Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Master's Theses Graduate College 8-2012 Reservoir Characterization and Enhanced Oil Recovery Potential in Middle Devonian Dundee Limestone Reservoirs, Michigan Basin, USA Abrahim Abduslam Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses Part of the Geology Commons, and the Sedimentology Commons Recommended Citation Abduslam, Abrahim, "Reservoir Characterization and Enhanced Oil Recovery Potential in Middle Devonian Dundee Limestone Reservoirs, Michigan Basin, USA" (2012). Master's Theses. 21. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/21 This Masters Thesis-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RESERVOIR CHARACTERIZATION AND ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY POTENTIAL IN MIDDLE DEVONIAN DUNDEE LIMESTONE RESERVOIRS, MICHIGAN BASIN, USA by Abrahim Abduslam A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty ofthe Graduate College in partial fulfillment ofthe requirements for the Degree ofMaster ofScience Department ofGeosciences Advisor: David A. Barnes, Ph.D. Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan August 2012 THE GRADUATE COLLEGE WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN Date 07/09/2012 WE HEREBY APPROVE THE THESIS SUBMITTED BY Abrahim Abduslam ENTITLED Reservoir Characterization and Enhanced Oil Recovery Potential in Middle Devonian Dundee Limestone Reservoirs, Michigan Basin, USA AS PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE Master of Science DEGREE OF Geosciences (Department) Dave Barnes Thesis Committee Chair Geology (Program) William B.flarrison Thesis Committee Member Michael Grammer Thesis Committee Member APPROVED Date .U(A)ti1oa~ Dean of The Graduate College RESERVOIR CHARACTERIZATION AND ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY POTENTIAL IN MIDDLE DEVONIAN DUNDEE LIMESTONE RESERVOIRS, MICHIGAN BASIN, USA Abrahim Abduslam, M.S. Western Michigan University, 2012 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 ofthe 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 ofprimary 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. Copyright by Abrahim Abduslam 2012 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This thesis project would not have been possible without the help, support, and patience of my principal advisor, and thesis committee members over the past two years. First, and for most, I wish to express my sincere gratitude towards my outstanding advisor, Dr. David A. Barnes. His invaluable leadership, support, attention to detail, and dedication to helping me successfully formulate and carry out this project. Deepest gratitude is also due to the members of my committee, Dr. William B. Harrison, III and Dr. G. Michael Grammer whose knowledge and assistance helping make this study successful. I would like to acknowledge ExxonMobil, and the Institute of International Education (HE) and its staff, especially for the scholarship that provided the necessary financial support for accomplishing this Master of Science Degree. Special thanks also goes to the Department of Geosciences at Western Michigan University for their support and assistance since the start ofmy study in Fall, 2010. I would like to thank my graduate colleagues that I have worked with at Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education (MGRRE): Steve Zdan, Kate Pollard, Shannon Towne, Beth Berg, and John Sosulski. They were invaluable over the years, and I look forward to continuing collaboration with them in the future. Last but not least, I would like to thank my wife Eman for her personal support and great patience at all times. My parents Mohamed and Fatima and my brothers and sisters who have given me their unequivocal support throughout, as always, for which my mere expression ofthanks likewise does not suffice. Abrahim Abduslam n TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ii LIST OF TABLES vi LIST OF FIGURES vii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION 1 Summary ofthe Problems 1 Preliminary Hypotheses 2 