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Permalink Reply by Spring Branch,mineral owner on May 28, 2011 at 19:44

It stands for Sand Unit Q or Sand Unit RR

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Permalink Reply by Mac Davis on May 28, 2011 at 20:22

A "Unit" is a geographical area defined for purposes of managing minerals.  A "unit" is usually "pooled" and divided among the mineral owners for that unit.  "Sand Unit" is used because oil and gas is traditionally found in "sand" formations.  "Sand" is not technically correct for shale formations, but they still use that terminology.  

 

Various areas are defined as "fields."  When Haynesville Shale units are created in a particular field, they are designated as HA RA Sand Unit A, B, C, etc.  HA RA SUA would be the first, HA RA SUB is the second, etc.   There can be a HA RA SUA in several field.  For instance, there will be a HA RA SUA in Elm Grove Field, one in Lake Bistineau Field, etc.

 

For instance, this unit would be "HA RA SUQ, Elm Grove field." 

 

Apparently, it goes from HA RA SUZ to HA RA SUAA.  I forget what "RA" stands for.

 

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Permalink Reply by Joe Aldridge on May 29, 2011 at 0:27

Mac,

The RA stands for Reservoir "A". In a sand formation or unit the reservoirs would be separated by shale or other impervious formations. So you could have any number of reservoirs in a formation. Their designation would be RA, RB, etc. In the case of a shale reservoir I would assume the entire shale formation would be reservoir "A" - (RA). The sand units then go from SUA - SUZ  (If there are more than 26) then they start using the SUAA, SUBB, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on May 29, 2011 at 2:20

Re:  Haynesville Shale unit designations.  Unlike the example Joe gives above which is correct for traditional sand formations/zones, the terms RA, RB, RC and  RD are referring to one reservoir, the Haynesville Shale, as opposed to discreet and separate reservoirs.

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Permalink Reply by Les Bamburg on June 1, 2011 at 6:21

Joe, the Haynesville Units cover a zone (ie RA) that is defined and can include multiple formations.  In fields that have multiple Haynesville zones (ie RA, RB, RC), each zone covers basically the same interval and set of formations.

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Permalink Reply by Joe Aldridge on June 1, 2011 at 6:47

Les,

What delineates the different reservoirs? I can understand the separation of a sand strata from another sand strata by shale, etc. but don't understand how they separate one shale formation into reservoirs when its all one formation. I'm sure someone has figured it out but I haven't. Would love to get your input.

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Permalink Reply by Les Bamburg on June 2, 2011 at 3:02

Joe, the RA designation is meaningless for the Haynesville Units because there are no separate reservoirs.  If you look at the Haynesville Units in the Red River-Bull Bayou Field you will see that RA, RB, RC & RD all cover the same interval.  That is because these are zone units rather than formation or sand units.  Most fields have only HA RA but in some cases an operator used a different reference well and applied for a new Haynesville zone (ie HA RB).   

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Permalink Reply by Joe Aldridge on June 2, 2011 at 3:22

Les, 

Could the designation RA, RB, etc. be used to delineate different depths of the lateral in the formation?

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