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Northern Star Scholarship Information |
2012 Officers
President: Justin Soberaski (jsoberaski@barr.com) Vice President: Timothy Nesheim (tonesheim@nd.gov) Secretary/Treasurer: Ned Kruger (nwkruger@nd.gov) ND Geological Society to offer short course Source Rock Kinetics short course by Douglas Waples - View short course description and presenter resume - Pay short course fee by credit card or PayPal MAY 2013 EVENING MEETING
Date &
Time: 6:00 PM, Monday, May 6, 2013 Location: The New Oil and Gas Division Conference Room – 1000 E. Calgary Ave. (west side, lower level), Bismarck, ND Speaker: Douglas Waples Topic: Unconventional methods of determining source-rock kinetics APRIL 2013 MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date &
Time: 12:00 PM (noon) , Tuesday, April 9, 2013 Location: The New Oil and Gas Division Conference Room – 1000 E. Calgary Ave. (west side, lower level), Bismarck, ND Speaker: Lorraine Manz, North Dakota Geological Survey Topic: Getting to the Bottom of a Grand Geologic Mystery - Lorraine will give a presentation on a recent geology based, guided hike she took into the Grand Canyon. Cost: A Pizza and Pop Lunch is being sponsored by Hess Corporation. Thanks Brian Lucero and Hess Corp! MARCH 2013
MEETING
SPECIAL PRESENTATION ANNOUNCEMENT Date &Time: 6-8 PM, Thursday, March 7, 2013 Location: Radisson Hotel, downtown Bismarck, ND Speaker: Dr. Christopher A-L. Jackson (AAPG Distinguished Lecturer) To learn more about Dr. Jackson, visit the following weblink: http://www.aapg.org/education/dist_lect/jacksonc.cfm Topic: The impact of igneous intrusions and extrusions on hydrocarbon prospectivity in extensional settings: a 3D seismic perspective Abstract The emplacement of shallow-level igneous intrusions in sedimentary basins may impact significantly on the development of petroleum systems. For example, the circulation of related hydrothermal fluids, which may reduce the porosity and permeability of host rock reservoirs, and associated host rock deformation may result in the formation of “forced fold” traps. Understanding the geometry and evolution of sub-volcanic intrusive networks in volcanogenic basins is thus of interest to the petroleum industry. Whilst field-based studies permit a detailed investigation of magma properties and localised host rock relationships, outcrops are often too small to fully characterise the three-dimensional geometry and size of large igneous complexes. Furthermore, ancient volcanic edifices, and their relation to the sub-volcanic “plumbing system”, are typically obscured at outcrop due to post-emplacement erosion or caldera collapse. In contrast, seismic reflection data, although typically limited in terms of their vertical resolution, can provide spectacular images of the intrusive and extrusive components of igneous networks. In this study we use 2D and 3D seismic reflection and borehole data from the offshore Bight Basin (southern Australia) and Exmouth sub-basin (north-western Australia), to illustrate the seismic expression and range of geometries associated with sill-dominated, intrusive igneous networks connected to submarine volcanoes and vents. Three main types of sill are documented: (i) tabular sills; (ii) saucer-shaped sills; and (iii) transgressive sills. Seismic data resolution restricts a detailed analysis of sill volume, but our analysis indicates that the sills are up to 150 m thick, 16 km wide and 208 km2 in map-view area. In both basins, forced folds, which may represent hydrocarbon traps, are developed above a range of sills. In the Bight Basin, the fold amplitudes are consistently less than the thickness of the underlying intrusions. We interpret that this discrepancy reflects fluidisation and ductile flow of coal or carbonaceous claystones during sill emplacement at relatively shallow depths. In both study areas the sill-dominated networks are overlain by large (13 km wide by 800 m high), sub-circular mounds, the majority of which occur above the tips of sills; these mounds are interpreted as extrusive volcanic vents, adjacent to which pinch-out traps, which are related to stratigraphic onlap, may be developed . From an applied perspective, the sill-dominated networks, although areally quite extensive, are not anticipated to impact the vertical migration of hydrocarbons, due to the presence of pervasive normal fault networks that may allow shallow level reservoirs to access deeply-buried source rocks. Although the sills may locally impact the reservoir quality of the host rock successions, forced folding, which is associated with sill emplacement in the shallow sub-surface, can result in the formation of viable hydrocarbon traps. Refreshments: Hors d’oeuvres will be provided free of charge. Members and guests may purchase their preferred beverages at a hotel bar adjacent to the meeting room. FEBRUARY 2013
MEETING
SPECIAL PRESENTATION ANNOUNCEMENT Date &Time: 6-8 PM, Tuesday, February 12, 2013 Location: Radisson Hotel, downtown Bismarck, ND Speaker: Dr. W.C. "Rusty" Riese, AAPG Distinguished Lecturer Topic: Oil Spills, Ethics, and Society: How they intersect and where the responsibilities reside (download powerpoint presentation 6 mb) Abstract Increasing global demand for energy has forced societies the world over to look for and use ever more diverse and expensive forms of energy to fuel their economies. Oil is a key part of this energy supply, particularly in the arena of transportation fuels. The corporations that supply energy have been pressed into increasingly challenging environments to meet public and governmental demands for inexpensive energy. Unfortunately, as we are reminded by the Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon incident, accidents can happen, the environment can be damaged, and people can lose their lives when we operate at the leading edges of technology. When accidents occur, our responses typically tend to blame individuals, corporations, or regulators, rather than the public whose demand for cheap, readily available energy forces exploration in new, more challenging frontiers. Public opinions on this subject are shaped by a combination of self-education, fulminating politicians, and aggressive, sensationalist journalists. Exploring more than societal interests at a national level puts our pursuit of inexpensive energy into context. This context pits the competing interests of developing countries, which demand ever increasing shares of the world's resources, against broader, trans-national interests groups which are worried that continued dependence on energy-dense fossil fuels may cause runaway global warming and climate changes that may in turn destroy the earth's ecosystems. Ultimate responsibilities for oil spills lie within this mix of competing demands and expectations – a mix far more complicated than most people are aware of or are willing to consider. All of us who consume energy have an ethical obligation to educate ourselves, and those around us, on the consequences of our demands for energy and for the environment. Biography Dr. W.C. “Rusty” Riese is a geoscientist based in Houston, Texas. He is widely experienced having worked in both minerals and petroleum as a geologist, geochemist, and manager during more than 39 years in industry. He participated in the National Petroleum Council evaluation of natural gas supply and demand for North America which was conducted at the request of the Secretary of Energy and in the more recent analysis of global supply and demand requested by the same agency. He is currently a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Committee on Resource Evaluations, and a member of the House of Delegates. Rusty has written extensively and lectured on various topics in economic geology including biogeochemistry, isotope geochemistry, uranium ore deposits, sequence stratigraphy, and coalbed methane petroleum systems; and he holds numerous domestic and international patents. He has more than thirty years of teaching experience including twenty five years at Rice University where he developed the curricula in petroleum geology and industry risk and economic evaluation. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at Rice University, the Colorado State University, and the University of New Mexico, where he sits on the Caswell Silver Endowment advisory board. He is a fellow in the Geological Society of America and the Society of Economic Geologists; and a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and several other professional organizations. He earned his PhD from the University of New Mexico in 1980; his M.S. in geology from the same university in 1977; and his B.S. in geology from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in 1973. He is a Certified Professional Geologist, a Certified Petroleum Geologist, and is a Licensed and Registered Geologist in the states of Texas and South Carolina respectively. JANUARY 2013 MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date &
