Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on August 28, 2013 at 8:59

Depth of burial may well impact more than formation pressure.  It will likely change the nature of the hydrocarbon owing to thermal maturity.  Less oil; more condensate and gas.  You'll want to track API gravity.  WTI is 39.6 degree.  Condensate is 45 to 75 degree.  Much of the "oil" being produced in a number of plays is actually condensate.  There is so much liquid production these days that some operators have taken to using the term, "black oil", to differentiate between crude and condensate.  Condensate has fewer long chain carbon molecules than crude and will "crack" into fewer marketable components.  Behind the lack of pipelines connecting shale oil to refineries, the next biggest hurdle is the fact that many Gulf Coast refineries were built to handle heavier crude because prior to the emergence of shale oil that's what they expected to import.  13,500 to 15,000' TVD is getting very deep for crude.

Permalink Reply by Steve on August 28, 2013 at 9:58

Thanks for your  explanation. Very interesting.

In W.Fel. Parish we are told by some industry professionals that the TMS in the deeper areas like mid-northern W. Fel below Wilkinson County, should have a greater % of gas but should still be primarily still oil. Also, they opined that is possible and perhaps likely that the potential for oil recovery is higher as you go deeper (to a point) due to the higher gas % and they say there is more calcite in the rock which should improve porosity or frackability. I do not know if this is factual but the sources of this theory are knowledgeable about TMS geology. The downside is that it will be more costly to find out if that theory is correct. The Murphy well that Devon drilled is a few miles northwest of the area I am talking about.  It  had a good oil  vs. gas show at +13k feet. Encana, early on, was preparing to drill a well in an area of W. Fel where the depth of the TMS is at 14.5K feet. They even built a pad over a year ago with a 1.7 mi. access road, have maintained it to now, but, they pushed the "calendared" spud date back at least 2 times that I know of. Now, they have no spud date on their calendar and employees tell us they are just watching and waiting for someone to update their drilling calendar??? What I am saying is that at least at some point drilling to 14.5k TVD was on Encana's to-do list.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on August 28, 2013 at 10:02

All I'm saying is that the degree gravity of any liquids produced will be different at those depths.  And likely not "black oil" but some form of condensate.  Degree gravity is relevant.

Permalink Reply by Steve on August 28, 2013 at 10:19

I guess they will have to drill to find out. I hope they try anyway. My wife keeps saying she needs more shoes.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on August 28, 2013 at 10:29

The Devon wells have quite good gravity for their depth.  Most are in the 12,900 to 13,200 TVD range with 40 to 41 degree gravity which would be black oil.  Even the deepest to 14,200' is still black oil at 43 degree.  Thermal maturity can vary by a number of variables. And in the area of the Devon wells condensate gravities may not be encountered until somewhat deeper than 14,200'.  Your wife may get her shoes after all.  LOL!

Permalink Reply by Steve on August 28, 2013 at 12:08

Not that she really needs any!

Permalink Reply by jffree1 on August 28, 2013 at 12:47

No opinions on TMS. I watch it but it is far out of my bailiwick and won't be of great interest to me until they find some on the East Texas border.

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