Geomorphology: A key to filling gaps and increasing realism in reservoir descriptions
- ARCO Alaska, Inc., Anchorage, AK (United States)
Combining core and wireline data with geomorphic analogs facilitates the quantification of geologic information for the numerical characterization of subsurface strata. Traditional three-dimensional geologic descriptions are limited by one- and two-dimensional data sources (outcrop or well data). Geomorphic analyses of fluvio-deltaic systems reveal log-normal distributions of discrete depositional environments. These provide statistical constraints for conditioning the area (X and Y dimensions), shape, placement, and preferred orientation(s) of geologic facies in three-dimensional models. Accurate stratigraphic and facies-association representations built from subsurface and analog data are integral parts of geologic modeling. Seismic, outcrop, and vertically oriented well data provide structural and chronostratigraphic information. Moreover, core and wireline-log data give lithofacies; type and thickness (Z dimension), in addition to petrophysical trends. The distribution of facies in the X and Y directions (between wells) is realistically accomplished by using geomorphic guidelines to distribute lithofacies or facies-associations as three-dimensional objects. Furthermore, geomorphic analogs aid the distribution of a lithofacies within a facies association. This is beneficial where individual beds contain permeability extreme. Given, a relationship between facies and permeability, a three-dimensional rendition of facies becomes a proxy for reservoir quality. Geomorphic data from appropriate modern fluvio-deltaic analogs are linked with core and wireline-log data to render conditioned, three-dimensional, geologic models. Model accuracy relies upon bed-thickness and chronostratigraphic constraints imposed by cores and stratigraphic correlations, as well as, the lateral extent of facies associations governed by geomorphology.
- OSTI ID:
- 425921
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960527-; TRN: 96:004994-0562
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Annual convention of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Inc. and the Society for Sedimentary Geology: global exploration and geotechnology, San Diego, CA (United States), 19-22 May 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of 1996 AAPG annual convention. Volume 5; PB: 231 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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