Time: 12:00 PM , WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2013 Location: The New Oil and Gas Division Conference Room – 1000 E. Calgary Ave. (west side, lower level), Bismarck, ND Topic: Review of Recent Diamond Exploration in northeastern North Dakota North Dakota recently experienced its first diamond exploration test well, 10NDV001. Drilled in Pembina County of northeastern North Dakota in the fall of 2010 by Kennecott Exploration (a subsidiary of Rio Tinto), 10NDV001 was primarily in search of Kimberlites, tube shaped volcanic features that can contain diamonds. 10NDV001 came up diamond-less, encountering granitic gneiss and greenstone within the Precambrian section of the well. However, the potential of kimberlite presence in North Dakota remains. Timothy’s presentation will review such topics as: the formation of Diamonds and Kimberlites, Kimberlite exploration methods, and how North Dakota’s Precambrian geology fits in with the tectonic assemblage of North America and relates to potential Kimberlite presence. Speaker: Timothy Nesheim Timothy Nesheim received his Bachelor’s degree in Geosciences from the Minnesota State University of Moorhead (2007) and earned his M.S. in Structural Geology from the University of Iowa (2009). After graduating from Iowa, he took a temporary research position at Washington State University’s geochemical clean lab. He is currently a subsurface geologist with the North Dakota Geological Survey where he works on examining oil and gas bearing formations within the Williston Basin. He also spends some of his spare time examining the Precambrian/hard rock geology of North Dakota. Cost: Lunch $5.00 - Lunch will include pizza and pop. Annual Dues: $20.00 Payment at the picnic will be much appreciated. Dues may also be paid online using the link in the left column. DECEMBER
2012 MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date &
Time: 12:00 PM (Noon), Tuesday, December 18th, 2012 Location: The New Oil and Gas Division Conference Room – 1000 E. Calgary Ave. (west side, lower level) Topic: “Geology and Surface Mining” - the role that Geology plays in the surface mining process. Speakers: Steve Burke and Gerard Goven Steve Burke is a registered Professional Engineer. Steve has a degree in Civil Engineering from NDSU. He started at Falkirk in 2000 in the survey group. In this role he was responsible for day to day surveying and machine guidance systems. He spent 2 years as Water Management Engineer, 6 years managing the Information Systems Group and is currently a Senior Mining Engineer responsible for the Short Range Engineering Group. Steve is married and has three children. In his spare time he likes to make fun of geologists particularly Gerard Goven. Gerard Goven received a BS in Geology from UND. He started at Falkirk in 2007 and is responsible for day to day geology and groundwater hydrology. Prior to this he spent 8 years as an Environmental Scientist with the North Dakota Department of Health and 2 years with the North Dakota Geological Survey. Gerard is married and has two children. He has no spare time due to the demands placed on him by Mining Engineers, particularly Steve Burke. Cost: Lunch $5.00 - Lunch will include pizza and pop. Annual Dues: $20.00 Payment at the picnic will be much appreciated. Dues may also be paid online using the link in the left column. NOVEMBER
2012 MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date &
Time: 12:00 PM (Noon), Thursday, November 13th, 2012 Location: The New Oil and Gas Division Conference Room – 1000 E. Calgary Ave. (west side, lower level) Topic 1: Flooding on the Souris and Missouri Rivers in June 2011 The presentation will cover how flow data is collected, processed and made available to flood fighters. I will also discuss how the floods of record on the Souris River relate to past floods as well as the magnitude of the event. There will also be discussion on the complex changes that occurred on the Missouri River and the difficulties associated with determining the flood peak in Bismarck. Speaker 1: Steve Robinson - USGS Steve began his career with the USGS in August 1985, while a student at Northern Illinois University, in DeKalb, Illinois. On completion of a BS in Geology, Steve started working full-time in the hydrologic data collection section in the DeKalb Field Office. While in DeKalb, Steve operated, maintained, and compiled data for 20 gaging stations, collected data for many flood events, and for numerous ground-water and surface-water projects. In June of 1997, Steve moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota as the Hydrologist-in-Charge. Steve directed four field staff in the data collection efforts for more than 60 data collection locations, in the eastern third of North Dakota. In November of 2003, Steve moved to Bismarck, North Dakota, as the Chief of the Hydrologic Records and Information Section. In his current position, Steve directs a staff of 18 and oversees the collection, compilation, and publication of hydrologic data for more than 200 surface-water, ground-water and water-quality data collection locations. Topic 2: Missouri River Geomorphic Assessment (2012-2015) The Upper Missouri River regularly received annual peak flows above 100,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) prior to the completion of the Garrison Dam. Annual peak flows consistently have been between 30,000 and 45,000 cfs following dam completion. The largest flood since dam regulation occurred in 2011 following an abnormally high snow pack season and a week-long rain event in the headwaters. Flood releases from the Garrison Dam began in May 2011 and peaked in June with a flow of approximately 150,000 cfs. The peak flow was sustained for two weeks. The dam releases have had a discernible impact on the Missouri River throughout this section. The 2011 flood has highlighted the critical need for quantifying the complex interaction between the regional geomorphology and human activities. It is necessary to first understand and quantify the historical impacts of the dams in order to determine the impact of the 2011 flood on the channel configuration, morphology, and sediment dynamics. Presently, it is unclear whether or not the free-flowing stretch is in a steady state, but determining the sediment balance will yield insight into river dynamics on multiple temporal and spatial scales. Also, it is unknown how the channel is responding to the presence and operation of the two dams. Although this reach is considered free-flowing, there are likely long-term impacts from dam operations that have not been quantified. A study by the USGS was initiated in 2012 to 1) determine channel trajectory following dam closure and subsequent dam operation to provide a baseline for flood studies; 2) determine flood impacts on islands, sand bars, and infrastructure; 3) predict channel change through time around the Bismarck-Mandan area through numerical modeling; 4) assess the post-flood delta for potential ice jam issues and quantify reservoir sedimentation; 5) determine the sources, sinks, and loads of sediment throughout the free-flowing reach; and 6) determine flood impacts on in-channel and floodplain large woody debris and standing trees for island maintenance, sediment balance, fisheries, and navigation interests. The study is being conducted in cooperation with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ND State Water Commission, ND Department of Health, ND Game and Fish Department, ND Department of Transportation, Burleigh County WRB, Morton County WRB, Lower Heart River WRB, City of