Geochemical Characterization of Natural Gas … Tioga Alamo Rhame Ashley Wishek Gackle Marion Dick...
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North Dakota Geological Survey Geologic Investigations No. 183 Edward C. Murphy, State Geologist Lynn D. Helms, Director Dept. of Mineral Resources " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Jud Za p Ma x Ray Le hr Kulm Nom e Le al Pag e Hop e Lo m a Ma za Yo rk Kno x My lo Kief Win g Rus o Ros s Mo tt Oa ke s Daz ey Oxb o w Alice Ane ta Pek in Tol na Gilb y Min to Pisek Adams Nec he Alsen Cal io Wale s Per th Can d o Cra r y Le ed s Balt a Rol la La nd a Dra ke Ve lva Uph a m Reg a n Hag u e Sole n Le ith Elgin Haz en But te Ryd er Gr an o Plaz a Dod g e Go lva Bea ch Tio ga Alamo Rha m e Ash ley Wish e k Ga ckle Ma r ion Dick ey Ve ron a Berlin Fo r be s Lu dd e n Hav an a Fo r ma n Miln o r Lisb o n Fin g al Or iska Rog e rs Sible y Me d ina Ken sa l Tap p en Daw so n Ste ele Tu ttle Bar ne y Dwig h t Col fax Hor a ce Hun te r Bux to n Hat to n Fin le y Sha ro n Bow do n Cat ha y Har ve y La ko ta Ma n ve l Ard oc h Hoo p le Con wa y La nk in Hen se l Milt on Nek om a Mu n ich Cal vin Han n ah Sar les Bisb ee La wto n Edm o re Ob er o n Esm on d Kra m er Ove r ly Sou ris Ant ler Ber ge n Tow ne r Ban tr y Ma r tin Lin to n Car so n Almont Heb r on Cen te r Beu la h Me r ce r Ma ko ti Saw ye r Sur re y Car p io Tol ley Mo h all Por ta l Tay lor Reg e nt Hay ne s Ree d er Amidon Epp in g Noo n an Cro sb y Wilto n Ze e lan d La m ou re Edg el ey Mo n an go Gw inn er Elliot t She ld on Kat hr yn San bo r n Ping re e Walc ot t Kind re d Har wo o d Ga rd n er Gr an d in Buff alo Lu ve rn e Binf or d Ham b e rg Nia ga ra Em er ad o Ink ste r Gr af to n Dra yt on Cry sta l Ege la nd Bro cke t Ham p d en War wic k Ma d do ck Wolf or d Rol ett e St J oh n New bu r g Ga rd e na Balf ou r Lin co ln Fla sh e r Sta nto n Dou g las Ken m ar e Lo ra in e Fla xt on Lig nit e Buc yru s Am br os e Fo r tun a La ng d on Dee r ing Ma n nin g Ve n tu ria Fr e do nia Nap o leo n Cog sw ell End er lin Stre e te r Buc ha na n Rob in so n Mo o re to n Wyn dm e r e Ma n ta do r Ma p let on Cliffo r d Ma yv ille Por tla nd Mc He n ry She ye nn e Syke st on Mc Ville Mic hig a n Rey no ld s Th o mp so n La rim o re Edin b ur g Fa ir da le Mo u nt ain Ham ilt on Bat hg at e Cav ali er Walh a lla Han sb o ro Roc kla ke La ns fo rd Wes th op e Ana m oo se Vo lta ir e Go od r ich Haz elt on Bra dd o ck Ben ed ict Was hb u rn Ga rr iso n Des L ac s Ber th old Gle nb u rn She rw oo d Bow be lls Col um b us New Tow n Hal lida y Killde e r Belf ield Ga sco yn e Scr an to n Ma r ma r th Arn eg a rd Wild ro se Belc ou rt Ellen d ale Fu lle rt on Pillsb ur y Wim bl ed on Cle vel an d Woo d wo rt h Cou r te na y Pet tib on e Han kin so n Fa ir mo u nt Chr ist ine Dav en p or t Cas se lto n Ga les bu r g Han n af or d Gle nf ield Fe ss en d en Nor th wo o d Fo r dvi lle St T h om a s Osn a br oc k Brin sm a de Kar lsr uh e Gr an ville Mc Clu sk y Stra sb u rg Self rid ge New Sale m Pick City Und e rw oo d Rive rd a le Gla ds to ne Het tin ge r Alex an de r Gr ac e City Litc hv ille Mo n tp elie r Lid ge r wo od Gr ea t Ben d Arg us ville Tow er City Hur d sfie ld Pet er sb ur g Park Rive r Fo r t Ya te s Gle n Ullin Col eh ar b or Bur ling to n Don n yb ro ok Rich ar d to n Fo r t Ran so m Abe rc ro m bie Coo p er st ow n Min n ew au ka n Willo w C ity New Le ipz ig Tu rt le La ke Pow er s La ke Wh ite Ear th Dun n Cen te r Sou th Hea r t New Eng la nd New Roc kfo r d Fo r est Rive r Sta rkw ea th e r Spr ing Bro ok Chu r ch s Fe r ry Go lde n Va lle y Sen tin el But te Spir itw oo d La ke Pale rm o Gr en o ra Red River Misso uri Knife Sheyenn e River James River Heart Souris Bo is de Sioux Cannonb all Little M isso uri River River Little Yellowston e R. Muddy River River River Cedar Creek River Little M isso uri River James River River River Red River Red River Devils Lake Souris River Souris River Des La c River River LAKE SAKAKAW EA OAHE LAKE LAKE SAKAKAW EA Pembina Sheyenn e Red River River * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ( / 85 ( / 85 ( / 2 ( / 2 ( / 52 ( / 52 ( / 83 ( / 83 ( / 2 ( / 52 ( / 83 § ¨ ¦ 29 § ¨ ¦ 94 § ¨ ¦ 29 § ¨ ¦ 29 § ¨ ¦ 94 § ¨ ¦ 94 5 6 1 2 3 4 μ 104 o R 10 0 W 103 o R 10 2 W R 96 W R 92 W 102 o R 94 W R 88 W R 84 W 101 o R 86 W R 80 W R 76 W R 78 W R 72 W 100 o R 68 W R 70 W R 64 W 99 o R 60 W R 62 W R 56 W 98 o R 10 4 W 46 o T 130 N 104 o R 10 0 W 103 o R 98 W R 10 2 W R 96 W R 92 W 102 o R 90 W R 94 W R 88 W R 84 W 101 o R 82 W R 86 W R 76 W R 74 W R 78 W 100 o R 68 W R 66 W R 70 W 99 o R 60 W R 58 W R 62 W R 56 W 98 o R 54 W R 52 W 49 o 49 o R 48 W R 54 W R 52 W 97 o 48 o T 162 N T 160 N T 158 N T 156 N T 154 N 47 o T 150 N T 148 N T 146 N T 144 N T 142 N T 140 N T 138 N T 136 N T 134 N 46 o T 132 N T 130 N 48 o T 162 N T 160 N T 158 N T 156 N T 154 N 47 o T 150 N T 148 N T 146 N T 144 N T 142 N T 140 N T 138 N T 136 N T 134 N T 132 N Geochemical Characterization of Natural Gas Occurrences in Selected Ground-Water Wells in North Dakota Fred J. Anderson 2015 0 10 20 30 40 Miles 0 10 20 30 40 Kilometers Lambert Conformal Conic North American Datum 1983 1:1,000,000 Scale Cartographic Compilation: Elroy L. Kadrmas Township Boundaries County Boundaries Selected Major Rivers or Creeks City/Town Boundaries " City/Town Locations Wa ter Interstate Highway § ¨ ¦ 29 ( / 83 US Highway Misc Symbols Figure 2. Methane isotope results from this study (red numbered diamonds) plotted with ranges of results from previous studies focused on the origin of natural gas in other basins. Samples collected from this study fall in the range previously identified from other studies to be of microbial methanogenic origin (modified from Pantano, 2012 and Whiticar, 1999). Figure 1. Ground-water sample collected from a shallow private ground water supply well in south central McHenry County, North Dakota (15107729ADD). Dissolved natural gas bubbles, consisting primarily of methane, coming out of solution give the upper portion of the water a cloudy or "milky" appearance. Samples like this one, obtained from shallow Cretaceous to Quaternary age aquifiers, in many areas of the state are commonly ignitable. The occurrence of natural gas in shallow ground-water wells has been reported from as early as the 1900's and on up to today across North Dakota. Numerous reports from the public have been received from private water supply well owners, dominantly in central and eastern North Dakota, over the last decade as a result of ongoing hydrogeological investigations into the occurrence and potential of North Dakota shallow gas resources conducted at the North Dakota Geological Survey (NDGS). The NDGS has received over 100 reports of natural gas occurrence in shallow ground- water wells which are depicted on this map at a scale of 1:1.000.000. The NDGS visited each of the anecdotally reported well locations during the 2012 field season in order to assess the viability of contemporary testing and validation of the continued presence of natural gas in the well. From this work, 25 well locations had an existing well that could be tested for the presence of natural gas and were confirmed to have positive shows of methane in the water produced from the wells. (Figure 1). Confirmation of the presence of natural gas (as methane) was tested using a portable Flame Ioniztion Detector (FID) specifically calibrated to detect methane. Wells at the other locations visited had either been abandoned or destroyed many years earlier or were no longer in service, and as a result were unable to produce water for further testing and analysis. From the wells that were confirmed (by FID field testing) to contain methane, six wells were selected for continued ground-water geochemical testing and methane isotope analyses, in order to provide clues as to the possible origins of the natural gas occurring in these shallow ground-water wells. The six wells selected ranged from locations in north-central to eastern to southeastern North Dakota. The wells tested produced groundwater from likely aquifer sources ranging from Cretaceous to Quaternary age. The depths of tested wells were commonly in the range of 120-620 feet (Table 1). Methane concentrations detected in the groundwater from these selected wells range in concentration from approximately 62% to 90% methane (Mol %) with minor amounts of ethane (Table 2). No longer chain hydrocarbons (e.g. pentane) were detected in any of the samples tested. Methane isotope analyses revealed values (Table 3) consistent with other studies (Pantano, 2012 - Whiticar, 1999) that were suggestive of shallow natural gas of a biogenic character (Figure 2) originating from a coal substrate (either as shallow bedded coals or detrial lignites) which are common in shallow bedrock and buried-valley aquifers arcoss the state. The data presented here support the conclusion that shallow natural gas occurrences in these types of wells originate from naturally occurring organics present within the shallow aquifer systems and not from deeper migrated or other anthropogenic sources. INVESTIGATION SUMMARY Anderson, F.J., 2014, Index Map of Ground-Water Wells Investigated for Shallow Gas Occurrence in North Dakota, North Dakota Geological Survery, Miscellaneous Map No. 41, 1:400,000. Pantano, C.P., 2012, Hydrogeochemical Controls on Microbial Coalbed Methane Accumulations in the Williston Basin, North Dakota, M.S. Thesis, Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, 77 p. Whiticar, M.J., 1999, Carbon and hydrogen isotope systematics of microbial formation and oxidation of methane. Chemical Geology 161, 291-314. Geologic Symbols * Ground-Water Wells Sampled for Methane Isotope Analyses * 1 * 2 * 3 * 6 * 4 * 5 15107729ADD 14806723BAA 14004906CDC 13605512CCA 15907215AAD 15807909CBB * Ground-Water Well with FID Confirmed Anecdotal Shallow Gas Occurrence * Ground-Water Well with Reported Anecdotal Shallow Gas Occurrence SELECTED REFERENCES Gas Composition Radar Diagram Scale is logarithmic in Mol %. Table 2. Ground-Water Sample Gas Composition Analysis Summary Methane Ethane Nitrogen Argon Oxygen Carbon Dioxide Helium Hydrogen Carbon Monoxide Ethylene Propane Propylene Butane 1 Pentane 1 Hexane+ CH 4 C 2 H 6 N 2 Ar O 2 CO 2 He H 2 CO C 2 H 4 C 3 H 6 C 3 H 6 C 4 H 10 C 5 H 12 C 6 H 14 + 15107729ADD 74.38 0.0190 23.79 0.307 0.83 0.62 0.0513 -- -- -- -- 0.0001 -- -- -- 754 0.665 14806723BAA 78.76 0.0031 18.96 0.281 1.06 0.92 0.0117 -- -- -- 0.0002 0.0006 -- -- -- 798 0.649 14004906CDC 89.77 0.0019 6.34 0.167 0.076 3.65 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 910 0.617 13605512CCA 0.0973 -- 94.39 1.660 2.04 1.81 NA -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 0.986 15907215AAD 62.04 0.0198 36.15 0.540 0.87 0.36 0.0170 0.04 -- -- -- 0.0002 -- -- -- 629 0.716 15807909CBB 79.37 0.0209 19.59 0.268 0.29 0.43 0.0298 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 805 0.643 -- Not detected NA = Not Analyzed 1 includes n- and iso- compounds 2 calculated values Note: Reported chemical compositions are normalized to 100%. Mol. % is approximately equal to Vol. %. Well Name\ID BTU/ft 3 Dry Specific Gravity 2 Gas Composition (Mol %) 0.1 1 10 100 CH4 N2 Ar O2 CO2 Table 1. Ground-Water Well and Samples Collected Location Summary Approximate Well Name\ID Longitude Latitude Well Depth (ft bls) Date Sampled Time Sampled 15107729ADD -100.54432 47.87029 210 6/12/2013 14:10 14806723BAA -99.17126 47.63044 245 6/13/2013 12:15 14004906CDC -96.92703 46.96507 150 6/12/2013 19:00 13605512CCA -97.54799 46.60399 620 6/13/2013 09:30 15907215AAD -99.92955 48.59295 220 6/13/2013 20:30 15807909CBB -100.88477 48.52381 120 6/14/2013 09:15 1 Longitude and latitude values displayed in World Geodet i c System 1984 (WGS84) coordinates. Location 1 i Table 3. Gas Composition Isotopes Summary δ 13 CO 2 δ 13 CH4 δ 13 DCH 4 14 C 0 / 00 0 / 00 0 / 00 pMC 15107729ADD -12.92 -81.35 -278.3 <0.2 14806723BAA -6.81 -81.02 -286.4 <0.2 14004906CDC -5.77 -78.34 -310.7 <0.2 13605512CCA -14.3 NA NA <0.2 15907215AAD -17.3 -83.58 -279.8 <0.2 15807909CBB -19.5 -79.51 -262.6 <0.2 0 / 00 = per mil (parts per thousand) Note: Isotopic composition of carbon is relat i ve to the Vienna Peedee Belemnite standard (VPDB). NA = Not Analysed Well Name\ID
Transcript of Geochemical Characterization of Natural Gas … Tioga Alamo Rhame Ashley Wishek Gackle Marion Dick...
