Reservoir Characterization of the uppermost Monteith Formation -Tight Gas Sandstones in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin in Alberta, Canada.

Date
2014-01-28
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Abstract
This thesis is focused on characterization of reservoir properties of the Monteith A unit in the Deep Basin of Alberta, based on cores, drill cuttings and well logs. Knowledge of key geologic parameters obtained from this study provides an understanding of relationships between lithofacies, mineralogy, diagenetic overprinting, and distribution of rock properties in this gas-bearing interval. The approach followed in this thesis requires identification, and comparison of three major rock types at different scales: (a) depositional rock type, (b) petrographic rock type, and (c) hydraulic rock type. These are complementary components for the definition of reservoir quality in low-permeability sandstone reservoirs. Direct and indirect sources of information provided the data for performing an integrated geological analysis. Well cores and drill cuttings available from this stratigraphic unit were described in order to define the sedimentary facies and structural features. In addition, the samples were used to define reservoir properties of the rocks through laboratory measurements of core porosity and permeability. In the case of drill cuttings, permeability measurements were performed in a laboratory at the University of Calgary. Drill cuttings were also used in the laboratory for determining porosity. All data were combined with available gas production data to establish the main geological parameters controlling gas production, and to provide a partial explanation of the heterogeneity observed in historical well productivity. The combined information was also used to gain some preliminary insights into the effect of rock quality on flowback time from hydraulic fracturing jobs. The results provide important feedback for future hydrocarbon exploration and will have a significant impact on the development of existing Monteith tight-gas fields. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the workflow presented in this thesis will improve our understanding of other similarly underexploited unconventional reservoirs. This work establishes the presence of significant gas potential in the Monteith A unit. This potential can be exploited by taking into account the stratigraphic geometry, sedimentological facies, mineralogy and pore systems described in this thesis. These are major geologic factors affecting reservoir properties, and consequently influencing and controlling gas production.
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Keywords
Geology, Engineering--Petroleum
Citation
ZAMBRANO, LILIANA. (2014). Reservoir Characterization of the uppermost Monteith Formation -Tight Gas Sandstones in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin in Alberta, Canada. (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27639