Bismarck, and the City of Mandan. Speaker 2: Joel Galloway – USGS Steve began his career with the USGS in August 1985, while a student at Northern Illinois University, in DeKalb, Illinois. On completion of a BS in Geology, Steve started working full-time in the hydrologic data collection section in the DeKalb Field Office. While in DeKalb, Steve operated, maintained, and compiled data for 20 gaging stations, collected data for many flood events, and for numerous ground-water and surface-water projects. In June of 1997, Steve moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota as the Hydrologist-in-Charge. Steve directed four field staff in the data collection efforts for more than 60 data collection locations, in the eastern third of North Dakota. In November of 2003, Steve moved to Bismarck, North Dakota, as the Chief of the Hydrologic Records and Information Section. In his current position, Steve directs a staff of 18 and oversees the collection, compilation, and publication of hydrologic data for more than 200 surface-water, ground-water and water-quality data collection locations. Cost: Lunch $5.00 - Lunch will include pizza and pop. Annual Dues: $20.00 Payment at the picnic will be much appreciated. Dues may also be paid online using the link in the left column. OCTOBER
2012 MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date &
Time: 12:00 PM (Noon), Tuesday, December 18th, 2012 Location: The New Oil and Gas Division Conference Room – 1000 E. Calgary Ave. (west side, lower level) Topic: A 5000 year record of carbon sequestration from a coastal lagoon and wetland complex, Southern California, USA Coastal wetlands have the potential to accumulate C at high rates over long time periods because they continuously accrete and bury organic-rich sediments, giving soils in coastal wetlands a distinct advantage over many other environments in the sequestration of organic C. Given that coastal wetlands are being lost worldwide, it is important to understand their C sequestration potential. Sediments in a southern California, USA coastal lagoon-wetland complex were cored, and depositional environments were interpreted. Suitable materials were radiocarbon dated. Bulk density and organic C were grouped by depositional environments, and average mass of C per unit volume and C accumulation rates in each depositional environment were calculated. The total organic C sequestered and rates of sequestration in each depositional environment were in the following order from most (fastest) to least (slowest): lagoon, intertidal, salt marsh, freshwater marsh, aeolian. This study demonstrated that high levels of organic C are sequestered per unit volume of sediment (35.9 ± 3.2 kg m-3), and the mean rate of C accumulation was high (0.033 ± 0.0029 kg C m-2 year-1) over a relatively long time period (5000 years). Results of this study strongly demonstrate the importance and necessary high priority for preserving and restoring coastal wetlands. However, despite their excellent potential to sequester C, significant losses of coastal wetlands are occurring in the United States and elsewhere in the world. Speaker: Eric C. Brevik, Dickinson State University Eric C. Brevik is a Professor of Geology and Soils and chair of the Department of Natural Sciences at Dickinson State University. Eric earned his BS and MA degrees in Geology from the University of North Dakota and his PhD in Soil Science at Iowa State University. He has taught courses in soil science and geology at Valdosta State University (Georgia) and Dickinson State University since 2001. His research interests include carbon sequestration by soil, the use of electrical conductivity methods in soil mapping, soil health and productivity, soils and society, and the integration of geological and soils information. Cost: Lunch $5.00 - Lunch will include pizza and pop. Annual Dues: $20.00 Payment at the picnic will be much appreciated. Dues may also be paid online using the link in the left column. SEPTEMBER
2012 MEETING
STEAK FRY KICK-OFF PICIC Date &
Time: 5:30 PM , THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13,
2012
Location: Sertoma Park, Bismarck. Community Shelter (near the Superslide Amusement Park), where there is both indoor and outdoor seating! (click here to view in Google maps) Topic: Steaks, Beer, and Pop. A good time of good food, renewed acquaintances and a very short business meeting. Mark Bohrer will be our chef again this year with his phenomenal pitchfork Steak Fondue and all the fixings. Limitations: This meeting and picnic is for members, their families and prospective members. Mark needs to know how many steaks, so we NEED to have you RSVP to this e-mail or by phone to Timothy Nesheim (tonesheim@nd.gov or 701-426-0740) by 5 pm, September 7th !!! Cost: $10.00 per person (children eat for free). Annual Dues: $20.00 Payment at the picnic will be much appreciated. Dues may also be paid online using the link in the left column.  Sign up now for the 2012 RMS-AAPG Annual Meeting in Grand Junction, Colorado Eight Field Trips * San Juan River Raft
Trip *
Niobrara Shale Oil Play * ExxonMobil Play Assessment * Rocky Mountain Stratigraphy, Structure & Paleontology Sign up before July 30th and save $75 ANNOUNCEMENT
The North Dakota Geological Society will be on Summer Recess until the Fall 2012 Kick-Off Picnic. Watch for details in the September Geologram and on this website. Publications may still be ordered during this time. Thank you. JUNE 2012
MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date &Time: Noon, Tuesday, June 5, 2012 Location: Lower-Level X-Room, North Dakota Geological Survey, 1016 E. Calgary Ave., Bismarck ND 58503 Speaker: Terrance J. Zich, P.E., P.G. - PT&C Forensic Consulting Services, P.A. Terrance, A ND native, spent about 20 years of his career working for the North American Coal Corporation and as a consultant. Since leaving ND, he has continued his consulting career spending time in GA as the Vice President of DSAtlantic, time on the west coast in the San Francisco Bay area as President of ES Geotechnoloigies, before returning to the East Coast area of Central Florida where he was Regional Manager for Giles Engineering Associates and now Geotechnical Branch Supervisor for PT&C. Topic: General Sinkhole Geology of Florida Abstract: The Geology of the Florida peninsula is fairly unique since the opening of the Atlantic Ocean. Its configuration and location has created an intimate relationship between land and sea, with most deposits being formed in shallow sea environments, generally on a carbonate platform. Carbonate deposits (limestone formations) from early Cretaceous into Tertiary, including members of the Floridian Aquifer system such as the Paleocene Ocala Formation, and the recent Miami (Oolitic) and Key Largo Limestone formations from the Pleistocene, are just some of the limestone deposits that are on record to underlie the surface of the state of Florida. This means that most of the state of Florida is underlain by limestone formations at depths under 200 feet, some that have under gone multiple erosional events, creating karst geomorphic features, including voids, caves and associated springs. The collapse of the voids and the subsequent movement of overlying soils into these voids can create sinkholes. Sinkholes are detrimental to the structures that may overlie them. Florida has a special insurance coverage that can cover damages from sinkholes. It is the role of forensic engineers and geologists to determine the presence of sinkhole activities by “indicators” in an attempt to proactively prevent collapse of the structure into the actual sinkholes. Cost: Lunch $5.00 - Lunch will include pizza and pop. MAY
2012
- NO MEETING
APRIL
2012
MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date &Time: Noon, Tuesday, April 10, 2011 Location: Lower-Level X-Room, North Dakota Geological Survey, 1016 E. Calgary Ave., Bismarck ND 58503 Speaker: Jeff Jennings - Harris, Brown & Klemer, Inc. Topic: Economics of the Bakken/Three Forks Play and a Comparison to Older More Traditional Plays in North Dakota Abstract: Through the end of 2011 there were approximately 3100 horizontal wells producing from the Bakken/Three Forks in North Dakota. It is projected that another 1500 to 2000 wells will be drilled in 2012 and, if estimates hold, 10 to 20 thousand wells may ultimately be placed under production before the play is exhausted. With EOR's of 350,000 bbls per well, North Dakota could be looking at 7 billion bbls of recoverable reserves with a gross undiscounted cash flow of $500 billion over the next 20 years. Taken as a whole, this places the Bakken/Three Forks in the giant field category. With each of these wells costing $8 to $10 million to drill and complete and average operating costs of $8,000 per month, the total investment in the play could easily surpass $100 billion. Typical payouts often exceed 2 years with rates of return below 3. On a well by well basis the economics appear to be somewhat marginal, but with the high success rates (in excess of 95%) and the ability to line up multiple well programs, the old measures of economic performance would seem to be suspended. The Mississippian Madison and deeper Paleozoic sections have traditionally been the bread and butter of the Williston Basin. Many of these plays can be accessed with vertical wells at a fraction of the cost and provide EOR's matching and often exceeding those found in an average Bakken/Three Forks well. The down side is that many prospective dry holes need to be drilled before an economic field is discovered. The aerial extent of the field is also much smaller and requires greater expenditures in geology and geophysics to locate. Once a good field is found, the economics of each individual well can easily eclipse an average Bakken/Three Forks well but will be limited to maybe tens of wells as opposed to thousands. Biography: Timothy Nesheim received his Bachelor’s degree in Geosciences from the Minnesota State University of Moorhead and earned his M.S. in Structural Geology from the University of Iowa. After graduating from Iowa, he took a temporary research position at Washington State University’s geochemical clean lab. He is currently a subsurface geologist with the North Dakota Geological Survey where he has spent most of his time examining the Tyler Formation’s resource potential and building a three dimensional model of North Dakota’s subsurface. Cost: Lunch $5.00 - Lunch will include pizza and pop. MARCH 2012 MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date & Time: 12 Noon, Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 Location: Lower-Level X-Room, North Dakota Geological Survey, 1016 E. Calgary Ave., Bismarck ND 58503 Speaker: Kristin Brennan, Natural Resources Conservation Service Topic: The National Cooperative Soil Survey For over 100 years, Soil Survey has set the world standard in soils classification, mapping, and laboratory procedures. There have been many changes over the past century in our approach to evaluating soil and landscape relationships, from completing field work on horse and buggy, to the advent of aerial photography and initial classification schemes, to addressing soils on a physiographic basis utilizing high resolution digital elevation data. Through all of this, our goal has stayed the same: to provide a dynamic and expanding body of knowledge on the occurrence and behavior of soils in our environment. As we continue to look toward the future, changes in how the world uses and manages our soils has forced a shift in focus to the study of dynamic soil properties, soil quality, and soil heath. The viability and security of our world’s food supply depends on our ability to sustainably manage our soil resources. The father of Soil Conservation, Hugh Hammond Bennett, who founded and headed the Soil Conservation Service during the years of the Dust Bowl summarized it best, “Out of the long list of nature’s gifts to man, none is perhaps so utterly essential to human life as soil.” Cost: Lunch $5.00 - Lunch will include pizza and pop. Annual Dues: Reminder - Annual Dues are $20.00. If you haven’t submitted them already, please consider payment at the meeting or online, using the link in the left column. It will be much appreciated. FEBRUARY 2012 MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date & Time: 12 Noon, Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 Location: Lower-Level X-Room, North Dakota Geological Survey, 1016 E. Calgary Ave., Bismarck ND 58503 Speaker: Michael Hochscheidt, Barr Engineering Topic: Cut Slope Design for the Access to an Underground Copper Mine Slope stability analysis is a major area of research in geotechnical engineering. The goal of this project was to design a box-cut through approximately 80ft of overburden soil, and allow access to the opening of the underground copper mine. Inspection and analysis of the site soil showed that the overburden soil was very stiff, low plasticity clay, and sandy silt. Lab testing was also done to determine the soil's strength, permeability, and consolidation characteristics. The proposed excavation extends 60ft below the surface of the groundwater table, and several plans for controlling the destabilizing effect of the groundwater were investigated. Using limit equilibrium analysis, as well as finite element analysis, a slope of two horizontal on one vertical was decided upon, with twenty foot benches placed every thirty-three feet vertically, and a rockfill buttress placed at the bottom of the slope for additional stability. Finally, Michigan DOT standards for erosion control were applied to the slope. Cost: Lunch $5.00 - Lunch will include pizza and pop. Annual Dues: Reminder - Annual Dues are $20.00. If you haven’t submitted them already, please consider payment at the meeting or online, using the link in the left column. It will be much appreciated. Elections have been held for 2012. The new North Dakota Geological Society Officers are: President - Jeff Person Jeff is a paleontologist and Bismarck native. A graduate of The University of North Dakota (BS Geology) and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (MS Paleontology), Jeff returned to Bismarck after working at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman, OK for nearly a decade. He has been with the North Dakota Geological Survey since 2008. Jeff’s focus has been on prehistoric mammals, but has recently become very interested in the overall paleontology of North Dakota. Vice President – Justin Soberaski Justin is originally from Hallock, MN and is a graduate of North Dakota State University (BS Geology) and Clemson University (MS Hydrogeology). Justin is a hydrogeologist with Barr Engineering and has been part of Barr’s Bismarck office since 2008. Barr Engineering provides engineering and environmental consulting services to clients across the Midwest, throughout the Americas, and around the world. Justin works as part of a team that locally serves the power, mining, and fuels industries. Secretary/Treasurer – Timothy Nesheim Timothy Nesheim grew up near Northwood, ND. A graduate of MSU-Moorhead (BS Geoscience) and the University of Iowa (MS Geoscience), Timothy worked as a temporary research scientist at Washington State University (Pullman, WA) prior to starting his current position as a subsurface geologist with the North Dakota Geological Survey. He is currently working on reexamining the Tyler Formation as a potential oil and gas resource play. JANUARY
2012 MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date & Time: 12:00 Noon, Wednesday, January 25, 2012 Location: Lower-Level X-Room, North Dakota Geological Survey, 1016 E. Calgary Ave., Bismarck ND 58503 Speaker: Lynn Helms, Director, North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources Topic: North Dakota Oil Patch Update Lunch Cost: $5.00 (pizza, chips, cookies, and pop) Annual Dues: Reminder - Annual Dues are $20.00. If you haven’t submitted them already, please consider payment at the meeting or online, using the link in the left column. It will be much appreciated. ANNOUNCEMENT
NORTH DAKOTA
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
NORTHERN STAR SCHOLARSHIP  The North Dakota Geological Society’s Northern Star Scholarship is open to geoscience majors engaged in independent research* as part of an undergraduate degree program. The successful applicant will receive an award of $500 to help defray the cost of field work, equipment, and other expenses directly related to his/her research project. For
more information and instructions on how to apply click here.
