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Abstract Sequence Stratigraphic Framework for the Upper Devonian Lower Huron Shale Member of the Ohio Shale, North-Central Appa

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Abstract Sequence Stratigraphic Framework for the Upper Devonian Lower Huron Shale Member of the Ohio Shale, North-Central Appa ABSTRACT SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE UPPER DEVONIAN LOWER HURON SHALE MEMBER OF THE OHIO SHALE, NORTH-CENTRAL APPALACHIAN BASIN by Patrick James Cullen Evaluation of the Upper Devonian (Famennian Stage) lower Huron Member in the north-central Appalachian Basin has revealed 4th-order cyclicity that can be correlated in subsurface geophysical well logs across Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania. Correlations consist of 21 parasequence-set cycles bounded by sequence boundaries, identified by low gamma ray log values. Trends in lithofacies, color, and total organic carbon identified from a core support sequence stratigraphic interpretation from geophysical well logs. Sequence trends show that the lower Huron Member can be divided into three separate sequence sets corresponding to different stages of basin development throughout the Late Devonian. Sequence sets include an initial transgressive stage exhibiting increases in stratigraphically condensed intervals to an overall regressive stage with increased erosional truncation of older sequences. Further, geochemical analysis using total organic carbon, Rock-Eval pyrolysis, vitrinite reflectance, and gas chromatography data from the lower Huron Member show that hydrocarbon generation likely occurred in eastern Ohio, northeastern Kentucky, and western West Virginia. Study results increase the area of lower Huron Member hydrocarbon generative potential relative to previous studies. SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE UPPER DEVONIAN LOWER HURON SHALE MEMBER OF THE OHIO SHALE, NORTH-CENTRAL APPALACHIAN BASIN A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Miami University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science by Patrick James Cullen Miami University Oxford, Ohio 2018 Advisor: Dr. Brian Currie Reader: Dr. Michael Brudzinski Reader: Dr. Mark Krekeler ©2018 Patrick James Cullen This Thesis titled SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE UPPER DEVONIAN LOWER HURON SHALE MEMBER OF THE OHIO SHALE, NORTH-CENTRAL APPALACHIAN BASIN by Patrick James Cullen has been approved for publication by The College of Arts and Science and Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science ______________________________________________________ Dr. Brian Currie (Thesis Advisor) ______________________________________________________ Dr. Michael Brudzinski (Committee Member) ______________________________________________________ Dr. Mark Krekeler (Committee Member) Table of Contents List of Tables……...……………………………………………………………….……………v List of Figures..…………...………………….……………………………………….………..vi Acknowledgements..………………………...……………………………………….………..vii 1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………..1 1.1 Tectonic Setting………………………………………………………………………..2 1.2 Stratigraphy and Age………………………………………………………………..…4 1.3 Depositional Framework………………………………………………………………6 2. Previous Sequence Stratigraphic Interpretations………..…………..…………………………..8 3. Sequence Stratigraphy of the Lower Huron Member………………………………...………...10 3.1 Well Log Evaluation and Subsurface Mapping………………………………………10 3.2 Identification and Sequence Stratigraphic Interpretations of Depositional Cyclicity...12 3.3 Core Analysis………………………………………………………………………...12 4. Sedimentological Observations and Facies Division…………………………………………..14 4.1 Facies Assemblage A (FA-A)……………………………..………………………….16 4.2 Facies Assemblage B (FA-B)…………...……………………………………………18 4.3 Facies Assemblage C (FA-C)…………………………...…………………...……….20 4.4 Facies Assemblage D (FA-D)……………...………..………………………………..22 4.5 Facies Assemblages and Paleoenvironmental Interpretations………………………..24 5. Regional Well Log Correlations...……………………………………………………………..26 5.1 Sequence Set identification…………………………………………………………..27 5.2 Significance for Understanding Basin Architecture………………………………….32 6. Source Rock Characterization…………………………………………………………………34 6.1 Geochemical Database Compilation…………………………………………………35 6.2 Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Analysis………………………………………………35 6.3 Rock-Eval Pyrolysis Analysis………………………………………………………..36 6.4 Thermal Maturity Analysis…………………………………………………………...36 7. Hydrocarbon Potential of the Lower Huron Member………………………………………….38 7.1 Total Organic Carbon………………………………………………………………...38 7.2 Kerogen Analysis…………………………………………………………………….40 7.3 Thermal Maturity…………………………………………………………………….42 iii 7.4 Tmax and Thermal Maturity Patterns………………………………………………...45 7.5 Hydrocarbon Implications……………………………………………………………48 8. Conclusions………………………………………...………………………………………….54 9. References……………………………………………………………………………………..56 10. Appendix……………………………………………………………………………………..66 iv List of Tables Table 1: Compiled Gas Analysis for Lower Huron Core……………………...