Characterization of Lower Permian Carbonate Subaqueous Gravity Flows in Crockett County, Texas

<p>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.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science - Geology

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geology

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Turner, Wesley L

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. LaRell Nielson
• Dr. Wesley Brown
• Dr. Kevin Stafford

• Crockett County
• Gravity Flow
• Wolfcamp
• Midland Basin
• Central Basin Platform
• Wolfcamp Reef
• Earth Sciences
• Geology
• Sedimentology
• Stratigraphy

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/44

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.sfasu.edu:etds-1038