To download a .pdf copy of the announcement click here. DECEMBER
2011
MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date & Time: 12:00 Noon, Tuesday, December 13, 2011 Location: Lower-Level X-Room, North Dakota Geological Survey, 1016 E. Calgary Ave., Bismarck ND 58503 Speaker: Zhengwen “Zane” Zeng Ph. D, University of North Dakota Topic: Geomechanical Study of Bakken Formation for Improved Oil Recovery Since 2008 UND Petroleum Engineering Research Lab has been supported by USDOE, NDIC, NDDOC, NDGS, and industrial partners to study geomechanical properties of Bakken Formation for improved oil recovery. After years of effort, we have built a state-of-the-art petroleum geomechanics lab, trained a team, developed techniques for testing Bakken samples and other unconventional rocks, and begun testing true Bakken core samples. This presentation covers five parts: (1) our overview of the challenges in producing Bakken oil, (2) proposed research objectives, (3) technical approaches to addressing the challenges via geomechanical studies, (4) progress and initial results on testing Bakken samples, and (5) future work. Lunch Cost: $5.00 (pizza, chips, cookies, and pop) Annual Dues: Reminder - Annual Dues are $20.00. If you haven’t submitted them already, please consider payment at the meeting or online, using the link in the left column. It will be much appreciated. NOVEMBER
2011
MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date &
Time: 12:00 Noon, Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Location: Lower-Level X-Room, North Dakota Geological Survey, 1016 E. Calgary Ave., Bismarck ND 58503 Speaker: Stephan H. Nordeng Ph. D, North Dakota Geological Survey Steve is a subsurface geologist with the North Dakota Geological Survey. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in geology from Michigan Technological University and a Ph. D. in geology from Michigan State University. During the last four years Steve has been investigating the geologic factors associated with the current production from Bakken Formation with an eye on applying the lessons learned from the Bakken to other formations in the Williston Basin. Topic: Geological Modeling using Petra- focus on the Tyler Formation The Tyler Formation is an organic-rich, regionally extensive unit that is similar in some respects to the Bakken Formation. However, the Tyler is found some 2,000 feet above the Bakken so that questions exist as to whether or not the Tyler has been subjected to high enough temperatures to generate oil. Evidence that suggests that the Tyler is capable of generating oil is provided by a small dataset consisting of recently obtained Rock Eval data coupled with a simple basin model. Lunch Cost: $5.00 (pizza, chips, cookies, and pop) Annual Dues: Reminder - Annual Dues are $20.00. If you haven’t submitted them already, please consider payment at the meeting or online, using the link in the left column. It will be much appreciated. SEPTEMBER
2011 MEETING
STEAK FRY KICK-OFF PICIC Date &
Time: 5:30 PM , THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22,
2011
Location: Sertoma Park, Bismarck. Shelter #49 (North End of Sertoma) Topic: Steaks, Beer, and Pop. A good time of good food, renewed acquaintances and a very short business meeting. Mark Bohrer will be our chef again this year with his phenomenal pitchfork Steak Fondue and all the fixings. Limitations: This meeting and picnic is for members, their families and prospective members. Mark needs to know how many steaks, so we NEED to have you RSVP by Monday, September 19 to this e-mail (kroberts@nd.gov) or by phone to Kris (328-5236), or Justin (255-5483). Cost: $12.00 per person. Annual Dues: $20.00 Payment at the picnic will be much appreciated. Dues may also be paid online at the Society website. ANNOUNCEMENT
The North Dakota Geological Society will be on Summer Recess until the Fall 2011 Kick-Off Picnic. Watch for details in the September Geologram and on this website. Publications may still be ordered during this time. Thank you. MAY
2011
MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date &Time: Noon, Tuesday, May 24, 2011 Location: North Dakota Geological Survey, 1016 E. Calgary Ave., Bismarck ND 58503 Speaker: Kris Roberts, North Dakota Geological Society President Topic: Not All News From The Oil Field Is Positive Abstract: While much of the news coming out of the North Dakota oil field is positive, not everything is. I will present a slide show of some of the environmental problems that have been cropping up over the last few years. This will not be an industry banging, only a quick window into some of the issues that perplex us all. There will also be some slides showing both what works, and what doesn't. Cost: Lunch $5.00 - Lunch will include pizza and pop. APRIL
2011
MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date &Time: Noon, Tuesday, April 19, 2011 Location: Lower-Level X-Room, North Dakota Geological Survey, 1016 E. Calgary Ave., Bismarck ND 58503 Speaker: Timothy Nesheim, Subsurface Geologist, North Dakota Geological Survey Topic: 3D Models of the Williston Basin Abstract: Recently the North Dakota Geological Survey developed a three dimensional model of the Williston Basin in northwestern North Dakota, a model that extends from the surface to depths of over 15,000 feet. This model consists of multiple three dimensional geologic units that were generated within the computer program Petra (surface style: minimum curvature) using a geophysical log top database compiled from over 8,000 oil and gas wells. Modeled units include: the Spearfish, Tyler, Mission Canyon (Madison), Bakken-Three Forks, Prairie, and Red River formations, the Dakota Group, Pierre Fm.-Colorado Group, and the Precambrian basement. Many of the significant Williston Basin structures can be easily seen with surprising detail within this three dimensional model. For example, several well defined ridges can be traced along the crest of the Nesson anticline, especially within the Mission Canyon Formation. In the Dakota Group, both the concentric rim and the central peak of the Red Wing Creek Impact structure appear very pronounced. Even smaller, more subtle features such as the Newporte Impact structure and the Little Knife anticline can also be observed. Over 900 horizontal wells were also plotted within this model in order to show the recent development within the Bakken-Three Forks system. (click here to see an example image) Biography: Timothy Nesheim received his Bachelor’s degree in Geosciences from the Minnesota State University of Moorhead and earned his M.S. in Structural Geology from the University of Iowa. After graduating from Iowa, he took a temporary research position at Washington State University’s geochemical clean lab. He is currently a subsurface geologist with the North Dakota Geological Survey where he has spent most of his time examining the Tyler Formation’s resource potential and building a three dimensional model of North Dakota’s subsurface. Cost: Lunch $5.00 - Lunch will include pizza and pop. MARCH 2011
MEETING
SPECIAL PRESENTATION ANNOUNCEMENT Date &Time: 4 PM, Friday, March 18, 2011 Location: Radisson Hotel, Conference Room (Liberty/Manhattan), Bismarck, ND Speaker: Matthew D. Jackson PhD, AAPG Distinguished Lecturer
American
Association of Petroleum Geologists
Distinguished Lecturer Series From outcrop analogue to flow simulation: Understanding the impact of geological heterogeneity on hydrocarbon production. Abstract Hydrocarbon reservoirs are geologically heterogeneous over a wide range of lengthscales. This heterogeneity is a key control on fluid flow during hydrocarbon production, because geological (sedimentary, structural and diagenetic) processes dictate the spatial distribution of petrophysical properties such as porosity, permeability, relative permeability and capillary pressure. These properties control the flow of oil, water and gas. Consequently, to understand, model and predict fluid flow, it is essential to understand and model geological heterogeneity. This is challenging for two reasons. The first is that geological heterogeneity is complex, ranging from the scale of individual pores (c. microns in length) to the scale of the entire reservoir (c. kilometres). The second is that subsurface data is limited. Well data has high spatial resolution but is sparsely distributed; seismic data is extensive but has low spatial resolution. Poor understanding of geological heterogeneity leads to increased uncertainty in predictions of hydrocarbon recovery, and increases the risk associated with hydrocarbon extraction. Recognizing that a reservoir model cannot represent explicitly every type and scale of heterogeneity raises a number of persistent questions. What are the key types and scales of heterogeneity that models should capture? Are these key heterogeneities the same for all reservoir and hydrocarbon types, and all recovery processes? What is the minimum level of model resolution/complexity required to make recovery predictions that are ‘good enough’? How should models best capture these key heterogeneities? To answer these questions requires the development of models based on rich datasets which capture heterogeneity at a high level of detail. Such models can be constructed using analogue outcrops. This presentation describes ongoing research to develop and apply outcrop analogue models, emphasizing the use of novel surface-based modelling techniques in conjunction with adaptive gridding/meshing for flow simulation, and the insight gained into the impact of geologic heterogeneity on flow. The approach is illustrated using examples of shallow-marine sandstone reservoir analogues from three contrasting depositional environments across a hierarchy of lengthscales. The environments represented by the analogues comprise (1) a single, wave-dominated shoreface-shelf parasequence, (2) two stacked, fluvial-dominated deltaic parasequence sets and (3) multiple stacked, tide-dominated channel belts and tidal heteroliths. The datasets were obtained from well-exposed outcrops in Utah, USA, the Western Desert, Egypt and the Isle of Wight, UK; they describe reservoir architecture in generic analogues for many shallow-marine reservoirs. The model results demonstrate that subtle aspects of reservoir architecture, which are typically neglected in subsurface models, can have a significant impact on flow and hydrocarbon recovery. Conversely, features which are routinely included because they are easy to model may be unimportant to flow. New reservoir modelling methods are required to capture subtle, yet important, geological heterogeneities. The methods developed here to handle outcrop datasets are equally applicable to subsurface reservoirs. They rely less on grid- or pixel-based methods, and integrate better with a new generation of reservoir simulators. Biography
Matthew D. Jackson received his Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Imperial College London and his PhD degree in Geological Fluid Mechanics from the University of Liverpool. He then rejoined Imperial College as a Research Associate in the Department of Earth Resource Engineering (now the Department of Earth Science and Engineering) working on a multidisciplinary project to characterize the impact of geologic heterogeneity on production from complex tidal reservoirs. He is currently Senior Lecturer in Geological Fluid Mechanics and Reservoir Engineering. He established (with Dr. Gary Hampson) the Outcrop Modelling Group at Imperial College, which he still co-leads. He also established and leads the Smart Wells Group. Jackson has received the Brian Mercer Award for Innovation from the Royal Society, the ‘Outstanding Associate Editor’ award of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Journal, and (as co-author) the SEPM ‘Excellence of Poster Presentation Award’ at the 2010 AAPG/SEPM Annual Meeting. He has served on the board of the Petroleum Group of the Geological Society of London, and currently serves on the board of the London Section of the SPE. He is a member of the AAPG, SPE and AGU. He lives in London with his wife Liz and their son Nathaniel. Cost: Free and open to the public. Annual Dues: NDGS Annual Dues are $20.00. If you haven’t submitted them already, please consider payment at the meeting or online using the link to the left. FEBRUARY 2011
MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date &
Time: 12:00 Noon, Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Location: North Dakota Heritage Center, Project Room B Speaker: Stephan H. Nordeng, Ph.D., North Dakota Geological Survey Steve is a subsurface geologist with the North Dakota Geological Survey. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in geology from Michigan Technological University and a Ph. D. in geology from Michigan State University. During the last four years Steve has been investigating the geologic factors associated with the current production from Bakken Formation with an eye on applying the lessons learned from the Bakken to other formations in the Williston Basin. Topic: The Resource Potential of the Tyler Formation Using the Bakken as an Analog The Tyler Formation is an organic-rich, regionally extensive unit that is similar in some respects to the Bakken Formation. However, the Tyler is found some 2,000 feet above the Bakken so that questions exist as to whether or not the Tyler has been subjected to high enough temperatures to generate oil. Evidence that suggests that the Tyler is capable of generating oil is provided by a small dataset consisting of recently obtained Rock Eval data coupled with a simple basin model. Lunch Cost: $5.00 (pizza, chips, cookies, and pop) Annual Dues: Reminder - Annual Dues are $20.00. If you haven’t submitted them already, please consider payment at the meeting or online, using the link in the left column. It will be much appreciated. DECEMBER
2010 MEETING & HOLIDAY PARTY
click for full meeting
announcement and location map
Date
& Time:
Tuesday, December
21, 2010, 7:00 P.M.
Location: La Quinta Inn & Suites Meeting Room (2240 North 12th Street, Bismarck, ND 58501) Program: Ron Ness of the North Dakota Petroleum Council will give a short presentation about the impact of the recent election on the oil & gas industry. Cost: Free! Hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, and cocktails will be served. All North Dakota Geological Society members, prospective members, and their spouse or guest are welcome! Please RSVP to jls4@barr.com by Friday, December 17. Ho, Ho, Ho!
We look
forward to seeing you there!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
NOVEMBER 2010 MEETING NOON LUNCHEON Date &
Time: 12:00 Noon, Tuesday, November 15, 2010
Location: North Dakota Heritage Center, Project Room B Speaker: Kathy Neset, Neset Consulting Service, Tioga, ND Topic: Developments in the Bakken and Three Forks in the Williston Basin Lunch Cost: $5.00 (pizza, chips, cookies, and pop) Annual Dues: Reminder - Annual Dues are $20.00. If you haven’t submitted them already, please consider payment at the meeting or online, using the link in the left column. It will be much appreciated. OCTOBER
2010 - NO MEETING THIS MONTH
Call for Papers – Press Release
2011 Rocky Mountain Section – AAPG Annual Meeting June 25 - 29, 2011 Little America Conference Center, Cheyenne, Wyoming Abstract Deadline - January 15, 2011 click here for more information SEPTEMBER
2010 MEETING
STEAK FRY KICK-OFF PICIC Date &
Time: 5:30 PM , WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8,
2010
Location: Sertoma Park, Bismarck. Shelter #9 (South End of Sertoma) Topic: Steaks, Beer, and Pop. A good time of good food, renewed acquaintances and a very short business meeting. Mark Bohrer will be our chef again this year with his phenomenal pitchfork Steak Fondue and all the fixings. Limitations: This meeting and picnic is for members, their families and prospective members. Mark needs to know how many steaks, so we NEED to have you RSVP to this e-mail (kroberts@nd.gov) or by phone to Kris (328-5236), or Justin (255-5483) by Monday, September 3. Cost: $12.00 per person. Annual Dues: $20.00 Payment at the picnic will be much appreciated. Dues may also be paid online at the Society website. ANNOUNCEMENT
The North Dakota Geological Society will be on Summer Recess until the Fall 2010 Kick-Off Picnic. Watch for details in the September Geologram and on this website. Publications may still be ordered during this time. Thank you. MAY 2010
MEETING
Date
& Time: 12 Noon, Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Location: North Dakota Heritage Center, Lecture Room A Speaker: Bob Graveline, President - Utility Shareholders of North Dakota Topic: There is more to electricity than the switch on the wall Abstract: This will be a non-technical discussion of how electricity moves in the market, and some of the challenges faced by utility companies today as they work to continue providing low cost, reliable electricity to their customers. Biography: Graduated from UND with a BSBA in 1966, toured the Orient in 1967 & 68, courtesy of the US Army, and worked in business management until moving into public and government affairs in 1979 with the MANDAN power line project, a 500 KV, seasonal diversity line from Canada to Nebraska. Spent 8 years with the ND Petroleum Council, and 8 years with the ND Safety Council and is currently ten years into his last job. He implores all in today's audience to please continue working and paying into the Social Security System so he can enjoy his life on fixed income, and mandatory Medicare. Cost: $5.00 - Lunch will include pizza, chips and pop.
