New Mexico Geological Society Downloaded from: http://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/56 Insights into the petroleum geology and stratigraphy of the Dakota interval (Cretaceous) in the San Juan Basin, northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado Charles F. Head and Donald E. Owen, 2005, pp. 434-444 in: Geology of the Chama Basin, Lucas, Spencer G.; Zeigler, Kate E.; Lueth, Virgil W.; Owen, Donald E.; [eds.], New Mexico Geological Society 56th Annual Fall Field Conference Guidebook, 456 p. This is one of many related papers that were included in the 2005 NMGS Fall Field Conference Guidebook. Annual NMGS Fall Field Conference Guidebooks Every fall since 1950, the New Mexico Geological Society (NMGS) has held an annual Fall Field Conference that explores some region of New Mexico (or surrounding states). Always well attended, these conferences provide a guidebook to participants. 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HEAD AND OWEN INSIGHTS INTO THE PETROLEUM GEOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY OF THE DAKOTA INTERVAL (CRETACEOUS) IN THE SAN JUAN BASIN, NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO CHARLES F. HEAD1 AND DONALD E. OWEN2 1Burlington Resources Inc., Farmington, NM 87401 2Department of Earth and Space Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710 ABSTRACT.—Highlights of an integrated study to evaluate the original and remaining Dakota gas resources in the San Juan Basin are presented. Dakota (Cretaceous) reservoirs contain a major stratigraphic gas accumulation with cumulative produc- tion of more than 6 TCF, and include braided and meandering fluvial, deltaic, shoreface, and shelf-ridge sandstones in seven distinct reservoir units. Data from 85 measured sections, 32 core descriptions, and 7,000 wells were integrated to construct a regional stratigraphic framework that correlates outcrops with the subsurface over the entire San Juan Basin. In addition, a 3,300-well digital log database was constructed to compute the petrophysical parameters and volumetric potential of each reservoir. Integration of these datasets and the resulting maps provides methods for determining the significance of various depositional trends, reservoir characteristics, and trapping mechanisms for gas production. Volumetric original gas-in-place and recovery factor maps closely approximate geologic and production trends, providing a basis for additional exploration and development opportunities. INTRODUCTION and natural fractures were characterized. A 3,300-well digital log database was compiled and used for core-based petrophysical The development history of the Dakota began with the dis- modeling to determine volumetric parameters. The parameters covery of structurally trapped gas around the margins of the San were then mapped using spatial modeling techniques to better Juan Basin during the 1920’s. The first stratigraphic gas field was conform to the stratigraphy, validating original and remaining gas discovered in 1947, and the Basin Dakota Field was established estimates. Insights into a few of the most meaningful interpreta- on 320-acre well spacing in 1961, opening the first significant tions and results follow. period of development. The field was later infilled to 160-acre well spacing in 1979, and to optional 80-acre spacing in 2002. SUBSURFACE STRATIGRAPHY Geologic and engineering work is currently underway to deter- mine if greater well density is needed in selected areas. The New Mexico Oil Conservation Division defines the Dakota The Basin Dakota Field currently produces 300 MMCFD from producing interval in the San Juan Basin as the 400-foot (122 m) 5,112 wells (IHS Energy Data), many of which are commingled section below the base of the Greenhorn Limestone, an excellent with completions in the Mesaverde Formation. Dakota produc- chronstratigraphic subsurface marker. The Dakota Sandstone, a tion is from an approximately 122 m thick interval containing formal lithostratigraphic name long established in most of the seven reservoir units deposited in various environments. Gas Western Interior Basin of the U.S., has been used in the San Juan production is dominated by stratigraphy, which is integral to the Basin since Dutton’s early work (1885). Having both the Dakota interpretations and datasets that comprise this basinwide resource Sandstone and the underlying Burro Canyon Formation included assessment. Previous geologic studies focused on small geographic areas, or were limited by small datasets relative to the size and complex- ity of the Dakota interval. Inconsistent stratigraphic nomencla- ture has also been a source of confusion. The primary objective of this study was to provide a reliable geologic model that could be used to derive realistic estimates of volumetric original gas-in- place (OGIP). Figure 1 summarizes the various elements of the workflow used to determine the Dakota OGIP. The basis for geologic and volumetric mapping is a 7,000- well, subsurface tops database, constructed from a sequence- stratigraphic framework with correlations to 85 Dakota outcrop measured sections. Core descriptions from 32 wells were used to calibrate wireline log facies interpretations. Isopach maps of each Dakota reservoir extend beyond the limits of gas production to include outcrop data around the basin perimeter, providing a basis for regional depositional environment interpretations. Spe- FIGURE 1. Dakota resource assessment workflow and primary study cific facies types were delineated and correlated to gas production, components. INSIGHTS INTO THE PETOLEUM GEOLOGY OF THE DAKOTA INTERVAL 435 in the Dakota producing interval has led to confusion, especially ing unconformities, are also recognizable on outcrops, and well where exploration and production occurs in the Burro Canyon, logs and can be used to define stratigraphic units. In the Dakota but production is reported as from the Dakota producing inter- producing interval, many of these surfaces coincide with formal val. lithostratigraphic boundaries, so this subdivision was used in this The Dakota contains several sandstone beds separated by study. The Burro Canyon is bounded by the K1 and K2 sequence- shales. For at least 50 years, San Juan Basin subsurface geologists bounding unconformities, the Encinal Canyon is topped by the have informally lettered these Dakota interval sandstones from initial marine-flooding surface, the Oak Canyon is truncated by the top down as they were encountered in drilling. This practice the K3 sequence-bounding unconformity where the White Rock has been inconsistent and confusing because Dakota sandstone Mesa overlies it and by the K3 correlative conformity or a locally beds wedge out and merge within the basin and different geolo- scoured surface where the Cubero overlies it. The White Rock gists and companies have used the letters differently, especially Mesa is topped by a series of marine-flooding surfaces. The in separate parts of the basin. Table 1 lists the inconsistent usage Cubero, Paguate, and Twowells are topped by marine-flooding of lettered beds from all published papers in which this nomen- surfaces. The Clay Mesa and Whitewater Arroyo marine shale clature has been used. Formal lithostratigraphic member names tongues have gradational upper boundaries, so they were com- have been defined from outcrops around the San Juan Basin by bined with the overlying sandstones into what was informally Owen (1966), Landis et al (1973), Aubry (1988), and Owen and designated the Paguate interval and the Twowells interval. This Owen (2005, in this guidebook). Only recently have some sub- gave us 6 (or 7, if the White Rock Mesa and Cubero are mapped surface geologists (for example, Owen and Head, 2001) begun separately) intervals for isopach mapping and correlating on cross- to correlate the formal outcrop members of the Dakota into the sections (Table 3). Two prominent bentonites, the A bentonite in