HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY - HGS

February 1993

BULLETIN

HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Aume 35

umber 6

DON'T MISS THE HGA VALENTINE'S CASINO NIGHT

(See inside back cover) HGS Jobs Hotline (713) 785-9729 FO - 1 1993

IN THIS ISSUEoo. - A "rolling" debate .............................................. Page 6 - More on South Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 - Azerbaijan and the South Caspian Sea .......................... Page 16 - Try Teamwork! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 36

AND MORE! See Centerfold for February Calendar and Geoevents.

LLIBURTON LOGGING SERVICES

CAST* Borehole Imaging Pulsed Spectral Gamma Log Six Arm Dipmeter Log Thermal Multigate Decay Log High Resolution Induction Log Tracerscan* Log Rotary Sidewall Coring Production Logging Full Wave Sonic Log Cement Evaluation Spectral Density Log Perforating Services

'.4 mark of Hallrburroc Loggrng Services, inc .

HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY 71 71 Harwin. Suite 31 4 Houston. Texas 77036-21 90

(71 3) 785-6402

. EXECUTIVE BOARD . President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patrick T . (Pat) Gordon. Consultant President-Elect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John M . Biancardi. Vicksburg Production Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dwight (Clint) Moore. Anadarko Petroleum

. Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jeannie Fisher Mallick. Pohlman & Assoc Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Brachman. Live Oak Consulting Treasurer-Elect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Ayers Martin. Tertiary Trend Exploration Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan M . van Gelder. Consultant Editor-Elect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wm . Feathergail (Feather) Wilson. Consultant Executive Comm~tteeman ('93) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Will iam R . (Bill) Dupre'. University of Houston Executive Committeeman ('93) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pinar Yilmas. Exxon Production Research Executive Committeeman ('94) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jeffrey W . (Jeff) Lund. Ashland Exploration Executive Committeeman ('94) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James A . (Jim) Ragsdale. Agip Petroleum

. COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN . Academic L ~ a ~ s o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Chronic. Consultant Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bruce Falkenstein. Amoco Production Arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Douglas B . (Doug) Selvius. BHP Petroleum Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel J . (Dan) Bonnet. Houston Energy & Development Ballot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Steven H . (Steve) Shirley. UNOCAL Computer Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Hodson. Consultant Continuing Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Frank Huber. BHP Petroleum (Americas) Inc . Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NancyT.Benthien.MarathonOi1

. Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mart in J . Oldani. Apache Corp Environmental and Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert B . (Bob) Rieser. The Bourdeau Group Exhibits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gerald A . Cooley. PetCons & Assoc.

. Explorer Scouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E . Dan Helton. Natural Gas Pipeline Co Field Trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul W . Britt. Texplore. lnc . Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DavidA.Fontaine.Consultant Historical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David B.Shephard.Amoco International Explorationists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thomas A . (Thom) Tucker. Marathon Oil Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Evelyn Wilie Moody. Consultant Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MichaelH.(Mike)Deming.Amoco Nominations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cyrus (Cy) Strong. Consultant North American Explorationists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles E . (Chuck) Busby IV. Amoco Office Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gerald A . Cooley. PetCons & Assoc . Personnel Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L . G . (Joe) Eubanks. Preston Oil Co . Poster Sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Preston. Tourmaline Exploration Co . Publications . New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William A . Hill. ARC0 Oil & Gas Publication Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thomas T . (Tom) Mather. Columbia Gas Public Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deborah K . (Debra) Sacrey. Consultant Remembrances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B i l l C . Burkman. Consultant Research Technical Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dwight (Clint) Moore Anadarko Petroleum Transportation

. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVES . GCAGS Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patrick T . (Pat) Gordon, Consultant GCAGS Alternate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John M . Biancardi. Vicksburg Production Co . Advisor . Museum of Natural Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Morgan J . Davis, Jr.. Consulting Geologist AAPG Delegate Foreman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jeffrey W . (Jeff) Lund. Ashland Exploration AAPG-DPA Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel L . (Dan) Smith. Texas Meridian Resources AAPG Grouplnsurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barbara Bremsteller Engineering Council of Houston Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Claudia P . Ludwig. Consultant

. SCHOLARSHIP . Memorial Scholarship Board (Graduate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel L . (Dan) Smith. Texas Meridian Resources HGS Foundation (Undergraduate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL AUXlL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President

President-Elect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . First Vice President (Social) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Second Vice President (Membership) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Third Vice President (HGS Rep.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer . Historian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs Robert (Geri) Pace

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parliamentarian Mrs-Theresa Baker GeoWives President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ms. Susan McKinley (Mrs . Allan B . Scardina)

Hugh W . Hardy. Emeritus . . . . . . . . ARY -

Mrs J im (Gwinn) Lewis . . . . . . . . . Mrs Jon (Joyce) Champeny . . . . Mrs David (Lois) Matuszak . . . . .

. . Mrs . George (Shirley) Gordon Mrs Martha Lou Broussard . . . . . : Mrs Andre (Ann) Bouttle . . . . . . Mrs Leslie (Dianne) White . . . . . .

The BULLETIN HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY (ISSN 0018-6686) 1s published monthly except July and August by the Houston Geolog!cal Society. 7171 H a r w ~ n . Sujte 314. Houston . Texas77036 Subscr1pt1ontotheBULLETINH0UST0N GEOLOGICALSOCIEN 1s included dn rnembersh~p duesi518 00annually) Subscr~ptlon prlce for non-members wlthjn the contlguous U S 1s 5 2 5 00 per year and $46 00 per year for those outs~de the contiguous U S Slngle copy prlce 1s $3 00 Second-Class Postage p a ~ d a t Houston . Texas

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to BULLETIN HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY . 71 71 H a r w ~ n . Sulte 314 . Houston . TX 77036-2190

1 Bulletin Houston Geologncal Soctety. February 1993

BULLETIN HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Vol. 35, No. 5

BULLETIN COMMITTEE

EDITOR: Sue van Gelder, 466-3348

Consulting Geologist

EDITOR ELECT: Wm. Feathergail Wilson, 370-9420

Consultant

ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Computer

Mark W. Hodson, 568-5009

Editorial Sandi M. Barber,

Consultant Donna Davis, 981-4345

Consultant Lynne D. Feldkamp, 497-0503

Robert M. Sneider Explor. Mary J o Klosterman, 591-5273

Exxon Exploration Co. Larry Levy, 432-0008

LSL Resources

Environmental Dean Ayres, 729-7157

HISD

Events David C. Callaway, 268-2114

Aquilla Energy

Exploration Review Bill Eisenhardt, 774-6669

Consulting Geologist

International Hugh Hay-Roe, 358-5871

Consultant

Technical Articles William H. Roberts, 465-2228

Hydrexco Company J o Ann Locklin, 954-6262

Texaco Nelson C . Steenland, 666-0266

Geophysicist

Manuscripts, inquiries, o r suggestions should be directed to Editor, c/o H G S Bulletin, 7171 Harwm, Suite 314, Houston, TX 77036. Deadline for copy is six weeks prior to publication. All copy must be typewritten and double-spaced on standard white paper. Line drawings and other illustrations must be photo~ready. If prepared on a word processor, please send a copy of the computer disc, preferably in either Pagemaker, Ven- tura or ASCII format, along wtth a hard copy of the text.

Photographs submitted for publication are welcome, but cannot be returned.

COMMITTEE Please call 785-6402

February 1993

C O N T E N T S DEPARTMENTS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President's Comments 5

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conversation Corner. 6

Society Meetings

General: Dinner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "New World", John Masters 8

General: Luncheon "Production of Low Resistivity, Low Contrast Reservoirs,

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Offshore Gulf of Mexico", Harold L. Darling 9

International Explorationists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "A Petrotourist in West Siberia", David D. Skeels 10

Environmental/Engineering Geologists "Pleistocene Climates, Sea Level and the Seismic

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stratigraphic Record", Peter K. Trabant 11

North American Explorationists "Lower-Middle Wolfcampian Sequence Stratigraphy of the Eastern Central Basin Platform, Texas",

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magell P. Candelaria .12

International Explorationists

International Brief - "South Australia - the Less-Explored Basins",

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Tappan 14

International Feature - "Outline of General and Petroleum Geology in Azerbaijan and the South Caspian Basin",

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leonid A. Buryakovsky .16

PRICE SCHEDULE- FEBRUARY MEETINGS (Non-members: add $2.00 to the meal price) See Meetings abstracts for times.

HGS Dinner Meeting, Feb. 8 . . . . . . . . . . Post Oak Doubletree Inn $20.00

HGS International Explorationists Dinner Meetmg, Feb. 22

. . . . . . . . . . Post Oak Doubletree Inn $21.00

RESERVATIONS POLICY Reserva t~ons a re made by calling the HGS o f f r e

(785 6402) At the meettng, names a re checked agamst the reservatlon l ~ s t Those wtth reservat~ons w~ll be sold t ~ c k e t s lmrnedmtely Those without reservations will be asked to wait for available seats, and a $5 surcharge will be added to the price of the ticket All who do not honor their reservations will be billed for the price of the meal. I f a reservatlon cannot be kept, please cancel or send someone ~n your place

HGS North American Explorationists Dinner Meeting, Feb. 16

. . . . . . . . . . Post Oak Doubletree Inn $20.00

HGS Luncheon, Feb. 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Houston Club $15.00

located at 7171 Harwin, Suite 314, Houston, Texas 77036. T h e telephone number IS (713) 785-6402; FAX (713) 785-0553.

Bulletln Houston Geolog~cal Soc~etv. February 1993 L

Contents Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Environmental/Engineering Geologists .11

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . North American Explorationists .12

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calendar and Geo-Events, Dave Callaway. .27

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Committee News. .28

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Undergraduate Scholarship. .28

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Continuing Education/Environmental-Engineering .30

Houston Geological Auxiliary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Business of Geology - .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Teamwork", John A. Masters .36

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exploration Activity Review, Bill Eisenhardt .48

COVER ILLUSTRATION: An excerpt from the new HGSINOGS guidebook, Productive Low Resistivity Well Logs of the Offshore Gulf of

Mexico. In the spirit of unprecedented cooperation between two ~eological societies, dozens of companies, and nearly one

hundred people, this team has endeavored to produce this volume for the benefit of all explorationists worldwide and not just those working the offshore Gulf of Mexico. For decades to come, people will be able to refer to this volume to advocate the further evaluation of potential oil and gas zones leading to perhaps some of the more significant discoveries of tomorrow around the globe. The common occurrence of Low Resistivity/Low Contrast (LR/LC) pays is now indisputable fact and like the fields represented by these petrophysical well logs, tomorrow's fields will be first discovered in the minds of the men and women who correctly interpret the petrophysical measurements gathered on those wells to be drilled in the future. Pays and fields will still go unnoticed by the untrained eye, but hopefully this guidebook will demonstrate, to all who explore its pages, the incredibly significant potential of Low Resistivity Pays!

Within this volume are over 150 examples of LR/LC pay zones and an unconventional zone or two. A special paper was written for this volume by Robert Sneider and Harold Darling, detailing causes and effects of LR/LC pays. We have also included a Global Bibliography of references and citations which will lead everyone to see the worldwide common occurrence of this important phenomenon. In future yearsa worldwide volume or other regional volume might be attempted, so keep your eyes open for possible examples with sustained production.

This project was a joint effort between the New Orleans Geological Society and the Houston Geological Society. It is intended to serve as a reference and should not be construed as definitive presentations. Illustration courtesy of Dwight "Clint" Moore. Project Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, 1992-1993. See ad elsewhere in this Bulletin for ordering information.

H A V E YOU EVER M A D E A RESERVATION A N D N O T SHOWN?

Several years ago the HGS Board adopted a policy of billing those who made reservations for an HGS dinner or luncheon event but did not show. Since the reservation list is used to guarantee the number of attendees to an event, the HGS must pay for that minimum number even if fewer people are served. Those who make reservations and do not cancel by the puhlished cancellation time will be billed. For Luncheon and Dinner events, cancellation time is usually noon on the prior business day. Cancelling after that time, yet before the event, does not assure that you will not be billed.

For those who are billed and do not pay, please be aware that the next time you attend an HGS lunch or dinner event, the treasurer or representative will ask to discuss the reasons prohibiting payment. Continued non-payment of billing will result in loss of membership privileges.

-- - - -

3 Bullet!rr Houston Geoloq~cal Soi iety February 1993

SUBSURFACE CONSULTANTS & ASSOCIATES, INC. 1993 TRAINING SCHEDULE - HOUSTON & DALLAS OFFERINGS*

Applied Subsurface Geological Mapping May 10-1 4 Houston $995

Applied Subsurface Structural Geology Aug 23-27 Houston $995 Sep 28-30 Dallas $625 (cornp. only) Dec 1-2 Houston $450 (ext. only)

Applied Mapping and Engineering Technology May 77-21 Houston $995

In troduc tion to Petroleum Geology June 7-1 1 Dallas $995 Aug 2-6 Houston $995

Applied Petroleum Engineering for the Geoscientist July 12-14 Houston $625

Basic Mapping Technology April 5-7 Houston $625

Quick Look Techniques Mar 30-31 Houston $450

Field Study Methodology March 17 Houston $275

Courses are available in other locations, for a complete schedule please contact us.

PRIMARY CONSULTING SERVICES

Major Synergistic Field Studies Oil & Gas Reserve Evaluations

Producing Property Evaluations Economic Analysis

Petroleum Engineering Studies Prospect Generation/Evaluations

Reserve Audits Unitizations

Well Log Analysis Structural Geology & Balancing

SENIOR PERSONNEL

1 Daniel J. Tearpock - President Dick Bischke - Sr. Structural Geophysicist

Hines Austin - V.P., Engineering Bruce McDonald - Sr. Geologic Consultant

Joe Brewton - V.P., Geology Jim Harris - Sr. Geologic Consultant --

(3 18) 98 1 - 7496 1-800- 737-3463 (3 18) 98 1-02 7 7 fax

Bulletin Houston Geolaq~rn l Society F rhrudry 1993 4

PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS

Is there a geologist anywhere who does not like to go on a good field trip- especiallyifit's paid for by the company? I vaguelyremember the good olddays of the late '70's when I got sent on the modern clastics trip to the beachesof South Carolina, the ancient clastics trip to the mountains of West Virginia,the modern carbonates trip to the Keys and Belize, and on a thrustbelt trip tothe Yellowstone area. Ahh, those were rough times. But it is nice for ussubsurface geologists to see an outcrop occasionally. I took my family to BigBend National Park at Thanksgiving. I had been there before; the family hadnot. All had a fantastic time. If you've never been 'there, you will find it quiteunique. Guest what? The HGS is sponsoring a trip there to go rafting late nextmonth. Travel will be by Amtrak to Alpine! Check it out.

If Big Bend rafting is not enough, how about shooting down the rapids onthe Colorado River in the Grand Canyon? Yes! You can go there with yourHGS friends in August. Good luck on getting the company to pay! Checkelsewhere in your Bulletin for details on these trips, or call Paul Britt, Field Tripcommittee chairman. But do sign up early or you might get caught dead in thewater. If you really want the company to pay, consider going on the field tripco-sponsored by the Environmental & Engineering Committee to a nearbySuperfund Site. We have a trip for everyone!

Or would you rather blow away your money in Vegas? Maybe not, but thenext best thing is Love in February. Yes - the HG Auxiliary is sponsoring aValentine's Day Dance and Casino Night. Hurry, you still have a chance to signup.

Of course the government is always trying to grab on to more of yourmoney. There are people in Austin who feel geologists in Texas should beregistered. The DPA of AAPG as well as SIPES have been riding herd on thissubject throughout the U.S. In Houston, Chuck Noll and Dan Smith, bothformer HGS Presidents, have been working hard to protect your professionalinterests on the subject. Look for their article on registration in a futureBulletin. And please, if you have an opinion, let them know!

As I write this in late '92 I see that the U.S. rig count is almost up 10%fromthis time a year ago. Does this mean the oil business has turned around? I hopeso. However, a lot of the spending at year end was probably due to companiescashing in on the tight gas sand tax credits. Don't let the new year drop in rigcount discourage you. I am optimistic that enough changes in the economy willoccur this year to encourage investors to look again at the exploration end ofthe oil and gas business.

One way to get people interested in the geology business is to start themout right by geting them interested as kids in school. B. J. Doyle, AcademicLiaison Committee Chairman, and BillDupre', Executive BoardCommitteeman, are working to help get the Denver Earth Science Project intothe Houston schools. They could use your monetary as well as voluntary help.More info elsewhere in the Bulletin. Another way to help kids is by volunteeringto work with the HGS - sponsored Explorer Scouts Committee. Please givechairman Dan Helton a call.

If you like sequence stratigraphy, you will find interesting talks this monthat both the International and the North American group dinners. The landmenwill host our regular dinner meeting, but willHave as guest speaker the well-known and dynamic geologist and businessle~der, John Masters. It promisesto be one of the best talks this year. .

Hope to see you there. . .C

~/~Pat Gordon

5 Bulletin Houston Geological Society, February 1993

CONVERSA TION CORNER

ROLL OVER REPLY: INTERDOMAL SEDIMENTATION

The reverse drag on faults in the Gulf Coast traps a great deal of the production of the Gulf Coast, particularly by means of its "roll" into fault planes on their downthrown flank. Of less magnitude no doubt is the volume of production trapped by drag on the upthrown side of the fault but that lesser-known component of "drag" is never- theless always present as an integral component of this type of faulting.

The downthrown drag is commonly understood and often covered in print as collapse into space resulting from "pull-apart", but I haven't seen in the numerous articles over several decades an explanation of the upthrown drag. Earlier this year, Xiao and Suppe (AAPG BULL. 761509- 529) failed to notice the upthrown drag. Their paper confined itself to a rather awkward bit of geometric analysis purported to enable one to reproduce a limb of a fold on the downthrown side of a fault.

The article did, however, give cause to reflect on the mechanics of "reverse drag". How about incorporating "rebound" occurring at the time of rupture of the incipient monocline? We tend to dismiss the elasticity of the crust until we encounter "rebound" craters from meteoric impacts or take the time to acknowledge the elasticity of the sediments, the basis of the seismic system. No matter, if we would incorporate the complete fault structure in our analyses of reverse drag, we might understand and even come to use faults to more advantage.

SALT Seismic lines in eastern Liberty County, Texas, running

between Raywood in the northeast to Redmond Creek to the southwest, reflect the well-known syncline which apparently results from salt flowing into surrounding domes such as Moss Lake and South Liberty. The synclinal fold sharpens with depth and can be followed to perhaps 6.5s. At 5.5s, however, perhaps near the base of the wilcox, it penetrates a broad, low-relief, regional anticline as though this were the funnel for rising salt before it spread laterally into adjacent domes. I always maintained that salt flows from lows, but here it looks like it may have flowed first into a huge "mother" dome which later fed the domes we recognize in the area now. Is this untenable or rather a common mode?

Nelson C. Steenland

ATTENTION MIAMI O F O H I O GRADUATES If you would like to attend a reunion

scheduled for March 6th, contact Larry Levy, 432-0008.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

This topic is both timely and timeless, as Nelson has pointed out. Indeed the editor placed this note opposite the announcement of Greg Simmons expose of "intraslope basins" for the December dinner meeting.

There is a comment at the end of paragraph 2 concerning 'turbidites' and 'incised valley on the flank of a salt dome', which reminded me of a common observation that I have made in the Gulf. That observation is that incised valleys are quite commonly associated with salt domes both in the South Additions and the Deep Water. In almost all instances these valleys have been structurally deformed by subsequent salt uplift.

