Re[2]: Industry Paleontology

[lyanglo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

     I think Lane is from Ammoco.
     It is good one!
     JYL


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Industry Paleontology
Author:  paleonet (SMTPMAIL.paleone2) at PROFGATE
Date:    5/15/96 10:41 AM


In response to Rich Lane's (& others) challenge I would offer the
following, and forgive me if too verbose. This is not news to many oil
patchers, but some may find it interesting:

1 - For those who may not be aware (possibly not many) biostrat is
    CRITICAL to sequence stratigraphy in that you begin the seq' strat
    process, in my opinion, by finding the "maximum flooding surface"
    in a condensed section. The mfs is usually identified by an acme of
    microfossils in the in the strata (paly, nanno, forams, etc), often
    both population and diversity. As you might guess, this usually also
    relates directly to a GR high on the e-logs (and often also to good
    hydrocarbon source rocks). From their you can move down section into
    the transgressive systems tract, then into the lowstand systems tract
    (microfossils often becoming less abundant down section), and finally
    the basal sequence boundary jumps out at you. Moving up section from
    the mfs you continue through the condensed section/highstand systems
    tract, and again a sequence boundary occurs, the top of this
    particular sequence. You can then correlate/fit the biostrat and
    e-log data to available seismic sections and begin to look for
    candidate hydrocarbon reservoirs, often more common in lowstand
    sediments. Certainly this description is generalized and simplified,
    and unfortunately is'nt always this clear-cut.

2 - One of the best examples of NEW biostrat applications in the O&G
    industry is BIOSTEERING HORIZONTAL DEVELOPMENT WELLS. Phillips has
    taken great advantage of this technology in the North Sea, both UK &
    Norway. This requires establishing a reliable HIGH RESOLUTION biostrat
    zonation, and also requires doing the analyses on the drilling
    rig (yourselves if you have the staff, or one of many good
    contractors). We have utilized nannos to steer the well bore in the
    Norwegian chalks, and paly & forams in conjunction with MWD logging
    in the sand reservoirs on the UK side. Chevron is apparently useing
    a variation of the latter technique in their N. Sea Ninian Field.
    Biosteering, and also "geosteering", may require longer drilling time,
    but when a horizontal wellbore can stay in a 100' pay zone for several
    thousand feet, not just 100' in a conventional well, and have flow
    rates 4 or 5 times higher, the economics are GREAT!

So much for now, and take courage in the old axiom,

 "you can't fall off the floor".......DRL












At 05:39 PM 5/14/96 PDT, hrlane@amoco.com wrote:
>     I agree with Bill Clopine comments.  When I speak of Sequence
>     Stratigraphy, I am speaking of the old product, one in which
>     biostratigraphy was used only to check the sequence stratigrapher's
>     results,and not intended to be an integral part of the process.
>     Unfortunately, this paraphase above--paleontology should be used to
>     check sequence stratigraphic results--comes from the father of
>     sequence stratigraphy himself and the ideas around it did led to the
>     letting go of numerous paleontologists in several major oil companies.
>     As Bill says, we must maintain that distinction between
>     Biostratigraphy and Sequence Stratigraphy-working with, not for.
>     Conoco is the shining example of how it should be done.  Bill and
>     associated staff have followed through on showing where biostrat/paleo
>     has made important contributions to Conoco's success and not just
>     handed off their results to be integrated and summarize by other
>     geoscientists.  In the right relation with sequence stratigraphy, it
>     works and paleo staff may be maintained or added, but in others it has
>     caused staff to be let go.   We at Amoco have a good working relation
>     with our sequence stratigraphers and we as a Paleo group are surviving
>     very well.  However, it is in an atmosphere of mutual respect and
>     where credit is given where credit is due, and credit is claimed where
>     credit is due.
>
>     In any case, we need new tools coming out of research to keep our
>     heads above water in industry.  In my opinion a couple of these blue
>     skyers are:
>
>     1.  How can we identify paleontological horizons/ages ahead of or at
>     the same time as drilling?
>
>     2.  How can we have all the data in an area computerized and made
>     available to use through the Net?
>
>     3.  How can we more quickly and efficiently process paleo samples so
>     that results are timely.  (Timely data generation (fossil processing)
>     is a huge Achiles Heel for paleo.)
>
>     I call on other industry biostratigraphers to state what they think
>     paleontology's needs are in industry. What are the things that would
>     further Paleontology's image in industry and could lead to a turn
>     around in the hiring situation.
>
>     Common oil patch paleos, let's tell them what our needs are in
>     industry to survive and thrive.  Individually, if you could just
>     contribute one, we would have a long list in the end.
>
>     Rich Lane
>     hrlane@amoco.com
>
>
>
>