Estimation of kerogen porosity in source rocks as a function of thermal transformation: Example from the Mowry Shale in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming

AAPG Bulletin

Volumn 96, Issue 1, 2012, Pages 87-108

  Modica, Christopher J ^a   Lapierre, Scott G ^a  

^a Pioneer Natural Resources   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

DIGITAL STORAGE; HYDROCARBONS; KEROGEN; LINEAR TRANSFORMATIONS; MINERALS; OIL SHALE; SHALE; WATERSHEDS;

MASS-BALANCE CALCULATIONS; MOBILITY NETWORKS; POROSITY DEVELOPMENT; POWDER RIVER BASIN; STORAGE CAPACITY; SURFACE CONDITIONS; THERMAL MATURATION; THERMAL TRANSFORMATIONS;

POROSITY;

ALBIAN; ESTIMATION METHOD; KEROGEN; MASS BALANCE; MOBILITY; MUDSTONE; POROSITY; RIVER BASIN; SHALE; SOURCE ROCK; THERMAL ALTERATION; THERMAL DECOMPOSITION;

POWDER BASIN; UNITED STATES; WYOMING;

EID: 84857328096     PISSN: 01491423     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1306/04111110201     Document Type: Article

References (67)

1. Anna, O. L., 2009, Geologic assessment of undiscovered oil and gas in the Powder River Basin province, Wyoming and Montana: U. S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-69-U, 93 p.
2. Baskin, D. K., 1997, Atomic H/C ratio of kerogen as an estimate of thermal maturity and organic matter conversion: AAPG Bulletin, v. 81, no. 9, p. 1437-1450. (Pubitemid 28282086)
3. Berg, R. R., 1976, Trapping mechanisms for oil in Lower Cretaceous Muddy Sandstone at Recluse field, Wyoming, in 28th Annual Field Conference, Wyoming Geological Association Guidebook, p. 261-272.
4. Bhattacharya, J. P., and B. J. Willis, 2001, Lowstand deltas in the Frontier Formation, Wyoming: Implications for sequencestratigraphic models: AAPG Bulletin, v. 85, no. 2, p. 261-294. (Pubitemid 32258887)
5. Bordenave, M. L., 1993, The sedimentation of organic matter, in M. L. Bordenave, ed., Applied petroleum geochemistry: Paris, France, Editions Technip, p. 15-76.
6. Bordenave, M. L., J. Espitalie, P. Leplat, J. L. Oudin, and M. Vandenbroucke, 1993, Screening techniques for source rock evaluation, in M. L. Bordenave, ed., Applied petroleum geochemistry: Paris, France, Editions Technip, p. 217-278.
7. Byers, C. W., and D. W. Larson, 1979, Paleoenvironments of Mowry Shale (Lower Cretaceous), western and central Wyoming: AAPG Bulletin, v. 63, no. 3, p. 354-375.
8. Catuneanu, O., C. Beaumont, and P. Waschbusch, 1997, Interplay of static loads and subduction dynamics in foreland basins: Reciprocal stratigraphies and the "missing" peripheral bulge: Geology, v. 25, no. 12, p. 1087-1090, doi:10.1130/0091-7613 (1997) 025 <1087:IOSLAS>2.3. CO;2.
9. Cobban, W. A., 1993, Diversity and distribution of Late Cretaceous ammonites, Western Interior, United States, in W. G. E. Caldwell and E. G. Kauffman, eds., Evolution of the Western Interior Basin: Geological Association of Canada Special Paper 39, p. 435-451.
10. Cornford, C., 1984, Source rocks and hydrocarbons of the North Sea, in K. W. Glennie, ed., Introduction to the petroleum geology of the North Sea: Oxford, Blackwell Science Publications, p. 294-361.
11. Cornford, C., P. Gardner, and C. Burgess, 1998, Geochemical truths in large data sets: I. Geochemical screening data: Organic Geochemistry, v. 29, no. 1-3, p. 519-530, doi:10.1016/S0146-6380 (98) 00189-2. (Pubitemid 29025523)
12. Daly, A. R., and J. D. Edman, 1987, Loss of organic carbon from source rocks during thermal maturation (abs.): AAPG Bulletin, v. 71, no. 5, p. 546.
13. Davis, H. R., and C. W. Byers, 1989, Shelf sandstones in the Mowry Shale: Evidence for deposition during Cretaceous sea level falls: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 59, no. 4, p. 548-560.
14. Davis, H. R., C. W. Byers, and L. M. Pratt, 1989, Depositional mechanisms and organic matter in the Mowry Shale (Cretaceous), Wyoming: AAPG Bulletin, v. 73, no. 9, p. 1103-1116.
