Utah Shale Gas: A Developing Resource Play

Steven Schamel
GeoX Consulting Inc, Salt Lake City, UT

In Utah, several organic-rich shale units are in the early stages of natural gas production or are being seriously evaluated for their shale gas potential. Spurred by the availability of appropriate fracture stimulation technology, exploitation of Upper Cretaceous Mancos Shale gas already has begun. At present, Mancos shale gas is being produced from a number of wells in the southern Uinta basin, principally in the Natural Buttes and Flat Rock fields. In all instances, this is “add-on” gas, supplementing production from conventional sandstone reservoirs. Favorable gas tests from Mancos Shale completions, good DSTs, large to very large mud gas readings, and widespread gas shows all demonstrate the strong potential for widespread development of this shale gas reservoir. Whereas most of the good indications and current production are in the upper part of the 3,000-3,800 ft thick Mancos Shale, principally in the Prairie Canyon Member, favorable indications and/or production exists in all of the other shaly and silty units, the Lower Blue Gate, the Juana Lopez and the Tununk Members. The only remaining impediment to expanded development of the Mancos Shale gas resource is determination of operators to complete wells in the formation. Mississippian-Pennsylvanian black shales also are poised to make a significant contribution to natural gas production. In the more thermally mature northern and northeastern Paradox basin, significant gas discoveries recently have been reported from Hermosa Group black shales. In the western Book Cliffs area, several new wells are evaluating the shale gas potential the Manning Canyon (Doughnut) Shale. Prospects are good for strong gas rates from these wells.

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90078©2008 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas