GERT Research Conclusions

CALHOUN, GERALD G., New Paradigm Expl., Midland, TX

GERT (Geochemical Evaluation Research Team) is an ongoing examination of currently available surface geochem exploration techniques. Its purpose is to determine the predictive accuracy of the various methods.

The ten techniques of study are interstitial soil gas; radar; micromagnetics; residual micromagnetics; Landsat; elemental; magnetic susceptibility of samples; focused radiometrics, Geoprobe (passive AMT); and radiometrics.

The format is that a GERT member submits a subsurface or seismic controlled prospect they intend to drill. Their entry fee is used to run the listed methods on their prospect in the Permian basin. This provides a blind test of the methods rather than studying a producing field.

The results to date reveal that three techniques accurately predicted the outcome of 14 wildcats and one subsequent development well 73% of the time. They also predicted the Hunt discovery in Garza County, the only offsetting discovery in the study. A discovery in this data is any well with potential as a discovery--whether it is profitable or not.

Based strictly on economic success--a profitable discovery--five techniques were 67% accurate. One of the economic successes is a one-well field.

It must be reiterated that the wildcats were based on seismic and subsurface data. The geochem data were tested for predictive accuracy and were not used in selecting a location. The wells were drilled on the basis of conventional data for the purpose of evaluating the predictions of the unconventional data.

These results cannot be extrapolated beyond climates and geologic history similar to the Permian basin nor can they be extended to other contractors who use the same or similar techniques.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91004 © 1991 AAPG Annual Convention Dallas, Texas, April 7-10, 1991 (2009)