Bulletin - Houston Geological Society · tournament will be held on October 17, 2011. See you at...

Volume 53 Number 5

HGSBulletinHouston Geological Society

January 2011

Recognition of and Regional Controls onSyn-halokinetic GrowthStratal Patterns in Carbonate Platformsfrom Extensional BasinsPage 30

Recognition of and Regional Controls onSyn-halokinetic GrowthStratal Patterns in Carbonate Platformsfrom Extensional BasinsPage 30

Volume 53, Number 5 January 2011

Houston Geological Society

The

In Every Issue 5 From the President

by John Tubb, Jr.

7 From the Editorby Barry Katz

32 GeoEvents Calendar 59 HGS Membership

Application

60 HPAC 61 Professional Directory

Technical Meetings 17 HGS Special Dinner Meeting

Structural Provinces and Processes of the North-centralGulf of Mexico Deepwater

21 HGS General Dinner MeetingInterpretation of a New Regional Seismic Survey, Offshore Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort Sea Margin, Arctic Canada: Illuminating a Pivotal Piece of the Arctic Puzzle

25 HGS Northsiders Luncheon MeetingBest Practices for the Collection, Analysis, and Interpretation of Seabed Geochemical Samples to Evaluate Subsurface Hydrocarbon Generation and Entrapment

27 HGS Environmental & Engineering Dinner MeetingGeoscientific Enforcement Case Studies: Meeting the Professional Geoscientific (PG) Standard-of-care in 2011

29 HGS General Luncheon MeetingProfessionalism as it Applies to Petroleum Geoscience“The Practical Application of Ethics”

30 Joint HGS International and North American Dinner MeetingRecognition of and Regional Controls on Syn-halokineticGrowth Stratal Patterns in Carbonate Platforms from Extensional Basins

Other Features 11 GCAGS and HGS Matching Scholarships Fund

18 Winners of Sheriff Lecture Poster Competition AnnouncedAl Danforth

39 SIPES Luncheon MeetingShale Gas: Abundance or Mirage?

42 HGS K–12 OutreachJanet Combes

45 RemembranceGeorge E. Kronman

47 2010 HGS Golf Tournament

49 Government UpdateHenry M. Wise and Arlin Howles

55 AAPG Countdown

56 January Crossword, December Crossword Answers

Houston Geological SocietyOFFICERSJohn Tubb, Jr. PresidentSteven A. Earle President-electAmy Sullivan Vice PresidentDavid Meaux TreasurerChristina M. Higginbotham Treasurer-electCecelia Baum SecretaryBarry Katz Bulletin EditorRon F. Waszczak Bulletin Editor-elect

DIRECTORSJohn Adamick

Jennifer L. Burton

Tarek Ghazi

Robert Pledger

HGS OFFICE STAFFSandra Babcock Office ManagerGabriela Henriquez WebmasterMike Erpenbeck Office Committee Chair

EDITORIAL BOARDBarry Katz EditorFang Lin Advisory EditorJames Ragsdale Advisory EditorCharles Revilla Advisory EditorGabriela Henriquez Advertising EditorLisa Krueger Design Editor

The Houston Geological Society Bulletin (ISSN-018-6686) is published monthly except for July and August by the HoustonGeological Society, 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 250, Houston, Texas 77079-2916. Phone: 713-463-9476; fax: 281-679-5504Editorial correspondence and material submitted for publicationshould be addressed to the Editor, Houston Geological Society Bulletin, 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 250, Houston, Texas 77079-2916 or to [email protected]: Subscription to this publication is included in themembership dues ($24.00 annually). Subscription price for non-members within the contiguous U.S. is $30.00 per year. For thoseoutside the contiguous U.S. the subscription price is $46.00 per year. Single-copy price is $3.00. Periodicals postage paid inHouston, Texas.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Houston GeologicalSociety Bulletin, 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 250, Houston,Texas 77079-2916 About the Cover: Glacial boulders Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan.

Photographed by Linda Sternbach.

Bulletin

page 30

page 21

page 4

Salt Tectonicsof Passive

MarginsA one-day short

course

page 16

January 2011 Houston Geological Society Bulletin 1

2 Houston Geological Society Bulletin January 2011


Board of Directors 2010–11http://www.hgs.org/about_hgs/leadership.asp

President (P) John Tubb, Jr. INEXAS 713-805-5649 [email protected] (PE) Steve Earle Carrizo Oil and Gas 713-328-1069 [email protected] President (VP) Amy Sullivan Shell 281-705-8280 [email protected] (S) Cecelia Baum Maersk Oil Houston 713-346-5826 [email protected] (T) David Meaux BP 281-366-2847 [email protected] (TE) Christina Higginbotham Brown & Caldwell 713-646-1107 [email protected] (E) Barry Katz Chevron 832-854-6989 [email protected] (EE) Ron Waszczak ConocoPhillips 281-293-3088 [email protected] 09-11 (D3) Robert Pledger Consultant 832-512-0495 [email protected] 09-11 (D4) Tarek Ghazi Canadian International 281-961-7632 [email protected] 10-12 (D1) John Adamick TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co 713-860-2114 [email protected] 10-12 (D2) Jennifer Burton Legado Resources 832-607-0074 [email protected]

Committee Chairperson Phone Email Board Rep. AAPG HOD Foreman Robert Scheidemann 832-337-1325 [email protected] PAcademic Liaison Christine Bradford 281-256-3476 [email protected] D3Ad Hoc Advertising Sandra Babcock 713-463-9476 [email protected] EAfrican Conference Al Danforth 713-780-8622 [email protected] PArrangements (hotel contracts) Amy Sullivan 281-705-8280 [email protected] VPBallot/Elections Paul Hoffman 713-871-2350 [email protected] SCalvert Memorial Scholarship Carl Norman 713-461-7420 [email protected] PEChristmas Party Kelly Limbaugh 713-972-9200 kelly.limbaugh@globalgeophysical TECommunity Outreach Walter Light 713-823-8288 [email protected] D3Continuing Education Rosemary Laidacker 713-805-9672 [email protected] D3Directory Michael S. Benrud 713-785-8700 x104 [email protected] D2Earth Science Week Martha McRae 713-869-2045 [email protected] D2 Jennifer Burton 832-607-0074 [email protected] D2Engineering Council of Houston Claudia Ludwig 713-723-2511 [email protected] D4Environmental & Eng Geologists Matthew Cowan 713-777-0534 [email protected] VPExhibits Bill Mason 281-367-2742 [email protected] D2Field Trips Gary Moore 713-466-8960 [email protected] D4Finance Joe Lynch 281-496-9898 x134 [email protected] TFoundation Fund John Adamick 713-860-2114 jada@tgsnopec .com PEGeneral Meetings Amy Sullivan 281-705-8280 [email protected] VPGolf Tournament Mark Dennis 281-494-2522 [email protected] D1Government Affairs Arlin Howles 281-808-8629 [email protected] D4 Henry Wise 281-242-7190 [email protected] D4Guest Night Dave Reynolds 281-497-2485 [email protected] D2HGS New Publications Bill Rizer 281-392-0613 [email protected] D1Houston Energy Council Sandi Barber 713-935-7830 [email protected] D4HPAC Winona Labrant Smith 713-952-2007 [email protected] SImperial Barrel Connie Mongold 832-315-4991 [email protected] D3International Explorationists Justin Vandenbrink 281-448-6188 [email protected] VPMembership Shari Sartain 281-382-9855 [email protected] SMembership Growth Jeff Allen 713-871-2350 [email protected] D2Mudstone Conference Frank Walles 713-265-6319 [email protected] PMuseum of Natural Science Inda Immega 713-661-3494 [email protected] D3NeoGeos Carrie Kidd 713-961-8481 [email protected] SNominations Gary Coburn 281-782-7021 [email protected] PNorth American Explorationists Steve Getz 713-871-2346 [email protected] VPNorthsiders David Tonner 713-516-6894 [email protected] VPOffice Management Mike Erpenbeck 832-418-0221 [email protected] PEPublication Sales VOLUNTEER NEEDED D1Remembrances Art Berman 713-557-9067 [email protected] EEShrimp Peel Lee Shelton 281-381-1093 [email protected] D1Skeet Shoot Tom McCarroll 713-353-4728 [email protected] D1Social Media Dianna Phu 713-468-1410 [email protected] TSpeaker Awards Mike Deming 281-925-7239 [email protected] VPTechnofest Deborah Sacrey 713-468-3260 [email protected] D2Tennis Tournament Steve Brachman 713-268-8810 [email protected] D1Vendor’s Corner Paul Babcock 713-859-0316 [email protected] TEVolunteer Coordinator Sue Pritchett 281-451-6522 [email protected] PWeb Management Gabriela Henriquez 713-463-9476 [email protected] D4

HGS Office Manager Sandra Babcock 713-463-9476 [email protected]


Registration Form — HGS Legends Night 2011Reservations and prepayment encouraged by online reservation or send check and form to: HGS Office,

HGS Legends Night 2011, 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 250, Houston, Texas 77079 or fax this form with credit card number to 281-679-5504

Name: ____________________________________________________________________________Membership No. __________________

Company:__________________________________________________________________________________________

Work Phone: ____________________________________________ Email: ______________________________________________________

Early bird registration $25/person (by Jan. 1, 2011) ____________ Registration $35/person (after Jan. 1, 2011)__________

No. of tickets desired: __________________________________________________ Total amount enclosed: ________________________________

(Please include names of all attendees, for registration badges): __________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Credit Card number and type: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CVV or Card ID : ________________________________________________________________Expiration Date (required): __________________________________________

Name on Credit Card: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Daytime Phone Number of Card Holder: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Billing Address for Card: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

City, State and Zip: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________


From thePresidentJohn Tubb, Jr.

[email protected]

Mark your calendar for Monday night, January 17. This will

be our HGS Legends Night. We will be honoring the four

living members of HGS who are past-presidents of both HGS

and AAPG. These distinguished members are John Amoruso,

Dick Bishop, Dan Smith, and Dave Rensink. Dave is presently

the AAPG President. These gentlemen will share their presidential

perspectives of HGS and AAPG and what the future holds for

these cornerstone societies. As a special guest, Rick Fritz, AAPG

Executive Director, is planning to attend the event and will be

part of the program.

Until January 1, 2011, the tickets are $25 per person or $200 for a

table of 10. If you are reading this article after January 1, your

ticket cost will be $35 per person or $250 for a table of 10. All

profits from this event will be divided between the HGS Calvert

Scholarship Fund and the HGS Foundation Scholarship Fund.

The HGS would really like to have a sellout crowd for this gala.

This special event has limited seating. Ashley Harris of ION

Geophysical Corporation heads up the HGS Legends Night

committee.

