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BULLETIN

I

5s

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HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY Houston, Texas

Volume 5, No.

December 1-2

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%oustor Qeoeogicd Society

President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1st Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2nd Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer ....................

Benjamin T . Simmons . . . . . FA 3-0493 Judd H. Oualline ......... CA 8-6321 Raymond E . Fairchild ..... CA 5-0487 Charles F Ross .......... CA 3-4491 B Otto Pixler . . . . . . . . . . . . JA4-6381

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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEMEN

J . Ben Carsey W . Kenley Clark

George C . Hardin. Jr., Ex-Oficio

William F . Cooke. Jr . Elliott H . Powers

COMMllTEE CHAIRMEN STANDING COMMITTEES

Finance . . . . . . . . .......... Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technical Program . . . . . . . . . . . . Awards and Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . Research and Study . . . . . . . . . . . . H.G.S. Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . Personnel Placement . . . . . . . . . . . Remembrance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Public Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A.A.P.G Membership . . . . . . . . . . Ballot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertising ................... Exhibits G.C.A.G.S.. A.A.P.G. . . . Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BoyScout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Jesse L George. Jr F A 3-0367 Judd H . Oualline . . . . . . . . . CA 8-6321 Raymond E. Fairchild ..... CA 5-0487 M . Allen Reagan. Jr . . . . . . . MO 6-0261 De Witt C . Van Siclen . . . . . CA 4-1 68 1 A . H Wadsworth. Jr . . . . . . . CA 7-8151 Hal H . Bybee . . . . . . . . . . . . CA5-1511 Orville G Lundstrom . . . . . . CA 2-03 16 M. Stephen Kovac . . . . . . . . CA 3-4645 W . P . Biggs ............. WA 8-25 1 1 Royce E . Oualline . . . . . . . . . JA 6-191 1 John B . Williams . . . . . . . . . CA 4-7961 Robert H. Dickerson ...... MO 4-3401 Clark R . Edgecomb. Jr . . . . . WA 8-251 1 Carleton D . Speed. Jr . . . . . . CA 4-2523 Stewart H. Folk . . . . . . . . . . CA 3-4441 Albert R . Mincher . . . . . . . . CA 5-441 1

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SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Convention Preparations . . . . . . . . Distribution of Publications . . . . . Engineers Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . Academic Liaison ............. Preservation of Samples and Cores Advisor to Museum of Natural History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Field Papers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Convention Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quarters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .

W . A . Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . CA 2-9721 H. Grady Traylor . . . . . . . . CA 4-9286 Harry E. Otell ............ CA 8-8 12 1 J . C . Walter. Jr . . . . . . . . . . . CA 7-1 246 Arthur S. Dickinson . . . . . . . CA 3-401 1 Charles W . Stuckey. .lr . ..... JA 9-4821 Jack 0. Colle . . . . . . . . . . . . CA 7-6266 Olin G . Bell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JA 2-2625 Aubrey H . Rabensburg . . . . CA 5-0331 C . D . Cantrell. Jr . . . . . . . . . CA 3-4961

REPRESENTATIVES

G.C.A.G.S. Representative . . . . . . Alternate . . . . . . .

Raymond E . Fairchild . . . . . CA 5-0487 A . D . Warren . . . . . . . . . CA 8-0541

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BULLETIN

THE

THIS MONTH VOLUMe

NUMBER 4

5

Meeting Notice

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President's Page. News of Members

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Items from the Editor's Desk On the Distaff

..... GeoScience Notes ......

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Review: Aerogeology

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T H E B U L L E T I N O F T H E HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY Office -234 Esperson Bldg. Houston 2, Texas F A 3-9309 Subscription Price $3.00 per year.

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Published monthly, September to June by C A R D I N A L PRINTING AND L E T T E R SERVICE, INC.

Editor

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Stuart K . Clark, 1552 h4. Esperson Building

...... CA 8-5174

Asst. Editor.. ..... J . D. (Denny) Elartell, 433 Esperson Building.. .... CA 8-6668

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December

Volume 5, No. 4 MEETlNO NOTICE

FOURTH REGULAR MEETING

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DECEMBER 10, 1962

The fourth regular meeting of .the 1962-63 year will be held Monday evening, December 10, on the 10th floor of the Houston Club Building. The social "hour" will begin at 5: 15, dinner at 6:00, and the program at 7:00 p.m. Our speaker will be Dr. James M. Forgotson, J r . , a research geologist with Pan American Petroleum Corporation in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His subject will be "The Application of Digital Computers to Exploration Operations. " Dr. Forgotson i s one of the most outstanding pioneers in this new technique for processing and computing geological data. The digital computer is believed to be a "comer" which will relieve the geologiet of much of his time consuming mundane work which is s o burdensome and in itself s o unproductive. The use of this new tool will, in effect, create time for the geologist to devote to better interpretations of ''cold turkey" data. Our speaker attended New Mexico Military Institute, Texas University, Washington University in St. Louis and Northwestern University where he received his Master's and Doctorate degrees in 1954 and 1956. His published works include results of studiw regarding the stratigraphy and depositional history of Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous rocks of the Gulf Coast, quantitative mapping techniques, stratigraphic nomenclature and applications of electronic computers to exploration problems. We feel very fortunate in being able to offer Dr. Forgotson's presentation on this new method and want to encourage all of you to attend this final meeting

THAT LlTTLE MATTER OF RESERVATIONS The program chairman's pleas for advance reservations a r e not designed to discourage attendance at the meetings, but solely to make it possible for you t o receive the excellent meal and efflcient service which the Houston Club would like to provide. But a ratio of 200 guests to 150 reservations make that virtually impossible. So, if "you all" will just cultivate the habit of returning the reservation cards promptly (they should be mailed by the Thursday preceding a Monday meeting), it should bring you definite benefits, and remember reservations may be ma& o r cancelled uutil noon on Monday by phaning the HGS offlce at FA 3-9309.

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A CASE FOR DIPLOMACY About five years ago a tapering off in the activity of the oil business began and this decline has persisted. It is about time that we took a long look a t the reasons why this has taken place and the c u r e s that might effect a change. Demand for petroleum products has increased steadily during this period but the imports of foreign crude have m o r e than absorbed the increases. As the imports soared, the independents with no refinery cushions were the most affected. During the past five years, s a l e s of independents have increased in all s i z e ranges a s incomes have been cut and cut again. T h e r e a r e but two basic arguments to explain the pros and cons of the dilemma we a r e in. The basic premise, especially of the non-oil groups, i s that the great oil r e s e r v e s have shifted to foreign countries and that we should make use of these and save our own. The contrary opinion is that we should p r e s e r v e our own industry in a state of good health in the case of anemergency that would make the foreign r e s e r v e s unobtainable. We have tried to educate the m a s s of the American people concerning some of the problems of the oil industry with indifferent success. However, the people who should know the fallacy and danger of letting our domestic industry become a rusty weapon in world affairs a r e the men who run the major companies. They a r e the ones who should s e e beyond the year's current dividends, a s s e s s our standing in the Cold War, and come up with decisions based upon statesmanship and not on profit margins. The large, integrated companies have done just the reverse. They have steadily inched up the imports a t every turn, they have shown a childish concern over any slight advantage that each might get over the other, and they have turned a deaf e a r to all of the pleadings of the small companies and independent producers. Greed h a s become the m a s t e r . It is time that we insisted on some measure of diplomacy from our government and the l a r g e r companies. Either they should have the courage and bluntness to tell us that our domestic industry is no longer needed and is outmoded by cheap, foreign oil o r they should act with the long range good of the United States in mind. I believe that you will agree with m e that this kind of a n outlook is almost too much to a s k of our government alone. The major companies owe it to the industry to s h a r e the major part of the blame for the condition of the oil business today and they should commence to act with some measure of responsibility tomorrow. A l a r g e measure of diplomacy is needed and it must come from within our own ranks.

. . Benjamin

T . Simmons

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Both candidates for the presidency of theAAPG, B. Warren Beebe of Boulder, Colorado, and John Campbell Sproule of Calgary, Canada, were in Houston for the GSA Convention. Both were guests a t the HGS Luncheon Meeting at the Sheraton-Lincoln Hotel on Thursday, November 15, and were called upon for brief remarks by President Ben Simmons. Warren Beebe was also the guest of honor at a cocktail party given by Michel Halbouty a t the Petroleum Club on Friday, November 9. GEORGE L. ROLLER, formerly with Van Dyke Oil Co., has s e t up his offices a s a geological consultant for the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast a t 8402 Robindell, George's new phone number i s GY 4-3997. The Superior Oil Company in a reorganization move h a s promoted two members of the Society to vice-presidents. W. KENLEY CLARK has been made Vice-president of Exploration and K. G. "Red" McCANN i s now Vice-president in charge of geophysical activities. HAROLD VOIGT was also promoted to Regional Geologist, Mid-Continent Region. A long-time member of the Houston Geological Society i s being transferred after the first of the year by the Sinclair Oil and Gas Co. LEYCESTER (Buck) STANLEY, District Manager here in Houston, i s being transferred to Casper, Wyoming, to take charge of Sinclair's office there. GRANT C. PARSONS of Atlantic's foreign exploration department i s on a three months' assignment in Australia. He is reviewing the company's exploration activities "Down Under" in their search for oil. They have drilled one 12, 000' dry hole - plan four more shallower tests. Grant i s now setting up a new exploration office for Atlantic in Brisbane.

MEMORIAL GLEN BYRON GARIEPY Glen Byron Gariepy, resident of 5041 "B", Val Verde Courts, died on Octob e r 18th at the age of 58. He had been Chief Geologist for Marathon Oil Company in Findlay, Ohio, from 1955 until his recent appointment a s Assistant Manager for the Houston Division on September 1st. Mr. Gariepy had been with Marathon Oil Company since 1928. He received his BA degree from the University of Wyoming and did graduate work a t the University of Wisconsin and Stanford University. He was well known to the oil fraternity through his active participation in the Pacific Section of AAPG in Los Angeles. He had applied for membership in the Houston Geological Society and this membership was being processed a t the time of his death. Mr. Gariepy i s survived by his wife, Pearl, and a daughter, Marilyn, a teacher a t Valley Forge, Pa., and a son, Byron L. Gariepy, geologist and geophysicist with Marathon Oil Company in Shreveport, Louisiana. . . .W. A. Thomas

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The Mississippi Geological Society's Advisory Committee, headed by Bill Skees of Pan American Petroleum, proposes an elaborate program of r e education of its membership through a carefully planned program of lectures o r symposiums conducted by speakers of note over a period of one to two years, and financed by the participants on a subscription basis. The plan i s predicated on two assumptions; one that the petroleum geologist exists to find oil and that applied petroleum geology, in essence, i s the search for hydrocarbons entrapped in porous permeable rocks; and the other that an individual's education tends to become obsolete o v e r a period of about ten years. The program proposed to remedy the latter situation, and submitted for that society's consideration, is literally a comprehensive educational program. One can scarcely quarrel with the stated objectives of petroleum geology, but if an individual's education in a developing technology is really becoming obsolete, it would suggest that he must not be contributing much to that advancement, o r taking much advantage of the company training programs, the technical programs of his local o r the regional groups o r the voluminous literature that i s being produced. It will be interesting to s e e what decision the Mississippi Society takes on this ambitious proposal. Index of Geological Articles on South Louisiana The Van Dyke Oil Company of Houston and New Orleans has prepared and published an "Index of Geological Articles on South Louisiana" in the form of a letter s i z e brochure "with the hope that it will be useful to those interested in the geology of South Louisiana. " It covers the publications of the AAPG, the GCAGS, the Louisiana Geological Survey, Grover E . Murray's "Geology of the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Province of North America, " the New Orleans Geological Society's "Salt Domes of South Louisiana," Volumes I and 11, and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists. The Index i s arranged under the following general headings: General Geology, Geology of Fields, Salt Dome Geology, Sedimentation and Stratigraphy, and Bibliography . An excellent index map of South Louisiana oil and gas fields, including the offshore fields, is included. The Van Dyke Oil Company has rendered a signal service to the oil industry, particularly the geological and geophysical segments of that industry, by compiling this index. If it brings that company a modium of goodwill and favorable advertising, it is well deserved. Copies of the Index may be obtained from the company's offices in the Bank of the Southwest Building.

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A. A. P. G. - S. E. P. M. - Mid-Western S .E . G . 1963 Joint Convention The Mid-Western Societies of S. E . G. have accepted the A.A.P. G.'s invitation to participate in the 1963 Convention in Houston. The Mid-Western group includes the Ark-La-Tex, Dallas, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Permian Basin Geophysical Societies. The Dallas Geophysical Society will act a s the host society for the group which will headquarter and meet in the Rice Hotel. Members of the Geophysical Society of Houston a r e acting on various Convention Committees to integrate the arrangements and activities of the Mid-Westem Societies into the general convention program. Two geophysical papers of real interest to both geophysicists and geologists will be presented a t the Joint Session of the Convention on Tuesday, March 26th. The Convention Technical Program Committee will attempt to schedule papers a t the Coliseum and Rice Hotel in such a fashion that papers of general interest to both geologists and geophysicists will not be in conflict. Rapid trans i t will be available for those who wish to "commute" between papers. The many of us who have always believed that joint meetings of the national geological and geophysical societies a r e beneficial to the general oil exploration effort a r e pleased by this A.A.P. G. "step forward" invitation to the MidWestern Societies of S. E . G. to participate in the 1963 Convention.

. . .John F .

Anderson General Vice-chairman 1963 Joint Meeting

Engineers Council The Engineers Council of Houston requested two substitute science teachers representing the HGS to teach senior high and junior high school classes Friday, November 9, 1962. Arthur S. Dickinson, Monsanto Chemical Co., and Harry E . Otell, J r . , Florida Gas Transmission Co., r o s e to the occasion. Also, the HGS was represented by Harry Otell in a Panel Discussion for the Science Clubs a t San Jacinto High School Wednesday, November 14, 1962. Other requests for speakers and teachers a r e expected in the future. If any members a r e interested in participating in this type of program, please contact either J. C. Walter, J r . (CA 7-1246) o r Harry Otell (CA 8-8121), HGS representatives on the Engineer's Council of Houston. G.C.A.G.S. Guidebook The guidebook for the field trip held in conjunction with the convention of the G. C.A.G.S. held recently in New Orleans is available at Carnbe Log Library for $3.50 postpaid. The title is Guide Book Little Stave Creek - Salt Mountain Limestone, Jackson, Alabama. . . .Chas. W. Stuckey, J r .

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Houston Geological Auxiliary President, Mrs. D. Frank Broussard SU 2-2289 1st Vice Pres., Mrs. Hillard Carey. S U 2-2797 Secretary, Mrs. Raymond Snyder. . HO 8-4415 Treasurer, Mrs. James Wheeler . . MA 3-8503 Publicity, Bul., Mrs. Lynn Ervin . . SU 2-5899 Geo Wives President, Mrs. Ralph 0 . Woodward GY 4-5952 .PA 3-8690 1st Vice Pres., Mrs. Vic Russek. Secretary. Mrs. Cyrus Strong. . . M 0 5-3196

Convention News The Houston Geological Auxiliary received many p r a i s e s from GSA memb e r s and wives for the role they played in making the GSA convention such a huge s u c c e s s . D r . Rogers and D r . Croneis asked Faye Lewis to personally thank h e r registration committee for their wonderful cooperation and the smooth manner In which the registrations w e r e handled. Elizabeth Kovac did a bang-up job on publicity for the ladies' events. Helen Gibson received a letter from M r . Grady T r a y l o r , in charge of publicity, thanking h e r and h e r committee for their work a t the booth. Anella Dexter was busy a s a bee taking pictures of everyone and everything. It would be impossible t o mention everyone, but I think it could b e expressed better to repeat the words of one GSA member, "Every lady working on any committee was s o charming and helpful, a s if she w e r e personally responsible for the s u c c e s s of this convention." Fun in the Hospitality Room - Mary Mason, Betty Gahagan, Veta Davis, Emma Fisk and Elizabeth Jones looking over old pictures and clippings of the AAPG convention held h e r e in 1953. Total enrollment was 2184, with members from Columbia, Peru, India, Brazil, Scotlaud, Canada, and Mexico. Everyone returning from t h e regional Geological convention held in New Orleans said they had a ball from t h e time they a r r i v e d . The Mardi G r a s p a r ties and dance gave a festive a i r to the whole convention. Hospital Reports Sylvia Gorman, Ola Benke, and Kathryne M a r r have had surgery, and we're glad to hear they a r e home and on the mend. Dates to Remember Houston Geophysical Society Cocktail Party, Texas Room, Houston Club, Tuesday, December 11th. Geo- Wives Christmas Dance,

Geophysical Club, Saturday, December 1 .

