Updates to the U.S. Energy Information Administration Shale and Tight Formation Play Maps

Abstract

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is updating the index map for the North American shale plays and maps of the individual shale gas and tight oil plays of the lower 48 states, using publically available geologic data and a commercial well-level database (Drilling Info Inc.). Updates to the North American shale play map include revised play boundaries for the Eagle Ford and plays within the Permian Basin, Williston Basin and Appalachian Basin. Thematic maps on production trends from the Eagle Ford, Permian, and Bakken plays were recently published by EIA in Today in Energy articles. A more complete series of maps for individual plays will be posted to the EIA Maps webpage. Maps for the Marcellus, Utica, and Niobrara are under construction and additional maps are planned for the remaining major shale and tight oil plays for which sufficient well, production, and geologic data are available. For the individual plays, the geologic elements characterized and updated include contoured elevation of the top of formation, isopach, major structures and tectonic features, play boundaries, well locations, and gas-to oil ratios of producing wells. Additional map layers will be added as additional geologic data becomes available.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90216 ©2015 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Denver, CO., May 31 - June 3, 2015