Coastal barrier reservoirs

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · J. Pet. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/15777-PA· OSTI ID:6921695

Richardson, J G; Sangree, J B; Sneider, R M

Coastal barriers are long, narrow, wave-built, sandy islands parallel to the shore. Part of the island has a beach, but many have sand dunes and areas of vegetation above the high-tide line. A lagoon or estuary is behind the barrier on the protected side away from the ocean. Coastal barrier reservoirs can hold major accumulations of oil and gas. Coastal barriers can build by three major processes; addition of sand washed onto the beach from breaker bars, addition on one end by sand washed from the other end and moved by riptides, and deposition of sand into the lagoon by waves breaking over the barrier during storms. Galveston Island, offshore Texas, is a good example of a modern coastal barrier. Waves in the Gulf of Mexico have sufficient energy to transport and deposit fine-grained sand on Galveston Island. (Fine-grained sand is the coarsest sand available in upper Texas coastal waters). Other examples of modern coastal barriers are found in the Gulf of California, where medium-sized sands are deposited. An example of an ancient deposit was found in the Elk City field, where the barrier beach was composed of well-sorted gravel and coarse sand.

• Research Organization: Richardson, Sangree and Sneider (US)
• OSTI ID: 6921695
• Journal Information: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 40:9; ISSN JPTJA
• 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
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
EVALUATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
GULF OF CALIFORNIA
GULF OF MEXICO
ISLANDS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
OFFSHORE OPERATIONS
PACIFIC OCEAN
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
SAND
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS