Characterization of the Woodford Shale in Outcrop and Subsurface in Pontotoc and Coal Counties, Oklahoma

Miller, Ryan¹, Roger Young² (1) Devon Energy Corporation, Oklahoma City, OK (2) University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

In the Arkoma basin the Woodford shale has been exploited as an unconventional resource due to advancements in the geological and engineering fields in the past three years. Gas production from the Woodford shale is facilitated by natural and hydraulic fracturing of the formation. The focus of this study is the characterization of the Woodford to better understand the natural fracturing. Data in the form 2D and 3D seismic data sets, well logs and a Woodford shale outcrop were utilized.

The Woodford shale was interpreted on available well data. The resulting tops were correlated to the 2D and 3D seismic data sets to provide a regional stratigraphic and structural interpretation of the Woodford in the study area.

The principal stress components were characterized from the world stress map and FMI data. Well logs in the 3D seismic survey served as the primary source of local paleostress and in situ stress orientations. The orientation of the faults and joints in the study area were correlated based on strike and dip. The result is a change in the strike orientation and degree of dip over the twenty-six miles separating the outcrop and the 3D seismic survey. The resulting characterization of the Woodford shale will facilitate gas production by exploiting natural fractures.