Comparison of Texas shale plays – geologic characteristics and implications for

production of the Eagle Ford/Tuscaloosa Marine Shale, Haynesville/Bossier,

Wolfcamp/Bone Springs, and Barnett/Woodford plays.

Texas shale plays are some of the most prolific oil and gas producers in the world and have been

compared to many shale plays around the world. However, a comparative study of geologic

characteristics of the Texas shale plays has not been presented. This study compares the carbonate-dominated shales of the Eagle Ford and Haynesville formations, the silica dominated shales of the Barnett/Woodford and Wolfcamp/Bone Springs formations and the argillaceous dominated shales of the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale. Knowing the impact of the shales’ depositional environments on background mineralogy is important because it has a direct influence on reservoir quality (porosity, permeability, brittleness) of the shales.