by compiling an extensive dataset in order to support enhanced field recovery methods, specifically the use of multi-zone (staggered) lateral downspacing. These methods have led to encouraging

results, and are testament that the ‘shale age’ requires innovative multidisciplinary approaches that forces the geoscientist’s “tool kit” to expand into broad geoscientific and engineering disciplines.

The AuthorPaolo Grossi is a professional geoscientist (P.Geo.) on the Eagle Ford asset team at Talisman Energy USA Inc. (a part of Repsol) based in The Woodlands, Texas. He is part of multidisciplinary team responsible for the field development of approximately 60,000 net acres of Talisman (Repsol) operated Eagle Ford assets in La Salle and McMullen Counties. His career he has been

focused on the exploration, appraisal and development of unconventional resources including: deep basin tight gas in Canada, and numerous shale gas and oil projects throughout the U.S. and Internationally. Paolo earned his B.Sc. in petroleum geology from the University of Calgary, graduating with academic distinction.

ReferencesCanadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), 2015. Accessed 01/05/16 http://www.capp.ca/publications-and-statistics/statistics/basic-statistics

Figure 13. Cumulative condensate production versus time for pad 1 (green) and pad 2 (red) wells, all other wells in the field shown in grey. On average, pad 2 wells are the best performing wells to date in the field.

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EIA, 2014, U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Proved Reserves. Accessed 03/10/15 http://www.eia.gov/naturalgas/crudeoilreserves/pdf/usreserves.pdf

EIA, 2015, Eagle Ford Region: Drilling Productivity Report March 2015. Accessed 03/10/15 http://www.eia.gov/petroleum/drilling/pdf/eagleford.pdf

EIA, 2015, Top 100 U.S. Oil and Gas Fields. Accessed 01/05/16 https://www.eia.gov/naturalgas/crudeoilreserves/top100/pdf/top100.pdf

Grossi P., 2015, Investigating Natural Fracture Effects on Well Productivity: Eagle Ford, La Salle County, Texas. URTeC 2148347 presented at the Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, San Antonio, Texas, USA., August 20-22.

Grossi P., D. Neumann, and F.Lalehrokh, 2015, New Findings in Expected Ultimate Field Recoveries: Implications of Staggered Lateral Downspacing in the Eagle Ford Shale. URTeC 2153935 presented at the Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, San Antonio, Texas, USA., August 20-22.

Marathon Oil, 2015, Investor Presentation: Accessed on 01/05/16 http://f i l e s . s h a r e h o l d e r. c o m / d o w n l o a d s /AMDA-DZ30 I /74378116x0x849460 /ADD6176A-AE2E-4347- 8F63-5FDA3C031872/2015-0909_Barclays.pdf

Pioneer Natural Resources, 2014, Investor Presentation: Accessed on 10/14/14 h t t p : / / i n ve s t o r s . p x d . c o m / p h o e n i x .zhtml?c=90959&p=irol-presentations



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GUSSOW 2016Clastic Sedimentology – New Ideas and Applications

| By Jon Noad, Mike Ranger, Stuart Tye, Bryce Jablonski, James MacEachern

Our understanding of clastic sedimentology has made huge leaps forward in recent decades. One can scarcely imagine that Amanz Gressley and Johannes Walther could have envisaged the pivotal role that facies analysis would have on today’s understanding of sedimentary rocks and the depositional environments they represent. Sedimentary facies analysis lies hierarchically in a lynchpin position that allows us to integrate process sedimentology – the means by which we understand process-response relationships, and stratigraphy – the frameworks by which we predict, map and interpret the geobodies preserved in the rock record. For both academics and applied geoscientists, the importance of clastic sedimentology at the process-response, facies and stratigraphic architecture scales cannot be overstated.

Gussow 2016 provides the opportunity of bringing together geoscientists from

academia and industry to discuss and present cutting-edge insights into the characterization and interpretation of deposits from all clastic sedimentary environments. Hosted for the first time in more than a decade at the scenic locale of the Banff Centre, this 2.5 day meeting (Oct 11-13, 2016) will showcase our current understanding of all aspects of clastic sedimentology. Structured in a single session format, all talks will be available to attendees. Topics span the range from source to sink presented in five technical sessions: Continental (session chairs Andrew Miall and Steve Hasiotis); Estuarine and Incised Valleys (session chairs Shahin Dashtgard and Murray Gingras); Beach and Shoreface (session chairs Chris Fielding and Kerrie Bann); Open to Deep Marine (session chairs Steve Hubbard and Bill Arnott); and Fine-Grained Sediments (session chairs Roger Slatt and Guy Plint). Aimed at providing a current perspective of the cutting-edge of our science, invited

speakers at the oral technical sessions are researchers who are advancing the frontiers of their respective disciplines. A concurrent poster session provides an open forum for all participants to present and discuss their research.

