Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Master's Theses Graduate College 8-1986 Hydrodynamic Character of the Dundee Limestone in the Central Michigan Basin Ann Carol Little Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses Part of the Hydrology Commons Recommended Citation Little, Ann Carol, "Hydrodynamic Character of the Dundee Limestone in the Central Michigan Basin" (1986). Master's Theses. 1330. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1330 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]. HYDRODYNAMIC CHARACTER OF THE DUNDEE LIMESTONE IN THE CENTRAL MICHIGAN BASIN by Ann Carol Little A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Department of Geology Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan August 1986 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. HYDRODYNAMIC CHARACTER OF THE DUNDEE LIMESTONE IN THE CENTRAL MICHIGAN BASIN Ann Carol Little Western Michigan University, 1986 The Middle Devonian Dundee Limestone underlies most of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. A potentiometric surface constructed of the formation, utilizing pressure data was compared to local and regional structure, permeability trends, specific gravity of the brines, oil accumulations, and surficial topography. The data were distributed mainly in the central basin area, with information becoming more sparse around the basin margins. This created difficulties in the determination of the extent of control imparted by each of the factors, in flow direction. Surficial topography, on a regional scale, is likely the most influential of the controls, with the Dundee Limestone brines flowing toward outcrops in Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan is acting as a potentiometric low. Lack of data in the eastern portion of the state resulted in a lack of definition of the potentiometric surface in this area; therefore, no relationship could be determined between flow direction and Lake Huron. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research was supported in part by a research grant from Western Michigan University Graduate College. I am grateful for the encouragement given to me by Dr. W. Thomas Straw throughout the study and his helpful comments during the preparation of the manuscript. Thanks are also due to Dr. Richard N. Passero and Dr. William B. Harrison III for their reading and constructive criticism of the final drafts. I would also like to thank Dr. John D. Grace for his support and insight/ and Norman Grannemann of the U.S.G.S. for some valuable literature. Special thanks go to my family for their belief in my abilities, to Steve for his constant encouragement, and to all my friends of the department for making this journey more bearable. Ann Carol Little Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. University Microfilms International r : / IlidJ" Itt 1.0 “ •— U133.2 22 144L. EsaB36 2.0 u l.l 1.8 1-25 I U 116. MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS STANDARD REFERENCE MATERIAL 1010a (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) "V . University Microfilms Inc. 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 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Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 1328537 Little, Ann Carol HYDRODYNAMIC CHARACTER OF THE DUNDEE LIMESTONE IN THE CENTRAL MICHIGAN BASIN Western Michigan University M.S. 1986 University Microfilms International300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................. ii LIST OF FIGURES .................................. v LIST OF P L A T E S ..................................... vii INTRODUCTION ...................................... 1 Study Area Location ........................... 3 Literature Review ............................. 3 REGIONAL GEOLOGY .................................. 8 Stratigraphy .................................... 12 Devonian Strata ............................. 12 Dundee Limestone ......................... 15 REGIONAL STRUCTURE ............................... 22 Central Michigan Structure .................... 25 Dundee Structure ........................... 25 THE CONCEPT OF POTENTIAL ........................... 29 Potential Energy .......................... 29 The Potentiometric Surface .................... 34 Tilted Oil-Water Contacts .................. 37 Drillstem Tests ............................... 39 Pressure Charts ............................. 41 Incomplete Drillstem Records ............. 44 Brine D a t a ......................................... 45 INVESTIGATIVE METHODS ............................. 49 Drillstem Test Classification .................. 49 iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Contents— Continued Pressure-Depth Gradient Diagrams .......... 52 Calculation of H laM>..............................54 Permeability Trends ........................... 55 Structure Contour Map ......................... 57 RESULTS ................................................58 Drillstem Classification Results ............. 58 Specific Gravity Results ...................... 64 Specific Gravity Trends...................... 68 Permeability Trends ........................... 70 Relation to Potential Gradient ........... 71 Structural Relationships ....................... 71 Effect of Topography ........................... 72 CONCLUSIONS ........................................... 76 APPENDICES A. Drillstem Test and Bottom-Hole Pressure D a t a ................................ 80 B. Brine D a t a .................................... 83 BIBLIOGRAPHY ...................................... 85 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF FIGURES 1. Study Area Location ......................... 4 2. Structural Features Associated With the Michigan B a s i n ........... *. ........... 9 3. Generalized Geologic and Tectonic Map of the Michigan Basin ....................... 11 4. Generalized Stratigraphic Column of the Michigan B a s i n ......................... 13 5. Thickness-Lithofacies Map of the Dundee Limestone ........................... 18 6. Major Fold Trends of the Michigan Basin ...................................... 23 7. Structure Map on the Dundee Limestone . 26 8. Cross-Section of the Michigan .............. 27 9. Model illustrating Potential Energy Minimums and Barriers ....................... 32 10. Typical Drillstem Test String .............. 40 11. Pressure-Response Curve from Drillstem T e s t ......................................... 42 12. Contour Map of Equal Static Head in the Marshall Sandstone .................... 47 13. Pressure-Depth Gradient Plot for Various Fluids ............................. 53 14. Pressure-Depth Gradient Plot for Dundee Brines ................................ 59 15. Potentiometric Surface of the Dundee