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Oil Drops on U.S. Inventories and Doubts Over Output Cuts - 04 June, 2020 07:04 AM

Oil Traders Are Asking Why U.S. Inventory Math Doesn’t Add Up - 04 June, 2020 07:01 AM

Shale Oil Production Bouncing Back With Prices - 04 June, 2020 06:58 AM

Renewables Surpass Coal in U.S. Energy Generation for First Time in 130 Years - 04 June, 2020 06:54 AM

Oil Leaps as Major Producers Look to Extend Record Production Cuts Through July - 03 June, 2020 07:34 AM

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03 Aug

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Energy Policy Blog

U. S. Arctic Offshore Drilling Again in the Spotlight

The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, chaired by Representative Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) recently held a hearing that investigated the environmental risks and economic benefits of Alaska offshore Arctic drilling. Two of the new Arctic offshore regulations attracted the most controversy: the requirement for a standby rig in case of a blowout, and the shortened drilling season. This hearing comes at the same time as Shell mobilizes its equipment for drilling in the Chukchi Sea later this summer. Groups opposed to Arctic drilling recently protested the Polar Pioneer drilling rig’s departure from the Port of Seattle.

Added on 23 June, 2015

Learn! Blog By Susan Nash

Revitalizing Reservoirs: Key Questions to Address

With the recent surge in new techniques and technology, as well as new plays put into production, a tremendous opportunity exists in both U.S. and international reservoirs to apply lessons learned to existing reservoirs in order to economically increase production and recoverable reserves.

Added on 18 June, 2015

Explorer Policy Watch By Edith Allison

QER Addresses Changing Energy System

Concerns over aging or inadequate infrastructure and changes in the energy mix led the Obama administration to focus the first Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) on transmission, storage and distribution infrastructure.

Added on 01 June, 2015

Explorer Director’s Corner By David Curtiss

Listen for the Muse, But Trust Hard Work

I don’t want to completely dismiss the role of flashes of insight. But to borrow an old saw, we may miss scientific discoveries because they’re dressed in overalls and disguised as hard work.

Added on 01 June, 2015

Explorer Emphasis Article By Louise Durham

Assessing Potential of the Rosebud Reservation

An intriguing program is afoot to assess the hydrocarbon potential of the Niobrara in south-central South Dakota. The assessment program was initiated in 2012, when the American Indian Higher Education Consortium funded a cooperative education program between the Sinte Gleska University on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T).

Added on 01 June, 2015

Explorer Emphasis Article By Louise Durham

Tech, Geology Key to Production in Codell Sandstone

The Wattenberg Field north of Denver has become a big deal in the industry since its discovery in 1970 by Amoco Production Company. It’s a twofer, kicking out both oil and natural gas. To many, mention of the field conjures up thoughts of the upper Cretaceous Niobrara shale, which is a prolific producer there, along with other geologic formations. The Codell sandstone, for example, is a major pay in this giant field.

Added on 01 June, 2015

Explorer Emphasis Article By Heather Saucier

Fracturing Debate Escalates in Colorado

Some might argue that not much has changed in Colorado politics over the last year – except for the fact that the battle to ban drilling by certain groups has escalated from the local to statewide level.

Added on 01 June, 2015

Explorer Emphasis Article By Louise Durham

A Resource Waiting To Be Developed

This may come as a surprise to a number of industry participants, but Utah is home to the largest oil sand resource in the United States. Largest, as in an estimated 16 billion barrels of bitumen and heavy oil.

Added on 01 June, 2015

Explorer Emphasis Article By David Brown

Current Conditions Allow 'A Time to Regroup'

Are current conditions in oil and gas creating a big opportunity for petroleum geologists in the Rocky Mountain region? Some experts say today’s drilling slowdown gives geologists time to catch up on recent advances in science, providing a less hectic opportunity to analyze data, study reservoirs and create improved models.

