Geometry, distribution and fill of erosional scours in a heterolithic, distal lower shoreface sandstone reservoir analogue: Grassy Member, Blackhawk Formation, Book Cliffs, Utah, USA
File(s)Onyenanu-et-al-accepted.pdf (3 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Many shoreface sandstone reservoirs host significant hydrocarbon volumes within distal intervals of interbedded sandstones and mudstones. Hydrocarbon production from these reservoir intervals depends on the abundance and proportion of sandstone beds that are connected by erosional scours, and on the lateral extent and continuity of interbedded mudstones. Cliff‐face exposures of the Campanian ‘G2’ parasequence, Grassy Member, Blackhawk Formation in the Book Cliffs of east‐central Utah, USA, allow detailed characterization of 128 erosional scours within such interbedded sandstones and mudstones in a volume of 148 m length, 94 m width and 15 m height. The erosional scours have depths of up to 1·1 m, apparent widths of up to 15·1 m and steep sides (up to 35°) that strike approximately perpendicular (N099 ± 36°) to the local north–south palaeoshoreline trend. The scours have limited lateral continuity along strike and down dip, and a relatively narrow range of apparent aspect ratio (apparent width/depth), implying that their three‐dimensional geometry is similar to non‐channelized pot casts. There is no systematic variation in scour dimensions, but ‘scour density’ is greater in amalgamated (conjoined) sandstone beds over 0·5 m thick, and increases upward within vertical successions of upward‐thickening conjoined sandstone beds. There is no apparent organization of the overall lateral distribution of scours, although localized clustering implies that some scours were re‐occupied during multiple erosional events. Scour occurrence is also associated with locally increased amplitude and laminaset thickness of hummocky cross‐stratification in sandstone beds. The geometry, distribution and infill character of the scours imply that they were formed by storm‐generated currents coincident with riverine sediment influx (‘storm floods’). The erosional scours increase the vertical and lateral connectivity of conjoined sandstone beds in the upper part of upward‐thickening sandstone bed successions, resulting in increased effective vertical and horizontal permeability of such intervals.
Date Issued
2018-08-01
Date Acceptance
2017-11-24
Citation
Sedimentology, 2018, 65 (5), pp.1731-1760
ISSN
0037-0746
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
1731
End Page
1760
Journal / Book Title
Sedimentology
Volume
65
Issue
5
Copyright Statement
© 2017 The Authors. Sedimentology © 2017 International Association of Sedimentologists. This is the accepted version of the following article, which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/sed.12444
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Geology
Blackhawk Formation
gutter cast
hydrocarbon reservoir analogue
pot cast
shoreface
storms
DRIVEN SEDIMENT TRANSPORT
HUMMOCKY CROSS-STRATIFICATION
MARINE FACIES MODELS
DISCONTINUITY SURFACES
CONTINENTAL SHELVES
SABLE ISLAND
GUTTER CASTS
STORM
ARCHITECTURE
PARASEQUENCE
0403 Geology
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2017-12-09