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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

North Texas Geological Society

Abstract


Basins of the Southwest, Vol. II [Papers presented at the 10th Annual Meeting of the Southwest Section, AAPG], 1968
Pages 76-93

Relationships of Oil Composition and Stratigraphy in Multipay Fields

Jacob L. Williams, B. B. Coester

Abstract

Comparisons of oil and water analyses were made from four multipay fields in the Permian Basin in an effort to determine directions of oil migration consistent with the geology of the area. All four fields produce oil from pre-Permian anticlines and from low relief anticlines or porosity pinchouts, on noses, in the overlying Permian. Two of the fields, Harper in Ector County, Texas, and Midland Farms in Andrews County, Texas, are characterized by having little faulting and relatively minor unconformities. The other two fields, Justis in Lea County, New Mexico, and Embar in Andrews County, Texas, are producing from structures which have major faults and which have been extensively eroded below the Permian. The Block 11 field is located on the west flank of the same structure from which the Embar field produces. Analyses from the Harper field show that the oil from the Fusselman, Devonian, Strawn, and San Andres rock units are distinctive, but that the Ellenburger and Simpson, Connel oils are the same. In the Midland Farms field, the Ellenburger and Grayburg oils are different from all others, but the Fusselman and Devonian oils are similar, and the Strawn oil is like that from the Wolfcamp. Three types of oil were found in the Justis field: (1) Ellenburger, (2) Simpson, McKee, and (3) Montoya, Fusselman, Tubb-Drinkard, Blinebry, and Glorieta. Oil from the Queen Formation overlying the Justis strucutre is assigned to the Langlie-Mattix field and is different from the Justis oils. Oils from the Embar Ellenburer, Fusselman, Devonian, lower Clear Fork, and upper Clear Fork reservoirs are the same, but the oil from the Block 11 Devonian field is distinguishable from those of Embar. Ellenburger oil in Harper is similar to Ellenburger oil in the Midland Farms field and both oils likely came from Simpson shales. Oils found in the Ellenburger of the Justis and Embar fields are different and came from mixed sources, possibly some combination of the Simpson, Woodford and Barnett shales. Fusselman and Devonian oils are somewhat similar to each other and between the fields studied. These oils probably came from Silurian or Woodford shales. The Yeso oils of Justis are identical to those from the Embar field and, also, similar to some oils which are presumed to have been derived from the Woodford shale. The Grayburg and San Andres oils are different from one another and from the deeper oils. The study indicated that structures containing similar oils may have associated waters which are distinctive. The presence of the distinctive oils in the fields studied is explained by their having come from separate sources and not having mixed with other oils. The similarity of other oils is believed due to their having come from similar sources or to migration after initial accumulation.


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