Ms. Laura Foulk

SENIOR ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT - GEOSCIENCE

Ms. Laura Foulk has over 30 years experience in the oil and gas industry. For the past 25 years she has specialized in the interpretation of wellbore images. Having interpreted images from a variety of tectonic and depositional settings worldwide, she focuses on extracting the structural and stratigraphic information obtained through image interpretation and integrating those data with petrophysical, geologic and geophysical data. She routinely uses image data to correlate core to logs, and perform geologic and petrophysical interpretations. In addition to her interpretation work, she teaches domestic and international courses on structural and stratigraphic interpretation of wellbore images. She has worked on reservoir characterization projects worldwide, including recent projects with the tight gas sandstone of the Rocky Mountains, fractured shales of the Devonian and Ordovician, Permian Basin carbonates, Deep Water Gulf of Mexico turbidites, carbonate and clastic systems in Kuwait, Columbian fluvio-deltaics, Hungarian Miocene clastics with volcanic tuffs, and mixed tectonic systems of California.


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2001 to Present - President & Senior GeoScientist, Integrated GeoSolutions, Inc., Colorado

2006 to Present - PetroSkills Instructor: Structural and Stratigraphic Interpretation of Dipmeters and Wellbore Images.

1 week class for professional geologists, petrophysists, geophysists, and reservoir engineers - taught as both in-house and public sessions worldwide.


1998 to 2001 - Senior Petrophysicist, Marathon Oil Petroleum Technology Center, Colorado

1981 to 1998 - Senior Geologist, Interpretation/Development Engineer, Sales Engineer, Field Engineer, Schlumberger: Denver, Houston, New Orleans

PROJECT EXPERIENCE

Integrated GeoSolutions, Inc.

  • Hungarian Thin Bed Study - Identification of multiple dip domains, faults, fractures and stratigraphic analysis, comparing image and petrophysical data with drilling/mud log shows and deriving high resolutions curves from the image data for thin bed analysis.

  • Monterey Shale Image Interpretation, California - Interpretation and integration of fracture, core, petrophysical, and regional stress data to evaluate future drilling and completion practices. 47K foot of images interpreted for fractures.

  • Aeolian Field Study - Characteristics of dune deposition were interpreted from image data, analyzing the wind patterns to produce a geologic model. Overlying channels (fluvial and esturine) and shoreface sequences were also analyzed.

  • Trenton Unconventional Resource Study - Integration of core fracture study with image fracture study in the Trenton Fractured Shale play, New York State.

  • Reservoir Characterization Projects
    • Algeria - Fractured clastic - Full field fracture study . Image analysis portion of reservoir characterization team for dual porosity/dual permeability field simulation.


    • Columbia, SA - Clastic braided to meandering fluvial system in a structurally complex setting - Interpreted 17 wells with 82,000 ft of data for stress, structure, faults and fractures. Multiple dip-domains and vertical bed were identified and corrected to TST for stratigraphic correlation. Interpreted a 10 well sub-set for facies determination and integration into static geo-modeling.

     
    • Columbia, SA - Clastic fluvial/nearshore depositional system . Interpretation of 20+ wells for stress, faulting, and fracturing. Used sub-seismic scale fault data to aid seismic fault model, identifying fault type, normal vs. reverse. Interpreted depositional facies and stratigraphic packages for use in static geo-modeling of size and distribution of sand bodies.

     
    • North Kuwait - Cretaceous Carbonate reservoir - 60+ image wells (acoustic and resistivity) interpreted for stress, faults, fractures and facies association. Compared image and whole core data for 18 wells. Analyzed porosity and permeability trends from image facies groups against core facies groups and standard petrophysical data. The image analysis was integrated with geophysical, petrophysical and geological interpretation in static geologic model.

     
    • West Texas, USA - Permian Carbonate - Interpretation of image data in sequence stratigraphic packages of carbonate shoals for determination of fracturing and image facies. Image data was applied to porosity models, both primary and secondary, to determine porosity distribution.

     
    • Terry, Texas, USA - Eighteen wells were interpreted for fractures and fault patterns, and for facies analysis. Structural interpretation consisted of: regional structure analysis, stress analysis, fracture classification, and fracture mapping. Whole core data, petrographic data and image data were used to develop image facies. Facies analysis was used to distribute facies into a geologic model for input into simulation. The data was thoroughly integrated into a reservoir model that was used for unitization.

