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October Luncheon
October Luncheon

Tue, Oct 29

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Bush Convention Center

October Luncheon

Dr. Zane Jobe Research Associate Professor, Colorado School of Mines Director, Chevron Center of Research Excellence "Depositional-process controls on chemofacies in mixed-lithology submarine lobe deposits: A high-resolution core study from the Permian Wolfcamp XY Formation, Delaware Basin, Texas"

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Time & Location

Oct 29, 2024, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM CDT

Bush Convention Center, 105 N Main St, Midland, TX 79701, USA

Guests

About The Event

Please RSVP by 3:00pm on Friday, October 25, 2024.

Reservations made after the deadline will incur an additional fee of $10.


LOCATION: In-Person luncheon meeting will be held at the Bush Convention Center. Virtual meeting on Zoom. 


TOPIC: Depositional-process controls on chemofacies in mixed-lithology submarine lobe

deposits: A high-resolution core study from the Permian Wolfcamp XY Formation, Delaware Basin, Texas


ABSTRACT: Mixed siliciclastic-carbonate mudrocks have variable depositional processes and

diagenetic pathways, creating mineralogical complexity and thus difficulty in characterizing reservoir quality using typical subsurface datasets (e.g., well logs) as well as conventional visual core description techniques. Core-based X-ray fluorescence (XRF) data quantifies subtle elemental variations that can aid in interpreting fine-scale sedimentological packages and variations in reservoir property distribution. XRF data

has proven to be particularly useful for interpreting and defining the depositional processes of thin-bedded, mixed-lithology successions like the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring formations of the Delaware Basin, Texas. These units are comprised of early- middle Permian (Early Leonardian, ~285 Ma) siliciclastic and carbonate submarine-fan deposits that form productive unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs. However, the

spatial and temporal variability in depositional process and diagenesis leads to difficulty in predicting reservoir quality. Several studies have utilized core-based XRF data for this purpose, but not at a resolution sufficient to capture the true heterogeneity of these thin- bedded deposits.

Using continuous, high-resolution (1-cm, 0.39 inch) X-ray fluorescence (XRF) data from 218 feet of core and associated geomechanical and well-log data from the Wolfcamp XY interval, this study demonstrates that chemofacies derived using unsupervised machine learning correlate with event-bed interpretations and reservoir property distribution. Unsupervised k-means clustering and principal component analysis on 17

XRF-derived elemental concentrations derive four chemofacies that characterize geochemical heterogeneity, in order of increasing reservoir quality: (1) calcareous, (2) detrital, (3) oxic-suboxic argillaceous, and (4) anoxic argillaceous. These chemofacies are validated using scanning-electron microscopy (SEM) and thin-section petrography that quantify mineral composition and elucidate diagenetic processes. Vertical variations in XRF-based chemofacies accurately represent depositional facies changes and hybrid-event-bed boundaries, often matching cm-by-cm the visually-described lithofacies. We utilize this detailed dataset to construct a predictive chemofacies model linking variable sediment routing from carbonate and siliciclastic sources and different depositional processes to reservoir quality. This research demonstrates the relationship of chemofacies to reservoir properties (e.g., total organic carbon, porosity, permeability, water saturation) and geomechanical response (brittleness and unconfined compressive

strength), which can be used for log-based reservoir prediction of the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring Formations in the Permian Basin, as well as for other mixed clastic-carbonate deep-water reservoirs around the world.


BIO: Zane Jobe is a research professor at Colorado School of Mines and the Director of the Geology Center of Research Excellence (CoRE) - http://core.mines.edu/. Prior to Mines, Zane spent 6 years in the Clastics Research Team at Shell Oil Company. Zane received a B.S. in Geology from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2004, and a Ph.D. in Geology from Stanford University in 2010 (advisors - Don Lowe, Steve Graham). His research interests aim to better understand the stratigraphic architecture, scaling relationships, and sediment budgets for clastic depositional systems, with an emphasis on submarine environments. Zane also manages the “Earth Resource Data Science” program at Mines (https://online.mines.edu/er/), which focuses on applied data science and machine-learning using python and subsurface datasets. Zane also enjoys cycling and thinks that copious amounts of yard work can be cathartic.

Tickets

  • RSVP (after deadline)

    This ticket is for the luncheon purchased AFTER the deadline.

    $35.00
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  • Student

    This ticket is for current students purchased before the deadline (full time students only). Please bring student ID to check in. You may pay online or choose to pay at the door at checkout.

    $10.00
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  • Virtual

    This ticket is to watch the luncheon live on Zoom. Current PBS-SEPM Members are able to watch the virtual luncheon at NO COST. Reach out to us if you did not receive your member promo code.

    $5.00
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  • Luncheon Sponsorship

    Become a Luncheon Sponsor! Includes 2 Luncheon Tickets and opportunity to promote your company at the beginning of the luncheon for up to 3 minutes. Your logo will be included on [1] All Luncheon Advertisements (Social Media and Emails), [2] Full Page Advertisement on Luncheon Slides for that Month, [3] Luncheon Event Webpage, and [4] Table Signs. You may pay online or choose to pay at the door at checkout.

    $250.00
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