This past October’s events included:

• A very successful Earth Science Week, as highlighted in the

December Bulletin.

• The Upper Cambrian Microbialites trip to central Texas went

well with 23 paid participants. Thanks go to the field trip leaders,

Dr. Andre Droxler, Rice University, and Dr. Wayne Ahr, Texas

A&M University. Field Trip Chairman Gary Moore was called

out of town on business at the last minute. Richard Howe

substituted for Gary so we did not have to cancel the trip.

Thanks Richard and Gary.

• The HGS Golf Tournament, run by Mark Dennis, was held

on a beautiful October day with 320 golfers. Next year’s

tournament will be held on October 17, 2011.

See you at HGS Legends Night! �

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

HGS Legends Night From the President

Maps for Schools Donation

Robert Pledger

HGS made a “Maps for Schools” donation to St.

Thomas Episcopal School. Receiving the award is

Tim Russell and Erica Maw. Tim is the head of the

Middle School, teaches 8th grade physical science, and

high school geology. Tim was formerly with Amoco/BP

and served with GUPCO in Egypt. He retired from BP

after the merger. Erica has been teaching for four years

and teaches 6th grade earth science. She is also the 8th

grade girls’ homeroom teacher. St. Thomas is a private

K-12 school located here in Houston. �

Anew year has arrived and it is time to look back over 2010.

As usual, the year brought us several surprises and changes,

most of which would never have been predicted. Remembering

the words of Casey Stengel “Never make predictions, especially

about the future.”

I could discuss the political changes that took place in November,

but I am a skeptic and until proven differently,

a politician remains a politician independent

of whether we color their district red or blue. I

will leave that discussion for the next editor…I

would like to focus on the Deepwater Horizon

explosion, the extension of the drilling ban, the

rig count, the prices of oil and gas, who is buy-

ing what, what has been discovered, and

changes within my family.

The year began with mixed signals. The day before the President’s

State of the Union Address, the Department of the Interior

announced that it would delay the Virginia offshore lease sale

scheduled for November 2011. The next day, the President included

this line in his address, “It means making tough decisions about

opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development.” This single

line suggested to many that there might be a change in the wind and

much of the offshore would be on a path toward

leasing and future exploration. However, the draft

budget released in February indicated the

contrary and the industry should expect a

decrease in the availability of new offshore acreage.

On April 20th the Deepwater Horizon drilling

rig exploded. Eleven lives were lost, seventeen

crewmembers were injured, and oil began to

leak from the Macondo well. Estimates of the

amount of oil that leaked remain a point of

contention. The U. S. government estimates that

4.9 million barrels of oil were spilled; BP

contends that the government number may be

over-estimated by between 20 and 50%. The

actual amount of oil spilled is probably not

important to most of us. All parties agree that it

was a large amount, which impacted the ecosystem

and livelihood of much of the Gulf Coast. What

is important to most of us, in addition to the loss of life, was the

fact that the Macondo well explosion and leak resulted in changes

to the industry that will persist for many years:

• The shutdown of drilling in U.S. offshore waters for much of

the year

• A reorganization of the agency that regulates the industry

• New regulations and requirements

• The formation of a cooperative industry

organization to respond to such incidents in

the future

• A hardening of the freeze on OCS leasing for

the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Mid and

South Atlantic through at least 2017.

Unlike offshore, where government action

slowed down activity, onshore activity did not

miss a beat. The rig count continued to slowly

increase throughout the year (Figure 1). As of December 4th,

there were 1,690 active land rigs. Much of the growth in the rig

count can be attributed to a steady increase in the number of oil

wells. At the start of the year there were 427 oil well rigs and on

December 4th there are 742 oil well rigs in operation. Horizontal

operations accounted for 966 of the rigs. One can only hope that

From theEditor

From the Edito

r

Barry [email protected]

A Look Back at 2010

Unlike offshore, where

government action

slowed down activity,

onshore activity did not

miss a beat.


Figure 1 U. S. land drilling rig count (data from Baker Hughes Incorporated)

Letter from the Editor continued on page 9


the concerns expressed at different governmental levels over

fracking do not lead to significant restrictions in shale gas and

shale oil operations. We may begin to ponder whether

the restrictions on Marcellus operations in Pennsylvania are

exceptions rather than the forbearers of things to come.

The year began with the closing of ExxonMobil’s purchase of

XTO, a major move into the unconventional resource arena.

France’s Total and China’s CNOOC both entered into significant

deals with Chesapeake Energy for positions in the Barnett Shale

and the Eagle Ford Shale, respectively. India’s Reliance also took a

position in U.S. unconventionals, with a capture of a position in

the Marcellus Play. It was not only foreign companies acquiring

assets in the U.S., U.S. companies entered in the unconventional

space overseas in such places as Poland and Romania.

The steady increase in the number of rigs took place even though

the price of natural gas continued a general decline (Figure 2).

Natural gas began the year at $6.645 and in early December

closed at $4.318 per MMbtu. The drift toward lower natural gas

prices during the year was not reflected in crude oil (Figure 3).

Crude oil meandered for much of the year within an $18.00

trading range, with its low occurring in late May and a high in

November. There may be a number of reasons for the apparent

disconnect between oil and gas prices — increased availability of

North American gas a result of shale gas drilling as well as a

weakening of the U.S. dollar — but I will leave that in the hands

of the economists to debate.

Significant discoveries continued to be made globally. Near to

home there was McMoRan’s Davy Jones discovery at 28,263 feet on

the Louisiana shelf. Further a field there were major resource adds,

for example Tullow’s Owo discovery in Ghana, Petrobras’ pre-salt

Franco discovery offshore Brazil, Eni’s

Cabaça South East discovery offshore

Angola, and Chevron’s Acme gas

discovery offshore Australia. New

resources continue to be found.

Finally, there have been a number of

changes to our family, all of which

brought both my wife and I tears of

joy! The year began with the arrival of

our first granddaughter Madison. As

she made her entrance to the world,

Terry was in the delivery room with

Jeff and our daughter, Rebecca, while I

was in the waiting room, on a confer-

ence call. (It does seem that you can

never escape.) This summer, Madison

began the family tradition and took

her first cruise! (Although I’m not

sure that she will remember Alaska and those glorious glaciers.)

This summer our family grew in leaps and bounds, as our

younger daughter, Michelle was married. We welcomed David,

our new son-in-law, and also two new-granddaughters —

Catherine and Abby. The two girls and I have spent many hours

in the kitchen cooking and baking together. Being a grandparent

is wonderful! All the fun and none of the responsibilities! A few

weeks ago, we were thrilled to learn that Michelle and David are

expecting an addition to their family! So as a family we will

continue to expect change as 2011 begins. And, you know what

they say about changes, “you have to be flexible”. �

Until next month…

From the Edito

rLetter from the Editor continued from page 7 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NYMEX natural gas price (data from CNBC.com)

U.S. Crude oil price fluctuation in 2011 (data from U.S. EnergyInformation Administration)


In April, the GCAGS announced a program to match, dollarfor dollar, any donations received for scholarship programs of

member societies. The program runs from January 1, 2010

through June 30, 2011 and is subject to a cap of $10,000. The

HGS received two $10,000 matching scholarship donations. The

HGS Board voted in May to also match this program for funds

raised for the Calvert Memorial Fund (scholarships to graduate

students) and the HGS Foundation Fund (scholarships to

undergraduate students). This means that for every $1 received

in direct donations during the program, our local scholarship

funds will receive $3. What a deal! Please consider making a

donation to help our scholarship funds take maximum advan-

tage of the match program. Just fill out the form below and mail

to HGS along with your check. Or you can go to the HGS

Webpage, clicking on Donate to the HGS Scholarship Funds and

follow directions to donate. �

Send check and form to: HGS Office, HGS Matching Scholarship Fund, 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 250, Houston, Texas 77079or fax this form with credit card number to 281-679-5504

Donor Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Member No.: ____________________________________________ Scholarship Contributions:

Calvert: ____________________________________________

HGS Foundation — Undergraduate: ____________________

TOTAL REMITTANCE: ______________________________

(Optional) In Memory of: ____________________________________________________________________________________

Check # __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Credit Card number and type: __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Expiration Date (required): ____________________________CVV code (req’d):______________________________________

Name on Credit Card: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Daytime Phone number of Card Holder: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Billing Address for Card: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

City, State and Zip: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

GCAGS and HGS Matching FundGCAGS and HGS Matching Scholarships Fund

$10,000$9,000$8,000$7,000$6,000$5,000$4,000$3,000$2,000$1,000

$0

$10,000$9,000$8,000$7,000$6,000$5,000$4,000$3,000$2,000$1,000$0

$10,000$9,000$8,000$7,000$6,000$5,000$4,000$3,000$2,000$1,000

$0

$10,000$9,000$8,000$7,000$6,000$5,000$4,000$3,000$2,000$1,000$0

The Thermometer Chart above shows the relative amountof money (in $1,000 increments) that each Fund hasraised toward the GCAGS and HGS matching grants.

Calvert Memorial Fund HGS Foundation Fund


The Houston Geological Society Continuing Education Committee Presents

Salt Tectonics of Passive Margins A one-day short course offered by Mark G. Rowan (Rowan Consulting, Inc., Boulder, CO)January 25, 2011

This course introduces participants to modern concepts on salt tectonics applicable to passive margins such as the Gulf of

Mexico and South Atlantic basins. The course will consist entirely of lecture and will use a mixture of modern seismic data,

laboratory and conceptual models, field examples, and restorations to illustrate the styles and processes of salt-related

deformation. The course is intended for geoscientists needing either an introduction to salt tectonics or an update in this con-

tinually evolving field.

Course content will include:

• Ancient salt basins: origin, tectonic setting, layered evaporites

• Mechanics of salt deformation

• Diapir initiation and evolution: differential loading, extension, contraction

• Evacuation styles: turtle structures, expulsion rollovers

• Diapir reactivation: extensional collapse, shortening, strike-slip

• Near-diapir deformation: folding, faulting

• Allochthonous salt: emplacement, styles, evolution

• Gravitational failure: processes, proximal extension, distal contraction, role of canopies

Date: January 25, 2011Location: Western Geco • 10001 Richmond Avenue • Houston TX 77042

Please make your reservations on-line through the Houston Geological Society website at

www.hgs.org

For more information about this event, contact HGS Office • 713-463-9476 • office @hgs.org

Pricing Registration fee includes, as usual, a notebook, coffee breaks with pastries,

and lunch.

Prior to midnight After midnight Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011 Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011

HGS or GSH Member: $110.00 $130.00

Emeritus Member: $65.00 $65.00

Non-Member: $135.00 $155.00

Student Member*: $65.00 $65.00

Student Non-Member*: $77.00 $77.00

*A valid, current university/college student ID will be required for admittance atthe student price. There is a limit of 10 student enrollments at the reduced price.