Geo-Wives The November program was well attended. "Christmas Decorations for Your Home" was the theme of the talk and demonstration. T h e r e will be no meeting in December, but on January 15th, t h e r e will be a "White Elephant Bingo" a t the Geophysical Club. Hostesses will be Margie Krone and Wanda LeBlanc. . . .Eunice Ervin

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Review: Aerogeology, by D r . Horst F . von Bandat, edited by Clayton A . Umbach, J r . , 350 pp ., Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, Texas. $16.50 A well organized "down-to-earth" book illustrating many uses of a i r photographs in geology. If "a picture i s worth 10,000 words, " then a stereo pair is worth a great deal more. Dr. von Bandat has compiled 236 stereo pairs and 100 pictures from more than 120,000 pictures collected during the past 26 years throughout the world. These a i r photographs alone a r e a valuable contribution of geologic and geomorphic information. One possible addition could be the use of photo index sheets o r mosaics for an inexpensive regional "look." Aerogeology begins with Part 1-Photogrammetry, familiarizing the reader with a i r photographs, photogeometry, stereoscopy, and plotting instruments. Part 2-Aero Geologic Practice, discusses reconnaissance mapping techniques; special application of aerogeology in oil, mining, engineering, soil and hydrology; and aerogeologic map symbols. The aerogeologic map symbols used in the text will be unfamiliar to geologists who a r e not of Shell-Standard extraction. These symbols may have their merit in regional reconnaissance mapping, but nearly all aerogeologic symbols should follow U. S. G. S . standards for easier understanding. Part 3-General Analysis, covers drainage, tone, continuity, and vegetation. The chapters on drainage, tone, and continuity a r e supplemented with single photographs and diagrams. The chapter on vegetation analysis contains numerous well selected stereo pairs. Part 4-Morphologic Expressions of Rock Types, contains numerous stereo pairs of sedimentary, intrusive, extrusive and metamorphic rocks. Part 5-Structural Analysis, deals with resistant beds, dipslopes, false dipslopes, folded structures, faulted structures, and un. . . conformities. Under this part the stereo pairs give excellent examples. In the written text, the reader apparently i s being schooled in European geology o r misuse of the English language. Part 6-Landform Analysis, completes the study with a good "look" a t volcanic, lacustrine, fluvial, colluvial, glacial, glaciofluvial, and aeolian landforms. Landforms produced by igneous intrusive, weathering, permafrost, salt domes, and coral reefs a r e also covered. Of specific interest to the Gulf Coast geologist a r e parts of the chapters on drainage analysis, tonal analysis, lithologic analysis, vegetation, marine and lacustrine landforms, fluvial and colluvial landforms, salt domes and coral reefs. Covering a subject s o broad a s D r . von Bandat has undertaken leaves room for disagreement on some specifics. For example, a few indexing e r r o r s appear in the table of contents. These a r e minor, but unfortunate. Overall this is an excellent book, s o obtain a stereoscope (if you need one), read the hidden message on Page 15, and begin an interesting aerogeological journey.

. . .Adam

Thomas

*Dr. von Bandat served a s geologist for Royal Dutch Shell and for Gulf Oil Corporation for many years in assignments which have spanned virtually all of the oil-prospective p a r t s of the F r e e World.

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NOTES Downdip Limits of Production in the Oligocene of the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas. (Slightly condensedi from t h e original paper by a Study Group* of the Houston Geological Society. ) Introduction T h e Oligocene trend of t h e "Upper Gulf Coast" ** of Texas constitutes a belt 40 t o 50 miles wide extending from the Sabine River southwest to Jackson and Calhoun Counties. T h e downdip (southeastern) limit of this belt almost coincides with the present shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico. T h e Oligocene r e f e r r e d t o herein includes the Anahuac and F r i o formations and the Vicksburg Group. Because most of the oil and g a s production i s from the F r i o , discussion i s directed p r i m a r i l y t o that unit of the Oligocene. T h e subject a r e a i s typical Gulf Coastal plain, ranging f r o m s e a level to 200 feet in elevation. T h e surface consists of clays and sands of the Beaumont and Lissie group (Pleistocene) and undifferentiated Recent and Quaternary deposits in r i v e r valleys and adjacent to the Gulf. Historv Oil was first discovered in the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas a t Spindletop in 1901 on the basis of s u r f a c e indications. Although the e a r l y production from Spindletop dome was not from the F r i o formation, this discovery marked the beginning of the oil industry in the T e x a s Gulf Coast and resulted in e a r l y drilling along the F r i o trend. T h e r e have been t h r e e distinct periods in the exploration for oil in this trend, with the f i r s t one occurring from 1901 t o 1925. During this period, the majority of the shallow piercement type s a l t domes w e r e discovered principally on the basis of s u r f a c e geology and just plain wildcatting. T h e oil companies turned to geophysics in the second period (1925-1940) a s a means of locating prospects when e a r l i e r methods had reached the point of diminishing r e t u r n s . The quality of wildcat discoveries during this period was exceptionally good. Deep-seated and intermediate depth s a l t domes such a s Dickinson, Chocolate

he condensation consists in the omission of a n abstract; condensation of the introduction and acknowledgments; omission of a long s t r i k e section and omission of the list of cited references. No liberties have been taken with the substance of the paper, the o t h e r portions of which a r e reproduced verbatim. *G. H. G o r e (Chairman), Texas Gas Exploration; R. S. Parratt, F . M . Schall , Texas Gas Exploration; R. H. Fellows, Tennessee Gas Transmission; W. A. Piette, Skelly Oil. **Coincides with Texas R. R. Commission District 3 .

