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Ted Godo
Ted originally began his geologic studies at the age of 9 and continued his studies through his master’s degree in Geology from Ohio State University in 1979. Upon graduation, he joined Shell Oil’s exploration department as a geologist. At Shell, he gradually rose to a position of chief geologist, providing consistent risking and ranking of the exploration portfolio in the western hemisphere. Ted’s 35-year career at Shell was followed immediately by joining Murphy Oil as a geologic advisor. At Murphy, he led efforts to look for New Venture opportunities more globally in basins on both sides of the Atlantic margin (west Africa, Brazil, Mexico, and Canada). After 5 years of experience with Murphy, he formed the geologic consulting company named Geodog Exploration LLC. At Geodog, Ted has consulted for companies exploring subsalt and Mesozoic opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico. Most of the consulting during this time has focused on the Mexican deep-water exploring for both Mesozoic and subsalt Tertiary targets.
Ted has published works on various subjects such as Mississippian aged turbidites and chert/novaculite formations in Arkansas; Tertiary turbidite stratigraphic traps in the Gulf of Mexico and more recently, on the Jurassic Norphlet aeolian sandstones. Ted has participated in AAPG’s Imperial Barrel programs as both an industry mentor and finalist judge. He also has been a committee member as an industry advisor for both MS and PhD dissertations at Texas universities.
The Discovery thinking presentation will focus on the path that Shell exploration followed to pursue the Norphlet aeolian sandstone play, culminating in the discovery of the giant Appomattox oil field. Ted will outline the onshore Norphlet play which was developed during the 1970’s and 80’s. Extending the Norphlet play into deep-water, is where the journey began in early 1999 with forming of the team. At that time, there were no wells penetrated the Norphlet. There was an upcoming lease sale to be held in late 2001 (sale #181) and the team was chartered to evaluate its potential for participation. Only one previous lease sale some 11 years earlier had no Mesozoic wells drilled. Results of sale 181 were very successful for Shell. Shell acquired lease blocks containing Mesozoic structures. Two years later, in 2003, prospect Shiloh was selected as the first well to be drilled. Prospect Shiloh targeted three vertically stacked Jurassic objectives in a large dip closure. In that well, only the Norphlet target found a small oil accumulation, which then focused the attention exclusively on that play. Technical findings in the well did have similarities with the onshore play, but also had some different observations that would prove key to understanding the offshore play segment. Shell then drilled 4 more wells resulting in either finding small oil or finding completely dry holes before finally making the Appomattox discovery on the sixth well. The learnings from each well were be evaluated and then re-evaluated after each subsequent well, to ensure all evaluations were consistent between wells. These learnings developed into what defined three critical success factors required for making successful exploration. Several organizational or team lessons will also be shared. Examples of these lessons were making detailed well documentation and sharing all results; keeping a critical mass of a core team over a 10-year period; a team of technical staff having a range of different background skills; and seeking specialized help when needed. Lastly, what was most critical to making the play happen, was having a management team with a technical understanding to ask probing questions and back team recommendations. Shell was the only company in the industry to drill the only wells to evaluate the play with costly wells and no commercial discoveries. Shells commitment to the play came through because management fully understood the technical results. They could see the progressive understanding of the play and had the confidence to drill through tough times toward a bright success.
Ted has published works on various subjects such as Mississippian aged turbidites and chert/novaculite formations in Arkansas; Tertiary turbidite stratigraphic traps in the Gulf of Mexico and more recently, on the Jurassic Norphlet aeolian sandstones. Ted has participated in AAPG’s Imperial Barrel programs as both an industry mentor and finalist judge. He also has been a committee member as an industry advisor for both MS and PhD dissertations at Texas universities.
The Discovery thinking presentation will focus on the path that Shell exploration followed to pursue the Norphlet aeolian sandstone play, culminating in the discovery of the giant Appomattox oil field. Ted will outline the onshore Norphlet play which was developed during the 1970’s and 80’s. Extending the Norphlet play into deep-water, is where the journey began in early 1999 with forming of the team. At that time, there were no wells penetrated the Norphlet. There was an upcoming lease sale to be held in late 2001 (sale #181) and the team was chartered to evaluate its potential for participation. Only one previous lease sale some 11 years earlier had no Mesozoic wells drilled. Results of sale 181 were very successful for Shell. Shell acquired lease blocks containing Mesozoic structures. Two years later, in 2003, prospect Shiloh was selected as the first well to be drilled. Prospect Shiloh targeted three vertically stacked Jurassic objectives in a large dip closure. In that well, only the Norphlet target found a small oil accumulation, which then focused the attention exclusively on that play. Technical findings in the well did have similarities with the onshore play, but also had some different observations that would prove key to understanding the offshore play segment. Shell then drilled 4 more wells resulting in either finding small oil or finding completely dry holes before finally making the Appomattox discovery on the sixth well. The learnings from each well were be evaluated and then re-evaluated after each subsequent well, to ensure all evaluations were consistent between wells. These learnings developed into what defined three critical success factors required for making successful exploration. Several organizational or team lessons will also be shared. Examples of these lessons were making detailed well documentation and sharing all results; keeping a critical mass of a core team over a 10-year period; a team of technical staff having a range of different background skills; and seeking specialized help when needed. Lastly, what was most critical to making the play happen, was having a management team with a technical understanding to ask probing questions and back team recommendations. Shell was the only company in the industry to drill the only wells to evaluate the play with costly wells and no commercial discoveries. Shells commitment to the play came through because management fully understood the technical results. They could see the progressive understanding of the play and had the confidence to drill through tough times toward a bright success.
Ted Godo
Consultant – Geodog Exploration