Coalbed Methane Potential of the Williston Basin, North Dakota

摘要

The North Dakota portion of the Williston Basin contains more than 530 billion tons of sub-biiuminous and lignite coal. These coal beds and their associated sediments are similar in overall depositional setting and age to the Paleocene/Eocene Fort Union and Wasatch coal units of the biogenic coalbed methane play of the Powder River Basin. Williston Basin coals are generally slightly lower rank, less widespread and in thinner sequences than their Wyoming counterparts. The disparity in thickness and continuity is attributed to differences between lacustrine and fluvially associated paludal environments and tectonic histories of the individual basins. Pre-play gas indications in the Williston Basin today are similar to those evidenced in the Powder River Basin 15 years ago, prior to widespread exploration activity. Critical coalbed methane play indicators suggest that the Williston Basin is the premier example of the "next generation" in coalbed methane plays in the Rocky Mountain-northern Great Plains region.