DOE-supported publication updates Utah, Wyoming, Colorado oil plays
A new Utah Geological Survey publication provides updated information about potential crude oil plays in Wyoming and Colorado as well, the US Department of Energy said on May 18.
It said that UGS, with funding from DOE's Fossil Energy Office's National Energy Technology Laboratory, has identified geographic areas with petroleum production potential based on favorable source rock, migration paths, reservoir characteristics and other characteristics.
The three-state portfolio is important to US energy supplies because Utah oil fields alone hold more than 250 million bbl, DOE said. It said that the report can assist not only producers, but also landowners, bankers, investors, economists, utilities, manufacturers, and government agencies.
Small, independent producers who do not have full exploratory resources will particularly benefit, it added.
DOE said that the portfolio contains comprehensive maps provide geologic settings, outcrop analogs, land-use issues, best-development practices and other useful data for each oil-producing area within the three states.
It builds on previous versions which identified 10 oil plays and 13 sub-plays, including the Paradox Basin, the Uinta Basin, and the Utah thrust belt as well as a major new discovery, the Covenant field, DOE said.
The areas have produced more than 1.3 billion bbl historically, it noted. Although the 13.7 million bbl produced in 2002 marked a 40-year low point and a steady production decline, the discovery of the Covenant field reversed that decline, it said.
Ultimate benefits from the portfolio's release are expected to include new oil field discoveries, increased recoverable oil from existing fields, prevention of premature abandonment of small fields, identification of the newest drilling and recovery techniques, widespread use of best practices in each producing province, and reduction in development costs and risks, according to DOE.
The portfolio is available on CD through the NETL CD-DVD ordering system, it said.
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