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Barnett Shale-gas Analysis
Summary:
The Mississippian Barnett Shale of the Fort Worth Basin (FWB) (figure 1) is a “shale-gas” system composed of a mixture of laminated siliceous mudstone, laminated argillaceous lime mudstone (marl), and skeletal argillaceous lime packstones. Newark East field, the largest gas field in Texas, is developed in this Barnett “shale-gas” system. The Barnett Formation continues to be an active target for shale gas in the FWB, as well as in the adjacent Permian Basin. Much effort has been devoted to understanding exploration methods, completion techniques, organic content, and maturation in this system. However, little has been published on the sedimentology, lithofacies, or depositional setting of these rocks. To help maximize the resources from this shale-gas system, The STARR Program has been studying the Barnett strata using wireline logs, cores, and outcrops. Research efforts are underway to understand the regional depositional setting, lithofacies, and pore networks (fractures and nanopores). This effort will help define exploration limits of production and provide data for defining completion techniques.
Data used:
Well logs – correlations
Cores – facies, porosity, and diagenesis (core example)
Literature – background information
Production/Engineering data – best producing intervals and sweet spots
Counties:
Wise, Montague, Cooke, Clay, Denton, Jack, Palo Pinto, Parker, Hood, Erath, Somervell, Bosque, Hill, Johnson, Tarrant, Ellis, Dallas