Exploration considerations for Newman [open quotes]Big Lime[close quotes] oil reserves in Southeastern Kentucky

Conference · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:6750281

Tebo, J; Stark, T J; Yough, C ^[1]

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1. Equitable Resources Exploration, Kingsport, TN (United States)

The Newman [open quotes]Big Lime[close quotes] (Middle to Upper Mississippian) in the Appalachian basin portion of southeastern Kentucky contains tectonically influenced oil reserves. With the currently known primary production potential totaling a combined 30 million bbl of oil, these Big Lime traps are economically attractive targets. Drilling depths to test the Big Lime range from 2000 to 3500 ft, where sizable per well reserves (300,000 bbl of oil or more) are possible. Fault remobilization within the Floyd County embayment has influenced the pre-Big Lime erosional surface, resulting in paleovalleys and erosional scarps. Large Cambrian-aged growth faults define this structural embayment and are coincident with many of these shallower paleogeographic features. The Big Lime carbonates deposited in these features received preferential dolomitization during subsequent periods of fault remobilization (Permian ) as diagenetic fluids migrated through the resultant fractures. Hydrocarbons filled these reservoirs limiting water-charged porosity in the area. Both oil and dolomite are somewhat restricted to the southwestern margin of the enbayment. Oil sourcing may be controlled by source rock variability and faulting. Dolomite distribution may be influenced by a large basement intrusive ( ) that remobilized faults in the Leslie County Kentucky area. Exploration methods employed in searching for Big Lime fields include remote geophysical surveys, seismic, core analysis, and diagenetic studies. The combination of tectonic, diagenetic, and stratigraphic controls on reservoir development can be used in exploration models for subtle carbonate traps throughout the craton.

• OSTI ID: 6750281
• Report Number(s): CONF-940988--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Journal Volume: 78:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
APPALACHIAN BASIN
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
KENTUCKY
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
USA