EVIDENCE FOR CLUSTERING OF DELTA-LOBE RESERVOIRS WITHIN FLUVIO-LACUSTRINE SYSTEMS, JURASSIC KAYENTA FORMATION, UTAH by Galen Alden Huling Bachelor of Science, 2012 Brigham Young University Provo, Utah Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the School of Science and Engineering Texas Christian University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geology December 2014 Copyright © by Galen Alden Huling 2014 All Rights Reserved Acknowledgements I would like to thank first and foremost my wife for standing by me and supporting me through this entire process. For all of her long days and nights with our two boys while I worked to finish. Also to John Holbrook, who patiently guided me through the process and took time from his busy schedule to mentor. I would also like to thank all other friends and family who supported me and my wife throughout my undergraduate and postgraduate work to get me to this point. ii Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ ii LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ vii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................1 Fluvio-Lacustrine .........................................................................................2 Clustering .....................................................................................................6 Autogenic Processes ....................................................................................8 Field Area...................................................................................................11 2. METHODS ........................................................................................................14 Statistics .....................................................................................................16 3. Results ................................................................................................................20 Field Data ...................................................................................................20 Lithofacies Descriptions ............................................................................21 7Architecture Analysis...............................................................................27 Statistical Findings .....................................................................................33 4. Discussion ..........................................................................................................40 iii Fluvio-Deltaic deposition processes for the Kayenta Formation .....................................................................................40 Stages of Development ..............................................................................45 Clustering and Connectivity ......................................................................49 Industry Applications .................................................................................53 5. Conclusion .........................................................................................................55 References ..............................................................................................................57 Vita Abstract iv List of Figures Figure 1.1 Hay-Zama Lake system ...............................................................................2 1.2A Grijalva River flood plain ............................................................................3 1.2B Grijalva River flood plain lake zoomed in ...................................................4 1.3 Model of Jet Theory .....................................................................................5 1.4 Ternary diagram of energy regimes within delta systems ...........................6 1.5 Compensational stacking .............................................................................7 1.6 Alluvial stratigraphy models ........................................................................8 1.7 Location of field area: Warner Valley, Utah .............................................12 1.8A Paleogeography of western North America during the Late Triassic ........13 1.8B Stratigraphic section of Warner Valley, Utah ............................................13 2.1 Hierarchies of architecture units ................................................................15 2.2 Mapped sand bodies and centroids from Hajek .........................................17 2.3 Example of various spatial distributions of point processes ......................19 3.1 Photo of close up of wavy and ripple laminated sandstone .......................23 3.2 Photo of outcrop showing the transition from lake sediments to other phacies ..........................................................................................26 3.3 Example of distal fluvial, open lake, limestone, and ripple laminated deposits ......................................................................................................27 3.4 Architecture diagram of bar elements ........................................................29 v 3.5 Architectural diagram of proximal channel elements ................................30 3.6 Stacked and interfingering channels and wings .........................................32 3.7A Photo panorama of East Section ................................................................35 3.7B East Section with channel bodies mapped .................................................35 3.7C Center points of mapped channels from B .................................................35 3.7D Plot of points from C in xy coordinate system ..........................................35 3.8A-F Plots from centroids for East, Middle, and West sections ................... 36-37 3.9 X-Y plot of channel deposits .....................................................................38 4.1 Non-bifurcating single channel deltas in Texas reservoirs ........................40 4.2 Flame experiment showing levee progradation and wing formation .........42 4.3 Stages of development in fluvio-lacustrine systems ..................................45 4.4 Map of Lake Zama and cross-section models showing various channel sizes ..............................................................................................46 4.5 3D block diagrams of what an active aggrading fluvio-lacustrine system might look like ...............................................................................47 4.6 Reservoir connectivity ...............................................................................50 vi List of Tables Table 3.1 Lithofacies descriptions .............................................................................20 3.2 Dimensions of different channel sizes .......................................................34 vii CHAPTER 1 Introduction The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate reservoir genesis and attributes and to analyze the clustering relationships of channels within fluvio-lacustrine environments. The study will determine if the clustering concept extends into this lesser- understood environmental setting. Many outcrop and subsurface studies in the past have shown that non-marine fluvial strata tend to organize into non-random lateral and vertical succession (Allen, 1978; Shanley and McCabe, 1994; Mclaurin and Steel, 2000; Holbrook, 2001; Hajek, 2010; Hofmann, 2011). The two primary forms of non-random organization are clustering and compensational stacking (Hofmann, 2011). Recognition of clustering within the Kayenta Formation would expand the concept of clustering from strictly fluvial to fluvio-lacustrine systems. Clustering of fluvio-lacustrine deltas, just as in channel belts, is significant in predictive reservoir models in that it impacts connectivity and localization of delta-lobe reservoirs. 1 Fluvio-Lacustrine For the purposes of this study fluvio-lacustrine systems are defined as shallow standing bodies of water with low wave and tide influence, are non-marine, and are dominated by fluvial channels penetrating the length of the system. These lakes may be perennial or seasonal, and occur in arid or humid climates. A modern example of a fluvio-lacustrine system is the Hay-Zama Lake system, Alberta, Canada (Figure 1). This is a group of large shallow fresh-water lakes with gently dipping margins. During periods when lake levels are high, which varies seasonally, the margins of the lake stretch out over much larger areas, forming an ephemeral lake region (Wright, 2005). During low lake levels, much of this area is characterized by marshes and poorly drained grassy flood plain areas. Hay-Zama Lake host a notable hierarchy of active and inactive channels including: the main trunk, medium sized distributive channels, and small distal distributive channels (Figure 1.1). There are no major delta forms such as bifurcations, Figure 1.1 Hay-Zama Lake system, Alberta, Canada. There are three shades of blue, dark blue, blue, and light blue representing active channels, permanent lake, and ephemeral lake respectively. The white areas surrounding the active channels and extending out into the ephemeral lake are levies and channel deposits (Wright, 2005). 2 or bird foots and the primary distributive process appears to be channel