DE-FC26-01NT41332

Goal
The goal is to characterize the large in-place methane hydrate resource on the Alaska North Slope (ANS) and conduct field and lab studies to determine the potential for hydrate to become a viable part of the overall energy supply.

Performers

• BP Exploration Alaska, Inc.(BPXA) – providing access to data and selected field areas as well as project management, geological and geophysical expertise.
• ASRC Energy Services – providing geologic, engineering, operations, and project management expertise.
• University of Alaska-Fairbanks (UAF) – conducting laboratory studies of previously poorly known reservoir parameters, including the relative permeability.
• University of Arizona–Tucson (UA) – conducted regional geologic studies to ascertain the geometry and controls over the gas hydrate stability zone and the potential reservoirs within.
• United States Geological Survey (USGS) – providing a wide range of data acquisition, operational, geologic, geophysical, geochemistry and geomechanical expertise to the project as well as significant contribution to overall project planning and coordination.
• Interpretation Services (IS) – worked with the USGS to identify and characterize hydrate reservoirs from 3D seismic data.
• Ryder-Scott Company (RS) – providing reservoir simulation and engineering expertise to evaluate the potential production response from various potential well sites and production techniques as well as planning of potential long term production testing scenarios
• APA Petroleum Engineering – providing operations expertise and economics modeling capabilities to support the analyses of alternative production scenarios and candidate well locations.
• Fekete - providing reservoir simulation and engineering expertise to evaluate the potential production response from various potential well sites and production techniques
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) - providing reservoir simulation and engineering expertise to evaluate the potential production response from potential well sites and production techniques as well as CT scanning capabilities for use in the characterization of cores from the Mt. Elbert stratigraphic test well.
• National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) – providing sedimentology and mineralogical sampling of cores from Mt. Elbert stratigraphic test well, reservoir simulation and engineering expertise to evaluate the potential production response from various potential well sites and production techniques through code comparison study and thermal property analyses of cores taken at the Mt Elbert site.
• GeoTek – providing high-resolution digital scanning of cores from the Mt. Elbert stratigraphic test well.
• Omni Laboratories – providing well operations support as well as reservoir property and core analyses from the Mt. Elbert stratigraphic test well.
• Oregon State University – providing pore water and microbiological analyses of samples collected during drilling and coring of the Mt. Elbert site.
• Isotech Laboratories – Providing gas geochemistry for samples from the Mt. Elbert stratigraphic test well
• Texas A&M University – Providing detailed interpretation of EPT logs collected during Mt. Elbert Stratigraphic test well

Location
Anchorage, AK 99519
Milne Point Unit on the Alaska North Slope

Background
Recent Assessments produced by the US Geological survey estimate 85 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of undiscovered, technically recoverable gas resources within gas hydrates in northern Alaska.. Past USGS assessments have indicated that 40 tcf of that may exist within hydrate deposits below existing oil and gas production facilities. In 2001, BP Exploration Alaska, Inc. proposed to provide a state-of-the-art 3D seismic survey over its Milne Point production unit to provide a starting point for a full evaluation of the feasibility of commercial production from Arctic hydrates. The initial phases of the effort fully integrated detailed geophysical interpretation and modeling, regional geologic characterization of the prospective hydrate-bearing units, and advanced reservoir and economic modeling, to select a location for drilling, coring, and potential production testing.

Potential Impact
The project will be a critical first step in the determination of the commercial viability of methane production from Arctic hydrate deposits. The project will greatly advance the tools and techniques used to delineate specific hydrate prospects and to model the potential productivity and commercial viability of those prospects. The project could also (assuming continuation through all phases) provide the first extended production testing of a U.S. gas hydrate reservoir and yield insight into the relative merit of various contemplated production and stimulation

Accomplishments
Phase 1 and 2
The project is currently within Phase 3 of a planned four phase (Phases 1, 2, 3A and 3B) project. Phase 1 resulted in the delineation and characterization of 14 discrete gas hydrate accumulations within the Milne Point Area containing up to 600 BCF gas in-place. Phase 2 provided detailed analyses and evaluation of the prospects identified in Phase 1, as well as the regional resource potential, in order to develop a detailed and specific plan for potential Phase 3 field operations. A limited list of Phase 1 and 2 accomplishments is included below:

