Gas hydrate accumulations at the Alaska North Sloge: total assessment based on 3D petroleum system modeling.

Pinero, Elena, Hensen, Christian , Haeckel, Matthias , Wallmann, Klaus , Rottke, Wolf, Fuchs, Thomas and Schenk, Oliver (2014) Gas hydrate accumulations at the Alaska North Sloge: total assessment based on 3D petroleum system modeling. [Paper] In: 8. International Conference on Gas Hydrates (ICGH8). , 28.07.-01.08.2014, Beijing, China . Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Gas Hydrates (ICGH8-2014), Beijing, China, 28 July - 1 August, 2014. ; T2-37 .

[thumbnail of Pinero2014ICGH8T2_37.pdf]
Preview
Text
Pinero2014ICGH8T2_37.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (562kB) | Preview

Abstract

The Alaska North Slope comprises an area of about 400,000 km2 including prominent gas and oil
fields. Gas hydrates occur widely at the Alaska North Slope. A recent assessment by the USGS
estimates 0.7-4.47 x 1012 m3 of technically recoverable gas hydrates based on well data and drilled
hydrate accumulations. In spring 2012 a production field trial, testing CO2/N2 injection and
depressurization, was conducted by USDOE/JOGMEC/ConocoPhillips at the Ignik Sikumi site.
The 3D geological model of the Alaska North Slope developed by the USGS and Schlumberger is
used to test the new gas hydrate module in the petroleum systems modeling software PetroMod®.
Model results of the present extent of the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) are in good
agreement with results from well data. The model simulations reveal that the evolution of the
GHSZ over time is primarily controlled by the climatic conditions regulating the extent of the
permafrost during the last 1 Myr. Preliminary model runs predict the highest gas hydrate
saturations near the major faults and at the bottom of the GHSZ, where thermogenic methane gas
accumulates after migration through the most permeable stratigraphic layers (e.g. Sag River
Sandstone Fm, Ivishak Fm). Gas hydrate saturations predicted for the Mount Elbert Stratigraphic
Test Well and the Ignik Sikumi sites are basically controlled by the alternation of layers with
different permeability and the fault properties (time of opening, permeability, etc). Further results
including a total gas hydrate assessment for the Alaska North Slope will be presented during the
conference.

Document Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Keywords: gas hydrates, Alaska North Slope, fault, saturation, total volume
Research affiliation: OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB2 Marine Biogeochemistry > FB2-MG Marine Geosystems
Publisher: China Geological Survey
Projects: SUGAR
Date Deposited: 21 Nov 2014 10:38
Last Modified: 21 Nov 2014 10:39
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/26063

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item