December 19, 2006

The Utah Geological Survey’s (UGS) “Characterization of Utah’s Hydrocarbon Reservoirs and Potential New Reserves” program is designed to provide research on Utah’s: (1) natural gas resource potential, (2) oil resource potential, (3) unconventional oil and gas resources such as tar sands and oil shale, and (4) geology in mineral-lease counties with significant oil, gas, and coal production.

The goal of this work is to sustain development through diversification of energy supplies and mitigate the impacts of boom-bust cycles.

The five research projects and awardees selected for funding during fiscal year 2007 are:

• Hydrocarbon Potential of Pennsylvanian Black Shale Reservoirs, Paradox Basin, Southeastern Utah, S. Robert Bereskin and John McLennan, Bereskin and Associates, Inc.
• Reservoir Characterization in the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone, Snow Canyon State Park, Utah (year 2), Majorie Chan and Gregory Nielsen, University of Utah.
• Reservoir Characterization of the Cretaceous Cedar Mountain and Dakota Formations, Southern Uinta Basin (year 2), Brian Currie, Miami University of Ohio, and Mary McPherson, McPherson Geologic Consulting.
• Applicability of Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Oil Recovery to Reservoirs in the Uinta Basin, Utah, Milind Deo, University of Utah.
• Analysis of Reservoir Properties of Faulted and Fractured Aeolian Thrust-belt Reservoirs, James Evans, Utah State University.

Results of four research projects completed in fiscal year 2006 are now published on CD-ROM. The publications are:

• Integrated Sequence Stratigraphic and Geochemical Resource Characterization of the Lower Mancos Shale, Uinta Basin, Utah by Donna S. Anderson and Nicholas B. Harris, Colorado School of Mines, UGS Open-File Report 483.
• Reservoir Characterization of the Cretaceous Cedar Mountain and Dakota Formations, Southern Uinta Basin: Year-One Report, by Mary L. McPherson, McPherson Geologic Consulting; Brian S. Currie and Justin S. Pierson, Miami University of Ohio, UGS Open-File Report 492.
• Interpretation of the Jurassic Entrada Sandstone Play Using 3D Seismic Attribute Analysis, Uinta Basin, Utah, by R. William Keach II, Thomas H. Morris, John H. McBride, Brigham Young University; Mike Mullen, Halliburton Energy Sources; Hannes E. Leetaru, Illinois State Geological Survey; and Ryan O’Neal, Brigham Young University, UGS Open-File Report 493.
• Shale Gas Reservoirs of Utah: Assessment of Previously Undeveloped Gas Discoveries,” by Steven Schamel, GeoX Consulting, UGS Open-File Report 499.

These CD-ROM publications are available for $14.95 each, at the Natural Resources Map & Bookstore, 1594 West North Temple, Salt Lake City (801-537-3320, or 1-888-UTAHMAP; geostore@utah.gov).

Visit the Utah Geological Survey’s hydrocarbon research pages for more information.