July 2015 - Utah Geological Association

Newsletter of the
Utah Geological Association
P.O. Box 520100 – Salt Lake City, Utah 84152-0100
http://utahgeology.org
VOLUME 47, NUMBER 7
July 2015
UGA Luncheon Meeting
July 13, 2015
Understanding Source Rock and Reservoir Rock Plus Tectonics Along
with Timing of Hydrocarbon Migration into the Thrust Belt and Foreland
Areas of the Cordillera of North America, and More Specifically into
Mississippian Carbonates of the Central Utah Thrust Belt
Michael L. Pinnell, consultant, 8171 Old Coventry Circle, Sandy, UT 84093,
[email protected]
Spiro G. Vassilopoulos, consultant, 909 Rio Vista Circle, SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105,
[email protected]
Floyd C. Moulton, consultant, 5600 South Highland Drive, Holliday, UT 84121
This paper examines the source rocks, reservoir rocks,
tectonics and timing of hydrocarbon migration from the
hingeline and foreland areas of northwestern North America.
Beginning with southwestern Canada and terminating within
the Central Utah Thrust Belt, we will attempt to demonstrate
that large accumulations of hydrocarbons are yet to be
discovered with the largest potential reservoirs in
Mississippian carbonates of the Central Utah Thrust Belt
(CUTB).
Southwestern Canada: When mostly Devonian age oil migrated in late Cretaceous from carbonates
and other source rocks of the hingeline of southwestern Canada, there was only one anticline in the
area of the future thrust belt. We name it proto-Turner Valley, where at least two billion barrels of oil
accumulated. Most of the oil continued to migrate up-dip and to the northeast. Perhaps channeled at
least in part by the Peace River Arch, migration ended at an unconformity/pinch-out trap of
Cretaceous shales on Cretaceous sands and Mississippian carbonates which were in nonconforming
contact with Precambrian granite of the Canadian Shield. As source rocks continued to mature during
later Cretaceous and early Tertiary, the thrust belt simultaneously developed. Condensate and natural
gas migrated, filling about 40 major anticlines. Later uplift and erosion breached portions of the giant
stratigraphic trap to the east in the Athabasca-Cold Lake area which contained upwards of 2.5 trillion
barrels of oil. Mining began in 1967. Today about two million barrels of oil per day are extracted and
refined.
Western Wyoming, eastern Idaho and northwestern Utah: The Permian Phosphoria Formation
yielded vast amounts of oil and some gas from a backarc basin along the continental margin. These
hydrocarbons migrated eastward, probably during late Triassic or Jurassic, through Permo-Penn
Tensleep-Weber and equivalent sandstones. During that time frame anticlines were absent and no
hydrocarbons were deposited in the future thrust belt trend. Anticlines formed much later, probably
during late Cretaceous and early Tertiary. There were, however, many subtle structures (like protoLost Soldier-Wertz) and stratigraphic traps (in the Big Horn Basin), some very extensive, in the
foreland to the east in Tensleep-Weber equivalent sandstones. These traps had most likely formed
along structural anomalies created above junctions of differential Precambrian litho-provinces during
early North American plate convergence with the Farallon (Pacific) plate. The largest of these early
foreland structures was the proto-LaBarge anticline. During Laramide tectonics, the positions of many
of these early, pre-Laramide anomalies were reactivated. The results were complex, tight, often
wrench-related smaller volume folds. Hydrocarbons were sometimes lost during this process as
determined in recent studies of the Lost Soldier area of central Wyoming. In addition, during Laramide
tectonics large anticlines formed that had not been at the earlier locations of antecedent, oil-filled
earlier structures. These are not productive.
By the time anticlines formed in the western Wyoming-Eastern Idaho-Northern Utah thrust belt,
hydrocarbon migration from Paleozoic source rocks of the hingeline had ceased. Sub-thrust
Cretaceous rocks were sufficiently charged with hydrocarbons in a limited area directly associated
with the Tertiary Fossil Basin of southwestern Wyoming. This is where organic rich Cretaceous shales
were buried deeply enough to yield oil and gas. These hydrocarbons migrated upward through
conduits created by or associated with thrust faults (or in some cases by direct contact with reservoir
rocks) to charge about a dozen major anticlines. The producing traps were limited only to the
Absaroka Thrust system. Other adjacent thrust-fault systems were not hydrocarbon charged. In
addition, all thrusted anticlinal trends north of the Fossil Basin area (with a few minor exceptions)
appear to have insufficient subthrust Cretaceous source rock or insufficient burial depth to generate
oil and gas.
