Lester Moore recognized for PTTC LeadershipThe Midwest PTTC recognized Lester Moore, president of MEPCO (located in Evansville, Indiana) for his outstanding service to the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council program. Lester, along with Don Oltz at the Illinois State Geological Survey, established the Midwest regional office back in 1994. The Midwest office is one of ten regions in a national program supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the local state geological surveys and universities.

Lester has served as the chairman of the local Petroleum Advisory Group and as a member of the National PTTC Board since its founding, while at the same time running a successful and demanding independent oil business. He provided leadership and support for the highly successful Midwest program which included over 26 technology transfer workshops which have been attended by over 500 different operators, geologists, engineers and service company personnel. Thanks, Lester, for your dedication to bringing new ideas and technology to ALL the operators of the Midwest and particularly, those in the Illinois Basin.

Midwest PTTC asked Lester to share some thoughts:

"I am retiring from over six years as Chairman of the Midwest Producers Advisory Group (PAG) of the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council (PTTC). As a result of changes in the infrastructure of the oil and gas industry in this country, with the Independents becoming a bigger segment of the domestic producing industry, a need was seen for obtaining the latest technology from various sources including Geological Surveys, Department of Energy Research Labs, Service Companies, etc. In the past, most research was done by the Major Oil Companies with the Independents picking up much of the technology (such as waterflooding). Over the past several years, the Majors have become less of a source for this than in the past, and the need for an organization such as the PTTC was obvious.

The country was divided into several regions, with the Midwest Region consisting of the Illinois Basin (Illinois, Indiana and Western Kentucky) and Michigan. It was determined early on that although all were in the same general geographic area, differing reservoir problems and travel distance obviated the need for developing a separate Sub-Group for Michigan which has been done quite effectively. Although we were the first Region to use this concept, it has now been accepted in other areas as well.

Various methods for technology transfer have been tried including personal communication, technical papers, computers using CD ROM technology and workshops at varying degrees of technology. Workshops have been held in the Midwest Region covering a variety of topics including 3-D seismic, horizontal drilling, reservoir characterization, environmental remediation, basic petroleum engineering and techniques for operating in a poor economic environment. Most of these workshops have been one-day events located in a central location for the particular technology being presented.

Although much is available in the way of technology on the Internet, my personal opinion is that the workshops have been particularly effective as a means of communicating technology on a widespread basis at a relatively low cost. If you have attended these workshops you have undoubtedly benefitted from the knowledge transfer. If you have not attended, I would suggest that you do so in the near future.

It has been a pleasure to work with the Midwest Regional Lead Organization over the past several years including Dr. David G. Morse and his staff, and prior to that time with Dr. Donald Oltz. The cooperation and friendly working relationship with all of these people has been greatly appreciated and, although retiring as Chairman, I look forward to continuing to work with Dave and his staff as member of the Producers Advisory Group." Lester D. Moore, P. E.

Craig Howard takes the Helm as Chairman of PAG

Craig Howard of Howard Energy in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, was elected by the Midwest PTTC Petroleum Advisory Group (PAG) to succeed Lester Moore as chairman. Craig has been active with PTTC as Vice Chair of the PAG since its founding in the Midwest in 1994. As new Chair, he will represent the Midwest PTTC on the National PTTC Board and provide local leadership for the active program of workshops, websites, technical news, and product development.

The local PAG consists of 12 to 15 members and provides the link between interested and concerned oil and gas operators and the Midwest PTTC office located in Champaign, Illinois at the Illinois State Geological Survey. The PAG provides program guidance, approves workshops and budgets, and identifies the technological needs of the Midwest oil and gas producers. The Midwest PTTC region covers the states of Illinois, Indiana, western Kentucky and Michigan.

PTTC is partially funded by the U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy and by state geological surveys and universities across the nation. The goal is to help bring new technologies to the local oil and gas industry so they can find more oil and gas, and produce it economically, efficiently, and in an environmentally safe manner.

PTTC plans repeat Cypress Workshop March 7

**note change in meeting site!**

On March 7, 2001, the PTTC and the Illinois State Geological Survey will present a half-day core workshop on the most prolific oil-producing reservoir in Illinois, the Cypress Sandstone. Due to demand for a repeat performance of this successful workshop, Midwest PTTC plans to offer it again in a more eastern venue. Join us for a condensed repeat of the Cypress presentation, which will highlight new developments in the Cypress. The workshop will be held at the Holiday Inn on Rte. 41, south of the airport, in Evansville, IN, one day before the (March 8-9) Illinois Oil and Gas Association meeting there. The workbook, maps and extensive cross sections will be reprinted and included as part of the workshop. Bev Seyler, John Grube, and Dave Morse of ISGS will present the workshop.

The workshop outlines the geology of the Cypress Sandstone in Illinois, a formation that has produced over one billion barrels of oil, about a third of Illinois' total production. Presentations illustrate regional geological trends, rock types, and depositional conditions, sediment alteration after burial, and local case studies with detailed maps developed at ISGS. Cores from selected fields will be on display.

Please contact the Midwest PTTC by March 5 to reserve your place. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. The workshop program will start promptly at 1 p.m. on March 7, 2001. Advance registration is $35, and on-site registration is $50. If you have any questions please contact Joan Crockett at (217) 244-2388 or by e-mail to crockett@isgs.uiuc.edu

To reserve a room at the Holiday Inn, please call there directly at (812) 424-6400, and request convention rates.

Workbooks and cross sections remaining after the workshop will be available for sale at the Midwest PTTC Office. Please call (217) 244-9337 or e-mail crockett@isgs.uiuc.edu to request a copy.

Horizontal Drilling Workshop Planned for Michigan and Illinois Basins

A workshop focusing on horizontal drilling will be held at the Holiday Inn South in Lansing, MI on March 28^th and at the Best Western Windsor Oaks Inn in Grayville, IL on March 30th. The workshop is organized by the National PTTC office, but Midwest PTTC is working to bring a local focus to the workshop. Bob Knoll of Mauer Engineering, Calgary, Canada, will be the featured speaker. He will show how and when to take advantage of this revolutionary technology. In his experience in drilling hundreds of wells in the mature province of western Canada, at least 10% of the wells have had significant economic benefits by drilling horizontal. These include wells in both limestone and sandstone. Gas storage wells are particularly beneficial because of significantly improved well deliverability.

We are seeking input from operators with Illinois Basin horizontal projects (IL, IN, and KY) and Michigan Basin projects. Please contact Joan at 217-244-2388 if you can supply information to help us map and catalog the existing horizontal drilling projects in our area.

The program is designed for operators, geologists, engineers, service providers, and industry regulators. A summary text/slide workbook and lunch will be provided to each workshop attendee. For additional information contact David Morse (217-244-5527) for the Illinois Basin Workshop or Bill Harrison (616-387-5488) for the Michigan Basin presentation, and watch your mail for a registration flyer.

National PTTC Office relocates to Houston

Houston, Texas - Petroleum Technology Transfer Council (PTTC), led by Executive Director Don Duttlinger, has moved its Headquarters office to Houston,Texas. The new office was occupied by PTTC on December 18, 2000, and is now fully functional. PTTC's Headquarters had been located in Washington, DC since its 1994 inception. The new contact information is: PTTC, 2916 West T.C. Jester Blvd., Suite 103, Houston, Texas 77018. Phone 713-688-0900 or 1-888-THE-PTTC. Fax 713-688-0935. The national PTTC website remains http://www.pttc.org/

The move is part of PTTC's plan for enhancing communications and connections with the independent oil and gas industry. This effort will position PTTC to better meet the technology transfer needs of the industry and make PTTC's leadership more accessible to industry. "Washington, DC has been a positive location for strengthening PTTC's relationship with the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Headquarters, Congress, the Administration and other organizations located there. All parties involved agree that it is more important than ever, with an evolving economic picture and continuing technological advancements, to be more centrally located to the heart of oil and gas production," says Duttlinger.

Michigan to Host AAPG Eastern Section Meeting, Workshop in September

"Resource Management for the 21^st Century" is the theme of the upcoming AAPG Eastern Section Meeting in Kalamazoo on September 23-25, 2001. Authors are invited to submit abstracts for oral presentations or poster sessions on or before April 1, 2001. For more information, please contact William B. Harrison, General Meeting Chairman and Midwest PTTC Michigan Office Coordinator at (616) 387-5488 or william.harrison_iii@wmich.edu

The call for papers information may be found at

http://141.218.61.117/esaapg2001/call_for_papers.html

In addition, a PTTC workshop, "Identification of Bypassed Oil in Old Fields" will be conducted in conjunction with the meeting. The workshop will be co-sponsored by the Department of Energy, Midwest PTTC, and Eastern Section AAPG. Watch your mail this summer for a brochure with details.

New Research Programs Underway in Midwest Region

Coalbed Methane Research Contract Awarded

A two-year research contract entitled "Delineation of the Coalbed Methane Resources of Illinois" has recently been awarded to ISGS geologists by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA).

Coalbed methane (CBM) has become an important natural gas resource in recent years because of increasing gas prices and declining conventional natural gas reserves. Illinois has 200 billion tons of coal resources which contain an estimated 21 Tcf of CBM. This proposal will assess and map critical factors that affect CBM economics and producibility in Illinois. Watch this newsletter for updates on the project. Dr. Ilham Demir is the principal investigator for this project and can answer questions you may have on Illinois coalbed methane (217-244-0836) or send e-mail to demir@isgs.uiuc.edu.

CO2 Sequestration Research Undertaken

A five-state cooperative study to address the issues related to injection of man-made carbon dioxide ("greenhouse gas") waste into geological traps (sequestration) has been awarded funding. The study will develop an atlas and relational database (known as MIDCARB.) The cooperating states are Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Kansas. Contact Beverly Seyler at the ISGS at (217) 244-2389 or e-mail seyler@isgs.uiuc.edu for more information.

New publications

Finley, R.J., 2000, Illinois in the Global Energy Marketplace. Available at ISGS by calling (217) 244-2414 or downloadable as a PDF on the ISGS website at http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/servs/pubs/energy01.pdf

Demir, I. and Damberger H. H., 2000. Coalbed and coal mine methane potential of Illinois Basin. In: Coalbed Methane in the Rocky Mountains, a collection of expanded abstracts from papers presented at the 2000 RMAG Coalbed Methane Symposium, June 20-21, 2000, Denver, CO. Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, Denver, CO. $20. To order please call (303)573-8621.

Leetaru, H.E., 2000, Sequence stratigraphy and economic resources of the Aux Vases Sandstone: A major oil producer in the Illinois Basin: AAPG Bulletin, V. 84, No. 3, p. 399-422. Available as ISGS Reprint 2000B, $2.00 (plus p&h.) Call (217) 244-2414 to order.

Montgomery, S.L and H.E. Leetaru, 2000, Storms Consolidated Field, Illinois Basin: Identifying new reserves in a mature area: AAPG Bulletin, V. 84, No. 2, p. 157-173. (Watch for this article to be made available soon as an ISGS reprint.)

Seyler, B., J.P. Grube, and D.G. Morse, The Cypress Sandstone in Illinois: PTTC Workshop Guidebook, April, 2000, Mt. Vernon, IL.. Workbook copies remaining after the March 7, 2001 workshop will be available for $25. Or get one as part of registration for the March 7^th workshop at the annual IOGA meeting. Call 217-244-9337 to order.

GIS Compilation of Gas Potential of the New Albany Shale in the Illinois Basin, available as a CD ROM publication, (GRI-00/0068, May 2000) $75, available from Indiana, Illinois, or Kentucky geological surveys or GTI (Gas Technology Institute, formerly GRI.) See workshop description below.

Updated Oil and Gas Development Maps Now Available

The Illinois State Geological Survey's Oil and Gas Development Maps are in the process of being updated. Please contact the PTTC Office at (217) 244-9337 to check on the status of a map. Stop by the PTTC Booth at the Illinois Oil and Gas Association meeting March 8 and 9 to see some of the new, different custom maps that we are developing, and give us some ideas for other products you'd like to see developed.

New Albany Shale Workshop: recap

The findings of the recently-released, updated New Albany Shale study were presented at a PTTC workshop on October 17, 2000 in Bloomington, Indiana by the Indiana Geological Survey. The study was sponsored by the Gas Technology Institute and the Illinois Basin Consortium (the geological surveys of Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois.) Forty-one people attended.

The morning session covered exploring and producing the gas resource. The afternoon session presented the new, updated database and demonstrated the ways data can be extracted to create custom maps at regional and/or local scales. Each registrant received the data and maps on CD ROM. The maps are presented in ArcExplorer (included free on the CD) or may be downloaded to your ArcView programs, which operate on personal computers. The data sets may also be downloaded as "dbf" files to many different mapping packages or spread sheets. Text and illustrations of the out-of-print 1992 GRI Report on the New Albany Shale are included as Adobe Acrobat files. (This CD can now be purchased at any of the Illinois Basin geological surveys for $75.)

If you have any additional questions regarding the New Albany Shale study, please contact Nancy Hasenmueller at the Indiana Geological Survey (812-855-1360) or call us at the PTTC office at (217) 244-9337 for assistance.

Michigan Workshops: recap

The Michigan branch of Midwest PTTC held a half-day workshop on October 19, 2000 in association with the October MOGA meeting in Mt. Pleasant, MI. Thirty people attended the workshop. Two DOE-funded research projects on Michigan Petroleum Geology were covered in the workshop. The first part of the workshop was a program demonstration of Atlas 3.0 (a relational database with graphics developed at Michigan Tech) to address the role of fractures in Michigan Reservoirs.

The workshop also included several presentations on the Class Revisited project dealing with recovering bypassed oil from the Devonian Dundee Fm. The project included extensive surface geochemical surveying and the techniques and results were presented. Reservoir characterization techniques are also being applied to the existing data in several other old Dundee fields.

Cost-Effective Maintenance and Surface Remediation Strategies for Oil and Gas Producers: recap

A one-day workshop was held in the Windsor Oaks Inn at Grayville, Illinois on November 16, 2000. The morning session featured a presentation relating to regulatory requirements and resources followed by a presentation on site maintenance and operating procedures. The afternoon session was more technical in nature and included presentations on remediation of salt and petroleum impacted soils. The day concluded with an exercise which reviewed and tied the various aspects of the workshop together. The workshop was organized by the National Environmental Services Consortium at the encouragement and with the support of the Midwest PTTC RLO. Forty eight people attended the workshop.

Farewell to Richard Geier,

Welcome Steven Gustison

Richard Geier, the Midwest PTTC's Office Coordinator since April 2000, has taken a new job with Aramco in Saudi Arabia. Stop by the booth at IOGA to meet Steven Gustison, the new office Coordinator. As a geologist and former Independent operator, he will bring valuable experience to this position. Steven may be reached at (217) 244-9337 or by email to gustison@isgs.uiuc.edu.

Stop by the Midwest PTTC booth at the IOGA meeting in Evansville

March 8 & 9, 2001

Midwest PTTC and ISGS will be hosting a booth at the Illinois Oil and Gas Association's Annual Meeting at the Radisson Executive Inn in Evansville, IN. We are busy working to showcase maps, data sets, and products we have been developing under the direction of our regional Producer's Advisory Group. We would also like to discuss our coalbed methane research with interested operators. Hope to see you there!

Your PTTC Midwest Producer Advisory Group (PAG)

Mr. Craig J. Howard - Chair

Howard Energy Corp.

Mount Carmel, IL

Mr. Bryan J. Dicus - Vice Chair

Elysium Energy LLC

Crossville, IL

Mr. J. Roy Dee III

Dee Drilling, Inc.

Mt. Carmel, IL

Mr. Michael T. Gibbons

Southern Triangle Oil Company

Mt. Carmel, IL

Mr. James M. Hartshorne

Hartshorne & Associates Engineering, Inc.

Princeton, IN

Mr. Dean Hollensbee

Geo-Search

Mt. Vernon, IL

Mr. Donald D. Lehman

Miller Energy, Inc.

Kalamazoo, MI

Mr. Kelly E. Miller

Miller Oil Corporation

Traverse City, MI

Mr. Chris A. Mitchell

George Mitchell Drilling Co.

Carmi, IL

Mr. Lester D. Moore

MEPCO, Inc.

Evansville, IN

Mr. Robert Stewart

Stewart Producers

Mt. Vernon, IL

Mr. Matthew Stone

Barger Engineering, Inc.

Evansville, IN

Mr. Craig Testor

Chartwell Properties

Traverse City, MI

Mr. Edward C. Walker

WEPCO

Traverse City, MI 49685

Mr. Don T. Duttlinger

Executive Director PTTC

Houston, TX

Check it out:

National PTTC Website Address

http://www.pttc.org/

and

Midwest PTTC Website Address

http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/pttc/

Midwest

PTTC Staff

David Morse

Director

615 E. Peabody Dr.

Champaign, IL 61820

217-244-5527

morse@isgs.uiuc.edu

Steven Gustison

Coordinator, Midwest PTTC Resource Center

ISGS Oil and Gas Section

217-244-9337

gustison@isgs.uiuc.edu

William Harrison

Michigan Program Coordinator

Department of Geology

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI 49008

616-387-5844

william.harrison_iii@wmich.edu

Please -

Send Midwest PTTC your e-mail address so we can update the electronic mail list!

gustison@isgs.uiuc.edu