Natural hydraulic fracturing of tight-gas sandstone reservoirs, Piceance Basin, Colorado

Bulletin of the Geological Society of America

Volumn 127, Issue 1-2, 2015, Pages 61-75

  Fall, András ^a   Eichhubl, Peter ^a   Bodnar, Robert J ^b   Laubach, Stephen E ^a   Steve Davis, J ^c  

^a UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN   (United States)

^b VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^c EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RESEARCH COMPANY   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

BRITTLE FRACTURE; CEMENTS; GAS GENERATORS; GASES; HYDRAULIC FRACTURING; LOW PERMEABILITY RESERVOIRS; METHANE; PETROLEUM RESERVOIR ENGINEERING; SANDSTONE; TECTONICS; TIGHT GAS;

HEAT AND MASS TRANSPORTS; LOW MATRIX PERMEABILITY; ORGANIC-RICH SHALES; RESERVOIR EVOLUTION; SANDSTONE RESERVOIRS; SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION; TEMPERATURE EVOLUTION; TIGHT GAS SANDSTONE RESERVOIRS;

FRACTURE;

CRETACEOUS; EXHUMATION; HYDRAULIC FRACTURE; HYDROCARBON GENERATION; HYDROCARBON MIGRATION; HYDROCARBON RESERVOIR; SANDSTONE;

COLORADO; PICEANCE BASIN; UNITED STATES;

EID: 84920472667     PISSN: 00167606     EISSN: 19432674     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1130/B31021.1     Document Type: Article

References (73)