A possible interpretation for this 'coincidence' was made by a co-worker. The removal of sediment from the incised valley set up the density imbalance which localized subsequent salt movement from an underlying salt swell, dome, sheet or diapir. This understanding may be important when searching for upside potential on the most productive hydrocarbon trap type in the Gulf.

Phil Hosemann Independent Consultant

The HGS Bulletin Committee wishes

Editor-Elect Feather Wilson a speedy recovery!

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Bulletin Houston Geological Society, February 1993 I

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7 Bullet~n Houston Geological Society, February 1993

MEETINGSHGS/HAPL -JOINT DINNER MEETING-FEBRUARY 8, 1993Social Period, 5:30 p.m.Dinner and Meeting, 6:30 p.m.Post Oak Doubletree Inn

JOHN MASTERS-Biographical Sketch

John Masters de-scribes himself as an ex-ploration geologist. He re-ceived a B.A. from Yaleand an M.S. in geologyfrom Colorado University.

He first showed somescientific skill in theLukachukai Mountainswhere he did the definitivework on sedimentary con-trols of uranium ore de-posits. It was good trainingfor his major discovery fouryears later at AmbrosiaLake, the largest uranium

deposit in the world. John became, at 32, the ChiefGeologist for Kerr-McGee, discovered Dineh-bi-Keyah, thelargest oil field in Arizona, and helped find two new fields inShip Shoal, Gulf of Mexico.

He moved to Canada in 1967,as President of Kerr McGeeof Canada, and was terminated in 1973when he declined totransfer back to Oklahoma City. He left his great mentor,Dean McGee, but started a new career with his partner andtrusted fjrend, Jim Gray. They formed Canadian HunterExploration, got Noranda to fund them, and three years laterdiscovered Elmworth, the largest gas field in Canada.Hunter, a technical leader in the industry, was built on thatfield.

His civic contributions are the Advisory Boards to theGeology Departments at both Colorado University andStanford, and the Board of Foothills Hospital in Calgary. Hecontinues his education by reading every night in his largepersonal library.

John retired in 1992but is still active in the company asa consultant.

l

NEW WORLDOil explorationists are entering a New World. Virtually

all the rules are different. Let us try to get to a world that wewant.

To survive, indeed to prosper, we must adapt veryrapidly. To adapt, we must be more creative than we haveever been. To be creative, we must question. And we mustlearn to question not in a negative way but in a welcoming,receptive way that opens the door to intuitive, integratedthinking.

The challenge is to find big oil. Too much of our time.isspent analyzing data in old trends. And too many of ourresponses are "it won't work" or "that's already been tried."

I ask you to join me in thinking some new thoughts.Don't try to shoot me down. That is the mark of a mediocremind. Allow me to be irreverent, even, Heaven forbid,scientifically incomplete.

Bulletin Houston Geological Society, February 1993

My first step will be to describe what modern brainresearch says about right- and left-brained thinking stylesand how some brains achieve creativity. Then, I will showwhy you are not engineers and accountants and explain thatunless you guide the future we are all dead ducks.

As the evening progresses, I will remind you of whatsome of the exploration geniuses of this century have saidabout how oil is found with ideas, how we could run out ofideas before we run out of oil, that we must constantly bealert to what we don't know, and how our search dependsultimately on new tools. '

Then, I want to share with you how our presentcompanies are dying off. Paleontologists will recognize theremains someday as the Great Extermination. Floweringabove that layer will be the new breed of de-organizedorganizations with integrated teams which I have spoken ofbefore.

Finally, I want to make a few suggestions on how manyof us might avoid living in Colombia or Somalia by dustingoff some good ideas that still haven't been wrung out here inNorth America.

I will touch on Nevada, Mexico, Cretaceous carbon-ates, reefs, wedge edges, and tools. I will remind you,politely of course, that the Gulf of Mexico extends well pastthe Rio Grande and that three fourths of its reserves speakSpanish. Why, then, can I find only one map in a thousand inall of your publications that treats the Gulf as more than ahalf moon?

I willtell of "things", such as reefs, salt structures, paythicknesses, and many other tidbits. But this is not creativ-ity. Explorationcreativity - the seed of new thinking- isrelationships. Remember this, ifyou ignore everything else,that the Gulf of Mexico is one large basin and thesurrounding shelf is in continuous physical connection. Youmay, unfortunately, not be bilingual but the geology is.

H my talk has any value, you will go home in a right-brained state of perception and think of some more wildideas and maybe one of us, one person in this whole town,willfind, first in his mind, a new oilprovince. Then he willgeta good landman to turn it from dream into business. Andthen we willenter a New World of our own choosing.

Levorsen said, 50 years ago, in one of the great papersof petroleum geology, "We must think in terms of biggeology so that we may be assured of big results."

~.........

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8

HGS LUNCHEON MEETING-FEBRUARY 24, 1993Social Period, 11 :30 a.m.Luncheon and Meeting, 12:00 p.m.The Houston ClubHAROLD L. DARLING-Biographical Sketch

Harold Darling receiv-ed his professional degreein engineering physics fromthe Colorado School ofMines in 1965. He joinedSchlumberger in 1968 andworked as a field engineer,specialist engineer and dis-trict manager in the RockyMountain Div., TexasCoast Div., and OffshoreUnit. He has been an Inter-pretation/ Applications en-gineer for Schlumbergersince 1984. From 1984 to

1991he worked for the Gulf Coast Unit, focusing on offshoreapplications of wireline interpr.etation. Since that time hehas been assigned to the Interpretation Development groupat Schlumberger's headquarters. His current work involvesevaluating applications of borehole sonic measurementsand mechanical properties of formations, as well as coordi-nating field engineer interpretation training.

PRODUCTION OF LOW RESISTIVITY,LOW CONTRAST RESERVOIRS,

OFFSHORE GULF OF MEXICO BASINHarold L. Darling1.3 and Robert M. Sneider2.3Low resistivity, low contrast (LRLC) pay sands in the

Gulf of Mexico Basin are being found and produced now. Inthe past these intervals were often overlooked, consideredwet or tight. These LRLC intervals, which contain significantreserves, can be recognized today through proper identifi-cation and evaluation techniques using well logs, andsam ples/ cores.

LRLC pay sands in the Gulf of Mexico Basin have beenrecognized for many years. However, their economicimportance has been only recently demonstrated. With thefinding of other LRLC zones in clastic basins throughout theworld, (e.g.: North Sea, Indonesia, West Africa, Alaska)evaluation and production of these zones has taken newimportance. These not-so-obvious pay zones have shown tobe of large areal extent and contain many thousands ofbarrels of hydrocarbons. Thus, proper evaluation andunderstanding of these zones has become essential.

The principal geologic causes of LRLC are: 1)laminatedintervals, 2) dispersed clay, 3) structural clay, 4) alteredframework grains, 5) grain size, 6) other.

The major depositional systems containing LRLCreservoirs are: 1) channel fills, 2) delta front and toedeposits, 3) shingled turbidites, 4) deep-<.Naterfans includinglevee-channel complexes.

This knowledge, along with knowledge of wireline tools

and responses can be used to build petrophysical models fIthat can evaluate these LRLC reservoirs.

1. Schlumberger Well Services Houston, Texas2. Robert M. Sneider Exploration, Inc., Houston, Texas3. Committee members of the Houston Geological and New Orleans Geological

Societies' joint project on Productive Low Resistivity and UnconventionalPetrophysical Well Logs, Gulf of Mexico Basin.

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INTERNA TIONALEXPLORA TIONISTS

HGS INTERNATIONAL GROUPDINNER MEETING-FEBRUARY 22,1993Post Oak Doubletree InnSocial hour, 5:30 p.m., Dinner, 6:30 p.m.Technical Presentation, 7:30 p.m.DAVID D. SKEELS-Biographical Sketch

Dave Skeels graduat-ed with Honors in Geologyfrom the University of Shef-field, England in 1968. Heworked with the Oasis OilCompany of Libya both inTripoli and the Sirte Basinduring the years 1968-1971.Following post-graduateresearch in carbonate pet-rography at the Universityof Liverpool, England, hejoined Conoco in Londonin 1973. He held a numberof positions involved withactivity in Europe, North

and West Africa and then as Chief Geologist for ConocoUK Ltd., 1979 - 1981. Following a staff position for Europe-Africa in Houston, he transferred to Jakarta, Indonesia asVice President and Manager Exploration in 1984.Since 1990he has been involved with Conoco's Russian activities, mostrecently co-ordinating a reservoir and geoscience teamevaluating field development and exploration opportunitiesin West Siberia. -

During his career he has been involved with teamswhose work resulted in a number of new field discoveries,such as Mangara, Chad; MiIler,U.K. North Sea; and Belida,Indonesia. ,

He gave the presentation at the very first HGSInternational Group Meeting in March, 1983.

A PETROTOURIST IN WEST SIBERIAThe objective of this presentation is to provide an

overview of the West Siberia Basin. Production, resources,geography, and geology wiIlbe addressed together with aseries of slides of landforms, cultural aspects as well asexploration and production activities., West Siberia is home of the world's largest basin, whichcurrently produces approximately 6 miIlionbarrels of oiland55 biIlion cubic feet of gas per day and has major undis-covered potential. As the dramatic political and socio-economic changes in Russia take place, opportunities forforeign inv~stment in this basin are currently being evaluatedby many companies.

The basin covers\over 3 million ~quare kilometers,creating the largest flat are'a on the earth's surface. Fromsummertime temperatures of over:80° F, tbe swamp'liketundra and forest change by virtue of" their northern

Bulletin Houston GeologicaLSociety, February 1993

continental location into one of the world's toughestoperating areas with winter temperatures below -500 F in thenorth. '

The Basin was initiated by Triassic rifting with a majorsag phase existing through the Jurassic and Cretaceous.Most of the oil in the basin is reservoired in the LowerCretaceous Neocomian sequence, while gas is primarilyconcentrated in the Cenomanian. Other plays exist in theLower Cretaceous, Upper Jurassic, Mid - Lower Jurassicand Triassic to basement sequence. Plays can be generallyrelated to regional seals such as the Cretaceous Kuznetsovand Alym shales and the Upper Jurassic Bazhenov. Theseregional shale units are also believed to playa key role insourcing hydrocarbons in the basin, with the Bazhenovbeing most well known as an oil source. Other geologicaspects of the basin including further potential will beaddressed.

The local upstream oiland gas industry structure existsas separate exploration, oil and also gas production associ-ations. The organization of these associations together withtheir activities willbe reviewed.

Finally, some factors recently affecting these WestSiberian organizations and the activities of foreign com-panies will be briefly addressed.

INTERNATIONAL EXPLORATIONISTSCOMMITTEE MEMBERS 1992-1993

Chairperson:Thorn Tucker, Marathon Oil. . . . . . . . . . . . 629-6600

Technical Program:Lyle Baie, Consultant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 739-8000

Hotel Arrangements:Harold Davis,

Anadarko. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 874-8785A/V Arrangements:

Shah Alam, Consultant with CGG 530-3376Finances & Tickets:

Ed Loomis, Amoco Egypt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 556-3079Announcements and Company Representative contacts:

Wynn Gajkowski, Total Minatome . . . . . . . 739-3034Directory: '

Herb Duey, Consultant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 531-0950

Please contact your company representative orcall HGS for ticket reservations at 785-6402:

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

(i HGS International Explorationis'ts Com.mittee dinnermeetings wiIl be on the third MONDAY night of eachmonth at Post Oak Doubletree Inn in the Galleria areastarting with a 5:30 p.m. social hour, 6:30 p.m. dinner and7:30 p.m. technical presentation.

10

ENVIRONMENTAL/ENGINEERING GEOLOGISTS

HGS ENVIRONMENTAL/ENGINEERlNG COMMITTEE LUNCH & DINNER MEETINGS-FEBRUARY 10,1993

LUNCHEON: Place: Houston Community College

Lecture Room 151, San Jacinto Bldg. 1300 Holman at San Jacinto

Time: 12:OO - 12:15 Social 12: 15-1: 15 Program

DINNER: Place:

Time:

Italian Market and Cafeteria 2615 Ella Blvd. (Located behind NW Memorial Hospital just south of 610 North Loop) 6:00 - 6:30 Social 6:30 - 7:30 Program

Quality high-resolution seismic records permit the correlation between small scale climatic changes and the 3-D configuration of sedimentary deposits, including systems tracts andshort term events such as slumping and diapiric movements.

HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY ENVIRONMENTAL/ENGINEERlNG COMMITTEE SPRING MEETING SCHEDULE

FEBRUARY, 1993 10th - Luncheon Meeting - Houston Comm. College

Dinner Meeting - Italian Mkt. "Offshore Geo-hazards and Seismic Strati- graphy" Pete Trabant

After the Dinner meeting the Career Change Net- - Career Change Networking Group Meeting working Group will meet for 30 minutes or less. Presentation by PSI

PETER K. TRABANT-Biographical Sketch

Dr. Trabant has been an independent consultant in marine geology and geophysics to the offshore petroleum industry for the past 18 years. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in geological oceanography from Texas A&M, and his B.S. in geology from the University of Miami. His work involves the interpretation of multi-sensor geophysical data for the installation of offshore structures and pipelines, and the production ,of environmental and engineering reports for regulatory agencies. His clients include major and independent oil companies, engineering and geophysical service companies, while his activities have been worldwide. His secondary activities involve teaching and research on the applications of seismic sequence stratigraphy to high resolution geophysical data in: petroleum exploration; reservoir studies; seafloor engineering; and paleoclima- tology. He is the author of the textbook: Applied High Resolution Geophysical Methods: Offshore Geoengineer- ing Hazards with Prentice-Hall.

PLEISTOCENE CLIMATES, SEA LEVEL AND THE SEISMIC STRATIGRAPHIC RECORD.

High-resolution seismic records from the northern Gulf of Mexico reveal the fine-scale details of the seismic stratigraphy at the shelf edge and within deep water depositional environments. The high frequency records, commonly used for offshore engineering studies, provide an excellent tool towards understanding the detailed relation- ship between climate, sea level and the resulting seismic stratigraphy. Applications include: paleoenvironmental studies, reservoir engineering, petroleum exploration and the assessment of sea floor engineering properties.

MARCH, 1993 10th - Luncheon Meeting - Houston Comm. College

Dinner Meeting - Italian Mkt. "Environmental Drilling" PSI

Mid/Late - Environmental/Engineering Field Trip "SUPERFUND Sites in the Harris County Area"

For More Information, Contact: 4

Bob Rieser (Chairman) 463-6151 (home) 820-1818 (work) Ralph Taylor (Publicity) 528-1232 Cee Cee Candler 342-9709 (home) 546-8426 (work)

Luncheon Meetings will held in Lecture Rm. 151 of Houston Community College, 1300 Holman.

Dinner Meetings are held at the Italian Market Restaurant, 2615 Ella Blvd. (just south of N. Loop 610).

CROSBIE-MACOMBER Paleonlologlcal Laboralory. Inc.

2705 Dlvlslon St.. Suite 4. Mdalrh. LA 70002 (504) 885-3930

Wrn. A. Ermntlmy. Jr. @ Thornmn M. Rellly

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t'lankllc~anlhlc Foramlnllarm Calcareous Nannolosslls

Computerized dala lormat "CHECKLIST" Oraphlc Range Chad Depldlng:

Sequence Boundorles Condensed Secllons

Strlplog Daplcllng: Relallve AbundanceslSample SandlShale Ratlos PlanklldBenll~lc Ratios

Faunal and Flwal Dlverslly Graphs

1 1 Bulletin Houston Geolog~cal Soctefy, February 1993

NORTH AMERICANEXPLORA TIONISTS

HGS NORTH AMERICANEXPLORATIONISTS GROUP DINNERMEETING-FEBRUARY 16,1993Social Period, 5:30 p.m.,Dinner and Meeting, 6:30 p.m.Post Oak Doubletree InnMAGELL P. CANDELARIA-Biographical Sketch

Magell P. Candelariareceived his B.S. degree ingeology from Pomona Col-lege in 1978and his M.S. ingeology from Wisconsin in1982. In 1983 he beganworking for ARCO Explo-ration Company in Denver,Colorado doing variousregional studies in the

. Roc~ Mountain regionuriTil1986. He was trans-ferred to the ARCO OilandGas Company Midlandoffice in 1986 and workedas an exploration geologist

in the Permian Basin region for 5 years. In 1991 he wastransferred to the southern Oklahoma exploration group inMidland where he currently works in both development andexploration capacities.

He has published 21 papers and abstracts in 6 differentjournals and has served as First Vice President for PBS-SEPM and is currently President-Elect for PBS-SEPM. He isalso an AAPG Certified Petroleum Geologist and serves onthe AGI Minority Scholarship Committee.

LOWER-MIDDLE WOLFCAMPIAN SEQUENCESTRATIGRAPHY OF THE

EASTERN CENTRAL BASIN PLATFORM, TEXASWolfcampian-age reservoirs have produced in excess

of 250 million barrels of oil from numerous fields peripheralto the Midland Basin of West Texas. The vast majority ofthis production is located along the eastern margin of theCentral Basin Platform. The results of this sequencestratigraphic study of a portion of the eastern Central BasinPlatform indicates that significant potential remains forsubstantial oil accumulations in Wolfcampian carbonatereservoirs in this region. This study has developed thecriteria for seismic delineation of 1) subtle stratigraphictraps at porosity pinchouts; and 2) complex reservoirgeometries within existing Wolfcamp fields which can resultin significant reserve additions through infill drilling, ex-tension wells and new field exploratory discoveries. Alongthe eastern Central Basin Platform, Wolfcamp fields pro-duce from a wide variety of carbonate reservoir faciesincluding skeletal-nonskeletal grainstones, algal mounds,and dolomitized high-angle platform margin bank facies.

Bulletin Houston G'ioloqlr"1 SOCieity, February 1993

~

Additionally, detrital accumulations such as basin slopegrainflow accumulations, submarine fans, debris flows andmega-slide blocks comprise locally significant reservoirs.

Sequence stratigraphic interpretation of the platformto basin transition reveals stratal geometries not readilyinterpretable from well log and biostratigraphic data alone.Interpretation of various seismic data sources includinghigh-fold and high-resolution data aided and constrained bybiostratigraphic, well log and facies interpretation reveals acomplex evolution of the Early Pennsylvanian (Morrowan)to Early Permian (Leonardian) margins of the Central BasinPlatform. This morphological evolution involved early Pen-nsylvanian onlap of the incipient Central Basin Platformfollowed by Middle Pennsylvanian progradation. Subse-quent backstep of prograding Late Pennsylvanian platformmargins was followed by continued progradation throughMiddle Wolfcampian time. Renewed backstep of progradingLate Wolfcampian platform margins was followed again byextensive progradation in early Leonardian time. Thisplatform margin evolution resulted in approximately 12 kmof net progradation from early Pennsylvanian to late Wolf-campian time in the study area.

Continued on page 32

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12

THE HOUSTON AND NEW ORLEANS

GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES PROUDLY PRESENT

PRODUCTIVE LOW RESISTIVITY

WELL LOGS OF THE OFFSHORE

GULF OF MEXICO

DWIGHT 'CLINT' MOORE: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CONlRIBUTING EDITORS

GLEN SHELTON: NOGS COMMIlTEE CHARIMAN BILL BLAIR

BOB DOUGLASS C A R CANNlZZAFiO

W. A. HILL HGS COMMIlTEE CHARIMAN ROBERT SNEIDER HAROLD DARUNG RICHARD BERUTZ

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A SPEC!& TREATISE BY PETROPHYSICAL ALIMORS ROBERT SNEIDER AND HAROLD M L l N G ON 'PRODUCTIVE LOW RESISTIVITY WELL LOGS OF THE OFFSHORE GULF OF MEXICO. CAUSES AND EFFECTS'

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Bullet in Houston Geological Society. February 1993

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF

SOUTH AUSTRALIA* The Less-Explored Basins: PART 1

by George Tappan Apart from the well-known producing areas of the

Cooper and Eromanga basins in the northeast, and the Otway Basin in the southeast, most of South Australia's sedimentary basins, ranging from Proterozoic to Tertiary, are still only lightly explored. A number of these basins have significant oil and gas potential, and several have known source and reservoir rocks. Others are still frontier areas ripe for modern exploration techniques.

