Geopressured-Geothermal Resource Potential of Miocene Bayou Hebert Prospect, Vermilion and Iberia Parishes, Louisiana

Abstract

The Bayou Hebert prospect is a fault bounded block of lower Miocene Shale and sandstone which covers a 75 square mile area in southeastern Vermilion and southwestern Iberia parishes, southwestern Louisiana. The average depth to the top of the geopressured zone is 12,500 ft. Detailed correlation of shale resistivity patterns on well logs from this area has delineated faults, local unconformities, and changes in thickness and facies of lithologic units. Most faults revealed by this method are associated with the bounding fault zones, but the few delineated in the interior of the prospect could reduce the volume of potential reservoir units. Cross sections show that the Lower Miocene section thickens across growth faults by addition of new units as well as by expansion. Of the parameters of reservoir volume, salinity, temperatures and permeability, reservoir volume shows the most significant variation and indicates that the eastern fourth of the prospect has the most geopressured geothermal potential