Added on 01 June, 2015

Explorer Article By Heather Saucier

How the U.S. Became the World's Top Producer

On the heels of an April 23 article in The New York Times headlined, “A New ‘OPEC’ Emerges: The U.S.,” this year’s Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (URTeC) will take that topic into the field, tracking the country’s shale boom from its inception to turning the United States into the world’s No. 1 petroleum and natural gas producer in 2014 – overtaking Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Added on 01 June, 2015

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Sunday, 7 June 2020, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

ACE SC 9 | 3-D Printing in Geoscience and Engineering: Emerging Technology in Education, Research, and Communication

This course provides an overview of different 3-D printing techniques that use both rock-like materials (e.g., sand, gypsum, clay) and polymers (e.g., plastics, resins). Participants will learn how to deploy 3-D-printed models to improve technical communication to diverse audiences (e.g., students, geoscientists, engineers, managers, community stakeholders).

Added on 04 June, 2020

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Saturday, 6 June – Sunday, 7 June 2020, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

ACE SC 7 | Advanced Sequence Stratigraphic Applications for Exploration

A two-day course studying advanced methods in seismic stratigraphy including application of sequence stratigraphy to unconventional resources.

Added on 03 June, 2020

Field Seminar

Austin, Texas

Sunday, 19 July 2020, 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

From Slope to Basin – A Core Workshop Focusing on the Variety of Gravity Flow Deposits throughout the Permian Basins

Whole core from both the Delaware and Midland Basins will be examined to understand the changes in slope deposits from both confined and unconfined settings. The goal of this course will be to understand how these deposits impact reservoir quality in the basins.

Added on 03 June, 2020

Short Course By Ursula Hammes

Virtual Event

Monday, 28 September – Thursday, 1 October 2020, 8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

Evaluation of Tight-Shale Reservoirs: Sedimentologic, Stratigraphic, and Geochemical Tools to Identify Production Sweet Spots

This virtual short course focuses on methods and workflows for identifying, characterizing, and developing tight-shale reservoirs. Participants will learn how to apply mudrock depositional, sedimentological, sequence stratigraphic, and geochemical principles to exploration areas and production assets in shale basins.

Added on 02 June, 2020

Short Course

Virtual Event

Monday, 21 September – Thursday, 24 September 2020, 7:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.

Climate: Past, Present, and Future

This online short course is designed to provide a geologic perspective of the climate debate to both geoscientists and non-geoscientists. By completing the course participants will have a better understanding of how the earth’s climate/sea levels/plates have changed/moved over geologic time, the earth’s evolving climate/plate positions/sea-level variations affected life on earth, and the environment has impacted man & man has impacted the earth’s environment.

Added on 15 May, 2020

Short Course

Virtual Event

Friday, 12 June 2020, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Rock Properties Modeling from 2-D Images: Making the Most of Thin Section Image Data

Any complete core analysis program should include companion thin sections for all core plugs on which measurements have been made. This course will describe the use of multimodal thin section imaging and image analysis to make quantitative estimates of rock properties that are important in hydrocarbon exploration and production.

Added on 07 May, 2020

Short Course

Virtual Event

Monday, 13 July – Wednesday, 15 July 2020, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Introduction to Unconventional Geochemistry 101 Hybrid/Shale Tight Plays and Thermal EOR Projects

This course will allow beginner or intermediate professionals to provide with daily geochemical solutions to executional E&P projects from exploration to WIM/production and environmental footprints issues.

Added on 27 April, 2020

Short Course

Virtual Event

Tuesday, 16 June – Thursday, 18 June 2020, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Deposition and Interpretation of Fluvial Reservoirs

During this course, participants will gain the foundations for understanding and predicting the geometry, connectivity, and permeability trends of fluvial reservoir systems at the scale of boreholes, fields, and basins. A full range of topics needed to identify, correlate, and interpret fluvial reservoirs and encasing non-reservoir units will be covered.

Added on 27 April, 2020

Short Course

Austin, Texas

Saturday, 18 July – Sunday, 19 July 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

URTeC SC-03 | Gas EOR in Tight Unconventionals

This course will discuss the Huff-n-Puff gas EOR process specifically, but will also address relevant fundamentals of displacement-based gas EOR methods (miscibility, vaporization, and displacement) in tight unconventionals.