THE EARLY BASINS, NEOPROTEROZOIC TO MIDDLE PALEOZOIC:

Officer Basin The Officer Basin covers 350,000 sq km of central

southern Australia, the eastern 100,000sq km of which is in South Australia. It was an intracratonic marine shelf to epeiric sea developed on crystalline basement. A variety of sediments from Proterozoic t o Devonian a re preserved in two depocenters in the South Australia portion. Because of the paucity of data, the stratigraphy is not well defined, but a s much as 5 km of sediments is present.

In outcrop, along the northern border of the basin, the Proterozoic contains sandstone, quartzite, siltstone, shale, diamictite, basalt, conglomerate, chert, dolomite, and limestone. Stromatolitic dolomite, mafic volcanics, and diapiric breccia have also been reported from drilled sections. The two uppermost units consist of shallow marine sediments overlain by 3.5 km of marine slope-to-basin siltstones, including minor limestones, sandstones, and conglomer- ates, which a re unconformably overlain by Cambrian marine sediments. These units contain potential reservoirs and source beds.

The Cambrian is represented by several transgressions and regressions of shallow marine, subtidal, and near-shore non-marine carbonates, clastics, and evaporites. The playas include lake sediments rich in organic matter, and oil-filled vugs sampled by core. The section contains numerous oil- prone source rocks, and potential carbonate reservoirs. It is capped by a thick, widespread fluvio-deltaic sandstone lacking a regional seal, except where overlain by the marine Devonian. Ordovician deltaic sandstones, where present, also have excellent reservoir potential.

Cambrian sediments were gently folded during the Late Devonian t o Early Carboniferous. Traps include simple domes, faulted anticlines, and salt tectonics. Strati- graphic traps may also be associated with carbonate reservoirs.

TO date, only seven petroleum exploration wells and 42 stratigraphic o r deep mineral wells have been drilled with no commercial discoveries. 'Reprinted u'lth pernmsion from Internationol Exploration Newsletter, November 23, 1992.

The Officer Basin underlies Maralinga and Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal lands and the Yalata Aboriginal Reserve. Both the Maralinga and Pitjantjatjara people are agreeable to petroleum exploration o n their land. Exploration is also permitted in several National Park Wildlife Act reserves, and in part of the Nullarbor National Park subject to joint proclamation, but prohibited in areas reserved for defense purposes. No licenses are currently in effect, but four areas covering most of the prospective region are available for application. A data package and brochure to assist evaluation are available.

Three Early Paleozoic basins, the Stansbury, Arrowie, and Warburton basins are somewhat similar in that they were sites of carbonate platform and shelf edge accumulations developed o n the margin of the Gawler Craton. They may also have had sedimentary continuity prior to mid- Cambrian.

Stansburv Basin The p;ospective area of the Stansbury Basin underlies

the Gulf St . Vincent. The original depositional area was much more extensive t o the east and south, but these areas are now metamorphosed and intruded by granite.

The sedimentary section crops out on the Yorke Peninsula, central Fleurieu Peninsula, and the north coast of Kangaroo Island. The section consists of a basal Cambrian

B u l l e t ~ n Houston Geolog~cal Sac~ety February 1993 14

sheet sand succeeded by high-energy grainstones and several depositional sequences of marine carbonates shallowing upward to intertidal and deltaic environments. The youngest Cambrian sediments preserved are redbeds of an intertidal sand flat to subaerial fan. The basin is capped by Permian glacial deposits and Tertiary sediments.

A number of carbonates and sandstones may be potential reservoirs, but the most prospective is the lower Cambrian dolomitized limestone which has porosities up to 13% and as much as 340 md of permeability. A thick, micritic limestone overlying this unit forms the regional seal. Shales deposited in a down-ramp position from the carbonates are potential hydrocarbon source rocks.

Three deep exploratory wells drilled for petroleum logged traces of gas on drillstem test, and a stratigraphic test reported traces of oil. Five stratigraphic tests and more than 20 mineral wells have been drilled from land locations, and 303 km of marine seismic data was recorded.

Arrowie Basin The Arrowie Basin is a remnant of a much larger

depositional area that probably had an early sedimentary link with the Stansbury Basin to the south and Warburton Basin to the north. More than 5 km of early to mid-Late Cambrian carbonates and clastics accumulated in central Arrowie Basin on the eastern seaboard of the Gawler Craton. The total area with hydrocarbon potential today is approximately 43,000 sq km.

The prospective Cambrian section, known primarily from outcrop, consists of three sequence sets dominated by carbonates. A basal clastic wedge unconformably overlies Precambrian quartzitic clastics, and gives way upward to a shelf ramp complex. The succeedins seauence records a - . progressive evolution from high-energy bioclastics to a fully developed reef-rimmed platform margin with distinct shelf- slope break passing northward to a deep marine basin. Alternate phases of reef growth and exposure with karsting and development of sabkhas provided potential reservoirs and seals. Thee uppermost sequence is represented by deltaic, shallow subtidal arkosic redbeds, and minor carbonates.

Eight petroleum exploration wells, three stratigraphic tests, and two deep mineral wells have been drilled in the basin. One of the test programs consisted of 20 wells, 13 of which reached the early Cambrian carbonates. Paraffinic oil shows were reported from several of these. Source rocks may be micritic limestones and shales. Much of the 2500 km of seismic data recorded is regional. Only 1155 km is of post-1983 vintage. Prospective traps are interpreted to be anticlines and local thrust complexes.

Exploration is allowed in the Lake Torrens, Flinders Ranges, and Lake Frome National Parks, but in only a portion of the Gammon Ranges Park. Two licenses are current, PEL 41 and PEL 47, both granted in 1990.

Warburton Basin The Warburton Basin was a large sedimentary depocenter north and northeast of the Gawler Craton during the Cambrian and Ordovician. The basin is covered by Late Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Tertiary sediments. The thickest and best-known section is beneath the southern Cooper Basin. The western portion, east of the Officer Basin and south of the Amadeus Basin, remains the least-known Early Paleozoic region in Australia.

The earliest Cambrian sediments are bioturbated glau- conitic sandstones, siltstones, and shales, overlain by tuffs,

ignimbrites, agglomerates, and porphyritic trachyte. Gas was reported from the basal sand in the Moolalla-1 well, and oil in the volcaniclastics at Sturt-6. A dolomitized ooid- bioclastic grainstone that unconformably overlies the volcaniclastics is a potentially significant reservoir. Middle Cambrian is represented by a transgressive shale and siltstone with minor limestone, chert, basalt, and agglomer- ate. This unit might be a source rock if not over-cooked. Both source and reservoir rocks may be found in the Late Cambrian shallow shelf carbonates, clastic slump breccias, and deep-water shales. The unit shoals upward to shallow- water ooid grainstones, bioclastic packstones, and fine- grained ripple-laminated sands and silts. The shallowing continued during the Ordovician as a subtidal deltaic complex nearshore, with black graptolitic shales deposited in the deep-water troughs.

The Warburton Basin, essentially a buried fold belt with complex folding and faulting, was deformed during the Late Devonian-Carboniferous and is overlain by sediments of the Cooper and Eromanga basins. A Cambrian source is not certain, but a downdip Permian source is proven.

Exploration is permitted in both the Strzelecki and Innamincka Regional Reserves. The eastern Warburton Basin is within PEL 5 & 6. PELS 42,43,46,50,54,55, and 56 overlie the western region. For additional information on licensing and data availability contact: Mr. Bob Laws, Director, Oil, Gas, and Coal Division, Department of Mines and Energy, P.O. Box 151, Eastwood, SA 5063, Australia. Telephone: 61 8 274 7680, Fax: 61 8 373 3269.

Reference: Condensed from Petroleum Exploration and Development in South Australia, Department of Mines and Energy, September 1992.

15 Bullet~n Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety. February 1993

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

OUTLINE OF GENERAL AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY IN

AZERBAIJAN AND THE SOUTH CASPIAN BASIN

by Prof. Leonid A. Buryakovsky, Independent Petroleum Geologist Houston, Texas

Abstract The main geological features of the Azerbaijan Republic

are discussed, including mud volcanoes, oil and gas zonation, onshore and offshore oil and gas field location and structure, and oil and gas prospects in Azerbaijan and the South Caspian Basin.

Introduction From more than 100 years of oil, and gas exploration

and production in Azerbaijan (Fig. 1) a great amount of geological information has been gathered on structure and properties of oil and natural gas reservoirs. It is very important and realistic to use this information to estimate the potential oil and gas reserves as well as to select field development techniques. Scientific principles improve the reliability of the initial data on the structure and properties of deposits, as well as the study of productive zones as input for geological surveys. It is clear that accumulated information on properties of productive strata and fluid reserves in place may be used to compare geological structures, variations in rock properties, and pressure-temprature conditions.

Reliable estimation of field reserves is based mainly on correct identification of geological structures using mapping and mathematical modeling of geological bodies with hydrocarbon reservoirs. At present in Azerbaijan there are three main directions of theoretical and applied studies on the problem of exploration, estimation and development of hydrocarbon resources. The first one is the most traditional and refers to estimation of oil and gas .reserves on land in Azerbaijan connected with the so-called Productive Unit (Middle Pliocene). The second one is a relatively new and deals with estimation of reserves in new types of complex reservoir rocks such as igneous and igneous-sedimentary rocks. The third is estimation of hydrocarbons in deep- seated reservoirs connected with offshore oil, gas and gas- .

condensate fields.

Main geological features of Azerbaijan and South Caspian Basin

The territory of Azerbaijan is part of the Alpine Folded Belt and consists of folded systems, embracing the eastern parts of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, the Kura Intermontane Depression separating them, and also Middle

Bulletin Houston Geological Society, February 1993 16

Fig. 1. Azerbaijan area

-

and South Caspian basins (Fig. 2). The thickness of the earth's crust in this region ranges from 38 km in the Talysh foothills to 55 km in the Greater Caucasus. In the sub- montane belt of the Lesser Caucasus, crustal thickness reaches 40 to 45 km, and in the Kura Intermontane Depression, 50 km.

I Fig. 2 - Tectonic zonation of Azerbaijan: A - Greater Caucasus Meganticlinorium; B - Kura Inter- montane Depression; C - Lesser Caucasus Meganticli- norium; D - South Caspian Depression; I - Kobystan- Apsheron Trough; I1 - Lower Kura Trough; 111 - Geokchai- Saatly zone of buried uplifts; IV - Yevlakh-Agdzhabedy Trough; V - Iori-Adzhinour Trough.

The pecularities of the folded system of the Greater Caucasus include the presence of a flysch-filled trough at the southern slope of the greater Caucasus with intensive distribution of covering structures where a shaly copper- pyrite formation of Early Jurassic age is located. In the Kura intermontane area, Mesozoic-Early Paleogene and Late- Paleogene-Anthropogene structural stages are clearly distinguished. The first stage of Mesozoic volcanogenic- sedimentary rocks is a single unit with the folded system of the Lesser Caucasus in the south and the Vandam zone in the north. Within the depression a thick complex of Late Paleogene-Anthropogene is widely distributed, lying unconformably on the lower structural stage. The Lesser Caucasus, being a zone of volcanism during Mesozoic, Paleogene, Miocene-Pliocene and Anthropogene, is characterized by the presence in the central part of an extensive ophiolitic belt -the eastern part of North Anatoli Belt.

Jurass~c and Cretaceous depos~ts are widespread within all the structural zones of Azerbaijan. The Lower Jurassic deposits (over 2000 m thick) are widely distributed in the Greater Caucasus andbre represented by slates and less often by sandstones with intrusive sheets of diabases and gabbro-diabases. In the Analogous terrigenous facies, the Lower Jurassic occurs in'a few deposits of the Lesser Caucasus and the Nakhichevan. Apparently, within the Kura Depression the Lower Jurassic is represented by analogous terrigenous thin facies.

The lowermost strata of the Middle Jurassic de~osits of the Greater Caucasus are represented by argillaceous slates with rare partings of sandstone, and the uppermost strata are dominated by 2500 to 4000 m of thick strata and

packets of quartz sandstones with rare partings of shales. In the Lesser Caucasus 120 m of terrigenous rocks underlie the main part of the Middle Jurassic section (2000-3000 m) which is represented by lava sheets and volcanites of diabasic content. Quartz plagio-porphyrites with their volcaniclastic and sedimentary-volcanogenic formations occur in the uppermost strata. In the Kura Depression these deposits are seen in the analogous facies.

The Upper Jurassic deposits of the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus include calcarenites and reef limestones 1300 m)i the southern slope consists of flysch-like variegated, silcified and carbonaceous shales (500 m). In the Lesser Caucasus and the Kura Depression these deposits are represented by reef limestones and volcaniclastic formations (500-1500 m).

The Lower Cretaceous de~osi ts of the Greater Cauca- sus are represented by carbonaceous-terrigenous flysch (500-2000 m), and in the Lesser Caucasus and possibly the Kura Depression they are represented by tuffaceous/terrigenous and carbonaceous formations. The Upper Cre- taceous deposits of the Greater Caucasus (2000 m) contain terrigenous/carbonaceous flysch.

The Paleogene, Neogene and Anthropogene deposits are widespread within the Kura and Araks depressions, the Kusary sloping plain, the Kobystan area, Apsheron Peninsula, Talysh and a number of residual and super- imposed depressions of the Lesser and the Greater Caucasus. These deposits, when of considerable thickness, are the main "reservoir" of oil and gas accumulations in Azerbaijan. The Paleogene deposits in the depressions are consistently represented by green-gray slates with partings of sandstones and marls. The thickness of these deposits is 300-400 m in the Pre-Caspian region, 1700 m in the Apsheron Peninsula, and 2800 m in the Shemakha-Kobystan region. Within the Kura Depression, greater thickness are characteristic for the Paleogene (over 3000 m).

In Neogene deposits everywhere adjacent to the Greater Caucasus regions, the lowermost strata are characterized by sandy shale, and the uppermost strata by 1

shallower deposits with thick sandstones and coquina. The thickness of the deposits ranges from 1700 rn (Pre-Caspian region) to 4500 m (The Apsheron Peninsula) to 5500 m (Kobystan). The Anthropogene deposits are represented by marine, continental and volcanogenic faces. The most considerable thickness of the deposits is observed within the Lower Kura Subdepression (over 1500 m), where t+e lowermost strata are shallow marine and the uppermost strata are alluvial and deltaic.

The above-mentioned Phanerozoic deposits are submerged within Middle and South Caspian depressions located to the east and the southeast of the Azerbaijan land area. Within the South Caspian Depression these deposits are submerged to great depths and the thickness of the Paleogene-Anthropogene deposits increases. According to geophysical data in the.South Caspian Basin adjacent to the Lower Kura subdgpression the thickness of the Paleogene- Anthropogene deposits reaches 20 km. L

The modern structure of Azerbaijan and the South Caspian Basin originated during the last stage of Alpine folding in the region. The main role is played by the structures that originated in the neotectonic stage. Now it is a region of active folding, diapirism, fracture formation, active seismicity, mud volcanism, active geysers and thermal springs.

I 17 Bullet~n Houston Geological Society. February 1993

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Bul le t~n Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety. February 1993 18

The presence of 2500-3500 m of terrigenous strata in the Middle Pliocene (the Productive Unit) with oil and gas fields, and also the wide distribution of mud volcanism in the southeastern Caucasus and in the offshore area of the South Caspian Basin are the pecularities of Azerbaijan geology.

Mud volcanoes

Mud volcanism as well as magma volcanism are varieties of tectonic activity. As distinct from magma volcanism, mud volcanism originates in the sedimentary cover of the Earth's crust. The tectonic nature of mud volcanism is manifested by association with the prolonged and steady development of subsiding zones which are mainly filled with thick series of sandy-clayey rocks enriched with liquid and gaseous fluids. Volcanism in general and mud volcanism, in particular, are closely associated with plicative, disjunctive and injective dislocations. Areas of volcanic activity are sufficiently powerful to transfer huge masses of not only fluids but of clastic breccias too. Thus, the mud volcanism is an indicator and powerful factor of transfer, dispersion, concentration of rocks, liquid and gaseous fluids, including oil and natural gas.

Azerbaijan, with the adjacent offshore area of the Caspian Sea, is a classic region of mud volcano activity with different morphological types and solid, liquid and gaseous products erupted at the surface. Mud volcanoes with roots reaching over 10-15 km (Mesozoic) in the Apsheron peninsula, in Kobystan, Pre-Kura lowland, offshore areas of Apsheron and Baku archipelagos and Apsheron Shelf typify the zones of regional oil and gas content.

The total area of mud volcano distribution in eastern Azerbaijan is 16,000 km2. There are more than 200 mud volcanoes (Fig. 3). It is supposed that there are 150 underwater mud volcanoes in the Southern Caspian Sea. There are nine mud yolcanic islands. Mud volcanoes are confined to the most deformed surfaces of the late geosynclinal deposits (i.e. to molasse troughs), to the periphery of folded systems, to foredeeps, and to periclinal troughs of active geosynclinal folded regions where the thickness of sedimentary fi l l is more than 10 km. The following factors may promote the formation of mud volcanoes: anticlinal structure, dislocations with a break in continuity, plastic clays, buried formation water, accumulation of hydrocarbon gases and the presence of abnormally high formation pressure.

The gases may contain saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons; 99% of their content is CH4, with small amounts of heavy hydrocarbons, C 0 2 , N2 and other inert components (helium, argon). The chemical composition of gases differ from one area to another. Isotopic investigations show that these gases originate mainly in sedimentary strata. Mud volcano waters are compositionally similar to the formation waters of the oil and gas fields.

The fragmental products of mud volcano eruptions are dominated by rocks of Oligocene-Miocene and Pliocene age. In the mud volcanic breccias 90 minerals and more than 30 trace elements have been determined: boron, mercury,

Fig. 3 - Mud volcano localities in Eastern Azerbaijan:

a - anticlines; b - mud volcanoes; c - areas of mud cones; d -borders between regions; the main structural zones: I - Pre-Caspian; I1 - Shemakha-Kobystan; 111 - Lower Kura; IV - Apsheron; V - Baku Archipelago.

manganese, barium, strontium, rubidium, copper, etc. Volcanic mud is valued as a health remedy.

One of the largest active mud volcanoes in the world is Lokbatan situated within the Lokbatan Oil Field (Fig. 4). The mud volcano is a dome-shaped uplift (80 m) with two hummocks on the top separated by crater. The thickness of the mud volcanic breccia sheet is 150 m according to the drilling data. Its total area is 425 hectares. The mud volcano is on the anticlinal axis. Here, Pleistocene terraces, limestones of the Apsheronian stage (Late Pliocene) and the Middle Pliocene sandstones and shales are present.

This volcano is the world record-holder for the number of eruptions. Since 1828 there have been 18 eruptions, the last in 1980. The most intensive eruptions of the volcano were in 1887,1935,1954,1972 and 1977. During the eruption in October 1977 the volcano expelled 30 mln m3 of mud volcanic breccia. Solids extruded include oil-saturated terrigenous and carbonaceous rocks of Paleogene-Miocene and Late Cretaceous. The volcano activity does not influence greatly the formation pressure and oil yield. For 50 years, more than 27 mln tons of oil and 2 bln m3 of natural gas have been yielded by the Lokbatan Field. So, the roots of the mud volcano are very deep.

