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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

GCAGS Transactions

Abstract


Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions
Vol. 52 (2002), Pages 707-716

Reservoir Characterization and Modeling of Upper Jurassic Smackover Carbonate Shoal Complex Reservoirs, Womack Hill Field, Choctaw and Clarke Counties, Alabama

Mancini, Ernest A., Panetta, Brian J.

ABSTRACT

Oil was discovered in lithofacies of an Upper Jurassic Smackover carbonate shoal complex at Womack Hill Field, Choctaw and Clarke Counties, Alabama in 1970. A waterflood project was initiated in the western portion of the field in 1975. To date, 30.7 million barrels of oil have been produced from the field. Estimated in place reserves for the field are 119 million barrels of oil. An additional 12 to 24 million barrels of oil are projected to be recovered through the application of advanced technologies that optimize reservoir management.

Characterization and modeling of reservoirs in the Smackover carbonate shoal complex have the potential to improve field-scale reservoir management. The Smackover is productive from carbonate reservoirs that occur in vertically stacked porosity cycles (A, B and C). The cycles typically consist of carbonate mudstone/wackestone at the base and ooid grainstone at the top. Porosity has been enhanced through dissolution and dolomitization. Porosity is chiefly solution-enlarged interparticle, grain moldic and dolomite intercrystalline pores with some intraparticle and vuggy pores. The upper cycle (A) is the most productive cycle areally across the field. Reservoir modeling has demonstrated that potential lateral barriers to flow are present as a result of petrophysical differences among and within the three cycles. Seismic data indicate a fault in the eastern portion of the field. The reservoir pressure differential that exists between the wells in the western portion of the field and the wells in the eastern portion is attributed to the presence of this fault and/or petrophysical changes across the field. The three cycles are, in part, vertically separated by lower porosity intervals in their bases. A 3-D geologic model was constructed to be used as a stratigraphic framework for reservoir simulation and in the design of an improved hydrocarbon production strategy for the carbonate reservoirs in Womack Hill Field.


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