Naturally Occurring Gas Hydrates in The Mackenzie Delta N.W.T.

$10.00

C. Bily, J.W.L. Dick, Imperial Oil Limited

Abstract

NATURALLY OCCURRING GAS HYDRATES IN THE MACKENZIE DELTA. N.W.T.1 C. Bily2 and J.W.L. Dick2 C. Bily2 and J.W.L. Dick2 lla. J w..~,,T lla. J w..~,,T Two exploratory wells drilled in the Mackenzie Delta area of Two exploratory wells drilled in the Mackenzie Delta area of -the Northwest Territories in 1972 by imperial Oil Limited encountered -the Northwest Territories in 1972 by imperial Oil Limited encountered shallow sand reservoirs containing gas hydrates, an ice-like mixture shallow sand reservoirs containing gas hydrates, an ice-like mixture of natural gas and water. These hydrocarbon-bearing sands underlie of natural gas and water. These hydrocarbon-bearing sands underlie temperature regime for naturally occurring gas hydrates. A s:r’gni- temperature regime for naturally occurring gas hydrates. A s:r’gni ficant increase in the amount of formation gas in the drilling mud ficant increase in the amount of formation gas in the drilling mud occurred during penetration of these hydrate-bearing sands. Although occurred during penetration of these hydrate-bearing sands. Although wireline logs and drill cuttings indicated the sands to be very wireline logs and drill cuttings indicated the sands to be very porous, test results showed their permeability to, be extremely low.