Deep Tuscaloosa gas trend of S. Louisiana

Journal Article · Mon Sep 08 00:00:00 EDT 1980 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6836103

Funkhouser, L W; Bland, F X; Humphris, Jr, C C

Since the first gas discovery in 1975, proven plus potential reserves in the deep Tuscaloosa trend of south Louisiana have reached about 5 trillion CF. The trend covers a band approximately 30 miles wide and 200 miles in length from the Texas state line on the west and extending past Lake Pontchartrain on the east. The objective Tuscaloosa sands are of Upper Cretaceous age, overlain by Eagleford shale and the Austin-Taylor-Navarro chalk section. Underlying the Tuscaloosa sequence are lower Cretaceous carbonates and shales of Lower Cenomanian-Albian age. Seismic resolution of the deep structures below the chalk horizon is the key to successful Tuscaloosa exploration. In some areas along the trend, a major exploration problem is the inability to critically evaluate gas-show zones with electric logs because of the unknown and varying salinities of the formation water in the Tuscaloosa sands. Furthermore, the variable formation pressures encountered while drilling to and through the Tuscaloosa can often lead to lost circulation or blowout problems, pipe sticking, and hole collapse. These difficulties, along with the additional production problems inherent in ultradeep formations, are a major cause of excessively high well costs, which can run up to $15 million for a development well.

• OSTI ID: 6836103
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Vol. 78
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
LOUISIANA
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
EXPLORATION
NATURAL GAS WELLS
WELL DRILLING
COST
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
GEOLOGY
RESERVES
SEISMIC SURVEYS
DRILLING
FEDERAL REGION VI
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MESOZOIC ERA
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCES
SURVEYS
USA
WELLS
030200* - Natural Gas- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing