Reservoir characterization of the Upper Cretaceous Woodbine Group in Northeast East Texas Field, Texas

Abstract

East Texas field, a giant U.S. oil-field, produced 5.42 billion stock-tank barrels from discovery in 1930 through mid-2007. The lower part of the siliciclastic Upper Cretaceous Woodbine Group is reservoir rock, and almost all production comes from the upper unit, the operator-termed Main sand. The field could produce 70 million stock-tank barrels (MMSTB) using current strategies, whereas 410 MMSTB of remaining reserves from the Stringer zone (lower unit), along with bypassed pay in both units and unswept oil, is possible. These favorable statistics have increased interest in reservoir characterization of the Woodbine, especially the Stringer zone. This study delineates sandstone geometry and interprets reservoir facies and heterogeneity of the Stringer zone and Main sand in northeast East Texas field. Additional objectives are to define key chronostratigraphic surfaces, such as flooding surfaces and unconformities, and to establish a realistic depositional model for the reservoir succession. To achieve these objectives, well log analysis, core description, and net-sandstone mapping of the Stringer zone and Main sand were conducted. According to sequence-stratigraphic and depositional-system analysis, the Woodbine Group is divided into two genetically unrelated units: (1) the highstand deltaic Stringer zone and (2) the lowstand incised-valley-fill Main sand. Principal reservoir units are Stringer 1 and Stringer 2 sands within the Stringer zone and the Main sand. Stringer 2, best developed in the southwest study area, is the most promising reservoir unit for new production. Well deepening and water-flooding in this more continuous and thicker sand are proposed to increase production in East Texas field.