Exploration concepts and methodology for deep Medina sandstone reservoirs in northwestern Pennsylvania

Conference · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · AAPG Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5790874

Zagorski, W A

The blanket, deltaic sandstones of the Lower Silurian Medina Group have been commercially exploited in Pennsylvania since 1947. Rapid escalation of gas prices in the late 1970s triggered a drilling boom for the Medina Group sandstones which shows little signs of abating. Prior to this recent escalation, most Medina activity was concentrated in Crawford and Erie Counties, Pennsylvania, where the Medina is relatively shallow, ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 ft in depth. Since the late 1970s, interest in Pennsylvania's deep medina targets has increased dramatically and several major field complexes have been established. Analysis of various log, completion, and production data and comparison of the Medina play of northwestern Pennsylvania to other tight sand basins of North America reveal that these deeper (5,000-6,000 ft) Medina targets are largely diagenetic in origin and thus are controlled by widely dissimilar processes than their shallower counterparts. Detailed analysis of resistivity logs, production tests, and pressure data indicates a basin-center trapping mechanism for the deeper Medina sandstone reservoirs, similar to the Elmworth field of the Canadian Deep Basin. The local and regional trapping mechanisms of the deeper Medina reservoirs can be identified in the subsurface and closely resemble other major tight-sand basins, providing effective exploration models. Failure to identify properly the trapping conditions present in site-specific areas can result in inadequate exploration models with associated poor success ratios and inferior per-well recoveries.

• Research Organization: Mark Resources Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5790874
• Report Number(s): CONF-8809345-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 72:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030200* -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
EXPLORATION
FEDERAL REGION III
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC TRAPS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
PALEOZOIC ERA
PENNSYLVANIA
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SILURIAN PERIOD
USA