--> Abstract: Future Exploration of the Sub-Devonian of the Michigan Basin, by J. D. Harper; #91012 (1992).

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ABSTRACT: Future Exploration of the Sub-Devonian of the Michigan Basin

HARPER, J. D., Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada

The Michigan basin has had a long history of responding to new exploration ideas, technologies, and pursuits. The future still holds opportunity for this basin. A critical factor in future exploration will be incorporation of the details of basement structure into exploration plays. Facies distributions are strongly influenced by basement structure and diastrophism. In central Michigan successful exploration has focused on structures beneath Devonian oil fields and salts. In southern Michigan, Ordovician fracture reservoirs have been the main producers. Between these two areas, outside of the Devonian salt edge, exploration has been minimal to none. This anomaly is unwarranted because structure styles in this middle area are continuous with structure of the central and southern boundi g areas. Several potential play concepts can be established for this region. Improved definition of the extensions and continuity of the Silurian reef belt is possible because Silurian shelf margins, and the distributions of pinnacle reefs and basinal evaporite facies coincide with basement structural boundaries. Recognition of sea level terraces at the top of the Trenton in Indiana and Ohio must be integrated into the depositional models for the Michigan Trenton. Cambrian-Ordovician stratigraphy still offers opportunities for alternative correlations that have significant implications for depositional models and hydrocarbon occurrence. Improved seismic resolution, detailed basinal studies, and detailed reservoir characterization analogs will result in definition of new discoveries.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91012©1992 AAPG Annual Meeting, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 22-25, 1992 (2009)