Proprietary Research Proposal, Bhattacharya, 2008

Transcription

1 Research Prospectus: Quantitative Sedimentology Research Consortium Dr. Janok P. Bhattacharya Robert E. Sheriff Professor of Sequence Stratigraphy Geosciences Department SR1 Rm 312, University of Houston 4800 Calhoun Rd., Houston, Texas Wk: (713) Introduction The quantitative sedimentology research program at the University of Houston is focused on investigating the sequence stratigraphy and 3D facies architecture of shallow marine, paralic, and fluvial depositional systems. Although much industry exploration effort is currently focused on deepwater depositional systems, about 50% of global oil production is currently from shallow marine, paralic and fluvial strata. Despite the continued importance of these reservoir types, ours is one of the only research programs devoted to this important area. I am also investigating the interrelationships between structure and stratigraphy as a paired process. Specific projects are aimed at examining the effects of meso-scale tectonic structure on high-frequency sequence stratigraphic architecture in foreland basins and the relationship between sedimentation processes and formation of growth faults associated with deltaic depositional systems. This memo lists the results of our ongoing research program as well as listing some of the projects that we would like to complete using additional consortium funds. Consortium members are also free to suggest possible additional research topics and we encourage collaboration, especially in applying our analog studies to actual subsurface reservoirs. Through your sponsorship of our research programs, we will be in a position to continue to provide you with a new generation of keen and well-trained integrative petroleum geoscientists, who will be required to satisfy your future hiring needs. General research interests My general research areas include: Clastic facies models with an emphasis on 3D facies architecture. Sequence stratigraphy of shallow marine to non-marine systems. The effects of structure and tectonics on facies architecture and stratigraphy. Depositional processes and formation of growth faults in deltas. Quantitative description and modeling of modern and ancient deltas Seismic Geomorphology of shelf margin deltas. Origin of shelf mud belts. 1

2 Previous consortium studies have been directly applicable to reservoir characterization and fluid-flow modeling of shallow-marine and fluvial-deltaic depositional systems. The work on structural control on facies distribution has value in predicting reservoir distribution as a consequence of underlying or synsedimentary tectonics and structure. The growth fault work has been used to address reservoir compartmentalization in analog reservoirs. Specific Projects: 1. Sequence stratigraphy across the marine to non-marine transition of the Cretaceous Notom Delta complex, Ferron Sandstone, Utah. 2. Facies architecture of wide valley systems, Cretaceous Notom Delta complex, Ferron Sandstone, Utah. 3. Facies architecture of storm-flood dominated delta-fronts Cretaceous Notom Delta complex, Ferron Sandstone, Utah 4. Chemo-stratigraphy of asymmetric deltas and associated shelf mudstone deposits, Cretaceous Notom Delta complex, Ferron Sandstone, Utah. 5. Facies architecture of asymmetric, wave-influenced deltas, Gallup Sandstone, New Mexico. 6. Facies architecture and clay distribution of asymmetric, wave-influenced deltas, Modern Brazos Delta, Texas Gulf Coast. 7. Facies architecture, structural style and fault properties of non-salt related synsedimentary growth faults in deltas. 8. Seismic geomorphology of shelf margin deltas and mass transport complexes in GOM mini-basins. More details of these projects can be found on the following website: Project summaries of these new projects are provided below. Costs and benefits The consortium funding fee of $35,000K is structured to cover all of the costs associated with supporting one graduate student for a year. Consortium funding is also used to provide summer salary for PI's and other infrastructure needs. In return for your support, I will send a yearly report of activities to the sponsoring company. More extensive reports (pre-prints), oral presentations (Powerpoint) and Posters are all provided via a proprietary web-based format (primarily as pdf files) that can be printed or used internally at your own convenience and discretion. Membership immediately allows you access to the already built websites. These proprietary websites are password protected for the sole use of consortium members. We also run a yearly field trip to illustrate the outcrop examples that we are conducting research on. These field trips are marvelous training opportunities for your staff, and also provide an intimate view of the latest research that we are conducting. Many of our outcrop studies have re-examined classic outcrops used in industry training, and have included the Ferron sandstone, 2

3 Blackhawk-Castlegate sandstones and Panther Tongue sandstone in central Utah, as well as the Frontier sandstones in Wyoming. Also, I would be interested to discuss the opportunities of specific projects, cores, or data sets that you have that I could have a student work on as part of their MS or Ph.D. research project. Such gifts in kind would also be encouraged and would give students valuable interaction with industry. Your funds may be leveraged against significant sums from the various funding agencies that have supported my work in the past (e.g. PRF/ACS; DOE). You have access to new ideas and concepts, research breakthroughs, data, powerpoint visuals, and posters, as they are completed, versus the larger community that only has access to the final published papers, which routinely appear several years after work has been completed. You also have access to myself and students via in house visits and the annual field trip. Current Research Team: Theses and Dissertation Topics PhD Candidates Weiguo Li Incised Valleys in the Cretaceous Ferron Notom Delta, Utah. Felipe Lozano Sesimic geomorphology of shelf edge deltas, GOM. Yijie Zhu - Sequence stratigraphy of the Cretaceous Notom delta, Utah. Tianguang Xu Detrital Zircon analyses and provenance of the sediments within the Cretaceous Notom delta, Utah. Oluwaseyi Fatoke Sequence stratigraphy and structural control on shelf margin deltas, Niger Delta. Donald Barker Sequence stratigraphy and sea-level history of Mars. MS Candidates: Milly Wright Chemostratigraphy of the Cretaceous Ferron Notom delta, Utah. Chris Campbell Facies architecture of incised valley fills, Ferron Notom delta, Utah. Eric Blankenship Sedimentology and structure of Growth Faults in the the Cretaceous Ferron Notom Delta, Utah. Gregori Perov Mass transport complexes versus Growth Faults in shelf margin deltas of the Gulf of Mexico. Daniel Garza Facies architecture of delta front sandstones, Cretaceous Ferron Notom Delta, Utah. Michael Loparco Sequence stratigraphy of an asymmetric delta, Cretaceous Gallup sandstone, Ship Rock New Mexico Ryan Krueger Reconstruction of wave field in an ancient asymmetric, wave-influenced delta, Gallup Sandstone, New Mexico. Derek Rice Origin and distribution of clay minerals in the Modern Brazos Delta, an asymmetric wave-influenced delta on the Texas Gulf Coast Publications Refereed papers submitted or in press: Bhattacharya J.P., in review (Invited contribution), Deltas, in, Facies Models 4 th Edition, R.G. Dalrymple and N.P. James (eds). Geological Association of Canada. 3

4 Barker, D.C., Bhattacharya J.P., and Clifford, S., submitted, Mars Northern Lowland Sequence Stratigraphy. submitted to Geology Olariu, C., Bhattacharya, J.P., Stern, R.J., Leybourne, M, and Boss, S., submitted, Interplay between river discharge and topography of the basin floor in a hyperpycnal lacustrine delta, Red River, Lake Texoma, Texas/ Oklahoma, USA, submitted to Sedimentology. Thompson, K.E., Willson, C.S., White, C.D., Nyman, S., Bhattacharya, J.P., Reed, A.H., in press. Application of a New Grain-Based Reconstruction Algorithm to Microtomography Images for Quantitative Characterization and Flow Modeling, SPE Journal. Vakarelov, B.K., Bhattacharya, J.P., in revision, Effect of Local Tectonic Control on Parasequence Architecture: Second Frontier Sandstone, Powder River Basin, Wyoming. AAPG Bulletin. Vakarelov, B.K., Bhattacharya, J.P., Winker, C.D., in revision, The importance of mud-dominated clinoforming sets (mud belts) in the sedimentary record. Submitted to Journal of Sedimentary Research. Recent Published Articles in Refereed Books and Journals: Gani, M.R., Bhattacharya, J.P., MacEachern, J.A., 2008, Using ichnology to determine relative influence of waves, storms, tides, and rivers in deltaic deposits: examples from Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, U.S.A., in MacEachern, J.A., Bann, K.L., Gingras, M.K., and Pemberton, S.G., eds., Applied Ichnology, SEPM Short Course Notes, p Sadeque, J., Bhattacharya, J.P., MacEachern, J.A., And Howell, C.D. III, 2008, Differentiating Amalgamated Parasequences In Deltaic Settings With The Aid Of Ichnology: An Example From The Upper Turonian Wall Creek Member Of Frontier Formation, Wyoming., in MacEachern, J.A., Bann, K.L., Gingras, M.K., and Pemberton, S.G., eds., Applied Ichnology, SEPM Short Course Notes, p Coker, M.O., Bhattacharya, J.P., and Marfurt, K., 2007, Fracture Patterns within Mudstones on the Flanks of a Salt Dome: Syneresis or Slumping? Gulf Coast Associations of Geological Societies Transactions, v. 57, p Lee, K., McMechan, G., Gani, M.R., Bhattacharya, J.P., Zeng, X., and Howell, C.D. Jr., 2007, 3-D Architecture and Sequence Stratigraphic Evolution of a Forced Regressive Top-Truncated Mixed-Influenced Delta, Cretaceous Wall Creek Sandstone, Wyoming, Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 77: p Gani, M.R., and Bhattacharya, J.P., 2007, Basic Building Blocks and Process Variability of a Cretaceous Delta: Internal Facies Architecture Reveals a More Dynamic Interaction of River, Wave, and Tidal Processes Than Is Indicated by External Shape, Journal of Sedimentary Research 2007 v. 77, p Lee, K., Gani, M.D., McMechan, G.A., Bhattacharya, J.P., Nyman, S., Zeng, X., 2007, 3-D Facies Architecture and 3-D Calcite Concretion Distributions in a Tide-Influenced Delta Front, Wall Creek Member, Frontier Formation, Wyoming, AAPG Bulletin, V. 91, P Vakarelov, B., Bhattacharya, J.P., and Nebrigic, D., 2006, The Importance of High-Frequency Tectonic Sequences during Greenhouse Times of Earth History, Geology, v. 34; p ; doi: /G Olariu, C., and Bhattacharya, J.P., 2006, Terminal Distributary Channels and Delta Front Architecture of River-dominated delta systems. Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 76, p , Perspectives, DOI: /jsr Adams, M.M., and Bhattacharya, J.P., 2005, No Change in Fluvial Style Across a Sequence Boundary, Cretaceous Blackhawk and Castlegate Formations Of Central Utah, U.S.A., Journal of Sedimentary Research, 2005, v. 75, , DOI: /jsr Bhattacharya, J. P., Payenberg, T.H.D., Lang, S.C. and Bourke, M., 2005, Dynamic river channels suggest a long-lived Noachian crater lake on Mars. Geophysical Research Letters,.V. 32, L10201, doi: /2005gl Lee, K., Zeng, X, McMechan, G.A., Howell Jr., C.D., Bhattacharya, J.P., Marcy, F., Olariu, C., 2005, A GPR survey of a delta-front reservoir analog in the Wall Creek Member, Frontier Formation, Wyoming. AAPG Bulletin, V. 89, No. 9 P , DOI: /

5 Chapters or Papers in Books: Bhattacharya, J.P., 2006, Deltas, In: Walker, R.G., and Posamentier, H., (eds.) Facies Models revisited, SEPM Special Publication, v. 84, p Gani, M.R. and Bhattacharya, J.P., 2005, Bedding correlation vs, facies correlation in deltas: Lessons for Quaternary stratigraphy, In: Giosan, L., and Bhattacharya, J.P., (eds.). River Deltas: Concepts, Models and Examples, SEPM Special Publication v. 83, p Giosan, L, Donnelly J.P., Vespremeanu, E., Bhattacharya, J.P., Olariu, C., Buonaiuto, F.S., 2005, River delta morphodynamics: Examples from Danube delta. In: Giosan, L., and Bhattacharya, J.P., (eds.). River Deltas: Concepts, Models and Examples, SEPM Special Publication, v. 83, p Giosan, L. and Bhattacharya, J.P., 2005, New Directions in Delta Research. In: Giosan, L., and Bhattacharya, J.P., (eds.). River Deltas: Concepts, Models and Examples, SEPM Special Publication, v. 83, p MacEachern, J., Bann, K., Bhattacharya, J.P., and Howell, C.D., 2005, Ichnology of Deltas. In: Giosan, L., and Bhattacharya, J.P., (eds.). River Deltas: Concepts, Models and Examples, SEPM Special Publication, v. 83, p Olariu, C., Bhattacharya, J.P., Xu, X., Aiken, C.L.V., Zeng, X., McMechan, G.A., 2005, Study of Cretaceous delta front deposits, integrating outcrop, GPR and 3-d photorealistic data, Panther Tongue sandstone, Utah. In: Giosan, L., and Bhattacharya, J.P., (eds.). River Deltas: Concepts, Models and Examples, SEPM Special Publication, v. 83, p Field Guides, Unpublished Reports and Short Course Notes: Bhattacharya, J.P., MacEachern, J.A., Garrison Jr., J.R., Ryer, T.A., Pemberton,S.G., 2007, Integrated Sedimentology and Ichnology of Fluvial-Dominated and Wave-Influenced Deltas in the Cretaceous Seaway: Ferron Sandstone and Panther Tongue, Utah. Field Trip Guidebook, SEPM Research Conference: Ichnological Applications to Sedimentological and Sequence Stratigraphic Problems, Price, Utah, May 20-26th, p. Bhattacharya, J.P., Blankenship, E., Campbell, C., Weiguo Li, W.,. Wright, A., Zhu, Y., 2007, Valleys, Channels and Deltas in the Cretaceous Seaway: Analogs to the subsurface. University of Houston Quantitative Sedimentology Research Consortium Field Trip, Sunday August 12th Friday August 17th. 128p. Bhattacharya, J.P., 2007, Sequence Stratigraphy: History, theory and applications, AAPG SW Section Short Course Notes, Abilene/Ft. Worth, Dec. 3 rd and 7 th, 402p. Bhattacharya, J.P., 2007, Stratigraphy and Facies Architecture of Fluvial Reservoirs, BP Summer Short Course, Baku, Cairo, Aberdeen, June 2007, 223p. Bhattacharya, J.P., 2007, Facies Architecture and Sequence Stratigraphy of Delta Systems From Exploration to Reservoir Performance, BP Short Course, Baku, Cairo, Aberdeen, June 2007, 285p. Bhattacharya, J.P., Campbell, C., Li, W., and Zhu. Y., 2006, Ancient Rivers and Deltas in the Cretaceous Seaway: Analogs to the subsurface, University of Houston Quantitative Sedimentology Research Consortium Field Trip, Sunday August 13th Friday August 18th, p. Bhattacharya, J.P., 2006, Stratigraphy and Facies Architecture of Fluvial Reservoirs, Southwest Section of AAPG, Short Course, Abilene, Texas, January 30th, 2006, 206 p. Bhattacharya, J.P., Vakarelov, B., Howell, C.D., Jr., Sadeque, J., Tang, H., 2005, Facies Variability, Stratigraphic Compartmentalization, and Tectonic Controls in Mixed-influenced Delta Fronts, Frontier Formation, Powder River Basin, Wyoming, U.S.A., UTD Quantitative Sedimentology Consortium Field Trip, July 29th-August 3rd, 2005, 134p. Field Guides, Unpublished Reports and Short Course Notes: Bhattacharya, J.P., MacEachern, J.A., Garrison Jr., J.R., Ryer, T.A., Pemberton,S.G., 2007, Integrated Sedimentology and Ichnology of Fluvial-Dominated and Wave-Influenced Deltas in the Cretaceous Seaway: Ferron Sandstone and Panther Tongue, Utah. Field Trip Guidebook, SEPM Research Conference: Ichnological Applications to Sedimentological and Sequence Stratigraphic Problems, Price, Utah, May 20-26th, p. Bhattacharya, J.P., Blankenship, E., Campbell, C., Weiguo Li, W.,. Wright, A., Zhu, Y., 2007, Valleys, Channels and Deltas in the Cretaceous Seaway: Analogs to the subsurface. 5

6 University of Houston Quantitative Sedimentology Research Consortium Field Trip, Sunday August 12th Friday August 17th. 128p. Bhattacharya, J.P., 2007, Sequence Stratigraphy: History, theory and applications, AAPG SW Section Short Course Notes, Abilene/Ft. Worth, Dec. 3 rd and 7 th, 402p. Bhattacharya, J.P., 2007, Stratigraphy and Facies Architecture of Fluvial Reservoirs, BP Summer Short Course, Baku, Cairo, Aberdeen, June 2007, 223p. Bhattacharya, J.P., 2007, Facies Architecture and Sequence Stratigraphy of Delta Systems From Exploration to Reservoir Performance, BP Short Course, Baku, Cairo, Aberdeen, June 2007, 285p. Bhattacharya, J.P., Campbell, C., Li, W., and Zhu. Y., 2006, Ancient Rivers and Deltas in the Cretaceous Seaway: Analogs to the subsurface, University of Houston Quantitative Sedimentology Research Consortium Field Trip, Sunday August 13th Friday August 18th, p. Bhattacharya, J.P., 2006, Stratigraphy and Facies Architecture of Fluvial Reservoirs, Southwest Section of AAPG, Short Course, Abilene, Texas, January 30th, 2006, 206 p. Bhattacharya, J.P., Vakarelov, B., Howell, C.D., Jr., Sadeque, J., Tang, H., 2005, Facies Variability, Stratigraphic Compartmentalization, and Tectonic Controls in Mixed-influenced Delta Fronts, Frontier Formation, Powder River Basin, Wyoming, U.S.A., UTD Quantitative Sedimentology Consortium Field Trip, July 29th-August 3rd, 2005, 134p. 6

7 Examples of Individual Projects: Project 1. Sequence Stratigraphy and Facies Architecture of the Cretaceous Notom Delta Complex, Ferron Sandstone, Hanksville, Utah The Last Chance delta complex of the Cretaceous Ferron sandstone in central Utah has been extensively studied both from the facies architectural and sequence stratigraphic perspective, and is widely used as a field training ground by industry. The Notom delta complex, superbly exposed farther to the south and east along the Burr Trail, and around Hanksville, Utah, has received far less attention. This area of Utah is even more arid than the classic Ferron exposures around the San Rafael Swell resulting in even better continuous cliff exposures, which are perfectly suited to 3D reservoir characterization studies (Fig. 1 and 2). Figure 1. General view of Ferron sandstone exposures near Hanksville Utah. Note the almost complete lack of vegetation and the extensive and continuous quality of the outcrops. 7

8 Figure 2. Base map showing outcrop belt, measured sections and location of preliminary cross-section shown in Fig. 5, below. 8

9 Preliminary scouting, conducted in the Summer of 2004 and data collected in the summer of 2005, shows a wide variety of complex facies and syndepositional features, including fluvial, wave- and storm-dominated delta fronts overlain by possible incised valley feeder systems to the delta. We propose an initial field study to begin a detailed sequence stratigraphic analysis of this unit. Outcrops just west of Hanksville show upward-coarsening delta fronts that internally consist of a complex series of lens-shapes, scoured HCS storm beds interbedded with lightly burrowed mudstones, suggesting a strong storm-fluvial influence (Fig. 3). The relationship of these fluvial-storm influenced facies to adjacent wavedominated and more homogenous shorefaces will be tested using the recently developed asymmetric model for wave- influence deltas. Figure 3. Heterolithic, storm-influenced, fluvial-dominatedv delta front. These storm-dominated delta fronts show striking similarities to Tertiary-age storm-dominated delta fronts in places such as offshore Trinidad, and these may represent excellent outcrop analogs. Incised channelized systems overlying these delta fronts and shorefaces show complex internal geometry, associated with overlapping channel bars (Fig. 4). We are particularly interested in determining the relationship between storm-flood-dominated delta fronts and the associated feeder systems. Figure 4. Overlapping bars within Ferron channels showing complex internal architecture of sandstones and mudstones, Ferron Sandstone, Hanksville, Utah. 9

10 Figure 4. A. The undulating erosion surface likely represents a sequence boundary marking thebase of a fluvially-cut valley. The valley is overlain by floodplain mudstones and channelbar sandstones. B. This photo connects to the right of 4A., and shows the continuation of the basal erosion surface as well as laterally accreting bar deposits in the oberlying valley fill. C. Close-up of the point bar deposits overlying the floodplain. More details of the bars are shown in figure 3. 10

11 During field work in the summer of 2005 I collected 6 vertical measured sections over a 180 square mile area (Figs. 2 and 5). I measured about 1,600 feet of section spaced 1.5 to 10 miles apart. The measured sections show that the Ferron is about 100 m (300 feet) thick and consists of up to 7 deltaic to shoreface marine parasequences passing upward into a fluvial succession characterized by sandy to conglomeratic fluvial channel belts and coaly floodplain mudstones. The proportion of non-marine versus marine facies increases to the south and west. Paleocurrents vary from northwest, north and northeast to southwest, suggesting the delta was fed by rivers flowing form the southwest. Figure 5. Regional cross section showing decreasing non-marine facies to the east and illustrating basic style of parasequence stacking. Major, multistory channel deposits indicate valleys that cut into underlying shoreface and deltaic sediments. These are candidate sequence boundaries, which should allow detailed examination of the transition of sequence boundaries laterally and from proximal to distal location. There are opportunities for mapping valleys and documenting their internal archtecture as well as examining strike variability of a major mixedinfluence delta. The delta appears to be storm, wave, and flood influenced, although rare tidal cross stratification was observed, suggesting limited tidal influence. I am supervising 6 students working on various aspects of these projects. 11

12 Project 2. Facies Architecture of the shoreface to delta front transition, Gallup Sandstone, New Mexico The Cretaceous Gallup sandstone of New Mexico has been interpreted as wavedominated shorefaces associated with a barrier-island depositional setting. Scouting of these outcrops in the summer of 2004, around Rock Ridge, south of Ship Rock, shows a superb examples of the transition between a fluvial, flood-dominated delta front laterally into a wave- dominated shoreface. Earlier work did not recognize the fluvial-nature of the parasequences along Rock Ridge (Fig. 6). Our scouting showed poorly-bioturbated mudstones interbedded with sharp-based, normally graded sandstone beds displaying Bouma sequences (Fig. 7). Not exactly the features typically associated with wavedominated shorefaces. Figure 6. Heterolithic parasequences, interpreted as fluvial-dominated, in the Gallup sandstone at Rock Ridge, New Mexico. These were previously interpreted as wavedominated shprefaces. These heterolithic parasequences pass laterally into homogenous and pervasively bioturbated to cross bedded sandstones interpreted as classic shorefaces (Fig. 8). These lateral facies relationships suggest a mixed river- and wave- influenced delta. We have recently developed a model for wave-influenced asymmetric deltas that predict specific relationships that link shorefaces and delta fronts (Bhattacharya and Giosan, 2003). Essentially, the fluvial-dominated delta fronts are predicted to lie downdrift of the 12

13 sandier, more homogenous and potentially better reservoir quality shoreface systems in the updrift region. Figure 7. Unbioturbated heterolithic strata (left) are associated with normally-graded sandstone beds displaying Bouma sequences (right) and interpreted as possible riverproduced, hyperpycnal turbidites. These observation are not compatible with a wavedominated shoreface interpretation and suggest far more fluvial influence Figure 8. Thick sandy parasequence, about 1 mile east of the outcrops shown above show features more typical of a wave-dominated shoreface. Our focus in the project will be to map the bedding relationships between the shoreface and delta front. Paleocurrent information and ichnological analysis will be critical to determine the detailed paleogeography and the orientation of the river plume versus the longshore drift system. Two MS students will initiate field work on this unit this summer. Additional information on both proposed projects can be found by contacting Professor Bhattacharya as listed above. 13