19 Bul le t~n Houston Geolog~cnl Soclety, February 1993

Fig. 4 - Geologic cross-section of the Lokbatan Field: 1 - oil; 2 - gas; 3 - mud volcanic breccia; 4 - fractures

Oil and Gas Zonation of Azerbaijan and South Caspian Basin

Azerbaijan a s a whole and the Apsheron Peninsula in particular is one of t he oldest oil and gas bearing provinces in the world for More than 140 years oil and gas extraction has occurred in Azerbaijan on a commercial scale.

Several categories of favorability for oil and gas a re recognized in Azerbaijan including offshore areas of the Caspian Sea . The various oil-gas regions and assessment of their favorability a re shown in Fig. 5 .

Onshore Oil and Gas Fields of Azerbaijan Three main oil and gas bearing regions a re distinguished

within Azerbaijan: the Apsheron-Kobystan, the Pre- Caspian-Kuba and the Kura with corresponding trends (Fig. 6).

The Apsheron-Kobystan Region Oil- and gas-bearing zones here a re mainly Middle

Pliocene ( the so-called Productive Unit) and Upper Pliocene Apsheronian stage and Miocene (Diatomic suite, Chokrak horizon) deposits. The main oil- and gas-bearing and productive body here is the Productive Unit which is separated into two divisions: upper and lower. The upper division includes the following suites (from top to bottom): Surakhanskaya, Sabunchinskaya, Balakhanskaya, and "Pereryv" ( the first break in deposition). The lower division includes the following suites (from t o p to bottom): Nadkirmakinskaya glinistaya (clayey) - NKG, Nadkir- makinskaya peschanaya (sandy) - NKP, Kirmakinskaya -

KS, Podkirmakinskaya - PK, and Kalinskaya - KaS. The oil and gas fields of the Apsheron Peninsula and Apsheron Archipelago contain up t o 40 oil-stacked bearing horizons). The highest oil reserves a re in the fields of the central part of the penninsula: Balakhany-Sabunchi-Ramany, ~ u r a k h a n ~ , Karachukhur, Zykh and Peschany-more (see Table 1).

Toward the eas t and southeast (oil fields Buzovny- Mashtagi, Kala, Zyrya oil fields) and toward the northwest and west (i.e. Binagady, Chakhnaglyar, Sulutepe oil fields) of the central part of the peninsula oil saturation increases in the lower division of the Productive Unit and decreases in the upper division. Oil pools in Diatomic suite a re observed in the west and southwest of the peninsula (Binagady, Lokbatan, Kergyoz, etc.).

In the Productive Unit of the Apsheron Peninsula are anticlinal, sheet , and tectonically, stratigraphically and

Fig. 5 - Oil and gas zonation of Azerbaijan: Regions: 1 - with significant proved intial potential resources; 2 - highly favorable (offshore); categories of favorability: 3 -first, 4 - second, 5 - third; 6 - areas favorable for oil and gas; 7 - areas possibly favorable; 8 - areas with unclarified prospects; 9 - areas with no prospects; oil and gas areas: I - Apsheron, I1 - Baku Archipelago, 111 - Lower Kura, IV - Shemakha-Kobystan, V - Yevlakh-Agdzhabedy, IV - Gyandzha, VII -Kura-Iora interfluve, VIII - Pre-Caspian - Kuba, IX - deep-water parts of South Caspian; possibly favorable areas: X -Adzhinour, XI - Dzhalilabad; a reas with unclarified potential: XI1 - Dzharly-Saatly, XI11 - Mil'-Mugan, XIV - Alazan'-Agrichai, XV - Araks, XVI - Nakhichevan

lithologically screened oil pools. Oil pools of the Apsheron Peninsula a re mostly anticlinal with oil-water contacts . Reservoir rocks a re terrigenous and consist of sands, sandstones, siltstones separated from o n e another by shale interbeds. The reservoir rocks are highly porous and highly permeable.

The Baku Trough is a synclinal structure t o the southeast between the folds of Karachukhur-zykh in the east and Bibieibat in the west. Both anticlinal folds contain oil and gas fields. The geologic formations within the trough are mainly argillite-arenaceous rocks alternating with limestone beds. The later compose the upper part o f the section, forming a bench around the trough composed of Late Pliocene and post-Pliocene deposits.

Bibieibat field is confined t o a brach post-Pliocene anticlinal uplift of NNW-SSE strike. It must be noted that the first oil well in the world was drilled in the Bibieibat area in

Bul le t~n Houston Geolog~cal Soclety, February 1993 20

Fig. 6. Oil and gas zonation, fields and prospective areas of Azerbaijan:

1 - Boundaries of oil and gas regions; 2 - boundaries of oil- and gas-bearing zones; 3 - oil deposits; 4 - gas and gas-condensate deposits; oil- and gas- bearing zones; 5 - high oil and gas content; 6 - oil- and gas-bearing; 7 prospective; 8 - low prospective; oil- and gas-bearing regions and zones (zones are shown in circlets): I -Apsheron-Kobystan region (zones: 1 - Apsheron, 2 - Shemakha-Kobystan); I1 - Pre-Caspian - Kuba region; 111 -Kura region (zones: 3 - Lower Kura, 4 - Kyurdamir, 5 - Gyandzha, 6 - Adzhinour, 7 - Kura-lori Interfluve, 8 Alazanl-Argichai, 9 - Dzhalilabad, 10 - Baku Archipelago); IV - Araks zone; deposits: 1 - Balakhany-sabunchi- Ramany, 2 - Surakhany, 3 - Karachukhur-Zykh, 4 - Peschany-more, 5 - Gousany, 6 - Kala, 7 -Buzovny- Mashtagi, 8 - Banka Darvina, 9 - Artyom Island, 10 - Gyurgyany-more, 11 - Zhiloy Island, 12 - Azi Aslanov, 13 - Gryazevaya Sopka-Neftyaniye Kamni, 14 - Banka Yuzhnaya, 15 - Bakhar, 16 - Chakhnaglyar -Binagady, 17 - Sulutepe, 18 - Yasamaly Valley, 19 - Bibieibat, 20 - Puta-Lokbatan, 21 - Kyorgyoz-Kizyltepe, 22 -Karadag, 23 - Shongar, 24 - Umbaki, 25- Duvanny, 26- Dashgil, 27 - Chondagar-Zorat, 28 - Siazan-Nardaran, 29- Saadan, 30

Amirchanly, 3 1 - Eastern Zagly, 32 - Zagly-Tengialty, 33 - Kyurovdag, 34 - Karabagly, 35 -Khillin, 36 - Neftechala, 37 - Kyursangya, 38 - Mishovdag, 39 - Kalmas, 40 - Pirsagat, 41 - Maly Kharami, 42 -Kalamadyn, 43 - Muradkhanly, 44 - Kazanbulag, 45 - Adzhidere, 46 - Naftalan, 47 - Mirbashir, 48 - Sangachaly-more, 49 - Duvanny-more, 50 - Bulla Island, 51 - Bulla-more, 52 Garasu.

B u l l e t ~ n Housion Geo log~ca l Socwty. February 1993

Table I

Balakhany - Peschany- Sabunchi Surakhany Karachukhur Zy kh more

Suite Ramany

conv. %

conv. conv. %

conv. %

conv. unit unit unit unit % unit %

Suraknan Sabunchin Balakhan "Pereryv" NKG NKP KS PK KaS

Total

1848. The oil field has been developed since the early 1870's. The whole section of the Productive Unit is oil-bearing.

The Pliocene-Anthropogene deposits are involved in the geological structure of this area. The deposits form an asymmetric fold with steeply dippingwestern (up to 50°)and gently dipping eastern (15.27") limbs. The fold is broken by numerous cross faults. The fold arch is complicated by a buried mud volcano.

O n the uplifts adjacent to the Baku Trough from the north, northwest and west, exist the deposits of the Late Pliocene Apsheronian Stage and Pleistocene. They define a wide ridge in a north-south direction and infill the syncline separating the Bibieibat and Shaubany uplifts. These geologic formations outcrop along the eastern slope of the Yasamaly Valley and submerge in the direction to the Caspian Sea.

The Yasamaly Valley is a monoclinal valley where the beds on the right and left margins dip in the same direction. It is composed of Late and Middle Pliocene deposits. which form the eastern limb of diapiric fold, Atashkyashabandag, west of the valley.

The road from Volchyi Vorota (Wolf Gate) to the Eibat railway station crosses the deposits of Late Pliocene Apsheronian stage. The overlying Akchagylian deposits are hidden under recent sediments of the valley. O n e can observe clear outcrops of the upper division o f the Pro- ductive Unit consisting of alternating clays, sands and sandstones. The Yasamaly Valley Productive Unit deposits in the eastern limb contain oil fields discovered in 1938 which are the fold arch due to its diapiric nature.

The Atashkya Fold is confined to the ridge of the same name. T h e fold is eroded ou t , strikes north-south, Oligocene-Miocene and Lower Pliocene deposits occupy its core and are bordered by the Middle Pliocene deposits. The fold has steep angles of dip in the western limb (45.65"); in the eastern limb they are sometimes vertical, even overturned. The brachyanticline is complicated by two main longitudinal dislocations of overthrust character. Oil is found in the Productive Unit in this area.

The Shabandag Field is also in Yasamaly Valley. The field

was discovered in 1945. It is confined to the ENE limb of the Shabandag Brachyanticline composed of the Middle and Upper Pliocene deposits. The diapiric fold core is asymmetric. Its southwestern limb is steep (50.70"); away from the axis it flattens out (Fig. 7). Oil deposits are in the lower division of the Productive Unit. On the eastern limb of Shabandag fold Diatomic layers are also oil-bearing.

Fig. 7 - Geologic cross-section of the Shabandag Field

The seaside part of Dzheirankechmez Depression of Central Kobystan is located South from Baku Trough. It is filled with sediments of the Productive Unit, Akehagylian, and Apsheronian deposits. A number of anticlinal arcs are revealed within the depression. Faulted anticlines accompanied by wide zones of tectonic breccia, to which centers of mud volcanoes are confined. Mud volcanoes are widely distributed within Dzheirankechmez Depression, where they reach great sizes (Lokbatan, Otmanbozdag, Great Kyanizadag, Tourogai, etc.) .

The Lokbatan Oil and Gas Field is situated 15 km to the southwest of Baku in the area of the Lokbatan mud volcano. In the west the relief of the field area is rugged.

The field was discovered in 1932 when a gusher was struck in the 2nd horizon of the upper division of the

B u l l e t ~ n Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety. February 1993 22

Productive Unit. Well discharge was over 1000 t/day. An oil gusher (up to 20,000 t/day) was struck in the 4a horizon in 1933 in well 45, drilled on a mud volcanic breccia 1500 m to the east of the volcanic vent. The whole section o f the Productive Unit is oil-bearing. There are 16 oil-and gas- saturated formations (Fig. 4).

The field is an asymmetric brachyanticlinal fold of east- west strike. The eastern limb is steep (about 55"); the northern one is gentle (30-40"). The Productive Unit deposits outcrop o n the fold axis. This section is more argillaceous in comparison with Bibieibat and Shubany fields. O n the northern limb in well 616 the argillaceous section of Oligocene-Miocene is missing. The fold is complicated by longitudinal dislocation of 500 m, to which the Lokbatan mud volcano is confined. The southern limb is elevated. The fracture becomes thrust eastward.

Shemakha-Kobystan zone. Here oil and gas are confined to Cretaceous, Paleogene, Miocene and Pliocene deposits. The Umbaki oil field is under development; oil pools are confied to the Maikop Suite and Chokrak Horizon. Nearby, the Duvanny G a s Field has been under exploitation.

Pre-Caspian - Kuba region The region is situated within the northeastern limb of

the southeastern termination of the Greater Caucasus Meganticlinorium. Here the Siazan Monocline is oil-and gas-bearing. I t corresponds to the northeastern overturned limb of the Tengiz-Beshbarmak Anticlinorium, complicated by a large Siazan fracture. The main oil and gas formations are Upper Cretaceous, Paleogene and Lower Miocene deposits (Chandagar-Zorat , Siazan-Nardaran, Saodan, Amirkhanly. Zagly-Zieva).

Kura region This reglon embraces the whole Kura intermontane

area and submerges into the South Caspian Depression in the east . The Kura region includes a number of oil- and gas-bearmg zones (Lower Kura, Kyurdamir, Baku Archi- pelago, e tc . ) .

The Lower Kura zone consists of the Pirsagat- Khamamdag. Kalamadyn-Byandovan and Kyurovdag- Neftechala anticlines, stretching in asoutheasterly direction in the offshore Caspian Sea. These anticlinal uplifts are complicated by fractures and mud volcanoes. Mainly the Productive Unit and partly the Akchagylian and Apsher- onian stages are oil bearing. The pools are multiply bedded and mainly are confined to the upper division of the Productive Unit. The Kyurdamir, Karabagly, Neftechala, Pirsagat, Kyursangya, Kalmas oil fields and others are now developed. Many uplifts morphologically are defined in relief and are complicated by mud volcanoes.

The Baku Archipelago is situated o n the continuation of the Lower Kura and Dzheirankechmez troughs. Six anticlinal trends are distinguished within which the folds are of brachyanticlinal shape. They are complicated by longitudinal and transverse fractures and large mud volcanoes, many of them active. In the northwestern part of the archipelago oil and gas saturation is supposed in Oligocene- Miocene deposits. Oil and gas saturation here in some way is identical to that of the Lower Kura zone. Within the zone

there are Sangachaly-more, Duvanny-more, Bulla-island and Bulla-more oil, gas and gas-condensate fields.

The Kyurdamir zone embraces lower portions of the Kura and Araks rivers and is situated in the axial zone of the Saatly-Kyurdamir Uplift. In this zone a number of local uplifts were discovered by geophysics and drilling. The zone is composed mainly of Pre-Late Jurassic and Early Senonian magmatites, reef limestones of the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, carbonate rocks of Late Senonian, and terrigenous rocks of Paleogene-Anthropogene. Commercial oil and gas a re confined to fractured Late Cretaceous magmatic rocks, and also to Eocene and Chokrak deposits in the Muradkhanly Field.

The oil pools of the Gyandzha zone (Kazanbulag, Adzhidere, Naftalan, Mirbashir fields) have low yields and are confined to the Eocene Foraminifera formation and Oligocene-Miocene Maikop Suite.

Oil-bearing traps in igneous-sedimentary rocks

New types of reservoir rocks have been discovered during last 15 years in central and western Azerbaijan (Fig. 5). The most interesting formations are found at the Muradkhanly Field in the center of the Kura Depression. Where commercial oil reserves are connected with magmatic rocks of Upper Cretaceous, production comes from a mixed complex including terrigenous, carbonate and pyroclastic rocks of Eocene age and t o a lesser extent from Upper Cretaceous rocks. Insignificant commercial oil reserves have been discovered in the Middle Miocene terrigenous-carbonate rocks of Chokrak State (Figs. 8 and

Fig. 8 - Muradkhanly Field. Structural map on the top of effusive reservoir: 1 -fault lines; 2 - contour lines of the top of effusive reservoir; 3 - initial OWC.

Continued on page 43

23 Bulletln Houston Geolog~cal Society. Februdry 1993

HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY FIELD TRIP announcing the "First Annual"

HGS GEO-RAFTING EXPEDITION; THE BIG BEND OF THE RIO GRANDE March 3 1 - April 4, 1993

This spring, the H G S will offer a unique opportunity to experience West Texas geology while rafting the Rio Grande through Big Bend National Park.

The trip will depart Houston Wednesday evening, March 31, taking Amtrak's westbound "Sunset Limited" to Alpine Texas arriving Thursday morning. The morning train ride offers spectacular scenery, geology, and numerous photo opportunities. Big Bend River Tours will provide transportation to Lajitas, where we will spend the night at the E"no OS

resort of Lajitas on the Rio Grande. A backroad tour is planned along the outer edge of the Solitario Uplift t o the abandoned mining town of Buena Suer te and the Fresno Mine where dinner will be served around the campfire, complimented by musical entertainment a s the West Texas sun sets o n the old town.

O n Friday morning, our two day fully outfitted rafting adventure will embark at 8:00 a.m. from Lajitas Crossing. The first half of the 19-mile Santa Elena Canyon trip meanders by mesas, beautiful side canyons and desert of Northern Chihuahua with towering Mesa de Anguila off t o the left. At this point, the river is incised into the Gulfian Cretaceous Boquillas Formation and the underlying Comanchean Buda and Del Rio Formations. Ample time will be available for exploring the local terrain and hiking on Mesa de Anguila. Friday evening we will make camp and a memorable meal will be prepared for us by our guide/chef

/ T v h p under the incredible night sky of the Chihuahuan desert. All camping C/.;pA supplies are provided by the outfitters.

O n Saturday, we will enter the 7-mile-long Santa Elena Canyon. In places the river is confined to30 yards wide between the cavern-filled canyon walls that tower a s much a s 1,500 feet overhead. Here, the river has incised into the lower Cretaceous limestones of the Santa Elena, Sue Peaks, Del Carmen, Telephone Canyon, and Glen Rose Formations that comprise the uplifted Sierra Ponce - Mesa de Anguila fault block. A highlight of the trip is navigating the famous Class IV "Rockslide" rapids, a s well a s Fern Canyon, a spring-fed grotto of sculpted limestone, and Smugglers Cave. Saturday afternoon we will take out near Terlingua Creek, returning t o Alpine. Along the way we will s top at "LaKiva" in Terlingua, where hot showers and dinner will be available, before catching the train back to Houston late Saturday evening. We should arrive back in Houston around noon Sunday, April 4.

COST: $475.00 includes guidebook(s), round trip Amtrak Coach Fare from Houston, 1 night lodging at Lajitas on the Rio Grande

(Dbl. Occ. ) , fully outfitted 2-day rafting expedition and backroad Buena Suerte tour and cookout hosted by Big Bend River Tours, meals (except on train and Saturday evening), and field refreshments.

$375.00 includes above, exclusive of Amtrak fare. Option for those making their own travel arrangements (i.e. Pullman fare, roundtrip from New Orleans, Lafayette or San Antonio, or driving).

FOR MORE INFO AND REGISTRATION FORMS CONTACT: Martin J . Oldani, Apache Corp. (713) 296-6326 or Paul Britt, Texplore, Inc. (713) 341-1800 ext. 33.

Early registration is requested, a s transportation requires advance ticketing. Limited t o 40 participants.

HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY FIELD TRIP HGS GEO-RAFTING EXPEDITION; THE BIG BEND OF THE RIO GRANDE

March 31 - April 4, 1993 REGISTRATION FORM

All inclusive $475 - W/O train fare $375

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Work Phone: Home Phone: F a x : - Enclose check payable t o HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, and return this form to:

Paul Britt, Texplore, Inc., P.O. Box 450, Richmond, Texas 77406

Bullel~n Houston Gralog~c;~ l Society. February 1993 24

GCS-SEPM ANNOUNCES BEST PUBLISHED PAPER AWARDS

1992 GCAGS CONVENTION JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

FIRST PLACE Ervin G . Otvos and Wade E. Howat

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Paper Title

Late Quaternary Coastal Units and Marine Cycles: Correlations between Northern Gulf Sectors

SECOND PLACE J. A. Saunders

Dept. of Geology, Auburn University D. W. Harrelson

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Paper Title

Age and Petrology of the Jackson Dome Igneous-Volcanic Complex, Mississippi: Implicationsfor the Tectonic History

of the Mississippi Salt Dome Basin THIRD PLACE

William F. Tanner Regents Professor

Paper Title Oversize Oxbows: Tentative Dates,

Effects, and Risks

You Are Cordially Invited To

Attend The Grand Opening

Of The

GEOSCIENCE TECHNOLOGY TRAINING CENTER

At North Harris College For Demonstrations Of Our New Training, Lab Facility

W e Wi l l Provide Demonstrations Of Computer-Aided Exploration Wi th Interactive Work Station Systems

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 ,1993 AT 6 :00 P.M.

