Stratified carbonate reservoirs-parasequences as barriers to vertical fluid flow: An example from the greater Aneth field, Paradox basin of southeastern Utah

Conference · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:7271972

Weber, L J; Wright, F M ^[1]; Markello, J R ^[2]; Sarg, J F

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1. Mobil Exploration and Producing US, Inc., Midland, TX (United States)
2. Mobil Research and Development Corp., Dallas, TX (United States)

Since discovery of the Aneth field (1956), 360 million barrels of oil have been produced from Middle Pennsylvanian (Desmoinesian) carbonates of the lower Ismay and Desert Creek intervals. The carbonate platform spans an area of approximately 100 mi{sup 2} and is composed of repetitive shoaling cycles (parasequences). A greater understanding of the depositional environments and diagenesis within a sequence stratigraphic framework can lead to improved operational efficiency through better prediction and identification by bypassed, banked, and/or undeveloped oil. Parasequence sets (up to 150 ft thick) are recognized only within aggradational and progradational highstand systems tracts and are comprised of 3 to 5 stacked parasequences (10-50 ft thick). Repetitive facies successions include deep water lime mudstone and skeletal wackestone that grade up into shallow water phylloid algal buildups, peloidal/skeletal packstone, and oolitic grainstone. Shoal water facies have the best reservoir porosity and reveal preserved primary pore systems that are secondarily enhanced by fresh water leaching of less stable carbonate mineralogies. Distinctive facies stacking patterns and associated vertical diagenetic trends resulted in the formation of highly stratified Desert Creek and Ismay reservoirs. Porosity and permeability are developed at the top of parasequences. Sequence stratigraphy provides a framework for more insightful correlation and mapping of genetically related facies that comprise these stratified reservoirs. Cursory examination of similar Pennsylvania carbonate reservoirs in west Texas suggests and analogous approach for understanding reservoir stratigraphy could be applied with success.

• OSTI ID: 7271972
• Report Number(s): CONF-910403--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Journal Volume: 75:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
CARBONATE ROCKS
CARBONIFEROUS PERIOD
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIAGENESIS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUID FLOW
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGY
LITHOLOGY
MASS TRANSFER
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PALEOZOIC ERA
PARADOX BASIN
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STRATIGRAPHY
USA
UTAH