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U.S. Department of Energy
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Slice-mapping: Reservoir characterization technique - West Yucca Butte Field, Pecos County, Texas

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6689523

The West Yucca Butte field, located in Pecos County, Texas, is a structural-stratigraphic field that lies within the geologic province known as the Sheffield Channel-Val Verde basin area of west Texas. It is one of several producing fields situated in an en echelon pattern along several major northwest-southeast-trending fault systems. These fields are anticlinal features producing gas, condensate, and high-gravity oils from Lower Ordovician dolomites and sandstones, Devonian cherts and cherty limestones, and Pennsylvanian-Permian limestones. Production in the West Yucca Butte field is from the Lower Ordovician Ellenburger Group and the Pennsylvanian Strawn, Canyon, and Cisco Groups. In general, wells located highest on the structure, with adequate porosity, are the better wells. Production is also obtained from downdip wells where reservoirs stratigraphically pinch out along the flanks of the structure. However, in all reservoirs, internal stratigraphic heterogeneities significantly complicated development strategies. The Pennsylvanian reservoirs are very heterogeneous. The carbonates have undergone considerable diagenesis, resulting in the occlusion of primary porosities. Secondary spicular-moldic and microvuggy brecciated porosities are the principal porosity types. Petrographic studies were useful in describing the physical properties of this massive carbonate section and the depositional and diagenetic implications; however, little was known about the distribution and quality of the reservoirs.

OSTI ID:
6689523
Report Number(s):
CONF-880301-
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English