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Bayou, Old Ocean, and Hastings were discovered at this time. The first handcranked Schlumberger electric logs were run in the Gulf Coast of Texas at Mykawa in 1932. The third phase in the search for oil began in 1940 and i s continuing today. In this latter period, there has been a constant refinement of geophysical methods and techniques. The exploration geologist has taken advantage of these improvements, and with more subsurface information becoming available, has directed his efforts toward the search for buried fault structures, stratigraphic traps, and more intense exploration of the flanks of salt domes. Stratigraphy The Oligocene s e r i e s of the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas i s composed of the Anahuac formation, the Frio formation, and the Vicksburg group. The Vicksburg marine shale i s characterized by Textularia warreni and Cibicides pippini. Production from thin sands developed in the upper part of this section has been of little significance. The F r i o formation accounts for 80 per cent of the oil and gas produced from the UpperGulf Coast of Texas. It represents the regressive phase between the Anahuac and Vicksburg transgressions. The Frio formation i s composed of alternating sands and shales and i s generally divided into three faunal zones (Reedy, 1949). The lower Frio is characterized by Textularia mississippiensis, Textularia seligi, Anomalina bilateralis, and Cibicides "10". Nonium struma and Nodosaria blanpiedi mark the middle Frio. The Hackberry marine shale (Garrett, 1938), characterized by Gyroidina scalata, Ammobaculities nummus, Bolivina alazanensis, and Ammospirata mexicana, was deposited in local embayments during middle F r i o time. The upper Frio i s identified by Cibicides hazzardi. As a result of deeper drilling in the last decade, the basinward limit of F r i o sand occurrence has been fairly well delineated. Figure 1 (Index Map) shows roughly the basinward limit of sand deposition a s interpreted by the authors. The Anahuac formation i s a marine shale wedge overlying the Frio. It i s composed of light grey, brittle shale and has been divided into three faunal zones (Ellisor, 1944). The Marginulina o r lower zone generally consists of shale with thin sands near the base. Production from these sands is found in the eastern portion of the district, and they represent the best producing section of the Anahuac. The Heterostegina o r middle zone represents the maximum transgression of the Anahuac sea. This zone generally consists of shale with calcareous lenses, but around many positive features, limestone reefs a r e present (Ellisor, 1926; Cantrell et al, 1959). Oil has been produced from some of these reefs where they occur around salt domes. The Discorbis o r upper zone represents a regression of the Anahuac sea. In the southeastern portion of the Texas Gulf Coast, some sands were deposited in this section just below the base of the Miocene. A relatively small amount of oil production has been obtained from these sands.

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. .Continued on page 17

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PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY Space for Professional Cards of Members JOSEPH L. ADLER Geologist & Geophysicist Bank of the Southwest Bldg. CA 2-7925 Houston 2, Texas ALLEN & GlLKlSON Oil and Gas Consultants Harris H. Allen and D. C. Gilkison CA 8-9329 463 San Jacinto Bldg. Houston 2, Texas

WAYNE F. BOWMAN, SR. lndependent Geologist

171 3 Niels Esperson Bldg CA 2-0279 Houston 2, Texas ORVAL L. BRACE Geologist

181 0 South Coast Bldg.

CA 8-5404

Houston 2, Texas

E. J. BARRAGY

IRA BRINKERHOFF

lndependent

Petroleum Consultant

3005 Buffalo Dr.

Box 13287

901 San Jacinto Bldg.

Houston 19, Texas

JA 8-5525

CA 4-2656

A. I. BARTOW

RALPH B. CANTRELL

Geophysical Consultant

Petroleum Geologist and Engineer

23 15 Watts Road

4005 Bellaire Boulevard

Phone M O 4-3418 - MA 3-3306

R. M. BEATTY

Houston 25, Texas

MA 3-0471

Consulting Geologisi

GEORGE H. CLARK Petroleum Geologist

816 Esperson Bldg.

404 First City National Bank FA 3-1187

FA 3-8884

Houston, Texas

JOHN L. BIBLE BIBLE GEOPHYSICAL CO., INC. Gravity - Magnetic Surveys Interpretations 236 Esperson Bldg. CA 2-6266 Houston 2, Texas

STUART K. CLARK

LESLIE BOWLING Oil and Gas Consultant

536 California Bldg.

JA 2-0432

New Orleans, Louisiana

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TEXAS

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UPPER GULF COAST

- MOSS

A

SECTION

- A'

-

Fig. 4

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TEXAS

----

UPPER O W COAST 8-8'

W

Y

h

L

f-r.R.C U I C

lip.

Structure The regional structure of both the Vicksburg and Heterostegina datums consists of a southeastward dipping monocline striking northeast-southwest. Regional dip a t the Vicksburg level averages 130 feet per mile updip from the -9000 foot contour. Downdip from this point, the dip increases to an average of 430 feet per mile. The sudden increase in dip occurs along a line which roughly coincides with the beginning stage of a major belt of large "contemporaneous" o r "growth" faults (Hardin & Hardin, 1961; Ocamb, 1961). The regional dip of the Heterostegina is more gentle with an average r a t e of 115 feet per mile.

