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Characterization and significance of natural fractures in Mesaverde reservoirs at the Multiwell Experiment site

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6379791

Natural fractures dominate the permeability of tight gas reservoirs in the Mesaverde Formation of the Piceance Creek Basin, northwestern Colorado. Roughly 450 natural fractures have been detected in reservoir sandstones and siltstones in 4200 ft of core from the US Department of Energy's Multiwell Experiment (MWX). Sixty percent of the fractures are calcite-mineralized, vertical extension fractures that are probably the greatest contributors to reservoir permeability. However, the contribution of the other mineralized fractures should not be discounted. 9 refs., 13 figs.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
6379791
Report Number(s):
SAND-88-2153C; CONF-890354-1; SPE-19007; ON: DE89005057
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English