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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Hydrate resource assessment of the North Slope of Alaska: Technical note

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6788666

This study was initiated to assess the gas hydrate potential of Alaska's North Slope. All current data for wells existing between depths of 300 and 5000 feet in the Petroleum Information, Inc., North Slope Well File (NSWF) were used; 96 wells of the 668 wells in the NSWF fit this requirement. The data included gamma ray, SP, resistivity, sonic, caliper, and temperature logs; lithological sections and drill core analyses that were correlated to seismic sections; sand shale ratio maps; and permafrost structure and hydrocarbon source-rock analyses. The areas identified as containing possible hydrate deposits are Point Barrow, Kuparuk River, Prudhoe Bay Field, Cape Simpson, and Cape Thompson. Based on the work completed to determine the gas potential in-place and based on the geology and reservoir characteristics of the rocks in the hydrate stability zone (HSZ), it is estimated that a significant volume of gas hydrates may exist in the Tertiary-age Saganvanirktok Formation, and the Cretaceous-age Colville and Nanushuk groups. 7 refs., 16 figs.

Research Organization:
USDOE Morgantown Energy Technology Center, WV
OSTI ID:
6788666
Report Number(s):
DOE/METC-86/4069; ON: DE86006594
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English