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William Zagorski - Marcellus Shale: Geologic Considerations for an Evolving North American Liquids-Rich Play

Discovery Thinking Forum, ACE 2013 Pittsburgh

Discovery Thinking Forum, ACE 2013 Pittsburgh

Summary

Marcellus Shale - Geologic Considerations for an Evolving North American Liquids-Rich Play. Discovery Thinking talk given by William Zagorski at AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 20, 2013.

Key Points

Regional Extent of Marcellus Liquids Rich Play

  • Play area is significantly west of major Appalachian Fold Belt; key structural features affecting area are basement faults systems related to Rome Trough rift system and strike-slip faults with later recurrent movement.
  • Liquids rich portion of play in SW PA discovered in 2006 and 2007. Play is now in full development.
  • Initial results and potential were not immediately evident.
  • Proved/de-risked portion of play under development in SW PA, northern WV, and WV Panhandle.
  • Northern PA is still unexplored and problematic thus far.
  • NY political climate prohibited testing there.

SW PA Play Area

  • Very thin, condensed section; Tully to Marcellus interval condensed.
  • SW PA sedimentation rate was lower.
  • Key pay intervals are maximum flooding surfaces (MFS’s) in Marcellus.
  • High NTG ratio.
  • Higher TOC%.
  • Higher porosity and permeability.
  • GIP- 40 BCF/mile to 150 BCF/mile.
  • IPS – 1.0 Mmcfe/d to over 20 Mmcfe/d per lateral completion.
  • EUR – 2 Bcfeq to over 20 Bcfeq per lateral.
  • NGL’s – Significant, up to 425,000 Bbls per lateral in NGL rich areas.
  • NGL rich areas have superior economics over dry gas areas at current economics.

NE PA Play Area

  • Very thick, expanded section.
  • Lower Average. TOC.
  • Low NTG Ratio.
  • Tully to Marcellus interval is expanded.
  • NE PA sedimentation rate was significantly higher.
  • Key pay intervals are MFS’s in Marcellus.

Potential of Marcellus Play Area

  • Approximately 84 TCF/3.5 billion barrels liquids (Coleman et al., 2011) to 489 TCF (Engelder, 2009).
  • Further, what about the resource potential of the Genesee Group and Utica/Point Pleasant intervals?

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