• Analysis of Milne Point Unit (MPU) seismic and integration with MPU well log data and publicly available well data from the surrounding Prudhoe Bay and Kuparuk River production units.
• Development of geophysical modeling enabling the correlation of seismic attributes with hydrate reservoir parameters such as zone thickness and hydrate saturation.
• Regional structural mapping of reservoir units, the mapping of shallow fault offsets, and determination of syndepositional faulting and fault-seal potential.
• Fabrication of a laboratory facility to measure the relative permeability of typical sandstone reservoir rock to gas and water under a range of hydrate saturations.
• Adaptation of the commercial modeling package CMG STARS to provide reservoir modeling capabilities for hydrate prospects, and use of the model to determine the production potential of various gas hydrate settings.
• Confirmation of up to 33 Tcf of regional hydrate resource potential – in place in the Eileen trend.
• Economic analysis of field development scenarios that indicate the potential commercial viability of hydrate development.

Phase 3 (to date)
Phase 3 of the project was approved by DOE and began in October 2005. Phase 3A includes the background research, evaluation and modeling, detailed planning and conducting of a stratigraphic test well and included drilling, logging and coring at the Milne Point Unit Mt Elbert prospect. This is being followed by careful analysis and evaluation of test well results to be used in the evaluation of validity of a Phase 3B long-term production test. Accomplishments of Phase 3A (to date) include:

• Completion of detailed scientific and logistical planning for a stratigraphic test well at the Mt. Elbert site (seismic analyses, site selection, detailed drilling, logging and coring plan).
• A vertical stratigraphic test well drilled (the “Mt. Elbert” prospect) in February 2007 including comprehensive petrophysical analyses of targeted zones, full core throughout the gas hydrate stability zone, a full suite of wireline logs, and short-duration testing with the Modular Formation Dynamics Tester.
  • 430 feet of core collected (100 feet hydrate bearing)
  • Confirmed the existence of 60-75% hydrate saturation within reservoir quality sands in target intervals and validated methods used to identify potential hydrate occurrence
  • Confirmed ability of the formation to yield gas from hydrate through pressure reduction, but indicated that thermal and/or chemical enhancement may be required for long-term production.
• Distribution of the large volume of samples and data from the drilling logging and coring operations to researchers participating from around the world.
• Detailed evaluation and ranking of potential locations and the development of specific framework of options and production testing methodologies for potential Phase 3B long term production test sites including detailed evaluation of well completion and test design scenarios
• Recommendation by project science team to BP management to make steps toward Phase 3B with a “preferred” long term production test site in the Prudhoe Bay area.
• Initiation of efforts to publish a Thematic Volume of scientific results from the 2007 Mt. Elbert Stratigraphic Test well in the Journal of Marine and Petroleum Geology.

Doyon 14 rig and pipeshed during early drilling operations on MtElbert-01, Milne Point Unit, Alaska North Slope, February 2007

Dr. Timothy Collett (USGS) left and project PI Robert Hunter (ASRC Energy) describe and subsample initial gas hydrate-bearing core in core processing “cold” trailer, February 2007.

Current Status
The drilling of the stratigraphic test well, along with the follow on analyses, has proved out the geophysical prospecting methodologies used in Phase 2 and have enabled the selection of target zones and field parameters for potential Phase 3B production testing. Recent work has also been completed in which detailed characterizations of potential long term production testing sites and detailed methodologies for each site (including detailed evaluation of well completion and test design scenarios) were developed and evaluated.

A proposal has been made by the project science team to BP to proceed to Phase 3B activities with a recommended field site in the Prudhoe Bay area of the Alaska North Slope. BP is currently in the process of evaluating these recommendations and investigating potential for access to the preferred Phase 3B production test site (which is a shared ownership location). In addition, BP is also working toward the potential establishment of a Joint Industry Partnership that could involve other ANS ownership partners. A decision on transition of the project to Phase 3B and the location of any long term production test is expected to be made by DOE and BP by end of summer 2009.

