Gas Hydrate Research and Stratigraphic Test Results, Milne Point Unit, Alaska North Slope

Robert B. Hunter¹, Scott A. Digert², Ray Boswell³, and Timothy S. Collett^4
1E & P Technology, ASRC Energy Services, Anchorage, AK
²BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc., Anchorage, AK
³National Energy Technology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Morgantown, WV
⁴U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO

This BP-DOE collaborative research project is helping determine whether or not gas hydrate can become a technically and economically recoverable gas resource. Reservoir characterization, development modeling, and associated studies indicated that 0-0.34 trillion cubic meters (TCM) gas may be technically recoverable from the 0.92 TCM estimated gas-in-place within the Eileen gas hydrate accumulation on the Alaska North Slope (ANS). Reservoir modeling indicated sufficient potential for technical recovery to justify proceeding into field operations to acquire basic reservoir and fluid data within the Mount Elbert gas hydrate prospect in the Milne Point Unit (MPU). Successful drilling and data acquisition in the Mount Elbert-01 stratigraphic test well was completed during February 3-19, 2007. Acquired data included 131 meters of core (30.5 meters gas hydrate-bearing), extensive wireline logging, and wireline production testing operations using Modular Dynamics Testing (MDT). The stratigraphic test validated the 3D seismic interpretation of the MPU gas hydrate-bearing Mount Elbert prospect. Onsite core subsampling preserved samples for later analyses of interstitial water geochemistry, physical properties, thermal properties, organic geochemistry, petrophysics, and mechanical properties. MDT testing was accomplished within two gas hydrate-bearing intervals and acquired four long shut-in period tests, four gas samples, and one pre-gas hydrate dissociation formation water sample. MDT analyses are helping to improve understanding of gas hydrate dissociation, gas production, formation cooling, and long-term production potential as well as help calibrate reservoir simulation models.

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