15. Davis, J. C., 1970, Petrology of the Mowry Shale of Wyoming: AAPG Bulletin, v. 54, no. 3, p. 487-502.
16. DeCelles, P. G., 2004, Late Jurassic to Eocene evolution of the Cordilleran thrust belt and foreland basin system, western U. S. A: American Journal of Science, v. 304, p. 105-168, doi:10.2475/ajs.304.2.105. (Pubitemid 38517359)
17. Demaison, G. J., and G. T. Moore, 1980, Anoxic environments and oil source bed genesis: AAPG Bulletin, v. 64, no. 8, p. 1179-1209. (Pubitemid 11436975)
18. Dolson, J. C., D. Muller, M. J. Evetts, and J. A. Stein, 1991, Regional paleotopographic trends and production, Muddy Sandstone (Lower Cretaceous), central and northern Rocky Mountains: AAPG Bulletin, v. 75, p. 409-435.
19. Durand, B., 1993, Composition and structure of organic matter in immature sediments, in M. L. Bordenave, ed., Applied petroleum geochemistry: Paris, France, Editions Technip, p. 77-100.
20. Eicher, D. L., 1962, Biostratigraphy of the Thermopolis, Muddy, and Shell Creek formations: 17th Annual Field Conference, Symposium on Early Cretaceous Rocks of Wyoming and Adjacent Areas, Wyoming Geological Association Guidebook, p. 72-93.
21. Espitalie, J., J. Laporte, M. Madec, F. Marquis, P. Leplat, J. Paulet, and A. Boutefeu, 1977, Rapid method for characterizing the petroleum potential and degree of evolution of source rocks: Revue de l'Institut Francais du Petrole, v. 32, p. 23-42.
22. Espitalie, J., J. Madec, and B. Tissot, 1980, Role of mineral matter in kerogen pyrolysis: Influence on petroleum generation and migration: AAPG Bulletin, v. 64, p. 58-66.
23. Hartman-Stroup, C., 1985, The effect of organic matter type and organic carbon content on Rock-Eval hydrogen index in oil shales rocks: Organic Geochemistry, v. 13, p. 1051-1060.
24. Herron, S. L., 1991, In-situ evaluation of potential source rocks by wireline logs, in R. K. Merrill, ed., Source and migration processes and evaluation techniques: AAPG Treatise of Petroleum Geology, Handbook of Petroleum Geology, p. 127-134.
25. Hinds, G. S., and R. R. Berg, 1990, Estimating organic maturity from well logs, Upper Cretaceous Austin Chalk, Texas Gulf Coast: Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, v. XL, p. 295-300.
26. Jarvie, D. M., 2010, Reservoir-rock savvy: Understanding which type of petroleum system is present is essential to unlock reservoirs: Oil and Gas Investor, April 27, 2010, p. 65-66.
27. Jarvie, D. M., R. J. Hill, T. E. Ruble, and R. M. Pollastro, 2007, Unconventional shale-gas systems: The Mississippian Barnett Shale of north-central Texas as one model for thermogenic shale-gas assessment: AAPG Bulletin, v. 91, no. 4, p. 475-499, doi:10.1306/12190606068. (Pubitemid 46744689)
28. Katz, B. J., 1983, Limitations of Rock-Eval pyrolysis for typing organic matter: Organic Geochemistry, v. 4, p. 195-199, doi: 10.1016/0146-6380 (83) 90041-4.
29. Langford, F. F., and M. M. Blanc-Valleron, 1990, Interpreting Rock-Eval pyrolysis data using graphs of pyrolyzable hydrocarbons versus total organic carbon: AAPG Bulletin, v. 74, no. 6, p. 799-804. (Pubitemid 20730150)
30. Larter, S., 1988, Some pragmatic perspectives in source rock geochemistry: Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 5, p. 194-204, doi: 10.1016/0264-8172 (88) 90001-3. (Pubitemid 18649257)
31. Longman, M. W., B. A. Luneau, and S. M. Landon, 1998, Nature and distribution of Niobrara lithologies in the Cretaceous Western Interior seaway of the Rocky Mountain region: The Mountain Geologist, v. 35, no. 4, p. 137-170. (Pubitemid 29123288)
32. Loucks, R. G., R. M. Reed, S. C. Ruppel, and D. M. Jarvie, 2009, Morphology, genesis, and distribution of nanometerscale pores in siliceous mudstones of the Mississippian Barnett Shale: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 79, p. 848-861, doi: 10.2110/jsr.2009.092.
33. Loucks, R. G., R. M. Reed, S. C. Ruppel, and U. Hammes, 2010, Preliminary classification of matrix pores in mudrocks: Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, v. 60, p. 435-441.
34. Luffel, D. L., and F. K. Guidry, 1992, New core analysis methods for measuring reservoir rock properties of Devonian shale: Journal of Petroleum Technology, v. 44, p. 1182-1190.
35. M'Conigle, J., 1982, Interfingering of the Frontier Formation and the Aspen Shale, Cumberland Gap, Wyoming: The Mountain Geologist, v. 19, no. 2, p. 59-61.
36. McAuliffe, C. D., 1979, Oil and gas migration: Chemical and physical constraints: AAPG Bulletin, v. 63, p. 761-781.
37. Meissner, F. F., 1978, Petroleum geology of the Bakken Formation, Williston Basin, North Dakota and Montana, in The economic geology of the Williston Basin; Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Saskatchewan, Manitoba: 24th Annual Conference Montana Geological Society, Billings, p. 207-227.
38. Merewether, E. A., 1983, The Frontier Formation and the mid-Cretaceous orogeny in the foreland of southwestern Wyoming: The Mountain Geologist, v. 20, no. 4, p. 121-138.
39. Merewether, E. A., and G. E. Claypool, 1980, Organic composition of some Upper Cretaceous Shale, Powder River Basin, Wyoming: AAPG Bulletin, v. 64, no. 4, p. 488-500. (Pubitemid 10472550)
40. Merewether, E. A., W. A. Cobban, and E. T. Cavanaugh, 1979, Frontier Formation and equivalent rocks in eastern Wyoming: The Mountain Geologist, v. 16, no. 3, p. 67-101.
41. Mudford, B., and I. Lerche, 1996, Disentanglement of hydrogen index and SI/total organic carbon variations with depth: Energy Fuels, v. 10, no. 4, p. 905-914, doi: 10.1021/ef950230c. (Pubitemid 126533936)
42. Muscio, G. P. A., and B. Horsfield, 1996, Neoformation of inert carbon during the natural maturation of a marine source rock: Bakken Shale, Williston Basin: Energy and Fuels, v. 10, p. 10-18, doi:10.1021/ef950189d. (Pubitemid 126515278)
43. Nixon, R. P., 1973, Oil source beds in Cretaceous Mowry Shale of northwestern interior United States: AAPG Bulletin, v. 57, no. 1, p. 131-161.
44. Obradovich, J. D., 1993, A Cretaceous time scale, in W. G. E. Caldwell and E. G. Kauffman, eds., Evolution of the Western Interior Basin: The Geological Association of Canada Special Paper 39, p. 379-396.
45. Obradovich, J. D., W. A. Cobban, E. A. Merewether, and R. J. Weimer, 1996, A time framework for the late Albian and early Cenomanian strata of northern Wyoming and Montana (abs.): 1996 Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs, v. 28, p. A-66.
46. Ogg, J. G., F. P. Agterberg, and F. M. Gradstein, 2004, The Cretaceous period, in F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith, eds., A geologic time scale, 2004: Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, p. 344-383.
47. Okiongbo, K. S., A. C. Aplin, and S. R. Larter, 2005, Changes in type II kerogen density as a function of maturity: Evidence from the Kimmeridge Clay Formation: Energy and Fuels, v. 19, p. 2495-2499, doi:10.1021/ef050194+. (Pubitemid 41787187)
48. Orr, W. L., 1981, Comments on pyrolytic hydrocarbon yields in source rock evaluation, in M. Bjoroy et al., eds., Advances in Petroleum Geochemistry: Chichester, Wiley & Sons Ltd., p. 775-787.
49. Pang, M., and D. Nummedal, 1995, Flexural subsidence and basement tectonics of the Cretaceous Western Interior Basin, United States: Geology, v. 23, no. 2, p. 173-176, doi: 10.1130/0091-7613 (1995) 023<0173:FS ABTO>2.3. CO;2.
50. Passey, Q. R., S. Creaney, J. B. Kulla, F. J. Moretti, and J. D. Stroud, 1990, A practical method for organic richness from porosity and resistivity logs: AAPG Bulletin, v. 74, no. 12, p. 1777-1794.
51. Passey, Q. R., K. M. Bohacs, W. L. Esch, R. Klimentidis, and S. Sinha, 2010, From oil-prone source rock to gas-producing shale reservoir-geological and petrophysical characterization of unconventional shale-gas reservoirs: International Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition in China, June 8-10, 2010, Beijing, China, p. 1-29, SPE Paper 131350, 29 p.
