Surface to Subsurface Correlation of the Shublik Formation: Implications for Triassic Paleoceanography and Source Rock Accumulation
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Surface to subsurface correlation of the Shublik Formation: implications for Triassic paleoceanography and source rock accumulation Item Type Thesis Authors Hutton, Eric M. Download date 07/10/2021 01:04:46 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/11122/4565 SURFACE TO SUBSURFACE CORRELATION OF THE SHUBLIK FORMATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR TRIASSIC PALEOCEANOGRAPHY AND SOURCE ROCK ACCUMULATION By Elie M. Hutton RECOMMENDED: ~ Dr. Michael Whalen, Advisory Committee Chair ~Department of Geology and Geophysics APPROVED: Date SURFACE TO SUBSURFACE CORRELATION OF THE SHUBLIK FORMATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR TRIASSIC PALEOCEANOGRAPHY AND SOURCE ROCK ACCUMULATION A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE By Eric M. Hutton, B.S. Fairbanks, Alaska May 2014 v ABSTRACT The Middle to Late Triassic Shublik Formation in northern Alaska is the dominant source rock for Prudhoe Bay, the largest conventional hydrocarbon accumulation in North America, and is being studied as an unconventional reservoir because of recent shale oil exploitation in North America. This heterogeneous shale unit in the subsurface of northern Alaska provides insight on the evolution of upwelling systems during relative sea level change over geologic time. The accumulation, dilution, and more importantly preservation of organic matter are linked to relative changes in sea level, shelf bathymetry and paleoredox conditions. Multiple well correlations and isochore maps indicate thickness trends were influenced by topographical features and relative sea level during the Middle–Upper Triassic in northern Alaska. Sedimentary features, primary production, Corg preservation and oxygen concentrations were controlled by the upwelling-influenced position of the oxygen minimum zone during fluctuations in relative sea level. The Shublik Formation is a world class resource play with Corg concentrations up to 10 wt. % within the predominantly carbonate mudstone to wackestone transgressive systems tracts. Previous sequence stratigraphic interpretations of Middle–Upper Triassic deposits in northern Alaska indicate three, 3rd order depositional sequences. Evaluation of the closely spaced samples and general trends in lithology has led to a revised sequence stratigraphic architecture that includes an additional fourth depositional sequence in comparison to previous interpretations. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Signature Page ..................................................................................................................... i Title Page ........................................................................................................................... iii Abstract ............................................................................................................................... v Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. vii List of Figures .................................................................................................................... xi Appendices ....................................................................................................................... xiv Supplemental File ............................................................................................................ xiv Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... xv CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 2: GEOLOGIC SETTING AND BACKGROUND ........................................ 5 2.1 Geologic Setting.......................................................................... ..................... 5 2.2 Sequence Stratigraphy ...................................................................................... 9 2.2.1 Middle-Upper Triassic Sequence Stratigraphy ................................ 10 2.2.2 Current Sequence Stratigraphic Architecture .................................. 15 2.3 Chemostratigraphy Background ..................................................................... 24 viii Page 2.4 Phosphatic Sediment Overview ...............................................27 CHAPTER 3: METHODS ................................................................................................ 31 3.1 Outcrop Investigation...................................................................................... 31 3.2 Petrography………..…………………………………………………....……32 3.3 Geochemical Analysis.………………….…………………………….……..32 3.4 Petrophysical Correlation………………………………….………….……...33 CHAPTER 4: OBSERVATIONS AND DATA ............................................................... 37 4.1 Fire Creek Outcrop Observations ................................................................... 37 4.2 Microfacies ..................................................................................................... 40 4.2.1 Phosphatic Bioclastic Organic Mudstone ........................................ 41 4.2.2 Phosphatic Argillaceous Nodular Wackestone ................................ 41 4.2.3 Phosphatic Peloidal Bioclastic Packstone ........................................ 44 4.2.4 Phosphatic Bioclastic Packstone ...................................................... 45 CHAPTER 5: INTERPRETATION ................................................................................. 47 5.1 Revised Sequence Stratigraphy....................................................................... 47 5.2 Geochemical Proxy Trends ......................................................... ................... 62 ix Page 5.3 Microfacies Implications ............................................................ ................... 72 CHAPTER 6: DISCUSSION ............................................................................................ 75 6.1 Triassic Paleocenography ........................................................... ................... 75 6.2 Unconventional Petroleum Source Rock Implications ................................... 79 CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................... 83 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 91 xi LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) image of northern Alaska ................................ 2 Figure 2. Generalized cross section of northern Alaska ..................................................... 6 Figure 3. Simplified stratigraphy of northern Alaska ......................................................... 8 Figure 4. Sea level curves for the Triassic ........................................................................ 13 Figure 5. Outcrop photograph of HST of SQ1 ................................................................. 17 Figure 6. Outcrop photograph of TST of SQ2 .................................................................. 19 Figure 7. Outcrop photograph of coarse grained carbonates within SQ2 ........................ 21 Figure 8. Outcrop photo of upper SQ2 ............................................................................. 22 Figure 9. Outcrop photograph of upper SQ3 .................................................................... 23 Figure 10. Schematic reconstruction of the continental shelf and vertical circulation perpendicular to the shoreline ........................................................................................... 25 Figure 11. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) image of northern Alaska ............................ 35 Figure 12. Lithostratigraphic diagram of the Triassic Shublik Fm ................................... 38 Figure 13. Thin section photograph of the Phosphatic Bioclastic Organic Mudstone microfacies ........................................................................................................................ 42 xii Page Figure 14. Thin section photograph of the Phosphatic Argillaceous Nodular Wackestone facies ................................................................................................................................. 43 Figure 15. Thin section photograph of the Phosphatic Peloidal Bioclastic Packstone microfacies ........................................................................................................................ 45 Figure 16. Thin section photograph of the Phosphatic Bioclastic Packstone microfacies 46 Figure 17. Revised lithostratigraphic diagram of the Triassic Shublik Fm. exposed at Fire Creek, northeastern Alaska ............................................................................................... 48 Figure 18. Isochore map using well penetrations in northern Alaska of SQ1 .................. 49 Figure 19. Isochore map using well penetrations in northern Alaska of SQ2 .................. 52 Figure 20. Outcrop to subsurface correlation from the east to west ................................. 54 Figure 21. Outcrop photograph of upper Shublik Fm. and Karen Creek Sandstone ........ 55 Figure 22. Isochore map using well penetrations in northern Alaska of SQ3 .................. 55 Figure 23. Outcrop to subsurface correlation from the east to west ................................. 56 Figure 24. North to south well correlation from the Phoenix #1 to the Bush Federal #1 subsurface penetrations ....................................................................................................