Biogenically enhanced reservoir properties in the Medicine Hat gas field, Alberta, Canada

Croix, Andrew D. La; Gingras, Murray K.; Pemberton, S. George; Mendoza, Carl; MacEachern, James A.; Lemiski, Ryan Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2012.12.002

Cited by 58 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Using nitrogen gas, the permeameter has a measurement range from 0.001 millidarcy (mD) to greater than 30 darcy (Jones, 1994;Lemiski et al, 2011;La Croix et al, 2013;Polo, 2013;Baniak et al, 2013). Nitrogen gas injected through the probe tip was recorded as a function of time on a slabbed and cleaned core surface and the maximum pressure-decay time allowed was 30 seconds.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The spot-permeametry measurements by La Croix et al (2013) indicate that moderately burrowed (BI 2-4) to burrowhomogenized (BI 5-6) fabrics are associated with the highest permeability values. In contrast, nonburrowed (BI 0) layers and layers displaying low bioturbation intensity (BI 1-2) show some of the lowest permeability values.…”

Section: Upper Cretaceous Medicine Hat Member South-eastern Albertamentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Sedimentary structures (laminations, current or oscillation ripples) were commonly overprinted or homogenized depending upon the bioturbation intensity. The spot-permeametry analysis, combined with micro-CT imaging of the fabric, indicates that biogenic admixing of sand-sized grains into a silt-and clayrich matrix locally increases the bulk permeability (La Croix et al, 2013). In clay-rich intervals near the base of the FIG.…”

Section: Upper Cretaceous Medicine Hat Member South-eastern Albertamentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In the Medicine Hat gas field, the Medicine Hat Member is estimated to contain between four and six trillion cubic feet (1.13 £ 10 11 to 1.70 £ 10 11 m 3 ) of gas-in-place (O'Connell, 2003). La Croix et al (2013) identified four recurring facies in the Medicine Hat Member, arranged into a progradational parasequence set consisting of five parasequences. They interpreted the four facies to represent the distal prodelta, proximal prodelta, distal delta-front, and subaqeous interdistributary bay environments, respectively, in a wave-dominated delta complex.…”

Section: Upper Cretaceous Medicine Hat Member South-eastern Albertamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Associating X-Ray Microtomography with Permeability Contrasts in Bioturbated Media

Baniak

Croix

Polo

et al. 2014

Ichnos

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The use of X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) to evaluate the contrasts in permeability associated with bioturbation in twoand three-dimensions (2D and 3D) is investigated in this article. Core analysis, spot-permeametry measurements, and petrographic thin-sections of the six different datasets from Western Canada (Debolt Formation, Wabamun Group, and Medicine Hat Member) and offshore Norway (Ula Formation, Lysing Formation, and Nise Formation) show that the trace fossils commonly modify the permeability and porosity of the reservoir through sediment reworking and diagenesis of the sediment. In this study, micro-CT techniques are used to analyze the X-ray attenuation associated with bioturbation in siliciclastics and carbonates. Because X-ray attenuation represents the transmissivity or absorptivity of a sample to the incident X-rays, each of which is related to sediment composition and sediment densities, micro-CT images are integrated with sedimentological data and petrographic data to identify the trace fossils and matrix in 2D and 3D. Due to the difference in sediment grain size and sorting (i.e., porosity) within the burrows and matrix, analysis of the X-ray attenuations allows for their delineation in 2D cross-sectional images. When processed as 3D volumes, the micro-CT images show the complexity in burrow connectivity and burrow orientations within a sample. More importantly, the 3D volumes help show the distribution of porosity that can be linked to measured permeability values within a sample. Quantification of the heterogeneous burrow fabric on reservoir and resource quality is made from these processed micro-CT images.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Upper Cretaceous Medicine Hat Member South-eastern Albertamentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Upper Cretaceous Medicine Hat Member South-eastern Albertamentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Upper Cretaceous Medicine Hat Member South-eastern Albertamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Associating X-Ray Microtomography with Permeability Contrasts in Bioturbated Media

Baniak

Croix

Polo

et al. 2014

Ichnos

Self Cite

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“…2 Singh et al 2008;Jaglarz and Uchman 2010;Hofmann et al 2011). In siliciclastic deposits, Thalassinoides is indicative of lower shoreface-offshore settings (Pemberton et al 2001;Uchman and Krenmayr 2004;Buatois and Mángano 2011;Chrząstek 2013;La Croix et al 2013). It is also reported from the inner-middle carbonate ramp (Knaust 1998;, and mostly from shallow carbonate deposits (Monaco and Giannetti 2002;Jach 2005;Waite et al 2008Waite et al , 2013Vlahovic et al 2011;Wiedl et al 2012Wiedl et al , 2013.…”