1. Aydin, A., 2000, Fractures, faults, and hydrocarbon entrapment, migration and fl ow: Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 17, p. 797-814, doi: 10 .1016 /S0264 -8172 (00)00020 -9 .
2. Baytok, S., and Pranter, M.J., 2013, Fault and fracture distribution within a tight-gas sandstone reservoir: Mesaverde Group, Mamm Creek field, Piceance Basin, Colorado, USA: Petroleum Geoscience, v. 19, p. 203- 222, doi: 10 .1144 /petgeo2011 -093 .
3. Becker, S.P., Eichhubl, P., Laubach, S.E., Reed, R.M., Lander, R.H., and Bodnar, R.J., 2010, A 48 m.y. history of fracture opening, Cretaceous Travis Peak Formation, East Texas: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 122, p. 1081-1093, doi: 10 .1130 /B30067 .1 .
4. Bodnar, R.J., 1993, Revised equation and table for determining the freezing point depression of H2O-NaCl solutions: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 57, p. 683-684, doi: 10 .1016 /0016 -7037 (93)90378 -A .
5. Bodnar, R.J., 2003, Re-equilibration of fl uid inclusions, in Samson, I., Anderson, A., and Marshall, D., eds., Fluid Inclusions: Analysis and Interpretation: Mineralogical Association of Canada Short Course, v. 32, p. 213-231.
6. Bredehoeft, J.D., and Norton, D.L., 1990, Mass and energy transport in a deforming Earth's crust, in National Research Council, The Role of Fluids in Crustal Processes: Washington, D.C., National Academy Press, p. 27-41.
7. Brown, A., 2005, Effects of exhumation on gas saturation in tight gas sandstones, in Bishop, M.G., Cumella, S.P., Robinson, J.W., and Silverman, M.R., eds., Gas in Low Permeability Reservoirs of the Rocky Mountain Region: Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists 2005 Guidebook CD, p. 33-50.
8. Camp, W.K., 2008, Basin-centered gas or subtle conventional traps?, in Cumella, S.P., Shanley, K.W., and Camp, W.K., eds., Understanding, Exploring, and Developing Tight-Gas Sands: 2005 Vail Hedberg Conference: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Series 3, p. 49-61.
9. Chiaramonte, L., Zoback, M., Friedmann, J., Stamp, V., and Zahm, C., 2011, Fracture characterization and fl uid fl ow simulation with geomechanical constraints for a CO2-EOR and sequestration project, Teapot Dome oil field, Wyoming, USA: Energy Procedia, v. 4, p. 3973- 3980, doi: 10 .1016 /j .egypro .2011 .02 .337 .
10. Cumella, S.P., and Ostby, D.B., 2003, Geology of the basin-centered gas accumulation, Piceance Basin, Colorado, in Peterson, K.M., Olson, T.M., and Anderson, D.S., eds., Piceance Basin 2003 Guidebook: Denver, Colorado, Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, p. 171-193.
11. Cumella, S.P., and Scheevel, J., 2008, The infl uence of stratigraphy and rock mechanics on Mesaverde gas distribution, Piceance Basin, Colorado, in Cumella, S.P., Shanley, K.W., and Camp, W.K., eds., Understanding, Exploring, and Developing Tight-Gas Sands: 2005 Vail Hedberg Conference: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Series 3, p. 137-155.
12. Currie, J.B., and Nwachukwu, S.O., 1974, Evidence on incipient fracture porosity in reservoir rocks at depth: Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, v. 22, p. 42-58.
13. Dahi-Taleghani, A., and Olson, J.E., 2011, Numerical modeling of multistranded-hydraulic-fracture propagation: Accounting for the interaction between induced and natural fractures: Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Journal, v. 16, p. 575-581.
14. Duan, Z., and Mao, S., 2006, A thermodynamic model for calculating methane solubility, density and gas phase composition of methane-bearing aqueous fl uids from 273 to 523 K and from 1 to 2000 bar: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 70, p. 3369-3386, doi: 10 .1016 /j .gca .2006 .03 .018 .
15. Duncan, A., Hanks, C., Wallace, W.K., O'Sullivan, P.B., and Parris, M.P., 2012, An integrated model of the structural evolution of the central Brooks Range foothills, Alaska, using structural geometry, fracture distribution, geochronology, and microthermometry: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 96, p. 2245-2274, doi: 10 .1306 /04031209037 .
16. Eichhubl, P., and Boles, J.R., 2000a, Rates of fl uid fl ow in fault systems-Evidence for episodic rapid fl uid fl ow in the Miocene Monterey Formation, coastal California: American Journal of Science, v. 300, p. 571-600, doi: 10 .2475 /ajs .300 .7 .571 .
17. Eichhubl, P., and Boles, J.R., 2000b, Focused fl uid fl ow along faults in the Monterey Formation, coastal California: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 112, p. 1667-1679, doi: 10 .1130 /0016 -7606 (2000)112 <1667: FFFAFI>2 .0 .CO;2 .
18. Engelder, T., 1985, Loading paths to joint propagation during a tectonic cycle: An example from the Appalachian Plateau, U.S.: Journal of Structural Geology, v. 7, p. 459-476, doi: 10 .1016 /0191 -8141 (85)90049 -5 .