Added on 02 April, 2020

Short Course

Austin, Texas

Saturday, 18 July – Sunday, 19 July 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

URTeC SC-04 | Reservoir Engineering Applications of Advanced Data Analytics and Machine Learning Algorithms

Data driven modeling is becoming a key differentiation to unlock higher recoveries from existing fields as well as identify new opportunities. In this course, we will be introducing advanced analytical tools and techniques - machine learning and data mining algorithms used to identify of trends and patterns in any given dataset and predict future trends.

Added on 02 April, 2020

Short Course

Austin, Texas

Saturday, 18 July – Sunday, 19 July 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

URTeC SC-05 | Forecasting Well Production Data in Unconventional Resources

This course provides a comprehensive methodology for the diagnosis, analysis, and forecasting of well production data in unconventional resources. An extensive evaluation of the diagnostic tools for assessing data viability, checking data correlation along with flow regime identification is presented.

Added on 02 April, 2020

Short Course

Austin, Texas

Saturday, 18 July – Sunday, 19 July 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

URTeC SC-06 | Essentials of Unconventional Play Based Exploration

This course focuses on the assessment of unconventional plays and the identification of initial well locations within them.

Added on 02 April, 2020

Short Course

Austin, Texas

Saturday, 18 July – Sunday, 19 July 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

URTeC SC-07 | Design and Surveillance of Wastewater Disposal Wells for Unconventional Resource Development

This course focuses on the assessment of unconventional plays and the identification of initial well locations within them.

Added on 02 April, 2020

Short Course

Austin, Texas

Saturday, 18 July – Sunday, 19 July 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

URTeC SC-08 | Seismic Anisotropy: Basic Theory and Applications in Exploration and Reservoir Characterization

The course is designed for both graduate students majoring in applied geophysics and more experienced geophysicists working in research, technical service, or exploration. Attendees are expected to be familiar with the basics of seismic wave propagation and data processing.

Added on 02 April, 2020

Short Course

Austin, Texas

Saturday, 18 July – Sunday, 19 July 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

URTeC SC-09 | Carbonate Essentials: Pores to Prospect

This course is an overview of carbonates from geology to seismic interpretation, with particular emphasis on karst topography and seismic expression thereof.

Added on 02 April, 2020

Short Course

Austin, Texas

Sunday, 19 July 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

URTeC SC-10 | Integrated Geologic, Seismic, Geomechanics, and Reservoir Engineering Characterization and Flow Simulation in Fractured Reservoirs

This course is an overview of carbonates from geology to seismic interpretation, with particular emphasis on karst topography and seismic expression thereof.

Added on 02 April, 2020

Short Course

Austin, Texas

Sunday, 19 July 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

URTeC SC-11 | An Overview of Multistage Completion Systems for Hydraulic Fracturing

This course is an overview of carbonates from geology to seismic interpretation, with particular emphasis on karst topography and seismic expression thereof.

Added on 02 April, 2020

Short Course

Austin, Texas

Sunday, 19 July 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

URTeC SC-12 | Critical Geomechanics Concepts and Applications to Unconventionals Completions

Geomechanics – in both completions and drilling operations – has become a critical technology in the development of Unconventional Plays. This course presents the basics of oil field geomechanics and its application to unconventional developments, specifically, the role of stress, pore pressure, mechanical properties, and natural fractures on hydraulic fracturing operations.

Added on 02 April, 2020

Short Course

Austin, Texas

Sunday, 19 July 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

URTeC SC-13 | Methane Emission Measurement & Mitigation (MEMM)

This one-day session will include a view of best practices for Carbon Management with a focus on fugitive methane reduction. It will include global and local examples of Carbon Regulations, give tools for de-risking regulatory compliances and field-proven methane reduction technology cases.

Added on 02 April, 2020

Short Course

Austin, Texas

Sunday, 19 July 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

URTeC SC-14 | Geomechanics of Reservoir Stimulation by Hydraulic Fracturing

The workshop objective is to discuss the main challenges of stimulation design and how modeling tools can be used to aid the design.