Central Utah Thrust Belt (CUTB): Carboniferous age shales and marlstones in western Utah and
possibly eastern Nevada were the source rocks for oil and gas. These hydrocarbons migrated
easterly, up-dip. The proto-Covenant anticline appears to have been charged with oil and gas, prior to
thrusting, in the trend that would later become the Pavant-Canyon Range-to Salina-Gunnison fault
system. The aforementioned is the primary CUTB area of interest as defined by Schelling, et al., in
the 2007 UGA guidebook. Oil, but not gas, migrated after thrusting from the original, proto-Covenant
accumulation, into Navajo Sandstone which was involved in a back-thrusted anticline of the Salina
thrust system. Wolverine Gas and Oil discovered this accumulation, named Covenant, in 2004.
Providence field was discovered later along the same trend producing Carboniferous aged oil and gas
from Navajo Sandstone. These hydrocarbons had migrated from a local source area and may not be
a commercial deposit.
Are there other Navajo fields? Can we assume that no additional, commercial oil and gas
accumulated after Sevier age thrusting given that over two dozen dry Navajo Sandstone test wells (on
seismically defined anticlines) were drilled following the Covenant discovery? Furthermore, can we
assume that no other pre-Sevier, proto-Covenant-like anticlines existed that have accumulations of oil
and gas in Mississippian, or older rocks? Not necessarily. Oil and gas may have accumulated in the
Mississippian and older carbonates before and after Sevier tectonics but didn't continue to migrate
upward into Navajo Sandstone reservoirs. No recent wells since the Covenant field discovery have
been drilled to Mississippian carbonates in Schelling's study area. Furthermore, only three wells, the
most recent drilled 35 years ago, encountered Mississippian-age rocks in the exploration arena. The
structures containing these Mississippian carbonates were included as part of foreland-vergent
detachments of the Pavant thrust system and were encountered further east than their original
depositional position.
Therefore, the stratigraphy and hydrocarbon potential of Mississippian age rocks in the primary CUTB
area of interest, and elsewhere on trend, remain a big unknown. A number of very large anticlines
beckon.
Biography: Michael L. Pinnell serves as Exploration Manager and has been employed by Pioneer
Oil & Gas from 1989 to the present. Mr. Pinnell is in charge of performing and supervising the
geological and geophysical interpretation for Pioneer Oil & Gas's drilling prospects. Mr. Pinnell worked
as a Consultant for various companies from 1985 to 1989 and performed geological and geophysical
services. From 1981 to 1985 Mr. Pinnell was the Exploration Manager for Fortune Oil Company. Mr.
Pinnell received a B.S. in Geology in 1970 and an M.S. in Geology from Brigham Young University.
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LUNCHEON LOCATION
******
The July UGA luncheon meeting will be at 12:00 noon, Monday, July 13th, 2014, at the Utah Department
of Natural Resources, 1594 West North Temple. Enter on south side.
Please make your reservations no later than 4:00 p.m. on Thursday July 9th. Click to make
reservations for the Luncheon Meeting by sending email to [email protected].
PLEASE NOTE: If after making a reservation you know you will be unable to attend, please notify the
Treasurer no later than 9:30 a.m. on the day of the talk so that a walk-in may take your place.
Otherwise, no-shows will be billed $10.
Lunch at 12:00 noon. Meeting begins at 12:30. Cost: members $8.00 w/ reservations; non-members $12
with reservation; $5.00 for students. Cash, Checks, AND NOW MasterCard or Visa.
Please Save the Date!
Attention all UGA golfers, friends of UGA golfers, and supporters of the UGA...
We have a reserved a tee time for our ANNUAL UGA/SPE/SME SCHOLARSHIP GOLF
TOURNAMENT!
Wingpointe Golf Course, 8:00am Friday, September 11, 2015, shotgun start as usual. Fun for all!!
Terry Massoth
UGA Golf Chair
We Need a President!
Your association needs you to step up and run for president. There seems to be a
misconception that there is “someone else” who is more qualified or has more time than you –
it’s not true! Sooner or later we all need to take a few turns serving our Association. The
President slot it still open and time is growing short. We could use more candidates in the other
positions too – please search your soul and see if you are ready to take your turn, then contact
the election committee chair.
