Tight-sand development potential in the southern Rulison area, Garfield County, Colorado

Journal Article · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · J. Pet. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/16426-PA· OSTI ID:5950650

Duda, J R; Hancock, J S

Reservoir characterization and simulation of natural gas production were used to assess the production potential for an extension area within the Piceance Creek basin (Garfield County, CO). Many of the basin's reservoirs are lenticular sands characterized as having low porosities, low permeabilities, and relatively high water saturations. One such horizon is the Mesaverde group, which consists of discontinuous sandstone lenses distributed within a shale matrix and is present throughout the Piceance Creek basin. Prior studies of the commercial Rulison field in the east-central portion of the basin indicated that compressional forces created an anticlinal nose aligned northwest-southeast through part of the field. These forces created a conductive natural fracture system that enhances the permeability of the Mesaverde. This paper shows a relationship between Rulison field and an area south of Rulison that encompasses about 36 sq miles (93.2 km/sup 2/). The area has been sparsely drilled (averaging one well per two sections and nonuniformly spaced); thus, the possibility exists for further commercial development through infill drilling. The southern Rulison area is characterized in structure, percent sand, and critical reservoir parameters including permeability.

• Research Organization: 9512741; 9518659
• OSTI ID: 5950650
• Journal Information: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 41:5; ISSN JPTJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200 -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200* -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ANALOG SYSTEMS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COLORADO
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURED RESERVOIRS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
MATERIALS
NATURAL GAS
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SANDS
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
PERMEABILITY
PICEANCE CREEK BASIN
PRODUCTIVITY
RESERVOIR ROCK
SATURATION
SIMULATORS
USA
WATER SATURATION