Some of the more prominent structural features such a s Palacios, Old

Ocean, Chocolate Bayou, and Dickinson interrupt the normal gradient of the 19

5

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Hetemstegina horizon. The most noticeable of these is a structural ridge which is partially located in southwestern Matagorda County. The cross-sections (Figures 4, 5 & 6) were drawn to shaw the sand-shale relationship of the Frio from an updip continental facies to the apparent downdip limit of sand deposition. Wherever possible, formational boundaries were delineated on the basis of faunal assemblages, and where paleontological information was lacking, electric log correlations were used. The downdip wells in these profiles penetrated a section which was probably deposited a considerable distance from the shore line during Frio time. It is reasonable to assume, therefore, that there will be little, if any, sand development downdip from these wells. The Frio formation changes coastward from a continental sand facies to a marine sand and shale facies. The major sand development occurs along a flexure which is marked by a sudden increase in the rate of dip at the Vicksburg horizon (Figure 3). At this point, sands constitute 60% o r more of the formation. From this zone of maximum development, sands shale out coastward until very little sand is found near the present coast line (Figures 4, 5 & 6 ) . The easternmost cross-section (Figure 6) shows the presence of a Hackberry sand in the Halbouty-Pan Am No. 1 Rosen located in the Port Acres Field, Jefferson County, Texas. This sand deposition has been described a s deltaic in origin (Halbouty & Barber, 1961). It may represent a time equivalent to the deepest sand found in the U.S. Oil of Texas No. 2-A McFaddin. It seems reasonable to assume that there will be other such deposits found along the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas. The strike section (Figure 7)* r u n s through the heart of ,the downdip Frio Two wells, the Stanolind No. 1 Buckner Orphan's Home, Matagorda County, a nd the McCarthy Oil and Gas No. 5 J. E. Jackson in the Jackson Pasture Field, Chambers County, show a significant lack of sand development. It is quite likely that these wells a r e located on the upthrown side of large down-to-the-coast depositional faults. Many such faults in the Gulf Coast were developing contemporaneously with deposition and acted a s sediment traps. Characteristically, maximum sand deposition occurs in the downthrown blocks of such Eaults.

- and shows the variations in deposition of the eands along this trend.

Summary The downdip limits of sand deposition in the Frio of the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas have been Eairly well defined. These limits, in general, follow the present day coast line. Significant discoveries in the future will probably come a s the result of continued exploration for buried growth faults and for stratigraphic traps. *A long strike section, Fig. 7 of the original study group paper, is not reproduced here, primarily to avoid the cost of a multiple "fold in" illustration. It is believed that by reference to the dip-sections and the position of the strike section on the index map, an interested reader will be able to visualize the stratigraphic changes mentioned. . Editor.

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- SOW-

- 6000 -

-

7000-

- a000 -

;

\+

- 9000-

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TEXAS

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21

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Buried Faulting of the Frio Formation, Brazoria and Matagorda Counties, Texas, by James A. McCarthy, Houston, Texas Brazoria and Matagorda Counties, located south and southwest of Houston, Texas, a r e two of the most prolific Frio oil producing counties along the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas. Production from fields in the two counties i s primarily from structural traps. The existing structures a r e many and varied, ranging from salt domes to simple anticlinal folds which a r e usually down-thrown on a controlling fault situated to the north of the structure. Stratigraphically the two counties a r e characterized by the Frio formation of the Oligocene dipping southeastward to the Gulf. The Frio which averages approximately 4,500 feet of alternating shales and sands of high porosity and permeability overlays the Vicksburg shale, also of the Oligocene. The Anahuac shale and the Miocene formation - progressing upward in the section - overlays the Frio formation. The average depth to the top of the Frio in Brazoria and Matagorda Counties i s approximately 7,200feet. The larger and more obvious fault controlled structure has been in the past relatively easy to find through the existing exploration methods, both subsurface and seismic. Frio exploration i s now entering into a period where the more obscure and difficult to find fault controlled structure is becoming a primary objective. For the purpose of this paper, a buried fault i s one that originates at depth and dies out upward within the limits of or immediately above the Frio formation, either through the loss of throw o r the intersection with an unconformable surface. A buried fault can be one that has relatively little throw or terminates in the Upper Frio and/or Anahuac section and which becomes very large in throw in a short vertical distance in the Lower and/or Basal Frio section. Just a s the major known faults, which control production in such fields a s Old Ocean and Chocolate Bayou, die out and terminate in the Miocene section, the buried faults of the Frio, which control production in the Lower and Basal Frio, die out and terminate in the Upper Frio and Anahuac shale sections. A buried fault of the Frio can also be one that terminates abruptly - or loses considerable throw a t an unconformable surface. Both types of buried faults a r e common but not obvious in the Frio in Brazoria and Matagorda Counties, Texas. Physically, these buried faults a r e no different than their more obvious brothers which control h o w n field production. They have a fault plane dip ranging from 45 - 55 degrees generally to the southeast. The strike of these buried faults i s generally northeast-southwest, opposite its controlling structural feature. Figure I i s a diagrammatic section of a typical buried fault f r o m a n unnamed area in Matagorda Comty. This particular example i s comprised of both of the descriptions listed above - the fault not only dies out upward in the section but also loses much of its throw at the zone of unconformity or the zone of non-deposition occurring at approximately 8,500 feet in both wells A and B.

