Marine Clastic Reservoirs: Examples and Analogues

321 Pages·1993·21.196 MB·English

by  Douglas J. Cant (auth.), E. G. Rhodes, T. F. Moslow (eds.)

Frontiers in Sedimentary Geology
Frontiers in Sedimentary Geology
A.H. Bouma
Editor-in-Chief
Submarine Fans and Related Turbidite Systems
A.H. Bouma, W.R Normark, and N.E. Barnes (editors)
New Perspectives in Basin Analysis
K.L. Kleinspehn and C. Paola (editors)
Microstructure of Fine-Grained Sediments: From Mud to Shale
RH. Bennett, W.R Bryant, and M.H. Hulbert (editors)
Seismic Facies and Sedimentary Processes of Submarine Fans and Turbidite Systems
P. Weimer and M.H. Link (editors)
Marine Clastic Reservoirs: Examples and Analogues
E.G. Rhodes and T.F. Moslow (editors)
E.G. Rhodes T.F. Moslow
Editors
Marine Clastic Reservoirs
Examples and Analogues
With 262 Illustrations in 306 Parts
Springer-Verlag
New York Berlin Heidelberg London Paris
Tokyo Hong Kong Barcelona Budapest
E.G. Rhodes T.P. Moslow
Landmark Graphics Corporation Department of Geology
16001 Park Ten Place University of Alberta
Houston, TX 77084 Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3
USA Canada
Series Editor
Arnold H. Bouma
School of Geoscience
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803-4101 USA
Cover Illustration:
Royalit~ No.4 well in the Thrner Valley Field, Alberta, circa 1924. The Thrner Valley Field was
the fir:'t. major hydrocar~n discovery in the Foothills of Western Canada, with estimated reserves of
?ne bIlhon barrels of Oil and three trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The earliest wells were drilled
lfl 1914 near gas seeps on a surface anticline and encountered oil and gas in marine clastic reservoirs
of lower Cretaceous age.
The c?ver .illustration was produced by Pam Lobo of Landmark Graphics, Houston and derived
from an hlstoTIcal photograph. The original photograph (NA-246-1) was provided by the Glenbow
Museum Photo Archives Division, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Dedication: To Anthea, Susan and Maxine
ISBN 978-1-4757-0162-3 ISBN 978-1-4757-0160-9 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4757-0160-9
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Marine clastic reservoirs : examples and analogues / [edited by 1
E.G. Rhodes, T.F. Moslow.
p. cm. - (Frontiers in sedimentary geology)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4757-0162-3
1. Reservoirs. 2. Sedimentation and deposition. 3. Marine
sediments I. Rhodes, Eugene G. II. Moslow, Thomas F.
III. Series.
TD396.M375 1992
551.3 '53-dc20 92-2969
CIP
Printed on acid-free paper.
© 1993 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1s t edition 1993
All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written
permission of the publisher (Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010,
USA) except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection
with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by
similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden.
The use of general descriptive names, trade names, trademarks, etc., in this publication, even if the
former are not especially identified, is not to be taken as a sign that such names, as understood by
the Trade Marks and Merchandise Marks Act, may accordingly be used freely by anyone.
Production managed by Terry Kornak; manufacturing supervised by Jacqui Ashri.
Typeset by Asco Trade Typesetting, North Point, Hong Kong.
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Series Preface
The Frontiers in Sedimentary Geology series has matured into a suite of volumes that
provides information about current topics of interest. These topics are selected be
cause they are not effectively summarized elsewhere in recently published abstracts or
journal articles. The number of individual publications in numerous journals makes it
very difficult, and often impossible, to keep up with a particular focus or specialization
of current interest. The division of geoscience into topical areas is a natural process
and, in some cases, a necessity that, however, can work against advancements regard
ing interdisciplinary approaches or multi-expert teams. For such reasons, a series like
this one is unique as it contains integrated perspectives and contrasting views about a
topic of current interest.
Each volume in the Frontiers in Sedimentary Geology series is initiated by one or
more persons who select the particular topic and divide it into major themes that are
integrated through the use of introductory chapters written by them as editors or other
invited authors. Each introduction is followed by chapters that either highlight a spe
cific aspect of that theme or provide a specific example. Although it is virtually im
possible to compile a complete coverage of an entire topic, the compilation editors
develop the outline of their volume in such a manner that maximum integration and
discussion will be presented. Equally important is regular and constructive contact
between the editors and the authors, thereby ensuring high-quality manuscripts that
contribute directly to the theme of the volume.
The present volume, Marine Clastic Reservoirs: Examples and Analogues, edited by
Eugene (Skip) Rhodes and Thomas Moslow, is a good example of how the series
fulfills its role. The idea for this publication emerged during an SEPM core workshop.
However, rather than having all core workshop contributors provide a manuscript,
resulting in an eclectic collection of descriptive works, the editors used the strength
of that workshop to redesign an integrated volume. Analog-oriented geoscience was
combined with well-founded stratigraphic-sedimentologic descriptions to present a
wide spectrum of shallow to deep marine sandstones as reservoir bodies. The result is
a process-based analysis of sandstone facies that provides the reader with insight into
the geometries of such units. A treatment like this is vital to the development or
management of reservoirs that are highly irregular in shape and variable in character.
