| OGSR
Wireline
By OGSR Library
July 2020
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Hi ,
Welcome to the third quarterly edition of OGSR Wireline in 2020.
Yes, we are open and providing the information
your organization needs concerning Ontario's oil, gas, and salt resources wells. The geological research laboratory is even available to clients by appointment.
Our staff have become specialists in working with
our data remotely and will share what they have learned in this special summer edition.
All the best,
OGSR Library Team
Jordan, Matt, Candace, Alex, Hanna, Charlie, Maryrose, Ninava, Kyra, Shuo
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Welcome to the Summer Edition
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Media and Information Update
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by Candace, Hanna, Alexandre
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Summer Staff Perspective by Maryrose
Summer Staff Perspective by Kyra
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Summer Staff Perspective by Ninava
New Perspective on Geology
Summer Staff Perspective by Charlie
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Welcome to the Summer Edition
By Jordan
What surprised you most about the subsurface data, salt, and petroleum resources of Ontario when you first learned about them? That is the question we ask our new summer staff to write about each year in the July newsletter. Their articles contain some fresh perspectives on the industry, what they found fascinating, and what work our staff
are doing to improve the industry knowledge base.
We have a lot of new data releases and tools planned for this year. Have a look below for some of the exciting developments our staff are working on. There are big releases in virtual reality, geological databases, and imaging databases to look forward to!
Update on 2019 production data: We apologize for they delay in making 2019 production data available and are working on gaining access to the data as soon as possible. Annual reports are expected to be available in the OGSR Library on August 15th, and the September newsletter should contain a report on production statistics.
Media and Information Update
By Matt
Revisit Last Year’s EPEX, and Get Ready to Play with Ontario’s Geology in VR
At last! We now have all the presentations from EPEX 2019 uploaded to our YouTube channel! All 9 talks are gathered to 1 playlist for your viewing convenience. There might not be an EPEX conference this year, so now is a great time to revisit last year’s conference presentations. Start with Katherine
Peretick’s presentation on the world’s first fuel-free compressed air energy storage facility (Compressed Air Energy Storage: Learnings from #1 and Where the Future Lies) and end with Jane Lowrie and Jennifer Nisker discussing the future of Ontario’s largest oil and natural gas producer (Lagasco Inc. – Looking Towards the Future). My personal favorites include Robert
Walsh’s talk Embracing Uncertainty in Numerical Models, and Francine McCarthy’s talk The Anthropocene – Proposed GSSP in Varved Sediments from Crawford Lake.
Last year we created a virtual reality video using the model of southern Ontario’s Paleozoic bedrock. This year we are leveling up our virtual reality capabilities by creating an app that allows you to interact with the model. You will be able to go where you please, query data about Ontario’s geology and resources, and hopefully gain some insights we are not able to with regular 2D screens. We are documenting
this process with a video series called VR for Geologic Models. The first episode about getting started will be available soon. My role as art director includes the creation of textures, 360 video elements, photo spheres, sounds effects, and music. I look forward to getting more into detail about this project soon.
Upcoming videos include the long awaited Glacial Geology of London Ontario in VR, which just needs some finishing touches, as well as a series of videos from last year’s field trips.
Geology Update
By Candace, Hanna, and Alexandre
Over the past few months, the OGSRL Geology team, Candace, Alex and Hanna, have continued to perform Quality Analysis and Quality Control (QA/QC) of Southern Ontario’s Paleozoic bedrock surfaces, as part of the 3D Geological and Hydrogeological Modelling of Southern Ontario Project - Version 2. Currently, we are revising geological formations recorded in the Ontario Petroleum Data System (OPDS) that appear anomalous in the surfaces of the lithostratigraphic
model using Leapfrog Works, a 3D geological modeling program and QGIS. Each of our quality assurance geologists has been focused on reviewing, confirming, and/or editing different geological formations and will discuss some of their findings.
Refining the Georgian Bay Formation - Candace
Hello again! Over the past few months I have been reviewing and editing numerous Paleozoic geological formations across Southern Ontario. As mentioned previously in April’s OGSRL Quarterly newsletter, the Rouge River Member of the Blue Mountain Formation has been under review as part of version 2 for the 3D mapping project. The Rouge River Member is of interest because it has very few recorded unit top picks in OPDS and historically its lower allomember has been
misidentified as the Cobourg Formation’s Collingwood Member. While examining the Rouge River unit, it became apparent that inconsistencies also existed in OPDS top picks for the overlying Georgian Bay -Blue Mountain Formation. The Georgian Bay Formation is a greenish- to bluish-grey shale interbedded with limestone, siltstone and sandstone that is conformably overlain by the red shales of the Queenston Formation. The Queenston - Georgian Bay contact is at the base of a lowermost discrete thick
limestone interbed, and the presence of thinner limestone interbeds in the underlying Georgian Bay shales can make it difficult to make a consistent contact identification. In geophysical logs, the Queenston lower limestone beds display a reduced gamma signature relative to the elevated signatures of the lower Georgian Bay Shales. In drill cuttings, the contact coincides at the lowermost occurrence of Queenston Formation red shales and above the Georgian Bay Formation dark grey shales.
Variability in existing OPDS formation picks tend to occur when the top of the principal limestone interbed between the Queenston-Georgian Bay contact was picked as the Georgian Bay Formation top, rather than the base of the limestone interbed. This type of variability and inconsistency in Georgian Bay Formation top picks can create significant problems in surface modeling as it can create anomalous surface variability. The figure below displays what this type of quality control problem can look
like, specifically for the Georgian Bay Formation Surface in Oxford-Brant Counties. Here, the surface contours are at 5 and 25m intervals and have variability ranging between 10-40 m. To smooth the geological surface and correct these problems, we use consistent scientific formation unit top picking criteria and examine both geophysical logs and rock cuttings. This is just one example of how the OGSRL’s geological data will continue to improve over the next few months, which in turn will help
our library clients have access to the most up- to-date geological data.
Searching for the Collingwood - Hanna
I’m happy to be back at the OGSR Library as a Geological Technician this summer. From the beginning of this summer, I have been working alongside Candace in a QA/QC review of the Georgian Bay–Blue Mountain and Collingwood-Cobourg formations. My main focus is refining the Collingwood-Cobourg formation top picks using geophysical logs and drill cutting samples. Much of this involves correcting the formation top pick of the Collingwood member of the Cobourg formation,
since it has been historically picked where the lower Rouge River Member of the Blue Mountain Formation lies. The Rouge River Member is a dark brown/black, non-calcareous shale, whereas the Collingwood member is a black, calcareous shale. The inconsistency in the Collingwood top picks revealed that the Rouge River Member has a wider distribution around Ontario and that many of the driller picks were incorrect! But that’s what we are here for, to refine and update Ontario geological data so that
the most accurate information is given to help in Ontario energy exploration projects! It’s been enjoyable working on this project and being a part of the OGSR team again!
Well T001925, Bruce County, GRNL(HD) log. The new Collingwood Member picked at 2300 feet (previously picked as top of Cobourg) and the top of the lower Cobourg at 2330 feet. Driller’s had previously picked the Collingwood member at 2070 feet, which is now
identified to be the lower Rouge River member.
Lockport Group - Alexandre
I’ve been working for the OGSR Library for just over a year now and it’s been an amazing opportunity and experience working with the Geology team and the OGSR staff. Over the past year, I’ve been working on improving the formation top picks of the Lockport Group (Guelph, Eramosa, Goat Island and Gasport). The QA/QC project being done on the Lockport Group is in support of the second revision of the 3-D lithostratigraphic model of southern Ontario which can be used
for various exploration purposes.
Formation top depths at OGSR Library are picked using geophysical logs (gamma and neutron logs) and drill cuttings. All formations are picked using published standards in Armstrong and Carter (2010) Special Volume 7. The QA/QC project resulted in a total of 5848 formation top picks being reviewed and 3290 new formation tops picks added into the database all belonging to the formations of the Lockport Group.
To advance understanding of the porosity and permeability variability in the Silurian Lockport Group stratigraphically and geographically, a study of the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Library core analysis database is being completed. This multi-phase study involves the compilation and digitization of 11,543 sets of porosity and vertical/horizontal permeability
analyses from 149 cored wells in the deeper subsurface of the Early Silurian Lockport Group of southwestern Ontario.
The last three months saw the final stage of Phase 1 of the study, which has involved the spatial and temporal documentation/validation of the porosity and permeability tests in the Lockport Group at the formational-rank within the deeper subsurface. This involved placing the core analysis data and lithofacies characteristics within a testable stratigraphic
framework and utilizing ArcGIS to create isopach and surface maps of the permeable test intervals. Prior to the data plotting, both the geology formational tops and the core analysis data had been verified. A validated core analysis database has been created with each porosity/permeability parameter plotted vertically within stratigraphic logs for defining permeable and impermeable zones. Stratigraphic cross-sections have been made to correlate similar porosity/permeability values within
specific intervals (e.g. similar lithofacies). These intervals will be contoured to create a proper geologic interpretation within ArcGIS. Intervals with similar porosity/permeability values will be compressed to create a 2D surface for permeable and impermeable zones.