For Details and Directions Please Call TOM HOBBS AT 443-5796

FUTURE AWG TOPICS Tuesday, Feb. 9,1993

6:00 - 8:00 PM

"THE WALLS CAME TUMBLING DOWN: EARTHQUAKES IN THE HOLY LAND" A VIDEO TAPE SHOW

Produced by Dr. Amos Nur Professor of Geophysics at Stanford

(Length 57 min., we will start promptly at 6:30 p.m.)

The Morningside Thai Restaurant 6710 Morningside Dr. (at Holcombe)

DINNER MEETING Call Anglia Sweet at 556-7067 for RSVP

ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN GEOSCIENTISTS

Bulleun Housion Gc.ologlt i l Sor l r t y FPt l ru .~ ry 1993

February CALENDAR of EVENTS Sunday

SEG School AVO: Seismic Lithology"

Monday

HAPL / HGS D m E R MEETING

John Masters Post Oak Doubletree

22 HGS IrwN'L W L DINNER MEETING

David Skeeb Post Oak Doubletree GSH Noon Luncheon

Turhan Tanner H.E.S.S.

Tuesdav

AWG Dinner Morningside Thai

16

HGS NORTH AMERICAN DlNNE% MEETING Magell Candelaria

Post Oak Doubletree

SPWLA Galleria Luncheon Mamott Galleria

23

SPWLA Downtown Luncheon

Metro Fbcquet Club

SPE Symposium. New Orleans. Feb. 28 - Mar. 3 -+ I

Wednesday Thursday

3

HGA Bridge Briar Club

Dinner Meeting Italian Market

I 4

HGS ENVIR/ENG Luncheon Houston Community College

and

HGS LUNCHEON Harold Darling Houston Club

SPWLA Westside Luncheon

Radisson Suite Hotel

HGA Bridge Briar Club

18

SPWLA Greenspoint Luncheon

Baroid Cafeteria

SIPES Luncheon Petroleum Club

25

Friday

5

Saturday

6

HGA Valentine Casino Party

1-10 Mamiott

GSH "Mardi Gras" Party-Galveston

GEO-EVENTS HGS FEBRUARY EVENTS

MEETINGS FEBRUARY 8,1993 (HAPL Host Dinner Meeting) FEBRUARY 22,1993 (Dinner Meeting) "New World" H G S I N T E R N A T I O N A L E X P L O R A T l O N l S T S John Masters (see page 8) "West Siberian Basin" Post Oak Doubletree Inn, 2001 Post Oak Blvd. David Skeels (see page 10) Social Period 5:30 p. m., Dinner and Meeting 6:30 p.m. Post Oak Doubletree Inn, 2001 Post Oak Blvd. Reservations by name only, telephone 785-6402. Must be made Social Period 5:30p.m., Dinner and Meeting 6:30 p.m. or cancelled by noon Friday, February 5. Reservations by name only, telephone 785-6402. Must be made FEBRUARY 10,1993 (LuncheonIDinner Meeting) or cancelled by noon Friday, February 19. HGS ENVIRONMENTAL/ENGINEERING GEOLOGISTS FEBRUARY 24,1993 (Luncheon Meeting) "Pleistocene Climates, Sea Level and the Seismic Strati- "Production of Low Contrast Reservoirs, Offshore Gulf of graphic Record" Mexico" Peter K. Trabant (see page 11) Harold Darling (see page 9) Luncheon: Houston Community College, Room 221, 1300 Houston c lub, 811 ~ ~ s k Holman, 12:OO noon. Social Period 5:30 p.m., Dinner and Meeting 6:30 p.m. Dinner: Italian Market & Cafe, 2615 Ella Blvd. Reservations by name only, telephone 785-6402. Must be made 6:30p.m. (Buy your own dinner) or cancelled by noon Monday, February 22. FEBRUARY 16, 1993 (Dinner Meeting) H G S N O R T H AMERICAN E X P L O R A T I O N I S T S "Wolfcampian Sequence Stratigraphy of Eastern Central Basin Platform, Texas" Magell Candelaria (see page 12) Post Oak Doubletree Inn, 2001 Post Oak Blvd. Social Period 5:30 p.m., Dinner and Meeting 6:30 p.m. Reservations by name only, telephone 785-6402. Must be made or cancelled by noon Monday, February 15.

OTHER AWG Dinner, An Amos Mur Video Tape, "The Walls Came

Tumbling Down: Earthquakes in the Holyland", Morningside Thai Restaurant, 6710 Morningside Drive, 6:OO-8:00 p.m., (If attending call Anglia Sweet 556-7067) Feb. 9.

HGA Bridge, Briar Club, Timmons & Westheimer, 10:OO a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Feb. 3

SPWLA Westside Luncheon, Radisson Suite Hotel, 10655 Katy Frwy. 11:30 a.m., Feb. 11.

SPWLA Galleria Luncheon, Thomas Barber, "Array Induction Tool: Achieving High Resolution Logs With Minimal Environmental Effects", Marriott Galleria, 1750 West Loop South, 11:30 a.m., Feb. 16.

Geowives Luncheon & Style Show, Two Friends Tea Room, Missouri City, 11:30 a.m., Feb. 17.

SPWLA Greenspoint Luncheon, Baroid Cafeteria, 3000 North Sam Houston Parkway East, 12 Noon, Feb. 18.

SIPES Luncheon, Petroleum Club, 11:30 a.m., Feb. 18. GSH Noon Luncheon, Turhan Tanner, "Fact and Fiction in

Seismic Data Processing", H.E.S.S., 3121 Buffalo Speedway, 11:30 a.m., Feb. 22.

EVENTS SPWLA Downtown Luncheon, Metropolitian Racquet

Club, One Allen Center, 11:30 a.m., Feb. 23. HGA Bridge, Briar Club, Timmons & Westheimer, 10:OO

a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Feb. 24.

AROUND THE COUNTRY SPE Symposium, "Reservoir Stimulation", New Orleans,

Feb. 28 to Mar. 3.

SCHOOLS AND FIELD TRIPS SEG School, "AVO: Seismic Lithology", Feb. 14,

OTHER EVENTS HGA Dance Casino Party & Breakfast Buffet, Briar

Club, Timmons & Westheimer, 8:00 - 12:OO p.m., Feb. 13. GSH Mardi Gras '93, Galveston, 11:OO a.m. . 8:00 p.m.,

Feb. 20.

FUTURE HGS MEETINGS A N D EVENTS (March)

MARCH 8, 1993 (Dinner Meeting) Post Oak Doubletree Inn

MARCH 15, 1993 (Dinner Meeting) INTERNATIONAL EXPLORATIONISTS Post Oak Doubletree Inn

MARCH 16,1993 (Dinner Meeting) NORTH AMERICAN EXPLORATIONISTS Post Oak Doubletree Inn

MARCH 31,1993 (Luncheon Meeting) Houston Club, 811 Rusk

Bulletin Houston Geologtrdl Soctety, Februdry 1993

COMMITTEE NEWS

HGS UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATIONPRESENTS FIVE SCHOLARSHIPS

The HGS Undergraduate Scholarship Foundation awarded five scholarships to students from local universities for the1992-1993 academic year. The students were presented their scholarships by Foundation Chairman Hugh Hardy at theJanuary Dinner meeting. A total of $4500 in scholarships were awarded to the students listed below. These young men andwomen are to be commended for their accomplishments.

LEITHA W. GUNTERLamar University

JOHN ADAMICKUndergraduate Scholarsbip Foundation Trustee

Leitha is a senior at Lamarand plans to pursue a career inenvironmental geology upon com-pletion of her Bachelor of Sciencedegree. She is currently a researchassistant in the department'sgeology computer lab and is also ateaching assistant. Leitha is co-vice president of the Lamar Uni-versity Geological Society and is amember of the Lamar StudentAdvisory Committee.

RICHARD SHAWN STRAHANTexas A&M University

Shawn is a senior at A&Mand plans to begin graduatestudies next fall. He was the recip-ient of the Gathright AcademicExcellence Award at A&M in1990-1991 and is active in a num-ber of volunteer programs at theuniversity. Shawn has had in-dustry experience with Mobil,Alatex Energy, and Digicon Geo-physical and is considering acareer in petroleum geology aftercompletion of a graduate degree.

LET'S CELEBRA TEl

SPRING KICKOFFFriday, April 2, 1993

HGS TENNIS TOURNAMENTWESTSIDE TENNIS CLUB

1200 Wilcrest (North of Westheimer)

12NOON-5PMDIVISION A & B PRIZES

COST - $30.00 includes tennis, lunch, refreshments & trophies

Entry Deadline March 31, 1993

Send check, along with name, phone no. and rank (A, A- or B)to the PTS Laboratories.Mail to: 4342 W. 12th, Houston, TX 77055, Attention: Mike Walker

With Questions Call: (713) 680-2291

l

Bulletin Houston Geological Society, February 1993 28

PCI PALEO CONTROL, INC.5625NORTliWESTCBfl'RALDR. sure 100 HOUSTON,TEXAS77092

CONTACT BOB DRAKE ( 713) 690 - 4255

AMOCO PROPRIETARY PALEONOW AVAILABLE

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MICHAEL SHERO HOLLANDRice University

Shero is a senior at Rice andwill graduate with his Bachelor ofSciencedegree inMay1993.Inthefall, he willbegin graduate study atRice specializing in environmentalscience. Shero is active in studentgovernment at Rice and is coordi-nator of the university's volunteeractivities with the Houston FoodBank.

ANGELA GAY'Stephen F. Austin State University

Angela is a senior at StephenF. Austin majoring in geology witha minor in Mathematics. Her cur-rent interests lie in computer

, applicationsinthe fieldsofenviron-mental and groundwater geology.Angela is a member of SigmaGamma Epsilon (the NationalHonor Society for EarthSciences), AAPG, and the SFAGeology Club.

n MARK R. ETHEREDGECONSULTlNG GEOLOGIST

U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL

13105 NORTHWEST FRWY., SUITE 760

HOUSTON, TEXAS 77040 OFF (713) 939-8243

SHARON E. BRUYEREUniversity of Texas

Sharon is a senior at UT andis obtaining Bachelor of Sciencedegrees in both geology andzoology. She is currently a re-search assistant working with oneof the department's paleontolo-gists. She is also involved in tryingto improve the geology depart-ment's undergraduate labsthrough the use of computer-based applications. Sharon plansto pursue an advanced degree ingeology after receiving her under-graduate degrees.

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NORCEN EXPLORER, INC.

550 WestLake Park Blvd., Su i te 3 5 0 Houston, Texas 7 7 0 7 9

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Byron F. Dyer

.

CONTINUING EDUCATION SHORT COURSE ENVIRONMENTAL/ENGINEERlNG GEOLOGISTS Title: Cone Penetrometer Demonstration Location: Rice University

Parking Entrance 12 (between Shepherd and Main on Rice Blvd.), northeast corner of parking lot.

Date: Saturday, February 27, 1993 Time: 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Instructor: Steven Schwartz, Fugro-McClelland

Course Description: Fugro-McClelland's Cone Penetrometer Test (CPT)

system is a complete, truck-mounted soils exploration unit which provides efficient investigation of shallow soils. CPTs are widely used in environmental and engineering applications to characterize the near-subsurace. An electric cone, hydraulically pushed into the ground via a truck- mounted rig, measures the resistance and friction of the subsurface materials, yielding a very detailed and accurate stratigraphic log. Ground water samples can also be obtained with the cone. While this course is a follow-up to the Continuing Education course for July 1992 (HGS Bulletin, May 1992), an introductory lecture will be provided before this demonstration.

THE GEOMAPB COMPANIES

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The course is being conducted courtesy of Fugro- McClelland, Houston, and their technical staff.

Registration Cost: $10.00 Please register before February 26th. Unemployed and

underemployed HGS members can attend for free, but please mail a check for $10.00 to the HGS office to hold your place, as registration is limited to 25 participants. Your check will be returned to you the day of the course if you fall into this category. There will be no walk-in registration.

For further information, call Zubair Haq at 495-9828 or Nancy Boschetto at 579-8999.

"Environment Anp Analysis' '

Bullr~tfn Houston Gr.oloq~ral Sor ~ * t y Frbruary 1993 3 0

Achieving Quality is a Journey. .. not a Destination.

Seitel chose early on not to follow in paths others had pursued, but instead chose to go where there was no path and create one.

We are committed to achieving what many believe to be unachievable; and relentlessly pursue data of the highest quality which will

allow you to conduct a successful exploration effort.

I sun Join us on our Journey to Quality.

II SEITEL Seitel, Inc. "The Seismic Data Acquisition Specialists " (713) 558-1990

16010 Barker's Pt. Lane, Suite 550 Houston, TX 77079

AAPG ANNUAL CONVENTION APRIL 25-28, 1992

"Rebuilding our Industry," the 1993 AAPG Annual Convention, will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25-28, hosted by the New Orleans Geological Society along with SEPM. This year's program includes approximately 700 papers in technical and poster sessions, and offers you an excellent opportunity to acquire up-to-date information on our ever-changing industry. The annual meeting of AAPG's Divisions - EMD, DPA and DEG will be held in conjunction with the meeting.

Housing and Advance Registration is now open for the 1993 AAPG Annual Convention. Reservations must be made through AAPG on the official form available from the AAPG Convention Department, P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74101-0979, 918-584-2555.

During the meeting the services of an Employment Interviews and Information Center will be available to provide information on qualified applicants and assist in arranging interviews. Interview booths will be available to potential employers on a reserved-space basis. Interested persons should contact: William W. Craig, Employment Interviews Chairman, University of New Orleans, Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, New Orleans, Louisiana 70148, (504) 286-6325 or fax (504) 286-7396.

The AAPG headquarters hotel will be the New Orleans Hilton, and the SEPM headquarters will be the New Orleans Marriott. Technical sessions, exhibits and our headquarters office will be at the New Orleans Convention Center.

PALEO-DATA, I N C . 6619 Fleur de Lis Drive

New Orleans, Louisiana 701 24 (504) 488-37 1 1

T. Wayne Campbell Francis S. Plaisance, Jr.

Arthur S. Waterman Albert F. Porter, Jr. Michael W. Center Norman S. Vallette

supports the

HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL

SOCIETV

B u l l e t ~ n Hous ton Geological S o c ~ e t y . February 1993

NORTH AMERICAN EXPL ORA TIONIS TS Continued from page 12

In the Wolfcamp section, high-resolution and to a lesser degree, high-fold seismic data, resolves the subtle transition from platform interior to platform margin facies, and assists with mapping of sequence boundaries, systems tracts and prediction of reservoir facies distribution a s well a s stratigraphic trap geometry. The diagnostic seismic signature of Wolfcampian platform interior facies consists of high- amplitude, continuous parallel reflections characteristic of interbedded variegated shale and lime mud-rich, upward- shoaling peritidal facies. The seismic signature of the platform margin facies is characterized by subtle, low amplitude, discontinuous mounded to low-angle oblique reflections. The low-angle oblique reflections are interpreted a s progradational carbonate bank facies a s identified from well cuttings, cores and wire-line logs. Platform margin lithofacies are characterized by upward-shoaling sequences interbedded with minor gray to green marine shale. Platform margin parasequences consist of basal phylloid algal-peloidal wackestone grading upward to mixed skeletal-nonskeletal packstone, which is capped by peloidal-skeletal to oolitic packstone-grainstone. In situ and allochthonous skeletal to oolitic grainstones comprise the reservoir facies in many Wolfcampian fields in the study area.

Third-order lowstand systems tracts are not developed on the platform margin in the study area, though unequivo- cal evidence for lowstand detrital accumulations exist elsewhere marginal to the Central Basin Platform. Trans- gressive systems t rac ts overlie third-order sequence

boundaries and are characteristically very thin, commonly less than 15 m thick. Marine flooding surfaces are not well developed in the study area within the Lower-Middle Wolfcampian interval, but are very well exhibited in the Upper Wolfcampian interval. Highstand systems tract facies comprise the majority of the third-order sequence accumulations on the platform margin. Highstand systems tracts are commonly 30-40 m in thickness, consisting of stacked, upward-shoaling, grainstone-rich progradational parasequences. Third-order sequence boundaries are typically subtle in appearance in core and well cuttings. Thus, use of biostratigraphic zonation and geometric relationships observable in seismic (onlap, toplap and truncation) are generally necessary to identify these important surfaces.

In summary, a fully integrated approach to sequence stratigraphic study of low angle carbonate platform margins is essential to development of the sequence framework from which predictions of reservoir distribution, type and occurrence can be made with greater confidence. This study has demonstrated that high-resolution seismic interpretation in conjunction with lithofacies and biostratigraphic analyses: 1) identifies stratigraphic trap relationships within low angle, prograding carbonate platform margin facies; 2) has defined the criteria for recognition of the seismic expression of depositional facies which have implications for reservoir facies occurrence; 3) explains reservoir porosity and production heterogeneities within existing fields by defining internal reservoir geometry; and 4) facilitates more accurate prediction of reservoir facies distribution and trap style in new field exploratory areas.

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Bulletrn Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety. February 1993 3 2

LLOG EXPLORATIONCOMPANY

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LLOG ExplorationCompany,anaggressive privately ownedindependent oil company, isactively seeking SouthLouisiana onshore and statewatersdrillingprospects.LLOGpursues close in, non-pipeplays with strong subsurfacecontrol. LLOG Exploration isalso seeking producingproperties with developmentdrillingpotential.We drilled15 wells in 1992 and areinterested in drilling 15 to 20wells in 1993.

Contact: Jim Zotkiewiczor Doug Cristina

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14701 ST. MARY'S LANE, SUITE 20077079

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HOUSTON GEOLOGICALAUXILIARY

LUCI<Y 'N LOVE GALA

Be one of the LUCKYones and bring your LOVE tothe Houston Geological Auxiliary's Valentine Day partyFebruary 13, 8:00 p.m., at the Briar Club.

The luck: Casino games (blackjack, roulette, craps)produced by Houston's top gaming firm, Casino PartiesUnlimited.

The love: Dancing with your Valentine to the dreamymusic of one of HGA's favorites, Ed Gerlach's CharliePrause and his musicians.

And wait a minute. . . there's more. . . top off theevening with a succulent breakfast buffet guaranteed byBriar Club chefs to please the most particular palate.

This whing-ding of a party is the brainchild of dynamiteduo Jeanette Coon and Hjordis 'Hawkins, co-chairmen ofthe event. Remember, this is HGA's only fund raiser of theyear, with all profits going to HGS Scholarship Fund.

We shower grateful thanks on these three "angels"(show biz term for backers): Core Laboratories for fundingthe casino game fun, Schlumberger for the band, andSouthwest Airlines for donating two round-trip tickets toLas Vegas for some lucky winner.

So all you geological folk, come dance to the music, tryyour hand at the casino games, enjoy wonderful horsd'oeuvres, and when you've tried your luck and your feetneed a rest from swingin', enjoy the breakfast buffet and visitwith oil patch buddies. Afterwards there will be a GrandAuction.

