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Phase IV research addresses the sedimentology, geometry, and connectivity of fluvial reservoir elements of the Williams Fork Formation through the analysis of outcrop analogs in Coal Canyon, Piceance Basin, Colorado. Phase IV revisits a part of the Phases I, II, and III study areas in Coal Canyon for more detailed quantification of reservoir-analog sand bodies in the lower Williams Fork Formation.
Phase IV research addressess the following:
1. evaluate the sedimentology and geometry of sand bodies with emphasis placed on internal reservoir architecture and dimensional statistics. 2. map fracture orientations and dimensions. 3. construct pseudo dip-meter logs using outcrop-based paleocurrent measurements for comparison to subsurface borehole-image logs (provided by the sponsors). The goal is to link outcrop observations and measurements with subsurface data to aid in predicting sand-body geometry and dimensions. 4. conduct detailed minipermeametry of selected outcrop windows to evaluate permeability variations associated with flow baffles and barriers, differential cementation, sedimentary-structure type, and fractures. 5. evaluate sand-body (geobody) and reservoir (well-based) connectivity using outcrop-based statistics and 3-D reservoir modeling methods.
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Supporting companies: Anadarko, Bill Barrett Corporation, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Marathon, Oxy, Petro-Canada, Schlumberger, Williams
Perspective view of Hoodoo Hill from the aerial LiDAR and orthophoto data of Phase III. The locality of the point bar deposits investigated by former Master's student, Amanda Ellison, is indicated for reference ("Amanda's Point Bar", Ellison, 2004). The locations of measured sections 1, 8 and 13 (e.g., MS-1) of Phases I and II are also shown. |
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