There is room for 150 attendees.


HGS Special Dinner M

eetin

g

Structural Provinces and Processes of the North-centralGulf of Mexico Deepwater

Structural provinces in the north-central Gulf of Mexico can

be defined using different criteria. First, they can be delineated

based on the Miocene gravitational failure of the passive margin

in response to proximal clastic loading. Extension occurred near

the advancing shelf-slope break, shortening was concentrated

in the Atwater Foldbelt, and the area in between was dominated

by translation with only minor extension or contraction. The

eastern margin of this cell of basinward translation marks the

lateral edge of the Miocene depositional system and occurs along

several strike-slip structures in east-central Mississippi Canyon.

The western margin, trending NNW in central Green Canyon,

was controlled by the distribution of allochthonous salt, with

gravitational failure to the west accommodated primarily above

extensive canopies in more proximal positions.

Alternatively, structural provinces can be

identified based on the styles of salt with-

drawal, diapirism, and canopy formation. A

distal domain is characterized by vertical

feeders, broadly symmetrical evacuation

structures, and salt that spread radially to

form salt-stock canopies. In contrast, a

much larger, more proximal domain is

dominated by inclined, welded feeders,

asymmetrical expulsion rollovers, and salt that extruded primarily

basinward to form salt-tongue canopies. In some cases, salt

tongues were emplaced above deeper, still inflated Louann Salt, so

that subsequent evacuation of the underlying salt resulted in

anomalously deep canopies. Secondary minibasins later formed,

producing deep, young minibasins floored by allochthonous

welds only slightly above the Louann weld. The boundary

between the salt-stock and salt-tongue provinces is unlikely to be

related to basement architecture or Louann Salt thickness.

Instead, it is interpreted to represent a toe-of-slope that varies in

age from west to east. �

Biographical SketchMARK ROWAN received a B.S. in biology

from CalTech in 1976, an M.S. in geology

from the University of California at

Berkeley in 1982, and a Ph.D. in structural

geology from the University of Colorado

at Boulder in 1991. He spent three years at

Sohio Petroleum Co. in Denver (1982 to

1985), four years at Geo-Logic Systems in

Boulder (1985-1989), and three years at

Alastair Beach Associates in Glasgow, Scotland (1989-1992). He

then returned to the University of Colorado, and in 1996 he was

appointed a Research Assistant Professor

and headed up a large industrial research

consortium investigating Gulf of Mexico

salt tectonics. Mark left this position in 1998

and founded his own company, where he

consults and teaches for the petroleum

industry worldwide and conducts research

sponsored by industry.

Although Mark’s background includes many types of tectonic

environments, his recent research and consulting interests are

focused on the styles and processes of salt tectonics, salt-sediment

interaction, the geometry and kinematics of passive margins, and

the applications to petroleum exploration. He is the author or

coauthor of over 65 papers and 150 abstracts, is the regular

instructor for AAPG’s Salt Tectonics school, was an AAPG

Distinguished Lecturer, and is the AAPG International

Distinguished Instructor for 2009-2011.

HGS Special Dinner Meeting

Monday, January 24, 2011Westchase Hilton • 9999 WestheimerSocial Hour 5:30–6:30 p.m.Dinner 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Cost: $28 Preregistered members; $35 non-members & walk-ups

To guarantee a seat, you must pre-register on the HGS website and pre-paywith a credit card. Pre-registration without payment will not be accepted. You may still walk up and pay at the door, if extra seats are available.

Mark RowanRowan Consulting, Inc.Boulder, CO

Structural provinces in the

north-central Gulf of

Mexico can be defined

using different criteria.


Winners of Sheriff Lecture Poster Competition Announced

Al Danforth, HGS International Group

Each year at the Sheriff Lecture, University of Houston graduate students bring posters describing their research. The posters are

judged by UH Geosciences Alumni (UHGAA) and the winners are selected in three tiers: 1–New Graduate Students,

2–Experienced Graduate Students and 3–Experienced Ph.D. Candidates. Besides the recognition at the event, each tier winner can also

receive travel awards from UH which could be used toward their travels to scientific conferences. The Sheriff Lecture was held at the

Westchase Hilton on 15 November.

Winners for 2010 pictured here are:

Tier 1: Kimberly Mead, “Bioturbation on

Antarctica’s Explorers Cove Seafloor: Why

animal activity has a greater impact on

the sedimentary record than animal

abundance”.

Tier 2: Soumya Roy, “S-wave velocity

from ground-roll inversion: Source-

receiver tests and statics”.

Tier 3: Duan Li, “Modified S-Transform

in time-frequency analysis of seismic

data”.

Thirty posters were on display. About 150

people attended, including some 50 stu-

dents. The full list of posters is available

on the HGS website Calendar event for 15

November.

This was the 12th annual Robert E Sheriff Lecture; the series was started by UHGAA in 1999 to honor Dr. Sheriff as an educator,

scholar, and a proponent for the geosciences.

Its mission is to:

1. Bring some of the best known geologists and geophysicists in the world to the Houston community in order to share ideas

that are highly relevant to exploration geology and geophysics and,

2. Showcase geoscience activity at the University of Houston.

This year, Dr. John Walsh, Fault Analysis Group, University College Dublin, Ireland (www.fault-analysis-group.ucd.ie) was the visiting

lecturer, speaking about “The Structure, Content, and Growth of Fault Zones within Sedimentary Sequences and their Effects on

Hydrocarbon Flow”.

Dr. John Casey (Department Head at UH) provided an update on the amazing growth and diversification at UH’s geoscience depart-

ment, which is now named the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (http://www.geosc.uh.edu/)

Swift Energy again this year sponsored the students’ meals by a grant to HGS, for which we and the students are grateful. �

Poster winners acknowledged at the at Sheriff Lecture: Pictured (left to right) Justin VandenBrink(Chair, HGS International Group), Poster winners Duan Li, Soumya Roy, and Kimberly Mead,Duane Pierce (UHGAA,) Al Danforth (HGS International Group).W

inners of Sheriff Lecture Poster Competition Announced


HGS General Dinner M

eetin

gHGS General Dinner Meeting

Monday, January 10, 2011Westchase Hilton • 9999 WestheimerSocial Hour 5:30–6:30 p.m.Dinner 6:30–7:30 p.m.



The new regional 2D BeaufortSPAN seismic survey acquired

in four phases from 2006 to 2010 in the Beaufort Sea

provides a broad, deeper view of basins and crustal structure of

the Meso-Cenozoic Canadian Arctic passive margin. The 40-km

deep PSDM seismic profiles cover 22,160 km from inner shelf to

over 2000 m water depth and include areas previously

unsurveyed due to sea-ice limits. The survey area extends from

the U.S. border and offshore Mackenzie Delta north to latitude 74°

N off Banks Island. The clastic sedimentary prism attains a thick-

Interpretation of a New Regional Seismic Survey, Offshore Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort Sea Margin,

Arctic Canada: Illuminating a Pivotal Piece of the Arctic Puzzle

HGS General Dinner continued on page 23

Dr. Menno G. Dinkelman ION-GX Technology

BeaufordSPAN survey phases shown on a geographic base map with minimum sea ice extent in summer 2008. Acquired lines extend from near70° to 74°N latitude and over 500 Km EW. Our survey is enabled by technology and ice. Phase IV and OBC data are currently in processing.


ness up to 17 km and has a well-documented petroleum system

that has yielded 48 oil and gas discoveries in Cretaceous-

Oligocene sandstones of the delta region. A basin-scale geological

interpretation of the seismic data is tied to exploratory wells in

the Beaufort-Mackenzie basin and reveals significant variations

in the crustal architecture of the continental margin.

Three segments of the passive margin are recognized and defined

by orientation and structural styles, displaying variations from

typical passive margin geometry along Banks Island, to wrench

structures along the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, to a compressional

foldbelt west of Mackenzie Bay. Outboard seismic profiles image

the continent-ocean boundary (COB), oceanic crust, and the

inferred extinct spreading center of the Canada basin. The COB

is interpreted using gravity data supported by deep seismic

reflectors. Together, the geophysical data support the rotational

model of the opening of the Canada basin in early Cretaceous

time. The regional deep imaging of the distinct tectonic architecture,

structural sequence, and tectonostratigraphy of each segment are

major results of this project, and advance the understanding of

the geological framework of known and potential petroleum

basins of the Arctic margin of Canada. �

Bilgraphical SketchDR. MENNOG. DINKELMAN joined ION-GX

Technology in 2005, initially as a consultant

and then in 2006 as Chief Geologist

BasinSPAN Programs, with primary

focus on the interpretation of the Arctic,

North Atlantic, and SE Asia programs.

Prior to joining ION-GXT, Mr. Dinkelman

was active for more than 14 years as

principal geologist at the international

energy consultancy firm Gaffney, Cline & Associates, where he

provided technical, commercial, and strategic advice to energy

companies’ exploration and development

projects spanning from grass roots

exploration to reserves audits and

certifications in sedimentary basins

worldwide. Throughout the 1980s he

worked as a senior research scientist/

geologist at the exploration research

centers of Conoco and ARCO, and then

as the exploration advisor for the

Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources

in the Yemen Arabic Republic (North

Yemen). From 1973 to 1980 he was on

the faculty of the Department of

Geology at Florida State University.

Ever since his early days as a geologist

he has also intermittently worked as an

independent consulting geologist in

Europe and the United States and has

been on assignment in many countries.

Mr. Dinkelman holds degrees in the

Natural Sciences and Geology from the

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology

(ETH) in Zürich, Switzerland, and a

Ph.D. in Geological Oceanography

from Oregon State University, Corvallis,

Oregon. He is a member of HGS,

GCAGS, the Society of Sedimentary

Geology and the Society of Exploration

Geophysicists. He is fluent in Dutch,

English, and German and has working

knowledge of French, Spanish, and

Italian.

HGS General Dinner continued from page 21 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

HGS General Dinner M

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Three segments of the passive margin, Banks, Tuk and Foldbelt, have been distinguished in our studies. ION BeaufortSPAN Phase 1, 2 and 3 lines are shown.


The detection and measurement of migrated hydrocarbons

in near-surface marine sediments has become a relatively

routine exploration method in the petroleum industry to better

understand hydrocarbon charge. The presence of near-surface

migrated thermogenic hydrocarbons provides strong evidence an

active petroleum system is present as well as critical information

on source, maturity and migration pathways. There are multiple

methods currently applied by industry contractors to collect,

prepare, extract, and analyze near-surface migrated hydrocarbons

contained within marine sediments.

