Date of Award

12-2013

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. Michelle Kominz

Keywords

Geology, sedimentary, stratigraphy, sandstone, diagenesis

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

The Middle Ordovician St. Peter Sandstone in the Michigan Basin is a target for hydrocarbon exploration/production, and carbon sequestration and geologic storage. The St. Peter is predominantly a marine sandstone with four dominant lithofacies. The uppermost facies contains zones of porosity and good reservoir quality. Because of the mostly uniform detrital composition, diagenesis must play a leading role in reservoir quality development. This study tests stratigraphic controls on diagenesis and reservoir quality development. The distribution of diagenetic regimes is believed to result from depositional setting and related geologic processes, including variations in sediment accumulation rate. Early carbonate cements preserve pre-compaction intergranular pore space available for late diagenetic processes including de-cementation and the inhibition of quartz overgrowth development. This stratigraphic/diagenetic model is evaluated using conventional core, wire-line logs, and petrographic/petrologic techniques to assess stratigraphic and sedimentologic controls on regionally variable reservoir quality. Evidence for early marine cements and associated reservoir quality is demonstrated at and subjacent to flooding surfaces, of which correlations are made regionally across the basin.

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