Elm Coulee Oil Field was discovered in the Williston Basin in Richland County , eastern Montana , in 2000. It produces oil from the Bakken formation and, as of 2007, was the "highest-producing onshore field found in the lower 48 states in the past 56 years." By 2007, the field had become one of the 20 largest oil fields in the United States.
29-565: Geologist Richard Findley was undaunted by the failure of "horizontal" Bakken play of the early 1990s. This early attempt to exploit the Bakken Formation using horizontal drilling failed because the wells were placed in the shale members of the Bakken. Findley found that the dolomitic middle Bakken member in Montana had oil shows and porosity in sample cuttings, as well as porosity on well logs. Also,
58-435: A common cause of lab fires. More modern techniques include the use of molecular sieves or a column purification system. Molecular sieves are far more effective than most common methods for drying solvents and are safer and require no special equipment for handling. Column solvent purification devices (generally referred to as Grubb's columns) recently became available, reducing the hazards (water reactive substances, heat) from
87-466: A more stable phase (such as partially ordered dolomite) during periodical intervals of dissolution and re-precipitation. The general principle governing the course of this irreversible geochemical reaction has been coined "breaking Ostwald's step rule ". High diagenetic temperatures, such as those of groundwater flowing along deeply rooted fault systems affecting some sedimentary successions or deeply buried limestone rocks allocate dolomitization . But
116-492: A pH buffer and as a magnesium source. Pastures can be limed with dolomitic lime to raise their pH and where there is a magnesium deficiency. Dolomite is also used as the substrate in marine (saltwater) aquariums to help buffer changes in the pH of the water. Calcined dolomite is also used as a catalyst for destruction of tar in the gasification of biomass at high temperature. Particle physics researchers like to build particle detectors under layers of dolomite to enable
145-598: Is also known as lyophilization. In many cases, the presence of water can prevent a reaction from happening, or cause undesirable products to form. To prevent this, anhydrous solvents must be used when performing certain reactions. Examples of reactions requiring the use of anhydrous solvents are the Grignard reaction and the Wurtz reaction . Solvents have typically been dried using distillation or by reaction with reactive metals or metal hydrides . These methods can be dangerous and are
174-509: Is also used for a sedimentary carbonate rock composed mostly of the mineral dolomite (see Dolomite (rock) ). An alternative name sometimes used for the dolomitic rock type is dolostone. As stated by Nicolas-Théodore de Saussure the mineral dolomite was probably first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1768. In 1791, it was described as a rock by the French naturalist and geologist Déodat Gratet de Dolomieu (1750–1801), first in buildings of
203-530: Is an important petroleum reservoir rock, and serves as the host rock for large strata-bound Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) ore deposits of base metals such as lead , zinc , and copper . Where calcite limestone is uncommon or too costly, dolomite is sometimes used in its place as a flux for the smelting of iron and steel. Large quantities of processed dolomite are used in the production of float glass . In horticulture , dolomite and dolomitic limestone are added to soils and soilless potting mixes as
232-424: Is exploited via horizontal drilling technology by perforating the productive rocks parallel to the beds, rather than through a vertical well perpendicular to the relatively thin Bakken formation. At Elm Coulee Field, the Bakken is only about 45 feet (15 m) thick and lies at depths of 8,500 to 10,500 feet (2,600–3,200 m), but horizontal wells penetrate 3,000 to 10,000 feet (900–3,000 m) of
261-465: Is in fine powder form, it does not rapidly dissolve or effervesce (fizz) in cold dilute hydrochloric acid as calcite does. Crystal twinning is common. Solid solution exists between dolomite, the iron -dominant ankerite and the manganese -dominant kutnohorite . Small amounts of iron in the structure give the crystals a yellow to brown tint. Manganese substitutes in the structure also up to about three percent MnO. A high manganese content gives
