Meetings

MGS Noon Luncheon Schedule 2019 - 2020

Notice - Noon Luncheon cost is $20 per person.

Members, Guests & Visitors -

Please note that the Noon Luncheon dates are in the left column.

The Mississippi Geological Society (MGS) and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) now sponsor joint monthly meetings for their members. MGS members should note that the dates of the combined MGS/SPE monthly meetings have now been moved to the second Wednesday of each month. The meeting venue is unchanged. To learn more about the Meetings, dates and speakers, please check the Meetings calendar and the latest MGS Bulletin. Unless otherwise noted below, all MGS/SPE Noon Luncheon Meetings are held at the River Hills Club located at the intersection of Lakeland Drive and Ridgewood Road in north Jackson, Mississippi (note - entrance to the parking lot on east side of Ridgewood Road).

MGS Noon Luncheon Dates

MGS Officers Meeting Dates

2019

Sept. 13 (Fall BBQ)

September 10

October 11

October 8

November 8

November 12

[Break]

2020

January 8

January 7

February 12

February 11

March 11

March 10

April 8

April 7

May 13 (Spring Fling)

May 12

Abstracts - Selected Past MGS Presentations

Abstract - 2020 January MGS/SPE Noon Luncheon

The Jackson Gas Rock, a Unique Upper Cretaceous (Selma Chalk) Lithofacies

Speaker: Steve Walkinshaw

Vision Exploration, LLC

January 8, 2020

The Jackson Gas Field was officially discovered in 1930 with the drilling and completion of the Jackson Oil & Gas Co. #1 Mayes in Section 2, Township 5 North, Range 1 East, Hinds County, Mississippi, in a carbonate reservoir informally named the “Jackson Gas Rock”. The discovery well flowed gas with an open-flow potential of 15 MMCFGPD from a heavily karsted interval at the top of the Upper Cretaceous (Selma) Chalk. While the heavily karsted chalk reservoir produced 119 BCF of methane gas at Jackson Gas Field, a hydraulically-separated quartzitic sandstone deposited unconformably at the top of the Selma Chalk comprises the 7.6 MMBO (26 degree API gravity) oil reservoir that is stratigraphically trapped in the Flora Field area. A small volume of heavy (13.6 degree API gravity) oil has also been produced from the karsted Gas Rock chalk reservoir on the southern flank of the Dome, in the vicinity of the city of Pearl. In 1957, two years after the last producing Gas Rock gas well had been shut in, the crestal area of the Jackson Gas Field was converted to a gas storage reservoir and is still used for that purpose today, 61 years later.

The study area for this presentation encompassed 848 wells drilled within an area of approximately 1,465 square miles located in Hinds, Madison, Rankin and Yazoo Counties in west-central Mississippi. In addition to detailed subsurface mapping, lithology data pertaining specifically to the Jackson Gas Rock facies was derived from the analysis of a subset of 126 wells for which mudlog, sample log, core and/or sidewall core descriptions or analyses were available. Cores and samples from several key wells were also examined. Bottom-hole temperature data available for 446 wells (as recorded in each log header) was also collected and analyzed to determine if a significant deviation from the “normal” subsurface geothermal gradient was present within the study area, and specifically, within the known perimeter of the Jackson Dome uplift. The recent acquisition of high resolution 3D seismic and gravity data has shed new light on the origin and provenance of the Dome and this data is revealed for the first time in this presentation.

Subsurface mapping and 3D seismic interpretation indicates the Jackson Gas Rock facies represents a relatively pure chalky limestone deposited in a persistent syncline that had initially formed in the area surrounding the Dome in early Jurassic time. While thin lenses of framestones, boundstones and shell hash have been sporadically encountered within the overall Gas Rock interval, such occurrences are rare; and, while the most common fossiliferous lenses appear to be comprised of rudist shell fragments disseminated in a chalk matrix, a ubiquitous buff to white-colored leached chalk is clearly the predominant lithofacies. The thickest Gas Rock interval encountered to date (1,702’) was deposited within the deepest portion of the northern syncline in Township 8 North, Range 1 East in southern Madison County.