Research Objective 3 II. REGIONAL SETTING 5 Michigan Basin 5 Devonian Stratigraphic Framework 9 Dundee Formation Stratigraphic Nomenclature 14 Previous Work 18 III. METHODOLOGY 23 Core Descriptions 23 Petrographic Analyses 24 Conventional Core Analyses 27 Wire-line Log 27 Carbonate Classification Schemes 28 Summary ofthe Methods 30 iii Table ofContents—continued CHAPTER IV. SEDIMENTOLOGY 32 Depositional Facies 32 Facies 1: Crinoidal skeletal wackestone (open marine) 33 Facies 2: Bioturbated peloidal grainstone/packstone (shallow protected marine) 35 Facies 3: Crinoidal grainstone (shoal) 38 Facies 4: Coral-stromatoporoid rudstone (reefflank) 41 Facies 5: Stromatoporoid boundstone (patch reef) 43 Facies 6: Skeletal wackestone (lagoon) 45 Facies 7: Fenestral peloidal grainstone/packstone (peritidal) 48 Diagenesis 52 Introduction 52 Diagenetic Alterations in the Dundee Limestone 53 Microbial Micritization 53 Burrowing 54 Dissolution-cementation 55 Fractures and Stylolitization 60 Depositional Environment Model 62 Carbonate Ramp 62 Sequence Stratigraphic Considerations 64 V. GEOLOGIC RESERVOIR CHARACTERIZATION 71 Reservoir Quality 72 iv Table ofContents—continued CHAPTER Porosity and Permeability 72 Diagenetic Controls on the Reservoir Quality 75 Reservoir Compartmentalization and Reservoir Distribution 77 Stratigraphic Correlations and Cross-sections 78 VI. DUNDEE HISTORIC PRODUCTION AND ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY (EOR) POTENTIAL 87 Historic Production 89 West Branch Field 90 South Buckeye Field 92 Mount Pleasant Field 93 Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) 95 VII. CONCLUSIONS 100 BIBLIOGRAPHY 102 APPENDICES A. Core Descriptions 108 B. Core Charts (Adobe® Illustrator) 148 C. Core Photographs 175 D. Conventional Core Analysis 183 E. Cross-sections 222 v LIST OF TABLES 1. Stratigraphic section ofthe Rogers City Limestone, Dundee Limestone and overlying Bell Shale from outcrop in northeast Michigan 15 2. Cores used in this study 26 3. Dunham classification ofcarbonate rocks 2 vi LIST OF FIGURES 1. Location of the study area illustrating the targeted Middle Devonian Dundee Oil Fields 4 2. The major structural features ofthe Michigan Basin 6 3. Basement province map ofthe southern Peninsula ofMichigan 8 4. Structure map of North and South Buckeye oil fields in Gladwin County, Michigan 9 5. Proposed paleogeography distribution map, showing that the Michigan Basin was located at 30° south latitude during the Middle Devonian 10 6. Stratigraphic column of the Michigan Basin with the Rogers City and Dundee formations highlighted in red circle 13 7. Slabbed core and thin-section showing the Rogers City and Dundee contact from Schember-Shears #3, South Buckeye Field 15 8. Cross-section showing the contact between Rogers City and Dundee: the contact is readily picked in the presence of anhydrite capping the Dundee unit in the western part ofthe Basin (blue box) 17 9. Map of the Michigan Basin showing the spatial distribution of Dundee depositional environments and cross-sectional (K-L) view of the transitioning lithologies 19 10. Classification ofcarbonate pore types 29 11. Crinoidal skeletal wackestone facies (open marine) 34 12. Cross plot ofporosity and permeability measurements from whole core analyses ofcrinoidal skeletal wackestone facies 35 13. Bioturbated peloidal grainstone/packstone (protected shallow marine) 37 14. (A) Slabbed core illustrating the crinoidal grainstone tempestites interbedded with burrowed skeletal peloidal grainstone facies 37 vn List ofFigures—Continued 15. Cross plot ofporosity and permeability measurements from whole core analyses ofburrowed skeletal, peloidal grainstone/packstone facies 38 16. Crinoidal grainstone facies (shoal) 40 17. Cross plot ofporosity and permeability measurements from whole core analyses ofcrinoidal grainstone facies 40 18. Coral-stromatoporoid rudstone facies (reefflank) 42 19. Cross plot ofporosity and permeability measurements from whole core analyses ofreefflank facies 42 20. Stromatoporoid boundstone facies (patch reef) 44