Project Start: September 30, 2001
Project End: December 31, 2009

Project Cost Information:
Phase 1: DOE Contribution: $ 2,611,828, Recipient Contribution: $5,396,234
Phase 2: DOE Contribution: $ 870,485, Recipient Contribution: $100,775
Phase 3A: DOE Contribution: $6,337,103, Recipient Contribution: $316,628
Planned Phase 3B: DOE Contribution: $10,415,920, Recipient Contribution: $220,711
Planned Total Funding (if project continues through all project phases):
DOE Contribution: $20,235,336, Performer Contribution: $6,034,348

Contact Information:
NETL  – Rick Baker (richard.baker@netl.doe.gov or 304-285-4714)
ASRC Energy Services – Robert B. Hunter (hunterrb@bp.com or 907-339-6377)

Additional Information:
In addition to the information provided here, a full listing of project related publications and presentations as well as a listing of funded students can be found in the Methane Hydrate Program Bibliography [PDF].

BPXA Status Meeting Presentation - Hunter [PDF-6.01MB] - January, 2009

BPXA Status Meeting Presentation - Hancock [PDF-669KB] - January, 2009

BPXA Status Meeting Presentation - Wilson [PDF-5.40MB] - January, 2009

Technical Report - January 2009:  Semi-Annual Report [PDF-1.25MB] - March, 2008 - September, 2008

2008 ICGH Paper - Investigation of Gas Hydrate-Bearing Sandstone Reservoirs at the "Mount Elbert" Stratigraphic Test Well, Milne Point, Alaska [PDF]

2008 ICGH Paper - Analyses of Production Tests and MDT Tests Conducted in Mallik and Alaska Methane Hydrate Reservoirs: What Can We Learn from These Well Tests? [PDF]

2008 ICGH Paper - Preliminary Assessment of Hydrocarbon Gas Sources from the Mt. Elbert No. 1 Gas Hydrate Test Well, Milne Pt. Alaska [PDF]

2008 ICGH Paper - An International Effort to Compare Gas Hydrate Reservoir Simulators [PDF]

2008 ICGH Paper - Analysis of Modular Dynamic Formation Test Results from the Mount Elbert-01 Stratigraphic Test Well, Milne Point Unit, North Slope Alaska [PDF]

Technical Report - June 2008:  Semi-Annual Report [PDF-11.9MB] - October, 2007 - March, 2008

Alaska Gas Hydrate Research and Stratigraphic Test Preliminary Results [PDF-1.84MB] - Robert B. Hunter, Scott A. Digert, Ray Boswell, and Timothy S. Collett - March, 2008

A listing of the available well log data from BP-DOE-US "Mount Elbert" test - Digital well log data acquired at the February 2007 gas hydrates test well at Milne Point, Alaska are now available. Data include Gamma ray, neutron porosity, density porosity, three-dimensional high resolution resistivity, acoustics including compressional- and shear-wave data, and nuclear magnetic resonance.

Technical Report - September 2007:  Twentieth Quarterly Report [PDF-16.02MB] - July - September, 2007

Technical Report - June 2007:  Nineteenth Quarterly Report [PDF-3.23MB] - April - June, 2007

Technical Report - March 2007:  Eighteenth Quarterly Report [PDF-33.98MB] - January - March, 2007

ANS Stratigraphic Test Well - February, 2007

BP Drills Alaska North Slope Gas Hydrate Test Well to Assess Potential Energy Resource  [external site] February 20, 2007 BP Press Release

Technical Report - December 2006:  Seventeenth Quarterly Report [PDF-10.5MB]

Technical Report - September 2006:  Sixteenth Quarterly Report [PDF-1.04MB]

Technical Report - June 2006:  Fifteenth Quarterly Report (Ten-Fourteen Waived) Inclusive of January 2005 - June 2006  [PDF-7.3MB]

Technical Report - July 2005:  Eighth and Ninth Quarterly Report [PDF-7524KB]

Topical Report - June 2005:  Drilling and Data Acquisition and Planning [PDF-8092KB]

Technical Report  - October 2003: Natural Gas Hydrate Characterization - Prudhoe Bay [PDF-4906KB]

Poster - Use of Seismic Attributes and Modeling [PDF-3705KB] - North Slope, Alaska

Peer-Reviewed Publications:
Inks, T., M. Lee, W. Agena, D. Taylor, T. Collett, and R. Hunter, in review, Seismic prospecting for gas hydrates and sub-hydrate free gas in the Milne Point area of Northern Alaska, in Collett, T., A..Johnson, C. Knapp and R. Boswell, eds., Natural Gas Hydrates: Energy Resource and Associated Geologic Hazards, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Special Publication.

