Gas potential of new Albany shale (Devonian-Mississippian) in the Illinois Basin
- Indiana Geological Survey, Bloomington, IN (United States)
- Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, IL (United States)
- Kentucky Geological Survey, Lexington, KY (United States)
A study to update and evaluate publicly available data relating to present and potential gas production from New Albany Shale in the Illinois basin was conducted cooperatively by the Indiana. Illinois, and Kentucky geological surveys (Illinois Basin Consortium), and was partially funded by the Gas Research Institute. Deliverables included a plate of stratigraphic cross sections and six basin-wide maps at a scale of 1:1,000,000. The New Albany Shale is an organic-rich brownish black shale present throughout the Illinois basin. Gas potential of the New Albany Shale may be great because it contains an estimated 86 tcf of natural gas and has produced modest volumes since 1858 from more than 60 fields, mostly in the southeastern part of the basin. Reservoir beds include organic-rich shales of the Grassy Creek (Shale), Clegg Creek, and Blocher (Shale) members. Limited geologic and carbon isotope data indicate that the gas is indigenous and thermogenic. T[sub max] data suggest that the gas generation begins at R[sub o] values of 0.53% and may begin at R[sub 0] values as low as 0.41% in some beds. New Albany Shale reservoirs contain both free gas in open-pore space and gas adsorbed on clay and kerogen surfaces. Natural fracturing is essential for effective reservoir permeability. Fractures are most common near structures such as faults, flexures, and buried carbonate banks. Based on limited data, fractures and joints have preferred orientations of 45-225[degrees] and 135-315[degrees]. Commercial production requires well stimulation to connect the well bore with the natural fracture system and to prop open pressure-sensitive near-borehole fractures. Current stimulations employ hydraulic fracture treatments using nitrogen and foam, with sand as a propping agent.
- OSTI ID:
- 7054557
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-930981-; CODEN: AABUD2
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Vol. 77:8; Conference: Eastern Section meeting of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists: eastern energy, environment and education for the 21st century, Williamsburg, VA (United States), 19-21 Sep 1993; ISSN 0149-1423
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC SURVEYS
CLAYS
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
ILLINOIS BASIN
KEROGEN
PERMEABILITY
PRODUCTION
SHALES
STRATIGRAPHY
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
MATERIALS
MATTER
MINERAL RESOURCES
ORGANIC MATTER
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SURVEYS
030200* - Natural Gas- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration