Research
Geologic History
1998 USGS Assessment - Summary of the plays (with maps)
Petroleum Systems of the the North Slope
Summary: Johnson, M.J. & Howell D.G. (1999).
Thermal Maturity of Sedimentary Basins in Alaska - An Overview. Thermal
Maturity of Sedimentary Rocks in Alaska: Digital Resources. U.S. Geological
Survey Bulletin 2142.
Objectives:
Determine:
- Localization of hydrocarbons and their concentration.
- Types of hydrocarbons in ANWR (API gravity, sulfur content [...])
- Depth of the reservoirs and expected recovery.
Create:
- Maps (source rocks, faults, reservoir rocks, type of hydrocarbon [...])
- Tables (percentile of organic
GIS:
Currently looking for data, and it will probably stay that way for some
time.
There are some links in Sources to clearinghouses that at least found
something. Several keep running into errors or showing data for Madagascar
when I searched for Alaska.
Background information:
Source rock:
Black shale (organic rich mud in marine settings)
Depth:5000 feet to 21000 feet
Temperatures: 120 F to 350 F
Above depth, lower temperatures: formation of gas (microbial)
Below depth, higher temperatures: Degeneration of oil and organic material
into methane
Reservoir rock:
- Sandstone
- Limestone
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