The Niobrara is a significant, selfsourced resource play throughout the Rocky Mountain region. New technologies for horizontal drilling and multistage hydraulic fracture stimulation are unlocking-reserves that previously were unobtainable. Known production comes from both fracture and matrix porosity systems (dual porosity). High matrix porosity is present in the shallow biogenic gas accumulations of eastern Colorado and western Kansas, which is important for natural gas production at burial depths of less than 3,500 ft. The deeper Niobrara thermogenic accumulations generally occur at burial depths greater than 7,000 ft. Burial diagenesis (chemical and mechanical compaction and cementation) reduces porosities to values less than 10% in the deeper parts of the various basins where the Niobrara is prospective. Mature Niobrara source rocks are in these areas of low porosity. Natural fractures are important contributors to production in the deeper areas.
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