Please note: We are trying hard to remove the conception that officers need to be from
the SLC area; in reality you can easily fulfill all functions of most positions from
anywhere in the state. Not being able to attend Monday luncheon meetings is NOT a
good excuse to not run. Board meetings can be held evenings or you can participate via
conference call or skype. Only the Program Chair and Treasurer need to be present at
Monday luncheons. You just need to care about the UGA.
Nominations are open until July 15. Candidates will be announced in the August newsletter.
Elections will be in September and early October. New officers take over on November 1. All
positions are a one-year term except President-elect, which is a three-year term.
President-elect – A three-year commitment, the President-elect recommends to the Board the
region or topic for the annual UGA publication and field conference and assigns editors to carry
out the task. Note that the constitution does NOT require a formal publication and multi-day trip
each year. Several of us think that it may be time for the UGA to scale back a bit – for
example, simply run a one-day trip and only produce an informal road log some years (less
time and expense, allowing more members to participate) – this would be your choice. As
President you will guide management of the Association and run meetings. As PastPresident you will continue as a member of the Governing Board, offer sage advice to new
officers, and chair the Nomination Committee.
Program Chair – You will search out and arrange speakers for our regular monthly luncheon
meetings, prepare newsletter announcements, coordinate the meeting venue, set up and run
audio-visual equipment, and introduce speakers.
Secretary – You will handle most correspondence for the Governing Board, record and file
minutes of Board meetings, maintain the membership database, and publish the membership
directory.
Treasurer – You will oversee the Association’s financial resources, keep the accounts current,
track income and expenses, and prepare a monthly financial report for the Governing Board.
You will prepare and present an accurate end-of-year report (ends September 30) and present
a summary of the Association’s financial status and health to the membership at the October
Annual Meeting. You will provide records to a professional accountant and assure that annual
taxes are properly prepared and filed. You, or a volunteer under your supervision, will arrange
for catering of monthly meetings.
To nominate yourself or a buddy, please contact Grant Willis before July 15 –
[email protected] – 801-537-3355
Call for Nominations for the 2015 Lehi Hintze Award
for Outstanding Contributions to the Geology of Utah
This award was established in 2003 and first presented to Lehi F. Hintze in honor of his lifetime
commitment to studying, mapping, writing and teaching about the geology of Utah. The eleven Lehi
Hintze awardees since 2003 are listed in the 2014 UGA Membership Directory. The Lehi Hintze
award is made annually to one person considered by the selection panel to be the most deserving
candidate reflecting an outstanding contribution to the geology of Utah. This person can be from
academia, government, the private sector, or the general public. The criteria for “Outstanding
Contributions to the Geology of Utah” are intended to be interpreted broadly and to include all areas of
the geosciences.
Nomination Process
The Utah Geological Association (UGA) and the Utah Geological Survey (UGS) jointly coordinate the
nomination process. Nominations are called for each year, and will be reviewed by a selection panel
in September.
Nominations may be made by anyone, including non-UGA members, and should include the
following:
•
•
•
a letter of nomination outlining the nominee's significant contributions,
a curriculum vitae,
a bibliography, and
a minimum of two, but no more than four, supporting letters (at least one letter from a person not
currently or recently associated with the nominee's employment).
Nominations should be mailed to the following address before August 30, 2015:
Director
Utah Geological Survey
PO Box 146100
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6100
Registration Now Available!
UGA Annual Field Trip
Geology of the Uinta Basin and Eastern Uinta Mountains
September 17–19, 2015
Field trip leaders: Doug Sprinkel and Mike Vanden Berg (Utah Geological Survey)
Field trip coordinator: Robert Ressetar ([email protected])
This three-day trip will examine the structure,
stratigraphy, and natural resources of the Uinta Basin
and Uinta Mountains in northeastern Utah.
