Mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) results from outcrop samples in the Tyonek, Beluga, and West Foreland Formations, Tyonek and Talkeetna quadrangles, Alaska

The State of Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (DGGS) is currently engaged in a multi-year study of the hydrocarbon potential of the Tertiary and Mesozoic strata in Cook Inlet basin. This report summarizes mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) data for 38 outcrop samples collected from the Tyonek, Beluga, and West Foreland Formations in the Tyonek and Talkeetna quadrangles. All samples were collected from measured stratigraphic sections. The Tyonek Formation samples have unimodal pore systems and the majority have well defined to sharp intrusion profiles. The Beluga Formation samples are characterized by unimodal pore systems and relatively broad intrusion profiles. The West Foreland Formation samples have much more heterogeneous pore structures and a majority of the samples display some level of bimodality. Six samples from within the various formations have entry pressures above 500 psia and these were evaluated for potential seal capacity. Three of the samples are Type C seals, under the Sneider Classification, and have an average potential seal capacity for oil of 565 feet, and 417 feet for gas (assuming 7.5% hydrocarbon saturation in the seal). One sample from the Beluga Formation is a Type B seal capable of trapping 2,670 feet and 1,971 feet of oil and gas, respectively. The best seals (Type A and A) are from the West Foreland Formation, upper member, and have much higher potential seal capacities, up to 7,132 feet of oil and 5,265 feet of gas for the Type A seal.

Data and Resources

Field Value
access_constraints ["Use Constraints: Any hard copies or published datasets utilizing these datasets shall clearly indicate their source. If the user has modified the data in any way, the user is obligated to describe the types of modifications the user has made. The user specifically agrees not to misrepresent these datasets, nor to imply that changes made by the user were approved by the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys. The State of Alaska makes no express or implied warranties (including warranties for merchantability and fitness) with respect to the character, functions, or capabilities of the electronic data or products or their appropriateness for any user's purposes. In no event will the State of Alaska be liable for any incidental, indirect, special, consequential, or other damages suffered by the user or any other person or entity whether from the use of the electronic services or products or any failure thereof or otherwise. In no event will the State of Alaska's liability to the Requestor or anyone else exceed the fee paid for the electronic service or product.", "Access Constraints: This report, map, and/or dataset is available directly from the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (see contact information below)."]
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bbox-north-lat 62.52868
bbox-south-lat 61.15744
bbox-west-long -151.98276
contact-email dggsgis@alaska.gov
coupled-resource []
dataset-reference-date [{"type": "publication", "value": "2013-01-01"}]
frequency-of-update notPlanned
licence ["The State of Alaska makes no expressed or implied warranties (including warranties for merchantability and fitness) with respect to the character, functions, or capabilities of the electronic data or products or their appropriateness for any user's purposes. In no event will the State of Alaska be liable for any incidental, indirect, special, consequential, or other damages suffered by the user or any other person or entity whether from the use of the electronic services or products or any failure thereof or otherwise. In no event will the State of Alaska's liability to the Requestor or anyone else exceed the fee paid for the electronic service or product."]
metadata-date 2013-07-12
metadata-language eng; USA
metadata_type geospatial
progress completed
resource-type dataset
responsible-party [{"name": "Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys", "roles": ["pointOfContact"]}]
spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-151.98276, 61.15744], [-150.65359, 61.15744], [-150.65359, 62.52868], [-151.98276, 62.52868], [-151.98276, 61.15744]]]}
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Groups
  • AmeriGEOSS
  • National Provider
  • North America
Tags
  • amerigeo
  • amerigeoss
  • analyses
  • analytical-results
  • beluga-formation
  • ckan
  • cook-inlet
  • cook-inlet-basin
  • gas-basins
  • geo
  • geoss
  • mercury-injection-capillary-pressure-analysis
  • national
  • north-america
  • oil-and-gas
  • oil-and-gas-basin
  • oil-basins
  • outcrop-samples
  • permeability
  • petroleum
  • petroleum-basin-study
  • porosity
  • reservoir
  • reservoir-evaluation
  • reservoir-quality
  • sample-location
  • sample-location-map
  • susitna-basin
  • talkeetna-quadrangle
  • tyonek-formation
  • tyonek-quadrangle
  • united-states
  • west-foreland-formation
isopen False
metadata_created 2025-11-20T14:24:34.788594
metadata_modified 2025-11-20T14:24:34.788598
notes The State of Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (DGGS) is currently engaged in a multi-year study of the hydrocarbon potential of the Tertiary and Mesozoic strata in Cook Inlet basin. This report summarizes mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) data for 38 outcrop samples collected from the Tyonek, Beluga, and West Foreland Formations in the Tyonek and Talkeetna quadrangles. All samples were collected from measured stratigraphic sections. The Tyonek Formation samples have unimodal pore systems and the majority have well defined to sharp intrusion profiles. The Beluga Formation samples are characterized by unimodal pore systems and relatively broad intrusion profiles. The West Foreland Formation samples have much more heterogeneous pore structures and a majority of the samples display some level of bimodality. Six samples from within the various formations have entry pressures above 500 psia and these were evaluated for potential seal capacity. Three of the samples are Type C seals, under the Sneider Classification, and have an average potential seal capacity for oil of 565 feet, and 417 feet for gas (assuming 7.5% hydrocarbon saturation in the seal). One sample from the Beluga Formation is a Type B seal capable of trapping 2,670 feet and 1,971 feet of oil and gas, respectively. The best seals (Type A and A*) are from the West Foreland Formation, upper member, and have much higher potential seal capacities, up to 7,132 feet of oil and 5,265 feet of gas for the Type A* seal.
num_resources 15
num_tags 33
title Mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) results from outcrop samples in the Tyonek, Beluga, and West Foreland Formations, Tyonek and Talkeetna quadrangles, Alaska