Three-dimensional seismic fluvial architecture of the basal middle Frio formation, Stratton and Agua Dulce fields, south Texas

Facies architectural models are developed for the Oligocene basal middle Frio meandering fluvial system at Stratton and Agua Dulce fields in south Texas. These models are based on detailed mapping and are important to understand reservoir heterogeneities. The basal middle Frio is characterized in terms of a hierarchy of architectural elements at different heterogeneity levels. In order from small-scale to large-scale, these are facies, channel-belt, systems tract, and depositional sequence.; A structural architecture model integrating well logs and 3-D seismic data is developed for the basal middle Frio. It indicates that growth faults are syndepositional and cut through the basal middle Frio Formation and younger sediments in the Stratton-Agua Dulce area. These affect the architecture of the sandstone bodies stacked in that interval.; The dimensions, directions, and spatial locations of the basal middle Frio facies architectural elements are predicted from log facies maps and confirmed from seismic amplitude maps. RMS amplitude was related to rock properties and can be used to predict, among other things, facies type and net sand thickness.; Seismic sequence stratigraphic models constructed for the basal middle Frio non-marine fluvial strata predict the location of new reservoirs that offer potential reserve growth in the Stratton-Agua Dulce field area. Observations from well logs and 3-D seismic data suggest that accommodation changes and nodal avulsions are possible factors controlling the basal middle Frio fluvial architecture.; A 2-D facies architectural model is developed which describes the changes in the stacking patterns of the basal middle Frio sandstone deposits. Changes in the stacking patterns are a reflection of changes in accommodation space, avulsion frequency and sediment accumulation rate.; The integrated 3-D fluvial facies architecture model of the basal middle Frio indicates that growth faults controlled the stacking patterns of the basal middle Frio sandstone reservoirs. Results of this study are significant in exploring for and developing similar meandering fluvial reservoirs affected by growth faulting in the Texas Gulf Coast and in similar geological settings worldwide.