Browsing by Author "Tye, Robert S."

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Geology of the Lower Cretaceous Travis Peak Formation, East Texas: Characterization of a Tight Gas SandStone
(1990) Dutton, Shirley P.; Laubach, Stephen E. (Stephen Ernest), 1955-; Tye, Robert S.; Baumgardner, Jr., Robert W.
Since 1982, the Gas Research Institute (GRI) Tight Gas Sands Project has supported geological investigations designed to develop knowledge necessary to efficiently produce low-permeability, gas-bearing sandstones. As part of that program, the Bureau of Economic Geology has conducted research on low-permeability sandstone in the Lower Cretaceous Travis Peak (Hosston) Formation in East Texas. The first phase of the study, which lasted from 1983 until 1986, involved extensive collection of core and production data in seven cooperative wells. Information gained from the cooperative wells, combined with geologic characterization of the Travis Peak throughout the study area, led to the drilling by GRI of three Staged Field Experiment (SFE) wells between 1986 and 1988. The SFE wells were drilled and completed by GRI specifically for the purpose of research on low-permeability gas reservoirs. This report summarizes the results of the geologic studies of the Travis Peak Formation, and it focuses on the contribution of geology to evaluation and completion of tight gas sandstone wells.
Geology of the Lower Cretaceous Travis Peak Formation, East Texas: Depositional History, Diagenesis Structure and Reservoir Engineering Implications
(1990) Dutton, Shirley P.; Laubach, Stephen E. (Stephen Ernest), 1955-; Tye, Robert S.; Baumgardner, Jr., Robert W.; Herrington, Karen L.
This report summarizes stratigraphic, petrographic, and structural studies of the Lower Cretaceous Travis Peak Formation, a low-permeability gas sandstone in East Texas, and presents reservoir engineering implications. Depositional systems in this region were interpreted from logs and cores and include (1) a braided- to meandering-fluvial system that forms the majority of the Travis Peak section; (2) deltaic deposits interbedded with the distal part of the fluvial system; (3) paralic deposits that overlie and interfinger with the deltaic and fluvial deposits near the top of the Travis Peak; and (4) shelf deposits present at the downdip extent of the formation. Petrographic studies indicate the sandstones are quartzarenites and subarkoses. Cementation by quartz, dolomite, ankerite, illite, chlorite, and reservoir bitumen have reduced porosity to less than 8 percent and permeability to less than 0.1 md throughout most of the formation. Structurally deeper sandstones are more intensely quartz cemented than are shallower sandstones and contain abundant, open natural fractures. Borehole breakouts and drilling-induced fractures in core can be used to predict horizontal stress directions and the direction of hydraulic fracture propagation. Hydraulic fractures propagate in directions subparallel to the east-northeast strike of the natural fractures; thus, hydraulically induced fractures may not intersect many natural fractures.
Preliminary Geologic Description S.A. Holditch & Associates SFE No. 2
(1987) Dutton, Shirley P.; Tye, Robert S.; Laubach, Stephen E. (Stephen Ernest), 1955-
Four intervals of the Travis Peak Formation were cored in the S. A. Holditch & Associates SFE No. 2 well, North Appleby field, Nacogdoches County, Texas. Core was recovered from 8,230.0 to 8,319.7 ft, 8,678.2 to 8,738.0 ft, 9,480.0 to 9,572.1 ft, and 9,806.7 to 9,942.1 ft. The top of the Travis Peak is at 8,000 ft (log depth), so the core samples are from 230 ft to 1,942 ft below the top of the formation.
