The Carboniferous shales of the Midland Valley of Scotland: geology and resource estimation Mike Stephenson (BGS) Director of Science and Technology Presenting on behalf of the BGS-DECC team
Area studied
Area has a proven hydrocarbon system
How BGS calculated the shale resource in the Midland Valley of Scotland Wells (oil/gas and other types) to identify the tops and bottoms of the main shale-bearing intervals Seismic sections to map rock layers in subsurface 3D computer model to estimate the volume of shale Studies of the burial and uplift history & of the organic content of the shale to narrow down the layers and areas that might yield hydrocarbons
Wells/boreholes studied
Area prospective for shale oil
Area prospective for shale gas
Estimate of oil in-place 3.2 – 11.2 billion barrels (421 – 1,497 million tonnes) and a reasonable central estimate is 6.0 billion barrels of oil (793 million tonnes) This is an in-place resource (oil in the rocks) not a reserve (what might be produced) Drilling and testing of new wells is required to assess the feasibility of production
Estimate of gas in-place 49.4 – trillion cubic feet (1.40 – 3.81 trillion cubic metres) and a reasonable central estimate is 80.3 trillion cubic feet of gas (2.27 trillion cubic metres) This is an in-place resource (gas in the rocks) not a reserve (what might be produced) Drilling and testing of new wells is required to assess the feasibility of production
Where to get more information exploration-and-production
Slides if needed for questions
Bowland-Hodder 822 – 1,329 – 2,281 tcf gas Weald 2.2 – 4.4 – 8.6 billion bbl oil Midland Valley of Scotland 49.4 – 80.3 – tcf gas 3.2 – 6.0 – 11.2 billion bbl oil
Historical oil-shale mines Location of historical shale mines from
Area prospective for shale oil
Area prospective for shale gas