--> Reservoir Characterization and 3D modeling of Silurian Fore-reef Slopes Exposed in the Pipe Creek Jr. Quarry: Grant County, Indiana

47th Annual AAPG-SPE Eastern Section Joint Meeting

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Reservoir Characterization and 3D modeling of Silurian Fore-reef Slopes Exposed in the Pipe Creek Jr. Quarry: Grant County, Indiana

Abstract

Silurian reefs are significant hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Michigan Basin, having produced over 490 MMBO and 2.9 TCF of gas. Primary production from the reefs is typically low, averaging 20-25% due to the complex internal heterogeneity of the reservoir. To date, a majority of the exploration and development of these reservoirs has been directed towards the cores of the reefs, rather than the associated reef slope deposits. Slope deposits of the Pipe Creek Jr. reef complex exhibit many similarities to productive slope reservoirs in the rock record (e.g. Poza Rica trend in Mexico; Malampaya in the Phillipines; Tengiz and Karachaganak in the Caspian region). As such, the depositional processes and resulting geometries of potential reservoirs and seals in these Silurian fore-reef slopes, as well as early diagenetic modification and effect on reservoir quality, likely have many similarities to those found in other fore-reef reservoirs. The current study is focused on the fore-reef slope deposits of the Pipe Creek Jr. reef complex and includes an in-depth analysis of the facies distribution and composition, bed geometries, stratigraphic architecture, and faunal abundance and distribution of the reef slope deposits, coupled with the development of a drone-based, georeferenced, 3D outcrop model developed in Agisoft Photoscan and Petrel. The Pipe Creek Jr. Reef has been previously studied with a focus on faunal assemblages, dolomitization of the reef, and the general depositional facies of the reef core. The reef complex has an inferred circular structure, with a minimum thickness of 48m, with original, pre- erosional relief of the reef complex speculated to be anywhere from 35 to 200 meters. The exposed fore-reef slope facies consist of a mixture of coarse skeletal grainstone-packstones, stromatactis and skeletal mudstone-wackestones, and argillaceous silty dolomitic mudstones. Similar to what is seen in other fore-reef deposits, lenticular bedding consisting of skeletal packstones and grainstones deposited by grainflow processes make up the majority of the 40-45° depositional slopes. In addition, slump scars and channels are common, as are resedimented blocks from the inferred reef crest. Synsedimentary (Neptunian) dikes filled with marine cements are also common. Insights related to stratigraphic and reservoir architecture in the fore-reef slope facies of these Silurian reefs can potentially open up additional exploration and development opportunities and increase hydrocarbon recovery efficiencies in existing complex reef reservoirs.