San Juan Basin contains large reserves of nonassociated gas
Approximately 23 trillion CF of nonassociated gas occurs in the underpressured, low-permeability reservoirs in the essentially structureless low part of the central San Juan basin in northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado. Characteristics and distribution of natural gas and associated hydrocarbons (oil and condensate) for all producing units indicate an increased level of maturation to the northeast: (1) Pennsylvania production is limited mostly to the Four Corners platform, where oil production changes in a northeasterly direction to isotopically heavy dry gas with H/sub 2/S and CO/sub 2/, (2) hydrocarbon production from the Dakota sandstone displays a northeast change from oil to wet gas and condensate to dry gas, (3) the Tocito sandstone Lentil of Mancos shale is a major producer of oil and associated gas in the basin, (4) the Mesaverde contains large quantities of nonassociated gas generated mainly from nonmarine source rocks, and (5) Pictured Cliffs gases (probably derived from associated coalbeds) are isotopically heavier and chemically drier than gases from the underlying Mesaverde group and produced very little condensate. Significant reserves of nonassociated gas remain in the San Juan basin - the primary targets for future exploration will be the coalbeds in the Fruitland formation, channel sandstones and coalbeds in the Menefee formation, and low-permeability sandstones in all units at the north end of the basin.
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Washington, DC
- OSTI ID:
- 6532908
- Journal Information:
- Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 81; ISSN OIGJA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
030100 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves-- (-1989)
030200* -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
COLORADO
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLORATION
FEDERAL REGION VI
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
RESERVES
RESOURCES
USA