Pub. 2 2020-2021 Issue 1

P roduction from unconventional oil and gas reservoirs has revolu- tionized the domestic energy landscape and has allowed the U.S. to become the world’s top oil producer. But there’s more research to be done because maximizing oil and gas production from unconventional reservoirs continues to be a challenge. One example of an under-drilled, unconventional oil play is located in the northern Paradox Basin of southeastern Utah in Grand and San Juan Counties. Approximately 300 million years ago, the Paradox Basin was covered by an ocean that left behind thousands of feet of interbedded rocks and salt. The thin, tight clastic zones of the Pennsylvanian Paradox Formation, such as the Cane Creek, are estimated to hold large quantities of natural gas and over 400 million barrels of oil. Although oil and gas companies are interested in this emerging play, current wells often fall short of production expectations due to technological hurdles. Most wells are drilled to intersect natural fractures since the mechanically ductile salt layers above and below the thin reservoirs can mobilize during stimulation, resulting in formation damage that shuts down production. The current reservoir practices are aimed at locating and drilling perpendicular to these natural fractures. This approach has resulted in some excellent wells, but many more wells are underperforming, and much of the formation remains Approximately 300 million years ago, the Paradox Basin was covered by an ocean that left behind thousands of feet of interbedded rocks and salt. The thin, tight clastic zones of the Pennsylvanian Paradox Formation, such as the Cane Creek, are estimated to hold large quantities of natural gas and over 400 million barrels of oil. New Research Well Planned for Northern Paradox Basin Continued on page 10 9 UP DATE