  • Structural and Stratigraphic Interpretation - Definition of multiple structural dip domains in a normally faulted regime. Three imaged well were interpreted for structure, regional stress and then depositional facies, and sand body orientation (lower to upper shoreface sand sequence) were determined.


  • Fracture, Fault and Correlation Study, Columbia River Basalt, Washington. Correlation study using image data in stacked basalt sequence.


  • Turbidite Fracture and Stratigraphic Study using Oil Based Images, Texas - More than 6,500 feet of image data in two wells was interpreted for fractures and sedimentary features. Stratigraphic features indicated depositional environment and sand body geometry, and the observed strong lithologic control of the fractures was incorporated into the geologic model prior to reservoir simulation.


  • Dolomite Fracture Characterization Study, Oklahoma. Six wells were interpreted for fracture type, length, aperture, frequency and orientation. The dolomitization in the zone was patchy, and the dolomite vuggy and burrowed. The fracture data extracted was incorporated in reservoir modeling for gas storage.


  • Multi-well Wellbore Image Structural Study, Kern, California - Four wells were interpreted for regional structure, faulting, regional stress and fractures. The structure was highly faulted and three of the wells highly deviated. The data was analyzed using various structural interpretation methods including: SCAT, Cumulative Dip, Vector Azimuth and Tadpole plots.


  • Multi-well Wellbore Image Interpretation for Reservoir Modeling, Natrona, Wyoming - Six wells were interpreted for fractures and fault patterns, three wells interpreted for facies patterns and depositional system analysis. Structural interpretation consisted of: stress analysis, fracture classification, fault mapping, and fracture-to-fault analysis. Depositional system typing and mapping were used to develop the reservoir geologic model. The data was thoroughly integrated into a reservoir model that was presented to the Wyoming Commission for application for well down spacing.


  • Multi-well Rocky Mountain Field Fracture and Stratigraphic Wellbore Image Interpretation, Wyoming - Three wells with 10,468 feet of image data. These data were interpreted for fractures and 2,950 feet of sands were interpreted for stratigraphic characteristics and depositional environment interpretation. Fracture interpretation consisted of fracture identification, fracture orientation, fracture typing, numerical fracture analysis and fracture data integration with geophysical and production data. Stratigraphically, seven depositional environments were interpreted and mapped. The project was a part of a larger reservoir characterization project consisting of geophysical, geologic, and reservoir modeling.


  • Multi-well Piceance Basin Fracture Characterization Study, Wyoming - Encompassing eight wells and five depositional environments. A total of 10,851 feet of wellbore images was examined and summarized. This project integrated depositional environments and fracture characterization and the results are being utilized in ongoing field management.


  • Monterey Shale Image Interpretation, California - Interpretation and integration of fracture, core, petrophysical, and regional stress data to evaluate future drilling and completion practices.


  • Frontier Formation Wellbore Image and Petrophysical Study, Wyoming - Wellbore image interpretation analyzing sand texture, recognizing pay with images and petrophysical data, and determining depositional environments.


  • Stratigraphic Wellbore Image Interpretation and Core Integration, Granite Wash, Oklahoma - Raw data processing and image interpretation for sand body geometry, depositional facies interpretation and tying of interpreted depositional facies to petrophysical data. These data were used for pay recognition and reservoir flow unit identification.



Marathon Oil Company, Petroleum Technology Center

Member of the Reservoir Characterization Group at the Marathon Petroleum Technology Center - Sample Projects:


  • Petrographic and Sedimentary Data Interpretation and Integration, Frontier Facies, Cretaceous Sandstones, Wyoming - Integrating petrographic data from core analysis with sedimentary feature analysis from wellbore images. Determination of sand body geometry, estimation of aerial extent and tying of reservoir properties to depositional facies in a near-shore marine depositional environment resulted in optimizing wellbore placement and completion practices.

  • Petrophysical study, Permian Basin Texas - 600+ well carbonate field (multi-vendor, multi-era) was interpreted, integrated with 3-D seismic, wellbore image, and core data for the development of a 3-D geologic model used for field wide simulation, minimizing cost and maximizing efficiency of ongoing CO2 injection, and highlighting areas of bypassed pay.

  • Fracture study, Yates Field, New Mexico - 78 well wellbore image study interpreting and quantifying vugular porosity and fractures. The data were incorporated in reservoir simulation models for enhanced recovery.

  • Horizontal Well Image Interpretations, East Texas - Structure and fracture analysis. Used in the determination of wellbore placement real-time and completion practices.