North Dakota Geological SurveyGeologic Investigations No. 183
Edward C. Murphy, State GeologistLynn D. Helms, Director Dept. of Mineral Resources
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Geochemical Characterization of Natural Gas Occurrences inSelected Ground-Water Wells in North Dakota
Fred J. Anderson2015
0 10 20 30 40Miles
0 10 20 30 40Kilometers
Lambert Conforma l ConicNorth American Datum 1983
1:1,000,000Scale
Cartographic Compilation: Elroy L. Kadrmas
Township Boundaries
County Boundaries
Selected Major Rivers or Creeks
City/Town Boundaries
" City/Town Locations
Water Interstate Highway§̈¦29
(/83 US Highway
Misc Symbols
Figure 2. Methane isotope results from this study (red numbered diamonds) plotted with rangesof results from previous studies focused on the origin of na tural gas in other basins. Samplescollected from this study fall in the range previously identified from other studies to be ofmicrobial methanogenic origin (modified f rom Pantano, 2012 and Whiticar, 1999).
Figure 1. Ground-water sample collected from a shallowprivate ground water supply well in south centralMcHenry County, Nor th Dakota (15107729ADD).Dissolved natural gas bubbles, consisting primar ily ofmethane, coming out of solution give the upper portion ofthe water a c loudy or "milky" appearance. Samples likethis one, obtained from shallow Cre taceous to Quaternaryage aquif iers, in many areas of the state are commonlyignitable.
The occurrence of natural gas in shallow ground-water wells has been reported from as early as the 1900's and on up to today across North Dakota.Numerous reports from the public have been received from private water supply well owners, dominantly in central and eastern North Dakota, overthe last decade as a result of ongoing hydrogeological investigations into the occurrence and potential of North Dakota shallow gas resources conducted at the North Dakota Geological Survey (NDGS). The NDGS has received over 100 reports of natural gas occurrence in shallow ground-water wells which are depicted on this map at a scale of 1:1.000.000. The NDGS visited each of the anecdotally reported well locations during the 2012 field season in order to assess the viability of contemporarytesting and validation of the continued presence of natural gas in the well. From this work, 25 well locations had an existing well that could be testedfor the presence of natural gas and were confirmed to have positive shows of methane in the water produced from the wells. (Figure 1).Confirmation of the presence of natural gas (as methane) was tested using a portable Flame Ioniztion Detector (FID) specificallycalibrated to detect methane. Wells at the other locations visited had either been abandoned or destroyed many years earlier or were no longer inservice, and as a result were unable to produce water for further testing and analysis. From the wells that were confirmed (by FID field testing) to contain methane, six wells were selected for continued ground-water geochemical testingand methane isotope analyses, in order to provide clues as to the possible origins of the natural gas occurring in these shallow ground-water wells.The six wells selected ranged from locations in north-central to eastern to southeastern North Dakota. The wells tested produced groundwater fromlikely aquifer sources ranging from Cretaceous to Quaternary age. The depths of tested wells were commonly in the range of 120-620 feet (Table 1). Methane concentrations detected in the groundwater from these selected wells range in concentration from approximately 62% to 90% methane (Mol%) with minor amounts of ethane (Table 2). No longer chain hydrocarbons (e.g. pentane) were detected in any of the samples tested. Methaneisotope analyses revealed values (Table 3) consistent with other studies (Pantano, 2012 - Whiticar, 1999) that were suggestive of shallow natural gas ofa biogenic character (Figure 2) originating from a coal substrate (either as shallow bedded coals or detrial lignites) which are common in shallowbedrock and buried-valley aquifers arcoss the state. The data presented here support the conclusion that shallow natural gas occurrences in these typesof wells originate from naturally occurring organics present within the shallow aquifer systems and not from deeper migrated or other anthropogenicsources.
