Date of Award

Spring 5-14-2016

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science - Geology

Department

Geology

First Advisor

Dr. LaRell Nielson

Second Advisor

Dr. Wesley Brown

Third Advisor

Dr. Kevin Stafford

Abstract

Transitional sediments on carbonate ramp slopes act as a link to relatively well-studied platform and basin depositional environments. In the southern Midland Basin, the key to understanding the relationship between these environments lies in the allochthonous gravity flow sediments found on the slope. Here, a succession of various gravity flow deposits is used to interpret how base level fluctuations affect the type of deposits found on the slope and their effect on the deep basinal environment. This study utilizes core samples from the Wolfcamp Formation adjacent to the Central Basin Platform in five wells in Northwest Crockett County, Texas. The objective is to define lithofacies, explore facies relationships, and calibrate well logs to core in order to determine how changes in sedimentation along the platform margin and slope are related to base level and slope architecture. Gamma ray, neutron density, and resistivity well logs allow the correlation of the lithologic units and the lithofacies. Interpretation of stratal stacking patterns and gravity flow transport processes are used to interpret highstands shedding of grainstones, falling stage and lowstands carbonate conglomerate debris, and a transgressive drape of shale ending a full second order sequence that takes place during the deposition of the Wolfcamp Formation.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Share

COinS

Tell us how this article helped you.

 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.