Contact Information

• Neil F. Hurley, Professor
• Charles Boettcher Distinguished Chair in Petroleum Geology
• Department of Geology and Geological Engineering
• Colorado School of Mines
• Golden, CO 80401
• USA
• Phone: (303) 384-2128 Fax: (303) 273-3859
• email: nfhurley@mines.edu

Education

• University of Michigan, Ph.D., Geology 1986
• University of Wisconsin, Madison, M.S., Geology 1978
• University of Southern California, B.S., Geology, 1976
• University of Southern California, B.S., Petroleum Engineering, 1976

Research Interests

• Integrated reservoir-characterization (geology, petrophysics, geophysics, reservoir simulation).
• Outcrop and subsurface studies of fractured, faulted, and stratigraphically compartmentalized reservoirs.
• Quantification of vuggy porosity in carbonates using borehole images, NMR logs, and core.

Industry Experience

• 2002, Schlumberger Inc. sabbatical leave of absence involved training in GeoFrame software applications (Houston) and carbonate research (Dhahran, Saudi Arabia).
• 1985 to 1996, Marathon Oil Company. Specialized in the field of reservoir characterization. Worked in carbonates, sandstones, fractured reservoirs, and horizontal wells. Specialized in borehole-image log interpretation. Performed detailed reservoir studies in Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Argentina, the North Sea, West Texas, New Mexico, East Texas, the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, Wyoming, Michigan, and the Austin Chalk of central Texas.
• 1978 to 1982, Conoco Inc. Conducted carbonate geological research for 2.5 years in Ponca City, OK. Developed onshore prospects for 1 year in Lafayette, LA. Developed prospects in the Rocky Mountains in Denver for 0.5 year.

Courses

Undergraduate

• Well Logging and Formation Evaluation (3 hrs.)

Graduate

• Advanced Formation Evaluation (3 hrs.)
• Integrated Exploration (3 hrs.)
• Advanced Carbonate Field Seminar (3 hrs.)

Outside Activities

• Vice President, Candidate, AAPG (2003-2004)
• SPE-AAPG Distinguished Lecturer (2003-2004)
• Editor, AAPG (1997-2001)
• Associate Editor, AAPG Bulletin (1993-97)
• AAPG Distinguished Lecturer (1991-92)
• Chairman, SPE Forum on Reservoir Characterization (1990).

Professional Affiliations

• AAPG
• SPE
• SEG
• EAGE
• SEPM
• SPWLA
• GSA
• IAS
• RMAG
• AGU
• WGA
• Sigma Xi

Recent Publications

• Hurley, N. F., Aviantara, A. A., and Kerr, D. R., 2003, Structural and stratigraphic compartments in a horizontal well drilled in the eolian Tensleep Sandstone, Byron field, Wyoming: in Mason, E., Carr, T., and Feazel, C., Horizontal wells, focus on the reservoir, AAPG Methods in Exploration Series 14, p. 143-159.
  
  
• Karadavut, A., and Hurley, N. F., 2003, Petrophysics-based flow unit determination in the Phosphoria Formation, Little Sand Draw field, Wyoming: Paper B, SPWLA 44th Annual Logging Symposium, Galveston, Texas, June 22-25, 14 p.
  
  
• Adibrata, R. W. H., and Hurley, N. F., 2003, Flow-unit modeling using neural networks, logs, and core in a vuggy dolomite reservoir, Dagger Draw field, New Mexico: Paper M, SPWLA 44th Annual Logging Symposium, Galveston, Texas, June 22-25, 14 p.
  
  
• Wibowo, R. A., and Hurley, N. F., 2003, Petrophysical properties of the Tensleep Sandstone at Sage Creek field, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming: Paper X, SPWLA 44th Annual Logging Symposium, Galveston, Texas, June 22-25, 14 p
  
  
• Hurley, N. F., Slatt, R. M., Goolsby, S., Maglio-Johnson, T., and Witton, E. M., 2002, Outcrop and subsurface characterization and correlation of deep-water sandstones, Lewis Shale, Wyoming: GTI Topical Report, CD-ROM, GRI-02/0228.
  
  
• Miskimins, J., Hurley, N., and Graves, R., 2002, A method for developing rock mechanical property logs using electrofacies and core data: SPE preprint 77783, presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, TX, September 29-October 2, 5 p., 12 figures.
  
