ABSTRACT

The Federal Offshore Gulf of Mexico is a major U.S. natural gas producing region. It currently accounts for 25 and 15% of U.S. natural gas production and proved reserves, respectively, second only to the State of Texas. As demand for natural gas increases, a larger share of U.S. natural gas production and proved reserves is forecast.

According to the Minerals Management Service's Atlas of Gulf of Mexico Gas and Oil Sands (2001), the Federal Offshore Gulf of Mexico contains 10,235 sand reservoirs in 1,042 fields that have reserve estimates. The hydrocarbons in these sand reservoirs are 66 and 34% natural gas and oil, respectively. Cumulative natural gas production from these sand reservoirs was approximately 133 Tcf, whereas remaining natural gas proved and unproved reserves were approximately 35 Tcf as of January 1, 1999.

Although Federal Offshore Gulf of Mexico summary statistics, such as ranges and averages exist, more detailed data analysis of sand-reservoir attributes is required. Data analysis of various quantitative attributes from the 10,235 sand reservoirs, such as discovery year, discovered gas, proved remaining recoverable gas, water and sand depth, thickness, productive area, porosity, permeability, water saturation, initial pressure and temperature, gas-oil ratio, and gas recovery factor, will provide a more detailed natural gas resource characterization of the Federal Offshore Gulf of Mexico. Furthermore, when combined with data analysis of qualitative attributes such as geologic age, structure, trap, drive mechanism, and depositional style, important trends for future exploration and development opportunities may be delineated.