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GCAGS Transactions

Abstract


Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions
Vol. 56 (2006), Pages 367-370

Abstract: Development of a 3-D Virtual-Reality Geographic Information System Database for North Louisiana — Primary Purpose: Coalbed Methane Resource Delineation

Gary Kinsland1, Joshua Kull2, F. Clayton Breland3, Scott Comegys4

Abstract

The Energy Institute of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey and the Louisiana Geological Survey at Louisiana State University is engaged in investigations to evaluate the coalbed methane (CBM) resources of the Wilcox Group of North Louisiana. The effort is divided such that the Energy Institute is mapping the stratigraphy of the Wilcox from about 31 degrees north latitude (the east-west trending boundary between Louisiana and Mississippi) north to the Arkansas border. The U.S. Geological Survey and the Louisiana Geological Survey are concentrating on tracking the drilling of CBM wells and on obtaining coal quality, gas contents, production rates (gas and water), gas chemistry and water chemistry from these wells.

Figure 1 illustrates how we have broken up the study region into separate projects, some completed and some in progress. The completed studies of Coates et al. (1980) [see also Coates (1979)], Kinsland et al. (2003) [contributions to this publication also available as Zeosky (1982) and Smith (1984)], Rogers (1983) and Kull (2005) along with the soon-to-be-completed study by S. Comegys will be reanalyzed and incorporated into our regional synthesis by R. Ball, utilizing common horizons (where practical). The studies by K. Brahm, C. Guidry and E. Dew will be incorporated into this synthesis as they are completed. The ongoing studies are mapping coal prospectivity (Fig. 2), utilizing a log analysis technique applied to digitized well logs which was developed by Kull (2005), and Kull and Kinsland (2006). M. LaGrange is mapping the groundwater table and the fresh/saltwater interface over the whole study area to better understand the flow of waters within the coals.

The end result of these studies is to be a 3-D virtual-reality geographic information system with digitized well-logs and correlation horizons within the Wilcox, viewable in true 3-D. Only selected well logs are being digitized in the study area. Three criteria are being applied to determine the logs to be digitized and utilized in mapping: (1) distribution of the wells, in which uniform coverage is sought; (2) depth of the wells, in which the wells must penetrate the lower Wilcox, and where choices exist the deepest wells are chosen and completely digitized; and (3) information on the logs, whereby gamma ray, sonic and density tools are better discriminators between carbonates and coals. Portions of this correlated well-log 3-D virtual-reality database will be presented in true viewable 3-D in the Louisiana Immersive Technology Enterprise facility at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

In the future we plan to incorporate whatever data we may accumulate (e.g., coal quality, gas content, gas chemistry, water chemistry, production histories, completion techniques, etc.) from individual wells and individual coals in individual wells as "clickable" textural/graphical data within the 3-D geographic information system. This will allow investigators to "touch/click" individual wells and individual coals within wells for information in real time while immersed within the data in 3-D virtual reality.

We are digitizing deep wells because we envision expanding this effort to create a true 3-D virtual-reality geographic information system database of North Louisiana petroleum information to horizons deeper than the Wilcox.


 

References

Coates, E. J., 1979, The occurrence of Wilcox lignite in west-central Louisiana: Master's thesis, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 249 p.

Coates, E. J., C. G. Groat, and G. F. Hart, 1980, Subsurface Wilcox lignite in west-central Louisiana: Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, v. 30, pp. 309-332.

Kinsland, G. L., J. E. Zeosky, G. B. Smith, and R. V. Schneider, 2003, Integrated exploration scheme for lower Wilcox coalbed methane in central Louisiana: Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, v. 53, pp. 398-409.

Kull, J., 2005, Logfacies distribution of the Wilcox Group coal-bearing interval in north-central Louisiana: A quick-look technique: M.S. thesis, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 149 p.

Kull, J., and G. L. Kinsland, 2006, Logfacies distribution of the Wilcox coal-bearing interval in north-central Louisiana: A quick-look technique for coalbed methane resource evaluation: Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, v. 56, pp. 405-409.

Rogers, J. D., 1983, The occurrence of deep basin lignite in the Wilcox Group of northeast Louisiana: Master's thesis, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 165 p.

Smith, G. B., 1984, Gravity and magnetic based computer modeling of the basement topography in west-central Louisiana: M.S. thesis, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 216 p.

Zeosky, J. E., 1982, Gravity and magnetic surveys of west-central Louisiana, implications for lignite exploration: M.S. thesis, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 183 p.

gcags560367-fg1.jpg (2,674 bytes)Figure 1. Area of study. The general area of study includes all of northern Louisiana, north of about 31 degrees, except over the Sabine Uplift and north of the uplift. Regions of several separate studies (dates given if completed) are superimposed.

gcags560367-fg2.jpg (3,386 bytes)Figure 2. Lower Wilcox example of the maps produced by the Kull (2005) "Quick-look Technique" (modified after Kull, 2005). Prospectivity is in ft of log which has resistivity greater than a cutoff value above which the lithology is most likely to be coal.

Acknowledgments and Associated Footnotes

1 Energy Institute, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504

2 8223 Willow Place Dr. South, Houston, TX 77070

3 Louisiana Geological Survey, Louisiana State University, 3079 Energy, Coast and Environment Bldg., Baton Rouge, LA 70803-4101

4 Energy Institute, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504

This work, both at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the Louisiana Geological Survey, is partially supported by contract 05ERAG0024 with the National Coal Resource Data System program of the U.S. Geological Survey. Cathy Bishop, with the Energy Institute, and several people in the Center for Business and Information Technologies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, headed by Ramesh Kolluru, are helping to create the 3-D virtual-reality geographic information system.

Copyright © 2007 by The Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies