Exploration for basal Silurian reservoirs in western Illinois

Journal Article · Mon Jul 31 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Oil and Gas Journal

OSTI ID:87600

Whitaker, S T; Howard, R H ^[1]

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1. IBEX Geological Consultants Inc., Champaign, IL (United States)

The discovery of two oil fields, Kellerville and Siloam, in shallow (600--675 ft deep) basal Silurian carbonates in 1958 and 1959 respectively, was the first new production in western Illinois since the discovery of the Devonian Hoing sandstone at Colmar-Plymouth field in 1914. A second, and more major, drilling boom in western Illinois resulted from official recognition in 1982 of a significant oil discovery in basal Silurian rocks at Buckhorn East oil field, later Buckhorn Consolidated. Within a relatively short time, numerous rigs were moving into western Illinois in the hopes of repeating the successes experienced at Buckhorn East. Unfortunately, there was no adequate geologic model that explained the oil accumulations in western Illinois. Basal Silurian reservoirs in western Illinois developed due to dolomitization of carbonate that filled shallow valleys incised in the underlying Maquoketa shale. Exploration for these reservoirs should utilize all of the clues that are presented here. It will be critical to continue gathering data from the area via quality wireline logs, cores, samples, and geophysical studies. It is unlikely that the Buckhorn-Siloam-Kellerville complex is unique in western Illinois.

• OSTI ID: 87600
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal, Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal Journal Issue: 31 Vol. 93; ISSN OIGJAV; ISSN 0030-1388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
CARBONATE ROCKS
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
ILLINOIS
MAPS
OIL FIELDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT