Date of Award

8-2012

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Geological and Environmental Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. David A. Barnes

Second Advisor

Dr. William B. Harrison III

Third Advisor

Dr. Michael Grammer

Keywords

EOR, Dundee reservoir

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

Middle Devonian Rogers City and subjacent Dundee Limestone formations have combined oil production in excess of 375 MMBO. In general, hydrocarbon production occurs in two distinct reservoir types: 1) bottom water drive, fractured dolomite reservoirs in the Rogers City and 2) gas expansion drive, depositional facies controlled limestone reservoirs of the Dundee.

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) potential in Dundee Limestone reservoirs on the basis of detailed geological reservoir characterization in several fields in the Michigan Basin. Seven main depositional facies were identified from core studies in six fields. Three of these depositional facies are productive reservoirs including: 1) shoal, 2) patch reef, and 3) peritidal. The average porosity and permeability of these reservoir facies is: 7%/14md; 7%/123md; and 9%/195md, respectively.

Reservoir drive mechanisms, estimated primary recovery efficiency, and reservoir petrophysics suggest that Dundee reservoirs may be prospective EOR targets. It is proposed in this study that sedimentary lithofacies dominate the geological controls on reservoir properties in Dundee limestone reservoirs and that the interpretation of primary depositional facies contributes substantially to the prediction of EOR potential in these six large Dundee fields. Laterally persistent facies deposited in carbonate shoal (i.e., West Branch Field) and peritidal (i.e., Mt Pleasant, Wise, and North Buckeye fields) environments are most prospective while laterally discontinuous patch reef deposit (i.e., South Buckeye Field) are more problematic.

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