To improve the detection of seabed migrated thermogenic

hydrocarbon seepage, core samples should be collected

along major migration pathways (cross stratal leakage features)

identified by conventional deep seismic and high-resolution

seafloor imaging technology. Not all targeted cores will hit

the designated feature and thus collecting replicates along

key migration features is critical. Collecting sediment samples

below the Zone of Maximum Disturbance to avoid possible

transition zone alteration effects and ROM (recent organic

matter) masking problems is critical. Choosing the coring device

best suited for local seabed conditions will maximize both

penetration and sample recovery. Real time imaging provides

greater detail to confirm feature and provides a specific feature

to target.

Multiple sections per core should be collected at variable depths

providing a depth profile. Geochemical analysis should include a

full range of hydrocarbon types; light hydrocarbon gases (C1 to

C5), middle boiling point gasoline plus range (C5 to C10),

and high molecular weight hydrocarbons (C15+). Two types of

geochemistry samples should be collected; one to capture the

volatile light hydrocarbons (C1 to C10+) and non-hydrocarbon

gases; and a second for the higher molecular weight hydrocarbons

(C12+). The light hydrocarbons require special handling

and containers to limit volatile loss and prevent post sampling

microbial alteration. Bulk sediment measurements such as

quantity of organic matter and sand percent can be very helpful.

The identification of the background versus anomalous

populations is critical when evaluating anomalous seabed hydro-

carbons. Note that the sediment hydrocarbons are normally

highly altered and may not resemble conventional reservoir gas

or oil. Mapping thermogenic hydrocarbon seeps (oil and gas)

relative to key cross-stratal migration pathways via fluid flow

modeling and seismic attribute analysis provides an effective

petroleum systems evaluation tool to better understand the

seepage relative to subsurface hydrocarbon generation and

entrapment. �

Biographical SketchMICHAEL A. ABRAMS is currently Manager

Geochemistry with Apache Corporation.

Prior to working with Apache, Michael

was Manager Petroleum Geochemistry and

Senior Research Scientist for the University

of Utah’s Energy & Geoscience Institute

(EGI) and Senior Research Geochemist

with Exxon Product ion Research

Company. Michael has 30 years experience

in petroleum exploration, production, and

research providing integrated geochemical services. His research

interests include surface geochemistry, petroleum systems evaluation,

reservoir geochemistry, shale gas, and migration pathway

analysis. Michael chaired two AAPG Hedberg Conferences related

to near-surface seepage, was AAPG Memoir 66 co-editor for

Hydrocarbon Migration and Its Near Surface Expression, and is

co-editor of the forthcoming AAPG-SEG joint publication

Hydrocarbon Seepage: From Source to Surface. Michael has a B.S.

in geology from George Washington University, M.S. in geology

from the University of Southern California, and Ph.D. in

geochemistry from Imperial College London.

Tuesday, January 18. 2011Crowne Plaza Hotel - Greenspoint (former Sofitel)

425 North Sam Houston Pkwy E

Social 11:15 AM, Luncheon 11:30 AM

Cost: $31 pre-registered members; $35 for non-members & walk-ups.

To guarantee a seat, you must pre-register on the HGS website and pre-pay witha credit card. Pre-registration without payment will not be accepted. You may still walk up and pay at the door, if extra seats are available.

HGS Northsiders Luncheon Meeting

Best Practices for the Collection, Analysis, and Interpretation of Seabed Geochemical Samples to Evaluate Subsurface Hydrocarbon Generation

and Entrapment

Michael A. AbramsApache CorporationHouston Texas

HGS Northsiders Luncheon Meetin

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Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) is mandated

by law to set and apply standards of professional performance

of environmental geologists, engineering geologists, and water

supply hydrogeologists through the mechanism of Professional

Geoscientific (PG) licensure for the purpose of public protection

– the highest priority of TBPG. To meet this goal, TBPG revised

Texas’ previously existing Code of Professional Standards on

September 24, 2010. Evaluations of resolved actionable PG

enforcement case studies help delineate the boundary between

specific failures to meet the expected special-diligence PG

standard-of-care from day-to-day correctable PG service errors.

Uniform compliance with the revised Code of Professional

Standards is integral to Texas public safety and environmental

protection; TBPG seeks the active participation of all Texas

licensed Professional Geoscientists in 2011. �

Biographical SketchGEORGE DUNFIELD is a licensed Professional

Geoscientist and Lead Investigator at the

Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists

(TBPG) where he represents the TBPG

in enforcement/litigation relating to

maintenance of the geoscientific standards-

of-care in Texas. He brings over 20 years of

professional geoscience consulting (e.g.,

co-owner of a small environmental-

geotechnical firm and a Senior Environmental PM with DMJM/

AECOM), research (various NASA/Ames Research Center

research and exploration projects), and regulatory (county, state

environmental protection and professional licensing Board)

experience to the TBPG.

George DunfieldTexas Board of Professional Geoscientists

HGS Environmental & EngineeringDinner Meeting

Tuesday, January 18, 2011Black Lab Pub, Churchill Room • 4100 Montrose Blvd.

Social 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m.


The HGS prefers that you make your reservations on-line through the HGSwebsite at www.hgs.org. If you have no Internet access, you can e-mail [email protected], or call the office at 713-463-9476 (include your name, e-mail address, meeting you are attending, phone number and membership ID#).

HGS Environmental & Engineering Dinner M

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Geoscientific Enforcement Case Studies: Meeting the Professional Geoscientific (PG)

Standard-of-care in 2011

David Childers, ph: 713-658-0077, e-mail: [email protected] Plaza, 1201 Louisiana St., Suite 570, Houston, TX 77002

The Houston Geological Society Continuing Education Committee Presents

Salt Tectonics of Passive Margins A one-day short course offered by Mark G. Rowan (Rowan Consulting, Inc., Boulder, CO)January 25, 2011 (see page 16)

Professionalism as it applies to petroleum geoscientists is a

key and fundamental aspect of delivering on our promises

and conducting ourselves in an ethical manner. Reliability in

a geoscientist’s opinions and work product is the cornerstone

to building trust and confidence, whether it is a seismic

interpretation, prospect map, resources/reserves estimate or

expert witness testimony to name a few. Reliability is increased

when managers, companies and investors have the assurance that

the information they are evaluating was professionally prepared.

This talk discusses “professionalism” in petroleum geoscience and

highlights the important factors such as educational background,

experience, knowledge of recommended

practices, the use of advanced technology, and

last but not least, personal values – ethics.

There is, of course, always uncertainty and risk

associated with the exploration or development

of hydrocarbons. However, the proper use of

technology, recommended practices, industry

wide standards and ethical/professional

conduct not only can reduce r i sk and

uncertainty, but can also provide to companies

and investors the confidence needed to move

forward with an exploration or development

plan or program.

In the end, professionalism encompasses our use of technical

practices and standards, and our character and moral consciousness

that ultimately defines who we are and the reputation that will

follow us through our professional career. �

Biographical SketchDANIEL J. TEARPOCK serves in the role of

Chief Executive Officer of Subsurface

Consultants & Associates, LLC (SCA),

which is an international petroleum

consultancy and training firm. He is the

co-author of three textbooks, Applied

Subsurface Geological Mapping (© 1991),

Quick Look Techniques for Prospect

Eva lua t ions (© 1994) and App l i ed

Subsurface Geological Mapping with Structural Methods (© 2003),

and numerous technical articles. Mr. Tearpock was a finalist in

1996 and 1998 for the Ernst & Young

Entrepreneur of the Year program and in 1998

received the Distinguished Service Award from

Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA. He

holds a bachelors degree in geology from

Bloomsburg University, 1970; and a masters

in geology from Temple University, 1977.

He is an (AAPG/DPA) Certified Petroleum

Geologist No. 4114, State of Texas Licensed

Geologist No. 2660, and (SIPES) Certified

Earth Scientist No. 3015.

Mr. Tearpock is a member of numerous associations including

the AAPG, SPE, SIPES, SEG, GSA, HGS, EAGE, NOGS, LGS, IPA,

SEAPEX and PESGB. He is currently President of the AAPG’s

Division of Professional Affairs (2010-11). He is a founding

member and current Vice-Chairman (2010-11) of the intersociety

“Joint Committee on Reserves Evaluator Training” (JCORET).

The member societies represented on JCORET include the

AAPG, SPE, SPEE and WPC.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011Petroleum Club • 800 Bell (downtown) Social 11:15 AM, Luncheon 11:30 AM

Cost: $30 pre-registered members; $35 for non-members & walk-ups;Emeritus/Life/Honorary: $15; Students: FREETo guarantee a seat, you must pre-register on the HGS website (www.hgs.org)and pre-pay with a credit card. Pre-registration without payment will not be accepted. You may still walk up and pay at the door, if extra seats are available.

HGS General Luncheon Meeting

Daniel J. TearpockSubsurface Consultants & Associates, LLC Houston, TX

HGS General Luncheon Meetin

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Professionalism as it Applies to Petroleum Geoscience“The Practical Application of Ethics”

professionalism

encompasses our use

of technical practices

and standards, and

our character and

moral consciousness

HGS Legends Night 2011An Evening with the Legends of HGS

Monday, January 17, 2011 (see page 4)



Carbonate platform facies that form above actively deforming

salt comprise an important play type in many sedimentary

basins, although the timing, location, intensity, and style of salt

deformation relative to platform growth create a vast array of

syn- and post-kinematic stratal patterns within the platforms.

Recognition of syn-halokinetic stratal patterns is critical for

predicting facies within these platforms, which will be the focus

of this presentation. Syn-halokinetic stratal patterns within

individual platform systems depend on many factors, including

the styles and kinematic history of salt structures, the volume

of original salt available, background eustatic fluctuations,

longer-wavelength tectonic subsidence patterns, the types of

carbonate sediment created within all parts of the platforms, and

accumulation rates for sediment that fills depocenters adjacent

to the platforms.

Recognition of and Regional Controls on Syn-halokineticGrowth Stratal Patterns in Carbonate Platforms from

Extensional Basins

Joint HGS International and North American Dinner M

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Tuesday, January 31, 2011Westchase Hilton • 9999 WestheimerSocial Hour 5:30–6:30 p.m.Dinner 6:30–7:30 p.m.



Steven L. Dorobek BP AmericaHouston, TX

Saudi Arabian Shelf, Red Sea

Joint HGS International and North American Dinner continued on page 35


Reservations:The HGS prefers that you make your reservations on-line through the HGS website atwww.hgs.org. If you have no Internet access, you can e-mail [email protected], or callthe office at 713-463-9476. Reservations for HGS meetings must be made or cancelled bythe date shown on the HGS Website calendar, normally that is 24 hours before hand oron the last business day before the event. If you make your reservation on the Website orby email, an email confirmation will be sent to you. If you do not receive a confirmation,check with the [email protected]. Once the meals are ordered and name tags and lists areprepared, no more reservations can be added even if they are sent. No shows will be billed.