290-502: Is likely result from complexation of both magnesium and calcium by carboxylic acids comprising EPS. Vast deposits of dolomite are present in the geological record, but the mineral is relatively rare in modern environments. Reproducible, inorganic low-temperature syntheses of dolomite are yet to be performed. Usually, the initial inorganic precipitation of a metastable "precursor" (such as magnesium calcite) can easily be achieved. The precursor phase will theoretically change gradually into
319-758: The Rio de Janeiro coast of Brazil , namely, Lagoa Vermelha and Brejo do Espinho. There are many other localities where modern dolomite forms, notably along sabkhas in the Persian Gulf , but also in sedimentary basins bearing gas hydrates and hypersaline lakes. It is often thought that dolomite nucleates with the help of sulfate-reducing bacteria (e.g. Desulfovibrio brasiliensis ), but other microbial metabolisms have been also found to mediate in dolomite formation. In general, low-temperature dolomite may occur in natural supersaturated environments rich in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and microbial cell surfaces. This
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#1732859407486348-407: The Bakken in vertical boreholes, which was somewhat unusual. The area Findley mapped was too large for a small operator like Findley, so he submitted his concept to Lyco Energy of Dallas, Texas in 1996. Lyco took the project on, with Findley retaining a small ownership interest. Lyco began leasing in 1996, and then re-entered nine old vertical wells as a test, completing them with 100,000 lb fracs in
377-552: The area that happened to own leases, began a drilling program also, followed by Continental and others who rushed in to take lease positions on this new, hot play. At Elm Coulee, the Middle Bakken is a dolomite sandwiched between the Upper and Lower Shales. The shales are very rich in organic material, and the oil generated from them expanded from the shales upon reaching thermal maturity, migrating into this Middle Bakken zone. The field
406-453: The atmosphere so they must be stored carefully. Many salts and solids can be dried using heat, or under vacuum. Desiccators can also be used to store reagents in dry conditions. Common desiccants include phosphorus pentoxide and silica gel . Chemists may also require dry glassware for sensitive reactions. This can be achieved by drying glassware in an oven, by flame, or under vacuum. Dry solids can be produced by freeze-drying , which
435-399: The classical dehydrating methods. Anhydrous solvents are commercially available from chemical suppliers, and are packaged in sealed containers to maintain dryness. Typically anhydrous solvents will contain approximately 10 ppm of water and will increase in wetness if they are not properly stored. Organic solutions can be dried using a range of drying agents . Typically following a workup
464-520: The crystals a rosy pink color. Lead , zinc , and cobalt also can substitute in the structure for magnesium. The mineral dolomite is closely related to huntite Mg 3 Ca(CO 3 ) 4 . Because dolomite can be dissolved by slightly acidic water, areas where dolomite is an abundant rock-forming mineral are important as aquifers and contribute to karst terrain formation. Modern dolomite formation has been found to occur under anaerobic conditions in supersaturated saline lagoons such as those at
493-428: The detectors to detect the highest possible number of exotic particles. Because dolomite contains relatively minor quantities of radioactive materials, it can insulate against interference from cosmic rays without adding to background radiation levels. In addition to being an industrial mineral, dolomite is highly valued by collectors and museums when it forms large, transparent crystals. The specimens that appear in
522-486: The initial test well. Because of the relatively high cost and large potential scope of the project, Bobby Lyle (president of Lyco) decided that it would be prudent to involve investors. So, the Lyco team sought funding from numerous financial institutions and a few independent oil companies. But, the project was viewed as too risky, since there was no analogy for the concept. Finally, Halliburton agreed with Lyco's assessment of
551-500: The magnesite quarry exploited in Eugui, Esteribar, Navarra (Spain) are considered among the best in the world. Anhydrous A substance is anhydrous if it contains no water . Many processes in chemistry can be impeded by the presence of water; therefore, it is important that water-free reagents and techniques are used. In practice, however, it is very difficult to achieve perfect dryness; anhydrous compounds gradually absorb water from