See you there! I'm bringing my own luck and love -youbring yours! Guests are welcome! Use the handy invitationform included in this i'ssue of the Bulletin. For additionalinformation call Jeanette Coon (467-5315 or HjordisHawkins (462-2925).

GWINN LEWIS,President

APRIL FOOL'S DAY PARTY

Attention, bridge lovers, game players, or anyonelooking for fun and fellowship on April Fool's Day! (Whoisn't?)

Mark April 1st on your calendars right now for ourspecial Auxiliary Games Day. We invite you to bring yourfriends for bridge or any other game and join us for adelicious buffet lunch at the Briar Club. More details tofollow.

Don't "fool around"! Reserve April Fool's Day for thisfun event.

JOY PAYNE, GENEVA QUIGLEYCo-Chairmen

lBulleetin Houston Gecolo9IC;iI So(ieety, FFMu;IrY 1993

HGS PARTICIPATES INBP EXPLORATION NETWORK FAIRWomen's Initiative holds eventfor personal development

The HGS is working hard to improve its communityrecognition, recruit new members, and help HGS membersremain employed. All three efforts were served at the BPExploration Women's Initiative Network Fair, held at BP'soffices on October 21. Open to BPX employees andcompanies officing in the former BP building on San Felipe,the fair featured 22 booths, where the approximately 125visitors to the fair could get information and speak withrepresentatives of professional and civic organizations.HGS Secretary Jeannie Fisher Mallick was joined bymembers Laura Bigley and Teresa Ray at the HGS boothto talk to fair participants about the educational andnetworking benefits of membership in the largest localgeological society in the world. (The HGS currently boasts4769 members, up 120 from this time last year.) Fifteenpotential new members received HGS applications. Ofthese, most found the new Personnel Placement Hotline anattractive benefit of membership.

The Initiative to Advance the Role of Women in BPX,or simply, The Women's Initiative, is a group that wasformed within BPX to maximize the company's humanresources by responding to the needs of its personnel. AWomen's Initiative steering committee exists in every majorBP office worldwide. The Houston group has 17 members."Initially formed to address issues affecting female em-ployees, the scope of the group now includes family issues,such as part-time work with benefits, day care, and parentalleave", says Women's Initiative Chairman, Carolyn Green.The Network Fair was a natural extension of the effort toput employees in touch with professional and civic organi-zations that can assist them in reaching career goals.

Many thanks to BPX for sponsorship of the fair. Thesuccess of the event was due 'to superior planning andlogistics by BPX employees of the Women's Initiative,Karen Chandler, Jackie Rogers, Cindy Yeilding, CarolynGreen, and Mike Neese. Their hard work made theNetwork Fair possible.

(L-R) Laura Bigley,HGS Secretary Jeannie Fisher Mallick andTeresa Ray spoke with visitors to the HGS booth at theBPX Career Network Fair.

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35 B u l l r t ~ n Haustan G ~ o l a g ~ c nl Society Frllrurlry 1993

BUSINESS OF GEOLOGY

TEAMWORK*

by John A. Masters

We began to build exploration teams about 12 years ago. Others are trying to d o it now so Bob? asked m e to describe our procedure to you. He favors my approach because he considers it constructive damage to the status quo. All of you know how teams work technically. Maybe I can tell you something about the sociology. I tell it from the viewpoint of an explorationist-but it will work for us all.

Frankly much of what we d o we don't know how to describe. You people blessed with a large family, how actually does it operate? Can you predict and control the response of every member of the family to every new situation which will arise during the week? You can't-and you don't-because you respect each other. Each member is a precious and unique human being. Well, bear with me and see how this analogy relates to life at Canadian Hunter.

The fundamental Concept (Figure 1) is that most worthwhile problems today are complex mixtures of engineering-geology-mathematics-geophysics with variable additions of finance, gas marketing, drilling costs, etc.

Figure 1

The fundamental Solution (Figure 1) is not to wait for a genius to come along, but to build a genius to solve the problem: in short, a team composed of people with the necessary specialty skills. I call it a form of artificial intelligence.

*Repr~nted w ~ t h perrn~sslon of John A. Masters and AAPG tRobe~t Sne~der IS referred to as Bob.

Bullrt ln Houston G ~ o l o g ! ~ :$I Socwty Frl-ru;,ry 1993

Subclause A (Figure 2) of the Solution is: Convince everyone that they are there to find oil by solving problems.

Subclause B (Figure 2) is: Give everyone on the team freedom to contribute and communicate.

Subclause C (Figure 2) is: Disband the team when the problem is solved.

I want to elaborate on the Subclauses. Subclause A: We come together to find oil. We d o it by

solving problems. If you want to join us in that demanding, challenging, stimulating quest-welcome aboard. But leave the political warfare behind you. Look, we all know each other here. We all work together. We all trust each other. We have all found oil fields together. You won't get anywhere if you don't hunker down and put your shoulder to our problems. If you're a drilling engineer, you're not here to make footage, you're here to drill a hole that can be properly evaluated and optimally completed. Your job isn't done until you've satisfied geologists, electric log analysts, DST specialists, petrographers, frac experts. You're a drilling engineer second. First, you're an oil finder. Do you get the idea? We're all in this together.

Subclause B: freedom to contribute and communicate. Everyone, techs, draftsmen, et al. Here is where y o u r corporate culture starts to be tested. Most of your companies are too authoritarian. People occupy slots and d o what thev're told. D o vou have anv idea of the cumulative brain power that is available in your workers, your troops?

People have a way o f rising to what you expect of them. Select them very carefully, give them good training, tell them they are good, tell them you are counting on them; then get out of the way. Support them, encourage them, let them experiment and fail, and try again. Above all, TRUST them. Tell them you TRUST them. Brag about how you TRUST them. G o amongst them and show how you TRUST them. All of them. Everyone participates, everyone suggests, communicates, contributes. At first, you will be distressed to find that this spills over. Pretty soon everyone has an opinion about the kind of coffee you have in the kitchen, about working hours, about how their desk is positioned for Chrissake. Do not despair. This is the price you pay for giving people freedom to breathe. Some have never experienced it in their working lives and it makes them a little giddy. Don't worry about it. It's just the blood flowing.

Subclause C: Disband the team when it has accom- plished its purpose. Nothing is s o deadening as a group that is pretending usefulness. A poison envelops the members and seeps out into the rest of the organization. I t becomes the seed of discontent. Besides, it's dumb. You need those people working on real problems.

I can't take the time to explain all the science involved. I only want to leave the false impression that I understand all

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3 7 Bulletin Houston Geological Society. February 1993

I

Bulletin Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety. February 1993 3 8

the specialty knowledge areas which the ordinary geologist doesn't know but someone has to know in order to make a stratigraphic trap play in obscure, fine grained rocks. Someone has to know structure and stratigraphy, sedimentation, clay mineralogy, geophysics, electric log analysis, DST interpretation, drilling, fracing, and on and on.

Well, a good many years ago we decided it was kind of hopeless to expect one person to do all of this competently. The big answer did not occur to us instantaneously. We got at it by steps. First, we realized that few geologists could do state-of-the-art electric log analysis (Figure 3). We hired a log analyst to do all the critical measurements for our geologists. So, we had four geologists working with one log analyst. Slowly, we began to realize that we actually had four two-man teams in action. So we had expanded our force from 5 to 8. Next thing we did was add a petrographer, to integrate his observations with the log analysis. Then we had four three-man teams. Evenutally, the four geologists

Figure 3

each had two projects they were working on so we realized that we had eight three-man teams. A staff of 6 people had now divided and expanded itself so that it had become equivalent to 24 people who were working so closely and in such interconnected ways that they were very effectively cross-fertilizing each other with the results of eight separate projects. It looks a little like card tricks, but this is a real effect.

Our two- or three-man partner idea has evolved into a concept that teams of experts should supply all the critical measurements. In exploration our geologists' job should be to study the regional geology, select the depositional or structural model that best fits the data, then insert the measured data into the model and solve for location of the oil or gas. The geologist is the conceptualizer in the first place and then the integrator. It is he who recognizes misties of data, conflicts, and weak spots. He gets the appropriate specialists together and they resolve the problem. The geologist is usually the critical team leader. In the final analysis, his guidance, his lacing. together of the many strands of information is what forms the prospect.

The first team was rather neat and carefully formed (Figure 4). The next one was a little different (Figure 5). The third one (Figure 6) became a bit of a blob with some new arrangements out on the east end. Team D (Figure 7) started to experiment with different arrangements in the S.W. corner. Team E (Figure 8) said we're working on

something so damn important we want to be all by ourselves; we need engineer and geologist co-leaders, and we need entirely different communication arrangements. No one tried to stop them. It was their problem. The point of these slides is to describe diversity. There is no set way to form these new units. The slides also show how we solve problems. No big overall corporate plan. Just nibble away at it. Get everyone involved. Let it be theirs.

Figure 4

Figure 5 c.

Figure 6

Bulletin Houston Geolog~cal Society. February 1993

Figure 7

Figure 8

We believe our high-powered teams deliver a better technical product, solve complex problems which defy individual geologists, generate unusual confidence both in the geologists and management, and create a powerful sense of ownership and motivation among the technical specialists. Furthermore, the team is a support system which allows the inevitably necessary leaps of faith in any exploration project to be performed with even more audacity than the single individual can do.

Of course, if it's an engineering problem you have an engineer in the middle. The team system applies throughout the company.

OK, so it doesn't look like an organization chart. No, and it doesn't work like the U.S. Army-more like a pirate ship. In fact, you can't figure out how it works. I can't either. But I know what is crucial. You have to have really good people and you have t o let them alone. Turn a planner loose in here, or a Vice President, and in one week they would reorganize Team E and Team D because they didn't look right. In my company we think the guys doing the job know best.

Against all logic, contrary to your best judgement, this works. Like a bumble bee which aeronautical engineers say can't fly.

Look at Figure 8 again. Do you notice there is no hierarchy indicated? That is meaningful. Everyone on this

diagram has an important part to play. There is an equality of effort indicated here. Everyone has ownership in these teams. The product has been created by all.

Once you get in the groove, there's something visceral about it. It strums on ancient strings.

I suggest that you are looking at a crude representation of perhaps the most important exploration breakthrough of the next decade. These are integrated technological teams which operate in fluid, flexible, changeable new systems, insulated from the old hierarchical command structures. They provide state-of-the-art scientific and engineering measurements into the center, to the integrator geologist who isn't trained sufficiently to make those specialized measurements. We have Droven oil finders onlv 2 or 3 vears out of school. In normal companies, it takes 10 years.

What Canadian Hunter has discovered how to do (Figure 9) is build artificial intelligence with all these technologies making up different lobes of one single, custom-built brain. It sits on a base of fundamental support systems. The brain holds together until the problem is solved and then it self-destructs. No residue of manasers - and supervisors and private parking stalls is left over. Everything goes back into the void but reappears in new forms, attached to different centers.

This composite brain is necessary to handle many of today's complex problems. It will beat almost any single individual brain you can put up against it. The astonishing thing is the parts are simply normal, smart, competent people who have become state-of-the-art experts in one particular specialty. But you can mold the individual, isolated, single gifts of good people with less than genius into a product of genius. Remember, however, a team'cannot function unless every person on it is competent. Otherwise, some of the input cannot be trusted. A weak link destroys the chain.

Figure 9

I asked our managers to make a list of all the teams operating at present within their jurisdiction. To simplify, I showed the managers of the various districts and a square for each team working under him and the number of people in each team (Figure 10). Nick has about 30 people working on 18 different problems in various configurations. The 30 people are spread among so many teams, contributing their knowledge to so many different problems, they represent the equivalent of 194 specialists at work under Nick's general guidance. Understand, these 18 teams are led very

Bulletin Houston Geological Society. February 1993 40

Figure 10 Figure 11

adequately by interior team leaders. These are the most critical people on the teams, the all-important quarterbacks. Nick doesn't have to lead and integrate the many separate teams. The team leaders have the authority to make most of the decisions, they keep Nick informed, they go to him for advice. Nick acts as a trouble shooter. If there is friction between teams, Nick solves it, not with the heavy hand of authority, but the healing hand of a friend. In total this chart shows 84 people which include 6 exploration managers, 30 geologists. 48 teams and 501 moving parts. That seems to deny some basic physical principle; how do you get 501 worker units out of 84 workers? But it goes a long way toward explaining how Canadian Hunter, about the 20th sized company in terms of numbers of people, carries on the largest exploration progi-am in the entire Canadian industry.

You might sense that being a Canadian Hunter manager is a different kettle of fish than managing in a conventional company. First of all you don't exercise authority in the same way. You don't give orders. You help other people choose the right way. And when it all works, you don't get any glory for it. You make sure the team gets it all. Around Hunter, we say if you need uniforms and titles and gold braid, join the Shriners.

Decision making is pretty streamlined in our company (Figure 11). A favorable recommendation goes to the Manager, then to the Vice President who has $250,000 authority for land and seismic. Larger recommendations and all well proposals go to the President. All homework is thoroughly prepared and decisions rarely require more than one meeting. The President's authority is limited only by total budget and good sense.

What I want to leave you wifh is not a simple "ten ways to become a new exploration company". I want to let down on you a new conception of how to enlist the brain power of your total human resource into the high tech search for scientifically complex stratigraphic traps.

That's about the long and short of i t . When you've been doing it pretty successfully for ten years it seems fairly simple. But I know from the questions I am asked that the ordinary corporate wheel dog, trained to the harness and the voice signal, can't clearly comprehend how a reservoir engineer is going to work harmoniously with a geophysicist. I've heard a number of comments like that here. It's kind of like listening to prisoners talking at a rest period.

Here's a Lee Iacocca story. An executive came to him

with a typical explanation: "He's a real smart guy, Lee. His only problem is he can't work with people." Iacocca said, "Well, that's too bad because all we've got around here are people. Get rid of him."

If it's important enough to you to build harmonious teams to solve your tough problems, I commend to you this simple personnel policy. It may lack subtlety and nuance, but it doesn't cause much confusion.

Everyone wants to know what our organization chart looks like. It looks the same as everyone else's. We're separated into the conventional oil company divisions with lines connecting the boxes. One difference is we don't pay any attention to the lines, and we tell everyone very specifically, "Go straight to whoever has the information, don't waste time in channels." However, we realize that an oil company has many standard operational problems which are well met by functional divisions. We get most of our wells drilled by our drilling department. No fuss about it. But we have a company ethic and management support for throwing in any number of specialists to make a company drilling brain to work on any particular drilling problem that starts to bite us.

You ask, "Who decides the priorities?" A good answer is, "the appropriate people." The less fuss there is about it, the better organization you have. I've never been called on to settle a dispute. Our guys don't dispute. They just make fair and sensible decisions. If they don't they face a growing back pressure of dissatisqaction from the rest of the ... "family".

Organizational experts will be horrified at the potential for conflicts and misunderstanding. My rejoinder is: This operation doesn't work on organization. It works on human and social principles which are much more subtle but also more effective than organizational rules.

Each company's system and procedures should be different. If I could explain and chart every interaction at Hunter, which I can't, it wouldn't do you any good anyway. Your company is different.

The biggest wrench in the works is someone who wants to plan everything. Authority. Rules. "I know better than everyone. You guys just do what you're told."

Now I want to talk to you about how we built a different kind of company at Canadian Hunter.

First of all, we started in 1973, not 100 years ago, with just two of us. Very early, we decided we would hire only the

Bulletfn Houston G e o l o y ~ r , ~ l Sor~ety . Frbru.>ry 1993

best. There wasn't anything particularly noteworthy about that in regard to our professionals but we decided to have the best secretaries and mail clerks and draftsmen too. We wanted a comnanv of nervasive excellence. We decided on . * . this a long time before we ever heard of Tom Peters. Now, you don't give that job to a Human Resources department. You give it to your department managers and you tell them that's their top priority responsibility: hiring the best people. Their second priority is firing their mistakes. If they do those two parts right the rest of their job will be easy. Everyone who comes into this company is initially selected through contacts as a promising candidate: we don't advertise. They take a personality test and are interviewed by 5 to 10 people over a neriod of weeks or even months. Professionals s o - through a two-hour seminar with a dozen of their peers. Many don't make it. One of our old hands said proudly, "It's harder to get into Canadian Hunter than into the F.B.I." Each selectee has a final interview with me. All 395 of our current employees were interviewed by me, all known to me by their first names, and comfortably call me "John."

So, we start with one of the fundamental prerequisites for team building: consistent high-quality people. You can't have fluid, flexible, changing teams without consistent interchangeable, high-quality players. This is where most big companies can't cut it. They have lost the discipline and, in many cases, even the legal right to cull out less-than- excellent people.

Next, the players have to trust each other. They have to be confident of the others' professional abilities and confident of their human values: honesty, trustworthiness, responsibility, persistence. All of these qualities have to be TRUSTED. You don't even want to have to think about the problem. It is too horrible: the work of 10 or 20 people for several months threatened by the weakness or inattention of one person. So we help these people to become friends, because we want these people to depend on each other. We have ski trips and barbecues, dances and birthdays, cele- bration lunches and even Santa Clauses. Canadian Hunter parties are famous. We have over 95 percent attendance at everything we do. Our parties are fun, clean, and inclusive. Everyone has a share. We invite the spouses. No one has to buy a ticket. Tell me a corporate practice that is more ineffective - buy a ticket to your own Christmas party!

I wonder how many companies make friendship an important part of their internal policy? How many managers would growl at it as artsy fartsy?

Team building is a social activity. It is tribal. It is attitude.

Let me review what you need: (Figure 12)

1. Recognition that many complex problems require the integrated brain power of numerous specialists. This is ihe "team."

2. Commitment and support from the top for the team concept. What Ron Hietala calls the "receptive environment."

3. Consistently high-quality people. 4. Trust, from the management and amongst them-

Figure 12

8. Job satisfaction by achievement rather than title. 9. Supportive, enabling management style.

10. Flexible, fluid organization. No planners. 11. Once committed, anyone who doesn't participate is

OUT. (a vital rule). 12. The incontrovertible ethic: WE ALL PULL TO-

GETHER. 13. Finally, the guts to stand behind this and make it

work. This is not a system for pussycats. Do you see that what I am talking about is not just team

units? It is not new corporate organization so much as a new social contract within the corporation.

I don't have a final solution to all your woes. I think I do know a way that you can run your exploration-production business better and become more competitive in the increasingly complex technological search for oil that we're all involved in.

I suggest that you have a relatively simple choice to make in the new game on the invisible frontiers: either you choose not to play or you integrate into a team system so that you can play. The old style line organization cannot compete with the new teams.

selves. 5. Friendship. 6. Freedom to contribute 7. Freedom to communicate.

Bulleten Houston Geoloq~i;~l Sor lrty Febru,lry 1993 42

Azerbaijan, continued from page 23.

Fig. 9 - Muradkhanly Field. West-east cross-section: 1 - igneous (effusive) rock; 2 - clay (shale); 3 - sandy- silty-clayey alternation; 4 - marl; 5 - top of effusive reservoir; 6 - boundaries in Chokrak and Eocene sediments; 7 - O W C in effusive reservoir; 8 - oil reservoir; 9 - zone of tight Eocene sediments; K p - Cretaceous; P2 - Eocene; P3 Oligocene; N, Miocene; N p - Pliocene; Q - Quaternary.

Logs show that the upper surface of the effusive rocks includes a n anticline with a minimum depth of 3000 m. Within the 4200 m contour line, the overall field dimensions a re 15 x 11 km. Strata dip angles vary from 10' t o 20". The structure has two faults and is divided into three blocks. Oil reserves a re concentrated in the crest area ( the first block) and on the western flank of the structure (the second block).

