Permeability anisotropy and heterogeneity of a sandstone reservoir analogue: An estuarine to shoreface depositional system in the Virgelle Member, Milk River Formation, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, southern Alberta

Abstract

Research Article| December 01, 2006 Permeability anisotropy and heterogeneity of a sandstone reservoir analogue: An estuarine to shoreface depositional system in the Virgelle Member, Milk River Formation, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, southern Alberta Rudi Meyer; Rudi Meyer Department of Earth Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 240 Prince Phillip Drive, St. John's, NL A1B 3X5 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Federico F. Krause Federico F. Krause Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Rudi Meyer Department of Earth Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 240 Prince Phillip Drive, St. John's, NL A1B 3X5 Federico F. Krause Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Publisher: Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Received: 14 Apr 2005 Accepted: 22 May 2006 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 2368-0261 Print ISSN: 0007-4802 © The Society of Canadian Petroleum Geologists Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology (2006) 54 (4): 301–318. https://doi.org/10.2113/gscpgbull.54.4.301 Article history Received: 14 Apr 2005 Accepted: 22 May 2006 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Rudi Meyer, Federico F. Krause; Permeability anisotropy and heterogeneity of a sandstone reservoir analogue: An estuarine to shoreface depositional system in the Virgelle Member, Milk River Formation, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, southern Alberta. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology 2006;; 54 (4): 301–318. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gscpgbull.54.4.301 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyBulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology Search Advanced Search Abstract In this study we investigate the patterns of permeability anisotropy and multi-directional heterogeneity of permeability structure based on a large number of lithofacies-specific horizontal and vertical cylindrical plugs from Upper Santonian Virgelle Member sandstones at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, southern Alberta. Diagnostic lithofacies of sandstone-rich, upward-coarsening siliciclastic marine shorefaces and overlying estuarine coastal plain are very common in the geological record. Hence, corresponding permeability distributions are thought to be a good analogue for broadly similar lithofacies and marginal marine successions known to make-up important petroleum reservoirs in Alberta and worldwide (e.g. Belly River Formation, Misoa Formation, Brent Group).The use of permeability distribution types and vertical-to-horizontal permeability ratios (kv/kh) derived in this study can be readily transferred and tested on reservoir models in the subsurface. Highlighted among the results is the relative homogeneity of vertical permeability (kv) distributions that may arise from the baffling effect of laminar, current-induced fabrics acting as filter. Cross-laminar fluid flow in such facies is expected to form a more uniform and efficient displacement front, bypassing fewer pores relative to a heterogeneous, 'fingering' layer-parallel flow profile.Overall, the permeability anisotropy in major lithofacies is low, with mean ratios kv/kh of 0.7–1, consistent with the absence of thick, continuous clay laminae, and only minor baffling by thin, discontinuous carbonaceous laminae or bands of mud chips. The ratio kv/kh of upper shoreface and channel lithofacies varies from 0.25 to >2, but these lithofacies are all, to some degree, laminated at a scale of 1–30 mm that is smaller than the size of plugs. Hence, the magnitude of kv/kh is obscured due to preferred orientation of laminae and the interlaminar contrast in horizontal permeability (kh). In the Virgelle Member and laminated reservoir sandstones in general, the plug-scale kv/kh ratio can only rarely be considered truly representative of permeability anisotropy, and improved definition of subvertical, cross-layer flow requires distinction of anisotropy at a smaller scale. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.