GeoBadgers Storm the Alamo at AAPG San Antonio

Thanks to a generous travel grant by Chevron, five GeoBadgers traveled to San Antonio for the 2008 AAPG National Meeting. Pictured below are Tim Pokrop, Tyler Krukas, Peter Garaffo, and Jen Walker as they attend the Wisconsin Alum Reception (Cassidy Miller, not pictured). In addition to networking with fellow GeoBadgers, students took in an array of technical talks and posters, submitted resumes to the Student Job Quest Forum, and partook of the excellent Mexican Food (can't get that in Madison!). All in all, it was an incredibly successful event. We'd like to sincerely acknowledge Chevron and the Department of Geology for facilitating this trip.

Invited Industry Speaker - MARCH 28th!

Ira Pasternack of EnCana Oil and Gas will be on campus March 28th as AAPG's invited Week's Lecturer. Please make time to attend his lecture at 3:30 in room A140 in Weeks Hall. Contact Jen Walker if you would like to schedule an individual conversation with Ira before his talk. His abstract is as follows:

UPPER CRETACEOUS TIGHT-GAS RESERVOIRS AND SOURCE ROCKS OF THE GREATER GREEN RIVER BASIN, WYOMING AND COLORADO
by Ira Pasternack
EnCana Oil and Gas (USA) Inc. and
Dept. of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines

The USGS recently completed an assessment of Cretaceous tight-gas reservoirs in the Greater Green River Basin (GGRB) of southwestern Wyoming and northwestern Colorado and estimated the mean undiscovered natural gas potential to be about 60 trillion cubic feet of gas. Examples of two Maestrichtian (uppermost Cretaceous) tight-gas reservoirs will be discussed during this presentation, including sandstones within the Lewis Shale and the Lance Formation. Both reservoir examples are characterized by in situ permeabilities that average less than 0.1 millidarcies and initial reservoir pressures that significantly exceeded normal hydrostatic gradient. In contrast, Lewis Shale sandstones typically produce from stratigraphic traps while Lance Formation sandstones produce primarily from structural traps.
Regional stratigraphic analyses indicate that syndepositional tectonics played a major role in influencing lower Lewis Shale sediment dispersal patterns and impacted the distribution of both reservoir and source rocks. Lewis Shale sandstones were deposited in shallow- to offshore-marine (turbidite) environments during the final transgressive-regressive cycle of the Cretaceous Epeiric Seaway. Hay Reservoir Field is discussed in detail because of the availability of the most complete set of modern log and core data from any Lewis field. Production variations at Hay Reservoir are explained by a model that suggests early charging preserved reservoir quality in paleo-structurally high positions, which differ from the present-day structural configuration. The model is applicable to future Lewis Shale field development and exploration programs.
A condensed zone, informally known as the “Asquith Marker,” contains the highest concentration of total organic carbon (TOC, 0.7 to 3.3 weight percent) in the lower part of the Lewis Shale. Core-calibrated gamma-ray logs are used to develop a regional Asquith Marker average TOC map. Thermal maturity of the Asquith Marker (%Ro = 0.5 to 2.3%), is estimated from vitrinite reflectance analyses of carbonaceous shales in the Lewis Shale and coals in associated intervals. Mature organic-rich shales are also found closely associated with the key productive sandstone interval at Hay Reservoir Field.
GGRB Lance Formation production occurs primarily in the Jonah-Pinedale anticline area where active development programs are currently underway. The Lance ranges from about 2,500 to 5,000 feet in gross interval thickness, with fluvial and associated floodplain sandstone reservoirs comprising 20 to 40 percent of the total thickness in the productive areas. Source rocks for the Jonah-Pinedale anticline area production are not well established, but probably include organic-rich lower Lance mudstones.
The discontinuous nature of Jonah sandstone reservoirs, attributable to their fluvial origin and fault compartmentalization, presents a significant challenge to optimizing field development. Better reservoir understanding, evolving fracture-stimulation completion methods and drilling techniques focused on maximum efficiency have all contributed to enhancing Jonah Field economics—the same ingredients that have played critical roles in the successful development of all GGRB Cretaceous tight-gas reservoirs.

Get your FIELD GEAR!

With all this snow around, it's hard to imagine being outside and looking at exposed surfaces. But field work, whether it's part of a course assignment or part of your research, is right around the corner (despite what Punxsutawney Phil might say...). As such, now is as good a time as ever to get your gear ready. Right *now* AAPG is providing field supplies at discounted rates. Why pay shipping when we can order it in bulk for you (and dozens of your classmates?!). Hammers, field pouches, hand lenses, acid bottles - you name it, we got it!

Orders are due FEBRUARY 13th. Please complete an order form (extras located in the main office of Weeks Hall) and place it in our collection envelope (also in the office). We will place orders on the 14th, so no stragglers...

All proceeds are earmarked towards sending members to the AAPG national conference in San Antonio in April http://www.aapg.org/sanantonio/

Fall Fundraiser: Leaf Raking!

Following the long-held principal that what comes down must be put into a bag, hauled away, and mulched.... AAPG's fall fundraiser is well underway. We've exchanged jake's staffs and rock hammers for rakes and leaf blowers in hopes of generating serious cash-flow. This year's fund raising revenues will facilitate department visits by professional experts on industry-related topics such as (but certainly not limited to!): Petroleum Engineering, well-field production, seismic exploration etc. Students with additional ideas or professional contacts in these areas (OR those with a strong desire to rake leaves...) should contact Jen Walker.

*UPDATED* Recent UW Industry Recruits

2007 Full-Time New-Hires
Eric Shullenberger (Chevron)
Jessica Lopez (Chevron)
Liz Clechenko (ConocoPhillips)
John Naranjo (BP)
Kathy Bolger (BP)
Stefanie Dilts Bernosky (BP)
Cory Clechenko (Hess)

2007 Summer Interns
JoAnn Gage (BP)
Jennie Cook (BP)
Daniel Alvarado (Chevron)
Jana Van Alstine (ExxonMobil)
Ryan Sharma (ConocoPhillips)

2007-2008 AAPG Roster

This year's officers are:

PRESIDENT: Jennifer Walker (jwalker@geology.wisc.edu)
VICE PRESIDENT: JoAnn Gage (jgage@geology.wisc.edu)
TREASURER: Amalia Doebbert (doebberra@geology.wisc.edu)
SECRETARY: Peter Garaffo (pgaraffo@geology.wisc.edu)

Members include:

Chris Lowry
John Hora
Matthew Knuth
Tina Hill
Emily Freeman
Tina Nielsen
Preeya Jirutthitijaroen
George Tangalos
Eric Williams
Alex Teel
Erik Hoffmann

Meetings will be held in Cline Lounge at times and dates TBD in emails forthcoming.

Industry Recruiting

Industry Recruiting Schedule for this year is as follows:

September 17-19 HESS
September 19-21 CONOCOPHILLIPS
September 24-26 CHEVRON
September 26-28 EXXONMOBIL
October 1-3 BP
October 9-11 SHELL

All interviews are held in the Undergraduate Lounge on the Second Floor of Weeks Hall