Potential of infill drilling to increase Devonian shale gas reserves in the Appalachian Basin

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7025470· OSTI ID:7025470

Layne, A. W.

This report presents results of two studies to evaluate the potential of infill drilling as a gas production strategy in the Devonian shales. This case study (Volume 1), completed in West Virginia, compares actual field data with simulations. Infill wells were placed in an existing field in an area of high flow capacity (determined by history matching). Results indicate that 50 percent more gas may be recovered over a 10-year period if infill wells are drilled in the more geologically favorable area of a field. Geologically favorable areas of a field are locations where high permeability and thickness have been calculated through history matching. A simplified economic analysis was performed to determine feasible infill scenarios. A Devonian-gas-shale economics model was used to evaluate the results of both studies. Required gas prices were calculated for a 20 percent rate-of-return on investment for each infill drilling scenario. Results determined that less than 80-acre well spacing was not economically feasible. A reduced number of wells spaced 80 acres or more apart was productive, in agreement with the state-wide study (Volume 2). Accordingly, areas in West Virginia and Kentucky are candidates for infill drilling, but such areas of high flow capacity can only be found through a detailed geologic characterization with history matching. 15 refs., 42 figs., 8 tabs.

• Research Organization: USDOE Morgantown Energy Technology Center, WV (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/FE
• OSTI ID: 7025470
• Report Number(s): DOE/METC-90/4095-Vol.1; ON: DE90000447
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
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& Processing
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040200 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
APPALACHIAN BASIN
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BLACK SHALES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHATTANOOGA FORMATION
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION III
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FLOW
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
MATERIALS
NATURAL GAS
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SHALES
PERMEABILITY
RECOVERY
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SIMULATION
USA
WEST VIRGINIA