Mature Field Assessment Using GIS in Barnhill Field, Wayne County, Illinois

Steven R. Gustison
Podolsky Oil Company, Fairfield, IL 62837, [email protected]

Barnhill field was discovered in early 1939 and produced over 8 million barrels principally from the Aux Vases Sand, Ste. Genevieve and Salem Limes. The Aux Vases reservoir is one of a series of stratigraphic oil traps found throughout the Barnhill Pool. The dominating reservoir feature, a shale out of permeable sand in practically all directions, limited primary oil recovery but allowed excellent control and use of injected water for secondary recovery. New digital databases created using historical paper records and electric logs were imported into ArcView and GeoGraphix software. A new series of subsurface interpretations and cross-sections played a role towards calculating a new original oil in-place. Future enhanced oil recovery plans for this mature field will depend on the economic potential of the by-passed oil.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90095©2009 AAPG Eastern Section Meeting, Evansville, Indiana, September 20-22, 2009