Factors controlling geopressured geothermal reservoir quality--Frio sandstone facies, Texas Gulf Coast

Conference · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:7369245

Loucks, R G; Moseley, M G; Meriwether, J

Geopressured geothermal reservoir quality along the Texas Gulf Cioast is controlled by sandstone depositional environment, mineralogical composition, and consolidation history (compaction, cementation, and leaching). The best Frio reservoirs occur at the top of deltaic progradational sequences in distributary-mouth bar and distributary-channel sandstone facies. Poor reservoir quality characterizes proximal delta front and distal delta front sandstones. Sandstone mineralogical composition varies from quartzose feldspathic volcanic litharenite and quartzose lithic arkose along the upper Texas Gulf Coast to feldspathic volcanic litharenite rich in carbonate rock fragments along the lower Texas Gulf Coast. The four major stages of consolidation of Frio sandstones are discussed. Geothermal reservoirs are not composed of simple primary porosity between grains, but rather consist of secondary leached porosity. Austin Bayou Prospect in Brazoria County, Texas, is a prospective geothermal reservoir that is the product of secondary leached porosity.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Texas, Austin
• OSTI ID: 7369245
• Report Number(s): CONF-771153-P1-10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150201* -- Geology & Hydrology of Geothermal Systems-- USA-- (-1989)
CHALCOGENIDES
COASTAL REGIONS
FELDSPARS
GEOLOGY
GEOPRESSURED SYSTEMS
Geothermal Legacy
LITHOLOGY
MINERALOGY
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POROSITY
QUARTZ
RESERVOIR ROCK
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SOUTHWEST REGION
TEXAS
USA