October Luncheon

Please RSVP by 3:00pm on Friday, October 17, 2025.

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

SPONSORED BY:

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

TOPIC: Not-all-Carbonates are Created Equal: Variability and Influence of toe-of-slope and Basinal Carbonates on Unconventional Reservoirs - Early Leonardian (Wolfcamp A) of the Midland Basin 

ABSTRACT: The Midland Basin in Texas is a highly productive region within the Greater Permian Basin, known for its rich reserves of hydrocarbons and growing potential for carbon storage. Delineating depositional elements of transitional deposits (e.g. toe-of-slope) can be challenging, particularly in a seismically “tuned” basin with a plethora of one-dimensional log data like the Midland Basin. This study demonstrates the utility of integrating one-dimensional rock and log data with 2D/3D-seismic characterization in delineating depositional elements of unconventional resource play deposits. Herein we define depositional environments of Permian aged Wolfcamp A rocks (early Leonardian) by characterizing their depositional fabrics in a shelf-to-basin chronostratigraphic context. Results include the identification of variable depositional styles of shelf-derived carbonate deposits extending up to 30 km into the basin center with differing rock and petrophysical properties. Implications of depositional variability’s influence on rock properties are discussed in this study, demonstrating the effect on resource play boundaries, hydraulic stimulation, and their influence on stimulated rock volumes.

BIO:

Abdulah Eljalafi is a Geoscientist at Ovintiv in the Exploration and Chiefs group. For the past three years, Dr. Eljalafi has supported multiple groups across the company from development, to operations, and reservoir characterization. Throughout his tenure at Ovintiv, he has contributed to understanding linkages between conventional and unconventional systems in mixed siliciclastic and carbonate systems throughout North American basins. Prior to Ovintiv, he earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees in geological engineer and geology at the Colorado School of Mines, followed by a doctorate in geosciences – with a focus on Carbonate Stratigraphy – at the University of Texas at Austin. Throughout his academic career Dr. Eljalafi taught multiple field schools and conducted geologic field work throughout North and Central America, and the Caribbean. Professionally, he interned and consulted in a multitude of industries from base-metal mining to carbon capture, and the energy sector.

Robert Holman has been a geophysicist at Ovintiv in Denver for two years. As a member of the reservoir characterization group, he enhances the company's understanding of the Permian Basin. In his role, he integrates seismic data into operational processes and regional characterization, as well as diagnostic interpretation, to enhance understanding of subsurface features and optimize field performance.  Before joining Ovintiv, he worked 10 years at Chesapeake Energy, now known as Expand. While working there he gained experience through his role as a geophysicist in their Eagle Ford asset and technology team, where he contributed to various projects aimed at improving operational efficiency and implementing technology. He earned his B.S at BYU-Idaho and M.S. at Oklahoma State University.