Section: Thalassinoides Ichnoassociation (Ia 3)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace fossils from the Lower Muschelkalk of Raciborowice Górne (North Sudetic Synclinorium, SW Poland) and their palaeoenvironmental interpretation

Chrząstek¹

2013

Acta Geologica Polonica

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The following trace fossils have been recognised in the Lower Muschelkalk of Raciborowice Gorne (North Sudetic Synclinorium, SW Poland): Archaeonassa fossulata, Balanoglossites triadicus, ?Gastrochaenolites isp., Lockeia isp., Palaeophycus tubularis, Palaeophycus isp., ?Planolites beverleyensis, P. montanus, Planolites isp., ?Protovirgularia isp., Rhizocorallium commune var. auriforme, R. commune var. irregulare, R. jenense, Skolithos linearis, Thalassinoides suevicus and Trypanites weisei. Coprolites and an unidentified trace fossil A are also described. The trace fossils allow the discrimination of five ichnoassociations in the Raciborowice Gorne section: (IA 1) Rhizocorallium- Pholeus, (IA 2) Rhizocorallium-Palaeophycus, (IA 3) Thalassinoides, (IA 4) Trypanites-Balanoglossites and (IA 5) Planolites-Palaeophycus. The Lower Muschelkalk succession was deposited on a shallow carbonate ramp affected by frequent storms. Deposition commenced with sedimentation in a restricted lagoon on the inner ramp with a short episode of sabkha formation. It continued on the middle and outer ramp and then on a skeletal shoal of the outer ramp and in an open basin. Ichnoassociation IA 5 is related to a maximum transgression that commenced with the deposition of the Spiriferina Bed and which probably marked the opening of the Silesian-Moravian Gate. The basin underwent two shallowing episodes, as evidenced by ichnoassociations IA 3-IA 4, resulting in the formation of hardgrounds. Bathymetric changes in the Raciborowice Gorne section correspond well with a general transgressive trend in the Germanic Basin.

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Impact of facies and diagenetic variability on permeability and fluid flow in an oolitic grainstone—Pleistocene Miami Oolite

Harris

Purkis

2020

The Depositional Record

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The Miami Oolite of South Florida is representative of a grainstone-rich carbonate unit that has been surficially karsted, and therefore may be considered as an analogue for subsurface reservoirs/aquifers with 'high' permeability extremes. The deposit can potentially serve to improve a conceptual understanding of heterogeneity as imparted by shallow-marine facies changes and early meteoric diagenetic modification.Reviewed here are recent studies of the Miami Oolite with the intent to emphasize those key aspects of the facies and early diagenesis that most impact permeability and fluid flow. The Miami Oolite displays the preserved morphology of a fossilized ooid sandbody, even though it has been subaerially exposed in a tropical climate since its deposition approximately 120 kyr bp during the last interglacial highstand. The depositional motif is one of a dip-oriented, tidal bar belt of shoals and shallow channels fronted by a strike-oriented barrier bar. The barrier bar comprises crossstratified grainstones and locally burrowed grain/packstones, while the tidal shoals and channels are more commonly burrowed pack/grainstones. Surficial karst features (dolines and stratiform caves) have been added during the ca 120 kyr of subaerial exposure, but of more significance is the associated solution-enhancement of the widespread burrowed facies. Since the Miami Oolite is the uppermost portion of the Biscayne Aquifer, there is also an understanding of fluid flow through the deposit that sheds valuable insight on the larger scale, shallow subsurface plumbing. The pore system comprises matrix pores (interparticle and separate vugs) and touchingvug macropores that are commonly associated with burrowed [Ophiomorpha] intervals. Ground-penetrating radar, well and flow test data indicate that matrix porosity provides most of the groundwater storage, whereas the touching vug macropores account for the majority of flow. The dolines and shallow caves seem to be sufficiently spaced as to generally not be in direct connection, with the result that they are less important in terms of regional flow than the prevailing pore system. K E Y W O R D SEogenetic karst, macropores, Ophiomorpha, permeability 460 |

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Biogenically enhanced reservoir properties in the Medicine Hat gas field, Alberta, Canada

Cited by 58 publications

References 17 publications

Associating X-Ray Microtomography with Permeability Contrasts in Bioturbated Media

Associating X-Ray Microtomography with Permeability Contrasts in Bioturbated Media

Trace fossils from the Lower Muschelkalk of Raciborowice Górne (North Sudetic Synclinorium, SW Poland) and their palaeoenvironmental interpretation

Impact of facies and diagenetic variability on permeability and fluid flow in an oolitic grainstone—Pleistocene Miami Oolite

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