HGS Legends Night 2011An Evening with the Legends of HGS,

Westchase Hilton, Page 4

S u n d a y M o n d a y T u e s d a y

January 2011W e d n e s d a y

2

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5

10

18

252423

12

3

17 19

30 31

26

11

16

HGS Mid-year ChairFest and Board Meeting

5:30 p.m. Ninfa’s, 14737 Memorial Dr.

4

HGS General Dinner Meeting

“Interpretation of a New Regional SeismicSurvey, Offshore Mackenzie Delta

and Beaufort Sea Margin, Arctic Canada:Illuminating a Pivotal Piece of the Arctic

Puzzle”, Menno G. Dinkelman, Westchase Hilton, Page 21

HGS Special Meeting“Structural Provinces and Processes of theNorth-central Gulf of Mexico Deepwater,”Mark G. Rowan, Westchase Hilton, Page17

Joint HGS International & NorthAmerican Dinner Meeting

“Recognition of and Regional Controls onSyn-halokinetic Growth Stratal Patterns,”

Westchase Hilton, Page 30

HGS Continuing Ed“Salt Tectonics of Passive Margins” Mark G. Rowan, Western Geco,

Page16

HGS Northsiders Luncheon Meeting

“Best Practices for the Collection, Analysis,and Interpretation of Seabed GeochemicalSamples”, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Page 25HGS Environmental &

Engineering Dinner Meeting“Geoscientific Enforcement Case Studies”,

Black Lab Pub, Page 27

HGS General Luncheon Meeting

“Professionalism as it Applies to PetroleumGeoscience ‘The Practical Application of

Ethics’ ”, Daniel J. Tearpock, Petroleum Club

Page 29


T h u r s d a y

1

7

14

29

GEOEVENTS

22

S a t u r d a yF r i d a y

86

15

27 28

20 21

Collarini Energy Staffing Inc.Full–Time and Temporary Exploration and Production Personnel

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Members Pre-registered Prices:General Dinner Meeting.................. $28Nonmembers & walk-ups ................ $35Env. & Eng. ...................................... $25Luncheon Meeting .......................... $30Nonmembers & walk-ups ................ $35International Explorationists .......... $28North American Explorationists ...... $28

Upcoming GeoEventsFebruary 23-25, 2011New and Emerging Plays in theEastern MediterraneanGeological Society London, EnglandMarch 27-29, 2011South-Central Section GeologicalSociety of AmericaNew Orleans, LouisianaApril 10-13, 2011AAPG Annual Convention & Exhibition Houston, TexasMay 9-12, 2011AAPG Hedberg Research Conference– Natural Gas Geochemistry: Recent Developments, Applications, andTechnologies Beijing, ChinaJune 5-7, 2011Southwest Section AAPG AnnualConference Ruidoso, New MexicoJuly 21, 2011TechnoFest Houston, TexasJuly 31-August 4, 2011TSOP-CSCOP Joint Meeting: Unconventional Resources, CleanCoal, and Offshore ResourcesHalifax, NS, CanadaAugust2-4, 2011AAPG Geosciences TechnologyWorkshop – U.S. Shale PlaysFort Worth, TexasSeptember 6-8, 2011PESGB/HGS Conference on AfricanE & P London, EnglandSeptember 25-27, 2011Eastern Section AAPG Annual MeetingWashington, D.C.October 9-12, 2011Geological Society of America Annual Meeting Minneapolis, MNOctober 16-18, 201161st Annual Convention - GulfCoast Association of Geological Societies Veracruz, MéxicoOctober 23-26, 2011AAPG International Conference & Exhibition Milan, ItalyDecember 4-7, 2011GCSSEPM Foundation Bob F.Perkins Research ConferenceHouston, Texas

NOWyou can make

your reservations on-line at

www.hgs.org

SIPESLuncheon Meeting

“Shale Gas: Abundance or Mirage?”Arthur E. Berman, Petroleum Club

Page 39

March Bulletin Submission Deadline


Salt structures also vary depending on tectonic setting, with many

syn-halokinetic carbonate platforms forming in extensional

basins (i.e., sag basins, rifts, and passive margins). Incipient salt

diapirs typically create broad domal

highs at the seafloor, with plan-view

shapes that initially reflect the width

and depth of the initial perturbation

on the top salt surface. For any

given size/shape of the initial salt

diapir, seafloor deformation will be

expressed over a wider area if there is a thicker pre-halokinetic

stratigraphic succession above the salt. As diapirs rise, however,

and salt withdraws from adjacent depocenters, platforms may

form fringing systems around the diapir or the platforms may

shift laterally into the area of salt withdrawal. In extensional salt

provinces, detailed analysis of growth stratal patterns within

syn-halokinetic platforms also indicates when salt welds form.

Several examples will be shown to provide archetypes for

understanding syn-halokinetic strata.

Salt structures in sag basins are dominated by salt diapirs and

pillows; regional extension or contraction is limited because

initial salt volumes are typically small or are spatially restricted

across the basin and “regional” basement dip is gentle. In rift

basins and along passive margins, however, rift-related basement

topography and original salt thickness influence salt-related

deformation, with gravity sliding/

detachment becoming important

a long pass ive marg ins . Near

the updip depositional limits of

original salt, small salt diapirs/

pillows and minor salt-withdrawal

features are typical; along-strike

variations are related to regional variations in the amount of

syn-rift extension. The zone of limited salt updip changes

downdip into an extensional province. Typical syn-halokinetic

carbonate platforms in the extensional province include:

(1) isolated platforms on rotated fault blocks (i.e., “rafts”) with

internal growth strata that grossly mimic patterns observed in

syn-rift carbonate platforms; (2) isolated platforms on turtle

structures with internal growth strata that can record growth of

the turtle; and (3) land-attached, mixed siliciclastic-carbonate

ramps and shelves that form in fault-bounded withdrawal

depocenters or over crests of late-stage turtle structures.

Joint HGS International and North American Dinner continued from page 30 ______________________________________________


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Joint HGS International and North American Dinner continued on page 37

Recognition of syn-halokinetic stratal

patterns is critical for predicting facies

within these platforms


Extensional deformation changes downdip into a transitional (or

translational) province, which is characterized by large

salt diapirs, ridges, and some allochthonous salt bodies, and

ultimately, a contractional province at the downdip limit of salt

deformation. The seaward limit of syn-halokinetic platform

facies is generally found within the transitional province, where

water depths typically become sub-photic and shallow-marine

carbonate facies are unable to form. Significant salt-related uplift

of the seafloor, however, can provide local shallow-water

substrates for isolated carbonate platform development, even far

offshore. Syn-halokinetic carbonate platform facies are rarely

associated with allochthonous salt bodies because water depths in

the zone of contraction are simply too great for shallow-marine

carbonate sedimentation.

Examples of syn-halokinetic carbonate platform reservoirs are

found in the Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation of the Gulf of

Mexico, middle Cretaceous units of the South Atlantic conjugate

margins, and in the Miocene of the Red Sea region.

Accumulations of oil and gas can be significant (>250 MMBOE)

in syn-halokinetic platforms, but special conditions may be

necessary to form large accumulations, which will be discussed

during the presentation. �

Biographical SketchSTEVE DOROBEK i s a c a r bona te

sedimentologist and stratigrapher with

BP America in Houston. He provides

technical services and assessment to

various business units within BP, with

emphasis on pre-salt reservoirs and

petroleum systems of the South

Atlantic margins. Dr. Dorobek received

h i s B . S . i n g eo log y f rom Oh io

University and his Ph.D. in geology

from Virginia Tech. He previously was a professor at Washington

State University and Texas A&M University and was with Maersk

Oil and Gas in Copenhagen, Denmark, prior to joining BP. He

has served on numerous committees for AAPG, SEPM, and GSA,

and as an Associate Editor for the GSA Bulletin and Journal of

Sedimentary Research.

Joint HGS International and North American Dinner continued from page 35 ______________________________________________


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Shale gas plays in the United States are commercial failures, and shareholders in public

exploration and production (E&P) companies are the losers. Operators have maintained

the illusion of success through production and reserve growth subsidized by debt with a

corresponding destruction of shareholder equity. Many believe that the high initial rates and

cumulative production of shale plays prove their success. What they miss is that production

decline rates are so high that without continuous drilling overall production would plummet.

There is no doubt that the shale gas resource is very large. The concern is that much of it is

non-commercial even at price levels considerably higher than they are today.

The so-called shale gas revolution promises E&P opportunities that are geographically

immense with no barriers to entry. These ventures supposedly have no risk. Because of shale plays, we are told that there will be an

abundant supply of inexpensive gas for 100 years, and the E&P companies involved will all earn big profits. Is there any precedent for

this improbable combination of make-believe business assumptions that did not end in disappointment?

U.S. shale plays have been over-sold and are unlikely to deliver the results that investors now expect. In fact, shareholders have already

lost most of their investment. The shale gas resource is huge but the commercial portion is likely to be much smaller than what

has been claimed or hoped

for. At higher gas prices,

more of the resource makes

economic sense, but that

depends for the near term

on production discipline

that seems to be absent in

the U.S. E&P companies. It

also assumes that attendant

service costs do not escalate

at multiples similar to those

of gas prices.

For many companies, there

is no turning back: the

entire company has been

bet on the success of shale

plays. This seems to violate

what has been learned in

the E&P business about the

SIPES January Luncheon MeetingShale Gas: Abundance or Mirage?

Arthur E. Berman, Director, Labyrinth Consulting Services, Inc.

SIPES Luncheon Meetin

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The shale plays are called

resource plays for a

reason: all are about

resources but not profit or

the shareholder.

SIPES Luncheon Meeting

continued on page 41

Thursday, January 20, 2011Houston Petroleum Club in the Discovery Room, 800 Bell St. (downtown Houston). Social 11:15 AM, Luncheon 11:45 AM

Reservations Required:Make reservations by telephone (713-651-1639), fax (713-951-9659), website (www.sipes-houston.org), or [email protected] to B. K. Starbuck-Buongiorno by 12:00 noon on Tuesday preceding the meeting. You can now sign up for the meeting online atwww.sipes-houston.org, but payment is still required by regular mail or at the door.

Cost: $30 for SIPES Members and Chapter Affiliates who register by 12:00 Noon Tuesday; $35 for new registrations at the door. The price for guests, non-members and walk-ins is $35. No-shows will be billed.


importance of having a balanced portfolio. In some cases companies do not have sufficient shareholder value to justify being bought

and therefore saved.

