Spring has sprung! In this edition of our quarterly newsletter we're previewing some fresh content and services to help you plant and grow your energy projects. 

Inside, you'll find:

• Our latest 3D prints and models
• Members' Announcements
• Updates to log digitization
• Video releases for 2025
• News from the core lab
• Updates to the digital sample collection
• Monthly drilling report
• and more!

Ontario Models Around the World

by Jordan

Members' Announcements

by OGSR Library

Explore Ontario’s Growing Collection of Geophysical Logs

by Connor

Core Lab Support

by Brian

Now Serving Custom Sample Photos

by Melissa

Monthly Drilling Report

by OGSR Library

Ontario Models Around the World

by Jordan

Our 3D printed and digital models of Ontario’s Paleozoic geology are making global impressions! The interactive digital model, created in partnership with The Polish Geological Institute, was showcased by Małolepszy Zbigniew (Ziggy) at the 7th European Meeting on 3D Geological Modelling and is now available to explore online at geo3d.pgi.gov.pl/Ontario. Meanwhile, our 3D printed version turned heads south of the boarder at GSA 2025 in Erie, PA, thanks to John Johnston from the University of Waterloo —and thanks, John, for the great photo! The six layer model featured in the photo, along with a simplified version are available on the OGSR Library website: https://www.ogsrlibrary.com/3d-models

Members' Announcements

• Member Subsurface Database has been refreshed for all Subsurface subscribers to download: https://www.ogsrlibrary.com/data_free_petroleum_ontario#member-subsurface
• Check your membership status online: https://www.ogsrlibrary.com/account
• Core Analyses Data table has been updated for all members: https://www.ogsrlibrary.com/data_free_petroleum_ontario#member-data

The OGSR Library’s geophysical log and LAS dataset continues to expand, now featuring over 20,000 logs and more than 4,000 LAS files. There are several ways to find which wells have geophysical data available. An interactive, map-based option is through our Google Earth data layers. By enabling the “Logged Wells” layer, users can visualize wells across SW Ontario that have associated geophysical data in our collection.

Watch this short video to learn how to use our Google Earth layers

If you're looking for a specific well, visit our website and use the Well Search tool. Enter the well’s name or license number, then click the Geophysical Logs tab at the top of the results page.

For non-members, selecting a log brings up a face card preview, showing capture details and log content. Members can view up to ten logs per month, with the option to upgrade for unlimited access.

Want a high-quality copy?

• Full-resolution raster logs are available for $15 each
• LAS files (existing or newly requested) are $25 per curve

Curious about what lies below? Start exploring today with SW Ontario’s source for subsurface geophysical data.

We have some exciting new video releases coming out in 2025, including new videos in the VR format, exciting trips to Cambrian rock outcrops, and a fresh round of EPEX presentations soon to be recorded at the conference taking place at the end of May.

We're putting the finishing touches on our first VR core workshop video Goal! The Cambrian Pitch Box to Box (working title, it has a soccer pitch theme). Starring geologist Ian Colquhoun and based on material he presented at EPEX 2024, the core workshop takes you through a ~100m long section of Cambrian Age rocks to study the features that give these rocks the potential for storage and resources. With all the attention on the Cambrian right now, you won't want to miss this immersive experience. We will have a preview ready to go at the EPEX conference, so come to our table and strap a VR headset on. Our next VR core workshop will focus on new work being done to define the Cambrian and will be based on material that will be presented by geologist Allan Phillips at EPEX 2025.

The OGSR Library will be in Ottawa for GAC-MAC 2025 to display our models for educators. While we're in the area we will have the chance to film and photograph Cambrian rock outcrops. Normally the drive is too far for us to get to in one day, so I'm excited to capture images of these rocks in the real world to add to our archive for future use in our projects.

EPEX 2025 will take place May 27-29, this time with two days of presentations. More speakers this year means more videos! Get hyped for the conference by watching presentations from previous years with this playlist containing 48 videos (and counting!). Hope to see everyone at this year's conference!

NEW VIDEO ALERT!

So, You Suspect You Have an Old Oil or Gas Well on Your Property?

Speaking of EPEX... Our latest video is Jug Manocha's presentation from last year's EPEX conference, recreated at the Library for our YouTube channel. This presentation discusses the important topic of what to do if you have an old oil or gas well on your property.  

Core Lab Support

by Brian

I’m Brian, one of the GIS and Database Assistant at the OGSR Library, I’m also responsible for assisting clients who use the Core Lab- one of our most valuable in-house resources.

Housed within our library, the lab provides an environment for viewing, analyzing, and documenting core material relevant to ongoing exploration, environmental, and academic projects. Whether for resource exploration or scientific study, our Core Lab supports collaborative research by offering access to curated subsurface data.

In addition to providing access to archived core material, our Core Lab also supports core sampling for active projects. This process allows clients to extract sections of core for detailed analysis—whether for thin sectioning, chemical analysis, microscope photography, or isotope testing. Each sample is carefully documented and tracked to maintain the integrity of the collection.

Core sampling is conducted under controlled conditions to minimize disturbance to the original material. Clients can work with staff to select sampling intervals, discuss objectives, and ensure that all handling complies with the lab’s standards. Whether the clients are investigating reservoir properties, stratigraphic features, or conducting comparative research, the Core Lab makes it possible to integrate core data directly into your project workflow.

At the OGSR Library, we’re proud to support our clients through the Core Lab and help them move their research and exploration goals forward.

Student Visits from University of Waterloo & Toronto

We were excited to welcome geology students from the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto for field visits to the library, including an in-depth tour of the Core Lab. These field trips gave students a chance to connect their classroom learning with real-world geological materials, offering hands-on exposure to core samples and subsurface data interpretation.

During their visit, students explored the library’s collection, learned about the role of core analysis in resource development and caverns storage, and got a behind-the-scenes look at how cores are stored, accessed, and sampled. The interactive sessions sparked thoughtful questions and discussion, and we were thrilled to support their academic journey with this unique experience. We look forward to hosting more student groups in the future!

Now Serving Custom Sample Photos

by Melissa

The GIS department of the OGSR library has recently been focusing on fulfilling customer requests and working on our long-term ongoing projects. 

One example of a recent customer request that is available at the OGSR library by its GIS department is custom chip sample photography which differs from our on-going effort to increase the amount of chip sample photos available on our database by allowing the customer to choose the well licence, depth of sample, the amount of photos, the magnification of the photos and if they visit in person the exact placement needed to capture what interests them about the sample. Custom chip sample photography allows the customer to capture high quality photos of the chip sample using a camera attached to a microscope and allows the customer to tailer the photos of the chip sample to their exact needs required by their project.

                  Next when it comes to our long-term ongoing projects the GIS department of the OGSR Library has been recently working on core photogrammetry where we take photos from all sides of a core piece and use those photos to create a virtual model of the core piece before updating it to our database. This allows customers another way to view core pieces online if they can’t visit the library in person and a virtual model they can also use in their projects, making these core pieces more available to the public. Core photogrammetry can also be done on request if a customer wants virtual models of core pieces that haven’t been done yet by our ongoing project.

                  Lastly the OGSR library was recently a host to a school field trip of geology majors who came to visit and check out the resources available at the library. While they were visiting, they got to look at our warehouse full of core pieces and chip samples before they got a close-up view of popular examples. This allowed them to interact with physical examples showing geology concepts that they learned about in class and the types of data sources professionals in the field of geology often interact with in their research.

New Licences Issued

None

New Licences Issued for Existing Wells

None

New Wells TD'd

None

Plugged Wells

Download the MDR (.xlsx)