Abstract
This paper presents the results of a research project aimed at evaluating the unconventional natural gas potential of the autochthonous Miocene sediments in the Polish part of the Carpathian Foredeep. The primary objective of the study was to re-evaluate the biogenic gas generation system within Miocene sediments, paying special attention to unconventional gas resources accumulated in tight mudstone formations. The four-dimensional (4D) petroleum system modeling method (PetroMod software) was used to reconstruct the basin geometry and three-dimensional (3D) evolution through a geological timescale, in particular the progress of gas generation, migration, and accumulation processes, as well as their consequences for gas exploration and development. Special attention was paid to the dynamics of gas generation processes and the advancement of sediment compaction and their time dependence, as well as to the progress and outcomes of gas migration and accumulation processes. The results indicate significant potential for unconventional gas accumulations in mudstone reservoirs. However, part of the biogenic gas resources occurs in a dispersed form. Analysis of the dynamics of biogenic gas generation and accumulation conducted on a basin scale and within particular sedimentary complexes and depth intervals allowed an indication of the premises regarding the most favorable zones for mudstone–claystone reservoir exploration.
Highlights
Natural gas plays an important role in the Polish energy sector
A few years ago, exploration for unconventional gas resources started in Poland, indicating new opportunities to increase the share of domestic gas fields in the national energy balance
This paper presents the results of dynamic basin modeling of the Miocene system generating been adapted to analyze unconventional accumulations in shale formations and basins hosting biogenic gas
Summary
Natural gas plays an important role in the Polish energy sector. The natural gas resources in Poland amount to 1823.1 × 109 cubic meters. Annual consumption in Poland is about 15.5 billion cubic meters of high-methane natural gas, which means that in 2017, production from domestic gas fields covered only about 12% of gas demand in the country [1]. A few years ago, exploration for unconventional gas resources started in Poland, indicating new opportunities to increase the share of domestic gas fields in the national energy balance. Shale gas refers to natural gas occurring in organic rich shale reservoirs in free and absorbed states. Shale gas wells generally have no natural production capacity but can obtain industrial production with some technical measures under certain economic conditions [2]. The development of unconventional gas resources is increasingly influencing regional and global gas markets [3,4,5,6,7,8]
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