……...…..………49 Table S1: Sequence Boundary and Lower Huron Member Top Data………………...…..………66 Table S2: Thin Section Depth for Shockling #1 Well………………………………...…..………67 v List of Figures Figure 1: Map of Study Area In the Central Appalachian Basin………………...…..………….…3 Figure 2: Generalized Stratigraphic Column………………………………………....……..……..5 Figure 3: Paleogeographic Map………………………………….…………….. …….....…….......7 Figure 4: Sea-Level Curve Compared to Gamma Ray Log…………………….. …….....…….....9 Figure 5: Map Showing Distribution of Well Log Data………………………………..…..……..11 Figure 6: Correlation Technique Example……………………….………………………..……..13 Figure 7: Whole Core Diagram Showing Lithological Variation……………………….………..15 Figure 8: Facies Assemblage A (FA-A) Characterization……………………………...…...……17 Figure 9: Facies Assemblage B (FA-B) Characterization……………………………………...…19 Figure 10: Facies Assemblage C (FA-C) Characterization………………………………....……21 Figure 11: Facies Assemblage D (FA-D) Characterization………………………………....……23 Figure 12: Sequence Stratigraphic Annotated Core Diagram…………………………..…..……25 Figure 13: West to East Cross-Section Along Dip……………………………………..…….…..28 Figure 14: South to North Cross-Section Along Strike…...……………………………….……..29 Figure 15: Isochore Map of the Lower Huron Member…..………………………………………30 Figure 16: Subsea Structure Map of the Lower Huron Member………..……………..…………31 Figure 17: Isochore Mapping of Sequence Sets…………………..……………….......…….……33 Figure 18: Map Showing Distribution of Geochemical Data……………………………………..37 Figure 19: Average and Max Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Maps…………………………..…...39 Figure 20: Pseudo Van Krevelen Diagram and S2 vs. TOC Diagram……………………….…..41 Figure 21: Map of Average Vitrinite Reflectance (Ro)…………………………..……..………...44 Figure 22: HI vs. Tmax Diagram………………………..……………………………….…...…..46 Figure 23: Tmax Thermal Maturity Map…...……………………..………………….………..…47 Figure 24: Measured Ro vs. Calculated Ro………………………..…………………………..…51 Figure 25: δ13C and Gas Wetness Analysis………………………..…………………………..…52 Figure 26: Current Hydrocarbon Production..……………………..…………………………..…53 vi Acknowledgements I would like to thank the Ohio Geological Survey and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, specifically Jeffrey Deisher, Christopher Waid, Mike Angle, and Mohammad Fakhari, for supplying core, cutting samples, and well logs in Ohio. I would also like to thank John Curtis and Stephen Brown at GeoMark Research, Ltd for access to their extensive database and for analyzing the additional samples that were utilized in this study. Funding was provided by the American Association of Petroleum Geologist Eastern Section Named Grant and the Miami University Petroleum Geology Research Fund. The use of GeoGraphix Discovery Suite software was made possible through a grant from LMKR, Ltd. I would also like to acknowledge my advisor Brian Currie for agreeing to work with me and providing me with everything I needed to progress my understanding in the field of Geology. Thank you to my thesis committee Mike Brudzinski and Mark Krekeler, and my fellow graduate students at Miami University, specifically my lab group Shannon Fasola, Marysia Kozlowska, Sara Smith, Jared Wink, and Sutton Chiorini. Finally, thank you to my wife and family for supporting me when I left a job and paused our life to pursue a master’s degree. vii 1. Introduction The Upper Devonian (Famennian) Huron Member of the Ohio Shale interval is an organic- rich, mudstone-dominated marine stratigraphic unit deposited in distal portions of the north-central Appalachian Basin. While knowledge pertaining to the regional stratigraphy of the Huron Member was developed during the late 1970’s-early 1980’s (e.g. Schwietering, 1979; Broadhead et al., 1982), detailed regional correlation of the unit with proximal shallow marine/non-marine stratigraphic equivalents in eastern parts of the basin has remained allusive due to limited lithological variability in the medial portions of the basin in eastern Ohio, and western West Virginia. In these areas, thick (>600 ft) siltstone/mudstone-dominated intervals display a monotonous geophysical log signature that is difficult to correlate with more cyclic signatures contained in more organic-rich mudstone deposits in Ohio and Kentucky, and sandstone-bearing intervals in eastern West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, and western New York (Filer 1994, 2002). Further, high rates of sediment influx in proximal facies masks the typical Huron Member black shale deposition (Woodrow et al., 1988) hampering correlatability. This lack of proven time- stratigraphic equivalency has hampered comprehensive studies on the overall stratigraphic evolution of the Huron Member and it regional stratigraphic equivalents in the north-central portion of the Appalachian Basin. In addition to the potential paleogeographic and tectonic implications more detailed stratigraphic resolution on this stratigraphic interval
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