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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

Abilene Geological Society

Abstract


Sandstone Systems and Reservoirs on the Eastern Shelves and Slopes of the Midland Basin, Texas., 1991
Pages 1-32

Sandstone Systems and Reservoirs on the Eastern Shelves and Slopes of the Midland Basin, Texas

Richard R. Bloomer

Abstract

Continuous sandstone systems from fluvial channels through deltas to submarine canyons and fans were deposited in late Paleozoic time on the Eastern shelves and slopes of the Midland basin. More than 300 oil and gas fields produce from these sandstone systems. Intercalated with the sandstones are widespread, thin carbonate and coal marker beds that aid in correlating the sandstone facies. Therefore, in addition to a dense well control the Eastern Midland basin is an excellent study area to establish subsurface prospecting methods and models of the sandstone systems and reservoirs.

The fluvial-reservoir sandstones consist of single and multiple strike-oriented point bars in meander belts and longitudinal and transverse bars in braided belts. These channel sandstones may produce oil and gas where they drape by differential compaction over buried nearly noncompactable paleotopographic features such as reefs, structures, and sandstone bodies. Conversely, these buried potential reservoir features can be located by overlying channel trends that have been diverted around them. Oil and gas may be trapped in sediments adjoined updip by non-permeable channel-fill barriers.

Lacustrine deltas contain statigraphic traps in thin distributary- channel sandstones. Deltas bordering carbonate shelf edges produce from distributary-channel, delta-front sheet, and delta-plain sandstones. "Packages" of lenticular-sandstone sequences produce oil and gas in submarine canyons and fans.


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