Jaiswal, N., A. Dandekar, S. Patil, R. Hunter, and T. Collett, in review, Relative permeability measurements of gas-water-hydrate systems, in Collett, T., A.Johnson, C. Knapp and R. Boswell, eds., Natural Gas Hydrates: Energy Resource and Associated Geologic Hazards, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Special Publication.

Lee, M., T. Collett, and T. Inks, in review, Seismic attribute analysis for gas-hydrate and free-gas prospects on the North Slope of Alaska, in Collett, T., A. Johnson, C. Knapp, and R. Boswell, eds., Natural Gas Hydrates: Energy Resource and Associated Geologic Hazards, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Special Publication.

Theses/Dissertations
Casavant, R., 2001, Morphotectonic Investigation of the Arctic Alaska Terrane: Implications to Basement Architecture, Basin Evolution, Neotectonics and Natural Resource Management, Ph.D. thesis, University of Arizona.

Geauner, S., 2006, Fault analysis, seismic facies modeling and volumetric reassessment of gas hydrates in the Milne Point Unit, North Slope, Alaska, MGE Masters Thesis, University of Arizona.

Hagbo, C., 2003, Characterization of Gas-hydrate Occurrences using 3D Seismic Data and Seismic Attributes, Milne Point, North Slope, Alaska, M.S. Thesis, Dept. of Geosciences, University of Arizona.

Hennes, A., 2004, Structural Constraints on Gas-hydrate Formation and Distribution in the Milne Point, North Slope of Alaska, M.S. Thesis, Dept. of Geosciences, University of Arizona.

Howe, S., 2004, Production modeling and economic evaluation of a potential gas hydrate pilot production program on the North Slope of Alaska, M.S. Thesis, University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

Jaiswal, N., 2004, Measurement of gas-water relative permeabilities in hydrate systems, M.S. Thesis, University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

Manuel, J., 2006, A chronostratigraphic framework of the Sagavanirktok Formation, North Slope Alaska: Incorporating facies characterization, reservoir continuity and dimensions in relation to gas hydrate and associated free-gas resources, MGE Masters Thesis, University of Arizona.

Westervelt, J., 2004, Determination of methane hydrate stability zones in the Prudhoe Bay, Kuparuk River, and Milne Point units on the North Slope of Alaska, M.S. Thesis, University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

Zhoa, B., 2003, Classifying Seismic Attributes in the Milne Point Unit, North Slope of Alaska, M.S. Thesis, Dept. of Mining and Geological Engineering, University of Arizona.

Government Reports
Hunter, R., S. Patil, R. Casavant, and T. Collett, 2006, Resource Characterization and Quantification of Natural Gas-Hydrate and Associated Free-Gas Accumulations in the Prudhoe Bay - Kuparuk River Area on the North Slope of Alaska, September 2006 Quarterly Technical Report, Sixteenth Technical Quarterly Report, inclusive of July 2006 - September 2006, Cooperative Agreement Award Number DE-FC-01NT41332, November 6, available online (click here - [PDF])

Hunter, R., S. Patil, R. Casavant, and T. Collett, 2006, Resource Characterization and Quantification of Natural Gas-Hydrate and Associated Free-Gas Accumulations in the Prudhoe Bay - Kuparuk River Area on the North Slope of Alaska, June 2006 Quarterly Technical Report, Fifteenth Technical Quarterly Report, inclusive of January 2005 - June 2006 (Technical Quarterly Reports ten through fourteen waived) Cooperative Agreement Award Number DE-FC-01NT41332, July 31, available online (click here - [PDF]).

Hunter, R., S. Patil, R. Casavant, and T. Collett, 2005, Resource Characterization and Quantification of Natural Gas-Hydrate and Associated Free-Gas Accumulations in the Prudhoe Bay - Kuparuk River Area on the North Slope of Alaska, December 2004 Quarterly Technical Report Eighth and Ninth Quarterly Report, July 2004 - December 2004, Cooperative Agreement Award Number DE-FC-01NT41332, July 25, available online (click here - [PDF]).

Hunter, R., S. Patil, R. Casavant, and T. Collett, 2005, Resource Characterization and Quantification of Natural Gas-Hydrate and Associated Free-Gas Accumulations in the Prudhoe Bay – Kuparuk River Area on the North Slope of Alaska Drilling and Data Acquisition Planning, U.S. DOE-NETL Topical Report, available online (click here - [PDF])

Lee, M., 2005, Well Log Analysis to Assist the Interpretation of 3D Seismic Data at Milne Point, North Slope of Alaska, U. S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report, 2005-5048, available online (click here - external site).

Presentations
Boswell, R., 2006, Status of U.S. DOE/BP Gas Hydrate Resource Characterization, Milne Point, Alaska North Slope, Kauai, HI, ECI Science and Technology Issues in Methane Hydrate R&D, March 5-9.

Casavant, R., 2002, Tectonic geomorphic characterization of a transcurrent fault zone, Western Brooks Range, Alaska (linkage of shallow hydrocarbons with basement deformation), Anchorage, AK, SPE-AAPG Western Region-Pacific Section Joint Technical Conference Proceedings, May 18-23.

Casavant, R., 2004, Reservoir-Fluid Characterization and Reservoir Modeling of Potential Gas Hydrate Resources, Alaska North Slope, Calgary, AB, Canada, Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Technical Conference, June 1.

Casavant, R., A. Hennes, R. Johnson, and T. Collett, 2004, Structural analysis of a proposed pull-apart basin: Implications for gas hydrate and associated free-gas emplacement, Milne Point Unit, Arctic Alaska, Vancouver, BC, Canada, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Research Conference, September 12-16.

Digert, S., 2005, Perspective on ANS methane gas hydrate, Anchorage, AK, Alaska Division of Natural Resources Alaska Gas Workshop, August 17-18.

Gandler, G., R. Casavant, R. Johnson, K. Glass, and T. Collett, 2004, Preliminary Spatial Analysis of Faulting and Gas Hydrates-Free Gas Occurrence, Milne Point Unit, Arctic Alaska, Vancouver, BC, Canada, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Research Conference, September 12-16.

Geauner, S., J. Manuel, R. Casavant, C. Glass, and K. Mallon, 2004, Well Log Normalization and Comparative Volumetric Analysis of Gas Hydrate and Free-Gas Resources, Central North Slope, Alaska, Vancouver, BC, Canada, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Research Conference, September 12-16.

Geauner, S., J. Manuel, and R. Casavant, 2003, Preliminary subsurface characterization and modeling of gas hydrate resources, North Slope, Alaska, AAPG-SEG Student Expo, Houston, TX, October 5-6.

Hagbo, C., and R. Johnson, 2003, Use of seismic attributes in identifying and interpreting onshore gas-hydrate occurrences, North Slope, Alaska, San Francisco, California, EOS Transaction, American Geophysical Union, Volume 84, Fall Meeting Supplement, Abstract OS42B-06, December 8-12.

Hennes, M., R. Johnson, and R. Casavant, 2004, Seismic Characterization of a Shallow Gas-Hydrate-Bearing Reservoir on the North Slope of Alaska, Vancouver, BC, Canada, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Research Conference, September 12-16.

Howe, S., N. Nanchary, S. Patil, S. Ogbe, G. Chukwu, R. Hunter, and S. Wilson, 2004, Economic Analysis and Feasibility Study of Gas Production from Alaska North Slope Gas Hydrate Resources, Vancouver, BC, Canada, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Research Conference, September 12-16.

Hunter, R., S. Digert, T. Collett, R. Boswell, 2008, Gas Hydrate Research and Stratigraphic Test Results, Milne Point Unit, Alaska North Slope, AAPG National Meeting, San Antonio, TX, April 22.

Hunter, R., T. Collett, S. Patil, R. Casavant, and T. Mroz, 2004, Characterization, Appraisal and Economic Viability of Alaska North Slope Gas Hydrate Accumulations, Vancouver, BC, Canada, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Research Conference, September 12-16.

Hunter, R., 2005, Evaluation and modeling of Alaska North Slope gas hydrate resource potential, Anchorage, AK, Alaska Division of Natural Resources, Alaska Gas Workshop, August 17-18.

Hunter, R., 2003, Resource Characterization and Quantification of Natural Gas-Hydrate and Associated Free-Gas Accumulations in the Prudhoe Bay – Kuparuk River Area on the North Slope of Alaska, Geophysical Society of Alaska Lecture Series, May.

Hunter, R., 2002, Resource Characterization and Quantification of Natural Gas-Hydrate and Associated Free-Gas Accumulations in the Prudhoe Bay-Kuparuk River Area on the North Slope of Alaska, Anchorage, AK, Society of Petroleum Engineers –The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Western Region – Pacific Section Conference, May 18-23.

