Explorer Director’s Corner
By David Curtiss
Later this month here in the Northern Hemisphere, we’ll enjoy the spring equinox and with it the passing of winter to spring. For those of us here in North America, particularly our members in Texas who recently experienced a polar vortex accompanied by snow, ice and freezing temperatures, this transition is welcome. With spring comes new beginnings and that, too, is welcome. The concerns of COVID have not vanished, but as vaccinations roll out across the globe, we glimpse the possibility of recovery. I am hopeful.
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Added on 01 March, 2021
Explorer Article
By Heather Saucier
On the island of Nevis in the Caribbean, its 11,000 residents are on the verge of an energy transformation. In about two years, their cost of electricity will no longer fluctuate with market prices, and not even a hurricane will stop it from flowing. In fact, over a 25-year period, residents will save an estimated $100 million in energy costs, based on today’s pricing. How is this possible? It is the result of a strategic conversion to geothermal energy developed by GeoFrame Energy, a newly created partnership between Schlumberger New Energy, AAPG Member Bruce Cutright and business partner Dan Pfeffer. Their goal is to make geothermal energy the most cost-effective and reliable means for providing clean, sustainable power.
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Added on 01 February, 2021
Bulletin Article
By Hugh Daigle,Kehua You,P. Kevin Meazell,Peter B. Flemings,Stephen C. Phillips,Yi Fang
In the Junggar Basin, accumulations in the sandy conglomerate formed in distributary channels of the fan-delta front, and reservoir quality was controlled by differential diagenesis caused by detrital feldspar content, paleogeotemperature, and formation fluids. Few studies have investigated this type of trap.
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Added on 18 January, 2021
Bulletin Article
By Hugh Daigle,Kehua You,P. Kevin Meazell,Peter B. Flemings,Stephen C. Phillips,Yi Fang
The primary goal of this study was to develop an integrated methodology to define the best stimulation intervals in the Whangai Formation of New Zealand’s East Coast Basin. Evaluating the brittleness of shale reservoirs will help to identify zones to focus on hydraulic fracturing.
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Added on 18 January, 2021
Bulletin Article
By Hugh Daigle,Kehua You,P. Kevin Meazell,Peter B. Flemings,Stephen C. Phillips,Yi Fang
The authors address the structural deformation and evolution of the detachment thrust system and its effects on hydrocarbon accumulation in the northeastern Sichuan Basin, China. The lower structural interval has high-quality source rock and a reservoir-trapping evolutionary history.
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Added on 18 January, 2021
Bulletin Article
By Hugh Daigle,Kehua You,P. Kevin Meazell,Peter B. Flemings,Stephen C. Phillips,Yi Fang
The purpose of this study is to analyze the pore structures of Yingshan Formation carbonate cap rocks, Tarim Basin, China, and their fractal dimensions in order to unravel the link between fractal variations and rock sealing capacity. Sealing capacity decreases with increasing quantity of macropores.
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Added on 18 January, 2021
Explorer Article
By Heather Saucier
Electric vehicles have been targeted as an important transition toward a greener planet. Yet the manufacturing of lithium ion batteries is creating a significant environmental impact. As it stands, most large volumes of lithium-bearing rocks and brines mined in Australia, Chile, Argentina and other countries must be shipped to China, which controls 65 percent of the supply chains for battery-ready lithium chemicals and 73 percent of the manufacturing of lithium ion batteries. While carbon emissions from shipping is substantial, the greatest environmental impact comes from the actual processing of lithium and the manufacturing of its end products. The United States could play a significant role in solving this problem.
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Added on 01 January, 2021
Bulletin Article
By Hugh Daigle,Kehua You,P. Kevin Meazell,Peter B. Flemings,Stephen C. Phillips,Yi Fang
Comparative modeling of the tight oil and tight gas systems in the Ordos Basin has shown that integrating sedimentary heterogeneities into basin models can lead to significantly different and more realistic model results. The authors proposed coupled stratigraphic–basin modeling offers an alternative for future basin and petroleum system modeling.
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Added on 21 December, 2020
Bulletin Article
By Hugh Daigle,Kehua You,P. Kevin Meazell,Peter B. Flemings,Stephen C. Phillips,Yi Fang
The oils of the northern Tarim Basin are high in saturated hydrocarbons with significant volatilization of lighter hydrocarbons. The reservoir has undergone multistage accumulations with oils occurring in an early stage of intense oil-to-gas cracking. Most of the gasses are wet.
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Added on 21 December, 2020
Bulletin Article
By Hugh Daigle,Kehua You,P. Kevin Meazell,Peter B. Flemings,Stephen C. Phillips,Yi Fang
A basement weakness zone, Northwest Shelf of Australia, was subjected to extension in the latest Triassic to late Middle Jurassic, resulting in systematic segmentation of the Rosemary fault system. The style of basin boundary fault reactivation depends largely on pre-existing structures and temporal stress changes.
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Added on 21 December, 2020