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Line 12: + + + + + + + + + + + − + − [[File:M97Ch1.2FG1.jpg|thumb|500px|{{figure number|1}}Shale-oil resource systems. A simple classification scheme includes continuous (1) organic-rich mudstones with no open fractures (tight shale), (2) organic-rich mudstones with open fractures (fractured shale), and (3) organic-rich mudstones with juxtaposed organic-lean facies (hybrid shale).]]+ + + +
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| isbn = 978-0-89181-379-8
| isbn = 978-0-89181-379-8
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Success in shale-gas resource systems has renewed interest in efforts to attempt to produce oil from organic-rich mudstones or juxtaposed lithofacies as reservoir rocks. The economic value of petroleum liquids is greater than that of natural gas; thus, efforts to move from gas into more liquid-rich and black-oil areas have been another United States exploration and production paradigm shift since about 2008.
Shale-oil resource systems are organic-rich mudstones that have generated oil that is stored in the organic-rich mudstone intervals or migrated into juxtaposed, continuous organic-lean intervals. This definition includes not only the organic-rich mudstone or shale itself, but also those systems with juxtaposed (overlying, underlying, or interbedded) organic-lean rocks, such as carbonates. Systems such as the Bakken and Niobrara formations with juxtaposed organic-lean units to organic-rich source rocks are considered part of the same shale-oil resource system. Thus, these systems may include primary and secondary migrated oil. Oil that has undergone tertiary migration to nonjuxtaposed reservoirs is part of a petroleum system, but not a shale-oil resource system.
A very basic approach for classifying shale-oil resource systems by their dominant organic and lithologic characteristics is (1) organic-rich mudstones with predominantly healed fractures, if any; (2) organic-rich mudstones with open fractures; and (3) hybrid systems with a combination of juxtaposed organic-rich and organic-lean intervals. Some overlap certainly exists among these systems, but this basic classification scheme does provide an indication of the expected range of production success given current knowledge and technologies for inducing these systems to flow petroleum.
Potential producibility of oil is indicated by a simple geochemical ratio that normalizes oil content to total organic carbon (TOC) referred to as the oil saturation index (OSI). The OSI is simply an oil crossover effect described as when petroleum content exceeds more than 100 mg oil/g TOC. Absolute oil yields do not provide an indication of this potential for production as oil content tends to increase as a natural part of thermal maturation. Furthermore, a sorption effect exists whereby oil is retained by organic carbon. It is postulated that as much as 70 to 80 mg oil/g TOC is retained by organic-rich source rocks, thereby limiting producibility in the absence of open fractures or enhanced permeability. At higher maturity, of course, this oil is cracked to gas, explaining the high volume of gas in various shale-gas resource systems. Organic-lean rocks, such as carbonates, sands, or silts, may have much lower oil contents, but only limited retention of oil as these rocks have much lower sorptive capacity. The presence of organic-lean facies or occurrence of an open-fracture network reduce the importance of the sorption effect.
The oil crossover effect is demonstrated by examples from organic-rich but fractured Monterey, Bazhenov, and Bakken shales; organic-rich but ultra-low-permeability mudstone systems, such as the Barnett and Tuscaloosa shales; and hybrid systems, such as the Bakken Formation, Niobrara Shale, and Eagle Ford Shale, as well as Toarcian Shale and carbonates in the Paris Basin.
==Introduction==
Producible oil from shales or closely associated organic-lean intraformational [[lithofacies]] such as carbonates is referred to as a shale-oil resource system. Organic-rich [[mudstone]]s, calcareous mudstones, or argillaceous lime mudstones are typically both the source for the petroleum and either a primary or secondary reservoir target, but optimum production can be derived from organic-lean juxtaposed carbonates, silts, or sands. Where organic-rich and organic-lean intervals are juxtaposed, the term hybrid shale-oil resource system is applied.
Producible oil from shales or closely associated organic-lean intraformational [[lithofacies]] such as carbonates is referred to as a shale-oil resource system. Organic-rich [[mudstone]]s, calcareous mudstones, or argillaceous lime mudstones are typically both the source for the petroleum and either a primary or secondary reservoir target, but optimum production can be derived from organic-lean juxtaposed carbonates, silts, or sands. Where organic-rich and organic-lean intervals are juxtaposed, the term hybrid shale-oil resource system is applied.
These systems are classified as (1) organic-rich mudstones without open fractures, (2) organic-rich mudstones with open fractures, and (3) hybrid systems that have juxtaposed, continuous organic-rich and organic-lean intervals ([[:File:M97Ch1.2FG1.jpg|Figure 1]]). For example, the Bakken Formation production is accounted for by both open-fractured shale (e.g., Bicentennial field) and hybrid shale (e.g., Elm Coulee, Sanish, and Parshall fields), where organic-rich shales are juxtaposed to organic-lean intervals, such as the Middle Member (dolomitic sand) and Three Forks (carbonate). However, [[Barnett shale play|Barnett Shale]] oil is almost always from a tight mudstone with some related matrix porosity.<ref name=EOGResources2010>EOG Resources, 2010, [http://wwgeochem.com/references/EOGMay2010Investorpresentation.pdf Investor presentation], 223 p.</ref> Monterey Shale-oil production is primarily from open-fractured shale in tectonically active areas of California. Various shale-oil resource systems are classified based on available data in Table 1. To suggest that these types are mutually exclusive is also incorrect because there can be a significant overlap in a single shale-oil resource system.
These systems are classified as (1) organic-rich mudstones without open fractures, (2) organic-rich mudstones with open fractures, and (3) hybrid systems that have juxtaposed, continuous organic-rich and organic-lean intervals ([[:File:M97Ch1.2FG1.jpg|Figure 1]]). For example, the Bakken Formation production is accounted for by both open-fractured shale (e.g., Bicentennial field) and hybrid shale (e.g., Elm Coulee, Sanish, and Parshall fields), where organic-rich shales are juxtaposed to organic-lean intervals, such as the Middle Member (dolomitic sand) and Three Forks (carbonate). However, [[Barnett shale play|Barnett Shale]] oil is almost always from a tight mudstone with some related matrix porosity.<ref name=EOGResources2010>EOG Resources, 2010, [http://wwgeochem.com/references/EOGMay2010Investorpresentation.pdf Investor presentation], 223 p.</ref> Monterey Shale-oil production is primarily from open-fractured shale in tectonically active areas of California. Various shale-oil resource systems are classified based on available data in [[:File:M97Ch1Tbl1.jpeg|Table 1]]. To suggest that these types are mutually exclusive is also incorrect because there can be a significant overlap in a single shale-oil resource system.
<gallery mode=packed heights=300px widths=300px>
M97Ch1.2FG1.jpg|{{figure number|1}}Shale-oil resource systems. A simple classification scheme includes continuous (1) organic-rich mudstones with no open fractures (tight shale), (2) organic-rich mudstones with open fractures (fractured shale), and (3) organic-rich mudstones with juxtaposed organic-lean facies (hybrid shale).]]
M97Ch1Tbl1.jpeg|'''Table 1'''
</gallery>
Although shale-oil plays with oil stored in open-fractured shale have been pursued for more than 100 yr, organic-rich and low-permeability shales and hybrid shale-oil systems are now being pursued based on knowledge and technologies gained from production of shale-gas resource systems and likely hold the largest untapped oil resource potential. Whereas fractured and hybrid shale-oil systems have the highest productivity to date, organic-rich tight shales are the most difficult to obtain high oil flow rates because of ultra-low permeability, typically high clay and low carbonate contents, and organic richness whereby adsorption plays a role in retention of petroleum.
Although shale-oil plays with oil stored in open-fractured shale have been pursued for more than 100 yr, organic-rich and low-permeability shales and hybrid shale-oil systems are now being pursued based on knowledge and technologies gained from production of shale-gas resource systems and likely hold the largest untapped oil resource potential. Whereas fractured and hybrid shale-oil systems have the highest productivity to date, organic-rich tight shales are the most difficult to obtain high oil flow rates because of ultra-low permeability, typically high clay and low carbonate contents, and organic richness whereby adsorption plays a role in retention of petroleum.