About This Item

Share This Item

The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Bulletin

Abstract

DOI: 10.1306/09181817366

Insights into deep, onshore Gulf of Mexico Wilcox sandstone Previous HitporeNext Hit networks and reservoir quality through the integration of petrographic, porosity and permeability, and mercury injection capillary pressure analyses

Robert G. Loucks,1 and Shirley P. Dutton2

1Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas; [email protected]
2Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas; [email protected]

ABSTRACT

In the Paleocene to Eocene Wilcox Group in the northern Gulf of Mexico, exploration targets are reaching into deep to ultradeep burial depths. At these great depths, reservoir quality (porosity and permeability) becomes an important risk factor in determining the chance of encountering an economic reservoir. Major controls on reservoir quality are Previous HitporeNext Hit types and abundances, Previous HitporeNext Hit-throat sizes, and Previous HitporeNext Hit network composition. These factors can be analyzed by integrating petrographic, core plug porosity and permeability, and mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) analyses. The Wilcox sandstones are mostly lithic arkoses and feldspathic litharenites that contain primary interparticle pores, secondary dissolution pores, and micropores. However, these Previous HitporeNext Hit types evolve with depth and temperature. As temperature increases, the relative abundance of primary interparticle pores decreases, whereas the relative abundance of secondary dissolution pores and nano- to micropores increases. Associated with this evolution of Previous HitporeNext Hit networks with increasing temperature, there is a decrease in reservoir quality. This decrease in reservoir quality is caused by a transition to finer Previous HitporeNext Hit-throat sizes that correspond to changes in Previous HitporeNext Hit types. Petrographic analysis provides information on Previous HitporeNext Hit types, core plug porosity and permeability analysis provides information on volume of pores and effectiveness of flow, and MICP analysis provides information on Previous HitporeNext Hit-throat radius distribution. Through forecasting the Previous HitporeTop network in the target temperature zone, a realistic porosity versus permeability transform can be selected to estimate permeability from wire-line log porosity.

Pay-Per-View Purchase Options

The article is available through a document delivery service. Explain these Purchase Options.

Watermarked PDF Document: $16
Open PDF Document: $28

AAPG Member?

Please login with your Member username and password.

Members of AAPG receive access to the full AAPG Bulletin Archives as part of their membership. For more information, contact the AAPG Membership Department at [email protected].