Characterization of the Structural–Stratigraphic and Reservoir Controls on the Occurrence of Gas Hydrates in the Eileen Gas Hydrate Trend, Alaska North Slope

Zyrianova, Margarita; Collett, Timothy; Boswell, Ray

doi:10.3390/jmse12030472

Title: Characterization of the Structural–Stratigraphic and Reservoir Controls on the Occurrence of Gas Hydrates in the Eileen Gas Hydrate Trend, Alaska North Slope

Journal Article · 09 March 2024 · Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12030472 · OSTI ID:2327006

Zyrianova, Margarita ^[1];

^[1]; Boswell, Ray ^[2]

US Geological Survey, Denver, CO (United States)
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA (United States)

One of the most studied permafrost-associated gas hydrate accumulations in Arctic Alaska is the Eileen Gas Hydrate Trend. This study provides a detailed re-examination of the Eileen Gas Hydrate Trend with a focus on the gas hydrate accumulation in the western part of the Prudhoe Bay Unit. This integrated analysis of downhole well log data and published geophysical data has provided new insight on structural, stratigraphic, and reservoir controls on the occurrence of gas hydrates in the Eileen Gas Hydrate Trend. This study revealed the relatively complex nature of the gas hydrate occurrences in the Eileen Gas Hydrate Trend, with gas hydrates present in a series of coarsening upward, laterally pervasive, mostly fine-grained sand beds exhibiting high gas hydrate saturations. Most of the gas hydrate-bearing reservoirs in the Eileen Gas Hydrate Trend are laterally segmented into distinct northwest- to southeast-trending fault blocks, occur in a combination of structural–stratigraphic traps, and are only partially hydrate filled with distinct down-dip water contacts. These findings suggest that the traditional parts of a petroleum system (i.e., reservoir, gas source, gas migration, and geologic timing of the system formation) also control the occurrence of gas hydrates in the Eileen Gas Hydrate Trend.

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Research Organization:: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE); U.S. Bureau of Land Management; US Geological Survey (USGS)

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0022898

OSTI ID:: 2327006

Journal Information:: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 12; ISSN 2077-1312

Publisher:: MDPICopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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