Drill-Cuttings–Based Reservoir Characterization: A Vaca Muerta Case Study

🎙 Drill-Cuttings–Based Reservoir Characterization: A Vaca Muerta Case Study

This study focuses on improving reservoir characterization in the Vaca Muerta Formation of the Neuquén Basin, Argentina—one of the world’s most prolific unconventional shale systems. Drill cuttings from two horizontal wells targeting the Orgánico Inferior and Cocina members were analyzed using a standardized, rapid workflow integrating high-resolution imaging and geochemical techniques.

The Vaca Muerta Formation exhibits significant vertical and lateral heterogeneity driven by variations in depositional facies, mineralogy, and geochemical conditions. Through detailed analysis of drill cuttings, the study identified 22 distinct lithotypes, which were grouped into lithofacies associations and lateral sedimentary packages. These results highlight meaningful differences between and within the Orgánico Inferior and Cocina members.

Imaging and geochemical data enabled the recognition of calcareous, heterolithic, and tuffaceous intervals, as well as variability in clay speciation, silica content, and redox indicators. Volcanic tuff layers were identified and shown to influence drilling performance and well trajectory deviations, providing insight relevant to geosteering and well planning.

Overall, this cuttings-based approach offers a cost-effective, consistent, and quantitative method for reservoir characterization. The workflow improves understanding of depositional architecture, supports better target zone definition, and contributes to refining static reservoir models as additional wells and data become available.

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Host or Publisher The Permian Basin Chapter of the Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts (SPWLA)