Abstract
Heterogeneities in clastic reservoirs are a major concern during the design of enhanced recovery projects. Quantitative information about heterogeneities is sparse, and most projects assume the existence of tabular flow units with properties described by arbitrary statistical distributions. Of particular concern are channelized deposits (fluvial, deltaic, tidal, canyon, submarine fan), which are characterized by complex three-dimensional heterogeneities of at least eight scales. Studies of Jurassic-Cretaceous fluvial deposits in the Colorado Plateau area indicate six types of heterogeneity on the scale of the core to the total field: (1) individual lithofacies units, (2) lithofacies cosets, (3) growth increments of compound bars (e.g., point bars and sand flats), (4) the complete compound bar (macroforms), (5) channels, and (6) channel belts and paleovalleys (stratigraphically mappable members or submembers). Each scale may be identified in the field by bounding surfaces enclosing individual depositional units and is characterized by a distinctive control on direction permeability. At scales 3-5, lithofacies assemblages and the nature and geometry of bounding surfaces permit the three-dimensional classification of heterogeneous beds into suites of characteristic architectural elements. Eight distinctive fluvial elements have been defined.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
