N162 The Geology of a Devonian Gas Shale play: A field workshop in the Appalachian Basin (New York and Pennsylvania, USA)
Course Facts
- Course Code:
- N162
- Duration:
- 6 days
- Type:
- Field
- Physical Demand:
- CEU:
- 4.8 Continuing Education Units
- PDH:
- 48 Professional Development Hours
- Certificate:
- Certificate Issued Upon Completion
Summary
The Devonian Catskill Delta complex of the northern Appalachian Basin contains numerous organic-rich ‘black’ shales which serve as source and seal for oil and gas fields in the basin and are prospective reservoirs for unconventional gas plays. This course explores the structural geology of these shales, with a focus on the influence of stratigraphy on their brittle behavior and suitability as unconventional reservoirs.
Duration and Training Method
A six-day field course, starting in Buffalo, NY and ending in Pittsburgh, PA, comprising workshops, outcrop and core instruction augmented with topical lectures. Outcrop observations will be coupled with seismic sections, well logs, organic petrology, geochemistry and case studies. A visit will be made to Penn State University to view Devonian core.
Participants will learn to:
- Analyze the structural setting of the Devonian organic-rich shales within the Catskill Delta complex of the Appalachian Basin.
- Assess the mechanics of basin development, including the roles of compaction, consolidation and stress.
- Evaluate mechanisms for generation of abnormal fluid pressure in basins, including the role of disequilibrium compaction in top seal development and the role of hydrocarbon generation in pressure development.
- Estimate the timing of hydrocarbon maturation and migration in source beds and the impact on joint initiation.
- Evaluate mechanisms of seal leakage by joint propagation, including driving mechanisms for joint growth, velocities of joint propagation and multiple joint driving mechanisms for loss of seal integrity.
- Judge the control of lithology on jointing in a fractured reservoir, including joint interconnectivity and concomitant permeability, joint interaction on propagation, cross cutting relationships in reservoir permeability, source and reservoir rock permeability with time and joint density and spacing as a function of bed thickness.
- Evaluate the development of composite joints.
- Assess relationships between jointing and regional tectonics.
Outcrops of the Catskill Delta complex are found in the deep post-glacial valleys that are exposed on the Appalachian Plateau. The outcrops illustrate the multiphase nature of fl uid pressure generation in a hydrocarbon system within delta complexes at continental margins. This field
trip addresses the following issues concerning the development of hydrocarbon systems within overpressured source and reservoir rocks:
1. Mechanics of basin development
-Compaction
-Consolidation
-Stress in basin development
2. Mechanisms for generation of abnormal fluid pressure in basins
The role of disequilibrium compaction in top seal development
The role of hydrocarbon generation in pressure development
3. The timing of hydrocarbon maturation and migration
-The mechanism for joint initiation during primary migration in source beds
-The mechanism for joint initiation during secondary migration in reservoir beds
4. Mechanisms of seal leakage by joint propagation
-Driving mechanisms for joint growth
-Issues associated with velocity of joint propagation
-Vertical joint growth and horizontal propagation based on surface morphology
-Multiple joint driving mechanisms for loss of seal integrity
5. Control of lithology on jointing in developing a fractured reservoir
-Development of a joint interconnectivity and concomitant permeability
-Joint interaction on propagation
-Cross cutting relationships in reservoir permeability
-The development of source and reservoir rock permeability with time
-Development of joint density and spacing as a function of bed thickness
6. Aspects of pressure compartment geometry
7. The development of composite joints
8. Issues concerning the relationship between jointing and regional tectonics
Itinerary (subject to change)
Day 0:
-Start in Buffalo NY
-Introductory lecture
Day 1:
-Lecture
-Field Stops: Dunkirk, NY
-Silver Creek, NY
-Eighteen Mile Creek, NY
-Sturgeon Point, Hamburg, NY
Overnight in Buffalo NY
Day 2:
-Lecture
-Field Stops: Eighteen Mile Creek, NY
-LeRoy, NY
-Portageville, NY
-Dansville, NY
Overnight in Ithaca NY
Day 3:
-Lecture
-Field Stops: Watkins Glen, NY
-Trumansburg, NY
Overnight in Ithaca NY
Day 4:
-Lecture
-Field Stops: Moonshine Falls, NY
-Union Springs, NY
-Moravia, NY
-Cortland, NY
Overnight in Ithaca NY
Day 5:
-Lecture
-Field Stops: Tioga, PA
-Washingtonville, PA
-Sunbury, PA
-Selinsgrove, PA
-Elimsport, PA
-Antis Fort, PA
Overnight in State College PA
Day 6:
-Lecture
-Core Workshop
-Field stops: Lewistown, PA
-Newton-Hamilton, PA
-Huntingdon, PA
-Frankstown, PA
Overnight in Pittsburgh PA
Day 7:
Travel home
Who should attend
The course is aimed primarily at geoscientists and other technical staff working to understand the role of fractures in unconventional shale gas plays, but should be of interest to all staff working with fractured rocks.
Prerequisites and linking courses
Familiarity with shale gas plays, as presented in M082 (Appraising and Developing Unconventional Reservoirs), would be an advantage but is not essential. Nautilus Training Alliance courses that address structural topics of resource plays at a Skilled Application level include N134 (Carbonate and Shale Faulting and Fracturing Field Seminar, Texas, USA), N231 (Understanding, Evaluating and Managing Fractured Reservoirswith Core Workshop) and N266 (Stress and Geomechanical Analyses, Texas, USA). Additional classes on shale plays are N206 (Seismic Tools for Unconventional Reservoirs), N271 (The Bakken/Sappington/Three Forks Resource Play, Montana, USA), and N287 (Exploiting Clastic Resource Plays in Fluvial through Shallow Marine Environments, Alberta, Canada). Related courses on the engineering program include N944 (Shale Gas and Shale Oil Completions Using Multi-Staged Fracturing and Horizontal Wells) and N957 (Forecasting Production and Estimating Reserves in Unconventional Reservoirs).
Dates for this Course
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