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Depositional Processes and Environments in Wolfcampian-Leonardian Strata, Southern Midland Basin, Texas

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Depositional Processes and Environments in Wolfcampian-Leonardian Strata, Southern Midland Basin, Texas DEPOSITIONAL PROCESSES AND ENVIRONMENTS IN WOLFCAMPIAN-LEONARDIAN STRATA, SOUTHERN MIDLAND BASIN, TEXAS By ZAKORY DEAN WARD Bachelor of Science in Geology Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2013 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE May, 2017 DEPOSITIONAL PROCESSES AND ENVIRONMENTS IN WOLFCAMPIAN-LEONARDIAN STRATA, SOUTHERN MIDLAND BASIN, TEXAS Thesis Approved: Dr. Jack C. Pashin Thesis Advisor Dr. Jim Puckette Dr. Mary Hileman ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Foremost, I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Jack Pashin, for his guidance, insight, and support throughout the course of this research. Additionally, thank you to my committee members, Dr. Jim Puckette and Dr. Mary Hileman, for their guidance and support over the last few years. I would like to give thanks to my colleagues and the department faculty and staff for making my time at Oklahoma State University a great experience. Special thanks to my family and friends for their continued support throughout my academic career. Finally, I would like to thank EOG Resources for their support. This study would not have been possible without support from EOG Resources, who funded this research and provided the core and associated data. iii Acknowledgements reflect the views of the author and are not endorsed by committee members or Oklahoma State University. Name: ZAKORY DEAN WARD Date of Degree: MAY, 2017 Title of Study: DEPOSITIONAL PROCESSES AND ENVIRONMENTS IN WOLFCAMPIAN-LEONARDIAN STRATA, SOUTHERN MIDLAND BASIN, TEXAS Major Field: GEOLOGY Abstract: The Early Permian (Wolfcampian-Leonardian) Wolfcamp interval of the Permian Basin in West Texas is a mixed siliciclastic-carbonate succession that hosts one of the most important unconventional oil and gas plays in the world. Wolfcamp strata comprise stacked, cyclic gravity flow deposits separated by hemipelagic mudstone and siltstone. Interest in the geologic heterogeneity of these deposits and its effect on well performance has sparked research on the sedimentological, geophysical, and geochemical signatures and their correlation to depositional environments and reservoir properties. This investigation analyzed a stratigraphic test core and associated laboratory data from the Wolfcamp play to help refine interpretations of the late Wolfcampian to early Leonardian succession in the southern Midland Basin. Detailed core descriptions and petrographic analyses were integrated with geochemical data to define facies, evaluate vertical stratigraphic successions, and relate reservoir properties with specific facies and depositional sequences. Interpretation of stratal stacking patterns and gravity flow transport processes were used to determine how vertical variations in rock fabric may be related to base level fluctuations and the morphology of platform margins and slopes. Sequence stratigraphic interpretations were made to help develop a predictive depositional framework. Based on the characteristics and distribution of gravity flow deposits and interbedded hemipelagic sediment, a distal toe-of-slope to basin plain setting is inferred. In these settings, quartz and organic matter accumulated as background sedimentation interrupted by episodic deposition of gravity flows derived from the continental platform. Cyclicity is observed in individual, upward-fining trends of relatively coarse-grained skeletal material overlain by calcareous and/or siliceous mudstone. It is interpreted that the majority of gravity flows occurred during lowstands of relative sea level. Widespread pyrite and phosphatic nodules and TOC content as high as 8% indicates that low oxygen levels prevailed during accumulation of these sediments. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 1 Goals and Objectives .............................................................................. 2 II. GEOLOGIC BACKGROUND ....................................................................... 6 Structure and Tectonics ........................................................................... 6 Regional Stratigraphy and Sedimentation ............................................... 7 III. METHODS ................................................................................................ 11 IV. LITHOFACIES AND DEPOSITIONAL PROCESSES .............................. 14 Lithofacies Analysis ............................................................................... 14 Lithofacies 1. Packstone-Grainstone ................................................ 14 Characteristics ............................................................................ 14 Depositional Processes .............................................................. 18 Lithofacies 2. Floatstone-Rudstone .................................................. 20 Characteristics ............................................................................ 20 Depositional Processes .............................................................. 22 Lithofacies 3. Wackestone-Packstone ............................................. 23 Characteristics ............................................................................ 23 Depositional Processes .............................................................. 27 Lithofacies 4. Silty Sandstone .......................................................... 29 Characteristics ............................................................................ 29 Depositional Processes .............................................................. 31 Lithofacies 5. Muddy Siltstone.......................................................... 32 Characteristics ............................................................................ 32 Depositional Processes .............................................................. 35 Lithofacies 6. Siliceous to Calcareous Mudstone ............................. 37 Characteristics ............................................................................ 37 Depositional Processes .............................................................. 43 v Chapter Page V. DISCUSSION ............................................................................................ 44 Depositional Synthesis .......................................................................... 44 Sequence Stratigraphic Interpretation ................................................... 46 VI. CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................... 52 REFERENCES .............................................................................................. 54 APPENDIX: STRATIGRAPHIC COLUMN ..................................................... 62 vi LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Summary of lithofacies and diagnostic attributes .................................. 15 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Major structural elements of the Permian Basin during Permian time showing location of a regional cross section and the core used in this study ..................................................................................... 3 2. Stratigraphy of the Early Permian in the Midland Basin area and wireline logs for the Mayer 4901 well ....................................................... 4 3. Cross section showing basic lithologic relationships in the Midland Basin ....................................................................................................... 9 4. Stratigraphic column showing lithofacies interpreted from core ............. 16 5. Core photographs of packstone-grainstone ........................................... 17 6. Thin section photomicrograph of packstone-grainstone ........................ 19 7. Core photograph of floatstone-rudstone ................................................ 21 8. Core photographs of floatstone-rudstone .............................................. 22 9. Core photographs of wackestone-packstone ........................................ 25 10. Core photograph of wackestone-packstone .......................................... 26 11. Core photographs of wackestone-packstone ........................................ 27 12. Thin section photomicrograph of wackestone-packstone ...................... 28 13. Core photograph of silty sandstone ....................................................... 30 14. Core photograph of silty sandstone ....................................................... 31 15. Thin section photomicrograph of silty sandstone ................................... 32 16. Core photographs of muddy siltstone .................................................... 34 viii Figure Page 17. Core photographs of muddy siltstone .................................................... 35 18. Thin section photomicrograph of muddy siltstone.................................. 36 19. Core photograph of siliceous mudstone ................................................ 38 20. Core photograph of calcareous mudstone ............................................. 39 21. Core photographs of siliceous and calcareous mudstone ..................... 40 22. Core photographs of siliceous and calcareous mudstone ..................... 41 23. Thin section photomicrographs of siliceous and calcareous mudstone . 42 24. Envisioned depositional model for the Midland Basin during Wolfcampian-Leonardian time ............................................................... 46 25. Sequence stratigraphic interpretation
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