Analysis of Areal Permeability Variations - San Andres Formation (Guadalupian): Algerita Escarpment, Otero County, New Mexico
| dc.contributor.advisor | Lake, Larry W. | |
| dc.creator | Kittridge, Mark Gerard | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2020-05-15T14:39:58Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2020-05-15T14:39:58Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1988-08 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This paper presents the results of an integrated outcrop and subsurface characterization study conducted on the San Andres Formation of the Permian basin. More than 1600 permeability measurements were obtained from an outcrop section located along the Algerita Escarpment in southeastern New Mexico using an experimental mechanical field permeameter (MFP). Subsurface core data (permeability and porosity) were available from ten closely spaced wells in the Wasson field on the adjacent Northwest Shelf of the Permian basin. Standard population statistics, contour plots and vertical profiles, and geostatistical techniques were used in an attempt to characterize the extremely heterogeneous formation. The outcrop permeability data were found to be log-normally to power-normally distributed, with 12 of 16 data sets having a negative p value. Mean permeability and variance was lowest in the fusulinid dolowackestones, while the highest mean was found in the dolopackstones and dolograinstone intervals. Permeability contour maps of the outcrop grid data typically revealed isolated 'pods' of high permeability in a generally low permeability matrix. The vertical transect measured displayed rapidly varying permeability, with values changing over a very short interval. Geostatistical analysis with the variogram predicted three distinct correlation lengths: 40 feet, 3 to 5 feet, and approximtely 0.25 feet, depending on the spacing of the data used. Predicted correlation length decreased with a decrease in sample spacing. The correlation length was found to be invariant with respect to direction, indicating that the formation is isotropic. Subsurface permeability and porosity data were analyzed in a similar manner. The permeability data was found to be log-normally distributed while the porosity data was power normal. The associated variance on the core plug data was much larger than on the whole core data. Vertical permeability and porosity profiles were similar to that observed from the outcrop vertical transect: alternating high and low values occurring over a very short distance. Variograms indicated a correlation length of approximtely 10.0 feet (vertically) for both permeability and porosity. | en_US |
| dc.description.department | Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering | en_US |
| dc.format.medium | electronic | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/2152/81254 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://dx.doi.org/10.26153/tsw/8267 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | en_US |
| dc.relation.ispartof | UT Electronic Theses and Dissertations | en_US |
| dc.rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the Libraries' web site by University Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works. | en_US |
| dc.rights.restriction | Open | en_US |
| dc.subject | Subsurface characterization | en_US |
| dc.subject | Permian | en_US |
| dc.subject | Permeability | en_US |
| dc.subject | Geos | en_US |
| dc.subject | Core data | en_US |
| dc.subject | Variograms | en_US |
| dc.title | Analysis of Areal Permeability Variations - San Andres Formation (Guadalupian): Algerita Escarpment, Otero County, New Mexico | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
| dc.type.genre | Thesis | en_US |
| thesis.degree.department | Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering | en_US |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Petroleum Engineering | en_US |
| thesis.degree.grantor | University of Texas at Austin | en_US |
| thesis.degree.level | Masters | en_US |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Science in Engineering | en_US |