Hunter, R., and T. Collett, 2004, Gas hydrate prospect development and production modeling, Alaska North Slope, Geophysical Society of Alaska Lecture Series, December.

Hunter, R., R. Casavant, R. Johnson, M. Poulton, G. Moridis, S. Wilson, S. Geauner, J. Manuel, C. Hagbo, C. Glass, K. Mallon, S. Patil, A. Dandekar, and T. Collett, 2004, Reservoir-Fluid Characterization and Reservoir Modeling of Potential Gas Hydrate Resources, Alaska North Slope, Dallas, TX, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Meeting, April 16-21.

Hunter, R., 2003, Resource Characterization and Quantification of Natural Gas-Hydrate and Associated Free-Gas Accumulations Prudhoe Bay – Kuparuk River Area, North Slope of Alaska, Salt Lake City, UT, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Meeting, May 11-14.

Hunter, R., T. Collett, S. Wilson, T. Inks, R. Casavant, R. Johnson, M. Poulton, K. Mallon, S. Patil, and A. Dandekar, 2005, Gas Hydrate Prospect Development and Production Modeling, Alaska North Slope, Calgary, AB, Canada, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Meeting, June 19-22.

Hunter, R., S. Digert, R. Casavant, R. Johnson, M. Poulton, C. Glass, K. Mallon, S. Patil, A. Dandekar, and T. Collett, 2003, Resource Characterization and Quantification of Natural Gas-Hydrate and Associated Free-Gas Accumulations in the Prudhoe Bay-Kuparuk River Area, North Slope of Alaska, Poster Session at The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, May 11-14. Poster received EMD, President’s Certificate for Excellence in Presentation.

Inks, T., T. Collett, D. Taylor, W. Agena, and M. Lee, 2004, Prospecting for Gas Hydrate Accumulations using 2D and 3D seismic data, Milne Point, North Slope, Alaska, Vancouver, BC, Canada, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Research Conference, September 12-16.

Inks, T., T. Collett, D. Taylor, W. Agena, M. Lee, and R. Hunter, 2006, Prospecting for Gas Hydrate Accumulations using 2D and 3D seismic data, Milne Point, North Slope, Alaska, Houston, TX, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Meeting, April 9-12.

Jaiswal, N., J. Westervelt, S. Patil, A. Dandekar, N. Nanchary, P. Tsunemori, and R. Hunter, 2004, Phase Behavior and Relative Permeability of Gas-Water-Hydrate System: Vancouver, BC, Canada, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Research Conference, September 12-16.

Jaiswal, N., 2003, Measurement of Relative Permeability for Gas Hydrate Production, Fairbanks, AK, 5th Arctic Science Conference, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Arctic Division, September 22-24.

Mitchell, K., R. Casavant, and J. Manuel, 2003, Regional characterization of the Cretaceous Nanushuk Group: Preliminary assessment for coal-bed methane potential in arctic Alaska, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists-SEG Student Expo, Houston, TX, October 5-6.

Nanchary, N., S. Patil, A. Dandekar, and R. Hunter, 2004, Numerical Modeling of Gas Dissociation from Gas Hydrate in Porous Media, Vancouver, BC, Canada, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Research Conference, September 12-16.

Poulton, M., R. Casavant, C. Glass, and B. Zhao, 2004, Model Testing of Methane Hydrate Formation on the North Slope of Alaska With Artificial Neural Networks, Vancouver, BC, Canada, The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Hedberg Research Conference, September 12-16.

Taylor, D., T. Collett, and M. Lee, 2003, Imaging gas-hydrate-bearing zones using 3D seismic data, Milne Point, North Slope, Alaska, Denver, CO, Proceedings of the Ninth Annual RMAG-DGS 3D Seismic Symposium, February 28.

Tsunemori, P., 2003, Determination of Gas Hydrate Stability Zones in Prudhoe Bay, Kuparuk River, and Milne Point Units for Production of Natural Gas from Gas Hydrates, Fairbanks, AK, Fifth Arctic Science Conference, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Arctic Division, September 22-24.

3-D image of seismic amplitudes in the fault-bounded "Mt. Elbert" hydrate prospect, Milne Pt., Alaska North Slope. This prospect will be the target of the Phase 3 drilling. The amplitudes are a direct function of hydrate saturation.