Home

California

Coast Guard: Crude Oil Spilled in California Leak is Only a Fraction of Original Believed - 15 October, 2021 07:31 AM

Jane Fonda to Push for End to Offshore Oil Drilling in California - 14 October, 2021 07:32 AM

California's Justice Department Now Investigating Oil Spill Cause - 13 October, 2021 07:31 AM

Southern California Beach Set to Reopen After Oil Spill - 11 October, 2021 07:33 AM

Huntington Beach and Oil Were Synonymous for Decades. Those Days Are Long Gone. - 11 October, 2021 07:32 AM

News in Review ...

Explorer Article By David Brown

Sound and Fury

With a new batch of freshman lawmakers in Congress, there has been increasing attention on a proposed “Green New Deal” to aggressively tackle climate change, among other issues. But how feasible is it?

Added on 01 February, 2019

Bulletin Article

Geochemically distinct oil families in the onshore and offshore Santa Maria basins, California

The purpose of this work is to identify genetic affinities among 48 crude oil samples from the onshore and offshore Santa Maria basins. A total of 21 source-related biomarker and stable carbon isotope ratios among the samples were assessed to assure that they were unaffected by secondary processes.

Added on 21 January, 2019

Correlator Article By Rick Vesco

Save the Salt

The salt crust at the Bonneville Salt Flats International Speed Way is eroding. Rick Vesco outlines the efforts to “Save the Salt.”

Added on 01 January, 2019

Explorer Historical Highlights By Jon Gluyas

The Emergence of the Helium Industry

Little more than a novelty when first discovered, helium has become a key commodity. It is used extensively in medical cryogenics, analytical and lab applications, breathing mixtures, as a lift gas, for arc welding, leak detection and, contrary to popular belief, only a little is used to inflate party balloons. There are few substitutes for helium and so, as its applications have become more common, demand has grown and supply is struggling to match demand.

Added on 01 January, 2019

Spheres of Influence Article By Kenneth Plato

Zabriskie Point of Death Valley

For avid landscape photographers like myself, Death Valley National Park is a must-see destination. Among the numerous geological wonders in the park are the salt flats at Badwater Basin (the lowest point in North America), the stunning sand dunes of Mesquite Flat, the multi-colored sandstone canyons at Artists Palette and the bizarre, crusted salt formations at Devil’s Golf Course

Added on 20 December, 2018

Explorer Emphasis Article By David Brown

The Exploration Transformation

The world is awash in oil at the moment, but with chronic underinvestment in exploration coupled with global energy demand steadily rising, the stage may be set for an oil price spike in the years to come, according to some analysts. Others, on the other hand, predict that improved production methods and project efficiency will go a long way toward meeting supply demands with existing reserves.

Added on 01 November, 2018

Explorer Emphasis Article By Ken Milam

Supercomputers Push Exploration Boundaries

Saudi Aramco hopes to push the boundaries of exploration by creating and encouraging new technologies. The company said it is pursuing the promise of “the fourth industrial revolution” through Big Data and supercomputing and investigations into nanotechnology applications.

Added on 01 October, 2018

Learn! Blog By Susan Nash

Interview with Scott Hector, Hobby Energy

Being innovative is a survival strategy that serves geoscientists well. Welcome to an interview with Scott Hector, who became passionate about geology at a young age, and whose flexibility in the ups and downs of the industry will inspire geoscientists.

Added on 22 June, 2018

Explorer Division Column DEG By Stephen Testa

'I a Geologist': How We Define Ourselves

The famous phrase “I a geologist” is one from a young man 29 years of age named Charles Darwin. After his introduction to geology at the age of 21 by Adam Sedgwick, Darwin would eventually embark on the famous voyage of the Beagle which lasted from 1831 to 1836.

Added on 01 June, 2018

Explorer Emphasis Article By David Brown

Stanford's Earth Science Program Benefits Energy, Environmentalism

Geoscience education is turning out to be a good fit for the modern university, and an especially good way to position students for the future. In part that’s because of the nature of earth science studies, said Stephan Graham, dean of the geoscience school at Stanford University.

Added on 01 May, 2018

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 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 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.

California

States in the Section

Sections

Regions

STAY CONNECTED: