Home

Rocky Mountain Section

Oil’s 60 Percent Crash Is the Tip of an Iceberg. The Reality Is Worse - 26 March, 2020 07:34 AM

Oil Industry Faces Biggest Crisis in 100 Years - 26 March, 2020 07:33 AM

Oil Use Drops 20M Barrels a Day as Congress Finalizes Stimulus Deal - 26 March, 2020 07:32 AM

Climate Change: Green Energy Plant Threat to Wilderness Areas - 26 March, 2020 07:30 AM

Oil Majors Are Preparing for $10 Oil - 25 March, 2020 07:34 AM

News in Review ...

31 Mar

2020 AAPG Rocky Mountain Section Meeting - Call for Papers Expires in 1 day

litutmMedium

View All Deadlines ...

Bulletin Article By Alexei Milkov,Jack Samis

Controls on fracture network characteristics of the middle member of the Bakken Formation, Elm Coulee field, Williston Basin, United States

Zones of anomalously high production from secondary permeability exist in the Bakken Formation in the Elm Coulee field of the Williston Basin, United States. An antiformal structure provides a plausible explanation for these sweet spots and a potential new exploration trend.

Added on 23 March, 2020

Explorer President’s Column By Mike Party

Righting the Ship in Stormy Waters

This Executive Committee and the past five EC have been working hard on your behalf. AAPG had a couple black swan events in 2014 and 2015. The Executive Committees during these few years have been working very hard to cut costs and bring the budget into balance in this new commodity price environment. The bottom line to all this is that in five years we have righted the ship, bailed the water, and are sailing once again.

Added on 01 March, 2020

Explorer Historical Highlights By JIm Felton,William Barrett

The Big One That Got Away

In 1994, while chairman and CEO of Barrett Resources, I got a call from my good friend Ray Thomasson, who said, “Bill I have a prospect Larry McPeek has worked up in the Wind River Basin that you might find interesting.” I’d worked every feature of geology in Wyoming’s Wind River Basin and was familiar with about every well drilled there during my career, so I frankly considered myself somewhat of an expert on the basin ... The Cave Gulch Prospect was located along the Owl Creek Thrust in a geologically complex area.

Added on 01 March, 2020

Explorer Article By Roger Slatt

Past, Present and Future of Petroleum Research Consortia in the Geosciences

AAPG Honorary Member and University of Oklahoma geoscience professor Roger Slatt speaks to the vital yet dwindling role of research consortia in advancing education and scientific advancement.

Added on 01 March, 2020

Bulletin Article By Simon Pattison

No evidence for an unconformity at the base of the lower Castlegate Sandstone in the Campanian Book Cliffs, Utah–Colorado, United States: Implications for sequence stratigraphic models

Regional high-resolution correlations of the Campanian Desert Member of the Blackhawk Formation to the lower Castlegate Sandstone interval, Book Cliffs, Utah–Colorado, show no evidence for a single, throughgoing unconformity separating the amalgamated channel sandstones of the Castlegate from the underlying Blackhawk Formation coastal-plain deposits.

Added on 24 February, 2020

Bulletin Article By Adriana Potra,Bryan Bottoms,John R. Samuelsen,Stephen R. Schutter

Mississippian mud rocks of the eastern Great Basin: Stratigraphy, tectonic significance, and hydrocarbon potential

Evaluation of the Mississippian stratigraphy of the Great Basin region identifies the presence of two mud-rock formations, historically identified as the Chainman Shale. This work improves the understanding of this mud-rock stratigraphy, its tectonic significance, and its hydrocarbon potential.

Added on 27 January, 2020

Explorer Historical Highlights By Michael S. Johnson

An Oil Trap Unlike Any Other

I was involved in the 2006 discovery of Parshall Oil Field in the Bakken reservoir of North Dakota, one of the largest oil fields in North America. My prospect idea was based on meager geologic data that included two key wells and used the potential of new horizontal drilling technology.

Added on 01 January, 2020

Explorer Emphasis Article By Heather Saucier

Basin and Super Basin

As basins such as the Permian have crushed the concept of “peak oil” by doubling past production rates using new ideas and technology, their newly dubbed “super basin” status is inspiring operators on practically every continent to do the same.

Added on 01 January, 2020

Explorer Emphasis Article By Barry Friedman

Machine Learning Reveals Hidden Geology

Necessity may be the mother of invention. But sometimes it’s just all the mosquitos. Leila Donn, a doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin studying environmental geoscience, wasn’t necessarily looking for a computer model to help her find the location of ancient Mayan caves last year. Mostly, she just was hot and tired and the work was going slowly.

Added on 01 December, 2019

Explorer ProTracks By Lauren Dietzel

Have You Attended URTeC?