Date & Time:
12:00 Noon, Monday, April 26, 2010 Location: North Dakota Heritage Center, Lecture Room A, Bismarck, ND
American
Association of Petroleum Geologists
Distinguished Lecturer Series Granite to Grass Roots: Understanding the Geological History of Unconventional Resource Basins from Bottom to Top Abstract The competition for unconventional resources in North America has resulted, in some cases, to acquisition of acreage prior to thorough understanding of subsurface technical risks or identification of fairway boundaries and sweet spots. Indeed, the term “resource play” implies to some that subsurface risks are either minimized or irreducible. As well, the term “unconventional gas” connotes that little is to be gained from application of conventional principles of basin evolution and petroleum generation, migration, and entrapment. Under these circumstances, the value of regional geologic understanding of an entire basin prior to acreage capture can be overlooked and the focus turned to completions technology and post-well analysis. This lecture will discuss the importance of understanding a basin from basement to surface – granite to grass roots – in the search for unconventional fairways. The lecture will include a holistic integration of data and interpretations from basin modeling, petroleum migration modeling, gas isotope data, pressure history, seismic, and reservoir quality. Linkages will be made from microscopic scale observations to tectonic-scale processes. Examples will be given from various North American basins that illustrate how mega-scale features such as basement architecture and Precambrian rift history have a first order and transcendent effect on the evolution and occurrence of unconventional resource fairways, including a strong influence on petroleum generation and entrapment as well as changes in reservoir rock during post-orogenic uplift. Funded by the AAPG Foundation Biography
Harris Cander works in BP America’s Exploration and Technology Group and has focused the past few years on global and domestic exploration for unconventional resources. Since joining BP (Amoco) in 1991, Harris has worked in a variety of international and domestic exploration, production, and commercial roles as well as carbon dioxide sequestration projects. Harris is the current co-chairman of the AAPG Unconventional Research Group and a past co-chairman of the AAPG Carbonates Research Group. He has published on unconventional resources, over pressure and hydrocarbon occurrence in offshore Trinidad, exploration in central Europe, and carbonate diagenesis. His talk on carbonate porosity evolution won the award for best presentation at the 1992 SEPM annual meeting. Harris received his Ph.D. in geology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1991 and MBA from Rice University in 2002. He lives in West University Place, Texas, with his wife, Chris, and children, Sasha and Joshua. Lunch Cost: $5.00 (pizza, chips, cookies, and pop) Annual
Dues: $20.00. If you haven’t submitted
them already, please consider
payment at the meeting. It will be much appreciated. Dues
may also be paid online using the link in the left column.
MARCH 2010
MEETING
Date & Time: 7:00 pm, Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Location: North Dakota Heritage Center, Auditorium Speaker: Don Purvis, Engineer, BJ Services Topic: North Dakota: Boom To Bust To Boom. How current completion and stimulation practices have re-energized the Williston Basin. Biography: Don is currently the Rocky Mountain Region Technical Manager for BJ Services. He is responsible for the engineering efforts in a 9 state area including the Williston Basin. He has 32 years of engineering experience in the oil industry. His previous positions include Engineering Training Manager, Mid-Continent Technical Manager, Research Scientist, and Technical Consultant. He has Authored 12 technical papers, and several technical journal articles. Don holds two patents including a method for stimulating horizontal wellbores in the Williston Basin. Don holds an engineering degree from Oklahoma State. He and his wife reside outside of Denver Colorado and have two grown sons. BJ Services is a major supplier of oilfield services including fracturing, cementing, acidizing, coiled tubing and chemical services. Cost: FREE! – A 1 hour reception will follow the lecture. Non-alcoholic refreshments and finger food will be provided. Note: This lecture will be open to all members of the NDGS and non-members. FEBRUARY 2010
MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date & Time: 12:00 Noon, Tuesday, February 16, 2010 Location: North Dakota Heritage Center, Project Room B Topic: Tour of the AAPG website, and ND Publications Collection. Also other items of interest on the website for both members and non-members. Inspection of the ND Geological Society Website, and discussion of content and layout. We will also have an extended business meeting with at least the following topics: Geologic Society Scholarship, Geology Teaching Trunk, 2010 Society Field Trip, Membership Drive, and Society Direction. Lunch Cost: FREE! – Lunch will include pizza, chips and pop. Due to the lack of a speaker this month, lunch will be free. GET READY FOR NEXT MONTH! BJ Services will be sending us a speaker from Denver to give us a primer on current formation fracturing techniques and concerns. Time and place to be announced. We will need to know how many to expect, so start talking to people. JANUARY 2010
MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date & Time: 12:00 Noon, Monday, January 25, 2010 Location: North Dakota Heritage Center, Project Room A Speaker: Lyall Workman, Senior Mining Engineer, Barr Engineering Topic: Slope Stability and Mining
Lyall
will present on slope
stability at surface mines. Topics will include highwall stability,
spoil stability, and geotechnical effects on dragline selection. Don’t
miss this one.
Lunch Cost: $5.00 (pizza, chips, cookies, and pop) Annual
Dues: $20.00. If you haven’t submitted
them already, please consider
payment at the meeting. It will be much appreciated. Dues
may also be paid online using the link in the left column.
Call for Papers! AAPG Rocky Mountain Section Annual Meeting Hosted by The Abstract
deadline February 1, 2010 More
Information and Submit Abstracts
Online at: www.fourcornersgeologicalsociety.org
DECEMBER 2009 MEETING & HOLIDAY PARTY click for full meeting
announcement and location map
Date
& Time:
Tuesday, December
22, 2009, 7:00 P.M.
Location: Barr Engineering office 234 West Century Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58503 Program: 20 Minute Guided Video Tour of the 2009 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show Cost: Free! Hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, and cocktails will be served. All North Dakota Geological Society members, prospective members, and their spouse or guest are welcome! Please RSVP to kroberts@nd.gov Ho, Ho, Ho!
We look
forward to seeing you there!
NOVEMBER 2009 MEETING NOON LUNCHEON Date &
Time: 12:00 Noon, Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Location: North Dakota Heritage Center, Project Room A Speaker: Mike Sauer, Senior Scientist, ND Department of Health, DWQ Topic: Update on Devils Lake Flooding and Outlet Issues Mike will
bring us up to date on the current state of the lake and the issues and
arguments surrounding the discharge of Devils Lake water into the
Sheyenne River and points both south and north. Don’t miss this one.
Lunch Cost: $5.00 (pizza, chips, cookies, and pop) OCTOBER 2009 MEETING STEAK FRY KICK-OFF PICIC Date &
Time: 5:30 PM (17:30 for you field types), THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2009
Location: Sertoma Park, Bismarck. Shelter #9 (South End of Sertoma) Inclement Weather (cold or wet) Back Up – Kadramas, Lee, and Jackson offices, Break Room, 128 Soo Line Drive, Bismarck Topic: Steaks, Beer, and Pop. A good time of good food, renewed acquaintances and a very short business meeting. Mark Bohrer will be our chef again this year with his phenomenal pitchfork Steak Fondue and all the fixings. Limitations: This meeting and picnic is for members, their families and prospective members. Mark needs to know how many steaks, so we NEED to have you RSVP to this e-mail (kroberts@nd.gov) or by phone to Kris (328-5236), or Mark (355-8710) by Monday, September 28. Cost: $9.00 per person. Annual Dues: $20.00 Payment at the picnic will be much appreciated. Dues may also be paid online at the Society website. ANNOUNCEMENT The North Dakota Geological Society will be on Summer Recess until the Fall 2009 Kick-Off Picnic. Watch for details in the September Geologram and on this website. Publications may still be ordered during this time. Thank you. APRIL 2009
MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date & Time: 12:00 Noon, Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Location: North Dakota Heritage Center, Project Room A Speaker: Skip Vechia, North Dakota Water Science Center, US Geological Survey Topic: Trends in Pesticide Concentrations in Corn Belt Rivers Trends
in the concentrations of commonly occurring pesticides were evaluated
for major rivers of the Corn Belt, an agricultural region that accounts
for a major proportion of pesticide use in the U.S. Trends were
evaluated for 31 sites in the Ohio, Great Lakes, Upper Mississippi, and
Missouri River Basins using a parametric regression model designed for
analyzing seasonal variability and trends in pesticide concentrations
(SEAWAVE-Q). The SEAWAVE-Q model accounts for the effect of changing
flow conditions in order to separate changes caused by hydrologic
conditions from changes caused by other factors, such as pesticide use.
