Western Gas Sands Subprogram
The Western Gas Sands Subprogram (WGSS) is a multidisciplinary research effort within the US Department of Energy program on Unconventional Gas Recovery. The subprogram, managed by DOE's Morgantown Energy Technology Center, is directed towards the development of tight (very low permeability) lenticular gas sands in the western United States. The purpose of the subprogram is to demonstrate the feasibility of economically producing natural gas from low-permeability reservoirs. The subprogram has two broad goals: (1) to reduce the uncertainty of the reservoir production potential and (2) to improve the extraction technology. With input from the gas industry, universities, and geologic and engineering consulting firms, the WGSS was broadened to include more fundamental research and development. Consequently, for the last five years it has focused on improving diagnostic instrumentation, geophysical and engineering interpretation, and stimulation techniques. Integrated geologic studies of the three priority basins containing tight sands and selected by DOE as research targets have also been pursued as part of this new effort. To date, the following tentative conclusions have evolved: Permeability of the tight gas sands can be as much as three to four orders of magnitude lower than conventional gas deposits. Nineteen western geologic basins and trends containing significant amounts of tight gas have been identified. Gas resources in the priority geologic basins are Piceance Basin, 49 tcf., Uinta Basin, 20 tcf., and Greater Green River Basin, 136 tcf. The presence of natural micro-fractures within the production zone of a reservoir and the effective propped length of hydraulically-induced fractures are the critical parameters for successful development of tight sand resources. 8 figures.
- Research Organization:
- USDOE Morgantown Energy Technology Center, WV
- OSTI ID:
- 7080528
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/METC/SP-204; ON: DE84003098
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
030200* -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
030900 -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
COLORADO
COMMINUTION
COORDINATED RESEARCH PROGRAMS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FRACTURING
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGY
GREEN RIVER FORMATION
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
PERMEABILITY
PICEANCE CREEK
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
RESOURCES
RIVERS
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
UINTA BASIN
USA
UTAH