As for who should attend – if you log outcrop or core, if you correlate sedimentary successions, if you endeavour to understand the controls sedimentary environments have on the petrophysical aspects, facies characteristics and stratigraphic architecture of your clastic reservoirs, and if you aspire to remain up-to-date with current concepts in clastic sedimentology, THIS is the conference for you!

Visit http://www.cspg.org/CSPG/Conferences for more details. We hope to see you in Banff next October.


Gussow 2016 Clastic Sedimentology: New Ideas Applications

October 11-13, 2016 Banff Centre, Banff, Alberta Canada

Registration Opening in June 2016!

Land Ho!

Session Chairs: Andrew Miall & Steve Hasiotis

Beach and Beyond

Session Chairs: Chris Fielding & Kerrie Bann

Gateways to the Sea

Session Chairs: Murray Gingras & Shahin Dashtgard

Slope and Basin

Session Chairs: Steve Hubbard & Bill Arnott

Mud Matters

Session Chairs: Guy Plint & Roger Slatt

Sessions Include:


The Partner Tracks Award is CSPG’s newest award. It is granted to associations, companies or institutions that have contributed to the Society’s pre-eminence, welfare and reputation. The 2015 award is bestowed upon the Alberta Core Research Centre.

The Alberta Energy Regulator’s (AER) core research facility has been an integral part of the Canadian geoscience and research community since 1962 when an AER predecessor, the Oil and Gas Conservation Board, opened the first Core Storage Centre in northwest Calgary. The Centre’s present incarnation was opened in 1983 on the same site by AER’s next predecessor organization, the Energy Resources

Conservation Board (ERCB).

For over 50 years, “the core lab” has hosted and served generations of workers from Alberta industry, university and government research organizations. The core lab contains rocks and data that are the ground truth for hydrocarbon-exploration and academic studies of the Alberta portion of the Western Canada Basin. Core Research Centre patrons are mainly geoscientists but also include a variety of other disciplines connected to the hydrocarbon industry including reservoir engineers and drilling and completions experts. The patrons access the voluminous and rich variety of data in the Centre: well cores, drill cutting samples and tour (daily well drilling/completion) reports. The Core Research Centre houses 1.55 million boxes of gas and oil exploration well core, 20 million drill cutting samples and 417,000 tour reports taken from many of the over 400,000 wells that have been drilled in Alberta.

The AER Core Research Centre and staff have played an invaluable role in the understanding and development of Alberta’s vast resources. Having the ability to examine reservoir rocks from the subsurface across Alberta has provided the creative spark for countless new ideas that have led to new exploration models and increased reservoir development opportunities. This has led to increased wealth and opportunity for all Albertans and Canadians.

The AER Core Research Centre has been an inseparable and valued partner of the CSPG. The core lab has generously hosted many annual CSPG Core Conferences dating back to the first conference in 1969.

We would like to recognize all the Centre’s contributions mentioned here on behalf of our geoscientist members and all others who have been involved in the development of Alberta’s resources.

CSPG 2015 AWARD CITATION 2015 PARTNER TRACKS AWARD

27th Annual Mixed Golf Tournament Friday August 26, 2016 | Lynx Ridge Golf Club

Register NOW!

CSPG Member: $90+gst | Non-member: $130+gst Visit www.cspg.org to register (events– mixed golf tournament)

Structure of the Canadian Rockies

June 18, 2016 | Fee: 275 USD

Turner Valley

Canmore Lake Louise Yoho National Park

Mt. Stephen Fossil Beds

June 23, 2016 | Fee: 300 USD

Dinosaur Palaeobiology and Preservation in Cretaceous Fluvial Reservoir Analogues of Dinosaur

Provincial Park, AB

June 23, 2016 | Fee: 375 USD

The Mid-Paleozoic Exshaw/Banff Unconventional Petroleum System, AB:

Correlative of Bakken Tight-Oil P lay in Williston Basin

June 24-26, 2016 | Fee: 655 USD

Sequence Stratigraphy and Resulting Facies Architecture of the

Upper Devonian (Frasnian), Main &Front Ranges, West Central AB

June 23-25, 2016 | Fee: 700 USD

Structural Geology & Hydrocarbon Setting in the

Southern AB Foothills

June 23-25, 2016 | Fee: 1250USD

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33RD ANNUAL CSPG SQUASH TOURNAMENT WRAP-UP| By Jay Williams, Tournament Chair

The 33rd annual CSPG Squash Tournament held on Feb 4th, 5th and 6th at the Bow Valley Club. The tournament was a great success this year with over 100 participants.

