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Biography
Michael A. Abrams is Manager of Petroleum Systems for Apache Corporation. Before joining Apache’s Exploration and Production Technology in 2008, Michael was a senior research scientist within the University of Utah’s Energy and Geoscience Institute and senior research geochemist at Exxon Production Research Company. Michael’s research interests include unconventional resource play analysis, exploration and exploitation petroleum systems analysis, surface geochemistry, and migration pathway evaluation. Michael received his Ph.D. in Petroleum Geochemistry from the Imperial College London, M.S. Geology from the University of Southern California, and B.S. Geology from George Washington University.
Abstract
Unconventional plays have become a significant worldwide exploration target with increased activity given the North America successes. In our enthusiasm to jump on the unconventional band wagon, industry has forgotten some of the basic rules in petroleum system play analysis, the identification of key geologic elements and processes. The unconventional petroleum system does not require a traditional hydrocarbon trap or migration but like the conventional petroleum system, will require an organic rich source rock within the appropriate maturity window. Other factors critical for a viable unconventional include; sufficient volume of in-situ movable hydrocarbons, fluid and flow properties conducive for economic productive rates and volumes, rock properties optimal for enhancement stimulation, and cost effective drilling and completions operations. Gas and liquid-rich unconventional systems are fundamentally different and learnings from the gas unconventional system are not always applicable to a liquid-rich unconventional system.
One must keep in mind not all organic rich oil generating source rocks will provide an economic gas or liquid-rich unconventional petroleum system. There are several key petroleum system elements and processes which must in place for an economic unconventional petroleum play to work. Having these critical factors does not guarantee the unconventional system will have sufficient production rates and ultimate recovery for an economic play, but not having one or more guarantees the unconventional system will be marginal or non-economic.