Regional Geological Study of the Lower Cretaceous Pettet, James, and Rodessa Facies in the South Arkansas – North Louisiana Area
The south Arkansas-north Louisiana (Arkla) area has long been the site of active exploration for structural and structural-stratigraphic traps. As most known structures have been extensively drilled, the focus is now centered on oil and gas to be found in subtle, stratigraphically controlled traps in the Pettet, James, and Rodessa formations. Study members are provided with the only available exploration and producing oriented study of the Arkla area that; provides a practical database which can be utilized for local prospect generation and regional trend evaluation, relates lithofacies and diagenesis to reservoir development, developed the depositional models needed to discover and evaluate similar stratigraphic and structural-stratigraphic traps, and assesses completion and production techniques for these Lower Cretaceous carbonates and sandstones.
The analytical techniques utilized to characterize and evaluate nineteen (19) conventionally cored wells in the Pettet, James, and Rodessa consisted of a detailed conventional core description with continuous core color photography and extensive thin section petrology (including “whole” thin section photomicroscopy). Scanning electron microscopy (including pore cast analysis), with mercury injection capillary pressure, and X-ray diffraction performed on selected representative reservoir rock types from the study wells. Porosity, air permeability, and grain density were measured for all core plugs geologically analyzed.
Results from these detailed geological and petrophysical characterizations were correlated to logs in the cored wells. Numerous other wells were integrated into the study using existing logs and this information was then used as an aid to correlate between cored and uncored wells. Facies and isopach maps, cross sections and depositional models were constructed and formulated by utilizing the core-to-log and log-to-log correlations. The study contains individual well reports and a final report which synthesizes the data in terms of the geological and petrophysical implications for reservoir quality trends in the study area.
- Nineteen (19) Conventionally cored wells
- Well logs from non-cored surrounding wells
- Pettet, James and Rodessa Formations