A Publication of the Wyoming Geological Association Established Volume XIV, No. 10 October 2018

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1 A Publication of the Wyoming Geological Association Established 1943 Volume XIV, No. 10 October 2018 President's Message: The only news I have for this month is that a week ago I had our admin office send out a ballot through where membership could cast their vote to have our lunch meetings bi-monthly or every Friday. Well, the votes are in and we will now be switching our lunch meetings to be held every week. The venue, Armour s Silver Fox, will stay the same. Thank you. Matt Larson UPCOMING WGA LUNCHEON MEETINGS* AND OTHER EVENTS Unless otherwise noted, lunch is served at 11:15 AM, with presentations at 12 noon. Silver Fox Steakhouse, 3422 Energy Lane, Casper, WY, (307) Meeting dates, speakers, topics, and venues are subject to change. Check *RESERVATIONS ARE MANDATORY: info@wyogeo.org or (307) Effective October 2018: Anyone not on the RSVP sheet may have to order from the menu. RSVP deadline is the prior Wednesday. Please have your added to the courtesy luncheon reminder list. WGA Office hours: Thursdays 9:30-11:30. Wyoming Geological Association October 2018

2 Friday, October 5, 2018 Topic: Speaker: The Future of Fort Casper Con Trumbull Affiliation: Ft. Casper Museum Association (President) Trumbull Summary: Located on the banks of the North Platte River and serving as a crossroads on the Upper Platte, Fort Caspar was an important landmark on the historic trails. Commissioned in 1862 as Platte Bridge Station the Fort grew until it rivaled the size of Fort Laramie. Decommissioned and torn down in 1867, Fort Casper as is was then called eventually became part of the CY ranch. In 1936, citizens from Casper and workers from the Works Progress Administration reconstructed the 1865 version of the post and opened it as a museum. Since that time Fort Caspar Museum has grown to be the repository of Central Wyoming history amassing an impressive collection of artifacts, stories and archival materials. The Museum continues its mission of preserving our past assisted in a large part by the Fort Caspar Museum Association. In this talk, Mr. Trumbull will speak about the importance of preserving our history and how people and organizations can help in this vital mission. Bio: Born and raised in Casper, Con Trumbull has always had a fascination with history. His fascination with the Fort began with Candlelight Christmas and led to volunteering as a docent. Trumbull has been the President of the FCMA for the past four years and has been a key figure in the planning and implementation of programming at the Museum including the 150th Anniversary celebrations. A Jefferson Award nominee, Trumbull has been involved with museum across the West and currently serves as the President of the Friends of the Wyoming Veterans Museum and is part of the Steam Program at the Nevada Northern Railway Museum. Wyoming Geological Association October

3 Friday, October 12, 2018 Topic: Speaker: Affiliation: Tight oil EOR through Inter-fracture gas flooding within a single horizontal well Xuebing Fu Goolsby-Findley & Associates Summary: Horizontal well and hydraulic fracturing have enabled economical oil production from shale/tight formations in the US, ramping up from < 0.5 mmbbl/d of production prior to year 2010, to about 5 mmbbl/d of oil production in year 2015, constituting over 50% of the total US oil production. This significant rate/proportion of tight oil production has sustained and is predicted to sustain within the next 20 years, even with the current technology. A secondary recovery scheme for tight oil wells is proposed to conduct gas flooding between adjacent hydraulic fractures within a single well. Given the large surface area, uniform spacing and parallel alignment of the hydraulic fractures, a flooding process can outperform a primary depletion process or a cyclic gas injection (huff-n-puff) process significantly. New downhole tools need to be invented to potentially conduct this process - downhole tools that can isolate the hydraulic fractures from each other and allow injection and production in the same wellbore at the same time into/from selected fractures. Analytical calculations and reservoir simulations have been conducted, demonstrating economical oil rates and significant recovery factors in shale oil reservoirs. Bio: Xuebing received her Ph.D in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M university in Prior to this degree she graduated with a M.Sc degree in chemistry and dual B.Sc. Degree in Chemisty and Chemical Engineering. After graduating, She worked for BP America as a reservoir engineer in Heavy Oil and deep-water Gulf of Mexico teams, and then as an Associate Lecturer for the University of Wyoming in Petroleum Engineering. Xuebing started working for GFA in Her expertise include Reservoir Engineering, Production Engineering and Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). She uses classical methods (analytical calculations, Material Balance, Decline Curve Analysis, pressure transient analysis) and Simulation tools (PVT modeling, reservoir simulation software, production forecast tools) to study reservoir and production problems in both oil and gas reservoirs. She also specializes in chemical EOR, gas EOR and thermal EOR methods, including mechanism studies, performance characterization and innovative process design. Her recent innovations include promotion of Single- Well Inter-Fracture gas Flooding (SWIFF) for shale oil EOR, and proposal of acid flooding in sandstone reservoirs. At present, Xuebing s responsibilities include Engineering support to our clients exploration and development projects and professional testimony at WOGCC. Wyoming Geological Association October

