A04_SOW_-_Isostope.docx

Statement of Work: Analysis of singly- and multi-substituted “clumped” methane isotopologues by high resolution isotope ratio mass spectroscopy

1.0. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

The USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center requires the analysis of methane clumped isotopes to source natural gas samples collected during the methane hydrate production test being conducted on the Alaskan North Slope. The project is a partnership that includes the Department of Energy, the U.S. Geological Survey; Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp., and ASRC Energy Services.

The primary goal of this project is to conduct a scientific field production test from one or more gas hydrate bearing sand reservoirs using depressurization technology. The project includes the drilling and evaluation of a stratigraphic test well, followed by the establishment of a production test site (including surface monitoring, instrumented monitoring wells, a geologic data well, and two production test wells), and then the testing of reservoir response to pressure reduction over a period of about 6-12 months.

The USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center requires the analysis of clumped methane isotopes to source natural gas samples collected during different phases of the study. To date, more than 500 gas samples have been collected. All samples have been analyzed for methane stable carbon isotopes for source identification and gas chromatography for compositional analysis. A subset of 122 samples have been submitted for deuterium content of methane, and 36 samples for stable carbon isotope analysis of ethane and propane. Despite measuring such a wide range of sample types by so many techniques, questions persist about the origins of the gases being produced at the well. Analysis of clumped methane isotopes, a relatively recent technique, has the potential to resolve the formation temperature of the gases, which may link the gases collected at different times and parts of the system to the deep reservoirs from where the gases were originally formed.

2.0 SCOPE

The scope of work is to analyze 38 gas samples provided by the USGS. The samples submitted will include compositional data (concentrations of hydrocarbon gases in the samples) that are within 10% of the actual concentration. The samples will be provided in 250 ml Cali-5 bags with check values and will contain greater than 90% methane. Most of the samples to be analyzed have been collected and identified. However, additional samples may be collected until Dec 31, 2024.

3.0 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

n/a

4.0 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The vendor must be capable of analyzing the following isotopologues of methane with the stated specifications:

d13C: 2-sigma < 0.1‰ dD: 2-sigma < 0.5‰ D13CH3D: 2-sigma <1.0‰ D12CH2D2: 2-sigma <2.0‰

The total contract will be $32,631. The vendor will communicate results within one week of sample processing so guidance can be provided about what analysis is to be performed on each sample provided.

5.0 DELIVERABLES

The vendor will provide an analysis report for each sample that includes raw bulk data and measurement and error for d13C, dD, D13CH3D, and D12CH2D2, 2) VPDB and VSMOW corrected values of d13C, dD, 3) thermally-equilibrated-standardized values for D13CH3D and D12CH2D2, 4) apparent temperature estimates, including error ranges and a reference/equation used to calculate this temperature, 5) thermally-equilibrated methane standards temperature information and isotope data

5.0 Performance Standards and Monitoring Methods

Data reported in the analysis reports must be within the reported 2-sigma standard deviation listed in the Technical Requirements (Section 4.0).