INVESTIGATION SUMMARY
Anderson, F.J., 2014, Index Map of Ground-Water Wells Investiga ted for Shallow GasOccurrence in North Dakota, North Dakota Geological Survery, Miscellaneous Map No.41, 1:400,000.
Pantano, C.P., 2012, Hydrogeochemical Controls on Microbial Coalbed MethaneAccumulations in the Williston Basin, North Dakota, M.S. Thesis, Department ofHydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, 77 p.
Whiticar, M.J., 1999, Carbon and hydrogen isotope systematics of microbia l formationand oxida tion of methane. Chemical Geology 161, 291-314.
Geologic Symbols
* Ground-Water Wells Sampledfor Methane Isotope Analyses
*1*2*3
*6*4*5
15107729ADD
14806723BAA
14004906CDC
13605512CCA
15907215AAD
15807909CBB
* Ground-Water Well withFID Confirmed AnecdotalShallow Gas Occurrence
* Ground-Water Well withReported AnecdotalShallow Gas Occurrence
SELECTED REFERENCES
Gas Composition Radar Diagram
Scale is logarithmic in Mol %.
Table 2. Ground-Water Sample Gas Composition Analysis Summary
Methane Ethane Nitrogen Argon OxygenCarbonDioxide Helium Hydrogen
CarbonMonoxide Ethylene Propane Propylene Butane1 Pentane1 Hexane+
CH4 C2H6 N2 Ar O2 CO2 He H2 CO C2H4 C3H6 C3H6 C4H10 C5H12 C6H14+15107729ADD 74.38 0.0190 23.79 0.307 0.83 0.62 0.0513 -- -- -- -- 0.0001 -- -- -- 754 0.66514806723BAA 78.76 0.0031 18.96 0.281 1.06 0.92 0.0117 -- -- -- 0.0002 0.0006 -- -- -- 798 0.64914004906CDC 89.77 0.0019 6.34 0.167 0.076 3.65 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 910 0.61713605512CCA 0.0973 -- 94.39 1.660 2.04 1.81 NA -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 0.98615907215AAD 62.04 0.0198 36.15 0.540 0.87 0.36 0.0170 0.04 -- -- -- 0.0002 -- -- -- 629 0.71615807909CBB 79.37 0.0209 19.59 0.268 0.29 0.43 0.0298 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 805 0.643-- Not detectedNA = Not Analyzed1 includes n- and iso- compounds2 calculated valuesNote: Reported chemical compositions are normalized to 100%. Mol. % is approximately equal to Vol. %.
Well Name\ID BTU/ft3Dry
SpecificGravity2
Gas Composition (Mol %)
0.1
1
10
100CH4
N2
ArO2
CO2
Table 1. Ground-Water Well and Samples Collected Location SummaryApproximate
Well Name\ID Longitude Latitude Well Depth (ft bls) Date Sampled Time Sampled15107729ADD -100.54432 47.87029 210 6/12/2013 14:1014806723BAA -99.17126 47.63044 245 6/13/2013 12:1514004906CDC -96.92703 46.96507 150 6/12/2013 19:0013605512CCA -97.54799 46.60399 620 6/13/2013 09:3015907215AAD -99.92955 48.59295 220 6/13/2013 20:3015807909CBB -100.88477 48.52381 120 6/14/2013 09:151Longitude and latitude values displayed in World Geodeti c System 1984 (WGS84) coordinates.
Location1
i
Table 3. Gas Composition Isotopes Summary
δ13CO2 δ13CH4 δ13DCH4 14C0/00
0/000/00 pMC
15107729ADD -12.92 -81.35 -278.3 <0.214806723BAA -6.81 -81.02 -286.4 <0.214004906CDC -5.77 -78.34 -310.7 <0.213605512CCA -14.3 NA NA <0.215907215AAD -17.3 -83.58 -279.8 <0.215807909CBB -19.5 -79.51 -262.6 <0.20/00 = per mil (parts per thousand)Note: Isotopic composition of carbon is relati ve to the Vienna Peedee Belemnite standard (VPDB).NA = Not Analysed
Well Name\ID