Our evaluation suggests that there is limited commercial value from these plays despite public enthusiasm and operator claims. E&P

company shareholders have subsidized low natural gas prices and have little hope of recovering their investment in the near term. The

underlying problem is a failure to grasp the concept of discounting. Reserves that are produced in small volumes over decades have lit-

tle predictable future value and are, therefore, not reserves. The shale plays are called resource plays for a reason: all are about resources

but not profit or the shareholder. �

Biographical SketchARTHUR E. BERMAN is a geological consultant with thirty-two years of experience in petroleum exploration

and production. He is specialist in prospect and play evaluation, reserve assessment, risk evaluation, sub-

surface geological and geophysical interpretation, and database management. He currently is consulting

for several E&P companies and capital groups in the energy sector.

He is a member of the National Petroleum Council and on the Board of Directors of ASPO USA. He is a

on the editorial board of The Oil Drum, and an associate editor of the AAPG (American Association of

Petroleum Geologists) Bulletin. He is a past-editor of the Houston Geological Society (HGS) Bulletin

(2004-2005) and past-Vice-President of the HGS (2008-2009).

He has published over 50 articles on geology, technology, and the petroleum industry during the past 5

years. Publication topics include petroleum exploration, oil and gas price trends and cycles, petroleum

play evaluation, sequence stratigraphy, coastal subsidence, earthquakes, tsunamis, and petroleum geopolitics. He has published 10 arti-

cles on shale gas plays including the Barnett, Haynesville and Fayetteville shales.

During the past year, he has made over 30 presentations to financial analyst conferences, oil & gas association meetings, engineering

and geological society meetings and E&P company executive committees over the past year. He is a guest lecturer at the Rice University

Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management.

He has an M.S. (geology) from the Colorado School of Mines and a B.A. (history) from Amherst College.

SIPES Luncheon Meetin

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HGS K-12 Outreach Janet Combes

In November the HGS K-12 outreach booth was out and abouton two different weekends. The first Saturday in November

was spent at the Sally Ride Science Festival at Rice University.

This event brings together hundreds of 5th-8th grade girls for a

festive day of science activities. Many Houston area science

organizations and corporations were present

at the opening Street Fair, which was followed

by an astronaut speaking to the kids and

then by multiple workshops from which the

students and parents could choose two to

attend. The HGS booth at the Street Fair

was staffed by Janet Combes, Huw James,

Aubrey Waddail, and Hua Liu. The HGS

volunteers divided their time between talking

about a geologist’s job, showing off some core samples on loan

from the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG), and demon-

strating how a slinky mimics earthquake motion — the slinky

freebies went in a hurry! While the HGS display focuses on petro-

leum geology, Aubrey brought in another dimension with her

poster and explanation of an environmental geologist’s job.

The second November weekend, from Friday through Sunday,

the HGS booth and volunteers were at the Houston Gem and

Mineral Society show at the Humble Civic Center. Eighteen

hundred students were registered for field trips on Friday and 300

Scouts signed up for geology badge activities on Saturday and

Sunday. Volunteers at the HGS station included Ray Durkan,

Gerrit Wind, Richard Hyde, Jim Flis, Allan Filipov, Huw James,

John Platt, Donna Davis, David Reiter, Thomas Morgan,

Maynard Little, Raymond Willis, Terry Pinkston, Mac Hooten,

and Janet Combes. The kids kept everyone on their toes with

their questions and interest while the parents, teachers, and scout

leaders were very appreciative of the support. In addition to the

K-12 petroleum geology career display, the HGS station again

had the BEG core pieces as well as some pieces of coal and salt.

The HGS booth shared the area with a station from the Houston

Museum of Natural Science organized by HGS members Neal

and Inda Immega.

Plans are underway for a formal committee

to handle such outreach events as science

and scout fairs. TEKS- and Scout-specific

posters will need to be designed and

constructed to use in addition to the current

display of general-public explanation of

a petroleum geology career. If you are

interested in working on this committee or

promoting the use of the display booth,

please watch the HGS website for more information as it becomes

available, or contact the HGS office.

The accompanying photos attempt to

capture some of the enthusiasm and

interactions at the recent Sally Ride

Festival and the HGMS show. The pictures

were taken by Aubrey Waddail and Inda

Immega, when they had time to grab their

cameras. �

Plans are underway for a

formal committee to handle

such outreach events as

science and scout fairs.

HGS K–12 Outreach

Huw James and the HGS display at the Sally Ride Science Festival heldat Rice University.

Hua Lin demonstrates slinky motion at the Sally Ride Science Festivalto a group of future scientists and a parent.

Mac Hooten at the HGMS show


HGS K–12 Outreach

Terry Pinkston and Scouts at the HGMS show Thomas Morgan at the HGMS show

Gerrit Wind and Ray Durkan on Friday at the HGMS show Allan Filipov at the HGMS show


Cheated, Mistreated,Pushed Around?

Have you been cheated, mistreatedor somehow deprived of yourshare of a deal, working interestor royalty? If so, give me a call. I have twenty five years experienceas a working interest and royaltyowner in the oil and gas businessto go along with thirty five yearsof court room experience. You donot pay anything unless I win.

Robert A. Chaffin

CHAFFIN & STILES4265 San Felipe, Suite 1020

Houston, Texas 77027

(713) [email protected]


RemembranceGEORGE E. KRONMAN

GEORGE KRONMAN passed away in mid-September. George was a former editor of the

Houston Geological Society Bulletin and an active member of the geological communi-

ty throughout his career. He received a B.S. in geology from State University of New

York, Cortland, in 1976 and an M.S. in geology from State University of New York,

Fredonia, in 1979 on a New York State Sea Grant Scholarship. He took several post-

graduate courses in geology at Vanderbilt University and later got an M.B.A. in finance

from the University of Houston in 1987. In addition, he attended development courses

at Columbia, Harvard, and Cornell in international strategic development, negotiations

and strategic decision-making, and critical thinking.

George began his professional career with Amoco Production Company in Houston in

1980, where he worked a variety of Mid-Continent basins and regional studies in the

offshore Gulf of Mexico. He participated in numerous offshore lease sales and drilling ventures as well as well-site opera-

tions. From 1987 to 1998, George held various management positions with Amoco, including Director of Worldwide New

Ventures, Vice President of Amoco India Petroleum Company, Vice President of Amoco Venezuela Petroleum Company,

and Exploration Manager, Amoco de Brasil.

After the Amoco-BP merger, George worked as Senior Manager for energy business consulting at Arthur Anderson from

1998-2000. He went on to become Global Subsurface Consulting Director for Halliburton/Landmark Graphics

Corporation from 2000 to 2005. Later, he served as Global Chief of Geoscience Resources and Exploration Manager for

Western Hemisphere New Ventures with Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation. From 2007 until his passing, George was

International New Ventures Manager for The Hess Corporation.

Throughout his career, George distinguished himself as a geologist and team leader with exceptional scientific and busi-

ness skills. He excelled in international work where his open, honest, and generous spirit and interpersonal skills won him

friends all over the world. George balanced a great love of travel with an abiding sense of family and faith, as well as service

to the community. He is survived by his wife Mindy and children. George was an outstanding geologist and a person of

great integrity and optimism. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and worked with him. �

Remembrance


2010 HGS Golf Tournament

Thank you to all the sponsors and participants of the 2010 HGS Golf Tournament! The tournament was a huge success, and thank-

fully the weather cooperated, so for the first time in three years we did not have to reschedule the tournament. Next year’s tourna-

ment is scheduled for Monday, October 17th, so mark your calendars.

Congratulations to all of the winning teams and the individual contest winners from this year’s tournament:

Marsh Course:

1st Place Gross:

Brad Jones, Chris Burkard, Bart Wilson, Eric Nefe

2nd Place Gross:

Gary Sorenson, Behtaz Compani, Gary Carver

1st Place Net:

Barry Perilloux, David Welch, Todd Boring, Alan Berlin

2nd Place Net:

Kevin Logan, Art Gray, Michael Gray, Haun

Closest to the Pin #5: Al Filipov

Closest to the Pin #14: Jason Taylor

Longest Drive #11: Michael Gray

Longest Drive #7: Michael Wall

Island Course:

1st Place Gross:

Mark Carrigan, Brett Heath, Mike Albertson, Richard Burnett

2nd Place Gross:

Matt Tyrrell, Lance Sims, Sean Barlow, Bill Roach

1st Place Net:

Berry, Rische, Johnson, Peak

2nd Place Net:

J.B. Morace, Todd Nicholson, David Chastain, Tom Adams

Closet to the Pin #3: Kelly Bentley

Closest to the Pin #12: Lee Shelton

Long Drive #11: Sean Barlow

Long Drive #7: Triny Rivera

Lake Course:

1st Place Gross:

Matt Malouf, Adam Majeski, Ryan Bailey, Shelette

2nd Place Gross:

Tim Moore, Barry Acomb, Steve Compton, Ron Howard

1st Place Net:

Nick Shilcock, James Blattman, Kent Ray, Chad Reiminger

2nd Place Net:

Linda Santiago, Derek, Folger, Forrest Burton, Thad Dunbar

Closest to the Pin #4: Ed Zinni

Closest to the Pin #15 Derek Folger

Longest Drive #11: Ryan Bailey

Longest Drive #7: Adam Majeski

2010 HGS Golf Tournam

ent


Kevin J. McMichael

First City Tower 713-655-97001001 Fannin, Suite 777 Fax 713-655-9709Houston, TX 77002 [email protected]

AGI Government Affairs Monthly Review (October 2010)Congressman Questions Scientific Integrity In Relation to Oil

Spill Response

Congressman Paul Broun (R-GA), Ranking Member of the

Science and Technology Subcommittee on Investigations and

Oversight, sent a letter (http://gop.science.house.gov/Media/

documents/10.28.10broun2.pdf) on October 28, 2010, to Dr.

John Holdren, Director of the White House Office of Science and

Technology Policy (OSTP), criticizing OSTP for failing to comply

with a presidential directive. On March 9, 2009, President Obama

requested OSTP to prepare recommendations on scientific

integrity within 120 days, but OSTP has not yet produced a

report. Broun mentions several examples of scientific integrity

issues within the federal government related to the BP Deepwater

Horizon oil spill, and he calls for OSTP to complete the report.

The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility filed a

lawsuit in October against OSTP for not providing records related

to draft recommendations on scientific integrity, and other

groups have also called for the completion of the report.

A separate letter (http://gop.science.house.gov/Media/documents/

10.28.10broun1.pdf), sent the same day by Broun, requests all

records regarding BP’s Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GRI)

from OSTP. Broun expresses frustration about a lack of trans-

parency and cooperation from the White House. Broun also sent

a letter (http://gop.science.house.gov/Media/documents/

10.28.10broun3.pdf) to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, asking

for all records related to a report, titled “Increased Safety

Measures for Energy Development in the Outer Continental

Shelf.” (http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2010/10/19/2010-

26296/boemre-information-collection-activity-10100182-increased

-safety-measures-for-energy-development-on) The congressman

is concerned that Salazar misrepresented peer-reviewed

recommendations in the report.

