Reservoir Facies Architecture in a Microtidal Barrier System Frio Formation, Texas Gulf Coast

RI0144. Reservoir Facies Architecture in a Microtidal Barrier System--Frio Formation Texas Gulf Coast, by W. E. Galloway and E. S. Cheng. 36 p., 30 figs., 1 table, 2 pls., 1 appendix, 1985.


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ABSTRACT
Sandstone reservoirs deposited in microtidal barrier systems contain large oil and gas reserves in several Gulf Coast Basin plays. Three representative Frio Sandstone reservoirs in West Ranch field show that barrier-island sand bodies are complex mosaics of barrier-core, inlet-fill, flood-tidal-delta, washover-fan, barrier-flat, and shoreface facies. The proportions of these facies differ within progradational, aggradational, and transgressive barrier sand bodies. Detailed isolith and log-facies maps, based on closely spaced production wells, combined with analysis of resistivity distribution and sparse core control, provide the basis for interpretation of the 41-A, Glasscock, and Greta reservoirs.

The 41-A reservoir is a progradational barrier sand body. The most important producing facies include the barrier core and crosscutting inlet fill. Permeability and distribution of irreducible water saturation reveal depositional patterns and subdivisions of the sand body into numerous facies-controlled compartments. Both original hydrocarbon saturation and irregularities in water encroachment show that the facies compartments locally affect fluid movement within the reservoir.

The Greta reservoir is an aggradational barrier complex. This massive sand body consists of intermixed barrier-core and inlet-fill units. Prominent resistivity compartments are dip oriented, indicating the importance of inlet development during barrier aggradation. Despite the uniform appearance of the Greta reservoir, water encroachment has been irregular.

The Glasscock reservoir is characterized by comparatively low permeability and is an atypically thin and discontinuous Frio reservoir. It is interpreted to be a transgressive barrier deposit, and it consists mainly of large washover-fan and associated barrier-flat sands. Hydrocarbon saturation, drainage, and injection response all reflect the facies geometry typical of a transgressive barrier complex.

Recovery efficiency of Frio barrier-island reservoirs is high. However, projected primary and secondary recovery from the three reservoirs studied range from 56 percent of oil in place in the 41-A reservoir to 39 percent in the Glasscock sandstone. The Greta sandstone is intermediate, having a projected recovery of 42 percent of oil in place.

Keywords: barrier bar, barrier inlet, enhanced recovery, Frio Formation, petroleum, natural gas, reservoirs

CONTENTS

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

Barrier-island depositional systems

Stratigraphic record of barrier deposition

Recognition of subsurface barrier facies

OIL-PRODUCTIVE SHORE-ZONE SYSTEMS OF THE GULF BASIN

West Ranch field

41-A reservoir--a progradational barrier sandstone

Component barrier-island facies

Barrier-core facies

Inlet-fill facies

Lateral facies relationships

Overview of reservoir facies heterogeneity

Permeability distribution

Resistivity patterns and hydrocarbon distribution

Drainage history

Greta reservoir-an aggradational barrier sandstone

Reservoir characteristics and origin

Production history

Glasscock reservoir-a transgressive barrier sandstone

Reservoir characteristics and origin

Hydrocarbon distribution and production history

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

REFERENCES

APPENDIX

Figures

1. Microtidal, wave-dominated shore-zone depositional systems 2

2. Depositional environments of a microtidal barrier island, Matagorda Island, Texas coast

3. Architectural elements of a barrier-island sand body

4. Stratigraphy of progradational, aggradational, and transgressive barrier-island sand bodies

5. Sand-body geometry and representative SP logs of modern barrier islands of the Texas coast

6. Depositional systems of the Frio Formation and paleogeographic setting of West Ranch field

7. Structure-contour map of West Ranch field showing the simple domal anticline that creates the trap

8. Dip-oriented regional cross section through West Ranch field

9. Structure-contour map of West Ranch field showing the combined domal structure and superimposed depositional topography of the 41-A reservoir
10. Net-sand isolith map of the 41-A main and the genetically associated stringer reservoir

11. Map of SP log patterns of the 41-A sand

12. Interpreted depositional elements of the 41-A sand

13. Log response, texture, internal features, and petrophysical properties of the barrier-core facies of the 41-A reservoir, well A-493

14. Log response, texture, internal features, and petrophysical properties of the inlet-fill facies, 41-A reservoir, well A-496

15. Map of average 41-A reservoir permeability.

16. Cross plot of measured core-plug permeability (k) and log-derived deep resistivity (R,) within the hydrocarbon-saturated zone of the 41-A reservoir

17. Deep-resistivity log patterns of the hydrocarbon-saturated portion of the 41-A reservoir

18. Geometries of resistivity (saturation) compartments

19. Water-cut distribution in test wells during latter stages of depletion of the 41-A main reservoir

20. Typical log response and textural properties of the Greta reservoir, well A-493

21. Map of deep-resistivity log patterns in hydrocarbon saturated portions of the Greta reservoir

22. Distribution of maximum measured deep resistivity within hydrocarbon-saturated portions of the Greta reservoir

23. Map of water-cut for wells producing in the Greta reservoir, June 1977

24. Log response, internal features, and petrophysical properties typical of the Glasscock reservoir

25. Net-sand isolith map of the Glasscock reservoir.

26. Interpreted depositional elements of the Glasscock sand in the main field area

27. Geometry of water-flood front following 9 years of water injection along the gas-oil contact

28. Reservoir model of the barrier-core and inlet-fill facies complex

29. Reservoir model of tidal-channel fill and associated tidal-delta and back-barrier facies mosaic

30. Reservoir model of washover-fan and associated back-barrier facies

Table

1. Characteristics of the Greta, Glasscock, and 41-A reservoirs, West Ranch field

PLATES (in pocket of book)

1. Cross sections through 41-A reservoir, West Ranch field area

2. Resistivity (saturation) compartments and reservoir architecture


Citation
Galloway, W. E., and Cheng, E. S., 1985, Reservoir Facies Architecture in a Microtidal Barrier System--Frio Formation Texas Gulf Coast: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, Report of Investigations No. 144, 36 p.