Central North Dakota Shallow Gas Potential A Historical Perspective

Transcription

1 Central Shallow Gas Potential A Historical Perspective David W. Fischer Fischer Oil and Gas, Inc. Fred J. Anderson Department

2 CURRENT ND ACTIVITIES ONLINE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SHALLOW GAS REFERENCES ONLINE DATABASE OF SHALLOW NATURAL GAS OCCURRENCES IN NORTH DAKOTA CRETACEOUS STRATIGRAPHY AND STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY RELATIONSHIPS OF SHALLOW GAS OCCURRENCE AND GROUND-WATER GEOCHEMISTRY Department

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4 LaMoure County Gas Producing Area 1892 gas production was reported near Edgeley ND Production was a byproduct, associated artesian water flow from a Cretaceous sandstone Department

5 Sufficient gas was produced to supply ranches, farms and at least one municipality with a quality source of energy. Problem with the corrosive nature of water. Department

6 Cretaceous Newcastle fm (Muddy equivalent). Sandstone from approx depth. Early flow rates (gas) unknown. Later flow rates (gas) up to 20 gallons/hr. Gas was dissolved in water and production proportionate to water flow rates. RESERVOIR Department

7 No analysis available. Primarily methane (Hard 1923) GAS Department

8 It is the equal of gas selling in many cities up to $1.50 per 1000 feet. The free escape of all gas into the air seems inexcusable in this region of excessively high priced fuels. Hard (1923) Gas production declined and finally ended with continued mismanagement and exploitation of the NewCastle water resource. Department

9 Souris River Gas Producing Area 1907 gas discovered 9 miles south of Westhope Gas production associated with artesian water flow from glacial sediments Department

10 BOTTINEAU GAS FIELD DISCOVERY WELL: Great Northern Oil-Gas-Pipeline Company Parker farm: 9 miles south of Westhope Department

11 BOTTINEAU GAS FIELD: DISCOVERY Clastic reservoir -sand in glacial outwash Associated with artesian water flow Depth: psi* Flowed 2,000,000 cfgpd* *After Barry 1908 Department

12 RESERVOIR Reservoir thick* Sand; medium to fine grained, rounded, and of a greenish black color, due to an admixture of decomposing carbonaceous matter. * Found at base of glacial outwash *after Barry 1908 Department

13 Parker farm discovery well: S10-T161N-R80W Reference Log S22-T162N-R81W Department

14 BOTTINEAU GAS FIELD Great Northern Oil Gas & Pipeline Company Purchased additional leases Promoted drilling of wells Department

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16 Sufficient gas was produced to supply some local municipalities and farms. Department

17 Gas Properties* 886 BTU 82.7 % Methane 0.2 % Ethane 12.4 % Nitrogen 0.5 % Hydrogen 1.2 % Carbon Monoxide *After Barry 1908 Department

18 Gas Properties (Contd.) Gas has blue color Gas had an odor similar to that of given off during distillation of lignite Department 14th Williston Basin Petroleum Conference & Prospect Expo

19 Two fields were discovered in a later exploration effort Department

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21 1953 Field Discovery Discovered in 1953 S21-T161N-R84W Depth: Initial production:70,000 cfgpd ¾ choke; FTP 80 psi; SIP 106 psi 5 nonproducing offsets Water productive/ loss of sand? Department

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23 Maxbass Field Discovered in 1957 S35-T161N-R81W Initial potential 10,000 cfgpd Open hole completion: FTP not reported SIP 77 psi Department

24 Maxbass Field No offsets Cum: 598,000 cfg w/no water in 10 months of production Department

25 Production History Department

26 Production declined and ended with water reservoir development and reservoir pressure decline There has been no recent exploration effort Department

27 REGIONAL GEOLOGY Department

28 -located in glaciated portion of ND Department

29 -within boundary of Glacial Lake Souris Department

30 -structural control? Department

31 Rapid Variation in Stratigraphy Department

32 Parker farm reference Log Note well developed sand section at base of well Trapped by overlying glacial clay Reference to carbonaceous sediments Department

33 Approx. 1 mile away Basal sand missing Department

34 At present there have been are 2 theories put forward for a source for the gas. Department

35 SOURCE : GLACIAL OUTWASH Organic materials from Lake Souris Department

36 SOURCE : MIGRATED Leakage from belowalong pre-existing zones of weakness Thin zones of organics in Hell Creek & Fox Hills Department

37 Natural Gas Production from Glacial Outwash in North Central More questions than conclusions additional work/data/wells to understand controlling factors. - when was the gas generated? - is structure needed? - how important is stratigraphy? - water chemisty? - is there still potential for economic production? Department

38 CONTACT INFORMATION Fred Anderson, NDGS, 600 East Boulevard Avenue Bismarck, ND (701) David W. Fischer, Fischer Oil and Gas, Inc., rd Street South, Grand Forks,, (701) Department

39 NORTH DAKOTA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Department and Division Main Offices Street Address: 1016 E. Calgary Ave., Bismarck ND Mailing Address: 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck ND Telephone: (701) FAX: (701) The Wilson M. Laird Core & Sample Library Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8am-12pm and 1pm - 5pm Paleontology Lab P.O. Box 8156 University Station Grand Forks, ND Telephone: (701) FAX: (701) Street Address: 612 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND Mailing Address: 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck ND Telephone: (701) FAX: (701) Contact: fjanderson@nd.gov Department