Imaging Technology Offers Enhanced Interpretation of Teapot Dome Reservoirs

By

Mark Milliken

Critique, Inc, Casper, WY

Randy Koepsell

Schlumberger, Englewood, CO

Recently acquired imagery at Teapot Dome field using Schlumberger's Fullbore Formation Microimager technology has led a better understanding of reservoir architecture and production patterns at this 80 year old field. Fracture orientations in the Steele Shale have been the subject of much debate over the decades, given the spotty production character. FMI imagery shows not only the strike and dip of productive fractures, but also fracture apertures, continuity, and density. Offset shale wells can now be planned with far less risk. The orientation of well bore breakouts and drilling induced fractures both suggest a WNW - ESE current day in situ stress orientation. The Tensleep Formation at Teapot Dome has been studied for 50 years. FMI imagery has led to a far greater understanding of the depositional environment and architecture of eolian sands and related interdune deposits. New information includes the role of fractured interdune dolomites in early water breakthrough, rapidly shifting paleo-wind directions and the effect on directional permeability, and high resolution analyses of perforated intervals. The possibility of recompleting old Tensleep wells may become reality with our new understanding of reservoir character provided by FMI imagery.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90004©2002 AAPG Rocky Mountain Section, Laramie, Wyoming