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Sparta sandstones: future exploration potential in south-central Louisiana

Conference · · AAPG Bull.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5795172
The middle Eocene Sparta Formation is an important exploration objective within the prolific Eocene-Oligocene trend of south-central Louisiana. Cumulative production from 20 multiple-reservoir fields in the trend exceeds 269 million bbl of crude, 50 million bbl of condensate, and 1.5 billion ft/sup 3/ of gas. Additional reservoirs include the lower Eocene Wilcox, upper Eocene Cockfield, and Oligocene Frio Formations. This trend, coincident with the location of the Lower Cretaceous carbonate shelf edge, represents a series of unstable progradational clastic shelf margins. Principal structural traps are rollover anticlines, associated with down-to-the-basin growth faults, and salt domes. Recent Sparta production is associated with progradational barrier island complexes. Storm washover fan sandstones (22% porosity, 324 md permeability), tidal-inlet channel sandstones (20% porosity, 140 md permeability), and upper shoreface sandstones (19% porosity, 113 md permeability) represent the optimum-quality reservoir facies. Organic-rich basinal shales are source rocks for crude oil downdip from production where they are thermally mature. Lateral migration best explains emplacement of hydrocarbons in reservoirs.
Research Organization:
Basin Research Institute, Baton Rouge, LA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5795172
Report Number(s):
CONF-890404-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: AAPG Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 73:3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English