Highlights will include:
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Geology of Nine Mile Canyon and Gate Canyon: Green River Formation lacustrine deposits Geology of the Evacuation Creek area, south of Bonanza: Upper Green River Formation, Enefit Mahogany box cut, exceptional microbialites, gilsonite veins, and the demise of Lake Uinta Uinta Mountains structural segmentation Neoproterozoic Uinta Mountain Group—
stratigraphy and petroleum resources Fluvial reorganization during the transition from the Laramide orogeny to Tertiary extension Cenozoic conglomerates, downcutting, and mountain retreat Triassic‐Jurassic stratigraphy and regional correlations Please go to www.utahgeology.org to register. Space is limited, and registration will close August 29. The trip will begin
and end in Salt Lake City; overnights will be in Vernal. The base cost is $290, which includes transportation, two nights
lodging (double occupancy), three lunches, snacks & drinks, UGA Publication 44, and a field trip guidebook.
Stop 1; Triassic-Jurassic Nugget Sandstone and Middle Jurassic Carmel Formation at Steinaker
Reservoir State Park.
Stop 3 (at left); The Red Fleet of Triassic and Jurassic strata near Red Fleet State Park. Stop 9 (at
right); The Uinta fault in the Sheep Creek Canyon Geological Area placed Neoproterozoic formation of
Hades Pass against Mississippian Madison (Deseret) Limestone.
View of Flaming Gorge Reservoir
with red Triassic strata that inspired
J.W. Powell in 1869 to name the
entrance into the Uinta Mountains
along the Green River.
Stop 11; View of Sheep Creek, which
is floored in Triassic strata with the
monoclinal Permian Park City on left
and the shattered Nugget Sandstone
on right.
Free Books (list enlarged July 2015)
UGA must reduce its storage space in the UGS Core Center. In addition, the DNR Bookstore has
returned excess old publications that no longer sell well. For the last few months we have been giving
out excess publications at our monthly meetings. We extend this offer to our members who cannot
attend. You can pick the following books up at the next few luncheon meetings or by stopping by
Grant Willis’s office at the Utah Geological Survey in the DNR Building in Salt Lake City. The DNR
Bookstore will ship them for the cost of shipping and handling (typically $5 to $15 per book depending
on book weight and your address)—call them direct at 801-537-3320 to pay and arrange shipment.
Note: these free publications are only for UGA members’ personal use or for donation to schools; they
are not to be resold (we don’t want to see them on e-bay a week later!). Offer only good while
supplies last.
UG Society-16 Geology of Bingham Mining District, 1961
UGA-1 Environmental Geology Tour of the Wasatch Front, road logs, edited by L.S. Hilpert, 1971.
UGA-7 Guidebook to Mineral Deposits of Southwestern Utah, edited by D.R. Shawe, International
Association on the Genesis of Ore Deposits Meeting, Field Excursion C-2, 1978, 75 p.
RMAG/UGA Basin and Range Symposium and Great Basin Field Conference, edited by G.W.
Newman and H.D. Goode, 1979, 662 p. (co-produced with Rocky Mountain Association of
Geologists).
UGA-10 Overthrust Belt of Utah, Symposium and Field Conference, edited by D.L. Nielson, 1982,
335 p.
UGA-14 Orogenic Patterns and Stratigraphy of North-Central Utah and Southeastern Idaho, edited
by G.J. Kerns and R.L. Kerns, Jr., 1985, 329 p.
UGA-17 Geology and Hydrology of Hazardous-Waste, Mining-Waste, Waste-Water, and Repository
Sites in Utah
UGA-18 Energy and Mineral Resources of Utah, edited by M.L. Allison
UGA-20 Hydrocarbon and Mineral Resources of the Uinta Basin, Utah and Colorado, edited by T.D.
Fouch, V.F. Nuccio, and T.C. Chidsey, Jr., 1992, 366 p.,
UGA-22 Oil and Gas Fields of Utah (parts 1 and 2), edited by B.G. Hill and S.R. Bereskin, 1993, 192
p. [specify if you want binder or just 3-ring sheet packets], 1991, 222 p.
UGA-23 Cenozoic Geology and Geothermal Systems of Southwestern Utah, edited by R.E. Blackett
and J.N. Moore, 1994, 213 p.
UGA-26 Modern and Ancient Lakes: New Problems and Perspectives, edited by J.K. Pitman and A.R.
Carroll, 1998, 328 p.
UGA-31 Ground Water in Utah, Resource, Protection, Remediation, edited by L.E. Spangler, 2004,
261 p.