A good time was had by all and there were some impressive skills on the court. This year’s winners were:

33rd Annual CSPG Squash Tournament Sponsors

Tournament sponsor

Platinum Sponsor Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors Bronze Sponsors

Prize Donors Keitech Consultants Ltd, Roke Technologies, Tarcore Labs, Rockwell Geological Consultants, Reebok Crossfit Ramsay,

RBC Securities, NOV-National Oilwell, TOTAL Gas Dectection Ltd., Global Energy, Petrocraft/RigSat Gas Detection

Men’s A Winner: Neil Pohlman Runner-up: Derek Shtand

Men’s A Consolation: Winner: David Safton Runner-up: John Cox

Men’s B: Winner: Wes Feick Runner-up: Kent Wilkinson

Men’s B Consolation: Winner: Thomas West Runner-up: John Murray

Men’s C: Winner: Tyler Reid Runner-up: Brad Cichos

Men’s C Consolation: Winner: Minh Nguyen Runner-up: Zac Colbran

Men’s D: Winner: Kyle May Runner-up: Blake Davies

Men’s D Consolation: Winner: Mike Chessa Runner-up: Reid Van Drecht

Men’s E: Winner: Darin McCollum

Women’s A/B: Winner: Catherine Barrett Runner-up: Samantha Etherington

Women’s A/B Consolation: Winner: Ann Burrage Runner-up: Andrea Henry

Women’s C/D/E: Winner: Haley Campbell Runner-up: Kyla McDowell Women’s C/D/E Consolation:

Winner: Brianna Saxton Runner-up: Melissa Williams

Competitive Mixed Doubles: Winner: Dell Pohlman/ Neil Pohlman Runner-up: Domi Diaz/ Derek Shtand

Competitive Mixed Doubles Consolation: Winner: Wes Feick/Daniel Sharp Runner-up: Catherine Barrett/ Ian Young

Recreational Mixed Doubles: Winner: Ben Cowie/ Colin Rowell Runner-up: Tyler Reid/ Mike Stante

Recreational Mixed Doubles Consolation: Winner: Jason Shtand/ Megan Simons Runner-Up: Ashley Leonard/ Vicente Oropeza

Teams Tournament Champions: Courtney Whibbs, Jason Shtand, Mike Chessa, Justin Besplug, Jay Williams

Teams Tournament Most Honest: Robyn Brenner, Wayne Gaskin, Caterina Heikkinen, Harrison Brown, Neal Barreto


UNIVERSITY OUTREACH: Western Universities Tour

| By Mark Caplan, CSPG Director

I recently had the honour and privilege of touring several universities across western Canada on behalf of CSPG’s University Outreach program. The aim of the tour was to communicate to geoscience students the benefits and services provided by the CSPG. Students can benefit from a heavily discounted array of training and events, such as conventions, short courses, field trips and social events, as well as scholarships, the Bulletin and, of course, the Reservoir. All these activities and knowledge are available to students for the incredible membership fee of ZERO dollars. What an amazing deal!

In late March, I took a trip (and an umbrella!) to the geoscience departments at Simon Fraser University and University of British Columbia, followed by visits to Mount Royal University and University of Calgary (I shall be visiting University of Alberta later on in the year). I was very warmly received and accommodated by all universities, and have very pleasant memories of my visits. The student geological societies arranged and publicized the CSPG University Outreach Distinguished Lecturer presentation. At the end of a long day for the students and faculty, while the audience chewed on pizza and slurped on coffee, I introduced the services offered by the CSPG, followed by a technical presentation, and concluded by offering an informal geo-quiz. Student participation and engagement was excellent.

I would like to thank the students and staff that helped organize these presentations. Mona Enachescu of the CSPG University Outreach Committee is recognised for her tireless organization and communication with the universities to initiate these presentations. Mona does a lot of work

behind the scenes and deserves many thanks for making the University Outreach Distinguished Lecture Tour a success each year. Thank you Mona!

