Synthesis of organic geochemical data from the Eastern Gas Shales

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5265316

Zielinski, R. E.; McIver, R. D.

Over 2400 core and cuttings samples of Upper Devonian shales from wells in the Appalachian, Illinois, and Michigan Basins have been characterized by organic geochemical methods to provide a basis for accelerating the exploitation of this unconventional, gas-rich resource. This work was part of a program initiated to provide industry with criteria for locating the best areas for future drilling and for the development of stimulation methods that will make recovery of the resource economically attractive. The geochemical assessment shows that the shale, in much of the Appalachian, Illinois, and Michigan Basins is source rock that is capable of generating enormous quantities of gas. In some areas the shales are also capable of generating large quantities of oil as well. The limiting factors preventing these sources from realizing most of their potential are their very low permeabilities and the paucity of potential reservoir rocks. This geochemical data synthesis gives direction to future selection of sites for stimulation research projects in the Appalachian Basin by pinpointing those areas where the greatest volumes of gas are contained in the shale matrix. Another accomplishment of the geochemical data synthesis is a new estimate of the total resource of the Appalachian Basin. The new estimate of 2500 TCF is 25 percent greater than the highest previous estimates. This gives greater incentive to government and industry to continue the search for improved stimulation methods, as well as for improved methods for locating the sites where those improved stimulation methods can be most effectively applied.

• Research Organization: Mound Facility, Miamisburg, OH (USA); McIver Consultants International, Houston, TX (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00053
• OSTI ID: 5265316
• Report Number(s): MLM-2917; CONF-820524-6; ON: DE82009969
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030200* -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040201 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Site Geology-- (-1989)
APPALACHIA
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BLACK SHALES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHATTANOOGA FORMATION
DEVONIAN PERIOD
DRILL CORES
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLORATION
FEDERAL REGION II
FEDERAL REGION III
FEDERAL REGION IV
FEDERAL REGION V
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
KENTUCKY
MATERIALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NEW YORK
NORTH AMERICA
OHIO
OIL SHALES
PALEOZOIC ERA
PENNSYLVANIA
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
RESOURCES
SURVEYS
TENNESSEE
USA
VIRGINIA
WEST VIRGINIA