Reservoir and Production Characteristics of the Clinton Sand, East Canton Oilfield

Abstract

Abstract Geophysical well logs, petrographic thin section core analyses, and production- and pressure-decline curve analyses were used to pressure-decline curve analyses were used to characterize the geology and to estimate the reserves, recovery, and well life of the East Canton oilfield, northeastern Ohio. Clean sand sections of the Clinton were found to contain an average of 95 percent quartz and less than 4 percent clay. These sections correlated with the 80-percent-sand line determined by gamma ray logs and with core permeabilities averaging more than 0.1 permeabilities averaging more than 0.1 millidarcy. Production was found to be more closely related to thickness of 80 percent sand than any other reservoir characteristic. Economic life and output of the wells studied are predicted to be approximately 10 years and about 30,000 to 40,000 barrels per well. A primary recovery factor of 9 to 12 percent is indicated. Primary reserves of the 60,000-acre field are a minimum of 51 million barrels. Approximately 500 additional wells will have to be drilled to complete development of the field. With such a low primary oil-recovery factor, much oil will remain for secondary recovery possibilities. Introduction The East Canton oilfield is one of the largest in the Appalachian Basin (Fig. 1) and contains important primary and secondary oil reserves. The reservoir has low porosity and permeability, and hydraulic fracturing is permeability, and hydraulic fracturing is needed to stimulate wells to economic production. More than 60,000 acres of proved production. More than 60,000 acres of proved production are available with more than 1,000 production are available with more than 1,000 wells, and there are infill locations for at least 500 more. Over 14 million barrels of oil have been extracted from the field, and current production is 10,000 to 11,000 barrels per day. The Bureau of Mines undertook these per day. The Bureau of Mines undertook these studies to obtain information for possible secondary recovery considerations in this field. Reservoir and production characteristics of this field have never been clearly understood, however, and such information is essential to productivity predictions and maximum recovery. productivity predictions and maximum recovery. Geological and reservoir studies were made in an effort to obtain this information. Techniques and methods utilized included pressure buildup tests, PVT bottom-hole sample test, production decline and pressure decline production decline and pressure decline analyses, and correlation of geophysical well log data with oil production data from over 100 wells.