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Chapter B, Aleutians Fossil Fuel and Geothermal Energy Sources for Local Use in Alaska beds of subbituminous C coal. Limited analyses reveal that the coal is commonly low in ash and sulfur, with heating values between 8,486 and 12,120 Btu/lb. Bed thicknesses are no greater than 3 feet, and are often less (Merritt, 1986b). Furthermore, the thicker beds often have non-coal partings that detract from their economic value. Merritt (1986b) estimates 90 million short tons of inferred coal in beds more than 1 foot thick, and 70 million short tons in beds more than 1.6 feet thick—values that are consistent with a previous estimate of 150 million short tons of hypothetical reserves (Alaska Division of Energy and Power Development, 1977). In 1977, the Alaska Division of Energy and Power Development listed the Unga Island coal field as not a significant economic energy resource, but rather possibly best suited for local use only. Merritt (1986b) later reported that the Unga Island field coals had a low economic development potential based on his findings of mostly thin coalbeds in the area, their low ranking, and extraction technology at the time. Conventional oil and gas resource potential As explained in the discussion of requirements for exploitable oil and gas resources (Chapter A), functioning petroleum systems occur in thick sedimentary basins, and require three basic elements: Effective source rocks, reservoirs, and traps. Each of the elements must be in existence and connected at the time hydrocarbons are generated and migrated. This section provides an overview of the various basins in the Aleutians region and then considers each of the necessary elements of petroleum systems in turn to evaluate the role conventional oil and gas resources may play in supplying rural energy to the region. Overview of sedimentary basins. Sheet 1 shows the distribution of sedimentary basins (after Kirschner, 1988) that could potentially host petroleum systems in the Aleutians region. The North Aleutian, Amak, Umnak Plateau, St. George, and Sanak basins developed mostly in offshore areas of the northeastern part of the region during Tertiary time. There is very little evidence for thick sedimentary basins on or near the Aleutian volcanic arc west of Unalaska. Hence, the following discussion of petroleum systems elements applies only to the easternmost Aleutian Islands, southwestern Alaska Peninsula, and the Pribilof Islands. The greatest potential for exploration and development of conventional hydrocarbon resources in the region is in the North Aleutian basin on and just offshore from the southwestern Alaska Peninsula (sheet 1). Source rocks. Outcrop studies have documented oil- prone source rocks in the Upper Triassic Kamishak Formation and the Middle Jurassic Kialagvik Formation, but these units are likely to be present only in certain areas of the Aleutians energy region (McLean, 1977, 1979; Comer and others, 1987; Wang and others, 1988; Sherwood and others, 2006; Decker, 2008). They have generated both oil and gas found in natural seeps near their limited outcrop area, located in federally protected lands near Puale Bay and Wide Bay on the southeastern side of the Alaska Peninsula in the Bristol Bay and Kodiak energy regions (Magoon and Anders, 1992). These oil source rocks, or their age equivalents, are probably present in the subsurface of the easternmost part of the Aleutians energy region on the southwestern Alaska Peninsula. The Cathedral River Unit #1 well drilled northeast of Cold Bay encountered possible oil-prone shales in the Kialagvik Formation, but the presence of oil-based drilling additives in the well raises questions about the reliability of the source rock data from the well (Sherwood and others, 2006). No other wells on the southwestern Alaska Peninsula drilled deep enough to penetrate the Kialagvik and Kamishak Formations or their equivalents, but vitrinite reflectance and burial histories indicate these potential sources long ago reached a thermal maturity level too high for oil production, and are now candidates for gas generation (Molenaar, 1996). Upper Jurassic units were penetrated at the bottom of several wells in the St. George basin, suggesting the likely presence of the Middle Jurassic to Late Triassic source rocks or their equivalents at somewhat greater depth. However, no evidence for Mesozoic-sourced oil or gas has been found in overlying Tertiary strata and effective generation of hydrocarbons from these sources in the St. George basin remains unproven (Sherwood and others, 2006). Gas-prone sources are more widespread in the sedimentary basins of the Aleutian region, consisting of both shallow marine shales and non-marine coaly strata of Tertiary age (McLean, 1987 Sherwood and others, 2006; Decker, 2008). Both biogenic and thermogenic gas may be present in some parts of the region’s sedimentary basins. However, as stated in the discussion of requirements for exploitable resources of conventional oil and gas (see Chapter A), viable accumulations of biogenic gas are unlikely except where recent uplift may have occurred along the southern edge of the North Aleutian basin on the northwest side of the Alaska Peninsula. The most promising area for thermogenic gas charge appears to be near the southern margin of the North Aleutian basin offshore from Nelson Lagoon and Port Moller. Here, the basin reaches depths consistent with thermogenic hydrocarbon generation (Sherwood and others, 2006; Decker and others, 2005; Decker, 2008). This observation helps explain patterns of nearby oil and gas leasing and the industry’s advocacy to allow exploration drilling in adjacent federal waters (Anchorage Daily News, 2005; Shell Exploration and Production, 2008). The deeper parts of the St. George, Amak, and Umnak Plateau basins also have some potential for thermogenic generation from gas-prone Tertiary source rocks (Comer and others, 1987; Sherwood and others, 2006). However, none of the 12 wells that tested the St. George basin encountered any hydrocarbon accumulations (Sherwood and others, 2006). This represents a non-specific failure of the petroleum system that could stem from a Aleutians Page 16PDF Image | FOSSIL FUEL AND GEOTHERMAL ENERGY SOURCES FOR LOCAL USE
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