Added on 02 April, 2020

Short Course

Austin, Texas

Sunday, 19 July 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

URTeC SC-15 | Applied Petroleum Geochemistry

The workshop objective is to discuss the main challenges of stimulation design and how modeling tools can be used to aid the design.

Added on 02 April, 2020

Short Course

Austin, Texas

Saturday, 18 July – Sunday, 19 July 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

URTeC SC-02 | Unconventional Reservoir Production (Rate-Transient) Analysis

Unconventional gas reserves are transforming energy outlooks around the world. This course introduces workflow and reviews methods for performing quantitative ratetransient analysis of fractured vertical and multi-fractured horizontal wells (MFHWs), produced from unconventional (low-permeability) gas and light oil reservoirs, including shales.

Added on 02 April, 2020

Short Course

Austin, Texas

Saturday, 18 July – Sunday, 19 July 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

URTeC SC-01 | DFIT - The Unconventional Well Test: Theory, Design, and Interpretation

This course will review the theory of fracture-injection/falloff testing, the design of DFITs, and interpretation of DFIT data using both straight-line and type-curve methods

Added on 01 April, 2020

Field Seminar

New York

Thursday, 11 June – Sunday, 14 June 2020, 5:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

ACE FT 8 | Organic-Rich Shales of the Northern Appalachian Basin

This field trip includes an overview of Enterprise Products Partners Houston Regional Operations at Mont Belvieu, Texas. Home of the world's largest salt dome.

Added on 12 December, 2019

Field Seminar

Utah

Thursday, 11 June – Sunday, 14 June 2020, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

ACE FT 7 | Sedimentologic and Sequence-Stratigraphic Response of Paralic Deposits to Changes in Accommodation: Predicting Reservoir Architecture, the Book Cliffs of Eastern Utah

This field trip includes an overview of Enterprise Products Partners Houston Regional Operations at Mont Belvieu, Texas. Home of the world's largest salt dome.

Added on 12 December, 2019

Field Seminar

San Diego, California

Thursday, 11 June – Saturday, 13 June 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

ACE FT 6 | Integrated Deepwater Outcrop Characterization: From Channels to Sheets-San Diego, California

This field trip includes an overview of Enterprise Products Partners Houston Regional Operations at Mont Belvieu, Texas. Home of the world's largest salt dome.

Added on 12 December, 2019

Field Seminar

Houston, Texas

Thursday, 11 June 2020, 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

ACE FT 5 | The New World of Energy in Texas — The Largest Natural Gas Liquids Hub at Mont Belvieu and Other Aspects of the Texas Energy Scene

This field trip includes an overview of Enterprise Products Partners Houston Regional Operations at Mont Belvieu, Texas. Home of the world's largest salt dome.

Added on 12 December, 2019

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Thursday, 11 June – Friday, 12 June 2020, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

ACE SC 11 | Deltas: Processes, Stratigraphy, and Reservoirs – A Core, Log, and Seismic Workshop

Deltas are extremely important depositional systems and often source and contain prolific hydrocarbon accumulations. This workshop includes topical lectures, key cores, and a suite of exercises that integrate core, well logs, experimental flume data, and seismic sections to develop identification and subsurface mapping skills of hydrocarbon accumulations within deltaic settings.

Added on 26 November, 2019

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Thursday, 11 June – Friday, 12 June 2020, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

ACE SC 10 | Integrated Carbonate Reservoir Prediction – Conventional and Unconventional Exploration and Production

This two-day workshop provides a review of the application of carbonate facies, diagenesis, and seismic sequence stratigraphy to exploration and production. The workshop combines seismic, well log and rock data, to develop interpretations that help predict carbonate hydrocarbon systems, and characterize conventional and unconventional carbonate reservoirs and seals.

Added on 26 November, 2019

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Saturday, 6 June – Sunday, 7 June 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

ACE SC 6 | Sequence Stratigraphy for Graduate Students

This course is designed to teach graduate students the principles, concepts and methods of sequence stratigraphy.

