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The significance of stylolitization and intergranular pressure solution in the formation of pressure compartment seals in the St. Peter Sandstone, Ordovician, Michigan basin
Abstract
The Middle to Late Ordovician St. Peter Sandstone of the Michigan basin is a fine- to medium-grained quartz sandstone. Extensive stylolitization and intergranular pressure solution have been major factors in reducing the porosity of certain horizons within the St. Peter, resulting in pressure compartmentation of the reservoir. Pressure versus depth data for various Michigan basin wells indicate that the basin contains compartments that are overpressured by as much as 500 psi. Horizons bounding these compartments are often affected by intense stylolitization (or intergranular pressure solution) and quartz cementation and have been correlated with zones of low porosity and permeability ({phi} = 0-3%, k = <50 {mu}d). These tight zones can be correlated within single gas fields, and some may extend across the Michigan basin. The St. Peter Sandstone has been buried to depths of about 3,500 m in the central part of the basin and 1,500 m at the margins. Intensely stylolitized zones are found at all depths throughout the basin and do not appear to change in abundance or style with depths. Factors that influence the formation, morphology, and abundance of stylolites in the St. Peter include (1) clay intraclasts, (2) intergranular clay, and (3) fine-grained, feldspar-rich sand. Stylolitesmore »
- Authors:
-
- Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison (United States)
- Publication Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5793700
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-910403-
Journal ID: ISSN 0149-1423; CODEN: AABUD
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Journal Name:
- AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 75:3; Conference: Annual meeting of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), Dallas, TX (United States), 7-10 Apr 1991; Journal ID: ISSN 0149-1423
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 03 NATURAL GAS; MICHIGAN; NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS; RESERVOIR ROCK; DIAGENESIS; POROSITY; CEMENTS; GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS; MINERALIZATION; ORDOVICIAN PERIOD; RESERVOIR PRESSURE; SANDSTONES; SEDIMENTARY BASINS; BUILDING MATERIALS; DEVELOPED COUNTRIES; GEOLOGIC AGES; GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS; GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES; MATERIALS; MINERAL RESOURCES; NORTH AMERICA; PALEOZOIC ERA; RESOURCES; ROCKS; SEDIMENTARY ROCKS; USA; 030200* - Natural Gas- Reserves, Geology, & Exploration
Citation Formats
Drzewiecki, P A, Simo, T, Moline, G, Bahr, J M, Nadon, G, Shepherd, L, and Vandrey, M R. The significance of stylolitization and intergranular pressure solution in the formation of pressure compartment seals in the St. Peter Sandstone, Ordovician, Michigan basin. United States: N. p., 1991.
Web.
Drzewiecki, P A, Simo, T, Moline, G, Bahr, J M, Nadon, G, Shepherd, L, & Vandrey, M R. The significance of stylolitization and intergranular pressure solution in the formation of pressure compartment seals in the St. Peter Sandstone, Ordovician, Michigan basin. United States.
Drzewiecki, P A, Simo, T, Moline, G, Bahr, J M, Nadon, G, Shepherd, L, and Vandrey, M R. 1991.
"The significance of stylolitization and intergranular pressure solution in the formation of pressure compartment seals in the St. Peter Sandstone, Ordovician, Michigan basin". United States.
@article{osti_5793700,
title = {The significance of stylolitization and intergranular pressure solution in the formation of pressure compartment seals in the St. Peter Sandstone, Ordovician, Michigan basin},
author = {Drzewiecki, P A and Simo, T and Moline, G and Bahr, J M and Nadon, G and Shepherd, L and Vandrey, M R},
abstractNote = {The Middle to Late Ordovician St. Peter Sandstone of the Michigan basin is a fine- to medium-grained quartz sandstone. Extensive stylolitization and intergranular pressure solution have been major factors in reducing the porosity of certain horizons within the St. Peter, resulting in pressure compartmentation of the reservoir. Pressure versus depth data for various Michigan basin wells indicate that the basin contains compartments that are overpressured by as much as 500 psi. Horizons bounding these compartments are often affected by intense stylolitization (or intergranular pressure solution) and quartz cementation and have been correlated with zones of low porosity and permeability ({phi} = 0-3%, k = <50 {mu}d). These tight zones can be correlated within single gas fields, and some may extend across the Michigan basin. The St. Peter Sandstone has been buried to depths of about 3,500 m in the central part of the basin and 1,500 m at the margins. Intensely stylolitized zones are found at all depths throughout the basin and do not appear to change in abundance or style with depths. Factors that influence the formation, morphology, and abundance of stylolites in the St. Peter include (1) clay intraclasts, (2) intergranular clay, and (3) fine-grained, feldspar-rich sand. Stylolites also occur at contacts between quartz-cemented and carbonate-cemented zones and within well-cemented sands. Intergranular pressure solution and stylolites may be responsible for the formation of a compartment seal. Understanding their genesis can allow prediction of variations in porosity in Michigan basin well cores.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5793700},
journal = {AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)},
issn = {0149-1423},
number = ,
volume = 75:3,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1991},
month = {Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1991}
}