Glick, Emily V.
(2018)
CONNECTIVITY OF THE ORISKANY SANDSTONE WITH THE MARCELLUS SHALE: EFFECTS ON SHALE GAS OPERATIONS IN NORTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Marcellus Shale flowback and produced waters from lateral wells in North Central Pennsylvania have higher overall total dissolved solids and lower overall gas production than other areas of the Appalachian Basin. Marcellus Shale development in North Central Pennsylvania is unique in that it is the only area developed where historic vertical well gas fields exist in the Oriskany Sandstone, approximately 7-26 meters below the Marcellus Shale. This research explores potential effects on Marcellus Shale lateral well operations and production due to hydraulic connections between the Oriskany Sandstone and the Marcellus Shale. This connectivity is thought to adversely affect Marcellus Shale production operations in North Central Pennsylvania, but thus far, mechanistic clarification of production in North Central Pennsylvania has not been formalized and/or reported. The stratigraphic and structural review of the study area within North Central Pennsylvania identifies which Marcellus Shale lateral well pads are most likely to be connected with the Oriskany. The data reveals that the presence of the Oriskany Sandstone does not significantly affect formation breakdown pressures during the completion of the Marcellus laterals, nor percent fluid recovered during flowback, nor the volume of gas and water, nor the produced water geochemistry. The δ18O and δ2H isotopic composition of produced waters from the study area suggest possible mixing between waters characteristic of Oriskany and Marcellus Formations. A structural complexity calculator was developed to analyze if the structural profile of a lateral well (presence of faults, extreme bed dips, etc.) affects the completion or production of the laterals. The structural complexity calculations reveal that Marcellus Shale lateral well formation breakdown pressure, gas and water production volumes, and produced water geochemistry are affected by pre-existing structural features that the lateral wells intercept. This research identifies important interactions among lateral wells, historic gas fields, and structure. Clarification of these interactions will allow more efficient future Marcellus Shale lateral wells in North Central Pennsylvania.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
| Title | Member | Email Address | Pitt Username | ORCID |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Bain, Daniel | | | | | Committee Member | Stewart, Brian | | | | | Committee Member | Jones, Charles | | | |
|
| Date: |
30 January 2018 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
6 September 2017 |
| Approval Date: |
30 January 2018 |
| Submission Date: |
29 November 2017 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
120 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Geology and Environmental Science |
| Degree: |
MS - Master of Science |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Marcellus, Oriskany, shale gas, Appalachian Basin, structure, produced water, produced gas, well, North Central Pennsylvania, geosteering |
| Additional Information: |
This is intended to be Final |
| Date Deposited: |
30 Jan 2018 16:24 |
| Last Modified: |
30 Jan 2018 16:24 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/33508 |
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