Funding for Oceans Research

Congress has recently been working on three bills that would

provide funding for geoscientists who do research related to the

oceans. The Senate is currently considering S. 1252, The Oceans

and Human Health Reauthorization Act of 2009 (http://thomas.

loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:S.1252:), which was introduced

by Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) over a year ago, but has now

made it to the full Senate for consideration. This bill would

expand the authority of the Interagency Oceans and Human

Health Task Force. Included are provisions that would fund

ocean and climate change monitoring projects, which would be

funded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA). Voting could occur during the lame

duck session after the election in November.

In the House, H.R. 6344, The Marine and Hydrokinetic

Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2010 (http://thomas.

loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:h.r.06344:), was introduced in

September and referred to the Committee on Science and

Technology. It sets up a funding apparatus within the

Department of Energy (DOE) that would provide grants to

researchers and facilities that are developing technology—other

than dams—that will produce renewable hydrokinetic power.

These grants would also fund scientists doing feasibility or envi-

ronmental impact studies. The bill aims to promote partnerships

with private industry in the hopes that the technology produced

will be as cost-effective as possible.

Finally, the House is considering H.R. 6215, the Digital Coast Act

of 2010 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:h.r.

06215:), which is in the Natural Resources Subcommittee on

Insular Affairs, Oceans, and Wildlife. NOAA is interested in mapping

the 95,000 miles of U.S. shoreline that are not accurately mapped.

This data is critical to emergency preparedness, shipping,

environmental health, and national security. The mapping will be

contracted out to qualified geoscientists, while NOAA will

provide a platform for data integration and promote commercial

remote-sensing technologies. Mapping projects will include

shallow bathymetric data, airborne elevation data, large-scale

land use and land cover maps, benthic habitat and aquatic

vegetation mapping, parcel data, planimetric data, and socioeco-

nomic and human use data.

Bingaman Floats Energy Measures for Lame Duck

Energy legislation may still reach the Senate floor in 2010, but

finding enough time for debate will be difficult. Senator Jeff

Bingaman (D-NM) has supported three major pieces of legislation,

including a stand-alone renewable electricity standard (RES)

(S. 3813), a tax-credit package for renewable energy sources

(S. 3935), and a set of energy efficiency standards for consumer

products (S. 3925). The RES language has already been passed by

the House in the Waxman-Markey bill, but the measure was

dropped from an oil spill response package engineered by Senate

Government U

pdate

Government Update continued on page 51

Government UpdateHenry M. Wise, P.G. and Arlin Howles, P.G.

If you’d like the most up-to-date Texas rules, regulations, and governmental

meeting information we direct you to the HGS website to review The Wise Report.

This report, which comes out as needed, but not more often than once a week,

offers the most up-to-date information that may be of interest to Texas geologists.



Government Update continued from page 49 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) in July. Another measure

that Bingaman has endorsed would create a Clean Energy

Deployment Agency (CEDA) to assist in the transfer of clean

energy technologies from the lab to the marketplace. With a

Republican-controlled House in the 112th Congress, President

Obama has called for passing energy legislation in separate parts,

rather than considering one large, comprehensive energy bill.

UN Convention on Biological Diversity Proposes Geoengineering Ban Delegates to the United Nations (UN) biodiversity conference in

Nagoya, Japan, in October have taken aim at the growing field of

geoengineering, which they say could harm ecosystems across the

globe. The group has proposed a moratorium on carbon dioxide

removal (CDR) and solar radiation management (SMR) projects,

which had previously not been subject to significant rulemaking.

Geoengineering involves such schemes as sending satellite mir-

rors into space to reflect solar radiation, fertilizing the oceans

with iron to encourage plankton growth, and whitening clouds

with aerosol sprays.

Back in Washington, DC, a mock congressional hearing at the

Woodrow Wilson Institute on October 19, 2010 discussed cloud

whitening, with students from Thomas Jefferson High School

for Science and Technology serving as witnesses. Responding to

the rising interest about geoengineering, the Government

Accountability Office (GAO) released a report in October, high-

lighting the poor understanding of how geoengineering fits into

federal laws and international agreements. The House Science

and Technology Committee announced in a press release on

October 29, 2010 that they have also completed a report on geo-

engineering, titled Engineering the Climate: Research and

Strategies for International Coordination (http://democrats.

science.house.gov/Media/file/Reports/EngineeringTheClimate_

StaffReport.pdf), urging that the benefits and potential harm of

geoengineering be studied carefully.

Showdown Unfolds Over Yucca Mountain Saga In the first week of October, Gregory Jaczko, the Chairman of the

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), announced that the NRC

would end its review of the proposed nuclear waste repository at

Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Jaczko initially cited the lack of a

budget for fiscal year (FY) 2011 as his reason for closing the

review. As of October 1, 2010, the government is being funded by

a Continuing Resolution (CR), which will maintain FY 2010

funding levels until December 3, 2010. Following the Yucca

Mountain Development Act, signed by President Bush in 2002,

the establishment of a repository at Yucca Mountain is required

by law. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) wants

the Yucca Mountain repository to be terminated, as do the

majority of residents in Nevada. President Obama supports the

termination of Yucca Mountain and included no funding for the

program in his FY 2011 budget request.

The five-member NRC is reviewing the Department of Energy’s

(DOE) authority to withdraw the license, which the DOE

attempted this summer at President Obama’s request. The review

follows an appeal by DOE of a ruling by the NRC’s Atomic

Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) that only Congress, through

legislation, could withdraw the application for a license.

South Carolina and Washington, which have significant

temporary nuclear waste sites, and others are now suing to

overturn Jaczko’s decision, alleging that he lacks the necessary

authority to make that decision alone. Two memos calling for a

vote on the licensing procedure from Commissioner William

Ostendorff reveal dissent within the NRC.

Members of Congress continue to question actions taken in

regards to Yucca Mountain. Two senior House Republicans, Fred

Upton (R-MI), ranking member of the Energy and Commerce

Committee’s Energy and Environment Subcommittee, and Ed

Whitfield (R-KY), sent a letter to the NRC’s Inspector General

requesting that he conduct a review of Jaczko’s decision. Joe

Barton (R-TX), Ralph Hall (R-TX), Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI),

and Doc Hastings (R-WA), ranking members of the Energy and

Commerce Committee, Science and Technology Committee,

Energy Independence and Global Warming Select Committee,

and Natural Resources Committee, respectively, sent Jaczko a

letter on October 13, 2010. The letter states that Jazcko cannot

end the review based on the President’s budget request. Seven

Republican members of the House Energy and Water

Appropriations Subcommittee have also sent a letter condemning

Jaczko’s decision. Jaczko continues to stand by his decision and

the actions will likely be reviewed in the courts.

U.S. Military Pushes for Renewable Energy The U.S. military is now in the process of field-testing a solution

to one of their biggest supply challenges—energy for operations.

Transport of diesel and gasoline is a major component of supply

efforts, especially in Afghanistan, and accounts for 30 to 80 per-

cent of the load in convoys. According to the New York Times,

even though the military buys subsidized fuel at $1 per gallon,

transporting that fuel to remote operating bases can cost up to

$400 per gallon, and additionally carries a high cost in lives. A

recent report, “Sustain the Mission Project: Casualty Factors for

Fuel and Water Resupply Convoys (http://www.aepi.army.

mil/docs/whatsnew/SMP_Casualty_Cost_Factors_Final1-

09.pdf),” by the Army Environmental Policy Institute, found that

for every 24 fuel convoys in Iraq and Afghanistan, one soldier or

civilian contractor escorting those convoys is killed.

Government U

pdate

Government Update continued on page 53


Government U

pdate

To address this challenge, Ray Mabus, the Secretary of the Navy,

has said that the goal of the Navy and Marine Corps is for

50 percent of their fuel to come from renewable sources by 2020.

Marine Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines has been

deployed to Helmand Province in Afghanistan with solar panels,

energy-conserving lights, and other special renewable technologies.

While the equipment costs $50,000 to $70,000, the savings in fuel

transport costs quickly makes up for it, and the independence

from fuel resupplying is a huge tactical advantage. The Navy is

introducing hybrid vessels, and the Air Force is converting their

fleet to run on biofuels. The Marines are even developing portable

biofuel plants that can produce fuel from local crops in the field.

The military’s support for renewable energy could be the force

that makes these technologies commercially viable in civilian use.

U.S. Partners with Iceland on Geothermal Research U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Luis Arreaga and Icelandic Minister

of Industry, Energy, and Tourism Katrín Júlíusdóttir have signed

a bilateral agreement to boost geothermal energy technologies

and use, says the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy Office in a press release (http://apps1.eere.

energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=416). The agree-

ment, signed on October 6, 2010, will allow an exchange of

researchers and other resources between the two countries and

attempt to identify and remove obstacles to the use of geothermal

energy. Iceland, seated over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, receives 56

percent of its energy supply from geothermal sources, while the

U.S. share is less than half of one percent. President Obama allo-

cated $350 million to promote geothermal use in the American

Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and this announcement

continues U.S. policy to accelerate geothermal energy use.

China Restricts REE Exports The Chinese government has recently been accused of blocking

rare earth element (REE) exports to Japan, after a disagreement

over territorial waters. China operates a monopoly on mining

and extraction for these important minerals, which are used in

solar panels, rechargeable batteries, specialized military

equipment and other products. There have also been concerns

that China has halted exports to Europe and the U.S., but these

restrictions may simply be a result of export quotas. In July,

China announced a 79 percent decrease in REE exports for the

remainder of 2010. China could face penalties under World Trade

Organization (WTO) provisions if they halted exports. The U.S.

Trade Representative is already investigating claims by the United

Steelworkers that China is subsidizing exports of renewable

energy products.

Greater than 90 percent of REE production is located in China,

though deposits of the minerals are widespread: the U.S., for

example, holds approximately 13 percent of global deposits in

California, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, and Missouri.

None of these U.S. deposits are currently being mined, but the

Mountain Pass Mine in California, formerly the largest producer

of REE materials worldwide, is set to open again in 2012.

For details of international response, see the New York Times

account of the embargo and Germany’s reaction. As of October

28, 2010, China has resumed its export of rare earth elements

(REE) to Japan and the West. �

E. H. STORK, JR., & ASSOCIATES, INC.

Biostratigraphic Specialists* Extensive Regional Paleo Database

* Onshore – Offshore Texas & Louisiana* Over 5,000 Well Inventory

Current Analysis — Drilling Wells


TORK, J OCIA



Onshore – Offshore Texas & Louisiana**

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Extensiv o Data



Over 5,000 Well Inventory Onshore – Offshore Texas & Louisiana

Extensive Regional Paleo Database





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Government Update continued from page 51 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

There will be 48 oral sessions (432 oral presentations) and 414 poster

sessions during the convention. The posters will be “all-day” meaning

they are set-up in the morning and available till 5:00 pm for viewing.

