--> ABSTRACT: Reservoir Heterogeneity in the Middle Frio Formation: Case Studies in Stratton and Agua Dulce Fields, Nueces County, Texas, by D. R. Kerr; #90999 (1990).

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ABSTRACT: Reservoir Heterogeneity in the Middle Frio Formation: Case Studies in Stratton and Agua Dulce Fields, Nueces County, Texas

D. R. Kerr

Selected middle Frio (Oligocene) reservoirs of Stratton field and the contiguous Agua Dulce field are being studied as part of a Gas Research Institute/Department of Energy/State of Texas cosponsored program designed to improve reserve growth in mature gas fields. Over the past four decades, Stratton has produced 2.0 tcf of gas from 113 middle Frio reservoirs, and Agua Dulce has produced 1.6 tcf from 116 reservoirs. Recent drilling and workover activities, however, suggest the presence of additional untapped or bypassed middle Frio reservoirs. Four reservoirs, the E18/6020-ft, E21/6050-ft, E31/6100-ft, and E41/Bertram, were evaluated over a 13,000-acre tract that includes areas adjacent to both fields.

The middle Frio is composed of sand-rich channel-fill and splay deposits interstratified with floodplain mudstones, all forming part of the Gueydan fluvial system. Channel-fill deposits are 30 (±15) ft thick and 2500 (±500) ft wide. Splay deposits are up to 30 ft thick proximal to channels and extend as much as 2 mi from channels. Channel-fill and associated splay sandstones are reservoir facies (porosity = 20%; permeability = 10s to 100s md); floodplain mudstones and levee sandy mudstones are barriers to flow facies separating individual reservoirs vertically and laterally.

The E41/Bertram reservoir is an example of a laterally stacked channel system deposited during relatively slow aggradation. This reservoir includes sand-on-sand contacts and is composed of mostly "leaky" compartments. The E18/6020-ft, E21/6050-ft, and E31/6100-ft reservoirs are examples of vertically stacked channel systems reflecting higher rates of aggradation. Vertically stacked architectures are more favorable for "isolated" compartments and therefore are better candidates for infield reserve growth.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90999©1990 GCAGS and Gulf Coast Section SEPM Meeting, Lafayette, Louisiana, October 17-19, 1990