19. Engelder, T., and Lacazette, A., 1990, Natural hydraulic fracturing, in Barton, N., and Stephansson, O., eds., Rock Joints: Rotterdam, Netherlands, A.A. Balkema, p. 35-43.
20. English, J.M., 2012, Thermomechanical origin of regional fracture systems: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 96, p. 1597-1625, doi: 10 .1306 /01021211018 .
21. Evans, M.A., 1995, Fluid inclusions in veins from the Middle Devonian shales: A record of deformation conditions and fl uid evolution in the Appalachian Plateau: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 107, p. 327-339, doi: 10 .1130 /0016 -7606 (1995)107 <0327: FIIVFT>2 .3 .CO;2 .
22. Evans, M.A., and Battles, D.A., 1999, Fluid inclusion and stable isotope analyses of veins from the central Appa lachian Valley and Ridge Province: Implications for regional synorogenic hydrologic structure and fl uid migration: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 111, p. 1841-1860, doi: 10 .1130 /0016 -7606 (1999)111 <1841: FIASIA>2 .3 .CO;2 .
23. Evans, M.A., Bebout, G.E., and Brown, C.H., 2012, Changing fl uid conditions during folding: An example from the central Appalachians: Tectonophysics, v. 576-577, p. 99-115.
24. Fall, A., Eichhubl, P., Cumella, S.P., Bodnar, R.J., Laubach, S.E., and Becker, S.P., 2012, Testing the basin-centered gas accumulation model using fl uid inclusion observations: Southern Piceance Basin, Colorado: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 96, p. 2297-2318, doi: 10 .1306 /05171211149 .
25. Goldstein, R.H., 1986, Reequilibration of fl uid inclusions in low-temperature calcium-carbonate cement: Geology, v. 14, p. 792-795, doi: 10 .1130 /0091 -7613 (1986)14 <792: ROFIIL>2 .0 .CO;2 .
26. Goldstein, R.H., and Reynolds, T.J., 1994, Systematics of Fluid Inclusions in Diagenetic Minerals: Society for Sedimentary Geology Short Course 31: Tulsa, Oklahoma, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology), 199 p.
27. Handin, J., Hager, R.V., Friedman, M., and Feather, J.N., 1963, Experimental deformation of sedimentary rocks under confining pressure: Pore pressure tests: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 47, p. 717-755.
28. Hanks, C.L., Parris, T.M., and Wallace, W.K., 2006, Fracture paragenesis and microthermometry in Lisburne Group detachment folds: Implications for the thermal and structural evolution of the northeastern Brooks Range, Alaska: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 90, p. 1-20, doi: 10 .1306 /08090504134 .
29. Harris, N.B., Ko, T., Philp, R.P., Lewan, M.D., Ballentine, C.J., Zhou, Z., and Hall, D.L., 2013, Geochemistry of natural gases from tight-gas-sand fields in the Rocky Mountains: Research Partnership To Secure Energy for America, Final Report for Project 07122-09, 265 p.
30. Hooker, J.N., Gale, J.F.W., Gomez, L.A., Laubach, S.E., Marrett, R., and Reed, R.M., 2009, Aperture-size scaling variations in a low-strain opening-mode fracture set, Cozzette Sandstone, Colorado: Journal of Structural Geology, v. 31, p. 707-718, doi: 10 .1016 /j .jsg .2009 .04 .001 .
31. Hubbert, M.K., and Willis, D.G., 1957, Mechanics of hydraulic fracturing: Transactions of the American Institute of Mechanical Engineers, v. 210, p. 153-168.
32. Johnson, R.C., 1989, Geologic History and Hydrocarbon Potential of Late Cretaceous-Age, Low Permeability Reservoirs, Piceance Basin, Western Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1787-E, 51 p.
33. Johnson, R.C., and Nuccio, V.F., 1986, Structural and thermal history of the Piceance Creek Basin, western Colorado, in relation to hydrocarbon occurrence in the Mesaverde Group, in Spencer, C.W., and Mast, R.F., eds., Geology of Tight Gas Reservoirs: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Studies in Geology, v. 24, p. 165-205.
34. Johnson, R.C., and Rice, D.D., 1990, Occurrence and geochemistry of natural gases, Piceance Basin, northwestern Colorado: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 74, p. 805-829.
35. Johnson, R.C., and Roberts, S.B., 2003, The Mesaverde total petroleum system, Uinta-Piceance province, Utah and Colorado, in Petroleum Systems and Geologic Assessment of Oil and Gas in the Uinta-Piceance Province, Utah and Colorado, Chapter 7: U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-69-B CD-ROM, USGS Uinta-Piceance Assessment Team, 63 p.
36. Lacazette, A., and Engelder, T., 1992, Fluid-driven cyclic propagation of a joint in the Ithaca Siltstone, Appalachian Basin, New York, in Evans, B., and Wong, T.-F., eds., Fault Mechanics and Transport Properties of Rocks: London, Academic Press, p. 297-324.
