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?