HIGH RESOLUTION PALAEOGEOGRAPHIC MAPPING OF THE FLUVIAL-LACUSTRINE PATCHAWARRA FORMATION IN THE COOPER BASIN, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.C. Strong ◽  
G.R. Wood ◽  
S.C. Lang ◽  
A. Jollands ◽  
E. Karalaus ◽  
...  

Fluvial-lacustrine reservoirs in coal-bearing strata provide a particular challenge for reservoir characterisation because of the dominance of coal on the seismic signature and the highly variable reservoir geometry, quality and stratigraphic connectivity. Geological models for the fluvial gas reservoirs in the Permian Patchawarra Formation of the Cooper Basin are critical to minimise the perceived reservoir risks of these relatively deep targets. This can be achieved by applying high-resolution sequence stratigraphic concepts and finescaled seismic mapping. The workflow begins with building a robust regional chronostratigraphic framework, focussing on widespread lacustrine flooding surfaces and unconformities, tied to seismic scale reflectors. This framework is refined by identification of local surfaces that divide the Patchawarra Formation into high-resolution genetic units. A log facies scheme is established based on wireline log character, and calibrated to cores and cuttings, supported by analogue studies, such as the modern Ob River system in Western Siberia. Stacking patterns within each genetic unit are used to determine depositional systems tracts, which can have important reservoir connectivity implications. This leads to the generation of log signature maps for each interval, from which palaeogeographic reconstructions are generated. These maps are drawn with the guiding control of syn-depositional structural features and net/ gross trends. Estimates of fluvial channel belt widths are based on modern and ancient analogues. The resultant palaeogeography maps are used with structural and production data to refine play concepts, as a predictive tool to locate exploration and development drilling opportunities, to assess volumetrics, and to improve drainage efficiency and recovery during production of hydrocarbons.

2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 511 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.C. Lang ◽  
N. Ceglar ◽  
S. Forder ◽  
G. Spencer ◽  
J. Kassan

Gas exploration and reservoir development in the Baryulah area, Cooper Basin, southwest Queensland has focussed on the fluvial-lacustrine, Permian coal-bearing Patchawarra Formation, Murteree Shale, Epsilon and Toolachee Formations. Geological interpretation of drilling and 3D seismic data has benefitted from integration of sequence stratigraphic concepts with the judicious use of reservoir analogues and seismic attribute mapping. Initially, a coherent regional chronostratigraphic framework was established, based on broad palynological zonations, and correlating extensive lacustrine flooding surfaces and unconformities, tied to 3D seismic reflectors. This framework was subdivided by using local key surfaces identified on wireline logs (usually high-gamma shaly intervals overlying coals), resulting in recognition of numerous high-resolution genetic units. Wireline log character, calibrated by cores from analogous fields around the Cooper Basin and supported by analogue studies, forms the basis for a logfacies scheme that recognises meandering fluvial channels, crevasse splays, floodplain/basin, and peat swamps/mires. Fluvial stacking patterns (aggradational, retrogradational or progradational), produced by the ratio of sediment supply to accommodation within each genetic unit, were used to help determine depositional systems tracts (alluvial lowstand, transgressive, or highstand) and likely reservoir connectivity. Log signature maps for genetic intervals form the basis of palaeogeographic mapping. Modern and ancient depositional analogues were used to constrain likely facies distribution and fluvial channel belt widths. Syndepositional structural features, net-to-gross trends, and seismic attribute mapping are used to guide the scale, distribution and orientation of potential reservoir trends. When used in conjunction with structural and production data, the palaeogeographic maps help develop stratigraphic trap play concepts, providing a predictive tool for locating exploration or appraisal drilling opportunities.


Geophysics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. A13-A16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigel Rees ◽  
Simon Carter ◽  
Graham Heinson ◽  
Lars Krieger

The magnetotelluric (MT) method is introduced as a geophysical tool to monitor hydraulic fracturing of shale gas reservoirs and to help constrain how injected fluids propagate. The MT method measures the electrical resistivity of earth, which is altered by the injection of fracturing fluids. The degree to which these changes are measurable at the surface is determined by several factors, such as the conductivity and quantity of the fluid injected, the depth of the target interval, the existing pore fluid salinity, and a range of formation properties, such as porosity and permeability. From an MT monitoring survey of a shale gas hydraulic fracture in the Cooper Basin, South Australia, we have found temporal and spatial changes in MT responses above measurement error. Smooth inversions are used to compare the resistivity structure before and during hydraulic fracturing, with results showing increases in bulk conductivity of 20%–40% at a depth range coinciding with the horizontal fracture. Comparisons with microseismic data lead to the conclusion that these increases in bulk conductivity are caused by a combination of the injected fluid permeability and an increase in wider scale in situ fluid permeability.


1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 154 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.J. Chaney ◽  
C.J. Cubitt ◽  
B.P.J. Williams

