Why Now?

There are three converging reasons why Oil & Gas Companies are coming to Lee County and talking to landowners about leases now:

  1. Rising demand for alternative sources of energy and natural resources in the US
  2. Oil & Gas Exploration companies taking a closer look have rediscovered gas deposits in Lee County, NC
  3. Use of new technology and techniques now provides a better picture of what’s in the ground AND a greater capability to extract it

Why Lee County?

The reason they are targeting Lee Co. is because of the exploration around the coal mines that were worked here years ago. Had we not mined coal here on the Deep River, we would not be as knowledgeable about the gas and oil.

The following is an excerpt from the presentation “North Carolina’s Shale Gas Potential: Who Knew?” by Jeffrey C. Reid PhD, PG, CPG, of the North Carolina Geological Survey. »New Public Outreach Presentation

Who Knew?

  • Oil and gas industry largely unaware of rift basins in North Carolina.
  • Thick organic-rich shale section with coals.
  • Extensive organic geochemistry database.
  • Interpreted seismic lines (~75 line miles) – shot after drilling.
  • New gas chemistry and gas quality data.
  • LiDAR delineation of geologic structures
  • Total petroleum system recognized.
  • Centrally located in state.
  • Rural area, relatively undeveloped, low topographic relief.

Why Now?

  • Compilation of Data
  • Years of scholarship locating and compiling data.
  • Paper data converted to digital formats
  • Organic geochemistry data collected and interpreted for first time.
  • Focus was shallow coal bed methane, not shale gas.
  • Wells drilled BEFORE seismic lines were run.
  • Well depths were relatively shallow and did not target seismic features of potential interest as they were unknown then.

New Emphasis

  • Industry largely unaware of basins in North Carolina.
  • USGS emphasis on Mesozoic basin energy systems.
  • Thick organic-rich shale section previously not considered to be of interest.
  • Similarity to other unconventional organic shale resources.

New Techniques

  • New gas chemistry and gas quality data
  • Seismic lines interpreted.
  • Use of LiDAR to delineate geologic structures.
  • Directional drilling.
  • Recognition of a total petroleum system.
  • New gas pipelines and nearby users
  • Rural area compared to other East Coast rift basins

Comments are closed.