Association for Women Geoscientists - Salt Lake Chapter
invites you to
The Annual Summer Social
Saturday August 1, 2015 from 5-9 PM
6413 S Rodeo Lane, Murray, Utah
Main course provided by the chapter. Bring a side dish and beverages to share.
Families welcome!
HELP WANTED
Geotechnical/CMT Professional Engineer
Environmental Compliance Services, Inc. (ECS) is seeking a Professional Engineer to work out of our
Salt Lake City, Utah office on geotechnical and construction materials testing projects. This position is
a great opportunity to work locally, and assist the company with nationwide projects.
Qualifications:
10+ years of experience in oversight and management, of geotechnical and construction materials
testing projects, and staff supervision
Environmental experience is a plus but not a requirement
An excellent understanding of the construction industry is a must
Excellent communication and writing skills
Capability of multi-tasking and handling multiple projects in various states
A valid driver's license in good standing
Responsibilities:
Manage every aspect (for example, scheduling, invoice & budget tracking, report preparation/review,
etc. of geotechnical and construction materials testing projects)
Prepare Proposals and Scopes of Work
Travel will be required locally to meet with customers and potential clients to help build a regional
presence, and assist with national coverage
Pre-Employment Requirements:
Upon offer of employment, the selected candidate will be required to successfully pass the following
pre-employment requirements: drug screen, physical, criminal and driver's history background check
About ECS:
ECS is a growing, full-service environmental consulting company of approximately 250 professionals
with offices throughout New England, the Southeast, and the Midwest. We offer a great work
environment and excellent benefits including: Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Competitive
Salary, Health & Dental Insurance, and Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance
UGA’s Earthquake Safety Website Ready for Member Comment For the next 30 days, the website will be open for member comment before it is launched to the public. You can view it at: utahearthquakesafety.wordpress.com Once the comment period is over, it will be launched at our primary website at utahearthquakesafety.org. Please email comments and suggestions (hopefully constructive) to [email protected]. NEED HELP: You will quickly see that the website is graphics‐poor. We could use someone who has some creative talent and software skills to help with figures and photographs. Also, we could use more committee members. Please contact Grant if you are interested. Kathmandu, Nepal, April
25, 2015, M7.8 on thrust
fault. Yes, Utah has many
unreinforced masonry
buildings not much
different than these.
Photo from Flickr
Commons, SIM for SE
Asia.
UGA VOLUNTEERS
UGA Board
(unless otherwise indicated, area code is 801)
2015 President
2015 President-Elect
2015 Program Chair
2015 Treasurer
2015 Secretary
2014 Past-President
April Abate, [email protected]
Jason Blake, [email protected]
Mark Milligan, [email protected]
Rebekah Stimpson, [email protected]
Jan Morse, [email protected]
Grant Willis, [email protected]
Education/Scholarship
Environmental Affairs
Geologic Road Sign
Historian
Membership
Public Education
Matt Affolter [email protected]
Craig Eaton, [email protected]
Terry Massoth, [email protected]
Paul Anderson, [email protected]
Rick Ford, [email protected]
Paul Jewell [email protected]
Sandy Eldredge, [email protected]
Roger Bon, [email protected]
Paul Inkenbrandt, [email protected]
Greg Nielsen [email protected]
Roger Bon, [email protected]
538-5214
435-658-3423
537-3326
537-3378
538-5327
537-3355
UGA Committees
Publications
Publicity
Recruitment/Outreach
Social/Recreation
633-9396
541-6258
364-6613
626-6942
581-6636
537-3325
942-0533
537-3361
626-6394
942-0533
AAPG House of Delegates
Craig Morgan [email protected]
537-3370
State Mapping Advisory Committee
Terry Massoth, [email protected]
541-6258
Earthquake Safety Committee
Chair
Grant Willis, [email protected]
537-3355
UGA Web Site
http://www.utahgeology.org
Webmasters
Paul Inkenbrandt [email protected]
Lance Weaver [email protected]
Newsletter Editor
Bob Biek [email protected]
537-3361
537-3346
UGA Newsletter
537-3356
2015 UGA Guidebook Editors
Mike Vanden Berg [email protected]
Robert Ressetar [email protected]
Lauren Birgenheier [email protected]
537-5419
949-3312
585-3966
2016 UGA Guidebook Editors
John Comer [email protected]
Mike Pinnell [email protected]
Paul Inkenbrandt [email protected]
812-320-3428
557-9114
537-3361