The Unconventional Resources Technology Conference was held this year in Denver, Colo., and once again, it did not disappoint. It was packed with technical presentations and exhibits and it continued to push boundaries and remain as the premier industry event focused on the latest science and technology in exploration and development of unconventional resources.

Added on 01 November, 2019

Short Course

Texas

Tuesday, 14 April – Wednesday, 15 April 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Excel-Based Random Forest Machine Learning Algorithms: Programming and Application

Software engineering is becoming a key skillset in the oil and gas industry. These skills are used to implement data science projects that increase production, lower costs, and improve safety. To boost the value of oil and gas practitioners, this course teaches software development in VBA for machine learning and the creation of a random forest tool in Excel.

Added on 26 February, 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

Field Seminar

Houston, Texas

Saturday, 6 June 2020, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

ACE FT 4 | Inside NASA Space Center Houston

This all-day field trip to NASA Space Center Houston is a unique opportunity to see firsthand the history of U.S. Space exploration with Apollo 17 Astronaut Harrison Schmitt and Shuttle Astronaut Jim Reilly. Be prepared for a full day of exciting and interesting space adventures, including a morning tour of a full-scale model of the Space Shuttle atop a Boeing 747.

Added on 12 December, 2019

Field Seminar

Houston, Texas

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

ACE FT 3 | Modern Galveston Island and the Brazos River Delta as Reservoir Analogs

An excursion from the U.S. Corps. of Engineers office at Barker Reservoir to visit locations where where the manifestation of surface faults demonstrates the damage they can cause.

Added on 12 December, 2019

Field Seminar

Houston, Texas

Saturday, 6 June 2020, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

ACE FT 2 | Surface Faults in West Houston

An excursion from the U.S. Corps. of Engineers office at Barker Reservoir to visit locations where where the manifestation of surface faults demonstrates the damage they can cause.

Added on 12 December, 2019

Field Seminar

Houston, Texas

Tuesday, 2 June – Friday, 5 June 2020, 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

ACE FT 1 | Windows to the Pm and K Unconventional Reservoirs of Texas

A five day field trip held in conjunction with AAPG ACE 2020 in Houston, Texas, with visits to outcrops in Austin, Eagle Ford, Wolfcamp, and/or Bone Springs

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

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 26 November, 2019

Short Course

Houston, Texas

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

ACE SC 8 | Beginner’s Guide to Unstructured Data and Machine Learning in Oil and Gas

The purpose of the course is to help people who are immersed in the oil and gas industry to gain a practical understanding of what unstructured data is, what value there is in it, how it can be utilized, and why this is now relevant.

Added on 26 November, 2019

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 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

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Saturday, 6 June 2020, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

ACE SC 5 | Geochemical Applications Throughout the Lifecyle of Unconventional Reservoir Exploration, Appraisal and Development

This is a one-day short course on the various applications of petroleum and inorganic geochemistry throughout the lifecycle of unconventional reservoir from exploration, appraisal, to development.

Added on 26 November, 2019

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Saturday, 6 June 2020, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

ACE SC 4 | 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 26 November, 2019

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Saturday, 6 June 2020, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

ACE SC 3 | Carbon Capture Use OR Storage: Understanding the Geoscience, Engineering, Regulatory, and Business Aspects of CCUS and CCS Projects

Entry cost and CO2 supply have long been barriers to traditional Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) applications, but new tax regulations may break the stalemate, providing both for feasible EOR capture from a larger range of anthropogenic sources, and potential CCS options. The course will provide participants with an overview of CO2 in the framework of the energy transition. Speakers will address the regulatory and policy issues as well as societal concerns.

Added on 26 November, 2019

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Saturday, 6 June 2020, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

ACE SC 2 | Sequence-Stratigraphic Analysis of Shales and Mudstones: Key to Paleoclimate Archives, Subsurface Fluid Flow, and Hydrocarbon Source, Reservoir and Seal

This course is designed for geologists who interpret fine-grained rocks, explore for or develop conventional hydrocarbons, shale gas, or oil shale. Participants will practice recognizing and correlating significant stratigraphic packages through seismic stratigraphy, stacking pattern analysis of well-log, core and outcrop data, and facies analysis.

Added on 26 November, 2019

Short Course

Houston, Texas

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

ACE SC 1 | The New Seismic Interpretation: Integrating Relative Geologic Time, Structural Geology and 3-D Seismic for More Effective Stratigraphic Exploration and Development

A short course discussing the Fast Wheeler Transform (FWT) and the role that synkinematic deposition plays in the masking of onlaps, offlaps, etc., and how FWT’s solve this interpretation challenge

Added on 26 November, 2019

Short Course

Spring, Texas

Tuesday, 14 April – Wednesday, 15 April 2020, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

CANCELLED - AAPG Field Safety Leadership Course

This course is designed for anyone who leads or coordinates field activities such as Field Trips, Field Seminars, Field Camps, or general field work, for companies or student groups. Participants will acquire and practice strategies to prepare for and conduct safe and effective field activities. (Although not required, previous participants have suggested that having NOLS - Wilderness First Aid or equivalent training will enhance the course experience.)

