Petrophysical Characterization of the Marlin Discovery, Deepwater Gulf of Mexico

George R. Clemenceau and Fred C. Lockett

This presentation discusses the petrophysical characterization of the Marlin discovery, a high quality gas and oil reservoir in the Deepwater Northern Gulf of Mexico. Amoco drilled the Marlin discovery well in May 1993 on Viosca Knoll Block 915. Approximately 100 MMBOE is structurally trapped here within Miocene deep-sea fan sands at 11,000 feet subsea. The petrophysical characterization of Marlin is based upon conventional core tests and data from three wells.

The Marlin reservoir rock types are characterized based upon differences between their petrophysical properties. The properties, which include porosity, permeability, pore throat radius, and grain size, are derived from routine and special core analysis of a 40 foot conventional core recovered from the discovery well. Relative permeability, and capillary pressure tests, conducted at reservoir stress, further describe the rock types. The petrophysical properties average as follows; porosity 28 %, permeability 1200 mD, porethroat radius 24 microns, and mean grain size 180 microns. By integrating this petrophysical model with a geologic model, that utilizes conventional core, well log, and 3-D seismic interpretation, a 3-dimensional flow unit model was created for input to a reservoir simulation.

AAPG Search and Discover Article #91019©1996 AAPG Convention and Exhibition 19-22 May 1996, San Diego, California