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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
Houston Geological Society Bulletin
Abstract
Abstract: The Maurice Field: New Gas Reserves
from Buried Structure Along the
Oligocene Trend of
Southwestern Louisiana
By
Significant new gas reserves have recently been discovered in the Marginulina texana sands along the Oligocene trend at the Maurice Field. Detailed subsurface maps and seismic data are presented to exhibit the extent and nature of this local buried structure and to demonstrate future opportunities along the Oligocene trend.
Since discovery in 1988, the MARG. TEX. RESERVOIR C has extended the Maurice field one half mile south and has established 200 feet of Marginulina Texana pay. Estimated reserves are in the order of 160 billion cubic feet of gas with limits of the reservoir still undefined. This reserve addition would increase the estimates of the Maurice field by over 70 percent from 220 billion cubic feet of gas to 380 billion cubic feet of gas. Cross sections across the field depict the new reservoir trap as a buried upthrown fault closure with an anticipated gas column of 720 feet.
Interpretation of the origin of this local structure is that
of a buried rotated fault block
within an overall larger
depositional structure. Detailed subsurface maps at the
Marginulina texana and the overlying Miogypsinoides
level are presented. These maps indicate that one common
fault
block
, FAULT
BLOCK
AB, is productive from two
different levels. The deeper Marginulina texana sands are
trapped on north dip upthrown to a southern boundary
fault, FAULT B. The overlying Miogypsinoides sands are
trapped on south dip downthrown to a northern boundary
fault, FAULT A. The northern fault, FAULT A, was the
Marginulina texana expansion fault and rotated that
downthrown section to north dip. Because of the difference
in dip between the two levels, the apex of the deeper
Marginulina texana fault closure is juxtaposed by one mile
south relative to the apex of the overlying Miogypsinoides
fault closure.
Analysis indicates that important structural growth
occurred during Marginulina texana deposition with a
local unconformity covering the apex of the upthrown fault
closure. State-of-the-art reconnaissance seismic data clearly
exhibit this buried rotated fault block
. Similar buried
structures are predicted to exist along the Oligocene trend.
Such occurrences will open opportunities to explorationists
for the discovery of significant gas reserves throughout the
1990's.
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