University Date Students Faculty

SFU 14.03.2016 22 2

UBC 15.03.2016 25 3

MRU 16.03.2016 23 2

UofC 01.04.2016 100 6

UofA TBD

This table summarizes the number of students and faculty who attended each of the talks.

My technical presentation was entitled: “Green Eutrophic Seas: Formation of the Exshaw Source Rocks”

This work was part of my PhD conducted at UBC in 1997 under the supervision of Professor R.M. Bustin. The presentation was dedicated to the Late Professor K. Grimm who sadly passed away in February 2016. He was a major source of inspiration for my work.

The Devonian-Mississippian Exshaw Formation is one of the main hydrocarbon-contributing source rocks that supplied the massive oil sands and heavy oil accumulations of Alberta. It is sometimes referred to as the “Alberta Bakken’ play as it is stratigraphically equivalent to the prolific oil-producing Bakken strata of the Williston Basin. The Exshaw mudrocks are widely distributed across the subsurface of Alberta and outcrop in the Rocky Mountain Front Ranges. These strata are sandwiched between thick carbonate ramp successions.

The formation of organic-rich mudrocks has intrigued researchers for decades. Unique conditions prevailed in the ancient epicontinental seas of western North America to justify such rich accumulations of organic matter on the sea floor and subsequent preservation in the rock record.

The Big Valley-Exshaw strata were studied from an interdisciplinary perspective incorporating sedimentology, ichnology, palaeontology, stratigraphy, inorganic geochemistry, organic geochemistry and palaeoceanography.

Palaeoenvironmental conditions on the shallow cratonic platform of western North America had been stable and conducive to ambient carbonate production both pre- and post-Exshaw deposition. Yet during Exshaw deposition, prevailing water-column conditions became hostile to most life-forms. Massive phytoplankton blooms caused by intense upwelling cells are interpreted to have been responsible for the generation of such a severe perturbation to the palaeodepositional environment, resulting in ‘greening’ of the euphotic zone. Consequently, the generation of such high abundance of organic matter caused oxygen consumption in the water column to be greater than its supply, hence leading to oxygen-deficient conditions not only on the sea-floor but also in the water column.

Severe perturbations to palaeoenvironmental conditions of the water column resulted in catastrophic reduction in generation of the carbonate production factory. Conditions lethal to continued production of carbonate deposits led to ‘drowning’ of Big Valley carbonate ramps and their subsequent replacement by these organic-rich Exshaw mudrocks. Later, the water column returned to ‘blue’ oligotrophic conditions, resulting with resumption of carbonate production. Such changes to the palaeodepositional environmental conditions may be responsible for generating drowning unconformities. These unconformities need not be influenced by sea-level changes and can have implications to carbonate sequence stratigraphic models.


NEW ISSUE OF THE BULLETINNEW ISSUE OF THE BULLETIN

Check out the newest issue of the CSPG

Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology online

today at www.cspg.org

ISSUE CONTENTS

New insights into the Bedrock and Quaternary Geology of St. George’s Bay from a vertical integration of marine datasets, offshore western Newfoundland

L.T. Dafoe, J. Shaw, C. Jauer, P.S. Giles, J.W.F. Waldron and D.P. Potter What does the ichnological content of the Middle McMurray Formation tell us?

A. Shchepetkina, M.K. Gingras, G.S. Pemberton and J.A. MacEachern Genetic types and accumulation models for biogenic gases in Bohai Bay Basin, east-ern China

J. Qiang, C. Fuqi, G. Yang and C. Liang Reference Section for the Horn River Group and Definition of the Bell Creek Member, Hare Indian Formation in central Northwest Territories

L.J. Pyle and L.P. Gal

28th Annual CSPG/CSEG10km/5km Road Race and Fun Run Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Registration OPEN! To register please go to www.cspg.org/RoadRace

Member rate: $40+gst | Non-member rate: $50+gst | Student & In-Transition rate: $25+gst


CSPG ROAD RACE | By 2016 CSPG/CSEG/CAPL Road Race Committee

On your mark! Get ready! CSPG, CSEG and CAPL will be running our annual Road Race and Fun Run this September.

The run will take place on Wednesday, September 21, 2016. Start time is 6:00pm just north of the Eau Claire YMCA. The route will take you on an out-and-back course along the beautiful Bow River pathway, finishing at the Eau Claire YMCA. Following the race all racers, volunteers and guests are invited to gather at the Calgary Curling Club, just north of Princess Island for awards, draw prizes, refreshments and some friendly camaraderie. If you are looking for a competitive race or just want to have fun, come join us!

