The significance of stylolitization and intergranular pressure solution in the formation of pressure compartment seals in the St. Peter Sandstone, Ordovician, Michigan basin

Conference · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:5793700

Drzewiecki, P A; Simo, T; Moline, G; Bahr, J M; Nadon, G; Shepherd, L; Vandrey, M R ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison (United States)

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.

• OSTI ID: 5793700
• Report Number(s): CONF-910403--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Journal Volume: 75:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030200* -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
&amp; Exploration
BUILDING MATERIALS
CEMENTS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIAGENESIS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MATERIALS
MICHIGAN
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINERALIZATION
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
ORDOVICIAN PERIOD
PALEOZOIC ERA
POROSITY
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
USA