Added on 05 February, 2019

Short Course

Houston, Texas

Saturday, 6 June 2020, 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.

Workshop: Speaking Up – How Bystanders Can Change the Conversation in STEM

Ever wondered “Why didn’t I say something?” after witnessing social bias—a stereotype, a prejudice or discrimination—that happened in your everyday life? You’re not alone. Deciding whether and how to respond to bias is complicated. Understanding what motivates us to speak up, the challenges we face when doing so, and strategies for effective responding can help bystanders to bias better evaluate their options and select effective strategies. This interactive presentation will invite attendees to learn about bystander reactions to social biases and how these reactions can help or hinder decisions to speak up.

Added on 05 December, 2018

Online e-Symposium

Thursday, 28 April 2011, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

The Niobrara Petroleum System, a Major Tight Resource Play in the Rocky Mountain Region

The Niobrara Petroleum System of the U.S. Rocky Mountain Region is a major tight petroleum resource play.

Added on 02 December, 2013

Online e-Symposium

Thursday, 9 December 2010, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

The Bakken Petroleum System of the Williston Basin

The Mississippian-Devonian Bakken Petroleum System of the Williston Basin is characterized by low-porosity and permeability reservoirs, organic-rich source rocks, and regional hydrocarbon charge.

Added on 02 December, 2013

Online e-Symposium

Thursday, 12 July 2012, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

Shale Wells: Making the Engineering Fit What Geology Offers

This presentation will look at well placement vertically in the pay, well azimuth and well trajectory with explanations of how geology and post-depositional effects can make the difference between a successful well and a failure.

Added on 11 December, 2013

Online e-Symposium

Thursday, 23 July 2009, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

3D Seismic Profiles of U.S. Shale Plays

As commodity prices have dropped, many shale plays have become uneconomical as statistical plays and have increasingly become recognized as geological plays demanding new insights from data.

Added on 02 December, 2013

Online e-Symposium

Tuesday, 16 August 2011, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

Green River Shales: Geochemical Basin Study

The geochemistry of formation fluids (water and hydrocarbon gases) in the Uinta Basin, Utah, is evaluated at the regional scale based on fluid sampling and compilation of past records.

Added on 02 December, 2013

Online e-Symposium

Thursday, 16 February 2012, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

Seismically Driven Characterization of Unconventional Shale Plays

This presentation describes a proven workflow that uses a standard narrow azimuth 3D seismic, conventional logs, image logs and core data to build five key reservoir properties required for an optimal development of shale plays.

Added on 11 December, 2013

Online e-Symposium

Friday, 27 March 2009, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

The Many Faces of GIS: Oil and Gas Applications, New Directions, Careers

Join two GIS/geoscience experts Scott Sires and Gerry Bartz as they use information from the Teapot Dome Field in Wyoming (DOE/RMOTC program).

Added on 02 December, 2013

Online e-Symposium

Wednesday, 5 March 2014, 12:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

Virtual Field Trip: Geology of the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Parks

Explore three of the great wonders of the geological world. Take a guided tour of classic geological sites on the Colorado Plateau.

Added on 11 December, 2013

View All Online Training ...

Michel T. Halbouty '30 Visiting Chair in Geology and Geophysics

The Department of Geology and Geophysics at Texas A&M University is pleased to announce the Michel T. Halbouty ’30 Visiting Chair (Visiting Professor) in Geology and Geophysics. Candidates should have a PhD in Geology, Geophysics or related field, be at the Associate or Full Professor rank or hold an equivalent title, and be highly accomplished scholars with an internationally recognized record of excellence in their field of study.

View All Classifieds ...

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 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

Heidi E. Schoenstein President (2019-2020) part-time contract (970) 623-3356

Lynette D. W. George Past President (2019-2020) (Consultant) (307) 265-6338

Peter David Bucknam President Elect (2019-2020) Petro-Hunt LLC (303) 573-4161

Timothy Olaf Nesheim Secretary Treasurer Elect (2019-2020) ND Geological Survey 701-777-2460

Anna Sheldon Phelps Secretary Treasurer (2019-2020) SM Energy (303) 837-2484

Natasha Marie Rigg Advisory Counselor (2018-2021) Rigg Geoscience (303) 837-2495

The House of Delegates of the AAPG is made up of delegates from affiliated societies and international regions throughout the world. They are selected by popular vote from within their respective areas and serve a three year term.

Who Is My Delegate?

NOTE: Membership in an affiliated society does not necessarily constitute membership in the AAPG and vice versa.

Rocky Mountain Section

Michel T. Halbouty '30 Visiting Chair in Geology and Geophysics

States in the Section

Sections

Regions

STAY CONNECTED: