Abstract

The Leonardian Bone Spring Formation is a relatively new play in southeastern New Mexico. Since its development history is rather short compared with other formations in that area, significant questions have arisen about how to identify potential exploration plays and how to evaluate the potential resources in the play so that realistic economic appraisals can be achieved. Specifically, the author’s experience in mapping the Bone Spring suggests that the traditional isopach and structure maps are not precise enough to reveal the subtle nature of reservoir trapping. The author has developed a subsurface-mapping technique to identify potential trapping mechanisms. The basic premise of this mapping technique is the identification (usually using well logs) from the regional stratigraphic framework of local areas of thinning of the mapped interval.

Having developed a mapping tool that is sensitive enough to identify stratigraphic trapping, the next step is to address the larger questions: What is the ultimate cause of thinning in the formation?, and what created the porosity that entrapped the hydrocarbons? In this paper, the author’s modeling of Bone Spring reservoirs and his interpretation of reservoir development in that formation are discussed.