The race is open to all members of the CSPG, CSEG and CAPL, as well as the general public. Space is limited to 200 participants so register early to avoid disappointment! There will be NO registration on race day. For more information or to register visit the CSPG Events website www.cspg.org/cspg/events. For sponsorship opportunities please contact: Sean McLeod 403-517-6786 [email protected] , or Jocelyn Frankow 403-708-6404 [email protected]

To help you, Gord Hobbins of Gord’s Running Store has developed a 10km race training guide for novice runners. Try it out and benefit from some expert advice; you may be surprised how easy it can be to gently get yourself into condition for your first race.

Guidance/Tips: For novice runners who wish a do-it-yourself program at your leisure.

• Run for short durations between 3 and 5 times per week according to schedule, with your long run days being the key to your training program.

• If your running shoes are giving you some problems, get some which fit and match your gait.

• Guide allows for a gradual increase to a comfortable load; your legs may need some conditioning at first.

• Yes, times are in minutes. The secret is to be regular and not beat yourself up.

• Wear a hat and cool shades. Keep well hydrated. It really helps.

• Gently stretch those calves and quads afterwards.

• Take along a friend and convince them to sign up for CSPG, CSEG, CAPL and the RoadRace as well.

Many thanks go out to our sponsors and volunteers who make this event possible each year!

We hope to see you there!

Week Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun

July 5 – 11 - 10-15 min - 10-15 min - - 15 min

July 12 – 18 - 10-15 min - 10-15 min - - 20 min

July 19 – 25 - 10-20 min 0-10 min 10-20 min - - 25 min

July 26 – Aug 1 - 10-20 min 0-10 min 10-20 min - - 30 min

Aug 2 – Aug 8 - 10-20 min 0-10 min 10-20 min 0-10 min - 25 min




Aug 30 – Sept 05 - 15-25 min 0-10 min 15-25 min 0-10 min - 25 min

Sept 06 – Sept 12 - 15-25 min 0-10 min 15-25 min 0-10 min - 45 min

Sept 13 – Sept 19 - 20-30 min 0-10 min 15-25 min 0-10 min - 25 min

Sept 20 – 21 - Rest 10 KM RUN


ONTARIO STUDENT CONFERENCE A SUCCESS!| By Meriem Grifi

This year, the Advances in Earths Sciences Research Conference was hosted by Carleton University and took place April 2nd and 3rd in Ottawa. It is an annual conference that is organized by four universities that takes turn hosting it every year: Carleton University, Ottawa University, Queen’s University, and University of Western Ontario. The full weekend of lectures and talks was a great success, and included a mixer the Friday evening, lunches on both days, and a group dinner the Saturday evening. There were 8 technical sessions, including environmental geosciences, geophysics, paleontology and sedimentary geology, igneous and metamorphic geology. The conference ended late Sunday afternoon with prizes handed out in several categories. Overall almost 100 people attended the conference and there were four keynote speakers, 11 posters, and 53 oral presentations were given by students. Students ranged from senior undergrads to MSc and Phd candidates talking about their research. One of the highlights of the conference was being able to mingle and chat with students during the poster session. Those who came by the booth got some free swag (grain size cards, pens, and magnetic clips) as well as a card advertising June’s ACE conference in Calgary. A few expressed interest in knowing more about petroleum geology, but more importantly, a couple of students wanted to know what CSPG was all about, having not heard of the society before. This made me realize that CSPG needs more exposure and outreach in Ontario, and the rest of Canada in general. Exposing students to the society and its opportunities will be a very effective way to educate students on the society yes, but also geology in Western Canada and more sedimentary geology in general. Let’s not forget about the hard working students out east!

Perhaps the downturn in industry will provide a fresh source of volunteers willing to help with the University Outreach committee and other parts of CSPG. It would be great to be able to reach out to more students on a personal level. It was certainly a great experience to attend AESRC in person and get to interact with students, as well as some of the researchers.

Sponsors of AESRC this year included Imperial Oil, CSEG, SEG, Primero, Isomass Scientific Inc., and of course, CSPG. Next year’s conference will be hosted by Western University in London, Ontario. Looking forward to it!

