Hydrogeochemistry and gas compositions of the Uinta Basin: A regional-scale overview

Zhang, Ye; Gable, Carl W.; Zyvoloski, G.; Walter, Lynn M.

doi:10.1306/05140909004

Cited by 20 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Equation is (5.0 ± 1.5)% of that amount. Typical natural gas produced from the Green River Formation of the Uinta Basin ranges between about 76 and 98 mol % methane, with most samples being around 95% [ Zhang et al ., ]. Therefore, on the order of 10% of the carbon mass accounted for in Φ F appears as nonmethane hydrocarbon, i.e., not more than about 300 tonne yr −1 or less than 0.5% of the 2006 emissions estimate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kerogen maturation data in the Uinta Basin, Utah, USA, constrain predictions of natural hydrocarbon seepage into the atmosphere

Mansfield

2014

J. Geophys. Res. Atmos.

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Natural seepage of methane from the lithosphere to the atmosphere occurs in regions with large natural gas deposits. According to some authors, it accounts for roughly 5% of the global methane budget. I explore a new approach to estimate methane fluxes based on the maturation of kerogen, which is the hydrocarbon polymer present in petroleum source rocks and whose decomposition leads to the formation of oil and natural gas. The temporal change in the atomic H/C ratio of kerogen lets us estimate the total carbon mass released by it in the form of oil and natural gas. Then the time interval of active kerogen decomposition lets us estimate the average annual formation rate of oil and natural gas in any given petroleum system, which I demonstrate here using the Uinta Basin of eastern Utah as an example. Obviously, this is an upper bound to the average annual rate at which natural gas seeps into the atmosphere. After adjusting for biooxidation of natural gas, I conclude that the average annual seepage rate in the Uinta Basin is not greater than (3100 ± 900) tonne yr À1. This is (0.5 ± 0.15)% of the total flux of methane into the atmosphere over the Basin, as measured during aircraft flights. I speculate about the difference between the regional 0.5% and the global 5% estimates.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kerogen maturation data in the Uinta Basin, Utah, USA, constrain predictions of natural hydrocarbon seepage into the atmosphere

Mansfield

2014

J. Geophys. Res. Atmos.

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“…The onset of thermogenic gas generation in the coal intervals began c. 42 Ma with peak generation occurring between 26 and 17 Ma; peak generation is associated with maximum burial depth (Johnson & Roberts 2003). The Mesaverde Group is marginally mature for gas generation and the Wasatch Formation is immature for gas generation within the GNB field (Zhang et al 2009). The gas fields within the GNB field are therefore potentially sourced by a common deeply buried thermogenic source to the north (Zhang et al 2009).…”

Section: Hydrocarbon Generation and Migration Of The Mesaverde Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Mesaverde Group is marginally mature for gas generation and the Wasatch Formation is immature for gas generation within the GNB field (Zhang et al 2009). The gas fields within the GNB field are therefore potentially sourced by a common deeply buried thermogenic source to the north (Zhang et al 2009). The gas migrated to the overlying reservoirs within the Mesaverde Group and Wasatch Formation, possibly through the natural fracture system.…”

Section: Hydrocarbon Generation and Migration Of The Mesaverde Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sedimentological controls on the fracture distribution and network development in Mesaverde Group sandstone lithofacies, Uinta Basin, Utah, USA

Sonntag

Evans

Pointe

et al. 2012

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The Mesaverde Group, Uinta Basin, Utah is the source of current significant natural gas production and contains several trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas resources. To evaluate and model the potential connectivity of hydraulically induced fractures to natural fractures in the subsurface, the natural fracture network was examined using scanline sampling, image and well logs, core and microstructural analyses. Regional fracture sets include subvertical fractures with dominant orientations of: north-south (006-0158), NE (045-0598), NNW (326-3428) and a WNW (271-2868). Sedimentologic and diagenetic characteristics of seven sandstone lithofacies control the fracture development and distribution in the group. Key sedimentologic and diagenetic influences on fracture distribution include bed thickness, stratigraphic architecture, the degree of cementation and the type of cement. From these sedimentologic controls on the character of natural fractures, lithofacies can potentially predict fracture distribution within the Mesaverde Group based on environments of deposition. The presence of NW-trending discontinuous sandstone reservoirs deposited in meandering fluvial environments that are highly fractured by a pervasive WNW-striking fracture set helps to explain fairways of prolific natural gas production within the basin.

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“…Because constituents of produced water vary by region, well location, treatment methods and well depth, no absolute compositional definition exists for produced water (Veil et al, 2004). Total dissolved solids (TDS) in produced water range in concentrations from near zero to more than 75,000 ppm (average of 13,200 for the Uinta Basin), and inorganic ions tend to be dominated by Na-Cl (Zhang et al, 2009). Produced water tends to be rich in hydrocarbons, especially aromatics (Dórea et al, 2007;Field et al, 2015) and can contain high concentrations of water-soluble organics like methanol (Veil et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emissions of organic compounds from produced water ponds I: Characteristics and speciation

Lyman

Mansfield

Tran

et al. 2018

Science of The Total Environment

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Hydrogeochemistry and gas compositions of the Uinta Basin: A regional-scale overview

Cited by 20 publications

References 39 publications

Kerogen maturation data in the Uinta Basin, Utah, USA, constrain predictions of natural hydrocarbon seepage into the atmosphere

Kerogen maturation data in the Uinta Basin, Utah, USA, constrain predictions of natural hydrocarbon seepage into the atmosphere

Sedimentological controls on the fracture distribution and network development in Mesaverde Group sandstone lithofacies, Uinta Basin, Utah, USA

Emissions of organic compounds from produced water ponds I: Characteristics and speciation

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