SEMINAR - Lee T. Billingsley

Lee Billingsley received a B.S. in Geology from Texas A&M in 1975, an M.S. in Geology from the Colorado School of Mines in 1977, and a Ph.D. in Geology from Texas A&M in 1983. He began his oil and gas career in 1976 with Tenneco Oil Company in Denver, and later worked with American Quasar Petroleum (Denver) and Monterrey Petroleum Corporation (San Antonio). From 1983-1998, he was President and Founder of Sandia Oil & Gas Corporation, until joining Abraxas Petroleum Corporation in 1998. He is currently Vice-President of Exploration. Dr. Billingsley is a member of many regional and national professional societies, and he has received numerous awards including the AAPG Distinguished Service Award (1997) and Certificate of Merit (1999), as well as the GCAGS Distinguished Service Award (1998). He served as President of the South Texas Geological Society (1985-86) and as General Chairman of the 2004 GCAGS Convention in San Antonio. Within AAPG, he has held several positions including Treasurer, member of House of Delegates, Associate Editor of the Bulletin, and Division of Professional Affairs Secretary. Currently, he is AAPG President (2006-2007).

Lee's seminar title: "Exploiting the Devonian Reservoir in Oates SW Area, Western Delaware Basin, Texas"; Wednesday the 28th of February 2007

Abstract
The Oates SW field area is located in southwestern Pecos County, Texas, and it is in the southwestern portion of the Delaware basin. The dominant producing reservoir in the area is simply called Devonian, but it is probably Devonian-aged chert in the Thirtyone Formation. Regional structure is NE dip into the basin with some NW-SE trending faults. The Oates SW area is flanked by large structural closures that have produced gas from the Devonian and adjacent reservoirs. These fields include: Perry Bass, 26 BCF from nine wells; Oates NE 266 BCF from 25 wells, and Pikes Peak, 48 BCF from eight wells.
In contrast to surrounding fields, Oates SW consists of four small structural closures that vary in size from about 320 to 1280 acres. Abraxas acquired 3-D seismic data to refine the structural interpretation and guide potential horizontal well bores. Each closure has from one to three vertical wells, and the wells produced from 0.2 to 2.4 BCFG each from the Devonian chert. Production from each vertical well near the top of closures roughly correlates to Devonian reservoir quality determined from log analysis. However, a comparison between calculated original gas-in-place and actual production for each closure indicates a relatively low recovery factor. All the vertical wells exhibited high rates of water production late in their productive history.
Abraxas has drilled three horizontal well bores within the Devonian chert on separate closures. Results span the spectrum of potential outcomes. The best well has produced at a constant rate of 8 MMCFD and the worst well only makes 150 MCFD. The third well is a re-entry of a vertical well, which had produced 1.8 BCFG. Abraxas drilled horizontally within the Devonian chert. Initially, the well produced 100% water, but gas rates eventually increased. Currently, the well produces at relatively constant rates of 700 MCFD and 4000 BWPD. The source of the water production is unknown. It could be from: 1) near well bore, but not from the Devonian interval, 2) micro-fractures within the Devonian, which are connected to deeper water sources like the Ellenburger, or 3) near well bore water coned upward during production form the vertical well bore.
Detailed correlation of logs indicates an unconformity at the top of the Devonian chert. Consequently, the porous Devonian chert interval is thinner in structurally high wells. This interpretation may explain the variable reservoir quality of the three wells, based on the projected trajectory of the horizontal well bores.
As with other horizontal Devonian chert fields, results are highly variable from well-to-well. Overall the economics of the play in Oates SW have been favorable, but much still needs to be learned in order to repeat the success.

SEMINAR - Ross Stein

Biography
My research focuses upon how earthquakes interact through the transfer of stress. Examples of such interaction include the progression of mainshocks along a fault, aftershocks, seismic quiesence, and earthquake clustering. My collaborators and I are interested in how one earthquake can promote subsequent shocks at some sites and inhibit them in others.
This work is driven by an attempt to deepen our understanding of the physics of earthquakes, and a desire to develop a new way to make probabilistic hazard assessments. Our tools are seismology, geophysics, elasticity theory, structural geology, and geomorphology.
In addition, I study the deformation of the earth's surface associated with earthquakes, fault creep, and volcanic processes. This work seeks to infer rupture and fault geometry, and to understand the relationship between earthquake deformation and geologic structures. Our tools are classical and space geodesy. Key interests are blind thrust faults, high-angle normal faults, and magmatic inflation and collapse.
My work is currently funded by a Cooperative R&D Agreement with Swiss Re, the world's second largest insurance company; and through a series of research grants from NASA. My first R&D project with Swiss Re was a study of the earthquake threat to Istanbul in the wake of the 1999 Izmit shock; the current Swiss Re project assesses the earthquake hazard for Tokyo, and with participation by several leading Japanese scientists. A 1996-2001 R&D project earthquake hazards in the San Francisco Bay area was carried out with PG&E. Other recent studies were funded by U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and FEMA.
Over the past several years, I have participated in documentary films, including 'Killer Quake' (NOVA, 1995), 'Great Quakes: Turkey' (Discovery Channel, 2001), 'Earthquake Storms' (BBC, 2003), and an IMAX film, 'Forces of Nature' (National Geographic), which wass released in summer 2004. Click here to see an article about 'Forces of Nature' in the Mercury News.

Stein's seminar title: "Truth & Consequences: Assessing the Earthquake Threat to Tokyo"; Wednesday the 28th of February 2007

Department Spring Fieldtrip - Death Valley

Experience the geologic wonders of Death Valley - one of the most dramatic geological landscapes on earth! This active rift basin has all the classic components; active fault scarps and fault-block mountains, alluvial fans building out, internal drainage and extensive salt flats, recent volcanic activity, and modern dune fields. This years spring trip will be a four day adventure.

Why Death Valley?

Death Valley forms part of the Basin and Range Province – a region stretched to the breaking point by tectonic forces.
It is similar to other basins of the region, but is unique because it is the lowest, hottest, driest location in the western hemisphere.

Death Valley is an active rift basin with all the classic components; active fault scarps and fault-block mountains, alluvial fans building out, internal drainage and extensive salt flats, volcanic activity, and modern dune fields.

The awesome splendor of Zabriskie Point

Death Valley salt pan – the remains of a Pleistocene lake that was once filled the valley over 600 feet deep!


Devil’s Golf Course – the inhospitable floor of Death Valley salt pan!

LEARN ABOUT THE HERITAGE
The Borax twenty mule team is one of the most memorable icons of the American West, and of the pioneers who transformed its mineral wealth into a foundation of modern industry throughout the world.
The saga of the twenty mule team began more than a century ago in the arid deserts of California's Death Valley.

Although rainfall is scarce, water is the creative force that builds Death Valley's alluvial fans.

Mesquite Dunes
SARATOGA SPRNGS: It's hard to believe that these lush ponds are found within the parched boundaries of Death Valley National Park.

This rare desert wetland supports a rich community of plants and animals. Some like the DESERT PUPFISH, are found nowhere else in the world.