All the photos are courtesy of: Meriem Grifi

Meriem Grifi (CSPG University Outreach Committee Member) and Samuel Morton (Member of the CSPG &

the Ottawa U-Carleton combined AAPG/CSPG student chapter) at AESRC 2016

CORPORATE SUPPORTERS

Paradigm Geosciences Ltd.CMC Research Institutes, Inc.Crescent Point Energy TrustITG Investment ResearchCanadian Global Exploration ForumEarth Signal Processing Ltd.EV Cam Canada Inc.SchlumbergerValeura EnergyRPS Energy Canada Ltd.Sproule Associates LimitedCabra Consulting Ltd.McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd.ConocoPhillipsMount Royal UniversityRichardson GMPSurge Energy Inc.Compass Directional ServicesIntegrated Sustainability Consultants Ltd.TAQA North Ltd.RIGSAT CommunicationsFranconia GeoscienceGeoChemTech Inc.

COMPANY PATRONS

Rife ResourcesLong Run EnergyJourney Energy

AS OF APRIL 29, 2016


to the Board of Directors 2017

CSPG is a not-for-profit corporation registered under the NFP Act. Our mission is: To advance the professions of the

energy geosciences - as it applies to geology; foster the scientific, technical learning and professional development of its members; and promote the

awareness of the profession to industry and the public.

Directors hold office for two years; commencing January 12th, 2017. Nomination forms are available on www.cspg.org/Society/Governance

Nominations for Directors close September 15th, 2016.

CSPG is calling for nominations for the Executive Committee:

President Elect – who will continue to serve a total of three (3) years comprised of the first year as President Elect, the second year as President and the third year as Past President.

Finance Director Elect – who shall serve a two (2) year term comprised of the first year as Finance Director Elect and the second year as Finance Director

Four Directors At Large – each year CSPG elects Directors to fill portfolios. For 2017, CSPG is interested in attracting new Directors to cover such portfolios as Education, Publications, Outreach, & Young Geoscience Professionals. Please express your interest on the Nomination form.

Please note that only FULL Members of CSPG can be nominated

The Nomination Process:

CSPG Nominating Committee recruits for potential directors. You may submit your nomination for their consideration. Alternatively, if you support your nomi-nation with 25 Full Member signatures, you can stand for election.

The Nomination form and Nomination Signature form must be submitted by September 15th, 2016 to [email protected] to the attention of Past President.

Please direct any questions to Lis Bjeld, CSPG Executive Director at 403-513-1235


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55th ANNUAL CSPG CLASSIC Elbow Springs Golf Club • Thursday June 16, 2016

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The Tournament would like to thank the following 2015 sponsors:

Gold Sponsors

Belloy Petroleum ConsultingChinook Consulting Services

DivestcoM J Systems

Pason Systems Corp. Pro Geo Consultants

RBC Dominion SecuritiesWeatherford Canada Partnership

Diamond Sponsors

AGAT LaboratoriesgeoLOGIC SystemsLittle Rock Printing

Schlumberger of Canada

Schedule: Thursday June 16, 2016 6:00am Breakfast 7:30am Shotgun Start 12:30pm Lunch Break 4:30pm 19th hole 5:30pm Awards BBQ Where: Elbow Springs Golf Club

Format: 2-person teams - Enter with partner of any skill level for three 9-hole matches against other teams of equitable skill level

Cost: Member’s Team - $358 +GST

Non-member’s Team - $378 +GST

Sponsorship Welcome, Contact James Ablett (403) 470-4888 or email: [email protected]

Tournament Information

To register, go to the CSPG website and select the following tabs: “Events,” “Sporting Events,” and “Classic Golf.”

Registration limited to 64 players, please register early.

27 holes of golf with powercart, driving range & awards BBQ, golf shirt, door prizes, on-course refreshments

What you get:

Silver Sponsors

Continental Laboratories Ltd.Edge Technologies

RBC Dominion SecuritiesTyphoon Energy Ltd.

West Canadian Digital/Imaging

For 2016, the charity selected is the CSPG Education Foundation.

ACE.AAPG.org

• 4 days, 900+ technical presentations, 15 field trips, 16 short courses• Network with the world’s most prominent and successful geoscientists• Sharpen your skills, expertise and knowledge• Exchange ideas and gain insight on the latest innovations and discoveries• Prepare for future challenges and new opportunities

Invest in yourself by attending one of the industry's most highly regarded science and technology events.

Documents

RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO files/pdfs/documents/publi… · papers which form part of a special publication are also eligible. If you know of a 2015 peer-reviewed