Added on 26 November, 2019

VG Abstract By Fred Schroeder

The Use of Seismic Data in Industry

The following short course option was developed for geology and geophysics students that have not had much exposure to how geoscience is applied in industry. It can be tailored for undergraduate juniors and seniors or graduate students. The agenda can be modified to meet specific needs and time constraints.

Request a visit from Fred Schroeder!

Added on 08 January, 2014

VG Abstract By Fred Schroeder

Basic Structural Interpretation

Request a visit from Fred Schroeder!

Added on 08 January, 2014

VG Abstract By Sherilyn Williams-Stroud

A Brief History of Hydraulic Fracturing and Induced Seismicity

Hydraulic fracturing has been around for decades. This talk describes some of the first applications of the technology, how it developed over time, and our current understanding of its impacts with some discussion of both water and earthquake hazards.

Request a visit from Sherilyn Williams-Stroud!

Added on 16 November, 2016

VG Abstract By Noelle Joy Purcell

Confounding Carbonates: The Reservoir Rocks that Won't Play Nice

This lecture will discuss the differences between carbonates and siliciclastics from their chemical composition through their distributions in time and space. Building on these fundamental differences, we will explore the challenges carbonates pose to petroleum geologists in terms of seismic interpretation, reservoir quality prediction, field development, etc. Peppered with humorous personal stories, still raging academic debates, and the heartfelt frustrations of real industry professionals, the aim is to inspire students and young professionals to rise to the occasion and embrace the reservoir rocks that petroleum geologists love to hate.

Request a visit from Noelle Joy Purcell!

Added on 17 March, 2015

VG Abstract By Sherilyn Williams-Stroud

Induced Hydraulic Fractures or Reactivated Natural Fractures?

Microseismicity induced by hydraulic fracture stimulation of a horizontal well was mapped with a near-surface buried array. Distinct linear trends of events were not parallel to the direction of fast shear wave polarization measured in the reservoir with a crossed-dipole anisotropy tool. Analysis of core from a nearby well revealed numerous calcite-filled fractures that did not induce shear wave polarization, but did significantly impact the failure behavior of the reservoir rock during the stimulation treatment. Hydraulic fracture simulation with DFN modeling and source mechanism analysis supports the interpretation of reactivated existing fractures rather than the formation of hydraulically-induced tensile fractures.

Request a visit from Sherilyn Williams-Stroud!

Added on 16 November, 2016

VG Abstract By David Weinberg

Fracking - A Curse or a Blessing?

This is a less-technical education topic. It can be condensed to an hour or given as 2 two-hour sessions. It stresses selected controversial aspects of fracking that touch some combination of environment and economics and includes a short video of how fracking is done.

Request a visit from David Weinberg!

Added on 19 March, 2015

VG Abstract By Sherilyn Williams-Stroud

Fracture Mechanics Interpreted from Stress Inversion Analysis on Microseismic Event Source Mechanisms in the Marcellus Shale

Analysis of microseismicity induced by hydraulic fracture stimulation in the Marcellus Shale shows changes in stress state for different zones of failure. During the treatment, shear failure occurs on both the J1 and J2 fracture orientations in response to different maximum stress orientations, indicating localized changes in the orientation during the treatment. Reactivation of a fault near the wellbore is associated with failure mechanisms with a higher volumetric component, indicating possible inflation of faults and fractures by the introduction of the slurry. Quantification of the stress conditions that are associated with inflation could potentially be used to optimize the stimulation by identifying which fractures will preferentially take on slurry volume.

Request a visit from Sherilyn Williams-Stroud!

Added on 16 November, 2016

VG Abstract By Charles Caughey

Discovering Large Gas Fields in Crystalline Basement: Unconventional Exploration in Sumatra

In 1991, Gulf Indonesia and its partners discovered South Sumatra Basin’s first major gas field at Dayung in the Corridor PSC. A key feature of this field is that most of the reserves are held within fractured basement rocks of pre-Tertiary age.

Request a visit from Charles Caughey!

Added on 02 March, 2015