37. Lash, G., Loewy, S., and Engelder, T., 2004, Preferential jointing of Upper Devonian black shale, Appalachian Plateau, USA: Evidence supporting hydrocarbon generation as a joint-driving mechanism, in Cosgrove, J.W., and Engelder, T., eds., The Initiation, Propagation, and Arrest of Joints and Other Fractures: Geological Society of London Special Publication 231, p. 129-151, doi: 10 .1144 /GSL .SP .2004 .231 .01 .09 .
38. Laubach, S.E., 1988, Subsurface fractures and their relationship to stress history in East Texas basin sandstone: Tectonophysics, v. 156, p. 37-49, doi: 10 .1016 /0040 -1951 (88)90281 -8 .
39. Laubach, S.E., 2003, Practical approaches to identifying sealed and open fractures: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 87, p. 561-579, doi: 10 .1306 /11060201106 .
40. Laubach, S.E., and Diaz-Tushman, K., 2009, Laurentian paleo stress trajectories and ephemeral fracture permeability, Cambrian Eriboll Formation sandstones west of the Moine thrust zone, northwest Scotland: Journal of the Geological Society of London, v. 166, no. 2, p. 349-362, doi: 10 .1144 /0016 -76492008 -061 .
41. Laubach, S.E., Reed, R.M., Olson, J.E., Lander, R.H., and Bonnell, L.M., 2004a, Coevolution of crack-seal texture and fracture porosity in sedimentary rocks: Cathodoluminescence observations of regional fractures: Journal of Structural Geology, v. 26, no. 5, p. 967-982, doi: 10 .1016 /j .jsg .2003 .08 .019 .
42. Laubach, S.E., Lander, R.H., Bonnell, L.M., Olson, J.E., and Reed, R.M., 2004b, Opening histories of fractures in sandstones, in Cosgrove, J.W., and Engelder, T., eds., The Initiation, Propagation, and Arrest of Joints and Other Fractures: Geological Society of London Special Publication 231, p. 1-9.
43. Law, B.E., 2002, Basin-centered gas systems: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 86, p. 1891-1919.
44. Lin, F., Bodnar, R.J., and Becker, S.P., 2007, Experimental determination of the Raman CH4 symmetric stretching (í1) band position from 1-650 bar and 0.3-22°C: Application to fl uid inclusion studies: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 71, p. 3746-3756, doi: 10 .1016 /j .gca .2007 .05 .016 .
45. Lorenz, J.C., 2003, Fracture systems in the Piceance Basin: Overview and comparison with fractures in the San Juan and Green River Basins, in Peterson, K.M., Olson , T.M., and Anderson, D.S., eds., Piceance Basin 2003 Guidebook: Denver, Colorado, Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, p. 75-94.
46. Lorenz, J.C., and Finley, S.J., 1991, Regional fractures II: Fracturing of Mesaverde reservoirs in the Piceance Basin, Colorado: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 75, p. 1738-1757.
47. Narr, W., and Currie, J.B., 1982, Origin of fracture porosity- Examples from Altamont field, Utah: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 66, p. 1231-1247.
48. National Research Council, 1996, Rock Fractures and Fluid Flow: Contemporary Understanding and Applications: Washington, D.C., National Academy Press, 551 p.
49. Nelson, P.H., 2003, A review of the Multiwell Experiment, Williams Fork and Iles Formations, Garfield County, Colorado, Chapter 15, in Petroleum Systems and Geologic Assessment of Oil and Gas in the Uinta-Piceance Province, Utah and Colorado,: U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-69-B CD-ROM, USGS Uinta-Piceance Assessment Team, 24 p.
50. Nuccio, V.F., and Roberts, L.N.R., 2003, Thermal maturity and oil and gas generation history of petroleum systems in the Uinta-Piceance province, Utah and Colorado, Chapter 4, in Petroleum Systems and Geologic Assessment of Oil and Gas in the Uinta-Piceance Province, Utah and Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-69-B CD-ROM, USGS Uinta-Piceance Assessment Team, 39 p.
51. Olson, J.E., Laubach, S.E., and Lander, R.H., 2009, Natural fracture characterization in tight gas sandstones: Integrating mechanics and diagenesis: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 93, no. 11, p. 1535-1549, doi: 10 .1306 /08110909100 .
52. Ozkan, A., 2010, Structural Diagenetic Attributes of Williams Fork Sandstones with Implications for Petrophysical Interpretation and Fracture Prediction, Piceance Basin, Colorado [Ph.D. thesis]: Austin, Texas, University of Texas at Austin, 249 p.
53. Ozkan, A., Cumella, S.P., Milliken, K.L. and Laubach, S.E., 2011, Prediction of lithofacies and reservoir quality using well logs, Williams Fork Formation, Mamm Creek Field, Piceance Basin: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 95, no. 10, p. 1699-1723, doi: 10 .1306 /01191109143 .
54. Parris, T.M., Burruss, R.C., and O'Sullivan, P.B., 2003, Deformation and the timing of gas generation and migration in the eastern Brooks Range foothills, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 87, p. 1823- 1846, doi: 10 .1306 /07100301111 .