The calculation and prediction of fluid flow behavior and the determination of
v
vi Series Preface
reserves through computer simulation requires the best information on reservoir
geometry and heterogeneity.
The Frontiers in Sedimentary Geology series differs from the Casebooks in Earth
Sciences, another Springer-Verlag series. Consequently, the present publication is
different from, and complimentary to, the Sandstone Petroleum Reservoirs volume,
edited by J.H. Barwis, J.G. McPherson, and J.R.J. Studlick recently released in the
Casebooks in Earth Sciences series. The present volume offers a more genetic
approach including sequence stratigraphy and the influence of relative sea level varia
tions. Such a "basic" perspective places the sandstone bodies in a framework that can
be broken down into building blocks or individual parasequence. The application of
these concepts to the discussion of both modern and ancient sandstone bodies clearly
suggests that modern examples resulting from Holocene depositional controls may not
always be viable as models for the ancient analogs. However, a combination of mod
ern and ancient examples can result in the construction of the best model for the
particular sandstone reservoir.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana Arnold H. Bouma
August 1991 Series Editor
Preface
About the volume
The idea for this volume was conceived with the collaboration of contributors and
participants during a Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM) core workshop at
Atlanta in 1986. The initial concept proceeded through a metamorphosis after dis
cussions with the publisher and Arnold Bouma, the series editor. Further change
occurred as the volume began to take shape during the past two years as contribu
tors submitted their first drafts and a clearer picture of the volume emerged. As
a consequence, the initial themes were reshaped and focussed. In addition, this
volume has benefited from the wide spectrum of contributions and the diverse ex
perience of the authors.
The volume is a forum in which the editors and the contributors advocate analog
oriented geoscience based on rigorous stratigraphic and sedimentologic description
and interpretation. Analog-oriented analysis of reservoirs emphasizes the use of ex
amples that reside on a spectrum of variability. Such analysis contrasts with model
oriented analysis by supporting a wider acceptance of variability and encourages a
greater depth of description and quantification especially in terms that are useful to
the other petroleum sciences that are downstream from exploration, such as develop
ment geophysics and reservoir engineering.
The description of reservoirs in a sequence stratigraphic context is pivotal to this
volume although it is arguable that sequence stratigraphy remains a model-oriented
methodology. Embracing the underlying concepts of sedimentary and stratigraphic
response to relative sea level change necessitate the acceptance of process-response
models that are both generalized and somewhat imprecise at the reservoir scale.
However, the regional framework in which most marine clastic reservoirs reside is
most effectively explained in terms of sequence stratigraphic principles. Furthermore,
as the acceptance and utilization of sequence stratigraphy broadens, the inventory of
marine-clastic analogs may soon match that of the model-oriented aspects of sequence
stratigraphy. Consequently, we devoted the opening section of this volume to the
analysis of marine clastics in terms of parasequences, parasequence sets, and the re
sulting sequence stratigraphic packages that characterize the ancient record.
An edited volume really reflects the summation of a loosely knit group of scientists
who are the contributors. As the volume developed and the anticipated threads of
vii
viii Preface
continuity emerged among the articles, we encouraged collaboration among contribu
tors at both a formal and informal level. Each chapter was evaluated by reviewers
from within the volume as well as by external reviewers. Although we encouraged
individualistic writing styles, we attempted to mold the volume into a consistent col
lection of well-researched scientific writings that offers a spectrum of paradigms for
the study and analysis of marine clastic reservoirs and the environments in which they
are deposited (Fig. 1).
The volume is organized into three discrete but related sections that support analog
oriented characterization of reservoirs. Because the parasequence is defined as the
primary building block of the individual reservoir, the first section consists of three
articles that progress the reader from a general to a specific use of sequence strati
graphy to catalog, identify, and predict marine clastic reservoir facies. The second
section contains two contributions on modern analogs that each present a unique per
spective on the value of modern sedimentology and geomorphic description. The last
section, containing seven contributions, is organized in a progression from deltaic
environments to the deep-sea fan and offers a collection of ancient analogs that we
believe represent improved concepts in geoscience description and analysis.
About the Authors and Editors
We encourage readers to contact contributors directly regarding additional discus
sions about individual chapters. A list of authors' addresses can be found at the end of
this section. The diverse nature of the chapters presented suggests that readers might
want to know about each author's individual perspectives. Consequently, we asked
all contributors to prepare brief biographic sketchs of their previous experience and
present interests. The following paragraphs summarize the authors' biographic
profiles.
EDUARDO BAGNOLI currently works as chief supervisor of the geological laboratory
of the Petrobras office in Natal, NE Brazil, where he specializes in the sedimentology
of ancient and recent environments and the petrography/diagenesis of sedimentary
rocks. Mr. Bagnoli holds a BS degree in geology from the University of Sao Paulo and
a MS degree in reservoir geology from the University of Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
State, Brazil.