An example has been given in Figure 1. Within the inter-pinnacle karsts and pinnacle structures in Lambton County, the Guelph Formation has high porosity and permeability values due to paleo-karstification. Dolostone rubble is commonly found in karst conduits of the underlying Goat Island Formation. In general, the more intense the paleokarst in the basal
Salina Group and Guelph Formation, the deeper the paleokarst zones occur in the underlying Goat Island and Gasport formations of the Lockport Group. Within pinnacle structures in the deeper subsurface, the upper Guelph Formation has the highest porosity and permeability. The upper Guelph Formation in well T007292 has porosity up to 33.2% and horizontal permeability larger than 1000mD (Figure 1), which may form oil and natural gas reservoirs or saline water-bearing zones.
From next month to June 2020, Phase 2 of the project will involve the integration of test results to the lateral and vertical depositional and diagenetic lithofacies changes, karst and paleokarst features observed in the cores. This will include a discussion of the continuity/discontinuity of permeable zones, relationships to hydrocarbon traps, and isolation of
deeper bedrock formational waters from meteoric/potable ground waters in the shallow Niagara Escarpment cuesta. This second phase will include the measurement of key outcrop sections, newly drilled rock cores, and integration of core logs with geophysical well logs, to create stratigraphic cross-sections for a refined geologic framework of the Lockport Group across southwestern Ontario.
Figure 1 Crossplots of porosity and permeability vs. geophysical logs and lithostratigraphy for selected reference well from pinnacle structure (T007292). The highly permeable zone is in the upper Guelph that forms oil/gas reservoirs in the deep subsurface. Stratigraphy from Brintnell (2012) and Brunton and Brintnell (in press).
References
Brintnell, C. 2012. Architecture and stratigraphy of the Lower Silurian Guelph Formation, Lockport Group, southern Ontario and Michigan; Unpublished MSc Thesis, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, 242p.
Brunton, F.R. and Brintnell, C. in press. Early Silurian sequence stratigraphy and geological controls on karstic bedrock groundwater flow zones, Niagara Escarpment region and subsurface of southwestern Ontario; Ontario Geological Survey, Groundwater Resource Study 13.
GIS Update
Summer Staff Perspective By Maryrose
Hello, my name is Maryrose, and I am joining the OGSR Library team this summer as the GIS and Database Assistant. This upcoming school year, I will be completing the Honours
B.Sc. Earth and Environmental Science program with a minor in GIS and a minor in biology at McMaster University.
Employment at the OGSR Library is a fulfilling opportunity that allows me to contribute to projects that intersect my training in GIS and geology. A major focus this summer is supporting the geologists with QAQC of the Ontario subsurface geology model. For this task, I created formation surfaces, isopach maps, and identified wells from the model to help point the geologists to the wells that need reviewing.
The responsibilities of the GIS and Database Assistant position include querying requested data for clients, creating maps to support client projects, as well as updating and maintaining the library database and shapefiles. I am also assisting with the ongoing core photography task.
Every meeting, discussion, and task has been a valuable opportunity to learn from the knowledgeable and talented team at the OGSR Library. I was fascinated to learn about the different types of data and massive volume of data maintained here, as well as learning about the way data was historically collected and maintained compared to modern regulations for drilling and reporting. Courses in my program gave me
an introduction to sedimentary geology so I was eager to learn more specifically about the subsurface geology of Ontario and the resources that are found here. Working remotely with multiple people collaborating on a large dataset presented some challenges; however, this has given me exposure to web hosting and open source database software that I might not have otherwise known about. I am also now more familiar and comfortable using QGIS and other open source software to solve tasks. There are
endless applications of GIS in many different industries, so working for the OGSR Library has shown me more specifically how GIS can be beneficial to the oil and gas industry.
Following provincial guidelines and prioritizing the safety of our staff and clients, we haven’t been able to participate in any field trips so far this summer. In the future, I am looking forward to observing some industry practices and learning more about the physical properties and identification of geologic formations in the field. It is always exciting
to make the connection between the data that I have been working with behind a computer screen to the real-life geology.
Virtual Reality
Summer Staff Perspective By Ninava
Hello! My name is Ninava and I am an Information Systems Assistant Summer Student. I currently attend Western University where I am working towards my BESc in Software Engineering.
It has been fascinating to learn about the geologic formations, the eras where these rocks developed, and the thousands of oil and gas wells in Ontario because I went into this project with no knowledge in Geology or in the petroleum industry.
Prior to my joining the OGSR team I never thought about how our geologic information was stored so witnessing how the library meticulously catalogues items like core samples, well data, and geophysical logs was a great experience.
This summer I am tasked with assisting in the VR project on the Oculus Quest alongside Kyra and the library’s Information Science team. My role includes software design, development, and testing for the application. The main goal of our project is to allow users to inspect geologic data in a 3D model in 3D space and allow the
user to learn how natural resources are discovered in Ontario. This project has gifted me with invaluable developer experience as I get the chance to develop for virtual reality and expand upon the basics of game development. It has bolstered my problem-solving skills exponentially as I work through new tasks each week.