In certain areas of west-central Mississippi, underlying the Gas Rock facies, a black micaceous clay containing water-lain volcaniclastics and thin beds of ash is associated with a period of vulcanism that was widespread across the south-central Texas, central Arkansas, northeastern Louisiana and west-central Mississippi areas during Austin Chalk time. This vulcanism appears to have been “locally” centered in the Sunflower Ridge area, in the eastern Mississippi Delta. The Austin-age volcaniclastics overlie a normal Mesozoic sedimentary sequence that was frequently intruded by magma in a broad area that extends from Monroe to Jackson, an area that includes the Monroe-Sharkey Platform and four other domal structures that are very similar in size, shape and origin to the Jackson Dome. Comparisons of these five domes to the actual nexus of igneous activity in Mississippi are presented and the aerial extent of the Mesozoic volcaniclastic sediments in the State is revealed for the first time.

Steve Walkinshaw is an independent petroleum geologist and the owner and manager of Vision Exploration, LLC. Steve graduated from Millsaps College in 1981 and is a Registered Professional Geologist in the State of Mississippi, a Licensed Professional Geoscientist in the State of Louisiana, and an AAPG/DPA Certified Petroleum Geologist. Steve is the only Mississippi-based geologist that has served as technical consultant to two major Tuscaloosa Marine Shale ("TMS") operators and has lectured extensively on the TMS at numerous industry and academic venues. In addition, Steve served as presenter for the Unconventional Brown Dense Lime Trend at numerous shale conferences and professional society meetings from 2011 to 2015. Steve is a long-standing member and has served as Chairman of the Mississippi State Mapping Advisory Committee (SMAC) since 2017. In addition to holding numerous other officer positions, he has served as past President of the Mississippi Geological Society and has been the Society’s webmaster since 2002.

This presentation was awarded the 2018 First Place Thomas A. Philpott Excellence of Presentation Award by the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies (GCAGS). The Philpott Excellence of Presentation Award was last awarded to a Mississippi-based petroleum geologist (Dudley Hughes) in 1960.

Steve has many oil and gas discoveries and successful field redevelopment projects to his credit, primarily in South and East Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

Abstract - 2014 January Noon Luncheon

Hydrofracking: Are Mississippi Operators

And E&P Professionals Prepared

For the Environmental Risk?

Speaker: John M. Ryan, Senior Geologist

Allen Engineering and Science

January 9, 2014

Advances in directional well drilling and reservoir stimulation (i.e., hydrofracking) techniques have revolutionized the effectiveness of economically producing oil and gas (O&G) within rock once considered too tight and/or deep to exploit. Unfortunately, the exponential successes that have come from these advances have in some regard been offset by significant controversy from a variety of different regulatory agencies and environmental advocacy groups. The hydraulic fracturing treatments used to stimulate production from unconventional formations have stirred environmental concerns over excessive water consumption, drinking water well contamination, and surface water contamination from both drilling activities and management of the fracturing (i.e., frac) fluid. We will examine some of the key regulatory and advocacy issues besieging the O&G industry in states away from Mississippi and discuss whether operators working or considering working within Mississippi are prepared for the elevated risk and negative exposure associated with the play.

Abstract - 2008 January Noon Luncheon

The Revitalization of Sligo Field

Prior to the formation of Greystone Petroleum LLC and its development of Sligo Field, located in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, Michael Geffert and Joe Bridges drilled and completed over 200 wells in Lower Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic reservoirs located in the Ark-La-Tex. Though these were primarily Hosston wells located on turtle structures in the North Louisiana Salt Basin, their experience in mapping, drilling and completing the Rodessa, Pettit, Hosston, Cotton Valley and Smackover reservoirs led them to the observation that completion procedures followed by Pennzoil and other operators at Sligo Field left many gas charged reservoirs either behind pipe or bypassed below packers and cast iron bridge plugs.

