Pore Structure characterization of reservoir and source rocks in the Bone Spring Formation, Lea County, New mexico

Abstract

The Bone Spring Formation in the Delaware Basin is a hybrid shale oil play with organic-lean sandstone and siltstone reservoirs juxtaposed against organic-rich carbonate source rocks. Stimulated fracture networks will likely be producing from both reservoir and source rocks and understanding the pore structure of both systems is critical for estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) and well planning. Core samples for this study are from two wells in Lea County, New Mexico, and sample depths from the 1st and 3rd Bone Spring Sandstones representing different lithologies determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), total organic carbon (TOC), and pyrolysis data. Mercury intrusion capillary pressure (MICP) is used to determine effective porosity, pore-throat size distribution, permeability, and tortuosity. Contact angles of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic fluids on the sample surface are measured, and pore connectivity to these fluids is assessed using spontaneous imbibition tests.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90292 © 2017 AAPG Southwest Section, Midland, Texas, April 29 - May 2, 2017