Most of the pesticides assessed were dominated by varying degrees and
significance of concentration downtrends during the analysis period
(1996–2006), except for atrazine, acetochlor, and prometon, which were
relatively stable, and simazine, which was dominated by concentration
uptrends. Overall, trends in pesticide concentrations were consistent
with trends in agricultural use. Taken together, results indicate that
(1) use was the most important factor governing trends in water
concentrations of the pesticides evaluated, (2) use and concentration
trends were usually consistent in direction and magnitude, and (3)
sorting out the causes of the relatively few disagreements between use
and concentration trends will require reliable basin-scale information
on pesticide use and agricultural management practices.
Lunch Cost: $4.00 (pizza, chips, cookies, and pop) MARCH 2009
MEETING
Date & Time:
12:00 Noon, Friday, March 13, 2009 Location: North Dakota Heritage Center, Bismarck, ND
American
Association of Petroleum Geologists
Distinguished Lecturer Series New Petroleum Reservoir Modeling Techniques Improve Field Management and Optimize Recovery Abstract Because of the extremely high cost of developing a subsurface reservoir, commonly a billion dollars or more, it is critical to understand the volumes of hydrocarbon that are present within the reservoir and the amount that can be recovered. Each well is expensive, so we must make the most of the information collected from each well to constrain the uncertainty surrounding the architecture of the reservoir, its extent, and its internal heterogeneities, as well as the impact on recoverability. We approach this by constructing a geocellular model of the hydrocarbon accumulation that incorporates a reasonable range of possible reservoir characteristics, and then simulate the flow of fluids - hydrocarbons and water - throughout the life of the field. The results from any reservoir simulation are strongly dependent on the accuracy of the underlying geologic models. Until recently, it has not always been possible to build geocellular models that accurately portray the subsurface geology. Over the past several years, Chevron has developed a new geologically-based modeling workflow, which combines Multiple Point Statistics (MPS) and Facies Distribution Modeling (FDM) to generate a 3D geologically-robust geocellular reservoir model. MPS is an innovative depositional facies modeling technique, developed by Chevron in collaboration with Stanford University, which incorporates 3D geological concepts in training images that more accurately integrate geological information into reservoir models. Training images allow MPS to retain complex spatial relationships among multiple facies and to model non-linear shapes such as sinuous channels or irregular bar forms that conventional variogram-based modeling techniques typically fail to reproduce. In addition, because MPS is pixelbased, not object-based, MPS models can be constrained by very large numbers of wells. FDM is a novel technique that is used to generate a facies probability cube to better constrain the facies spatial distribution in geostatistical models. The MPS/FDM workflow above is preferred to variogram-based and object-based techniques to model important Chevron assets in both shallow-water and deepwater clastic reservoirs, and more recently, in carbonate reservoirs. Additionally, this workflow has been used in synthetic studies to explore the potential impact of architectural and textural parameters on flow behavior. Using experimental design methods, it is possible to determine the relative impact on production of a variety of field parameters. With this information, one can focus on better understanding the key subsurface parameters and gather new data to reduce their uncertainty. This work flow enables field management by lowering risk and optimizing production. Funded by the AAPG Foundation FEBRUARY 2009
MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date & Time: 12:00 Noon, Wednesday, February 18, 2009 Location: North Dakota Heritage Center, Project Room A Speaker: Jeff Person, Paleontologist, N.D. Geological Survey Topic: Evolution of a Fossil - From Death to Exhibit Lunch Cost: $4.00 (pizza, chips, cookies, and pop) Please
note: It is time again for annual dues.
JANUARY 2009 MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date & Time: 12:00 Noon, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 Location: North Dakota Heritage Center, Project Room A Speaker: Mark Luther - Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson, P.C. Topic: Utilizing Biomass as a Renewable Energy Resource Lunch Cost: $4.00 (pizza, chips, cookies, and pop) Please
note: It is time again for annual dues.
DECEMBER
2008 MEETING AND HOLIDAY PARTY
Date &
Time:
Monday, December 22, 2008, 7:00 P.M.
Location: Kadrmas, Lee, and Jackson Office Building #2 3237 E. Broadway Avenue, Bismarck (Please use southeast entrance off Soo Line Drive) Speaker: Kris Roberts, ND Department of Health Topic: Perspective on Recent Environmental Releases in the Oil Field Cost: FREE! Hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, and cocktails will be served. All North Dakota Geological Society members and their spouses are welcome! Please RSVP to kroberts@nd.gov We look forward to seeing you there! NOVEMBER
2008 MEETING
NOON LUNCHEON Date & Time: 12:00 Noon, Tuesday, November 20, 2008 Location: North Dakota Heritage Center, Project Room A Speaker: Bob Markhouse, ND Department of Health Topic: World Oil Update – Supply and Demand Part II Topics
touched on will include:
Robert made a presentation on world oil supply at the April, 2008 meeting. We thought that with the turbulence we have seen in oil and gasoline prices over the last few months, a brief update would be interesting. Robert’s interest in the world oil supply has become something more than a hobby with him, as indicated by his excellent April presentation. Don’t miss this one. Lunch Cost: $4.00 (pizza, chips, cookies, and pop) Please note: It is time again for annual dues. See the newsletter for details. OCTOBER
2008 MEETING
EVENING PRESENTATION AND REFRESHMENTS Date & Time: 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 21, 2008 Location: Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson Offices (KLJ), Building #2 128 Soo Line Drive, Bismarck, ND 58501 Please use the southeast entrance off Soo Line Drive Speaker: Darin Rathjen, KLJ Safety Coordinator Topic: Safety Issues in the Oil Field Chips and liquid refreshments will be provided at no charge for this meeting. Remember…… 2008 dues of $20.00 are due. For those not familiar with the KLJ offices, take Broadway Ave. east from 26th Street to Soo Line Drive. Turn right on Soo Line Drive and park on the street or in the KLJ parking lot. SEPTEMBER
2008 MEETING
STEAK FRY KICK-OFF PICIC Date & Time: 5:30 PM (17:30 for you field types), Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008 Location: Sertoma Park, Bismarck. Shelter #9 (South End of Sertoma) Topic: Steaks, Beer, and Pop. A good time of good food, renewed acquaintances and a very short business meeting. Mark Bohrer will be our chef again this year with his phenomenal pitchfork Steak Fondue and all the fixings. Limitations: This meeting and picnic is for members, their families and prospective members. Mark needs to know how many steaks, so we NEED to have you RSVP to this e-mail (kroberts@nd.gov) or by phone to Kris (328-5236), or Mark (355-8710) by September 12. Cost: $8.00 per person. Annual Dues: $20.00 Payment at the picnic will be much appreciated. Special Workshop Announcement
 
Hydraulic Fracturing—Measurement,
Characterization, and Analysis
August 11, 2008,
8:30 am – 4 pm
Minot State
University, Student Union Conference Center
Minot, North Dakota
Fee: $195, Instructor: Jennifer Miskimins, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO This one-day workshop is intended to demonstrate recent advances in hydraulic fracturing techniques and how they can be used to characterize the producing reservoir. The basics of hydraulic fracturing are discussed and lead into the complexities associated with treatment design and analysis. Special issues such as non-Darcy flow, G-function analysis, and “mapping” techniques are covered. Case studies demonstrating analysis and various fracturing practices (such as “slickwater” fracs) are presented. Register online: www.pttcrockies.org For more information, contact Mary Carr, 303.273.3107, mcarr@mines.edu
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