The Upper Cretaceous section includes bedded effusive rocks : pyroxene-andesite; biotite-, hornblende-, and pyroxene-trachyandesite; porphyry and amygdaloidal basalts a s well as products of altered effusive rocks with admixted sedimentarv material. such as tuff-sandstones. tuff-breccia, tuff-gritstone. Igneous, sedimentary and effusive rocks show drilled thicknesses from 3 to 1952 m. A study of wells suggests that correlation of some section intervals is very difficult. Natural reservoirs have been formed in the el-oded area of the upper part of the Upper Cretaceous effusive rocks section where oil t r a m are limited by stratigraphic variance of transgressive overlap- ping Maikop clay deposits in the shallowest part and Eocene terrigenous-carbonate rocks on the western flank. Porosity and permeabile formation is encountered at 450-500 m from the effusive top. The deeper section intervals, i.e., from 1000-2000 m (wells 3 and 6) are dry and showed insignificant influxes of water. The most productive formation is the upper section of the effusive rocks, 25-30 m thick. Here one can observe equal and intensive secondary rock alterations and high oil inflow for the most part of wells. The oil saturated intervals a re distributed from the roof to a depth of 10-50 m and to 100 m and more in some wells. As seen in Fig. 9, the pool bottom surface is at different depths and includes various effusive formations. This means that there is no single flat oil-water contact. The real oil boundaries intersect the contour lines of effusive formation roof (see Fig. 8) and oil saturation is connected with altered effusive rocks with secondary porosity.

The pools are characterized by non-uniform oil distribution , both laterally and vertically. Consequently, well production rates vary within a wide range. Initial oil production rate varies from 1 to 30 tons/day is in 48[h of wells, from 30 to 100 tons/day is in 35% of wells, and more than 100 tons/day is in 17% of wells. The initial water rate in most of the wells (.58%) is a maximum of 10 myday . The initial reservoir pressure and formation temperature are 55 MPa and 125°C: respectively. The initial reservoir pressure is higher by 40 MPa than the bubble-point pressure and higher by 20 MPa than the normal hydrostatic head. Gas content in oil is 30 m3/ton and average oil density is 0.880 g;cm3 under standard conditions. The oil is paraffinic and low-sulfur.

Effusive reservoir rocks have fracture and vuggy porosity. In the process of the study we observed large pores, vugs and fractures in the core samples. Large pores include vugs with diameters of 1 mm to 2 cm. We observed oil in pores, vugs and in the microfractures. Microfractures are filled mainly with calcite and clay, with widths of 0.1 mm and more. During drilling, absorption of drilling fluid (up to 100 m3/day) and high oil inflows (up to 500 tons/day) in several wells suggest that there are large fractures in the effusive reservoir rocks.

Offshore oil and gas fields of Azerbaijan Today's worldwide oil and gas industry features the

increasing role of marine oil and gas production. At present one hundred countries survey their marine areas, and almost forty countries have offshore fields. More than 400 offshore oil and gas fields are in development. In spite of this, development of oil and gas resources of the continental shelf is also one of the most important directions of development of fuel energy balance.

The Caspian Sea is highly prospective for oil and gas, because oil and gas provinces situated in Azerbaijan, Daghestan, Eastern Caucasus , Mangyshlak, Western Turkmenia and Iran border the Caspian Sea (Fig. 1). The total area of the Soviet portion of the Caspian Sea is 322,000 km2, including the shelf zone, to a depth of 200 m it is 240,000 km2. An area without prospects for oil and gas can hardly be found in this vast region.

The South Caspian Basin and the adjacent land area of Eastern Azerbaijan and Western Turkmenia is distinguished by a diverse and rather unusal association of parameters: an

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43 Bul le t~n Houston GeoIog~c.+l S a t ~ ~ t ) February 1993

exceptionally high rate of sediment accumulation of up to 1.3 km/million years; up to 25 km of sedimentary cover topped by Quaternary-Pliocene deposits up to 10 km; sand- silt-clay type of sediments; anomalously high pore pressure in clays (average coefficient of anomaly up to 1.8); low heat flow and formation temperature (at depths on order of 6 km the temperature is about 100-1 10°C); an inverted character of the hydrochemical profile (succession with depth of chlor-calcic and chlor-magnesian waters into hydrocar- bonate-sodium type of formation waters); a n d wide development of mud volcanism. Clays and clay rocks make up from 50 to 95% of the section thickness and play a key role in the formation of the lithologic-mineralogic, geochemical, and thermobaric characteristics of the basin. The deepest well in the offshore areas is situated in the Caspian Sea at Bulla-more gas-condensate and oil field. This well yields 1000 m3 of gas and 200 tone of condensate per day from a depth of 6200 m.

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest salt lake - its length exceeds 1000 km. Water depth in the south basin reaches up to 980 m. It has no outlet, and although the surface level fluctuates, it averages about 25 m below sea level according to the recent measurements.

The region of the Apsheron Archipelago deserves special attention a s the location of large oil and gas fields: Banka Darvina, Artyom Island, Gyurgyany-more, Banka Yuzhnaya, Zhiloy Island, Gryazevaya Sopka, Nefyaniye Kamni, "April 28thn, Azeri and a number of prospecive exploratory areas. The Artyom Island Field has been worked about a century, and the "April 28th" Field is comparatively young.

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Within the Apsheron Archipelago, three anticlinal zones have been recognized, involved in the system of the East Apsheron Anticlinorium and including the following structures (from northwest to southeast): first - Kamni Dva Brata (Two Brothers Rocks), Banka Tsyurupa, and Banka Apsheronskaya; second - Banka Darvina, Artyom Island, Gyurgyany-more, and Banka Yuzhnaya; and third - Kamni Grigorenko, Zhiloy Island, Azi Aslanov, Gryazevaya Sopka, Neftyaniye Kamni, "April 28th" (Fig. 10). All these anticlinal structures have been considerably abraded, and the horizons of the upper division of the Middle Pliocene Productive Unit have been subjected to erosion. The larger longitudinal breaks of the overthrust type, both in amount of displacement and in extent, a re distributed along the axial parts of the structures. Transverse fractures, although of small amplitude, have substantial importance in the oil accumulations.

Quaternary and Neogene (Pliocene and Miocene) deposits have participated in the geologic structure of the Apsheron Archipelago. We shall consider the formation of the Productive Unit of the Middle Pliocene, which consists of alternating sand-silt-clay rocks up to 3000 m thick, and subdivided according to the predominance of sandy or clayey rocks into the Kalinskaya (KaS), Podkirmakinskaya (PK), Kirmakinskaya (KS), Nadkirmakinskaya sandy (NKP), and Nadkirmakinskaya clayey (NKG) suites in the lower division; "Pereryv" ("Break"), Balakhanskaya, Sab- unchinskaya, and Surakhanskaya suites in the upper division. Table 2 shows a comparison of the thicknesses of individual suites on some offshore areas.

The oil c a ~ a c i t v of the structures of the Ansheron Archipelago is associated mainly with the lower division of the Productive Unit, where the Podkirmakinskaya and Kirmakinskaya suites a re the most saturated and widely developed in the area. Their principal feature is: for the Podkirmakinskava suite. a decrease in thickness in the northern deposiis ( ~ a n k a Darvina and Artom Island) as a result of wedging-out of the lower strata, and for the Kirmakinskaya suite, a decrease in oil-saturated thickness toward the south-east a s the clay content'increases. The Kalinskaya suite is oil-saturated everywhere throughout its area of distribution. Its absence in the Banka Darvina and Artyom Island areas is explained by the fact that during the time of deposition of the sediments of the Kalinskaya suite, there were sectors of erosion and removal of terrigenous material here. T o the south, the thickness and saturation of t h e Kal inskaya s u i t e significantly i n c r e a s e . T h e

Bu l l e t~n Houston Geolog~cal Society. February 1993 44

Fig. 10 - Distribution of structures, Apsheron area.

A - oil and gas fields; B - prospecting areas; C - local structures; 1 - Kamni Dva Brata, 2 - Banka Apsheronskaya, 3 - Banka Tsyurupa, 4 - Banka Andrievskogo, 5 - Banka Andrievskogo-east, 6 - Shapirovsky, 7 - 40th anniversary of Azerbaijan, 8 -

Abramovich, 9 - Mardakyany-more, 10 - Banka Darvina, 11 - Artyom Island (Northern Fold). 12 - Artyom Island (Southern Fold), 13 Gyurgyany-more, 14 - Banka Yuzhnaya, 15 - Kamni Grigorenko, 16 - Zhiloy Island, 17 - Azi Aslanov, 18 - Gryazevaya Sopka, 19 - Neftyaniye Kamni, 20 - 28th of April, 21 - Kaverochkin, 22 - Ushakov, 23 - Azeri, 24 - Promezhutochnaya, 25 - Shakhovo-more, 26 - Peschany-more, 27 - Bakhar, 28 - Livanov-west, 29 - Livanov-center, 30 - Livanov-east, 31 - Barinov, 32 - Gubkin (western, central, eastern), 33 - Zhdanov (western, eastern, Prechelekenian), 34 - LAM, 35 - Cheleken, 36 - Korganov, 37 - Yashma-more, 38 - Sovetabad-more, 39 - Nardaran-more, 40 - Kyurdakhany-more.

Table 2

Average Thickness in Meters Suite Artyom Gyurgyan- Banka Zhiloy Neft yan. Z Y ~ Y ~

Peschany- Island more Yuzhnava Island Kamni more

Surakhan Sabunchin Balakhan "Pereryv" NKG NKP KS PK KaS

Bul lp t~n Houston G r o l o g ~ ~ n l S o r ~ r t ~ Fr h r u ~ i r v 1993

Nadkirmakinskaya sandy suite and the basal parts of the Nadkirmakinskaya clayey suite are oil bearing mainly in the structures in the southeastern part of the archipelago.

Deposits of the upper division, are present only at the Neftyaniye Kamni and "April 28th" oil fields, and at the Banka Yuzhnaya gas and gas-condensate field, where conditions contributed to their retention. In the remaining structures of the archipelago, the rocks of the upper division have been significantly eroded and d o not contain commercial accumulations of hydrocarbons.

The main distribution of the oil and gas accumulations in the Productive Unit in horizontal plan is quite clear. They are restricted to the arched portions of the folded structures. and to the southwestern and sometimes the northeastern limbs. These folds, like the accompanying fractures, belong to the upper, post-Mesozoic structural stage. The fractures almost always affect the distribution of the oil and gas in individual strata. The layered, structural, tetonically defined accumulations, bounded by faults but not dismembered into blocks, include the oil accumulations in the Kirma- kinskaya and Podkirmakinskaya suites of the Banka Darvina, Artyom Island (Northern Fold), and Gyurgyany- more oil fields. Similar types of accumulations, but broken into blocks, are restricted to the Kirmakinskaya, Pod- kirmakinskaya, and Kalinskaya suites in the Neftyaniye Kamni and Gryazevaya Sopka oil fields (Fig. 11). Those below the thrusts are the accumulations in the Podkir- makinskaya suite on Artyom Island (Southern Fold) and Zhiloy Island. Layered stratigraphic accumulations in strata wedging upward along the slope have been found in the lower horizons of the Kalinskaya suite of the Grayazevaya Sopka and Zhiloy Island fields, where they rest with stratigraphic unconformity on the underlying deposits. Lithologic deposits in the area of the archipelago may include onlv the oil ~ o o l s in the Kalinskava suite in the Gyurgyany-more to the southern end of Artyom Island Oil Field. The accumulations in the upper division of the Productive Unit deposits of Banka Yuzhnaya, Neftyaniye Kamni and "April 28th" belong to the tectonically trapped group. In the Neftyaniye Kamni field they have been broken into numerous blocks and are restricted to the southeastern limb of the structure. This type includes the accumulations in the Nadkirmakinskaya sandy suite of the Neftyaniye Kamni Field (Fig. 12).

The patterns of spatial distribution of the oil and gas accumulations and the changes in the properties of the oil and formation waters have apparently been genetically controlled by the migration and accumulation processes of both the hydrocarbons and the accompanying waters. A study of such patterns may serve as a basis for explaining the mechanism of formation of the oil and gas accumulations.

The following migration processes are regarded as acceptable to us. First, the lateral migration of hydrocarbons, either in the dissolved state or in the form of a gas-vapor solution along the strata of the lower division of the Productive Unit which has led to differential entrapment of oil and gas, accompanied by a regular increase in oil densities along the regional rise, and to a replacement of the gas and gas-condensate accumulations by oil-gas and oil accumulations; also to the absence of commercial accumu-

Fig. 11 - Diagram of distribution of oil accumulations in the Gryazevaya Sopka and Neftyaniye Kamni Field:

1 - faults; 2-6 - contours of oil accumulations: 2 - X horizon of the Balakhanskaya suite, 3 - "Pereryv" suite, 4 - NKP suite, 5 - KS and PK suites, 6 - KaS suite; 7 - boundary of deposits.

Fig. 12 - Geologic cross-section of the Neftyaniye Kamni Field: 1 - oil; 2 - gas; 3 - dislocations with a break of continuity; 4 - the Diatom and Maikop (Oligocene-Lower Miocene) crumpled rocks; 5 - the Koun (Middle Eocene) crumpled rocks.

lations of oil in the Kamni Grigorenko, Banka Apsherons- kaya, and Mardakyany-more structures. This pattern may be traced along both anticlinal lines of the Apsheron Archipelago.

Second, vertical migration within individual structures, associated with the regular distribution of the oil properties in the vertical section, and also with the concomitant change in the chemical composition of the marginal waters. This pattern is most clearly defined in the Neftyaniye Kamni and Banka Yuzhnaya fields, where there are hydrocarbon accumulations in the upper division of the Productive Unit. The absence of hydrocarbon accumulations in the upper division in the greater part of the archipelago is apparently explained by the definite effect of faults, especially if we allow in this way for the flushing of the reservoir rocks of the

Bulletin Houston G r o l o g ~ c a l S o ~ ~ e t y . February 1993

upper division. The hydraulic factor is of no less importance southeastward, s o that the prospects of the structures in in the distribution of such accumulations. the Apsheron Shelf may b e regarded as extremely good.

Direct indicators of the oil and qas content are the repeated

Oil and gas prospects The prospects for new oil and gas discoveries, and the

development of oil and gas fields in the area of the Apsheron archipelago are associated with the discovery of new accumulations and localities, and an increase in new o i l and gas-bearing formations in the developed fields, and with intensification in the process of developing the older fields.

Promising targets in the search for oil and gas accumulations in the northwestern part of the archipelago must be the lower division of the Productive Unit: in the Banka Apsheronskaya area; the pinch-out zones of the KS, PK, and KaS s u ~ t e s on the northwestern limb, and the southeastern pericline of the structure, and also the suites of the lower division on the northeastern limb. Considerably greater prospects are associated with the Banka Andri- yevskogo Field, where the Productive Unit includes all the suites. In the Banka Tsyurupa and Kamni Dva Brata fields, reservoir rocks of the Kalinskaya suite are absent, but these uplifts may be ~n te res t on the basis of the Kirmakinskaya and Podkirmak~nskaya suites. In addition, in all the uplifts of the northern part of the archipelago, the Mesozoic deposits, occurring at the depths from 1000 to 1800 m, may be promising. The prospects of finding new oil accumulations in the Banka Darvina field are also associated with the reservoir rocks of the lower division of the Productive Unit, developed on the eastern limb of the structure. Here, the discovery of stratigraphic traps in the Podkirmakinskaya and Kalinskaya suites is possible in the lower portion of the limb, where great thicknesses of sediments from both suites were denosited.

The prospects of finding and developing oil and gas accumulations in the southeastern part of the archipelago are considerably better than in the northwestern part. Thus the reservoir rocks in the lower division at the Kamni Grigorenko Uplift may prove to be oil-saturated; the sub- thrust portion of the northeastern limb of the structure is in the main ob jec~we . The southwestern limb has been little studied. O n the Zhiloy Island Field, the prospects for developing oil production are associated with drilling out the vast oil fringe in the Kalinskaya suite on the northeastern limb of the structure. Eight wells have been here drilled, from a separate marine platform. The Azi Aslanov Uplift, located between the Zhiloy Island and the Gryazevaya Sopka fields. 1s very promising where, o n the basis of seismic survey data, two exploratory wells have been drilled, revealing productive formations in the Kalinskaya Suite. The principal prospects of the Gryazevaya Sopka Field are associated with the northwestern pericline of the structure. The prospects of the richest field in the archipelago, the Neftyaniye Kamni Field, a re not yet exhausted, and a re associated with the discoveries at the remote southeastern pericline.

Many structures, promising for oil and gas have been revealed within the limits of the Apsheron Shelf. They include the "April 28thn, Azeri, Kaveronchkin, Prome- zhutochnaya, Banka Livanova, the 40-year of Azerbaijan, and a number of other structures. Comparison of the data on the reservoir rocks and their oil and gas saturation suggests that the oil and gas content increases eastward and

-

eruptions of mud volcanoes. Prospects of oil- and gas-bearing, extra-deep reservoir

rocks may be related to methane generation due to the destruction of dispersed organic matter. According t o this viewpoint, the prognoses of natural gas deposits at great depth should decrease depending on: (1) decrease in genetic dispersed organic matter potential; (2) increase in absorption properties of ground water as to the gaseous hydrocarbons; (3) diminishing of depth interval necessary for free gas phase migration and accumulation; (4) decrease in covers and reservoir rock properties.

At the same time, current investigations show a high content of organic carbon in the Cenozoic-Lower Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, and an increase of the coefficient of organic matter bituminization with depth. The process of oil and gas formation at the depth interval of 4.5 to 8.0 km has not been completed in some basins, particularly, in the basins infilled either with salt-bearing strata or with clayey rocks with abnormal pore pressure and low formation temperature. The most favorable geochemical and litho- logical conditions for obtaining gas and oil yield are associated with young oil-and gas-bearing basins of substantial Cenozoic 1 hicknesses.

In light of the established patterns of distribution of the oil- and gas-saturated reservoirs in the area of the archipelago, the structures of the Aspheron Shelf are highly promising, and here oil, gas-oil, gas, and gas-condensate accumulations may be discovered in both divisions of the Productive Unit.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Alikhanov, E. N., 1977. Neftegazonosnost' Kaspiyskogo

moryil (Oil and gas content of the Caspian Sea), Moscow, Nedra.

Bagir-zade, F. M., L. A. Buryakovsky, and F. R. Babayev, 1974. Geochimiya neftey i gazov Apsheronsko-Pribalkhan- skogo poroga (Geochemistry of oil and gas content within the Apsheronsko-Prebalkhansky thrshold). Moscow, Nedra.

Buryakovsky, L. A., 1974. Distribution patterns of oil and gas deposits within the Apsheron archipelago, Inter- national Geology Review, vol. 16, No. 7, AGI, Washing- ton D .C . , USA, pp. 749-758.

Mekhtiev, Sh . F., and N. V. Pashaly, 1987. Lithology of Middle Pliocene deposits of the Southern Caspian and their correlation, Lithology and Mineral Resources, vol. 22, No. 2, Planum Publishing Corporation, USA, pp. 56-72.

Samedov, F. I. , and L. A. Buryakovsky, 1961. Gas possi- bilities of the productive unit of the southeast part of the Apsheron archipelago, Petroleum Geology, vol. 5, No. 4, McLean, Va, USA, pp. 186.189.

Samedov, F. I . , and L. A. Buryakovsky, 1966. Neftyanaya gidrogeologiya Apsheronskogo arkhipelaga (Oil field hydro- geology within the Apsheron archipelago), Baku, Azerneshr.

