Structurally Controlled Facies Distribution: The Panamint Valley, Western U.S. - A Surface Analogue for the Heterogeneous Reservoir Architecture of a Permian Age Tight Gas Field in NW Germany

Vackiner, Anna A.¹; Antrett, Philipp ¹; Stollhofen, Harald ²; Back, Stefan ¹; Kukla, Peter ¹
(1) Geological Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. (2) North Bavarian Center of Earth Sciences, FAU Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany.

Research focussed towards unravelling the complexity of Permian (Rotliegendes) tight gas fields in Central Europe requires an integrated approach combining laboratory analysis, numerical modelling and field based analogue studies. The study of a tight gas field at ~4200 m depth in East Frisia, NW Germany, located at the south-western margin of the Southern Permian Basin (SPB), includes a geological framework model for the sedimentary facies distribution, volcanic influence and the structural grain. Fault induced topography served as a local sediment source and controlled sediment distribution. Palaeotopography, fault activity and the development of accommodation space through Permian Rotliegend and Zechstein times are reconstructed from sediment isopach maps, which are based on detailed seismic interpretation. The sedimentary environment and involved sedimentary processes are punctually reconstructed from core and log material. The field analogue study in Panamint Valley, California, was carried out to improve the understanding of the interactions between sedimentology, volcanic influence and tectonic processes. Both, the subsurface study area in north-western Germany and the Panamint Valley are characterized by synsedimentary transtensional tectonics, which provide accommodation space for sediments deposited in dune, wet and damp interdune environments and under ephemeral fluvial influence. A sedimentary model of the gas field in Germany includes the composition and distribution of aeolian sandstone reservoirs and their relation to fault induced topographies.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90135©2011 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Milan, Italy, 23-26 October 2011.