--> Abstract: Pennsylvanian Incised-Valley Reservoirs: A New Look at an Old Kentucky Play, by T. M. Reed, K. Lyne, and P. D. Howell; #90937 (1998).

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Abstract: Pennsylvanian Incised-Valley Reservoirs: A New Look at an Old Kentucky Play

REED, THOMAS M., KEVIN LYNE and PAUL D. HOWELL, University of Kentucky

Several oil fields in western Kentucky produce from conglomeratic sandstone reservoirs in Pennsylvanian incised valley fill. Previous studies have outlined the regional extent of these paleovalley systems in the Illinois Basin, but no published studies have examined details of these high quality reservoirs. The Madisonville paleovalley containing these fields is shale-dominated, contrasting sharply with typical sandy Pennsylvanian paleovalley systems, providing good seals for the isolated sand bodies.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the Madisonville incised valley fill is a mixture of fluvial and tidally-influenced estuarine sedimentation deposited in response to the retreat of the Chesterian sea. Reservoir porosity and permeability are excellent, with high initial potentials ranging from 300 to more than 1000 BOPD and good ultimate reserves, from 200 to 300+ BO/acre^bullft. These stratigraphic traps have produced in several fields in Ohio and McLean Counties. Reservoirs discovered to date are predominantly coarse-grained fluvial channel sands, rather than heterogeneous tidal deposits. Despite a long exploration History, this play remains relatively unexplored along several portions of the paleovalley extent.

Because the conglomerates are encased in shale, they provide a recognizable contrast in acoustic character. Synthetic seismic models of these reservoirs in the basal portion of the incised-valley fill suggests flint a seismic exploration program with high-frequency data acquisition could prove to be a cost-effective tool for new discoveries in this old Kentucky play.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90937©1998 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Salt Lake City, Utah