To aid others in exploring the realm of VR Development the team is creating a YouTube series documenting our process. I am super excited about the project coming together and cannot wait to see the final product!
VR and Computer Science
Summer Staff Perspective By Kyra
Hello! My name is Kyra and I am one of the Information System Assistant summer students. I am currently entering the fourth year of my BSc in Computer Science at Western University.
Prior to joining the OGSR Library team I did not have much of a background in geology but was very eager to learn more, and to discover how I could apply my computer science skills to a new field of study. I was amazed to learn about the abundance of resources found in Ontario, as well as discover more about the different geological formations found at places I have visited many times before. It is interesting to be able to look at Ontario with a whole new
perspective now.
This summer I have been involved in a couple different projects at the OGSR Library. I have worked on developing some tools to assist in bringing more of the Library's data online; specifically, processing the Library's core photo images to allow users to access these images in different formats through the website. Additionally, I have primarily been assisting in the creation of a VR application to explore Ontario's subsurface geology. The app will provide a look
into Ontario's geology in a virtual lab environment, including different interactive lab stations. So far, we have brought some of Ontario's geological layers into the VR environment in order to interact with them and get access to information including well data, formation depths, and resources at different locations. We have also been creating a series of videos following our app development process to assist others who may be interested in accessing geological data through VR.
I look forward to learning more about Ontario's geology through the development of the app, as well as having a final product completed by the end of the summer so that others can use it and enjoy an educational and exciting geological experience.
A New Perspective on Geology
Summer Staff Perspective By Charlie
I am entering my fourth year at Western University, pursuing a BSc Honours Specialization in Geology for Professional Registration. I started on my path in geology after taking “Earth Rocks” in my first year, and learning more about the field after working with the Saskatchewan Geological Survey. Geology interested me because as a science, it felt both like a story and a puzzle. In addition, the opportunity to get my hands dirty and challenge myself in the
field was incredibly fulfilling. While the focus of my degree has been on mineral deposits and Precambrian geology, I have thoroughly enjoyed my sedimentology and petroleum geology courses. My experience working at the OGSR library has solidified my passion for a variety of sectors within geology.
I have been extremely grateful to have the learning opportunity that working at the OGSR Library as a Geological Laboratory Assistant provides, even if it is a different experience than most summers. I am excited at this opportunity to expand my skills and knowledge outside of my usual spheres, and learn about the data, information, and resources available to the Ontario petroleum and salt industries. In addition, the people of the OGSR library have such a
wealth of knowledge and skills to share. I am continuously learning from not only the full-time staff, but also the other summer students.
Since starting at the library in May, I have been working primarily on three projects. First, I have been photographing core to be made available for remote viewing. This will allow for core to be viewed dry, wet, and under UV light, without having to come into the lab. I have also been assisting with a QAQC projects by creating isopach maps, and by identifying formation top pick anomalies. Third, I have made 3D models of salt caverns using the program Blender.
Two of the programs I have been working with, qGIS and Blender, are free and can be applied to a variety of geological projects
My biggest blind spot regarding the oil, gas, and salt industries in Ontario was the quantity and importance of the datasets used by and maintained by the industry, and the library in particular. In my courses, the theoretical concepts are taught well, but until this point I had not worked with data to complete geological projects, in the same capacity. The extensive datasets and online resources maintained by the library are essential to the industry, and have
been essential to all of us working from home during covid19 restrictions.
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Monthly Drilling Report - June 2020
by OGSR Library Team
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New Licences Issued
| Licence No. |
Issue Date |
Operator |
County |
Township |
Status |
TD (m) |
| T012617 |
2020-06-05 |
Den-Mar Brines Limited |
Lambton |
Plympton |
LIC/NDR |
N/A
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No New Wells TD'd
No New Licenses Issued for Existing Wells
Plugged Wells
| Licence No. |
Plug Date |
Operator |
County |
Township |
Status |
TD (m) |
| T009135 |
2019-03-29 |
DRealoil Enterprises Limited |
Kent |
Chatham |
OPGP/ABD |
506.2
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| T010452 |
2019-04-08 |
Realoil Enterprises Limited |
Kent |
Chatham |
GPOS/ABD |
505
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What is the OGSR Library?
The Oil, Gas & Salt Resources Library is a not-for-profit corporation that manages all of Ontario's public drilling and production data from the petroleum and solution mined salt industries. This includes processing, storing, and providing safe and convenient access to all of the industry's drill core and rock cuttings. The Library makes as much of this data as possible available through our online portal to members all over the world. The financial support of the petroleum industry and
our membership make this possible.
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