Assessment of in-place solution methane in tertiary sandstones: Texas Gulf Coast

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6282303

Gregory, A R; Dodge, M M; Posey, J S; Morton, R A

The higher prices obtained for commercial natural gas in recent years have stimulated interest in methane-saturated formation waters of sandstone reservoirs in the Texas Gulf Coast as a potential alternative source of energy. The objective of this project was to appraise the total volume of in-place methane dissolved in formation waters of deep sandstone reservoirs of the onshore Texas Gulf Coast within the stratigraphic section extending from the base of significant hydrocarbon production (8000 ft) to the deepest significant sandstone occurrence. Factors that must be evaluated to determine the total methane resource are reservoir bulk volume, porosity, and methane solubility. The latter is controlled by the temperature, pressure, and salinity of formation waters. Regional assessment of the volume and distribution of potential sandstone reservoirs was made from a data base of 880 electrical well logs, from which a grid of 24 structural dip cross sections and 4 strike cross sections was constructed. These cross sections extend from near the Wilcox outcrop to the coastline. Reservoir bulk volume was determined by mapping the structural and stratigraphic framework of Tertiary sandstone units. Structural and stratigraphic boundaries were used to divide the Texas Gulf Coast into 24 subdivisions. Methane content in each of nine formations or divisions of formations was determined for each subdivision. The total in-place methane for Tertiary sandstones below 8000 ft in the Texas Gulf Coast was found to be 690 TCF./sup 2/ The total in-place methane for effective Tertiary sandstones (sandstone units greater than 30 ft thick) below 8000 ft was 325 TCF.

• Research Organization: Texas Univ., Austin (USA). Bureau of Economic Geology
• DOE Contract Number: AC08-78ET11397
• OSTI ID: 6282303
• Report Number(s): CONF-811026-4; ON: DE81029772
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030200* -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ALKANES
COASTAL REGIONS
ELECTRIC LOGGING
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GULF COAST
Geothermal
HYDROCARBONS
MAPS
METHANE
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SOUTHWEST REGION
TEXAS
USA
WELL LOGGING