  • Rocky Mountain Field Projects - Wellbore image processing and interpretation fracture and facies analysis incorporated into primary and secondary recovery practices. (Uinta Basin, Greater Green River Basin, San Juan Basin, Oregon Basin, Wind River Basin, Big Horn Basin.)

  • Offshore, Gulf of Mexico Turbidite Wellbore Image Interpretation - Processing and Interpretation of Oil-based Images using electrical and acoustic devices. Stratigraphy and thin bed analysis.

  • North Sea - Dipmeter studies for structure and stratigraphic applications.


Schlumberger Technology Companies

  • Interpretation of wellbore images for clients. fields worldwide and providing recommendations for completion, well abandonment or offset location. (USA, Canada, Russia, Bolivia, Australia, North Sea, West Africa)

  • Dissemination of knowledge through schools, seminars, individual training, society presentations, and technical papers.

  • Design, deliver, explain and sell new geologic products both internally and externally through testing of new software, testing of new tools, product integration, and development of new ideas.


TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2006 to present - PetroSkills Instructor, Currently teach .Structural and Stratigraphic Interpretation of Dipmeters and Wellbore Images. - 1 week class for professional geologists, petrophysists, geophysists, and reservoir engineers - taught as both in-house and public sessions worldwide.



1997 to 2002 - Colorado School of Mines, Taught wellbore anisotropy measurements and wellbore image theory and applications portions of graduate level course.



1998 to 2000 - Marathon Oil Company, New hire and continuing education internal seminars.



1996 - Stanford University, Wellbore image theory and applications.



1988 to 2001 - Internal client seminars - Various aspects of wellbore image theory and application.



EDUCATION

M.S., Geology - Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado (1989);

Thesis topic - Characteristics and Origin of Structural Features of the Central Eastern Flank and the Walnut
Canyon Area in the Fra Cristobal Range, South-Central New Mexico.



B.S.E., Mechanical Engineering; B.A., Geology . Duke University (1981)



PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Society of Professional Well Log Analysts - Chairman Fall 2000 Topical Conference Depositional Environments from Borehole Data, Associate Editor for Petrophysics, Special Issue Editor for November-December 1997 journal, The Log Analyst.



Denver Well Logging Society . Lifetime member



American Association of Petroleum Geologists - Associate Editor for AAPG Bulletin



Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists



Society for Sedimentary Geology - Rocky Mountain Section



SELECT PUBLICATIONS

Foulk, Laura S., Canter, K Lyn, Sonnenfeld, Mark, Welch, Pat, Richards, Russell, 2007, Extending Core Facies to Uncored Wells using Wellbore Image Facies, Suntura Field (lower Clear Fork), Terry County, TX, West Texas Geologic Society, 2007 Fall Symposium.



Sonnenfeld, Mark S., Zahm, Laura C., Ford, Grace L., Canter, K. Lyn, Buckner, Steven J., Foulk, Laura S., Kerans, Charles, Pluim, Scott L., Simon, Michele, Tinker, Scott W., 2001, Paleostructural Control on Facies Distribution and Reservoir Quality: Seminole San Andres Unit (Permian, Guadalupian), West Texas: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, Vol. 85, No. 13.



Foulk, L.S., Northcutt, T., Nicholson, L., and Nelms, R., 1998, Integration of Image and Anisotropy Logs to Optimize Production, Antelope Creek Field, Duchesne County, Utah: Fractured Reservoirs: Practical Exploration and Development Strategies Symposium Proceedings, Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, p. 35-54.



Carr, D.L., Johns, R.A., Elphick, R.Y. and Foulk, L.S., 1997, High-Resolution Reservoir Characterization of Midcontinent Sandstones using Wireline Resistivity Imaging, Boonsville (Bend Conglomerate) Gas Field, Fort Worth Basin, Texas: The Log Analyst, v 38, no. 6, p. 54-70.



Evans, L.W., and Foulk, L.S., 1997, Electrical Resistivity Image Reservoir Description of the Lance Formation, Jonah Field, Sublette Co., Wyoming: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 81, no. 7, p. 1222.




AWARDS AND HONORS

Selected as North American Chair of the SPWLA Fall 2000 Topical Conference Depositional Environments from Borehole Data



Achievement of Company Excellence Award Recipient - Marathon Oil Company (March 2000)



Speaker at numerous society conventions and luncheons, including DWLS luncheon (October 2000), SPWLA convention (June 2000), RMAG luncheon (April1998) and RMAG fracture symposium (1998)



Wildcatter Award - Awarded for the discovery of significant hydrocarbons not identified by the client - Schlumberger (1998)