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FALL 1987 Ulletin No. 45 MILTON A. SURLES

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FALL 1987 Ulletin No. 45 MILTON A. SURLES AYLOR FALL 1987 ulletin No. 45 Stratigraphy ofthe Eagle Ford Group (Upper Cretaceous) and Its Source-Rock Potential in the East Texas Basin MILTON A. SURLES, JR. ~~Creative thinking is more important than elaborate equipment--" FRANK CARNEY, PH.D. PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY BAYLOR GEOLOGICAL STUDIES BAYLOR UNIVERSITY 1929-1934 BULLETIN NO. 45 Objectives of Geological Training at Baylor Stratigraphy of the Eagle Ford Group The training of a geologist in a university covers but a few years; his education continues (Upper Cretaceous) and Its throughout his active life. The purposes of train­ ing geologists at Baylor University are to provide Source-Rock Potential in a sound basis of understanding and to foster a truly geological point of view, both of which are essential for continued the East Texas Basin professional growth. The staff considers geology to be unique among sciences since it is primarily a field science. All geologic research in­ cluding that done in laboratories must be firmly supported by field observations. The student is encouraged to develop an inquiring ob­ jective attitude and to examine critically all geological concepts and principles. The development of a mature and professional attitude toward geology and geological research is a principal concern of the departmen1. Milton A. Surles, Jr. Cover: Limestone beds near the top of the Lake Waco Formation. BAYLOR UNIVERSITY Department of Geology Waco, Texas Spring 1987 THE BAYLOR PRINTING SERVICE WACO, TEXAS , :~.~ j CONTENTS Page Abstract .............................................................. 5 Baylor Geological Studies Introduction•............••...................•........................ 5 Purpose. • . .. 5 EDITORIAL STAFF Location. • . • . • . .. 6 Methods .. • . • . .. 6 Janet L. Burton, Editor Previous Works . • • . • . .. 6 Acknowledgments . •. 7 O. T. Hayward, Ph.D., Advisor. Cartographic Editor general and urban geology and what have you Descriptive Geology . • . • . • . .. 7 Regional Stratigraphy. • . • . .. 7 Joe C. Yelderman, Jr., Ph.D., Associate Editor East Texas. • . • . • . .. 7 hydrogeology Eastern Gulf Coast Basin .................................•...... 7 Southwest Texas, Mexico, and West Texas ......................... 8 Peter M. Allen, Ph.D. Western Interior. • . • . .. 8 urban and environmental geology. hydrology Summary .....•..................................•...•......... 8 Eagle Ford Group ............•..........•...........................9 Harold H. Beaver, Ph.D. Lithology. • . • . .. 9 stratigraphy, petroleum geology Stratigraphic contacts .........................................•. 9 Distribution and thickness ....................................... 9 Rena Bonem, Ph.D. Tarrant Sandy Clay ..•........•................................. II paleontology, paleoecology Lithology ...................................•...............II William Brown, Ph.D. Stratigraphic contacts ...................................•.....II structural tectonics Distribution and thickness .............•.......................II Britton Clay...........................••.......................II Thomas Goforth, Ph.D. Lithology .............................•.....................II geophysics Stratigraphic contacts .•.......................................20 Distribution and thickness •........•...........................20 Robert C. Grayson, Ph.D. Arcadia Park Shale .....•..............................•.....•..20 stratigraphy, conodont biostratigraphy Lithology ......................................•.....•.....•20 and sedimentary petrology , Stratigraphic contacts ........•......•......................•..21 Distribution and thickness ...••.........•......................21 Don M. Greene, Ph.D. physical geography, climatology, Sub-Clarksville Sand ....................•.......................21 earth sciences Lithology ..••.....•.........................................21 Stratigraphic contacts .........................•...............26 Don F. Parker, Ph.D. Distribution and thickness ......••.....•..••...................26 igneous geology, volcanology, Summary .....•.....................••....................•....26 mineralogy, petrology Depositional Model ...........................................•........26 Pre-Eagle Ford Time•...................•......•....................26 STUDENT EDITORIAL STAFF Tarrant Deposition .................................................27 Britton Deposition ....•..............................•..............28 Todd Boring, Cartographer Arcadia Park Deposition .•..••..........•...•.......................30 Sub-Clarksville Deposition ..........................................31 The Baylor Geological Studies Bulletin is published Summary •...........................................