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Note that by datum differential between wells C and D the Basal Frio datum is down-thrown 1 , 6 0 0 feet while the actual cut in well C is only 550 feet below 9,300 feet. Upward in the section the fault cuts the zone of unconformity where it abruptly loses 200 feet of throw. There a r e no cuts in well B in the Upper F r i o where this fault should intersect, so it can only be concluded that the fault dies out some place between well B and well C.

.

The most notable distinguishing characteristic of a buried fault i s that within a short vertical distance before a given well c r o s s e s the buried fault plane the section immediately above the fault thickens very rapidly. Well C in Figure I is a good example of this between 8,500 and 9,300 feet where down-thrown well C thickens in the s a m e correlative interval to 1,000 feet a s compared to 600 feet in the up-thrown well B. This thickening above the fault plane varies from fault to fault and well to well and i s not invariably present. The actual thickening can be minor and easily overlooked.

A typical example of minor thickening into the fault plane i s exemplified in Figure I1 in the Humble No. 4 Bouldin well on the south flank of Sugar Valley field. This well cut a typical buried fault below the Lower F r i o datum. The throw of the fault i s 115 feet. By correlation of the No. 4 Bouldin well to the No. 5 Bouldin well the section thickens slightly into the fault plane. Unfortunately the fault throw in the No. 5 Bouldin well cannot be measured because the well i s faulted in the bottom; and, in fact, the fault by datum differential at the Basal F r i o level appears to be in the order of magnitude of 350 feet. Normally when a fault which controls production in the F r i o shows a clean large cut high in the section which terminates in the Miocene, t h e r e i s a marked difference in the F r i o stratigraphy in the up-thrown block a s compared to the down-thrown block. The difference in section is apparent in the down-thrown well which i s usually much thicker and shows a much better sand development. Under buried fault conditions, the up-thrown and down-thrown blocks a r e usually

,

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easily correlated through the Middle Frio, at which point the down-thrown well correlation becomes extremely difficult compared to the up-thrown well. This i s either a result of the down-thrown well approaching the buried fault plane o r merely the regional stratigraphic change resulting from the buried fault which i s north o r northwest of the down-thrown well but unrecognizable in any other wells located to the north because the fault throw has died out. T h e above condition is explained by a large movement along the buried fault plane at depth with a corresponding response in increased deposition on the down-thrown block above t h e fault plane. Because a buried fault dies out rapidly upward in the section, increased deposition on the down-thrown block becomes l e s s , and the stratigraphic section on the up-thrown block a s compared to the down-thrown block becomes very s i m i l a r a s the throw in the buried fault diminishes upward. With the loss of throw and the resultant differential deposition on the down-thrown block, any anomalous north dip i s lost, resulting in the normal south dip, common to the Gulf Coast. Figures I, I1 and IV, each show a zone of normal section from the Upper F r i o to Middle F r i o and Upper F r i o to Lower F r i o with no indication of stratigraphic thickening which would indicate deeper fau 1 ting . It i s possible that the rapid increase in throw in a relatively short vertical distance caused the unconformity o r period of non-deposition on the up-thrown block, o r conversely, caused the increased deposition on the down-thrown block relative to the up- thrown block. (Figures I and 111. ) An excellent example of the above is in Figure I11 a t the Flag Pond a r e a in Brazoria County. The one well Flag Pond field i s a closed anticlinal s t r u c t u r e on the up-thrown block of a large regional down to the coast fault that has c~pproximately1, 000 feet of throw in the Lower F r i o and only 130 feet of throw i n the Anahuac shale section. This fault i s associated with 400 feet of missing

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section a t an unconformable surface occurring on the up-thrown block and present in the Monsanto No. 1 MacDonald (9,255 feet) and the Southwest Gas No. 1 McDonald (9,345 feet). The unconformable surface conforms to the structural outline of the field, and probably underwent structural movement subsequent to the period of unconformity. On the down-thrown block of this fault no unconformity occurs at the equivalent correlative level, but the throw on the fault inc r e a s e s almost t h e exact amount of the up-thrown unconformity, o r from 600 feet to 1, 000 feet. Or, in other words, when this fault intersects the unconformity, it loses 400 feet of throw and then continues to diminish through the Upper and Middle F r i o until it reaches a throw of 130 feet in the Anahuac shale section in the Monsanto No. 1 MacDonald well.

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The buried fault i s one that can be easily overlooked. If a geologist i s mapa datum in the Upper o r Middle Frio where the fault is represented by a minor throw o r no apparent throw a t all in any of the wells, it can be contoured out, o r if it i s recognized, no significance is placed in it. Certainly most geologists recognize and honor any absence of section in the F r i o formation. However, the major question pertaining to buried faulting in the Anahuac shale section in Brazoria and Matagorda Counties i s what amount of section that is absent should be recognized a s faulting and what amount of absent section is not faulting. In the Anahuac shale section it i s common to find under 100 feet of section absent that might o r might not be a regional buried fault a t depth. A typical example of this is in Figure N a t El Maton field in Matagorda County where 55-65 feet i s absent in the Anahuac shale section just above the Upper F r i o datum. If no other control existed this fault could be overlooked, and c e r tainly was before the discovery of the field. However, with the existing control, the 55 feet of throw shallow becomes 205 feet in the Lower Frio, and by datum differential in the Basal F r i o there a r e indications that the fault i s much l a r g e r . Unfortunately there i s no hard and fast r u l e a s to what to choose a s faulting and what to throw out. Use of the isopach map to determine local anomalous thickening above the absent section will certainly aid in making the decision. Isok)ing a t

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paching will cause many buried faults of a regional nature to become apparent while structural mapping alone will show no indication of faulting.

