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Scientific Investigations Report 2013–5050

Brookian Sequence Well Log Correlation Sections and Occurrence of Gas Hydrates, North-Central North Slope, Alaska

By Kristen A. Lewis and Timothy S. Collett

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (10.1 MB)Abstract

Gas hydrates are naturally occurring crystalline, ice-like substances that consist of natural gas molecules trapped in a solid-water lattice. Because of the compact nature of their structure, hydrates can effectively store large volumes of gas and, consequently, have been identified as a potential unconventional energy source. First recognized to exist geologically in the 1960s, significant accumulations of gas hydrate have been found throughout the world. Gas hydrate occurrence is limited to environments such as permafrost regions and subsea sediments because of the pressure and temperature conditions required for their formation and stability. Permafrost-associated gas hydrate accumulations have been discovered in many regions of the Arctic, including Russia, Canada, and the North Slope of Alaska.

Gas hydrate research has a long history in northern Alaska. This research includes the drilling, coring, and well log evaluation of two gas hydrate stratigraphic test wells and two resource assessments of gas hydrates on the Alaska North Slope. Building upon these previous investigations, this report provides a summary of the pertinent well log, gas hydrate, and stratigraphic data for key wells related to gas hydrate occurrence in the north-central North Slope. The data are presented in nine well log correlation sections with 122 selected wells to provide a regional context for gas hydrate accumulations and the relation of the accumulations to key stratigraphic horizons and to the base of the ice-bearing permafrost. Also included is a well log database that lists the location, available well logs, depths, and other pertinent information for each of the wells on the correlation section.

First posted June 27, 2013

For additional information contact:
Director, Central Energy Resources Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
Box 25046, MS-939
Denver Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225-0046
http://energy.usgs.gov/

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Suggested citation:

Lewis, K.A., and Collett, T.S., 2013, Brookian sequence well log correlation sections and occurrence of gas hydrates, north-central North Slope, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2013–5050, 23 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2013/5050/.



Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Gas Hydrate Properties

Controls on Gas Hydrate Formation

Geologic Setting of the Alaska North Slope

Stratigraphic Framework of Well Sections

Gas Hydrate Stability Conditions of the Alaska North Slope

Gas Hydrates of the Alaska North Slope

Well Log Detection of Gas Hydrates

Assessments of the Alaska North Slope Gas Hydrates

Summary

References Cited


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