Geology of the Ferron Sandstone coalbed gas [open quotes]fairway,[close quotes] central Utah

Conference · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996 · AAPG Bulletin

OSTI ID:6577177

Tabet, D E; Hucka, B P; Sommer, S N ^[1]

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1. Utah Geological Survey, Salt Lake City, UT (United States)

A major new coalbed gas play with as many as 1,000 wells already proposed is being developed in the Upper Cretaceous Ferron Sandstone of central Utah. The Ferron consists of a vertically stacked sequence of as many as seven fluvial-deltaic sandstones and laterally equivalent interdistributary coal swamp units. A new total-net-coal isopach map for the Ferron, compiled from the review of hundreds of well records, shows the greatest accumulation of coal generally occurs in a 6-to 10-mile-wide band, or fairway, directly to the west (landward) of the fluvial-deltaic sandstones. This fairway can be traced a distance of at least 80 miles, heading southwest from the vicinity of Price to the southeast corner of Sevier County. The fairway is interrupted roughly every 8-to-12 miles along its length by deltaic, distributary-channel systems. Well samples of Ferron coal were examined microscopically to determine vitrinite reflectance and maturity level. Near-surface coals, on the east side of the fairway, have vitrinite reflectance measurements as low as 0.5 percent. Reflectance values increase to the west, reaching a maximum of 0.71 percent. The maturity of coals with vitrinite reflectance readings between 0.5 and 0.71 percent is the early stage in which thermogenic methane generation begins. Examination of drill-hole data also shows that the coal fairway exists at shallow to moderate depths, ranging from surface exposures to 8,000 feet deep.

• OSTI ID: 6577177
• Report Number(s): CONF-960527-; CODEN: AABUD2
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin, Vol. 5; Conference: Annual convention of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Inc. and the Society for Sedimentary Geology: global exploration and geotechnology, San Diego, CA (United States), 19-22 May 1996; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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03 NATURAL GAS
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EXPLORATION
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COAL DEPOSITS
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ALKANES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
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HYDROCARBONS
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ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
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011000* - Coal
Lignite
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030200 - Natural Gas- Reserves
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& Exploration