Print this pageAbstract: Facies Analysis, Diagenesis, and Petrophysical Properties of The Beekmantown Group of Central and Western New York: Implications For Salt-Cavern Gas Storage Reservoirs
KOLKAS, MOSSBAH M. and GERALD M. FRIEDMAN
Department
of Geology, Brooklyn College and Graduate School of the City University
of New York, Brooklyn, New York 11210; and Northeastern Science Foundation
affiliated with Brooklyn College, Rensselaer Center of Applied Geology,
15 third street, P.O. Box 746, Troy, New York 12181-0746
The Cambro-Ordovician Beekmantown Group of central and western New York consists of a basal sandstone sheet (Potsdam Formation) overlain by a carbonate sequence (Theresa Formation). This group is subdivided into lithofacies and microlithofacies based on the lithologic heterogeneities, microstructures, and fossil contents. These lithofacies and microlithofacies were deposited within a shallow marine setting.
The diagenetic sequence of the Beekmantown Group lithologies is established based on the fabrics and the textural analysis using the petrographic microscope, the luminoscope, and the electron microprobe. This sequence records: early dolomitization, silicification, chemical compaction, dedolomitization, and finally late dolomitization. These diagenetic modifications affected the reservoir qualities (porosity, permeability, recovery efficiency, and fluid saturation) within this group.
Petrophysical analysis, using the mercury-injection technique, concluded
that the petrophysical parameters, porosity, permeability, recovery efficiency,
pore diameters, and fluid saturation vary among the lithofacies and microlithofacies.
Supported by capillary pressure tests, the Potsdam Sandstone and some intervals
within the Theresa Formation demonstrate high reservoir quality and acceptable
thickness that make them excellent sites for brine disposal.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90930©1998 AAPG Eastern Section, Columbus, Ohio