Oil and gas source rocks in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska
To support the programs of exploratory drilling and resource assessment in the NPRA, a study of petroleum geochemistry and source-rock geochemistry was initiated in 1977. Two important decisions were made at the beginning of this study. First, the large numbers of samples to be analyzed during the period 1977-82 could not be processed in USGS laboratories without a major impact on ongoing research programs. Accordingly, the authors designed an analytical program, developed specifications, and awarded a contract for the geochemical analyses to Geochem Research, Inc., of Houston, Tex., as prime contractor and Global Geochemistry Corp. of Canoga Park, Calif., as subcontractor. Second, the large volume of data that would be created by analyzing samples from all the wells in the NPRA made it imperative to use a computer to store, retrieve, and graphically display these data. Data processing was carried out by Petroleum Information, Inc., of Denver, Colo., under an existing contract with the USGS. The objectives of this source-rock study in the NPRA were somewhat broader than required to meet the immediate needs of the petroleum exploration program. These objectives were as follows: 1. To provide rapid evaluation of wells then being drilled and of subsequent wells with respect to interpretation of thermal maturity, possible source-rock intervals, and presence of migrated hydrocarbons; 2. To provide geochemical data for more accurate petroleum-resource assessment; 3. To interrelate with the support the research program on the origin of petroleum conducted within the USGS; and 4. To evaluate the suitability of obtaining geochemical analyses by contract from commercial laboratories to support applied and basic research programs of the USGS. This report is a summary of the geochemical data obtained on rock samples collected from 63 boreholes drilled in and adjacent to the NPRA.
- OSTI ID:
- 7128933
- Journal Information:
- United States Geological Survey, Professional Paper; (USA), Journal Name: United States Geological Survey, Professional Paper; (USA)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
U.S. Geological Survey environmental geochemistry research in the Rocky Mountain region
Organic geochemistry, hydrocarbon occurrence, and stratigraphy of government-drilled wells, North Slope, Alaska
Related Subjects
ALASKA
STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE
RESERVOIR ROCK
GEOCHEMISTRY
SOURCE ROCKS
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
BOREHOLES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COMPUTERS
DATA ANALYSIS
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
DATA PROCESSING
DRILL CORES
EXPLORATION
EXPLORATORY WELLS
MATURATION
NATURAL GAS
PETROLEUM
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
CAVITIES
CHEMISTRY
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION X
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
MANAGEMENT
NORTH AMERICA
PROCESSING
RESERVES
RESOURCES
SURVEYS
USA
WELLS
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
023000 - Petroleum- Properties & Composition