  
• Miskimins, J., Graves, R., Hurley, N., and Barree, R., 2002, Extrapolation of rock mechanical properties from a cored well to an uncored well through the use of electrofacies: SPE/ISRM preprint 78250, presented at the SPE/ISRM Rock Mechanics Conference, Irving, Tx, October 20-23, 5 p. plus 11 figures.
  
  
• Miskimins, J., Hurley, N., and Graves, R., 2001, 3D stress characterization from hydraulic fracture and borehole breakout data in a faulted anticline, Wyoming: SPE preprint 71341, Note: This paper was chosen as a Best of SPE/AAPG paper, and presented as an invited paper at the 2002 SEG Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, October 8.
  
  
• Williams-Rojas, C., and Hurley, N. F., 2001, Geologic controls on reservoir performance in Muspac and Catedral gas fields, southeastern Mexico: in Bartolini, C., Buffler, R. T., and Cantu Chapa, A., eds., The western Gulf of Mexico basin: Tectonics, sedimentary basins and petroleum systems, AAPG Memoir 75, p. 460-480.

Recent Abstracts

• A. P. Gonzalez, Anderson, D. S., and Hurley, N. F., 2003, Tectonic controls on delta-front and deepwater sandstone stratigraphy: Lewis Shale and Fox Hills Sandstone of the northern Great Divide Basin (abs.): AAPG Annual Convention, Salt Lake City.
  
  
• R. R. Sanguinetti, Guirigay, T. A., and Hurley, N. F., 2003, 3-D seismic-geologic model of North LaBarge field, Sublette County, Wyoming (abs.): AAPG Annual Convention, Salt Lake City.
  
  
• T. A. Guirigay, Sanguinetti, R. R., and Hurley, N. F., 2003, 3-D seismic-geologic model of Big Piney field, Sublette County, Wyoming (abs.): AAPG Annual Convention, Salt Lake City.
  
  
• Zahm, C. K., Raba'a, A. S., Hurley, N. F., Hennings, P. H., and Erslev, E. A., 2003, The use of 3D strain in outcrop to predict subsurface reservoir compartmentalization, southern Bighorn Basin, Wyoming (abs.): AAPG Annual Convention, Salt Lake City.
  
  
• Cunningham, K.J., Carlson, J.L., and Hurley, N.F., 2002, New method for quantifying vuggy porosity from digital optical borehole images as applied to the karstic Pleistocene limestone of the Biscayne aquifer, southeastern Florida (abs.): Canadian Exploration Geophysical Society Eighth International Symposium on Borehole Geophysics for Minerals, Geotechnicaland Groundwater Applications August 21-23, Toronto, Canada, p. 50-51.
  
  
• Pranter, M., and Hurley, N. F., 2002, Stratigraphic and structural compartmentalization of the Grayburg-San Andres reservoir, Central Vacuum Unit, New Mexico (abs.): AAPG Southwest Section Meeting, Ruidoso, New Mexico, June 8.
  
  
• Hurley, N. F., Ustabas, S., and Zahm, L. C., 2002, Incremental oil recovery using horizontal drilling in a compartmentalized oolitic reservoir, San Andres Formation, West Texas (abs.): AAPG Southwest Section Meeting, Ruidoso, New Mexico, June 8.
  
  
• Slatt, R. M., Hurley, N. F., and Pyles, D., 2002, Lewis Shale (Wyoming and Colorado): Exploration and production issues related to stratigraphy (abs.): Presented at AAPG Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, Laramie, Wyoming.
  
  
• Cunningham, K. J., Carlson, J. L., and Hurley, N. F., 2002, New method for quantification of vuggy porosity from digital optical borehole images as applied to Cenozoic carbonates of the Biscayne aquifer and Floridan aquifer system, southern Florida (abs.): GSA Annual Meeting, Denver.
  
  
• Hurley, N. F., 2002, Commercial applications of quantification of vuggy porosity from borehole images and core (abs.): The Outcrop, Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, Presented in Calgary, May 14.
  
  
• Hurley, N. F., 2002, Commercial applications of quantification of vuggy porosity from borehole images and core (abs.): Dhahran Geoscience Society, Presented in Dhahran, June 25.
  
  
• Hurley, N. F., Aviantara, A., and Kerr, D., 2001, Structural and stratigraphic compartments determined from horizontal drilling in an eolian reservoir, Tensleep Sandstone, Wyoming (abs.): AAPG Bulletin, v. 85, Annual Convention, Denver.
  
