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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Reservoir heterogeneities of storm-generated shelf sandstone bodies

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6116772
Examination of a number of examples of storm-generated shelf sandstones, including part of the Kuparuk River formation (Cretaceous, North Slope of Alaska) and examples from the Cretaceous Western Interior seaway, suggests that these reservoirs differ in their geometries, internal facies architectures, and heterogeneities from continental, shoreline, and deep-water reservoirs. Heterogeneities inherent in such shelf sandstone reservoirs control the distribution of permeability and porosity and influence the effectiveness of recovery techniques. Sandstone bodies produced by storm-driven processes generally exhibit sheet-like geometries and upward-coarsening vertical profiles. These bodies are typically composed of individual event beds of every fine- to fine-grained sandstone and exhibit wave-generated and combined flow structures with laterally persistent mud drapes at their tops. The event nature of deposition of these sandstones produces a highly stratified reservoir. Vertical to horizontal permeability ratios are very low and individual sandstone beds may behave as separate conduits of flow during production. Hummocky cross-stratified beds at the tops of upward-coarsening sequences constitute the most permeable, porous, and laterally continuous parts of these reservoirs.
OSTI ID:
6116772
Report Number(s):
CONF-880301-
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English