55. Patterson, P.E., Kronmueller, K., and Davies, T.D., 2003, Sequence stratigraphy of the Mesaverde Group and Ohio Creek Conglomerate, northern Piceance Basin, Colorado, in Peterson, K.M., Olson, T.M., and Anderson, D.S., eds., Piceance Basin 2003 Guidebook: Denver, Colorado, Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, p. 115-128.
56. Phillips, W.J., 1972, Hydraulic fracturing and mineralization: Journal of the Geological Society of London, v. 128, p. 337-359, doi: 10 .1144 /gsjgs .128 .4 .0337 .
57. Pironon, J., Grimmer, J.O.W., Teinturier, D.G., and Dubessy, J., 2003, Dissolved methane in water: Temperature effect on Raman quantification in fl uid inclusions: Journal of Geochemical Exploration, v. 78-79, p. 111-115, doi: 10 .1016 /S0375 -6742 (03)00136 -5 .
58. Pitman, J.K., and Sprunt, E.S., 1987, Origin and distribution of fractures in Lower Tertiary and Upper Cretaceous rocks, Piceance Basin, Colorado, and their relation to the occurrence of hydrocarbons, in Spencer, C.W., and Mast, R.L., eds., Geology of Tight Gas Reservoirs: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Studies in Geology, v. 24, p. 221-233.
59. Roedder, E., 1984, Fluid Inclusions: Washington, D.C., Mineralogical Society of America, 644 p.
60. Schmoker, J.W., 2002, Resource-assessment perspective for unconventional gas systems: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 86, p. 1993-1999.
61. Secor, D.T., 1965, Role of fl uid pressure in jointing: American Journal of Science, v. 263, p. 633-646, doi: 10 .2475 /ajs .263 .8 .633 .
62. Shanley, K.W., Cluff, R.M., and Robinson, J.W., 2004, Factors controlling prolific gas production from lowpermeability sandstone reservoirs: Implications for resource assessment, prospect, and risk analysis: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 88, p. 1083-1121, doi: 10 .1306 /03250403051 .
63. Spencer, C.W., 1987, Hydrocarbon generation as a mechanism for overpressuring in Rocky Mountain region: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 71, p. 368-388.
64. Sterner, S.M., and Bodnar, R.J., 1984, Synthetic fl uid inclusions in natural quartz: I. Compositional types synthesized and applications to experimental geochemistry: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 48, p. 2659- 2668, doi: 10 .1016 /0016 -7037 (84)90314 -4 .
65. Stroker, T.M., Harris, N.B., Elliott, W.C., and Wampler, E.J., 2013, Diagenesis of a tight gas sand reservoir: Upper Cretaceous Mesaverde Group, Piceance Basin, Colorado: Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 40, p. 48-68.
66. Surdam, R.C., 1997, A new paradigm for gas exploration in anomalously pressured tight gas sands in the Rocky Mountain Laramide Basins, in Surdam, R.C., ed., Seals, Traps, and the Petroleum System: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir 67, p. 283-298.
67. Tingay, M.R.P., Morley, C.K., Laird, A., Limpornpipat, O., Krisadasima, K., Pabchanda, S., and Macintyre, H.R., 2013, Evidence for overpressure generation by kerogen-to-gas maturation in the northern Malay Basin: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 97, p. 639-672, doi: 10 .1306 /09041212032 .
68. Vrolijk, P., Myers, G., and Moore, J.C., 1988, Warm fl uid migration along tectonic mélanges in the Kodiak accretionary complex: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 93, p. 10,313-10,324, doi: 10.1029/JB093iB09p10313.
69. Weisenberger, T.B., Eichhubl, P., Fall, A., and Laubach, S.E., 2012, Fracture degradation by carbonate cement in tight-gas sandstones, Piceance Basin, Colorado, in Proceedings of the 34th International Geological Congress, 5-10 August 2012: Brisbane, Australia, p. 2681.
70. Xu, G., 2012, Fluid Inclusion Studies of Microfractures in Eriboll Formation, NW Scotland: Insights into Timing of Fracture Opening [M.S. thesis]: Austin, Texas, University of Texas at Austin, 211 p.
71. Yurewicz, D.A., Bohacs, K.M., Yeakel, J.D., and Kronmueller, K., 2003, Source rock analysis and hydrocarbon generation, Mesaverde Group and Mancos Shale, northern Piceance Basin, Colorado, in Peterson, K.M., Olson, T.M., and Anderson, D.S., eds., Piceance Basin Guidebook: Denver, Colorado, Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, p. 130-153.
72. Yurewicz, D.A., Bohacs, K.M., Kendall, R.E., Kronmueller, K., Maurer, M.E., Ryan, T.C., and Yeakel, J.D., 2008, Controls on gas and water distribution, Mesaverde basin-centered gas play, Piceance Basin, Colorado, in Cumella, S.P., Shanley, K.W., and Camp, W.K., eds., Understanding, Exploring, and Developing Tight-Gas Sands: 2005 Vail Hedberg Conference: American Asso ciation of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Series 3, p. 105-136.
73. Zhang, E., Hill, R.J., Katz, B.J., and Tang, Y., 2008, Modeling of gas generation from the Cameo coal zone in the Piceance Basin, Colorado: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 92, p. 1077-1106, doi: 10 .1306 /04020806015 .