Site Selection for Gri Cooperative Tight Gas Field Resesarch Volume 2: Geologic Characteristics of Selected Low-Permeability Gas Sandstones
(1988) Baumgardner, Jr., Robert W.; Tye, Robert S.; Laubach, Stephen E. (Stephen Ernest), 1955-
Geological, engineering, and economic data on selected formations were compiled to provide a basis for siting the fourth Staged Field Experiment (SFE) for the Tight Gas Sands research program. The geologic units chosen are the Abo, Cleveland, and Frontier Formations, and the Mesaverde Group. Extrapolation potential is good for all formations except the Cleveland, whose thin deltaic package has no good analogy in other low-permeability sandstones. The Abo has the best potential for extrapolation to other low-permeability formations. The average thickness of reservoirs is about 250 ft in the Mesaverde and Abo, 160 ft in the Frontier, and 120 ft in the Cleveland. The deepest production depth varies from 4,750 ft (Abo) to 12,198 ft (Second Frontier sandstone). The estimated resource base ranges from 3 TCF (Abo) to 86 TCF (Mesaverde). Pre-stimulation production ranges from too small to measure (Cleveland, Frontier, Mesaverde) to 314 MCFD (Frontier). Post-stimulation production ranges from 3 MCFD (Mesaverde) to 12,250 MCFD (Cleveland). Permeability ranges from less than 0.0001 md (Frontier) to 1.3 md (Frontier). Natural fractures have been shown to be significant locally in the Mesaverde, but their contribution to reservoir permeability in the other formations is not well-documented.
Stratigraphy and Depositional Systems of the Lower Cretaceous Travis Peak Formation East Texas Basin
(1989) Tye, Robert S.
The Travis Peak Formation of the East Texas Basin was divided into five lithostratigraphic units. Formation of a fluvial-deltaic-paralic-shelf depositional systems tract was interpreted from analyses of stratigraphic and sedimentologic data acquired for each lithostratigraphic unit from well logs and cores. During early Travis Peak development, braided streams deposited channel belt, floodplain, and overbank sediments in most of the study area. Downdip of the braided streams, deltas prograded to the south and southeast over a shallow, stable shelf. As braided streams migrated and enlarged, the site of deltaic deposition advanced southward and expanded to the northeast. Estuaries developed in relatively sediment-starved, embayed portions of the shoreline between centers of deltaic deposition. Seaward of the deltas, shelf sandstones accumulated through sediment-gravity processes triggered by high sediment loads and rapid deposition in the deltas. Shoreline transgression and the development of coastal-plain and paralic environments characterize late Travis Peak evolution. Fluvial systems transported a mud-rich sediment load and assumed a sinuous-braided to meandering form. Channel belts coursed across a coastal plain with expansive floodplains and lakes and fed a few small retrogradational deltas. Estuaries enlarged and became a dominant coastal feature as submergence of the coastal plain progressed. With continued transgression, marine limestone of the Sligo Formation onlapped the Travis Peak.
Stratigraphy and Depsoitional Systems of the Lower Cretaceous Travis Peak Formation East Texas Basin
(1988) Tye, Robert S.
The Travis Peak Formation has been stratigraphically divided into five units through well-log correlations. A depositional system tract characterized by fluvial-deltaic-paralic-shelf environments was interpreted based on analyses of sedimentological and stratigraphic data from each unit, along with well-log and core data. During the early development of the Travis Peak Formation, braided streams deposited sediments such as channelbelt, floodplain, and overbank deposits across most of the study area. Towards the downdip regions of the braided streams, deltas extended southward and southeastward over a shallow and stable shelf. As the braided streams migrated and expanded, the location of deltaic deposition moved southward and expanded northeastward. Estuaries formed in areas between the centers of deltaic deposition where sediment supply was relatively low. Seaward of the deltas, shelf sandstones accumulated due to sediment-gravity processes induced by high sediment loads and rapid deposition in the deltas. The late evolution of the Travis Peak Formation is characterized by shoreline transgression and the development of coastal-plain and paralic environments. Fluvial systems transported a sediment load rich in mud and transitioned from sinuous-braided to meandering forms. Channelbelts traversed a coastal plain with extensive floodplains and lakes, feeding small retrogradational deltas. Estuaries grew larger and became prominent coastal features as the coastal plain continued to submerge. With ongoing transgression, marine limestone of the Sligo Formation overlapped the Travis Peak Formation.