52. Peters, K. E., 1986, Guidelines for evaluating petroleum source rock using programmed pyrolysis: AAPG Bulletin, v. 70, no. 3, p. 318-329. (Pubitemid 16503541)
53. Peters, K. E., and M. R. Cassa, 1994, Applied source rock geochemistry, in L. B. Magoon and W. G. Dow, eds., The petroleum system: From source to trap: AAPG Memoir 60, p. 93-117.
54. Scott, R. W., F. E. Oboh-Ikuenobe, D. G. Benson, and J. M. Holbrook, 2009, Numerical age calibration of the Albian/Cenomanian boundary: Stratigraphy, v. 6, no. 1, p. 17-32.
55. Smagala, T. M., C. A. Brown, and G. L. Nydegger, 1984, Log-derived indicator of thermal maturity, Niobrara Formation, Denver Basin, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, in J. Woodward, F. F. Meissner, and J. L. Clayton, eds., Hydrocarbon source rocks of the greater Rocky Mountain region: Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, p. 355-363.
56. Smith, L. B., and J. Leone, 2010, Integrated characterization of Utica and Marcellus black shale gas plays, New York state (abs.): 2010 AAPG Annual Convention, Abstracts with Programs, AAPG Search and Discovery article 90104, http:www.searchanddiscovery..com/documents/2010/50289smith (accessed August 31, 2010).
57. Sondergeld, C. H., K. E. Newsham, J. T. Comisky, M. C. Rice, and C. S. Rai, 2010, Petrophysical considerations in evaluating and producing shale gas resources: Society of Petroleum Engineers Unconventional Gas Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, February 23-25, 2010, SPE Paper 131768, 34 p.
58. Stainforth, J. G., and J. E. Reinders, 1989, Primary migration of hydrocarbons by diffusion through organic matter networks, and its effect on oil and gas generation: Organic Geochemistry, v. 16, no. 1-3, p. 61-74, doi:10.1016/0146-6380 (90) 90026-V.
59. Tissot, B. P., 1984, Recent advances in petroleum geochemistry applied to hydrocarbon exploration: AAPG Bulletin, v. 68, no. 5, p. 545-563. (Pubitemid 14587822)
60. Tissot, B. P., B. Durand, J. Espitalie, and A. Combaz, 1974, Influence of nature and diagenesis of organic matter on formation of petroleum: AAPG Bulletin, v. 58, no. 3, p. 499-506.
61. Ungerer, Ph., 1993, Modeling of petroleum generation and migration, in M. L. Bordenave, ed., Applied petroleum geochemistry: Paris, France, Editions Technip, p. 395-442.
62. Vandenbroucke, M., 1993, Migration of hydrocarbons, in M. L. Bordenave, ed., Applied petroleum geochemistry: Paris, France, Editions Technip, p. 122-148.
63. Vandenbroucke, M., 2007, Kerogen origin, evolution and structure: Organic Geochemistry, v. 38, p. 719-833, doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2007.01.001. (Pubitemid 46634623)
64. Vandenbroucke, M., M. L. Bordenave, and B. Durand, 1993, Transformation of organic matter with increasing burial of sediments and the formation of petroleum in source rocks, in M. L. Bordenave, ed., Applied petroleum geochemistry: Paris, France, Editions Technip, p. 101-121.
65. Walters, C. C., H. Freund, S. R. Kelemen, P. Peczak, and D. J. Curry, 2007, Predicting oil and gas compositional yields via chemical structure-chemical yield modeling (CS-CYM): Part 2. Application under laboratory and geologic conditions: Organic Geochemistry, v. 38, p. 306-322, doi: 10.1016/j.orggeochem.2006.09.010. (Pubitemid 46161774)
66. Waples, D. W., and R. W. Marzi, 1998, The universality of the relationship between vitrinite reflectance and transformation ratio: Organic Geochemistry, v. 28, no. 6, p. 383-388, doi: 10.1016/S0146-6380 (97300122-8. (Pubitemid 28253368)
67. Yang, Y., and A. D. Miall, 2008, Marine transgressions in the mid-Cretaceous of the Cordilleran foreland basin reinterpreted as orogenic unloading deposits: Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, v. 56, no. 3, p. 179-198, doi: 10.2113/gscpgbull.56.3.179.