  
• Hurley, N. F., Ustabas, S., and Zahm, L. C., 2001, Incremental oil recovery using horizontal drilling in a compartmentalized oolitic reservoir, San Andres Formation, West Texas (abs.): AAPG Bulletin, v. 85, Annual Convention, Denver.
  
  
• Goolsby, S. M., Slatt, R. M., and Hurley, N. F., 2001, Core and borehole image log characterization of turbidite sandstones in the Lewis Shale, Green River basin, Wyoming (abs.): AAPG Bulletin, v. 85, Annual Convention, Denver.
  
  
• Ciftci, B. N., Aviantara, A., Kerr, D., and Hurley, N. F., 2001, Outcrop based 3-D modeling of the Tensleep Sandstone at Alkali Creek, Bighorn basin, Wyoming (abs.): AAPG Bulletin, v. 85, Annual Convention, Denver.

Recently Completed Theses and Dissertations

• 3-D analysis of vug connectivity, Indian Basin field, New Mexico by Sherif Gowelly, 2003. Advised M.S. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• Petrophysical analysis of the Thamama Group, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. by Atul Rathod, 2003. Co-advised M.S. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• 3-D geologic model of the Lewis Shale in the Great Divide and Washakie basins, Wyoming by Doddy Suryanto, 2003. Advised M.S. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• Dipmeter analysis of deep water sandstones in the Bossier Shale, Pine Oak field, East Texas by Art Straub, 2002. Advised M.S. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• Subsurface study of the Lewis Shale in the southern Washakie and Sand Wash Basins using borehole images, core, well log, and seismic data by Greg Minton, 2002. Advised M.S. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• 3-D strain and basement-involved folding, Thermopolis Anticline, Wyoming by Chris Zahm, 2002. Advised Ph.D. dissertation, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• Fracture quantification and modeling in the Tensleep Sandstone near the Alkali fault, Bighorn basin, Wyoming by Alper Kilic, 2002. Advised M.S. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• The effect of thin-bedded sands and shales on hydraulic fracture growth through the use of electrofacies and hydraulic fracture modeling by Jennifer Miskimins, 2002. Co-advised Ph.D. dissertation, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO
  
  
• Reservoir characterization using borehole images from behind-outcrop wells, Rock Springs uplift, Wyoming by Komar Purwanto, 2002. Advised M.S. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• Sub-seismic scale faults interpreted from borehole images, Cave Gulch Field, Wyoming by Mike Sherwood, 2002. Advised M.S. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• 3-D Geologic Model of Permeability in a Deep-Water Sandstone, East Brae Field, North Sea by Jennifer White, 2001. Advised M.S. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• Petrophysical Properties of the Tensleep Sandstone at Sage Creek Field, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming by Ricky Wibowo, 2001. Advised Ph.D. dissertation, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• Flow-Unit Modeling Using Neural Networks, Logs, and Core in a Vuggy Dolomite Reservoir, Dagger Draw Field, New Mexico by Bob Adibrata, 2001. Advised Ph.D. dissertation, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• 3-D Seismic Interpretation of Tectonics and Sedimentation within the Upper Cretaceous Lewis Shale and Fox Hills Sandstone, Baggs, Wyoming by Ernest Hull, 2001. Co-advised M.S. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• 3-D Seismic-Geologic Model, Big Piney Field, Sublette County, Wyoming by Thais Guirigay, 2001. Advised M.S. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• 3-D Seismic-Geologic Model of the North La Barge Field, Sublette County, Wyoming by Rafael Sanguinetti, 2001. Advised M.S. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• Subsurface characterization of the Shotgun Member of the Fort Union Formation, Madden Field, Wyoming by Amy Osborn, 2001. Advised M.S. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• Flow unit definition using petrophysics in a deep water turbidite deposit, Lewis Shale, Carbon County, Wyoming by Tina Maglio-Johnson, 2001. Co-advised M.S. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
  
  
• Outcrop-based 3-D modeling of the Tensleep Sandstone at Alkali Creek, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming by Bozkurt Ciftci, 2001. Advised M.S. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.

Personal Interests

I enjoy traveling, cooking, gardening, skiing, and reading. I read French, German, and Spanish with moderate proficiency. I am a certified scuba diver, and I have done diving or snorkeling in the Bahamas, Fiji, the Florida Keys, Cancun, Belize, and the Red Sea.