TOC of typical source rock is 1% or less.
The Williston Basin Bakken has a TOC of 11%.
There is a Bakken that has a TOC of 17%.
Routine core analysis has been completed on four of the six wells to-date. Porosity up to 10.4% and non-fractured permeability up to 0.3mD (millidarcy) have been reported. Geochemical analyses have been completed on select samples with additional analysis in progress. Sample analyses indicate a thermally mature Bakken System source rock in the oil window, with some zones where TOC (total organic content) reaches up to 17%.And where would that Bakken be, you ask?
The Southern Alberta Basin Bakken Fairway in NW Montana.
I posted this link some time ago, but had not paid attention to this particular story until Don sent it to me a few minutes ago. Thank you.
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ReplyDeleteI check the blog at milliondollarway more frequently than facebook and I probably comment as much or more here as well....wish I could invest in your blogsite.
Thank you for your kind words. As long as I'm not traveling, I am able to post frequently. When traveling, much less blogging, unfortunately.
DeleteI try to let folks know when I won't be blogging so they won't keep checking the site. If I can't blog during the day, I try very, very hard to get caught up in the late evening.
And, no. No plans to monetize the site.
I remember reading a post months back that the Tyler formation in ND has some incredible TOC figure also?
ReplyDeleteAt the sidebar at the right, you can check out Heath/Tyler:
Deletehttp://milliondollarway.blogspot.com/2010/10/tyler-formation-anotther-north-dakota.html
When you get there, scroll down for the link. I believe it was about 4 percent according to that particular link.
Montana continues to struggle with developing interest in their crude capabilities. They certainly have excellent possibilities.
ReplyDeleteThe horizontal drilling and fracturing took hold with the Elm Cooley field of eastern Montana before North Dakota took off. It looks like they failed to grasp the significance of this development in oil extraction. North Dakota saw the significance and aggressively pursued it. Now Montana is trying to have a place at the table and having a hard time of it.
If roads and infrastructure are a problem in North Dakota I suspect Montana is less developed. Development of the Williston Basin probable will continue in the northeastern part of Montana but it could be pretty hard in areas further west.
As the saying goes the early bird gets the worm and North Dakota did a good job of doing that.
I think Montana was oriented toward gas; North Dakota toward oil. The relationship between UND engineering school and the oil industry probably had a lot to do with ND's success.
DeleteOn that note I think Montana could quickly follow in ND's footsteps. Montana Tech has a world renowned petroleum engineering department, i frequently meet "Diggers" while onsite out and about in the Bakken. And Montana state is currently doing research under a DOE grant for CO2 EOR in eastern montana.
ReplyDelete