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Show f ... The crew from Pocupihe Ridqe V'.'' 4tA 4v-' Y , ' . A Y , x : , V ; . S t " Llt " x - - ' " The "doghouse" sits high atop Porcupine Ridge. Note the large antenna, used to set off the charges and record data. .. .. v - ?? 'Plf SiMf Don Wilson, assistant shooter and head lineman. PHOTOS AND TEXT By Louise Page Notwithstanding Lewis Carrolls sage advise-Begin at the beginning--and stop when you come to the end-Some stories just have to begin in the middle. Since late last winter, a varying number of attractive, uniformed men, driving white pickups, (for the most part,) have been seen in and around Summit and Wasatch Counties. Two of these men, Don Wright and Chuck Rogers, former neighbors of mine, live in Park City. Naturally, when one sees these gentlemen come and go, one wonders where they are coming and going to and from. So, one inquires. They are coming and going to and from Porcupine Ridge. Remote, 9,000 foot high Porcupine Ridge is located North-East of Coalville, between be-tween the East Anschutz and Pineview Fields; both recognized recog-nized as rich oil and gas producing areas. Don and Chuck are part of the team effort labled Porcupine Porcu-pine Prospect. Simply put, Porcupine Prospect is a 38.07 square mile survey area where seismographic data is being gathered and recorded to determine the underlying geological formation and structure. "The helicopter is the main mode of transportation for the crew" largest crew and the largest seismic prospect in the entire country. According to Frank Merrick, Mer-rick, Party Manager for Seiscom Delta United, the prospect involves more than 200 people, working together. to-gether. There are 81 people on the recording crew-70 people involved with the portable rigs-11 -three man survey crews, plus office staff. The prospect has three helicopter companies on contract, involving seven helicopters. There are five people from Amoco immedeately involved. involv-ed. This is their project, but they are working co-operatively with Anschutz, Champlin and a few smaller companies, who also have mineral rights in the ares. According to Mike Schilly, a Geophysicist working for Amoco Production, they will have spent six million dollars before this project is completed. com-pleted. The 3-D method is relatively rela-tively new, but the results have been spectacular. "You don't use this method unless you pretty sure you've got something there." Mike explained. "It costs about eight million dollars to drill one hole, so if this prospect finds one structure that's never been played before, it will pay off." Located on the very highest point on Porcupine Ridge is the Doghouse. They call it that, because nobody wants to be there. The Doghouse is the nerve center of the entire operation. A Bronco, equiped with receiving antenna, the Doghouse Dog-house is where the button is pushed that sets off the explosions. The control and receiving radio and recording record-ing equipment is all located here as well. One man sits here all day, pushes a button and duly notes vital information being fed into the computer. Parden me for a moment, while I move away from the statistical and into the realm of personal experience. That really is the best way to . relate a story. Early one Friday morning, I met Don and Chuck and the third pilot, Mitch Barney, who lives with his wife Sherry and their son in Coalville; and their mechan- mic data gathering methods, the overthrust is very difficult diffi-cult to read. This still somewhat experimental method will provide alot better data. "The 3-D will open up the area," Pat said, "making it easier to tell a "carbon trap from an over-thrust, over-thrust, or open pocket." Repeatedly, throughout the day, stress was placed on quality control, safety consciousness cons-ciousness and preserving the environment. Pat was no exception. I was continually amazed by the complete absence of .environmental damage. In fact, the boxes, the phones, the cables, and crews were almost unseen. Had it not been for the constant radio communication communica-tion between Pat and the crew members crawling all over the mountain, there would have been no way knowing they were out there. Early that afternoon, after traveling over some of the most beautiful terrain in Summit County, we arrived a short distance from the Doghouse. The wind never stops blowing at the top of Porcupine Ridge. Mark Mocere, an Observer, Observ-er, was in the back. Kim Hellstrom, a Head Linesman was in front. Mark explained what he was doing. Not wanting to miss tha action, I hung around while they (the birds) pulled out the crews, so they (Mark and the 'shooter') could shoot the line. While waiting, Mark explained ex-plained one of the reasons this prospect is taking so long. Normally, a seismic project pro-ject lasts only a few weeks. Because of the scope in size of this one, and the enormous cost involved, everything must be exactly right, before a shot. There are many factors which could affect the. accuracy of a eading. The weather has to ye just right, the crews must be out of the area and the boxes have to be working properly. A thing as apparently appar-ently insignificant as a rustling of leaves on a tree can alter the Seismic reading, read-ing, that's how sensitive this equipment is. After some time, Mark y pushed the, button, the shott - i was4 Vuccessi' He coiildlteU.V i because . the.1 reading f0n he ,v computer told him so. The exciting part about this whole thing is the ultimate compiled data, which produces pro-duces a three demensional picture. Button pushing isn't