Assessment of Undiscovered Technically Recoverable Oil and Gas Resources in the Thomson Sandstone and Kemik Sandstone, ANWR 1002 Area

By

C.J. Schenk and D.W. Houseknecht (U.S. Geological Survey)

The Hauterivian Thomson sandstone (of local usage) and Kemik Sandstone are potential reservoirs in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) 1002 Area. The Thomson sandstone is known to contain hydrocarbons in the Pt. Thomson area where the Thomson sandstone has good to excellent reservoir properties. The Thomson sandstone reservoir facies may extend into the northwestern part of the 1002 Area. The Kemik Sandstone is known from exposures south of the ANWR 1002 Area, where the sandstones are characterized by poor porosity and permeability. The presence of reservoir-quality Kemik Sandstone in the 1002 area is highly uncertain. The Thomson sandstone and the Kemik Sandstone may be present in the 1002 Area as graben-fill deposits, as incised-valley deposits, and as shallow marine sandstones deposited as backstepping-parasequence sets formed during overall transgression. Grabens on the crest and flanks of the Mikkelsen High are interpreted to hold the best potential for undiscovered resources in both the Thomson sandstone and Kemik Sandstone. For undiscovered technically recoverable resources in the 1002 Area, the USGS estimated means of 362 MMBO, 691 BCFG, and 58 MMBNGL in the Thomson sandstone, and 52 MMBO, 129 BCFG, and 10.7 MMBNGL in the Kemik Sandstone.

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.