Geological strategy for identifying areas of higher gas production potential in the Devonian shales of the Appalachian basin. Topical report, August 1988-September 1990

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:7009628

Lowry, P H; Hamilton-Smith, T; Brown, R W

Gas in the Devonian shale sequence resides in fine pores, natural fractures, and adsorbed to kerogen in a complex structural and stratigraphic system. Deliverability of gas depends largely on the presence of natural fractures although matrix permeability is locally significant. The geological factors that controlled reservoir development are: (1) accretion of Grenville terrances to form the basement; (2) Iapetean rifting which formed the Rome Trough; and (3) combined effects of hydrocarbon generation, stresses, and basement fault reactivation during the Alleghenian orogeny. Structures in the basement have, through periodic reactivation, locally influenced sedimentation and have formed structures and related fracturing in the Paleozoic section. Sedimentation in the shale basin, dominated by the Catskill delta complex on the east, resulted in reservoir-prone lithologies including proximal siltstones and organic-rich shales in the central and western portions of the basin. Productive trends can be predicted in areas with high natural fracture density including those of abundant thermally mature organic matter near the Alleghenian thrust front and along basement structures which show evidence of reactivation. A geologic model incorporating these geologic factors can aid in identifying areas of higher gas production potential. Exploration success must ultimately be a statistical measurement based on numerous wells in an area.

• Research Organization: K and A Energy Consultants, Inc., Tulsa, OK (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7009628
• Report Number(s): PB-93-120657/XAB; CNN: GRI-5087-213-1617-A
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030200* -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
APPALACHIAN BASIN
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
DENSITY
DEVONIAN PERIOD
FLUIDS
FORECASTING
FRACTURED RESERVOIRS
GASES
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGIC SURVEYS
GEOLOGY
KEROGEN
MATERIALS
MATTER
NATURAL GAS WELLS
ORGANIC MATTER
PALEOZOIC ERA
PERMEABILITY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PRODUCTION
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEDIMENTATION
SHALE GAS
SHALES
SILTSTONES
STRATIGRAPHY
STRESSES
SURVEYS
TECTONICS
WELLS