Abstract - 2007 April Noon Luncheon

The Global Warming Controversy

The hype and fear associated with the global warming issue has become a driving force behind many aspects of our daily life and work. Government officials at all levels are making decisions that affect business, environmental controls, international treaties, taxes, political campaigns, and social policies based on “global warming”. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has just released the 2007 update of its “Physical Science Basis Summary for Policy Makers”. Amid the hype, news agencies are using the issue to create headlines designed to cause alarm (and boost ratings). Yet, is the science sound? Is there consensus that human activities are causing global climate change? Is there an underlying agenda? What if the doomsayers are right? What if they are wrong?

These are all questions that we as geoscientists are likely asking ourselves. Yet, anyone who tries to figure out the answers may quickly become overwhelmed with the flood of information available on the internet or elsewhere in print. Because of all the hype and distortion, it is difficult to get down to a simple evaluation of the scientific facts. This presentation attempts to provide a reasoned and balanced evaluation of the issue from a geologist’s perspective. The presenter believes that geologists are uniquely qualified to understand and lead the debate on the global climate change issue, and it is our duty as earth science professionals to be involved in advancing the public understanding of the issue.

Ken Ruckstuhl is a graduate of LSU and is a registered professional geologist. He works in the Jackson office of Environmental Management Services, Inc. He has worked in the environmental consulting field for 25 years.

Abstract - 2007 February Noon Luncheon

Petrophysical Evaluation of Gas-Shale Reservoirs

Typically, geologists and engineers work to develop a data set to define reservoir potential and establish a drilling strategy that will provide optimum results. The evaluation of shale reservoirs combines the evaluation of several important parameters and includes petrophysical (core and logs), petrographic, geochemical and mechanical property data. All data types are important in defining reservoir potential, targeting zones with the greatest potential and for comparing shale reservoirs from different provinces. Unless all key parameters are favorable, it is unlikely that economic production can be achieved. This presentation will discuss each key element’s importance in understanding productive potential and outline evaluation efforts necessary to properly characterize a gas-shale reservoir.

Chuck Segrest received his geology degree from Baylor University.

He has over 25 years industry experience in petrophysical evaluation of rock samples for the purposes of improved reservoir characterization.

He is a senior partner in the company GeoSystems, which is geological/petrophysics company specializing in the integration of multiple data sets for the purpose of improved reservoir characterization.

Abstract - November 2006 Noon Luncheon

"Exploration Strategies for Thrombolite and

Associated Facies, Eastern Gulf Coastal Plain"

Ernest A. Mancini, Center for Sedimentary Basin Studies and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Alabama

In the eastern Gulf Coastal Plain, Upper Jurassic Smackover inner ramp (shallow water) thrombolite buildups have been documented as developing on paleotopographic features (Paleozoic basement paleohighs or Jurassic salt anticlines and ridges). Thrombolites dominated by calcimicrobes grew in the eastern part of the Mississippi Interior Salt Basin, the Manila Subbasin and the Conecuh Subbasin. These thrombolites attained a thickness of 58 m and are present in an area of up to 6.2 square km. Although these buildups have been exploration targets for some 30 years, new field discoveries continue to be made in this area indicating that the development of these organosedimentary deposits is not completely understood. Recent hydrocarbon drilling in Little Cedar Creek Field, Conecuh County, southwest Alabama has revealed that the productive reservoir rocks are thrombolite boundstone and associated nearshore grainstone and packstone that occur near the depositional updip limit of the Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation. These thrombolite buildups do not directly overlie Paleozoic basement paleohighs. By studying Upper Jurassic thrombolite bioherms and reefs as preserved in outcrop, the geometries, aerial extents, and facies relationships of thrombolites can be better characterized, and this characterization is useful in designing an effective exploration strategy for delineating thrombolite buildups in the subsurface. Thrombolites were best developed on a hard substrate during a rise in sea level under initial zero to low background sedimentation rates in low energy paleoenvironments, and their occurrence was not restricted by water depth, salinity, temperature, light penetration, oxygen content, or nutrient supply. The keys to drilling a successful wildcat well in the thrombolite reservoir play prior to the discovery of Little Cedar Creek Field were to: 1) utilize three-dimensional seismic reflection technology to find a paleohigh and to determine whether potential thrombolite reservoir facies occur on the crest and/or flanks of the feature and are above the oil-water contact, 2) use the characteristics of thrombolite bioherms and reefs as observed in outcrop to develop a three-dimensional geologic model to reconstruct the growth of thrombolite buildups on paleohighs for improved targeting of the preferred dendroidal and chaotic thrombolite reservoir facies, and 3) utilize the evaporative pumping mechanism, rather than the seepage reflux or mixing zone models, as a means for assessing potential dolomitization of the thrombolite boundstone. The operative Smackover petroleum system at Little Cedar Creek has shown that the current thrombolite exploration strategy requires revision to include: consideration of a basin center petroleum source in addition to a local source, the development of potential reservoir facies in a broader array of paleobathymetric settings other than restricted to inner to middle ramp, inclusion of moldic and vuggy pore types to intercrystalline dolomite pore types for a productive reservoir, lime mudstone and shale as vertical and lateral seal rocks rather than anhydrite, and stratigraphic traps in addition to combination structural and stratigraphic traps.

