A Digital Atlas of Hydrocarbon Accumulations on the North Slope of Alaska

By

N. Kumar (Growth Oil and Gas), K.J. Bird, P.H. Nelson, J.A. Grow (U.S. Geological Survey), and K. Evans (StratiGraphix)

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has been carrying out assessments of Alaskan North Slope hydrocarbon potential for almost thirty years. Recent Survey assessments include those of the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (1998) and the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPRA) (2002). New data and concepts make periodic assessments necessary. For example, the Alpine field (projected recoverable reserves of almost 500 million barrels) was made in 1994 along the eastern boundary of the NPRA. This field produces from a formation heretofore considered to be mostly a source rock. The Alpine discovery necessitated a reassessment of the NPRA.

As part of these assessments, we have initiated a compilation of stratigraphic, structural, petrophysical and seismic data (if available) related to hydrocarbon accumulations on the North Slope. The goal is to provide basic documentation and a set of analog accumulations for these assessments. A typical compilation includes a structure-contour map on the reservoir horizon, a log display of the discovery well; one or two seismic lines across the accumulation, and reservoir characteristics along with figures for recoverable volumes. All the data have been derived from public sources, primarily Alaska state agencies and USGS files. Very little of the information is available in published literature.

A pilot compilation for 19 accumulations in and around the NPRA, containing almost 70 illustrations has been completed. This compilation is accessible through the “GEO-Data Explorer” (http:// geode.usgs.gov) for viewing in “html” or it can be downloaded as a portable document format (pdf) file. Eventually, all of the accumulations (approximately fifty) on the North Slope of Alaska will be included in the atlas.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90008©2002 AAPG Pacific Section/SPE Western Region Joint Conference of Geoscientists and Petroleum Engineers, Anchorage, Alaska, May 18–23, 2002.