Geochemistry of formation waters from the Wolfcamp and “Cline” shales: Insights into brine origin, reservoir connectivity, and fluid flow in the Permian Basin, USA

Engle, Mark A.; Reyes, Francisco R.; Varonka, Matthew S.; Orem, William H.; Ma, Lin; Ianno, Adam J.; Schell, T.; Xu, Pei; Carroll, Kenneth C.

doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2016.01.025

Cited by 130 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…This is out of the scope of this paper, but a recent example of this application to a different hydrogeological problem is shown in Engle et al . [].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite being mathematically sound and offering a number of advantages [ Nisi et al ., ], compositional data analysis techniques are infrequently employed in hydrochemical studies. Previous research has demonstrated some specific examples of how to describe the evolution of ion proportions during simple processes (e.g., diagenesis of carbonates), or to develop log ratio alternatives to traditional mixing lines (e.g., for Na‐Br‐Cl brines) [ Bicocchi et al ., ; Engle and Rowan , ; Engle et al ., ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Compositional data analysis as a robust tool to delineate hydrochemical facies within and between gas‐bearing aquifers

Owen

Pawlowsky‐Glahn

Egozcue

et al. 2016

Water Resources Research

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Isometric log ratios of proportions of major ions, derived from intuitive sequential binary partitions, are used to characterize hydrochemical variability within and between coal seam gas (CSG) and surrounding aquifers in a number of sedimentary basins in the USA and Australia. These isometric log ratios are the coordinates corresponding to an orthonormal basis in the sample space (the simplex). The characteristic proportions of ions, as described by linear models of isometric log ratios, can be used for a mathematical-descriptive classification of water types. This is a more informative and robust method of describing water types than simply classifying a water type based on the dominant ions. The approach allows (a) compositional distinctions between very similar water types to be made and (b) large data sets with a high degree of variability to be rapidly assessed with respect to particular relationships/compositions that are of interest. A major advantage of these techniques is that major and minor ion components can be comprehensively assessed and subtle processes-which may be masked by conventional techniques such as Stiff diagrams, Piper plots, and classic ion ratios-can be highlighted. Results show that while all CSG groundwaters are dominated by Na, HCO 3 , and Cl ions, the proportions of other ions indicate they can evolve via different means and the particular proportions of ions within total or subcompositions can be unique to particular basins. Using isometric log ratios, subtle differences in the behavior of Na, K, and Cl between CSG water types and very similar Na-HCO 3 water types in adjacent aquifers are also described. A complementary pair of isometric log ratios, derived from a geochemically-intuitive sequential binary partition that is designed to reflect compositional variability within and between CSG groundwater, is proposed. These isometric log ratios can be used to model a hydrochemical pathway associated with methanogenesis and/or to delineate groundwater associated with high gas concentrations.

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“…This is out of the scope of this paper, but a recent example of this application to a different hydrogeological problem is shown in Engle et al . [].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compositional data analysis as a robust tool to delineate hydrochemical facies within and between gas‐bearing aquifers

Owen

Pawlowsky‐Glahn

Egozcue

et al. 2016

Water Resources Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Hydrocarbons also appear to be trapped in fluid inclusions in vertical fractures and in between crystals in mineralized fractures where they fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet light (Figure 11d). The relative timing of these events during middle/late diagenesis appears to fit with models for the Midland Basin, where maximum hydrocarbon generation was interpreted to occur during the late Cretaceous (Engle et al, 2016).…”

Section: Hydrocarbon Migrationmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…The majority of biogenic silica micro fossils dissolved during initial burial and provided silica for authigenic quartz (Hesse and Schacht, 2011). These pore fluids have been interpreted by Engle et al (2016) as originally Permian seawater which was altered through chemical interactions with diagenetic events. Shale dewatering in the mudstone facies may have stimulated the movement of pore fluids and may have supplied magnesium, silica, and iron which could be used to form ferroan carbonates and authigenic quartz (McHargue and Price, 1982;Coniglio and James, 1988;Sivalingam, 1990).…”

Section: Open Versus Closed Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Marshall (1982) argues that in shale basins with high rates of subsidence, like the Midland Basin, differential overpressuring can aid pore fluid migration not just through fracture systems, but also by increasing permeability intervals within the mudstone matrix. It is also important to keep in mind that carbonate intervals could have acted as lateral conduits for internal fluids within the Wolfcamp Shale (Montgomery, 1996;Mazzullo, 1997;Engle et al, 2016). comparison.…”

Section: Open Versus Closed Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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