--> Abstract: Shale Gas Resources of Utah: Assessment of Previously Undeveloped Gas Discoveries; #90063 (2007)

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Shale Gas Resources of Utah: Assessment of Previously Undeveloped Gas Discoveries

 

Schamel, Steven1 (1) GeoX Consulting Inc, Salt Lake City, UT

 

A survey of archived drilling records demonstrates that significant quantities of natural gas have been discovered in the Mancos Shale across a broad area of the southern Uinta basin, northeast Utah. The impediments to previous production of this gas have been unfavorable market conditions and the inadequate fracture stimulation technology employed. Until recently, it was standard practice to use the same light gel, KCL-foam and acid fracture stimulations that were employed in the sandstone reservoir objectives. Undoubtedly, these caused more damage to the shales than if the interval had not been stimulated. 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 development of this shale gas reservoir. Whereas most of the good indications are in the upper part of the 3,000-3,5000 ft thick Mancos Shale, principally in the Prairie Canyon Member, favorable indications are found in all of the other shaly and silty units, the Blue Gate, Juana Lopez and Tununk Members. At present, Mancos shale gas is being produced from a small number of wells in the Flat Rock and Greater Natural Buttes fields. In most instances, this is “add-on” gas, supplementing production from conventional sandstone reservoirs. No wells were identified that adequately tested the shale gas potential of the Hermosa Group black shales in the Paradox basin of Utah, but other indications are good that this also is a potentially large shale gas resource waiting to be discovered and developed.

 

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90063©2007 AAPG Annual Convention, Long Beach, California