February 2008 - Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

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Friday Luncheon Programs – February 1 & 15 The Application of Hydrocarbon System and Play Fairway Analysis for Unconventional Resource Plays: The Case for the Utica Shale Gas Reserves and the Bakken Shale Oil Reserves February 1 By Jay E. Leonard Of the many types of unconventional resource plays, shale oil and shale gas are extremely popular. In the United States, the exploration and development of unconventional resource plays has achieved highly enthusiastic levels. Of the many types of unconventional resource plays, shale oil and shale gas are extremely popular. We are beginning to understand that these plays are more dissimilar then alike. In other words, each shale play does not work like the Barnett and should be studied differently. For unconventional resource shale exploration, it is desirable to identify “sweet spots” or areas that could be drilled early to front load the economics. This talk will address two geologically different situations; the highly mature Appalachian Utica shale gas and the very immature Williston basin Bakken shale oil play. With either, critical factors such as hydrocarbon generation, expulsion and timing coupled with fracture timing and sorption define such “sweet spots”. These factors, combined with reservoir and seal, are used to asses the presence and effectiveness of the play and the play fairway. Luncheon Reservations and Information Luncheons will be held at the Marriott City Center at California and 17th St. Please check the event listing in the lobby for the room. People gather at 11:30 a.m., lunch is served at 12:00 noon, and the speaker presentation begins at about 12:20 p.m. The price of the luncheon is $30.00. Checks should be made payable to RMAG. No reservation is required for the talk only and the cost is $5.00. Please make your reservation prior to 10:30 a.m. on the Wednesday before the luncheon. Please Note: If you make a reservation and do not attend the luncheon, you will be billed for the luncheon. Cancellations are not guaranteed after 10:30 a.m. the Wednesday before the talk. You may send someone in your stead. Call 303-623-5396 Your attendance is welcomed and encouraged. Bring a guest or new member! Vol. 57, No. 2 28 February 2008
Friday Luncheon Programs It is also critical to characterize these plays on a regional scale utilizing both the techniques of Play Fairway Analysis (PFA) coupled with conventional Hydrocarbon System Analysis. The techniques of Hydrocarbon System Analysis along with routine geochemical and geologic analysis provide the spatial input for the PFA. The PFA focuses on the construction of common risk segment maps which indicate the proper relative probability for accumulation. These relative common risk segments maps are combined with measures of the data quantity and confidence to construct absolute probability maps that form the basis for a spatial probability of geologic success (Pg). Finally, the Pg maps are combined with representations of the infrastructure in order to access the probability of commercial success. This talk will illustrate the techniques of Hydrocarbon System Analysis and Play Fairway Analysis with two case studies that led to exploration focus and the acquisition of leases. Hovenweep-Ismay Petroleum System, Blanding Sub-basin of the Paradox Basin, Utah February 15 By Edward B. Coalson, Coyote Oil & Gas Company, LLC, Conifer, Colorado, and Harvey R. DuChene, 2HNK Energy, LLC, Lake City, Colorado Oil and gas in the Blanding sub-basin are produced mainly from upper Ismay (Desmoinesian) carbonate mounds. In this presentation we will cover aspects of the Hovenweep-Ismay (!) petroleum system in the Blanding sub-basin of the Paradox Basin. Regionally, pore fluids in the Ismay and Desert Creek zones of the Paradox Formation follow trends consistent with the type and maturity indicators of organic material, and seem to reflect mainly Laramide burial. Basinward (northeast) of the Blanding sub-basin, Ismay and Desert Creek hydrocarbons are dominantly natural gas with very little mobile water. This part of the basin is currently seeing a play for “resource-type” natural gas accumulations in the Gothic Shale, which we will discuss briefly on the basis of rumor and innuendo. Shelfward (southwest) of the Blanding sub-basin, Ismay and Desert Creek pore fluids consist of oil with associated gas and significant producible water. In the Blanding Basin itself, pore fluids are mainly oil and associated gas, with relatively little mobile formation water. These patterns meet our criteria for a “basin-bottom” system. Oil and gas in the Blanding sub-basin are produced mainly from upper Ismay (Desmoinesian) carbonate mounds. The mounds form linear, subparallel trends; are immediately underlain by thickened sections of Hovenweep Shale; are flanked by thick salina anhydrites; and are immediately overlain by thin upper Ismay sabkha deposits and marine carbonates of the basal Honaker Trail Formation. Correlative, but thinner, marine-shelf upper Ismay carbonates are underlain by thin Hovenweep Shale. Based mainly on mapping of these thickness trends and on serial stratigraphic cross sections, we propose that the anomalously thick, productive upper Ismay Continued on page 30 » OUTCROP 29 www.rmag.org
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February 2008 - Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists

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