4 Thursday, October 18, 2018 Topic: Speaker: Well Collision Avoidance Steve Sawaryn Affiliation: SPE Distinguished Lecturer Summary: The consequences of an unplanned intersection with an existing well can range from financial loss to a catastrophic blow-out and loss of life. The process of well collision avoidance involves rules that determine the allowable well separation, the management of the associated directional planning and surveying activities and assurance and verification. The adoption of a particular minimum allowable separation rule, no matter how conservative, does not ensure an acceptably low probability of collision. Many other factors contribute, such as the level of compliance by office and rig personnel with collision avoidance procedures, and the completeness and correctness of the directional database. All these factors are connected. Although collisions are rare, investigation of 19 anonymous collision events suggests they occur more frequently than formal accounts would lead us to believe. Common themes across these events can be identified and these lead to a conclusion that all such collisions are avoidable. Bio: Steve Sawar yn is an independent dr illing engineer ing consultant specializing in dr illing systems. During the previous 35 years he held a variety of national and international posts in BP s Drilling Engineering Division in drilling operations, consultancy and projects. He is also a chartered engineer and fellow of the British Computer Soc. Sawaryn holds PhD and M.A. degrees from Cambridge U. He has authored more than 35 SPE papers and has served on a number of SPE committees. He received the 2010 SPE North-Sea Region Technical Award for Drilling Engineering and now chairs the SPE Wellbore Positioning Technical Section Collision Avoidance sub-committee. Wyoming Geological Association October

5 Friday, October 26, 2018 Topic: O&G Well Stimulation via Hyper-Perfs Speaker: Mark Savage Affiliation: Viper Drill IOR. Savage Summary: This lecture discusses Hyper-Perf s, a unique, new stimulation / completion technology. The concept behind this technology was first envisioned by O&G pioneers nearly 100 years ago but, after myriad of failed attempts was subsequently declared impossible. With R&D partially-sponsored and subsequently validated by the U.S. Dept of Energy under RPSEA, Viper Drill has recently introduced this unique mechanical radial drilling technology. As the name implies, Hyper-Perf s are deep-reaching tunnels that extend far beyond the constrictive near wellbore area. Unlike conventional perforations which typically only extend about 1-2 feet-- Hyper-Perf s commonly extend 20 to 30 feet. And, the damage-free Hyper-Perf drainage tunnels are left open-hole completed to further maximize reservoir contact. In fact, in a typical vertical well application, it is possible to expose 10 to 20X more reservoir rock than via conventional perf s. Using Schlumberger s Petrel software, the impact of Hyper-Perf were studied by New Mexico Tech (NMT) on conventional reservoirs. Modeled under varying parameters, the results were striking, with projected increases in cumulative recovery ranging from 50% to over 225%! This lecture will review the Hyper-Perf procedure, candidate wells, simulations, economics and field-results, including early results from an Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute (EORI) sponsored project. Results have been dramatic in fact, so much so that in one case a previously frac d well is producing at nearly 50% over its I.P. from over 20 years ago. Bio: Mark Savage is an accomplished O&G industry professional, is a co-author of the SPE article on the DOE-sponsored hyper-perf research and has multiple related patents issued. He is a founder and the CEO of Viper Drill. Wyoming Geological Association October

