Petrophysical and Stratigraphic Characterization of Michigan Silurian Reefs

Abstract

Silurian (Niagaran) reefs are significant hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Michigan Basin, having produced over 500 MMBO and 2.9 trillion cubic feet of gas. The creation of static geological models that incorporate sequence stratigraphic interpretations and detailed facies enhance the understanding of the spatial distribution, and possible controlling mechanisms, of reservoir properties. Understanding the relationships between petrophysical properties and the geological controls on the spatial distribution of these flow units are the fundamental inputs for 3D static earth models. The reef reservoir will be subdivided into flow units based on the determination of pore types and most importantly pore throat size distribution. Capillary pressure data (from Mercury Injection Capillary Pressure Tests) and porosity/permeability-r35 analysis will help to identify pore throat size distribution for different depositional facies identified in core. The subdivided flow units will then be cataloged and correlated to geophysical log signatures to help populate the static model where core is not available. The Michigan Geologic Research Team have been participants in the Midwestern Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP) consortium since 2005 and have provided the Partnership with ongoing data about the potential for safe, efficient, and economically viable Carbon Sequestration in the subsurface strata of Michigan. This ongoing reservoir characterization and static modeling will be used for dynamic fluid flow modeling of the Niagaran Reefs which are the current targets for the CO₂ EOR project currently underway in Otsego County, Michigan.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90218 © 2015 Eastern Section Meeting, Indianapolis, Indiana, September 20-22, 2015