Sedimentological analysis of cored sections within the Merrimelia Formation (basal Gidgealpa Group, Cooper Basin, S.A.) reveals a complex glacigenic environment, including glacio-lacustrine, deltaic, shorezone, fluvial, aeolian and other terrestrial facies. These facies are observed within terminoglacial and proglacial environments, and interfinger constantly throughout the Merrimelia Formation, exhibiting rapid environment change related to position of the ice sheet. Detailed sedimentological and petrological analysis, suggests that Tirrawarra sandstone-type facies belongs within the Merrimelia depositional realm. Provenance data indicates that the lithic component of the Tirrawarra Sandstone, is sourced from reworked Merrimelia coeval depositional facies. A high proportion of labile grains, which are commonly observed in the Merrimelia Formation, are only observed rarely in the Tirrawarra Sandstone (sensu stricto). It is proposed that the fluvial sandstones of the Merrimelia Formation are part of the same fluvial deposystem as the Tirrawarra Sandstone (sensu stricto) and the two sandstone sequences are the natural progression of coarsening sediment as more detritus was released from melting glaciers. It is suggested that there no longer remains any sedimentological, stratigraphical or petrographical reasons why the Tirrawarra Sandstone should not be included within the Merrimelia Formation. It is further proposed that all the braided glacio- fluvial sandstones within the Merrimelia Formation and Tirrawarra Sandstone (sensu stricto) be grouped together as 'Tirrawarra-type' facies within the Merrimelia glacigenic domain.The concept that the glacio-fluvial sandstones within the Merrimelia Formation are of the same genetic origin as the Tirrawarra Sandstone (sensu stricto), must point to the economic potential of similar sandstones found throughout the Merrimelia Formation. The thickness, sediment style and lateral extent of the proglacial braidplains is controlled by the duration of glacial melting. The Merrimelia Formation reveals a sequence of major freezing and thawing episodes with the overlying Patchawarra Formation representing the cessation of glacial influence in the Cooper Basin. Therefore, the youngest 'Tirrawarra-type' sandstone facies found at the top of the Merrimelia Formation is likely to contain the least amount of labile grains, a highly rigid siliceous framework and will be well sorted. The risk of lower reservoir quality increases down section where, with time, freezing dominated over thawing and the sediments were less rinsed, and where the resultant sandstones are more likely to be thin, more poorly sorted and chemically immature with a high proportion of labile framework grains. Thus compositional variation, controlling the diagenetic overprint, together with sandstone facies and bedform style exert profound control on the reservoir quality in the Tirrawarra-Moorari Field area, on potential gas reservoirs in the Merrimelia Formation.


Author(s):  
D. F. Blake ◽  
L. F. Allard ◽  
D. R. Peacor

Echinodermata is a phylum of marine invertebrates which has been extant since Cambrian time (c.a. 500 m.y. before the present). Modern examples of echinoderms include sea urchins, sea stars, and sea lilies (crinoids). The endoskeletons of echinoderms are composed of plates or ossicles (Fig. 1) which are with few exceptions, porous, single crystals of high-magnesian calcite. Despite their single crystal nature, fracture surfaces do not exhibit the near-perfect {10.4} cleavage characteristic of inorganic calcite. This paradoxical mix of biogenic and inorganic features has prompted much recent work on echinoderm skeletal crystallography. Furthermore, fossil echinoderm hard parts comprise a volumetrically significant portion of some marine limestones sequences. The ultrastructural and microchemical characterization of modern skeletal material should lend insight into: 1). The nature of the biogenic processes involved, for example, the relationship of Mg heterogeneity to morphological and structural features in modern echinoderm material, and 2). The nature of the diagenetic changes undergone by their ancient, fossilized counterparts. In this study, high resolution TEM (HRTEM), high voltage TEM (HVTEM), and STEM microanalysis are used to characterize tha ultrastructural and microchemical composition of skeletal elements of the modern crinoid Neocrinus blakei.


2013 ◽  
Vol 339 ◽  
pp. 728-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cun Lei Li ◽  
Lei Qin ◽  
Xue Li ◽  
Xi Long Zhang

With the instruction of the high resolution sequence stratigraphy and sedimentology theory, and the comprehensive application of 11 wells core, more than 800 mud logging and log data, high resolution sequence stratigraphic characteristics research in the XII Group of the Member III of Qing Shankou Formation in the Qianan oilfield has been finished. The results show that the study area can be divided into one middle-term base level cycle and five short-term base level cycles. The only sequence structure of middle term cycle is (B type) and the short term cycle mainly consists of B types meanwhile there are small mounts of upward deepening structures (A type) and symmetric structures (C type). Based on the classification of base-level cycles, fine stratigraphic correlation is conducted by using isochronous cycle correlations. In addition, 15 high resolution sequence stratigraphic frameworks are established which unify the study area and provide the solid geological basis for the sandstone distribution, the identification of mainly oil-bearing sand bodies and potential oil reservoirs.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoit Deffontaines ◽  
Kuo-Jen Chang ◽  
Samuel Magalhaes ◽  
Gérardo Fortunato

<p>Volcanic areas in the World are often difficult to map especially in a structural point of view as (1) fault planes are generally covered and filled by more recent lava flows and (2) volcanic rocks have very few tectonic striations. Kuei-Shan Tao (11km from Ilan Plain – NE Taiwan) is a volcanic island, located at the soutwestern tip of the South Okinawa trough (SWOT). Two incompatible geological maps had been already published both lacking faults and structural features (Hsu, 1963 and Chiu et al., 2010). We propose herein not only to up-date the Kuei-Shan Tao geological map with our high resolution dataset, but also to create the Kuei-Shan Tao structural scheme in order to better understand its geological and tectonic history.</p><p>Consequently, we first acquired aerial photographs from our UAS survey and get our new UAS high resolution DTM (HR UAS-DTM hereafter) with a ground resolution <10cm processed through classical photogrammetric methods. Taking into account common sense geomorphic and structural interpretation and reasoning deduced form our HR UAS-DTM, and the outcropping lithologies situated all along the shoreline, we have up-dated the Kuei-Shan Tao geological mapping and its major structures. To conclude, the lithologies (andesitic lava flows and pyroclastic falls) and the new structural scheme lead us to propose a scenario for both the construction as well as the dismantling of Kuei-Shan Tao which are keys for both geology and geodynamics of the SWOT.</p>


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