MARTIN, ROBERT L., Texaco Inc., Midland, TX; RAINES, MICHAEL A., Texaco Inc., Midland, TX; and COLE, ROGER M., Texaco Inc., Bellaire, TX

Abstract: Stratigraphic Styles of the Drinkard (Leonardian Trend on the Northwest Shelf, Lea County, New Mexico): Finding Oil in a Mature Area

Recent Drinkard discoveries in Lea County, New Mexico provide insights into the stratigraphy and depositional environments of the Leonardian age Drinkard Formation (Lower Clear Fork) and permit the development of an exploration trend along the mature Northwest Shelf margin of the Delaware Basin. Vacuum Drinkard, West Knowles, Garrett, and East Garrett Fields have been studied using a variety of electric logs, core, drill cuttings, and seismic. The results show two types of stratigraphically controlled reservoir facies associated with the underlying Abo Reef trend. The first is Vacuum Drinkard Field, a patch reef and crinoid-fusulinid grainstone facies developed shoreward of the underlying Abo Reef trend. The second is a foreslope oolite shoal facies developed basinward of the underlying Abo Reef trend and is productive at West Knowles, Garrett, and East Garrett Fields. These same general Lower Permian depositional models were documented in outcrop by Fitchen (1995, 1996) at the Sierra Diablo range of West Texas. Using these depositional models as a guide, strategies were developed to focus future exploration efforts. Some of the strategies include mapping the Abo Reef structure, constructing isopach maps of the Drinkard and overlying Tubb Formation, and utilizing seismic inversion techniques.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90918©1999 AAPG Southwest Section Meeting, Abilene, Texas