Abstract - April 2006 Noon Luncheon

"The Mississippi Sound:

A View from the West Side"

Bob Schneeflock, Paramount Petroleum

The possible leasing of the Mississippi Sound has been highly controversial, to say the very least. “The Sound’s” geologic potential has mostly been viewed from the Miocene and Norphlet successes of offshore Alabama to the east, Mariner field to the North, and the Miocene and James Lime successes in the Federal waters to the south. The April Noon luncheon presentation touched on those plays, but focused on a possible extension of the significant Miocene productive trend from the west, in Southeast Louisiana, into the Mississippi Sound area. As an example, a recent well that targeted one of the 3D bright spots located in Southeast Louisiana, adjoining “The Sound”, flowed for months at over 70 mmcfgPd (pipeline constrained) from a Middle Miocene "Chris I" sand. Seismic exploration in that area also revealed an unconformity on the scale of the Grand Canyon, along with the imaging of additional gas pay sands that were trapped beneath it.

Abstract - January 2006 Noon Luncheon

"The Barnett Shale Play of North Texas:

Myths Exposed, Truths Revealed"

Kent A. Bowker, Bowker Petroleum LLC

Many Barnett workers have an incorrect understanding of the Barnett reservoir of the Fort Worth Basin. No one has a complete understanding of exactly how this unconventional reservoir actually works, but we have enough understanding to know that many of the ideas held by some Barnett workers are incorrect. For example, the Barnett is naturally fractured, but only a tiny fraction of these fractures are open. The Barnett is not a fractured-shale play; it’s a shale that can be fractured play (Daniel Miller). In fact, areas that have the most natural fractures (again, the vast majority of these fractures are healed), i.e., areas near faulting, have the lowest production. The huge concentration of gas in place is what makes the Barnett successful, along with the rock’s mechanical properties (that it is relatively brittle). Structural folds (including anticlines) are, on average, detrimental to Barnett production. The thermal history of the basin is another key to the success of the play. The gas is entirely thermogenic. Limestone beds within the Barnett are the result of submarine debris flows (turbidities), not by shoaling. Carbonate nodules seen in core and on image logs are the result of soft-sediment processes; they are not concretions. The core area of Newark East field is not a sweetspot, it is just the first area that Mitchell Energy started drilling (because that is where Mitchell had existing acreage and infrastructure).

One man is solely responsible for the success of the Barnett play: George P. Mitchell.

Unless otherwise noted above, all MGS Noon Luncheon Meetings are held at the River Hills Club located at the intersection of Lakeland Drive and Ridgewood Road in north Jackson, Mississippi (note - entrance to the parking lot on east side of Ridgewood Road).