A second a i d in determining buried faults, and certainly the most important, i s careful correlation. At least two o r m o r e comparisons of unfaulted wells to the faulted well a r e essential. If one well correlation shows faulting and a second comparison does not, there i s a serious question a s to the presence of the fault, assuming both a r e complete sections. Finally, rapid section thickening within a s h o r t vertical distance i s typical of buried faults. Thickening into a fault plane i s a "paleo-dip" o r the direction the beds dipped before subsequent regional tilt, and i s representative of anomalous dip r e v e r s a l . If the thickening of the section into the fault plane, o r conversely, the thinning of the section south from the fault plane a r e great enough, the thinning will overtake the existing south dip which resulted from regional tilt and cause dip r e v e r s a l northward. Any such a r e a i s , of course, prospective. In summary, a buried fault in the F r i o in Brazoria and Matagorda Counties, Texas, i s associated with: 1. 2. 3. 4.

5.

Diminishing fault throw upward. Fault throw growth a t depth. Rapid vertical thickening immediately above the fault plane. A normal Upper and Middle F r i o o r Upper and Lower F r i o section, both up-thrown and down-thrown. Unconformity o r period of non-deposition, up-thrown.

Certainly all o r a few of the above characteristics can be common t o one buried fault. To keep f r o m overlooking these faults, increased use of the isopach map and careful deep correlation work is recommended.

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It i s of singular importance that in recent y e a r s s o m e of t h e m o s t important discoveries made in these two counties w e r e from s t r u c t u r e s which a r e controlled by buried faults. Because such a structure i s difficult t o find, it i s usually considerably s m a l l e r than some of the existing large fields known today. It stands to reason that if the original anomaly w e r e obvious, it would have long since been discovered. With industry viewpoint still restricted by the d r e a m of s e v e r a l thousand a c r e s on a l a r g e well controlled prospect, the m o r e obscure, multiple pay prospect controlled by buried faulting is being overlooked. However, a s more exploration geologists become aware of the potential of such a prospect, inc r e a s e d exploration for the buried fault, and by necessity the buried structure, will r e s u l t . References: Clark, S . K . , 1943, "Classification of Faults," Bull. Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol., Vol. 27, No. 9, p. 1250. Quarles, Miller, 1953, "Salt-Ridge Hypothesis on Origin of Texas Gulf Coast Type of Faulting, " Bull. A m e r . Assoc. Petrol. Geol., Vol. 37, No. 3.

Texas Geologic Atlas Project of B. E. G. P r o g r e s s on the Texas Geologic Atlas Project during its initial year has been reported by D r . Virgil E. Barnes, i t s Director. T h e f i r s t product, now in p r e s s , is a new index to geologic maps in Texas. The index map (scale 1:1,200,000) shows the a r e a s of published geologic maps and unpublished t h e s e s . The map i s accompanied by a text including a short introduction, a bibliography of geologic maps in Texas, and indexes to the maps by counties, by Army Map Service sheets (which s e r v e a s a base for the Atlas), and by regions for maps a t s c a l e s s m a l l e r than 1:250,000. During the year compilation was started on geologic maps covering twentyt h r e e Army Map Service sheets. A few companies and geological societies a r e undertaking compilation of entire sheets, while other companies sent geologic mapping directly to the Bureau of Economic Geology. The date for publication of the f i r s t Atlas sheet cannot yet be predicted, but work is well advanced on the T y l e r , Palestine-Alexandria, Texarkana, McAllen-Brownsville, Laredo-Corpus Christi, and Van Horn-El Paso sheets. During the s u m m e r and fall a number of geologists have undertaken field checking and mapping in support of the Atlas Project. T h e Oklahoma Geological Survey i s furnishing geologic mapping for the Oklahoma portions of sheets that extend into that state, and the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Resources may cooperate similarly. Many geological societies a r e helping with the Project. The Houston Geological Society i s represented by its Research and Study Committee, which has not undertaken any specific activity a s yet. However, D r . Barnes has indicated that "During the coming year we a r e looking forward to an increase in activity in the Houston region and to calling on you and your committee for help. "

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ATTENTION PLEASE! A representative of the AAPG Insurance Program ( M r . John Bremsteller) will be introduced a t our December loth meeting and will be available for questioning. UNIVERSITY O F HOUSTON LIBRARY AVAILABLE TO GEOLOGISTS Community s e r v i c e is a purpose of the University of Houston second only to academic pursuits. One a r e a in which this i s especially t r u e is t h e University's library of geological publications. Thus the University i s continuing to expand geological holdings and to extend services in a manner suited to t h e s e purposes. Along academic lines, the University of Houston library can report that it now subscribes to m o r e than 40 U. S . and 35 foreign s e r i a l publications that a r e devoted primarily to the earth sciences, and has been adding new titles a t a r a t e of four p e r y e a r . It intends to increase materially this coverage of current geological literature when the University becomes s t a t e supported in 1963. Further, in view of the policy of the AAPG to concentrate on "articles presenting basic geological data, principles, philosophies, and techniques" and to encourage local geological societies to publish papers of m o r e r e s t r i c t e d nature and interest, the Geology Department at University of Houston decided in 1960 that it i s c r i t i cal that the l i b r a r y should have coverage of the significant publications of a) all geological societies in Texas and surrounding s t a t e s and b) the most active and respected societies from other s t a t e s . Accordingly, 12 societies in Texas; 10 societies in Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kansas, and New Mexico; a s well a s 10 societies i n other s t a t e s and Canada have been contacted. The library i s receiving the regular publications from 18 societies that accept standing o r d e r s and i s on the mailing list of the others.

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