New Techniques
for New Discoveries – Results from the Lisbon Field Area,
Seneshen, David M.1,
Thomas C. Chidsey2, Craig D. Morgan2, Michael D. Vanden Berg2 (1) Direct Geochemical, Golden, CO (2) Utah Geological Survey,
Innovative surface geochemical techniques
were tested over Mississippian Leadville Limestone reservoirs of the
Approximately 400 soil samples were
collected along grid lines over 15 mi2 and analyzed for C1-C12
hydrocarbons, heavy aromatic hydrocarbons, 53 major and trace elements, and
seven anion species. In addition, vegetation tissue and soils from joints in
outcrops of the Jurassic Navajo and Wingate Sandstones were sampled to compare
with the soil results. Free gas samples were collected from 6-ft depth over the
new discovery and known non-productive areas off the structures.
Results to date are very encouraging.
Productive and non-productive areas can be distinguished based on absolute
concentrations of hydrogen, propane, nButane, nPentane, and carbon dioxide in free gas samples. Microseepage in soils is also different in terms of synchronous
scanned fluorescence spectral patterns. The discriminant
function separating microseepage over productive and
non-productive areas correctly predicts the location of the new production
southwest of
AAPG Search and Discover Article #90063©2007 AAPG Annual Convention, Long Beach, California