Petrology and reservoir potential of Tertiary and Mesozoic sandstones, Cook Inlet, Alaska: A preliminary analysis of outcrop samples collected during 2007-2010 field seasons
Dates
Publication Date
2013
Start Date
2007
End Date
2010
File Modification Date
2014-07-02 16:45:00
Citation
Helmold, K.P., LePain, D.L., Wilson, M.D., and Peterson, C.S., 2013, Petrology and reservoir potential of Tertiary and Mesozoic sandstones, Cook Inlet, Alaska: A preliminary analysis of outcrop samples collected during 2007-2010 field seasons: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, http://dx.doi.org/10.14509/25035.
Summary
The State of Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (DGGS) and Division of Oil & Gas (DOG) are currently engaged in a multi-year study of the hydrocarbon potential of the Tertiary and Mesozoic strata in Cook Inlet basin. Modal analyses and routine core analyses were performed on Tertiary and Mesozoic siltstones and sandstones collected during the 2007-2010 field seasons from six geographic areas in upper and lower Cook Inlet. The reservoir quality of Cook Inlet sandstones varies widely depending on their mineralogy, geologic age, burial depth, and depositional environment. Tuxedni and Naknek sandstones have poor reservoir quality and are likely to be of equally poor quality down dip. West Foreland sandstones examined have [...]
Summary
The State of Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (DGGS) and Division of Oil & Gas (DOG) are currently engaged in a multi-year study of the hydrocarbon potential of the Tertiary and Mesozoic strata in Cook Inlet basin. Modal analyses and routine core analyses were performed on Tertiary and Mesozoic siltstones and sandstones collected during the 2007-2010 field seasons from six geographic areas in upper and lower Cook Inlet. The reservoir quality of Cook Inlet sandstones varies widely depending on their mineralogy, geologic age, burial depth, and depositional environment. Tuxedni and Naknek sandstones have poor reservoir quality and are likely to be of equally poor quality down dip. West Foreland sandstones examined have poor reservoir quality and are negatively influenced by their immature volcanic mineralogy. The Hemlock and Tyonek sandstones have good to excellent reservoir quality, largely resulting from their quartzose-feldspathic mineralogy that is physically and chemically stable and burial depths generally less than 3,000 m. It should be emphasized that our observations are based on a limited number of outcrop samples collected from widely dispersed localities.
The State of Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (DGGS) and Division of Oil & Gas (DOG) are currently engaged in a multi-year study of the hydrocarbon potential of the Tertiary and Mesozoic strata in Cook Inlet basin. This report presents petrographic and routine core-analysis data and provides preliminary interpretations of rock samples. The samples were collected from Tertiary sections on the Kenai Peninsula from Homer northward to Clam Gulch, Tertiary sections on the west side of Cook Inlet from Lewis River westward to Straight Creek, and sections of Mesozoic strata in lower Cook Inlet along the shores of Tuxedni Bay and the Iniskin Peninsula.