Yusufzade, Kh. B., 1979. Razrabotka i razvedka morskikh neftyanykh i gazovykh mestorozhdeniy (Development and exploration of offshore oil and gas fields), Baku, Azerneshr.

47 B u l l e t ~ n Hous ton Geologlr,<l Soclety February 1993

EXPLORATION ACTIVITY REVIEW

By Bill Eisenhardt Consultant, Geol. Representative-Geomap Co.

National Rig Count: December 19-935; Year Ago-797 Gulf of Mexico Rig Count: 110

(Domestic activity is reviewed quarterly and will next appec

INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS Provided by PETROCONSULTANTS, Foreign Scouting Division, Geneva, Switzerland

LATIN AMERICA Bolivia

The Bolivian state company YPFB completed wildcat Katari X-l as a gaslcondensate discovery from the Lower Devonian. After reaching TD at 4941 m (16,211'), tests were run over several zones in the Lower Devonian and reportedly flowed up to 7,200 MCFGPD and 685 BCPD (55" API). Targets were the Cretaceous Yantata Formation and the Lower Devonian Robore sandstones.

Brazil Petrobras' wildcat 1-FSL-1A-ES (Fazenda Santa Lucia

1A) in the Espirito Santo Basin was an oil discovery. One out of four pays encountered was reportedly tested, yielding an initial flow of 1,300 BOPD. Drillsite is about 30 km (18.6 miles) east of Linhares on the Regencia Platform. Plays in the area are either Albanian-Cenomanian (Barra Nova Formation) or Upper Cretaceous-Tertiary (Urucu- tuca turbidites).

Colombia In October, BP announced an oil discovery at its

Cupiagua 1, located on a structure 7 '/2 miles northeast of the Cusiana Field. At the same time, initial reserves for this field were announced as 1.5 billion barrels of recoverable oil and condensate. I t is assumed that the pay in the new find is in the same Paleogene and Upper Cretaceous formations productive at Cusiana Field.

EUROPE Germany

RWE-DEA released results from extended production tests run on the Volkersen Z-1 gas discovery made last September in the Northwest German Basin. The productive Schlochteren Upper Rotliegendes sandstones yielded flows up to 33,936 MCFGPD. Location is in RWE- DEA's Rothenburg 135B farm-out block.

Italy SPI has a gas discovery at wildcat Monte delle Vigne 1

in the Serravalle permit, immediately south of the EN1 Exclusive Zone in the northern Apennines. Tests over two intervals, possibly in the Middle Miocene Marnosa Arenacea Formation, indicated an aggregate flow of 3,000 MCFGPD. Drillsite is 20 km (12.4 miles) southwest of

3r in March.)

Norway (Offshore) Statoil's 15112-9 appraisal on the Beta structure (now

renamed Fenris) flowed up to 9,623 BOPD from the Upper Jurassic. Reserves in Fenris are currently estimated at 100 MMBO and are expected to be upgraded.

Statoil's Huldra appraisal 3012-3 flowed up to 35,300 MCFGPD plus condensate from the Middle Jurassic. United Kingdom (Offshore)

Amoco reports a new oil discovery in Scott Block 15/22 where wildcat 15/22-11 tested 6,500 BOPD (41" API) from the Piper Formation.

AFRICA Congo (Offshore)

Elf made an oil and gas discovery at wildcat N'Soko Marine 1 (NSO M-1) in its Haute Mer concession. The new find tested up to 4,491 BOPD and 934 MCFGPD from an 82' interval between 3163-3188 m (10,378-460') in the Albian. Nigeria (Offshore)

Mobil's wildcat Abang 1, drilled in OML 70southeast of Oso Field in the eastern Niger Delta, reportedly tested up to 5,000 BD of light oil plus gas from at least two intervals below 3200 m (10,499'), presumably near the base of the Miocene Agbada Formation.

NEAR EAST Iraq

The government announced an oil discovery in the Akaz region in the Euphrates Graben, about 25 km (15.5 miles) south of Al Qaim, close to the Syrian border. Seismic profiles showed a 22-mile by 4 113-mile structure at a depth of 5000 m (16,405') with a reservoir thickness of possibly 100 m (328'). If confirmed, this will be the first hydrocarbon discovery made in the Iraq portion of the Euphrates Graben.

Oman In Northern Oman, in the Fahud Salt Sub-basin,

PUO successfully suspended Al Bashair 1, drilled probably for gas, at TD 5136 m (16,851'). Location is 1 % miles north of the Al Huwaisah Field which has oil pays in the Shuaiba (Aptian) and Mafraq (Lower Jurassic) formations, and a gas pay at about 4000 m (13,124') in the Haushi Group (Carboniferous-Lower Permian). The same operator also found oil at wildcat Ibtikar k t , 30 km (18.6 miles) southeast of the Natih Field. Pay is presumably in the Natih Forma- tion (Middle Cretaceous).

Parma and almost a mile NNW of last year's Torrente United Arab Emirates Baganza gas/condensate discovery made by Fiat-Rimi. In Abu Dhabi, Adco's wildcat Ramhan 1, located on the

Bul le t~n Houston Geologbcal S O C I P ~ Y . February 1993 48

coast about 25 km (15 '/2 miles) ENE of Abu Dhabi in the Rub al Khali Basin, tested gas and condensate (up to 6,500 MCFGPD and 1,200 BCPD) from the Lower Cretaceous Thamama sandstones below 3230 m (10,598').

In Sharjah, tests at Amoco's Kahaif 2, also in the Rub a1 Khali Basin, yielded 73,000 MCFGPD and 1,615 BCPD from a 705' net pay interval in the Lower Cretaceous Thamama Formation. The well was drilled as an appraisal to the 1983 Kahaif 1 discovery.

FAR EAST Indonesia

On South Sumatra, Pertamina's wildcat Tangai 1 flowed 1,751 BOPD and 870 MCFGPD on a drill stem test at 1609-1611 m (5279-86') in the Oligocene Talang Akar Formation.

Indonesia (Offshore) In the offshore Mahakam Delta Marine Block (Makassar

Strait), Total suspended wildcat Terumbu 1 as a gas/ condensate discovery after testing 4,500 MCFGPD and 92 BCPD from the Middle Miocene Balikpapan Group at 3348-3355 m (10,985-1 1,008').

Pakistan Union Texas Pakistan announced two discoveries in

the Badin blocks. Wildcat Mahi 1, drilled in Badin I , flowed 17,300 MCFGPD and 151 BCPD from the Lower Goru Formation (Lower Cretaceous). Bari 2, located in the

Badin I1 EL, flowed 2,122 BD of light oil, also from the Lower Goru.

AUSTRALIA South Australia (Offshore)

BHP will launch a A$50 million exploration program in the Otway Basin offshore South Australia with the spudding of wildcat Troas 1 in EPP-24. The well will be drilled to TD 2900 m (9515'), and marks the first of four planned holes. Although hydrocarbon shows were reported in the Crayfish wells drilled in the 1960's, no production has so far been found in the offshore Otway Basin.

Victoria (Offshore) In the Vic/P24 permit (Gippsland Basin), Esso has

abandoned its appraisal well Blackback 2 after testing an aggregate of 12,299 BOPD (50" API) and 16,120 MCFGPD. Drillsite is one mile southwest of the 1989 oil discovery Blackback 1 (819 BOPD).

Australia-Indonesia ZOCA (Offshore) Operations were scheduled to start in December on

the first well to be drilled in the joint Australian and Indonesian Zone of Cooperation Area 'A' (ZOCA) in the Timor Sea. Wildcat Hydra 1 (formerly designated Echo Shoals 1) will be drilled by Marathon Oil on the flank of the Kelp High structure in ZOCA 91-1 1. A second well, Naga 1, will follow in the same block, along with a third, Basilisk 1, planned for ZOCA 91-10.

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MARK R. ETHEREDGE CONSUL~NG G ~ o l o c r n U.S. AND INTEWA~ONAL

Raymond J. Forblsh ~ l u l conaunam

AssocIat~d Wlth: hlmgraW FWd Sludln: T J. Smllh 6 Company. IK. Slrudure. Stralqraphy. 3331 Lamar, Suile 1340 Petrophys~cs. Resewor Houslon. Texas 77010 Product~on Explotation. Proled (713) 651-0651 ldonl~ticatlon 6 Drmmemallon

TGS-CALIBRE GEOPHYSICAL COMPANY INTERPRETATION DIVISION

CONSULTING BIOSTRATIGRAPHY Domestic and International

RASHEL ROSEN BERNARD SHAFFER FORAMINIFERA CALPIONEUIDS NANNOFOSSILS


IWI'EGHATED GEOSCIENCE W. Kurt tlilartdes TECHNOLOGY President

12 1 0 t l a m b l e n Road Sultc 100 B u s : ( 7 1 3 ) 3 5 8 - 5 3 6 5 K l r i g w c m l . T X 77339 H o m e : ( '713) 3 5 4 - 4 0 9 E

HOLMGRW Explnral inn (C ~ r ~ x t ~ r n . lw

81 1 WALKER ST 350 SAN JAUNT0 B L W HOUSTON. 7 M 77002

BARBARA KNOX (113) 225-2175 OPEIWTIONS MANAGER FAX # 22tL3314

1.-, l r r l i o r y Trend; E x p l o r a t i o n , I n c

A N N AYFR5 M A R T I N

TIDEMARK PETROLEUM, INC. OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION

Buylng Plays tor Cash and O.R.R.I.

770 AIRPORT CENTER PETER M. M R E G O R 10103 REUNION PLACE (5121 JW-3131 SANANTONIO. TEXAS 78216

7 D A V I S E X P L O R A T I O N C O N S U L T I N G

J o s e p h R. Davis

P 0 8 0 x 7 7 4 8

D a l l a s . T e x a s 7 5 2 0 9

2 1 4 1 3 5 7 - 3 7 3 0

- T I (IROUI1 INSURANCE PROORAM 880 OROW' INSURANCE PROORAM

,013 RAN JACINTO RLD(I UOUSTON. T X 77001

TELEPHONES OPPICE 7SlWS8

Re(L 7744188

P.O. Box 441372 (713)407-7603 Houalon. TX 77244.1372

HAROLD V. HlLTON C a l l W P m h m Owksbl

CPO I-

Spxblirln' In Smlh Loulllan& EXPLORATDN-SEDIMENTATION-PALE0

(504) 631-8874 (0 ) (504) 838-7843 (H)

JURASIN OIL AND GAS 433 METAlRlE RD. 1 117

METAIRIE. LOUISIANA 70005

JOHN M. JURASIN Home PmsMenl 1349 Lakeshore Dr. Ced. Pet. Geoloqlsl l 4284 Mehlrle. U 70005

WILLIAM A. LAMONT GEOPHYSICAL CONSULTANT

4923 MAPLE ST. B E L L A I R E . TEXAS 77401 RES 713668-0067

Tower Resources Corporation 421 N. Rodeo Dr.. Suite 1577 Beverly Hills. California 90210 TeI(310) 822-3900 Fax (310) 8 2 2 W

TOWER RESOURCES

J. Phil Martin, Jr.

MITCHELL ENERGY & DEVELOPMENT CORP.

EXPLORATION PRODUCTION .GAS PllOCESSING

PADGETT EXPLORATION

CARL M. PADGET CONSULTING GEOPHYSICIST

10250 Busonnet, Su i te 326 Office (713) 981-7026 Houston, TX 77036-7837 Res. (713) 879-0440

STEVE H. HILL CONSULTING PETROLEUM GEOLOGIST

I 1 0 0 MlLAM BUILDING HOME: ( 7 1 3 ) 4 6 7 - 4 1 6 6 SUITE 3 4 6 0 AUTO: I 7 1 3 ) 2 4 8 - 3 6 3 4 HOUSTON, T X 77002 FAX: 1 7 1 3 ) 6 5 4 ~ 9 1 3 6

S t e v e Rose C o n ~ ~ l l l n g Palaonlologlrt

end Geologmt

StratiGraphics Foram~mlera Nannoplanktons Paleorrology

4 1 Fnlllng Star Coun Thp Woor(1anrls TX 77381 Tel 171 3) 363-3465 Fa r 17 13) 363-9966

UmC U M C PETROLEUM CORPORATION U(H l a U I a $ - ~ 8Ull. I400 .-*to4 7a.Q W m

OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION UMC Prtroleum C o r p o r a t i o n is m e k i n g n i g h Quality. n i g h P o t m t i a l O p e n A c r r a g r I d e a s In tho Gulf Coast

.... .

Timothy J. Petta Ph.D E x p b r a t i o n Consu l l ing

AIPG Certification #7397

. R M CONSULTANTS 332 So. Lynchburg Rd. Baytown, Texas 77520

713-424-1777

OWNER ROBERT MACKE

CONSULTINQ PETROLEUM QEOLOQW

E D W A R L ) McFARLAN. JR GEOLOLICAL COY51 1 1 AY7

RESIDENCE 0FFlC.t 10631 GAWALN LANE $131 w ALARAMI w n k >;I

HOUSTON. TEXAS 77024 HOUSTON. E X A 5 -‘UOb

(713) 4640396 1113) 529-4134

J. DAVID REEVES Consult ing Geophysic~st

1 3 0 3 Emerald Green B lvd Houston. Texas 7 7 0 9 4 (71 31 579.3550

LOYD TUTTLE & PALE0 CONTROL, INC.

MICROPALEONTOLOGY PALEOECOLOGY

5 6 2 5 N.W CENTRAL DR SUITE 100

HOUSTON TEXAS '092 OFFICE 7 1 3 690 1255 RESIDENCE 7 1 3 466 '922

Cecil R. Rives PFTROLEUM GEOLOGIST

547 THREE CORNERS HOUSTON. TEXAS ?7Vl4

7131461 -4203 FAX 7131467-1785

B u l l e t ~ n Houston Geo log~ca l Soclety February 1993


Agip Petroleum American Sequoia Exploration Ashland Exploration Co. Core Laboratories Core Service, Inc. Crosbie-Macomber David K. Davies EDC Enron Mark R . Etheredge

ADVERTISERS Four Star Printing Co. Geomap Gillring Oil Company Halliburton Logging Services IFC J. M . Huber Co. lntera lnformation Technologies Keystone Exploration LCT Lexco Data Systems LLOG Exploration Co. McKenzie Companies

Micro-Strat Norcen Explorer, Inc. OGCl Omni Laboratories Paleo Control Paleo Data, Inc. Petroleum lnformation Seitel, Inc. Subsurface Consultants Union Petroleum Co.

BARRY K VAN SANDT P E . A S A . M B A

VAN SANDT & ASSOCIATES, INC. Pelroburn Engtnccrnng Consullonls

and Fmanciof Analysts

9525 Katy Freeway Swte 138 Off: 7131465.3792 Houslon. Texas 77024 Res ,7131467-7256

FLORIDA ALABAMA MISSISSIDPI

Office Telephone (305) 584-2554

PANHA-WDLE INDUSTRIES, INC. EXPLORATION - PERMITTING . WELL SITTING

Geor~e hi. Hidle, P.G. Post Office Box 11983 General Mana~er Ft. Lauderdale. FL 3333S1983

B.E.S.T. SECRETARIAL SERVICES 16350 Park 10 Place. Suite 100-6 Harrmn.Tua, 77MI4

Deanie K. BN~M

PERSONALIZED/CONFlDENnAL SERVICE Wad Proccsllng 24 -Hau Gll in Dcat ton Tnrucrqnion ~Edtting

7131579.2378 579-BEST Fax: 7131578-1644

G EOSTRAT CONS U LTANl S Domcqltc and Infernnltonal

CHARLES A. ROSS 600ilighland Dr., BeUingham WA 9822%410

(206) 734-3040

Analysis of Deplsiti~nal Sequences. Environments of Deposition,

Palm7.oic Fossil Age determinations. and Riostratigraphic studies for

Perroleurn Exploration, Developmmt, and Reservoir studies

Bounaary Disputes. Secumy Risks.

Fred W. Kelly, Jr. Internabanal Pd~tlcal Aflatrs Consultant

14434 Tmsted Oak Lane Phone: (713) 496-7654 Hamon. Texas no79 CwnpuSewe. 70355.1214

W A R D HYDRODYNAMICS INC.

GRANT S. WARD Pet ro leum Hydrodynamic C o n s u l t a n t

1 1 1 W e s t v i e w D r i v e Ka l i spe l l , M o n t a n a 5 9 9 0 1 - 3 3 6 8

( 4 0 6 ) 7 5 6 - 3 7 6 2

Consultmg Petroleum, Natural Gas 8 Geological Englneer

Harry E. Otell, Jr. President

Harry E Otell. Jr 8 Assoc~ates 5347 Oueensloch Houston. Texas 77096 (713) 723-6268

MANUEL ZEGARRA AND ASSOCIATES Geolog Geoph ics

EXPLORATION CON~~UAN~NTERNATIONAL Extensive Resident Experience in Perk hnezuela - South America and U.S.A.

(US Deot. of Labor - Cen: TEC JOU4274762) 3233 W~ndchase'Blvd. #902 (713) 589422 Houston, Texas 77082 Fax: (713) 782-1572

TGS-CALIBRE GEOPHYSICAL COMPANY ONSHORE DIVISION 333 CLAY SUITE 3900 MARV SAGER HOUSTON. TEXAS 77002 PHONE 713 951-0853

BERT HOYT

FAX 713 739-7130 TERRY COLLINS

I AM LOOKING FOR DRILLING PACKAGES FOR INVESTMENT BY ME OR MY INVESTORS.

(ey acreage must already be held, and a well ready to be drilled. 011 prospects only. Six well minimum field size.

f400.000 maxhnum dry hole cost.

Please send prospect packages to: Sue Gordon

P.O. Box 2424 Jadwon Hole. WY 83001 (307) 739-9151

Bullet~n Houston Geological Soc~ety, February 1993

A.D.Warren Foramtnilera and Nanmlossils i

Q c i ~ %Ui&c~c f ' o n d t ~ n ~ (jrol'oycl

WICKER GEOLOGICAL SERVICES, INC 1527 SOUTH HEARTHSIDE

(713) 341-8165 RICHMOND. TEXAS 77469

JAMES W. ROACH rnnoLcuu ~ c m f f i ~ s ~

PnEUmMI JWR EXPLORATION. INC.

1.20 m",.".."". SUITS 21 4 OF. 71 3.704.40~

MOYSVON. RSAS 77042 MOYC 702-0704

-

I Charles E. (Chuck) Konen International Consultant

Petrophysics / Formation Evaluation

1671 9 Mandeville (" 3, 376-4638 Spring. Texas 77379

JAVAN N. MEINWALD, PG Geosclence Consultant

3730 Brandywlne Dr~ve Ph. (504) 8857168 Metalre. LA 70002 FAX (504) 8857168

HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL AUXILIARY presents

A Casino Dance Benefit for the HGS Scholarship Fund

Rlack Tie O~tiona~l . . - .- . . . . . - - . - - - Valet Park- Make checks payable to HGA Games Sponsored by: Return to Janet Peppiatt Core Laboratories

14303 River Forest Schlumberger Houston, Texas 77029 Southwest Airlines

DETACH AND RETURN BY FEB. 5th

Name Spouse

Phone

Attending No. Members Amt. Enclosed No. Guests

Guests' Names

Bulletin Houston Geological Society 71 71 HARWIN, SUITE 31 4

HOUSTON, TEXAS 77036-21 9 0

SECOND CLASS U.S. POSTAGE

PA1 D Houston, Texas

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HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY - HGS