Abstract
Using well logs data only, the evaluation of shale gas hydrocarbon potential of Talhar Shale Member of Lower Goru Formation has been a challenge in Southern Lower Indus Basin in Pakistan. Well logs data analysis is helpful to evaluate the gas potential of source shale rocks. We introduced and applied empirical and graphical method to fulfil this task and derived geochemical parameters from well logs data. The method mentioned is cheap and fast. Talhar Shale has kerogen type III and type II which are montmorillonite clay and have potential to produce oil and gas. Talhar Shale has better sorption property. Empirical formulas are used to derive parameters, using well logs of porosity, density and uranium. Porosity and volume of kerogen, calculated from density log, give average values of 11.8% and 11.4%. Average value of level of maturity index (LMI) derived from log is 0.54, which indicates that it is at the early stage of maturity. Vitrinite reflectance is between 0.5%–0.55% as calculated by graphical method and empirical formula. Talhar Shale is at onset of oil generation, with main products of oil and gas. It is a good potential source in the study area.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References Cited
Ahmad, A., 1997. Source Rock Potential of Lower Goru in Well Bobi-4 Lower Indus Basin, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Hydrocarbon Research, 9: 83–89
Alyousuf, T., Algharbi, W., Algeer, R., et al., 2011. Source Rock Characterization of the Hanifa and Tuwaiq Mountain Formations in the Arabian Basin Based on Rock-Eval Pyrolysis and the Modified Delta Log R Method. SPE/DGS Saudi Arabia Section Technical Symposium and Exhibition, Al-Khobar
Ariketi, R., 2011. Estimation of Level of Organic Maturity (LOM) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) in Absence of Geochemical Data by Using Resistivity and Density Logs––Example from Cambay Shale, Tarapur Area, Cambay Basin, India. Jour. Indian Association of Sedimentologists, 30(1): 55–63
Godec, M., Koperna, G., Petrusak, R., et al., 2013. Potential for Enhanced Gas Recovery and CO2 Storage in the Marcellus Shale in the Eastern United States. International Journal of Coal Geology, 118: 95–104. https://doi.org/10.13039/100000015
GOP (Government of Pakistan), 2012. Petroleum Exploration Opportunities. Paper Presented at the Pakistan Petroleum Exploration Promotion Conference, Islamabad
Haider, B. A., Aizad, T., Ayaz, S. A., et al., 2012. A Comprehensive Shale Gas Exploitation Sequence for Pakistan and Other Emerging Shale Plays. SPE/PAPG Annual Technical Conference, Islamabad
Hanif, M., Hart, M. B., Grimes, S. T., et al., 2014. Integrated Stratigraphy and Palaeoenvironment of the P/E Boundary Interval, Rakhi Nala Section, Indus Basin (Pakistan). Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 7(1): 323–339. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-012-0812-2
HDIP (Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan), 2012. Pakistan Energy Yearbook 2012. Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan, Islamabad
Hill, R. J., Zhang, E. T., Katz, B. J., et al., 2007. Modeling of Gas Generation from the Barnett Shale, Fort Worth Basin, Texas. AAPG Bulletin, 91(4): 501–521. https://doi.org/10.1306/12060606063
Holditch, S., 2011. Unconventional Oil and Gas Go for the Source, Presentation. Texas A & M University, Texas
Hood, A., Gutjahr, C., Heacock, R., 1975. Organic Metamorphism and the Generation of Petroleum. AAPG Bulletin, 59: 986–996. https://doi.org/10.1306/83d91f06-16c7-11d7-8645000102c1865d
Kadri, I. B., 1995. Petroleum Geology of Pakistan. Pakistan Petroleum Limited Karachi, Islamabad
Khattak, F. G., Shafeeq, M., Ali, S. M., 1999. Regional Trends in Porosity and Permeability of Reservoir Horizons of Lower Goru Formation, Lower Indus Basin, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Hydrocarbon Research, 11: 37–50
Labani, M. M., Rezaee, R., 2012. Thermal Maturity Estimation of Gas Shale Layers from Conventional Well Log Data: A Case Study from Kockatea Shale and Carynginia Formation of Perth Basin Australia. SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, Perth
Lecompte, B., Hursan, G., 2010. Quantifying Source Rock Maturity from Logs: How to Get More than TOC from Delta Log R. Behavioural Brain Research, 193(1): 1–16