terribly exciting. Pushing buttons isn't either, according accord-ing to Mark. Eventually, I was flown off Porcupine Ridge. I was flown to .a cabin in the woods and told there were two men there who wanted to see me. That was when I met Frank Merrick (Party Manager, Mana-ger, Seiscom Delta United, from Evanston) and Mike Schilly, (Geophysicist for Amoco Production, from Denver). The first thing they did was find me a hat, to hold my hair down! Their answers to my questions made me realize I would never be able to finish this story until I saw the 3-D picture that comes out of all this. It needs to be said, no matter where I was deposited, depos-ited, or who I encountered that day, I was continually impressed with the professionalism profes-sionalism demonstrated by the men and women working on that mountain. No one knew I was coming. What I saw was of the group. They were, without exception, excep-tion, professional, knowledgeable, know-ledgeable, helpful, conscientious cons-cientious and terribly prowd to be a part of the project. A final word about those helicopter pilots. You know, the ones who deposited the crews on top of the mountains. moun-tains. They are very highly thought of. Everytime one of you flew over, whoever it was, comments were made on what great pilots they are. The pilots may not be the beginning of this story, and they may not be the end, but as far as those people on that mountain are concerned, they are a vital part of the lifeline that makes the whole project work. The crews respect them enormously. By the way, thanks. I really did enjoy the experience! exper-ience! vVYw-:' Ay a ;'. . v-:i Don and Chuck are Helicopter Heli-copter Pilots, for Rocky Mountain Helicopter. Don, Crew Lead Pilot explained, "Basically, what we do is fly support for the seismic crew. We're working with Seiscom Delta United. First thing in the morning, we fly people out on the line. Then, we fly baskets of equipment out to the people." peo-ple." Sounds simple enough, but there is a great deal more to it. It can be pretty grueling, working a 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. day, 20 to 30 day's straight. For that reason, in Dons crew, there are four pilots flying three helicopters and four mechanics. That way, each pilot and each mechanic gets a ten to fifteen day break every month. Unlike other seismic prospects, pros-pects, we are all to familiar with, on the Porcupine Prospect, you never hear an explosion. And, there is virtually no evidence that one has occured. But, the explosions are occuring, with precision regularity. reg-ularity. The 38.07 square mile prospect is divided into 6 and Vi mile swaths. There are 16 lines per swath. Drillers come in with portable rigs, drill 120 feet and plant a small charge. Crews come behind them and lay out lines. Geophysical phones are put in place, then, the seismic Geophysical Recorders, Re-corders, or boxes, are put on line and tested. Crews are pulled out and the charges are electronically set off, in sequence. The boxes are receiver points. The seismic information, inform-ation, or earth vibration produced by the explosions underground, and picked up by these sensitive units is fed into a central computer. The resultant information pro duces a 3-D picture. Receiver points are ever) . 200 feet, East to West and f 350 feet North and South. v'w, What is happening up on . Porcupine Ridge is the Pat Maker points to a charge which has already been buried. ', '" ' " '''' "" d. Y 4- - i- "' ' ' - V; , Y - .Vfiv, i ; y vYa" " Y A -Tl Y;?0 '"(.vV r?v HI LZJ Y?Y-v Steve French, one of Seiscom's "Juggies", lives in Park City. . , ? : Y " '.' ' .. . .: . nr'i ' ' . . , . .. i' ' '." i i i '.- J ' ' ' '.' : ,v ' 1 ics, Dave Fagoaga and Mark Duchrow, who both live in Coalville; at the landing zone behind the football field at North Summit. I had abso- , lutely no idea what I was getting into, which is just as well. Had I known, I may very well have not shown up. (I'm kidding of course.) With the exception of Don, no one-including Frank Merrick, and Mike Schilly, knew I was going to be there. The pilots flew up to the second Landing Zone, about 17 miles up Chalk Creek. I followed one of the mechanics mechan-ics trucks up. When I arrived, I was invited to climb into a helicopter. The three this crew fly are Hughes 500 D's. Quite small, they look like police helicopters. Ever flown in a helicopter? If you ever get the chance, do. What can 1 say? That is grand fun! I was deposited somewhere. (I have no idea where) on the propect, where I met Don Wilson. Don is an assistant shooter and a Head Lineman. He didn't know what I was doing there, and he didn't ask, but very patiently explained to me what a Shooter and a Lineman does. ' Sometime later, Pat Maher drove up in a Seiscom Delta United truck and invited me to climb in. Pat is a Junior Observer. "Basically, all I do is drive around and make sure things are getting done." Pat ; . explained, as we drove I around. S Pat explained one of the reasons why this prospect is so costly. For example, the ! seismic geophysical record- ! ers, (boxes) are each worth ! $4,500.00 When each Seis- com Delta United truck is J loaded down, each is worth i about a half a million dollars. The seismic helicopter crews j operate the project at a cost of three quarter million per month-and that's just' one little part of the' total picture. Using conventional ' sels-' ' ' - YAV.V, V.V .Y.i '-,.), v.viYYv;-. .r--- J .Y : 4' I - --j.o '--N? : "" ,!' ? . . -" - , , t 'Mike Schilly, Amoco Production and Frank Merrick, Seiscom Delta United, leaning on the cabin in the woods. |