580-520: The middle Bakken formation in 1996-7. The results were mixed, but confirmed that the Middle Bakken was saturated with producible oil, and would respond to a frac. Although there were a handful of horizontal wells being fracced in the Barnett Shale of Texas at the time (1997-8), those activities were not yet released. So, with no data available for an analogy, Lyco's geologist (Michael Lewis) and engineers (Charles Wiley and Gary Dittmar) set out to design
609-471: The mineral is also volumetrically important in some Neogene platforms never subjected to elevated temperatures. Under such conditions of diagenesis the long-term activity of the deep biosphere could play a key role in dolomitization, since diagenetic fluids of contrasting composition are mixed as a response to Milankovitch cycles . A recent biotic synthetic experiment claims to have precipitated ordered dolomite when anoxygenic photosynthesis proceeds in
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#1732859407486638-512: The oil output of the state of Montana, from around 40,000 barrels per day (6,400 m/d) in 2000 to almost 100,000 barrels per day (16,000 m/d) in 2006. However, Montana production fell again starting in 2007, down to some 70,000 barrels per day (11,000 m/d) in mid-2009. Dolomite (mineral) Dolomite ( / ˈ d ɒ l . ə ˌ m aɪ t , ˈ d oʊ . l ə -/ ) is an anhydrous carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate , ideally CaMg(CO 3 ) 2 . The term
667-504: The old city of Rome, and later as samples collected in the Tyrolean Alps . Nicolas-Théodore de Saussure first named the mineral (after Dolomieu) in March 1792. The mineral dolomite crystallizes in the trigonal-rhombohedral system. It forms white, tan, gray, or pink crystals. Dolomite is a double carbonate, having an alternating structural arrangement of calcium and magnesium ions. Unless it
696-407: The organic extract is dried using magnesium sulfate or a similar drying agent to remove most remaining water. Anhydrous acetic acid is known as glacial acetic acid . Several substances that exist as gases at standard conditions of temperature and pressure are commonly used as concentrated aqueous solutions . To clarify that it is the gaseous form that is being referred to, the term anhydrous
725-439: The porous middle Bakken member could be mapped over a large area in Montana, which Findley called a "Sleeping Giant". The Bakken formation had long been known to produce small amounts of oil throughout much of the deeper Williston Basin. Although the volume of oil recovered was commonly small, rare wells would produce large, economic volumes from the Bakken. Two wells in the future Elm Coulee area had made significant production from
754-506: The potential, including the potential boon for its stimulation business, and agreed to support Lyco's operations financially through its commercial services division. Lyco drilled the first horizontal well in the field, the Burning Tree State #36-10 in late 1999, as the oil price moved upwards toward $ 20 per barrel. Although designed as a 3,000 foot lateral, the well was terminated early due to hole stability issues. Production casing
783-451: The presence of manganese(II). A still perplexing example of an organogenic origin is that of the reported formation of dolomite in the urinary bladder of a Dalmatian dog, possibly as the result of an illness or infection. Dolomite is used as an ornamental stone, a concrete aggregate, and a source of magnesium oxide , as well as in the Pidgeon process for the production of magnesium . It
812-502: The reservoir rock, a porous dolomite of Devonian age that probably originated as a large carbonate bank on the western flank of the basin. The field is a stratigraphic trap . In 2006, Elm Coulee was producing about 53,000 barrels (8,400 m) of oil per day from more than 350 wells. Ultimate production is expected to exceed 270 million barrels (43,000,000 m), with some estimates as high as 500 million barrels (79,000,000 m). Production at Elm Coulee has more than doubled
841-433: Was run to bottom and cemented, then perforated in three intervals over the roughly 1,000 foot lateral; at the toe, the middle and the heel. The well flowed oil immediately, at 196 barrels per day, and continued flowing for several months. Finally, the well was fracced, with a substantial increase in production. Lyco then began a continuous drilling program, progressing to 3 rigs and beyond. Headington, another oil company in
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