Reconstructing lithofacies of the Norphlet Formation (Jurassic) as potential exploration targets: Little Cedar Creek and Brooklyn Fields, southwest Alabama

<p>The Norphlet Formation is a Jurassic-aged siliciclastic unit located across the southeastern United States and offshore Gulf of Mexico. The eolian dune sands present in the Norphlet Formation serve as oil and gas reservoirs, making the formation of particular interest to oil and gas companies. Stable Appalachian ridges are the source of the Norphlet Formation, however deposition is related to complex faults and structures resulting from movement of the Louann Salt. Erosion of the ancestral Appalachian Mountains resulted in the deposition of four main lithofacies: basal shales, conglomerates and conglomeratic sandstones, the Denkman Sandstone member, and a redbed succession. Additionally, the presence of playa lakes allofor deposition of evaporites associated with the Norphlet Formation. The Norphlet serves as a potential exploration target, therefore understanding the depositional patterns will aid when looking for drilling prospects. An analysis of each facies within the top 100 feet of the Norphlet Formation in the Conecuh Embayment was performed for this study in order to understand patterns within the lithofacies data, computed facies (electrofacies) data, and paleotopography. This study includes mudlog, geophysical wireline log, and core data used to analyze the Norphlet Formation and the structural features present in Little Cedar Creek and Brooklyn Fields and surrounding area, located in Conecuh, Covington, and Escambia Counties. Electrofacies data should not be relied on as the only way to identify facies within the Norphlet; mudlog data provided the best interpretation as it tied in confidently with the core description. Based on paleotopography and lithofacies of the Conecuh Embayment, an interpreted alluvial fan sequence should be investigated further as a possible prospect for Norphlet production.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S. in Engineering Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geology and Geological Engineering

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Henry, Catherine E.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Louis G. Zachos
• Walter Guidroz
• Larry Baria

• Geological Engineering

Repository record dc:identifier

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/325

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:egrove.olemiss.edu:etd-1324