Fluid-bearing capacity of strandline sand deposits - implication for hydrocarbon exploration

Conference · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6571307

Hayes, M O; Sexton, W J; Sippel, K W

The fluid-bearing capacity of the Holocene coastal sand deposits of central South Carolina was determined in order to estimate their potential oil-in-place reservoir capacity. These sand bodies, which vary considerably in size, thickness, shape, and continuity, were deposited in a variety of depositional settings including barrier islands, tidal deltas, exposed sand flats, tidal sand ridges, and tidal point bars. Minimum potential sand thickness and conservative mud cutoff values of 10-15% were used to define each sand body type. Average thickness values ranged from 20 ft (6 m) for barrier islands to 15 ft (4.5 m) for exposed sand flats. Within the study area, barrier islands have average sand volumes of 1.3 x 10/sup 5/ acre-ft (1.6 x 10/sup 8/m/sup 3/), and tidal delta sands average 1.0 x 10/sup 5/ acre-ft (1.2 x 10/sup 8/ cm/sup 3/). Potential oil reserve values average 7 million bbl for individual barrier islands and 5 million bbl for individual ebb-tidal deltas. If the Holocene sand deposits of the central 50 mi (80 km) of the South Carolina coast were preserved in place, 150-200 million bbl of oil could be contained within the reservoir-quality sands. Of course, these values represent only one small segment of geologic time, approximately 5000 years. These calculations were based on typical reservoir characteristics and recovery factors found in Cretaceous sandstones buried at 5000 ft (1500 m) in the Rocky Mountain area. Average reservoir values used included porosity of 25%, oil saturation of 65%, formation volume factor of 1.3, and 10% of the sand body occupied by hydrocarbons. A better understanding of these strandline sand deposits could improve exploration and future development of these significant, potentially oilbearing sands.

• Research Organization: Research Planning Inst., Inc., Columbia, SC
• OSTI ID: 6571307
• Report Number(s): CONF-8405216-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 68:4
• 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
CENOZOIC ERA
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
EXPLORATION
FEDERAL REGION IV
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
MESOZOIC ERA
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
POROSITY
RESERVES
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SOUTH CAROLINA
TERTIARY PERIOD
USA