Magara, K., 1978. Compaction and Fluid Migration: Practical Petroleum Geology. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Netherlands
Machel, H. G., Krouse, H. R., Sassen, R., 1995. Products and Distinguishing Criteria of Bacterial and Thermochemical Sulfate Reduction. Applied Geochemistry, 10(4): 373–389. https://doi.org/10.1016/0883-2927(95)00008-8
Passey, Q. R., Creaney, S., Kulla, J., et al., 1990. A Practical Model for Organic Richness from Porosity and Resistivity Logs. AAPG Bulletin, 74: 1777–1794. https://doi.org/10.1306/0c9b25c9-1710-11d7-8645000102c1865d
Passey, Q. R., Bohacs, K., Esch, W. L., et al., 2010. From Oil-Prone Source Rock to Gas-Producing Shale Reservoir-Geologic and Petrophysical Characterization of Unconventional Shale-Gas Reservoirs. SPE Paper 131350 Presented at the CPS/SPE International Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition in China, Beijing
Prasad, M., 2001. Mapping Impedance Microstructures in Rocks with Acoustic Microscopy. The Leading Edge, 20(2): 172–179
Quadri, V. N., Shuaib, S. M., 1986. Hydrocarbon Prospects of Southern Indus Basin, Pakistan. AAPG Bulletin, 70: 730–747. https://doi.org/10.1306/94886344-1704-11d7-8645000102c1865d
Robison, C. R., Smith, M. A., Royle, R. A., 1999. Organic Facies in Cretaceous and Jurassic Hydrocarbon Source Rocks, Southern Indus Basin, Pakistan. International Journal of Coal Geology, 39(1/2/3): 205–225. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0166-5162(98)00046-9
Schmoker, J. W., 1979. Determination of Organic Content of Appalachian Devonian Shales from Formation-Density Logs: Geologic Notes. AAPG Bulletin, 63: 1504–1509. https://doi.org/10.1306/2f9185d1-16ce-11d7-8645000102c1865d
Schmoker, J. W., Hester, T. C., 1983. Organic Carbon in Bakken Formation, United States Portion of Williston Basin. AAPG Bulletin, 67: 2165–2174. https://doi.org/10.1306/ad460931-16f7-11d7-8645000102c1865d
Shazly, T., Ramadan, M., El-Sawy, M., 2013. Application of Well Logs Analysis to Identify the Source Rock Capabilities of Rudeis and Kareem Formations in Rudeis Field, Gulf of Suez, Egypt. Journal of Applied Sciences Research, 9(9): 5419–5435
Smith, M. A., Karl, W., Schwab, K. K. B., 1992. Organic Facies Analysis of Cretaceous Petroleum Source Rocks, Southern Indus Basin, Pakistan. AAPG Bulletin, 76: 1126–1127. https://doi.org/10.1306/f4c8fe26-1712-11d7-8645000102c1865d
Vernik, L., Liu, X. Z., 1997. Velocity Anisotropy in Shales: A Petrophysical Study. Geophysics, 62(2): 521–532. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1444162
Zhang, T. W., Ellis, G. S., Ruppel, S. C., et al., 2012. Effect of Organic-Matter Type and Thermal Maturity on Methane Adsorption in Shale-Gas Systems. Organic Geochemistry, 47(25): 120–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2012.03.012
Zhang, T., Ellis, G. E., Ruppel, S. C., et al., 2013. Effect of Organic Matter Properties Clay Mineral Type and Thermal Maturity on Gas Adsorption in Organic-Rich Shale Systems. Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, 72(2): 1996–2001
Acknowledgments
We thank Directorate General Petroleum Concession (DGPC) Pakistan, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) Pakistan and LMKR Pakistan for providing data for this research. We would also like to pay complements to Prof. Zulfiqar Ahmad from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad and Dr. Khalid Amin Khan (Chief-Geophysicist) from OGTI (Oil and Gas Training Institute, Pakistan) for their kind guidance and help to get data. Muhsan Ehsan would also like to pay his regards to his elder brother Mr. Mohsin Raza from University of East London, UK, his friends Mr. Tariq Zia from Department of Earth Science, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan and Mr. Ahsan Shafi from School of Public Administration, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, for their moral support and their help to complete this work. The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007s12583-016-0910-2.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ehsan, M., Gu, H., Akhtar, M.M. et al. Identification of Hydrocarbon Potential of Talhar Shale: Member of Lower Goru Formation Using Well Logs Derived Parameters, Southern Lower Indus Basin, Pakistan. J. Earth Sci. 29, 587–593 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-016-0910-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-016-0910-2