Many posters will also have PowerPoint versions of the poster in an

e-poster area with TV screens.

These oral programs also include some exciting moderated forums

including:

• Transforming Global E&P: Unconventional Resource Plays as

Strategic Drivers

• Taking Natural Gas Seriously: Opportunities and Challenges

• The Deepwater Horizon/Macondo Well Oil Spill —

Understanding the Impact

• Shale Plays: Technical Examination of Today’s Reality and

Tomorrow’s Future


2011Annual AAPGConvention in Houston

Countdown to AAPG

HGS Welcomes New Members

ACTIVE MEMBERS

Claudio Bartolini

Luiz Braga

Huyen Bui

Brian Cook

Henry David

Mahdy El Tablawy

Tyler Engelhardt

Lionel Fray

Michael Garrigan

Susan Harding

Evan Howell

Enrique Hung

Sriman Murphy Inkollu

Matt Jones

Ronald Kenny

Amber Koch

Walter Korenkiewicz

John LeBas

Dane Mayers

Kristy Milliken

Elizabeth Oldham

Glen Penfield

David Reiter

Michelle Ribelin

Henry Rivas

Pedro Sanchez

Peter Schmitz

David Schwartz

Mamdouh Shebl

Michael Stephens

Heather Stilwell

Eric Yerkovich

Dustin Young

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Kyle Hill

Shawn Williams

Emeritus Member

Samuel Pratt

STUDENT MEMBERS

Zheng Huang

Nicolas Guerrero

Robert Niehay

Jason Kegel

Alicia Staszyc

New Members Effective November 9, 2010

Welcome New Members

HGS Welcomes New

Mem

bers

Countdown to AAPG


January Crossword of Geologic Terms

ACROSS

2 A little valley with a stream

4 A term applied to any transparent or translucent light-colored crystalline mineral

7 Silicate glass of non-volcanic origin

10 Altered basalt

15 Relative displacement opposite sides of a fault

16 Abundant carbonate material suspended

17 Color of mineral in powder form

22 Tetrgonal mineral, TiO2

24 Cavity in lava caused by the entrapment of a gas bubble

25 Small cavity

31 Minor interval in stratigraphic classification

32 Magnetic variety of natural iron oxide

33 Extremity of an axis of a sphere

34 Meeting place of two streams

36 Erosional remnant f a nappe

38 Ejected during a volcanic eruption

39 Gap in the sedimentary record

41 Rock type formed from molten lava

42 Unstratified drift deposited by and underneath a glacier

43 Destructive processes associated with exposure to the atmosphere

44 Mineral of economic value that can be extracted at a profit

46 Generic term for a group of hydrous alumniosilicates

48 First stage or erosion cycle

Janaury Crossword of Geologic Term

s


December Crossword Puzzle Answers

DOWN

1 Vertical conduit through the Earth's crust under a volcano

3 Ocean obliterated by the Alpine-Himalayan collision

5 Part of stream where current is moving swifter than usual

6 Rock fragments derived from and lying at the base of a cliff

8 Pacific tropical cyclone

9 Lowland containing a stream

11 Radioactive hydrogen

12 An area where oil or water percolates to the surface

13 Potassium carbonate

14 Fine-grained carbonate rock

16 Toward the blowing wind

18 Deformation resulting from stress

19 Silicified wood

20 Indurated mud lacking lamination

21 Foreign to the body of rock in which it occurs

23 One plate descending beneath another

26 Mode of sediment transport in a series of leaps and jumps

27 Mud-supported carbonate rock

28 Termination of strata against overlying surface

29 The capacity to transmit a fluid

30 An exinitic maceral

35 Bare rock surface

37 English term for running stream

40 Open workings for the extraction of stone

45 Pyroclastic rock

47 Sheltered from the wind

Janaury Crossword of Geologic Term

s


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Annual D

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Annual dues are $24

.00; emeritus mem

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Application to Become a Member of the Houston Geological Society

To the Executive Board:I

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Job Title:________________________________________________________________

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Work Phone:______________________Fax N

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Houston G

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14811 St. M

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(Card I.D. – 3 or 4 digit number on front or back of card )


The December Christmas Luncheon at

Lakeside Country Club was a superb

holiday celebration. The High School of

Performing and Visual Arts of the

Houston Independent School District’s

performance will be long remembered.

Our next event, Game Day, will be held

on Monday, February 14, 2011, at the

Junior League Tea Room, 1811 Briar

Oaks, Houston, Texas, 10:00am-2:00pm. The creative chair, Daisy

Wood, will be assisted by her committee, Sally Blackhall, Linda

Dobbins, Kathi Hilterman, Suzanne Howell, and Norma Jean

Jones. This party is one of the highlights of HPAC each year;

it has every type of game you wish to play, abundant prizes,

wonderful fellowship, and delicious food. Don’t miss this

memorable day!

HPAC experienced its first day trip, Exploring Houston, led by

Martha Lou Broussard. It was a great success. We watched

unleavened bread being baked on the side of a brick oven and

chocolates being made by hand. In addition we had delicious

Persian food and a taste of that chocolate.

Our next discovery trip on January 25 will be to New China Town

(now renamed Asian Town) in far west Houston. We will have a

tea tasting at the Taipei Culture Center, a visit to a temple, a walk

through an Asian market and a dim sum lunch at Ocean Palace

Restaurant. If you have always been curious about this large

community here is your chance to see it. Mark your calendar and

make your reservation when it is announced.

The date of the March trip has been changed to March 31.

Camille K. Amoruso has been chosen as our member to high-

light for the January issue of the HGS Bulletin from the virtual

garden of HPAC ladies. Camille joined the Houston Geological

Auxiliary shortly after her arrival in Houston in 1965 and has

been a faithful member ever since. She was born in Detroit,

Michigan, and earned her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy at the

University of Michigan. She met her husband of 52 years, John

Amoruso, at the University while he was working on his master’s

degree in geology. They married after Camille graduated and

moved to Salt Lake City where John was working with Pan

American Petroleum Corporation. At that time, graducate

pharmacists were required to serve a one year apprenticeship and

pass an examination before they could be fully licensed as a

registered pharmacist. Camille started acquiring this working

experience in Salt Lake City, but six months later John was

transferred to Farmington, New Mexico. Fortunately, Camille was

welcomed with enthusiastic open arms in Farmington, where

pharmacists were needed in the rapidly growing town, a center of

the oil industry in the Four Corners area. During their three-year

stay in Farmingson, two sons were born, Jim and Mike, with

Camille working on her apprenticeship requirements. In addition,

John was frequently in the field, well sitting. It was a very busy,

but satisfying time. In 1962, John was transferred to Fort Worth,

Texas, where Camille finished her apprenticeship and became a

registered pharmacist in three states, Michigan, New Mexico, and

Texas. As the saying goes, she got here as soon as she could, even

though in short steps. After a year and a half in Fort Worth and

two years in Tyler, Camille arrived in Houston. She has been able

to practice her profession everywhere. She has been in both retail

and hospital pharmacies. Camille is in “private practice” now and

does not work formally. John says “private practice” is a full time

job, monitoring his medications and making sure he takes them.

With more free time, Camille and John have been able to travel a

little more for pleasure. They had a family Alaskan cruise this

summer with their son, Jim, his wife, Patty, their two sons,

Christopher and David, and Camille and John’s son, Mike, his

wife Cathy, their son, Andrew, and 3-year-old daughter, Camille.

Whenever possible, Camille has attended Auxiliary luncheons

and functions, and has participated with John in his many

professional activities and travels. While the boys were growing

up, Camille stayed at home, but once they were adults she joined

John, especially in his travels as President of the American

Association of Petroleum Geologists and other organizations.

John says many of the members, curious about their medications,

would rather talk to Camille than him. It seems that they want

her to be their unofficial pharmacist. Camille has been a devoted

and loyal member of both HGA and HPAC; the groups are very

appreciative for her participation.

Remember that HPAC has several Interest Groups: Bridge

(contacts: Audrey Thompkins, 713-686-0005 or Daisy Wood,

713-977-7319) and/or Book Club (contacts: Martha Lou

Broussard, 713-665-4428 or Phyllis Carter, 281-397-9888) and

HPAC Exploring Houston (contact: Martha Lou Broussard,

713-665-4428 or [email protected]).

Geologists, please encourage your spouses to join HPAC, where

they will have the opportunity to meet other spouses of

Geologists, Geophysicists, Engineers, and Landmen. They will

participate in informative and entertaining programs, delicious

lunches, and welcoming fellowship.

An HPAC membership form is included on the next page. (Contact:

Winona LaBrant Smith at 713-952-2007)

Houston Petroleum Auxiliary CouncilNew

s Houston Petroleum Auxiliary Council NewsWinona LaBrant Smith, HGS Liaison


ProfessionalDirectory

3-D Seismic Interpretation, FTG Gravity Modeling,Seismic Inversion and AVO analysis

6001 Savoy, Suite 110 • Houston, Texas 77036 (713) 981-4650 • (281) 242-0639

E-mail: [email protected]: www.hunter3dinc.com

You are invited to become a member of

HPAC2010–2011 dues are $20.00Mail dues payment along with the completed yearbook information

to Sally Blackhall, 8714 Sterling Gate Circle, Spring, Texas 77379YEARBOOK INFORMATION

Last Name First Name Name Tag

Spouse Name Name Tag HGS Member’s Company

Home Phone Business Phone Business Fax

Street Address City Zip

Email Address Home Fax

Please choose a committee assignment if you are interested.

� Fall Event � Yearbook � SOS � Membership

� Christmas Event � Spring Event � Notification � Game Day

� May Luncheon � Courtesy


Where is your card?$135 per year10 issues

713-463-9476


713-463-9476

HGS GeoJob Bankwww.hgs.org/en/jobs


811 Dallas Suite 1020

Houston, Texas 77002

JAMES B. BENNETTGeology

RANDALL SCHOTTGeophysics

Bus. (713)650-1378

P.O. BOX 140637BOISE, ID 83714

BUS. 208-854-1037RES. 208-854-1038FAX. 208-854-1029

JAMES S. CLASSENLooking for close-in deals

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• Site Assessments • Brine Investigations• Hydrochemical Studies • De-Watering Studies• Property Evaluations • Forensic Investigations

Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H.

I2M Associates, LLChttp://I2MAssociates.comHouston and Seattle • 713-807-0021

HGS GeoJob Bankwww.hgs.org/en/jobs


713-463-9476


7500 SAN FELIPE, SUITE 250HOUSTON, TEXAS 77063

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