Origins of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in gas reservoirs by isotopic analyses: the mitigation of operation risks
Gareth R. L. Chalmers A * , Amanda A. Bustin B , Andrea Sanlorenzo B and R. Marc Bustin BA University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Qld, Australia.
B University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
The APPEA Journal 62 S400-S405 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ21020
Accepted: 11 February 2022 Published: 13 May 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of APPEA.
Abstract
The distribution and origin of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) within gas reservoirs is an important issue due to its toxicity and ability to corrode metal infrastructure, even at low concentrations (i.e. 50 ppm). H2S gas is regarded as a high priority for health and safety at drilling sites. The distribution of H2S, in some basins, can be inexplicable with a mix of sweet (no H2S) and sour (contains H2S) wells within one multi-well pad. Sour gas is a concern in some gas and coal fields in Australia which include Gippsland, Bowen and Cooper-Eromanga basins as well as in the North West Shelf with typical concentrations below 10 000 ppm. For example, the German Creek Formation (Bowen Basin) contains up to 77 ppm of H2S gas and coal seam gas producers will need to perform a risk assessment while exploring and developing this resource. There are multiple sources of H2S gas sulfur and this includes sulfate minerals, pyrite, organic sulfur or from frack water. This research utilises the isotopic variation in the sulfur and oxygen of potential sources, coupled with petrological analyses to determine H2S gas generation. Data is used to predict the gas distribution within the reservoirs to reduce exploration risks. One initial study on the Triassic Montney Formation in western Canada produces H2S gas at concentrations up to 220 000 ppm. Isotopic analyses suggest that the H2S is generated from either Triassic sulfates or a mixture of Triassic and Devonian sources and not solely from Devonian rocks as first expected.
Keywords: environmental geology, hydrogen sulphide gas, isotopic analyses, Montney Formation, risking, sedimentology, sulfur isotopes, unconventional gas, well planning.
Gareth R. L. Chalmers is a Lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast and is researching Australian gas reservoirs. He has over 15 years’ experience in coal and shale geology. His MSc (Newcastle University, 2001) expanded sequence stratigraphy into non-marine coal-bearing strata by correlating significant surfaces identified through organic petrology of an amalgamated coal seam. Gareth then completed his PhD at the University of British Columbia, Canada (2007) where he used a multidisciplinary approach incorporating organic geochemistry, petrology, sedimentology and mineralogy to investigate the geology of shale gas resources. He continued research at UBC as Postdoctoral Fellow and evaluated four shale formations in North America. Gareth then joined Shell Canada (Calgary, 2013) to gain industry experience in developing the Duvernay gas shale play. Gareth is currently investigating the origin and distribution of toxic H2S gas within the Montney Formation in western Canada. |
Dr Amanda Bustin is a research associate at the University of British Columbia, the vice president of engineering for Renewable GeoResources Ltd, and the president of Bustin Earth Science Consultants. Amanda holds degrees in geological engineering (BASc 2001) from the University of British Columbia and a PhD (2006) in geophysics from the University of Victoria. She is currently working as a researcher and professional consultant on a variety of unconventional oil and gas, renewable energy, and energy transition projects, with the main focus on energy resource development and hazard prevention and mitigation. |
Andrea Sanlorenzo is pursuing an MSc in Geological Sciences at the University of British Columbia, under the supervision of Dr R. Marc Bustin. His current research focus on the petrophysics, carbon dioxide sequestration, and storage capacity of the Montney Formation in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, with associated enhanced oil and condensate recovery potential. He also worked as a lab assistant within the Unconventional Resources Laboratory at the University of British Columbia, learning how to fingerprint H2S gas sources in reservoirs through elemental isotopic analysis, and helped to better characterise the Montney and Duvernay (Alberta) source rocks. Andrea is a registered geoscientist-in-training (GIT) in the province of British Columbia. |
Dr R. Marc Bustin is Professor of petroleum and coal geology in the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC) with over 35 years’ worldwide experience in oil and gas exploration and exploitation in industry, research and consultancy. He has published over 220 peer reviewed articles on fossil fuels and renewable resources. He received his PhD in geology (1980) from UBC and is a registered Professional Geoscientist (BC). Dr Bustin is the recipient of the A. L. Leverson memorial award from the American Association of Petroleum Geology, received the Thiesson Medal from the International Committee for Coal and Organic Petrography, the Sproule Award and the Gilbert H. Cady Award from the Geological Society of America and the Medal of Merit from the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geology. Bustin is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. |
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