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Biogenic gas occurrence in the Niobrara Formation, eastern Denver Basin, Colorado, USA

Imurai, Wittaya
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Sonnenberg, Stephen A.
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2024
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2024 - Mines Theses & Dissertations
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IMURAI_mines_0052N_12851.pdf
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https://hdl.handle.net/11124/179264
Embargo Expires
2025-05-26
Abstract
Natural gas is one of the most important energy resources around the world. This natural gas can be separated into two origins: thermogenic and biogenic. Thermogenic gas is the most common worldwide, accounting for 85 percent of conventional gas reserves, the remaining natural gas reserves have a biogenic origin. One of the most famous biogenic gas fields is the Beecher Island field, which produces biogenic gas from the Niobrara Formation in the eastern part of the Denver Basin. The petroleum system of the biogenic play in the eastern part of the Denver Basin is a proven system. The maturity data are from high TOC marl intervals in the Niobrara Formation and overlying shale from Sharon Springs Member of the Pierre Shale. The A Chalk of the Niobrara Formation is considered as a reservoir for this play. This reservoir has high porosity but low permeability and is comprised of chalk-rich fecal pellets and planktonic foraminifera. The structure in the eastern part of the Denver Basin is a gentle dipping bed to the west. However, some areas have a small structural closure and biogenic gas accumulation in high structures related to Permian salt dissolution. The great thickness of the impermeable Sharon Springs shale layer covers all of Niobrara Formation as a regional seal and makes the structural trap type in the eastern part of the Denver Basin a successful play. As discussed above, most of the petroleum system elements of biogenic gas play in the eastern part of the Denver Basin were analyzed and defined. However, there is still room for improvement and an unknown factor that will help unlock the petroleum potential in this area.
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