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7 The Casper Geo Wives had our Fall Brunch in September at The Casper Country Club. The brunch starts off the year reconnecting with old friends and making new. We sign up for our activities including bridge and gourmet. Our yearly membership dues are only $ The GEO Wives have a monthly luncheon with programs held the second Tuesday of each month September-May. For our February luncheon we invite our significant others to join us. The WGA, The SPE and The GEO Wives also host a Christmas party. We have some great programs lined up for the year: Pat Patton-Guitarist, Dr. Boulter-Maintaining Good Balance, Richens/Timms Irish Dancers, Zak Pullen-Art Presentation, George Trojan-WWII escape from Poland, Connie Thompson-Historic Buildings of Casper, Spring Fashions-Fashion Crossroads and a group from WY Symphony Orchestra- From Bach to Beatles. Membership is open to: Paid women members of the Wyoming Geological Association (WGA), Wives of paid members of the WGA, Women geoscientists, energy professionals or mining engineers, Wives of geoscientists, energy professionals or mining engineers, Widows of geoscientists, energy professionals or mining engineers, Women family members of energy related professionals, Any active member who has met the above criteria and is subsequently divorced may continue as a member. We welcome eligible new members, and would like to have you join us for a good time. For more information, please call Joanie at Wyoming Geological Association October

8 The Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) is offering complimentary toolkits to middle school science classrooms across Wyoming in celebration of Earth Science Week Oct The toolkits are provided by the American Geosciences Institute (AGI). The 2018 Earth Science Week theme is Earth as Inspiration, which AGI says emphasizes artistic expressions as a unique, powerful opportunity for geoscience education and understanding in the 21st century. AGI has organized Earth Science Week every year in October since In 2012, Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead proclaimed the second week in October as Wyoming Earth Science Week. The WSGS facilitates the celebration in Wyoming by offering several resources to science teachers to be used in the classroom. "Most kids have a natural interest and enthusiasm for earth science topics," says WSGS Director, Dr. Erin Campbell. "These Earth Science Week toolkits are a great resource for teachers to keep that interest alive." Each toolkit contains material to help prepare for Earth Science Week and teach earth sciences throughout the year. Toolkits include: 12-month school-year activity calendar, suitable for hanging New Earth Science Week poster, including a learning activity NASA materials on school resources and planetary exploration National Park Service posters on caves, plants, and geology Geologic Map Day poster dealing with artistic inspiration Mineral Education Coalition Quarry to Crop postcard IRIS material on seismology and earthquakes AmericaView poster on exploring America through LandSat Howard Hughes Medical Institute poster on global change UNAVCO materials on Geodesy and websites to explore Fact sheet from Critical Zones Observatories Switch Energy Project information on energy science Bureau of Land Management dinosaur coloring page Material on Constructing the Rock Cycle from Geological Society of America Water Footprint Calculator information on water science EarthScope material on what it means to be an earth scientist CLEAN, AMS, TERC, and GPS information and more To request a toolkit, contact Christina George at christina.george@wyo.gov or (307) ext Information about Earth Science Week, including links to activities and learning resources, can be found on the WSGS education webpage and on the AGI website. To kick off Earth Science Week, WSGS and the University of Wyoming Geological Museum are cohosting an event, "Wyoming ROCKS! The Art of our Geology," 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at the museum. The event is free and open to the public. Wyoming Geological Association October 2018

9 Wyoming State Geological Survey September 18, 2018 ******FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE****** Christina George (307) x231 WSGS Open House to run through September 29, 2018 The public is invited to an open house at the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) to view the rare mammal fossil discovered near Kemmerer. The open house will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept at the agency s office on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie. The event will wrap up with a final viewing 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29. We are so pleased to share this remarkable fossil with the public, says WSGS director, Dr. Erin Campbell. Fossils are windows to past life forms, and this display will offer visitors a chance to see this exciting find for themselves. The fossilized tapiromorph will then be taken to the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne for display beginning in early October. There will be an open house at the museum Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We are excited to work with the Wyoming State Geological Survey to bring the tapiromorph fossil to the Wyoming State Museum this winter, says Kevin Ramler, Supervisor of Museum Programs and Exhibits. This unique specimen will be an exciting addition to our current Green River Formation exhibit. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the WSGS as we work together to create a permanent exhibit about the tapiromorph at the museum in the future. (Continued on next page). Wyoming Geological Association October

10 The fossil is the largest known mammal discovered in the Fossil Butte Member of the 50-million-year-old Green River Formation, and it is the first of its kind found in the geological formation. The specimen is potentially a new species and may support a North American origin of tapiroids, or tapir. A tapir is a large, plant-eating mammal most closely related to rhinoceroses or horses, but it resembles a pig and anteater. The modern tapir typically inhabits jungles and forests in South and Central America and Southeast Asia. Discovery Rick Hebdon, owner of Warfield Fossil Quarries, collected the fossil in The specimen consists of four large slabs with fossil material encased in rock, and a box of smaller pieces. The upper skull is missing, but the lower jaw and teeth are intact. There is high quality preservation of the hind legs and feet, and a front leg and foot are well preserved. Bones from the hip area are present. Also, the ribcage is not as well preserved and is inundated with roots. The fossil was found on a state-leased quarry, and because it is a rare specimen, it was turned over to the State of Wyoming, following Office and State Lands and Investments fossil permit regulations. The WSGS serves as a repository of state-owned fossils. The late Dr. Gregg Gunnell, paleontologist and former director at the Duke Lemur Center, identified the fossil as a tapiromorph. The WSGS hired researcher Mike Eklund of Illinois to prepare the fossil for scientific purposes. Eklund conducted his work under a microscope with time-lapse photography. Photos and time-lapse videos of the preparation process can be viewed on the WSGS website. The time-lapse videos of the fossil preparation are fascinating, especially with the finished fossil for comparison, Campbell notes. The WSGS website includes information about tapirs, photos taken during the fossil s preparation, and X-ray and CT scan imagery of the rock slabs taken at Ivinson Memorial Hospital and Stiches Acute Care Center prior to the preparation. Wyoming Geological Association October

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14 Wyoming Geological Association, 2018 P.O. Box 545 Casper, WY (307) Fax (307) President Matt Larson WGA OFFICERS AAPG Delegates Melanie Peterson WGA COMMITTEES Paleontological Resources Brent Breithaupt Past President Phil Nickerson President-Elect Rebecca Good 1st Vice President Anne Marquard 2nd Vice President Scott Ellingson Secretary/Treasurer Melanie Peterson Office Administrator, Advertising & Membership Brianna McFarland Continuing Education Ralph Specht Field Conference Contact WGA for information Geowives Joanie Dunlap Historical Open RMS-AAPG Julia Lemaster Lyn George Scholarships Kent Sundell Social media Barb McGavern-Atkinson SPE Liaison Dave Chase U.W. Liaison Phil Nickerson Library & Mudlogs Arnold Woods Editor Mark Milliken CONTACT ADVERTISING RATES CONTACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE 15th of each preceding month All ads must be prepaid. Full Page 7.5 x 9.5 1/2 Page 7.5 x 4.5 1/4 Page 3.5 x 4.5 $100/month $1000/year $50/month $500/year $25/month $250/year Send ad and payment to WGA, PO Box 545, Casper WY Business Card 3.5 x 2 Various Sizes $10/month $100/year $3.50 per column inch, per month ($10 minimum) Advertising space is also available in the membership directory and the annual field conference guidebook. Discounts are available for advertising in all three publications. Wyoming Geological Association October