JEREMY M. BOAK is a Physical Scientist with the U.S. Department of Energy's Office
of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management and currently coordinates performance
assessment activities for the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project in Las
Vegas, Nevada. He formerly worked in exploration and development for ARCO
a
Alaska and ARC Oil and Gas Company. His publications include papers on miner
alogy, metamorphic petrology, geochemistry, geochronology, and reservoir charac
terization.
BRUCE E. BOWEN received his BS and PhD degrees in geology from Iowa State
University in 1967 and 1974, respectively. As a PhD candidate he spent most of his
time in Africa, where he helped to develop the time-stratigraphic framework for early
man sites in the East African Rift. He joined Texaco's Research Group in 1974 and
later, in 1977, Gulf Oil Company, where he headed a taskforce assigned to determine
petroleum potential of the Atlantic margin and to develop exploration models for
deep-water plays in the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Bowen left Gulf in 1984 to help found
Everest GeoTech, and in 1989, joined Calibre Consulting Services, Inc.
DOUG J. CANT is a sedimentologist/stratigrapheremployed by the Geological Sur
vey of Canada to study the petroleum-bearing clastic rocks of the Alberta foreland
basin. In addition to pursuing detailed sequence stratigraphic work on the Mannville
Group, he is attempting to understand the stratigraphy of the basin in terms of fore-
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land tectonics. He has worked in the petroleum industry in the United States and
for the Alberta Research Council. His undergraduate degree is from University of
Toronto, and graduate degrees are from McMaster University.
JOEL C. DE CASTRO worked for over twenty years at the Exploration Division of
PETROBRAS Research Center (CENPES), Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. He holds a BS from
the School of Mines of Ouro Preta and a PhD in Geology from the Paulista State
University, Brazil, where he is currently a Professor in the Geosciences Institute. His
specialty is physical stratigraphy and clastic reservoirs, and he has been working with
facies and stratigraphic analysis of Brazilian marginal-marine and cratonic basins.
JUNE GIDMAN is a senior research geologist at Chevron Oil Field Research Com
pany, La Habra, California. She is a sedimentologist who specializes in core handling
and preservation, and correlation of core, petrophysical, and log properties. Previous
experience includes exploration and development geology of the North Sea and
Williston Basin areas. She received a BSc Honors degree in geology from Leicester
University and a PhD in geology from Liverpool University.
JOHN D. GORTER is Chief Geologist of Petroz N.L. He worked in the oil industry for
20 years (Bureau of Mineral Resources, Esso, Pancontinental, AGIP, Sydney Oil,
Command, Norcen) after graduating in 1971 from the Australian National University
with honors. He recently completed a part time PhD from the University of New
South Wales. Specific interests are sedimentology, biostratigraphy and source rocks.
CHRIS W. GRANT is a Senior Research Assistant at Chevron Oil Field Research
Company. His specialies include petrography and sedimentology. He has worked pri
marily in EOR-related clastic projects and in researching permeability heterogeneity
in carbonates. He received his BS in geology at California State University Fullerton
in 1985 and is finalizing his MS in geology at California State University Long Beach,
where he is studying depositional and organic geochemical characteristics of the re
cent anaerobic environment in Santa Barbara Basin, California.
STEVEN J. JOHANSEN has worked in the reservoir geology section of Texaco Explora
tion and Production Technology Division since 1987, where he applies sedimentologic
and petrographic analysis to hydrocarbon exploration and production in clastic se
quences. His studies in schools of the American southwest (BS, New Mexico Institute
of Mining and Technology, 1976; MS, University of Arizona, 1981; PhD, University
of Texas at Austin, 1986) were mixed with employment in environmental geology,
uranium exploration, and related areas.
MARTIN B. LAGOE, Associate Professor, Department of Geological Sciences, Uni
versity of Texas at Austin, previously worked for ARCO Oil and Gas Co. and ARCO
Exploration Co. His research focuses on foraminiferal micropaleontology, quantita
tive stratigraphy, paleoceanography and basin analysis. He has a BS in geology from
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an MS in geology from the University of Wisconsin
Madison, and a PhD in geology from Stanford University.
JOHN F. LINDSAY is presently a Senior Principal Research Scientist with the Austra
lian Bureau of Mineral Resources in Canberra, Australia. John is a sedimentologist
and seismic interpreter with a broad interest in the larger-scale relationships between
basin dynamics and sedimentation controls. Prior to joining the Bureau of Mineral
Resources he worked for Exxon Production Research, the University of Texas and
NASA's Johnson Space Center all in Houston, Texas. An Australian, he received his
early education at the University of New England in Armidale, Australia, where he
completed a bachelor's and master's degree before moving to Ohio State University in
Columbus Ohio to complete a PhD.
JEFFREY A. MAY is a Senior Geologist with Marathon Oil Company at their
Petroleum Technology Center in Littleton, Colorado. His work focuses on deltaic,
shallow-marine, and deep-water clastic depositional systems. Jeff has been involved in
corporate training, special projects, and technology development. He received his BA