•............31 by the Department of Geology at Baylor University. Source-rock Potential of the Eagle Ford Rocks in the East Texas Basin ........31 The Bulletin is specifically dedicated to the dissemination , Petroleum Potential of Eagle Ford Rocks in the East Texas Basin .............37 of geologic knowledge for the benefit of the people of Tarrant Exploration Fairway .......•.....•.....•........•.........•..37 Texas. The publication is designed to present the results Britton Exploration Fairway ........................•............... .43 of both pure and applied research which will ultimately Arcadia Park Exploration Fairway •...............•...................43 be important in the economic and cultural growth of Sub-Clarksville Exploration Fairway ..................................43 the State. ~I, Optimal Eagle Ford Exploration Faifways ..........•...........••.... .43 ISSN 0005-7266 Conclusions .........•..•..........................•...................44 Appendix I ..........................•........................•......•.44 Additional copies of this bulletin can be obtained from Appendix II .......•............................•...•.............•....45 the Department of Geology, Baylor University, Waco, Appendix III ...........•.......................................•......49 Texas 76798. $1.05 postpaid. Appendix IV .......•.....................•......•...................••55 References .•................................................•.....•...56 Index...............................................•.................57 ILLUSTRATIONS Stratigraphy of the Eagle Ford Group Fig. Page 1. Index Map of the East Texas Basin ................................... 6 (Upper Cretaceous) and Its 2. Stratigraphic Column for the Upper Cretaceous Eagle Ford Group and Surrounding Strata ............................. 6 Source-Rock Potential in 3. Stratigraphic Correlation Chart of the Eagle Ford Equivalents in North America ........................................ 8 the East Texas Basin 4. Well 23, Bend Oil Corp. #1 Albowitch ..................................9 , 5. Isopach Map of the Eagle Ford Group ................................. 10 6. North to South Stratigraphic Cross Sections D to D' Through F to F' .................................................... 12 7. West to East Stratigraphic Cross Sections A to A' Through C to C' .................................................... 14 8. Isopach Map of the Tarrant Sandy Clay ............................... 16 Milton A. Surles, Jr. 9. Sand Isolith of the Tarrant. .......................................... 17 10. Isopath Map of the Britton Clay ...................................... 18 II. Sand Isolith of the Britton Clay ....................................... 19 12. Isopach Map of the Arcadia Park Shale ...............................22 13. Sand Isolith of the Arcadia Park Shale ................................23 14. Isopach Map of the Sub-Clarksville Sand ..............................24 IS. Sand Isolith of Sub-Clarksville Rocks .................................25 ABSTRACT 16. Regional Setting of the East Texas Basin During The Eagle Ford Group, of the upper Cretaceous Tarrant Deposition .................................................27 of dark gray, blocky shales, named the South Bosque Gulfian Series, is one of the most stratigraphically Formation. 17. Regional Setting of the East Texas Basin During complex clastic-dominated units in the East Texas basin. Geochemical analysis of Eagle Ford rocks throughout Britton Deposition ..................................................28 At the type locality in Dallas County, Texas, the Eagle the East Texas basin indicates that the Eagle Ford Shales 18. Regional Setting of the East Texas Basin During Ford consists of bluish-black, carbonaceous sediments are organically rich enough to be considered superior Arcadia Park Deposition ............................................29 ) exceeding 400 feet in thickness. In this area, the Eagle source-rocks for some of the petroleum found in Austin, 19. Regional Setting of the East Texas Basin During Ford includes the Tarrant (15 to 20 feet of brownish­ Eagle Ford, Woodbine, and Buda aged reservoirs. Sub-Clarksville Deposition ...........................................30 gray calcareous sandstone), the Britton (250 to 300 feet Within the petroleum generative province of East Texas, 20. Total Organic Carbon Isopleth, Eagle Ford, of interbedded brown calcareous mudstone), and the the Eagle Ford could have generated approximately 400 East Texas Basin ...................................................32 Arcadia Park Formations (100 to 200 feet of dark gray billion barrels of oil. calcareous mudstone). 21. Total Organic Carbon Isopleth, Lower Eagle Ford, Significant petroleum reserves have been produced Eastward into the basin,
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