Geological Property Modelling in Support of the Safe Closure of the Medicine Hat – Alderson Gas Field in Southeastern Alberta, Canada
Amandeep Singh, Tony Lemay, Mike Berhane, Mahshid Babakhani, Kevin Parks, Ane Wiersma, Chris Filewich
In the proceedings of: GeoEdmonton 2018: 71st Canadian Geotechnical Conference; 13th joint with IAH-CNCSession: Regional Characterization
ABSTRACT: Niobrara Formation and the Alderson Member of the Upper Cretaceous Lea Park Formation in single boreholes throughout southeastern Alberta has been occurring since 1973. Many existing gas wells are nearing the end of their commercial life. the natural petroleum trap up-dip to aquifer-bearing units if the gas zones are left commingled after the fields are In answering this question, it was found that many conceptual models existed showing different, but plausible, understandings of: 1) the interconnection of reservoirs within the gas field; 2) the strength of seals isolating gas-bearing from water-bearing zones; 3) the connection between the gas-bearing and water-bearing portions of the Medicine Hat/Alderson/Milk River system; and 4) the controls on regional groundwater flow. Resolving these conceptual model differences required a deeper understanding of the properties of the geological units than had ever been done previously. Geophysical logs from more than 5 000 wells were used to determine rock properties of the Medicine Hat and Alderson members, and of the Milk River Formation. Subsequent 3D geostatistical modelling of these properties reveal the internal structure of these geological units and provide insights to the: 1) gas distribution, 2) reservoir and seal properties; 3) higher permeability pathways within and between units, and 4) diversity of well completion strategies amongst operators. The results will be subsequently used in multiphase flow models to better understand gas migration and groundwater flow as natural gas production and groundwater use evolve over time. Ultimately the results of the geological and hydrogeological modelling approaches are to inform a safe closure strategy for the Medicine Hat-Alderson gas field.
Access this article:
Canadian Geotechnical Society members can access to this article, along with all other Canadian Geotechnical Conference proceedings, in the Member Area. Conference proceedings are also available in many libraries.
Cite this article:
Amandeep Singh; Tony Lemay; Mike Berhane; Mahshid Babakhani; Kevin Parks; Ane Wiersma; Chris Filewich (2018) Geological Property Modelling in Support of the Safe Closure of the Medicine Hat – Alderson Gas Field in Southeastern Alberta, Canada in GEO2018. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.
@article{geo2018Paper558,author = Amandeep Singh; Tony Lemay; Mike Berhane; Mahshid Babakhani; Kevin Parks; Ane Wiersma; Chris Filewich,title = Geological Property Modelling in Support of the Safe Closure of the Medicine Hat – Alderson Gas Field in Southeastern Alberta, Canada,year = 2018}