Abstract: Chemical Analysis of Gas Dissolved in Geothermal Waters in South Louisiana Well

O. C. Karkalits, B. E. Hankins

Formation waters in the geopressured zones of the northern Gulf Coast have been known for many years to contain dissolved methane in solution. Only within the last decade, however, has interest developed in the dissolved methane as a potential source of energy for the United States.

Literature on the dissolved methane is still sparse, and there is no general agreement as to the degree of saturation of natural gas in geopressured waters. The U.S. Geological Survey in 1975 published an estimate of the methane content of Gulf Coast geopressured waters. In making the estimate, saturation of the waters was assumed.

In a project funded by the Energy Research and Development Administration, the gas content was measured of the waters from two aquifers in the geopressured zone in a well in South Louisiana, the Edna Delcambre et al 1, Tigre Lagoon field, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. The aquifers are a part of the Planulina basin, which is an early Miocene depositional basin. The aquifers involved are sand-bed aquifer 3 (12,900 ft or 3,932 m) and sand-bed aquifer 1 (12,600 ft or 3,840 m).

The composition of the gas from a gas/water separator at the surface was determined on several samples during the 15-day test period on each aquifer, from both bottom-hole samples as well as by recombination of water and gas taken from the separator.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90961©1978 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma